Landover Baptist Pastor Preaches To Atheists

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by peter12

Well, it's interesting, because I think it paints out a realistic portrayal of what universalist spirituality looks like. It's a complex weaving of different social ideas and innovations that combine in a remarkably complex synthesis.

Obviously you've read a lot more of the series than I have .

How did you like the other books? The prof who wanted us to read this one really liked the "How the Irish saved civilization".

[peter12]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Obviously you've read a lot more of the series than I have .

How did you like the other books? The prof who wanted us to read this one really liked the "How the Irish saved civilization".

Well, I really liked the "The Gifts of the Jews" and "Desire of the Ever-lasting Hills". Cahill really seems to have a knack for drawing out the personal traits of some of these mythical figures, while retaining a pretty good historical-critical outlook on interpreting the history. They're also kind of "pro-people" books which I tend to enjoy.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Wow...are you seriously just making up those numbers or what? What's your source for that claim?



I think a desire to know what (if anything) exists after our deaths, and the answers to complex questions concerning life and the origins of the universe are a common theme in humanity. I don't think there's an innate need for religion or spirituality, only a need to find answers to those questions. So far, religion has been the "best" (and I use that term very loosely) source of providing answers, and that's why it's been embraced by billions of people.

No religion doesn't mean no faith. If you look at the numbers that you provided atheists are at 2%, while the numbers of those with "no religion" are a separate category and are dropping. Just because you don't follow an organized religion, doesn't mean you aren't spiritual or engaged upon a journey of transcendent soul-searching.

[driveway]

Originally Posted by Azure

There are religious people who are open-minded. Who do NOT take everything the Bible says as 'literal' truth. I really wish you would start looking at their side of the story, and avoid the fundamentalists who DO take everything the Bible says as literal truth.

Good point, but it's problematic because once you open the door to the concept that some parts of the Bible are allegorical and not meant to be taken literally, it begs the question 'which parts can we trust, and how can we tell the difference?'

The fundamental teaching of Christianity and the Bible is that humans are sinners and that only through Jesus can we be saved from eternal damnation. But then, if we acknowledge that some parts of the Bible are allegorical (Genesis for example, or Exodus) then it causes problems because it calls into question the facts of Jesus' himself - someone for whom there is, outside of the Bible, no archaeological evidence - if he is not, in fact, the route to our salvation from sin then he is purposeless as a religious figure.

All of the 'be nice to your neighbor' aspects of the Bible are admirable, but ultimately secondary to the message of the book.

There is a growing group of 'Christians' who are starting to espouse a doctrine of good behavior and respect for other people as fundamental. I am entirely in favour of this movement, but it can't really be viewed as a 'Christian' movement however the members see themselves. It's like how Martin Luther King, preacher that he may have been, promoted secular humanist values, not religious ones.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by peter12

No religion doesn't mean no faith. If you look at the numbers that you provided atheists are at 2% and dropping. Just because you don't follow an organized religion, doesn't mean you aren't spiritual or engaged upon a journey of transcendent soul-searching.

Atheists are dropping as a percentage of the overall global population, but their overall numbers are actually growing (the same situation as Christianity). It's just that followers of other religions, Islam in particular, are having children at a much greater rate than atheists and Christians are.

And yes, lack of religion does not mean lack of spirituality, but likewise, there are millions of "Christians" who check the box on the census form because that's the religion of their family but don't actually attend church services or give any thought whatsoever to spirituality in their day-to-day lives. These are de facto "no religion" people, but they don't answer the census question that way.

Once again, where are you getting your 95% claim? You can't just state a number like that as fact and then not back it up with a supporting link.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Atheists are dropping as a percentage of the overall global population, but their overall numbers are actually growing (the same situation as Christianity). It's just that followers of other religions, Islam in particular, are having children at a much greater rate than atheists and Christians are.

And yes, lack of religion does not mean lack of spirituality, but likewise, there are millions of "Christians" who check the box on the census form because that's the religion of their family but don't actually attend church services or give any thought whatsoever to spirituality in their day-to-day lives. These are de facto "no religion" people, but they don't answer the census question that way.

Once again, where are you getting your 95% claim? You can't just state a number like that as fact and then not back it up with a supporting link.

Sorry, I have an journal article by a well-known anthropologist in mind that I've been reading for my Honours thesis. I'll try to find a link for you. Although I don't really see what's so controversial about my claim. I'd think that the vast majority of people in the world claim some sort of spiritual transcendentalism.

As for you comment on census Christians, I totally agree. The amount of "suburban" atheists and Christians in the world is probably pretty staggering.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by driveway

Good point, but it's problematic because once you open the door to the concept that some parts of the Bible are allegorical and not meant to be taken literally, it begs the question 'which parts can we trust, and how can we tell the difference?'

The fundamental teaching of Christianity and the Bible is that humans are sinners and that only through Jesus can we be saved from eternal damnation. But then, if we acknowledge that some parts of the Bible are allegorical (Genesis for example, or Exodus) then it causes problems because it calls into question the facts of Jesus' himself - someone for whom there is, outside of the Bible, no archaeological evidence - if he is not, in fact, the route to our salvation from sin then he is purposeless as a religious figure.

All of the 'be nice to your neighbor' aspects of the Bible are admirable, but ultimately secondary to the message of the book.

There is a growing group of 'Christians' who are starting to espouse a doctrine of good behavior and respect for other people as fundamental. I am entirely in favour of this movement, but it can't really be viewed as a 'Christian' movement however the members see themselves. It's like how Martin Luther King, preacher that he may have been, promoted secular humanist values, not religious ones.

I couldnt have said it any better. You have it nailed.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Cheese

I hope he wasnt with me last night after I ate that Curry and drank a few beers!
The line a lot of Christians LOVE to use.
"God is everywhere and he will Judge you someday!"

That is really quite scary...

The thing is if you were there, than so was he but your picture of god, or in your case who god isn't, is based on Christian ideas, so yeah you were brainwashed as a child [I was too and I was raised in an atheist home, although it amy have taken a little longer] as most of us have been and in my earlier post, I was referring to before the brainwashing begins.

In my life that 'and he will Judge you someday' is patently false. In fact judgment, anger and a few other things take away from my experience. I'm not saying that these things don't happen to me but they're not something that help my life.

[Cheese]

recent headlines for fun...or for making fun...the mundane world of religion in todays society. Yes these are whackos..Im totally aware!

Benin priests battle bird flu with Voodoo

Sacrificing chickens in a spray of blood, Benin's traditional priests celebrated Voodoo Day on Thursday and declared their ancient religion would protect them from risk of infection by the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus.

Suspect says God made him kill, cook girlfriend

Friends and family of a 21-year-old who police say was killed and mutilated by her boyfriend struggle to put aside the grisly details of her death... Smith County Sheriff Lt. Larry Wiginton told the Tyler Morning Telegraph that McCuin told investigators that God made him kill Shearer.

Pope calls for continuous prayer to rid priesthood of paedophilia

Pope Benedict XVI has instructed Roman Catholics to pray "in perpetuity" to cleanse the Church of paedophile clergy. All dioceses, parishes, monasteries, convents and seminaries will be expected to organise continuous daily prayers to express penitence and to purify the clergy.

Devilish debate on end for Church of England

Eyebrows were raised in the House of Commons on Thursday when a motion calling for the Church of England to be disestablished was listed with the number 666, symbol of the AntiChrist.

Texas official: Call it creationism degree

The Texas commissioner of higher education suggested that a creationist group call its proposed on-line science education degree a degree in creation studies.

Man sees 'Mark of the Beast'; cuts off, microwaves hand

A man who believed he bore the "mark of the beast" used a circular saw to cut off one hand, then he cooked it in the microwave and called 911, authorities said.

[Azure]

The 3rd last one and the last one are sick, yet hilarious.

The whole 'mark of the beast'...'number of the beast' has been blown so out of proportion its ridiculous already.

Talk about a screwed up interpretation of the Bible.

That guy who cut his hand off can thank Hal Lindsey, Tim Lahaye and the rest of the 'end times' advocates.

Brainwashing at its best.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Azure

The 3rd last one and the last one are sick, yet hilarious.

The whole 'mark of the beast'...'number of the beast' has been blown so out of proportion its ridiculous already.

Talk about a screwed up interpretation of the Bible.

That guy who cut his hand off can thank Hal Lindsey, Tim Lahaye and the rest of the 'end times' advocates.

Brainwashing at its best.

Well, it's a lot more than that. Millenarian movements, such as pre-millennial Christianity, go back to the very roots of human religious movements.