Recently me and Melissa enjoyed a dinner date without the children, and had some time to visit the book store. I picked up two books, and the one of most interest to me at this time is called Religious Literacy. In its most basic form it is a scientific look at the lack of knowledge Americans have regarding any faith. For Evangelical Christians it is a sobering example of how we have dropped the ball in regards to discipleship.
Those of you who have found salvation, and then been left to fend for yourselves with little or no help from mature Christians raise your hands (Okay now put them down because you look really silly). I was there, for a long time I was on fire for Christ without any direction, and then slowly I started to back slide. I thank God all the time for my Wife, and South Hill Calvary for pulling me back up the slippery slope I found myself on. Is it any wonder then if we are failing to care for new Christians to the faith that a survey showed that most Protestants were unable to name all 4 Gospels?
Here it is folks! Knowing the name of the 4 Gospels is not the end of the world, a church that does not pray, a body that doesn’t read God’s word however… I can only quote the wicked Witch of the West “Oh -- what a world, what a world.” Discipleship is a process; it does not rest in the hands of Sunday school teachers, preachers, ministers, it is a PROCESS THAT BELONGS TO ALL OF US.
Are you doing your part?
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Hi Bob,
When it comes to Science and Religion, I’ve been a big reader and believer in Albert Einstein. He stated
“Well, I do not think that it is necessarily the case that science and religion are natural opposites. In fact, I think that there is a very close connection between the two. Further, I think that science without religion is lame and, conversely, that religion without science is blind. Both are important and should work hand-in-hand. It seems to me that whoever doesn't wonder about the truth in religion and in science might as well be dead.”
I will not get into a debate about Evolution. Because both side have been argued to death by people a whole lot smarter than me. But what about the big bang. Einstein believed that because the universe had a start and was not just always here. That in itself was evidence of god. Kind of the ultimate let there be light! But for religion to accept it, they would have to drastically change the bible’s time line.
As for Christianity they do not do well with any change or new ideas. For something like 800 years science was considered blasphlamy, and could get you burned at the stake or worse. Can you imagine how much father technology would be if we had that 800 years. Look at what has been done in the last 100! We may have reached the stars by now.
As for strucured religion on the whole they have been responsible for more maiming, torture and death in the name of God by far, then anything else in history. No religion is exempt.
Albert Einstein’s reply to reporter's question if religion will promote peace “It has not done so up to now”
You do bring up some points in Fractured Perspicacity. I was raised up in a very strict religion but I’m afraid that through the years, I have lost my faith; I don’t believe there is a god like you are talking about. If there is a god like that, then I’m afraid that all I can feel is contempt towards him.
Back in the late 80’s I was in college working toward getting an EMT license. I at first wanted to be a police officer but I soon figured out that I do not have the personality for that job. I still wanted to help people. So I started working on a basic EMT license. I soon saw many things I would never forget, Car crashes, with burned and crushed victims and body parts. I bagged some body’s including a teenage shotgun suicide. It sounds pretty rough but I could leave those things at work because I believed I was making deference. Helping those who could be helped. But soon came the children, First there was child vs. car accidents, then the at home fall, cut, or broken leg ect.
But then there was the children who were victims of child abuse. I will not write the details here. But it got bad enough that I started having nightmares, and on my last run I went after the father of a particularly cruel case.
What kind of God would let innocent children suffer so? Most of the time by adults they should be able to trust!! The standard god has a plan that doesn’t work. These are children were too young to have been taught adult ways of sin. TOTAL INNOCENTS!!
As for the adults that could comment these atrocities. I do believe in evil and good. But if we are made in god’s image; how could we do such evil?? The excuse of free will is hot air. Why couldn’t God just give us all a healthy dose of empathy? To look at another person and not abuse them but feel their pain instead.
The earliest formulation of the Argument from Evil comes from the Greek philosopher Epicurus, writing in the early 3rd century BC:
Either God wants to abolish evil and cannot,
or he can but does not want to,
or he cannot and does not want to,
or lastly he can and wants to.
If he wants to remove evil, and cannot,
he is not omnipotent;
If he can, but does not want to,
he is not benevolent;
If he neither can nor wants to,
he is neither omnipotent nor benevolent;
But if God can abolish evil and wants to,
how does evil exist?
I know I love my family. I have a wonderful hard working wife. A smart very sensitive 8 years old boy, and because of my medical training, I’m a stay at home Dad to care for my 3 year old,who has CP and more health problems then I can list. He sees 13 Specialists (Doctors). I’ve given him CPR twice. And he has been hospitalized around 30 times now. But he is a very special happy and lovable boy. But I look at all his suffering and I’m supposed to believe in God?? What about the millions like him in the world?
I think there is no God. And structed religion has just become a way to try to control the masses. Most religions are hypocritical and do not even follow their own dogma. Just watch the news. As for a benevolent all forgiving God who champions the sick, innocent ect. I’ll finish with some facts below and a well know prayer.
(Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come,)
Rwanda
When the genocide ended in 1994, 800,000 people had been murdered – 300,000 of these victims were children.
(thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses.)
Armenian Genocide
1.500 000 deaths
(As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation,)
Stalin and the Ukraine
7.000 000 deaths
By the end of 1933, nearly 25 percent of the population of the Ukraine, including three million children, had perished. The Kulaks as a class were destroyed and an entire nation of village farmers had been laid low. With his immediate objectives now achieved, Stalin allowed food distribution to resume inside the Ukraine and the famine subsided. However, political persecutions and further round-ups of 'enemies' continued unchecked in the years following the famine, interrupted only in June 1941 when Nazi troops stormed into the country. Hitler's troops, like all previous invaders, arrived in the Ukraine to rob the breadbasket of Europe and simply replaced one reign of terror with another.
(but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory.)
Holocaust
6.000 000 deaths
1.5 million Children were murdered during the Holocaust. This figure includes more than 1.2 million Jewish children, tens of thousands of Gypsy children and thousands of institutionalized handicapped children
(for ever and ever. Amen)
Cambodia and Pol Pot
2.000 000 deaths
An attempt by Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot to form a Communist peasant farming society resulted in the deaths of 25 percent of the country's population from starvation, overwork and executions
And even in the USA
*Estimated from NCVS data using 1999 National Incident-based Reporting System (NIBRS) data indicating 1 pre-teen victim for every 2.5 teen victims.
In 1999, the number of juvenile crime victims known to police estimated from NIBRS is 1,300,000:
• 930,000 twelve through 17 year olds
• 370,000* birth through 11 year old
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