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May 28, 2006 Skip quotes from the Bible liberally, but never addresses why anyone should believe in the Bible to begin with. For those who already believe, do they really need Skip's insight? No offense to Skip, but such “insights” are not only a dime per dozen, but differ greatly. Just turn on your radio! You will hear Jesus in favor of food supplements, against the Iraq war, against genetically engineered food and for the Iraqi war. Skip usually avoids such concrete and practical considerations, but I suppose that is a plus. Lester Sumrall is popular in these parts, and I hear repeats of his various lectures often on one our many religious channels. Last time he was explaining the various roles of angels and how the end times are near. The end times were near many times throughout history, but explain that to an end-timer, and he will either ignore you or say that you lack faith, as if having that kind of faith is a virtue. Others are more sensible and don't go on about the end-times. The various differing sides will agree that the “true Christians” side with them. Bob Enyart, a true Christian, thinks that women should be subordinate to men and that genetically engineered food is OK. The Family Research Council, a non-meek political group comprising true Christians, also agree that women are to lead subservient roles, but most women don't know this. They do however appreciate the various books about child rearing written by Dr. James Dobson, a member of stature within this group. Again, no offense to Skip, but what is there in his writing that matters? Just another human claiming to represent the true word of God. If Skip keeps it up, we will have a complete copy of the Bible split among his various UK articles and be no closer to understanding or getting any definitive feeling about what the Big Cheese wants. Skip and Pat and others talk about arrogance, yet Skip demonstrates arrogance. Again, he did not read the various responses by the atheists, only the rebuttals aimed at the atheists. How nice to have it all figured out, how nice to have your mind made up without reading the criticisms of those who disagree with you. If that isn't arrogance, what is? I'll briefly address some problems with Skip's latest. Skip may say in a future article that he is humble and meek and that he didn't read this article. He may also say that he enjoyed reading any rebuttals which may appear and the circle of peaceful debate in this pluralistic society will continue ;) I'll keep reading what the Christians write and keep reading about their efforts in the media and in politics. They are making some good headway, the Christian Coalition is the most powerful lobby in Washington. How does that cliché go, “When in Rome, pretend humility and meekness, ignore criticism in the name of faith, and try to take over Rome”? I fully believe Mr. Hurley when he tells us of his checkered past in contrast to the blessed life he now holds in Christ. What do those who live a blessed life without gods or with a god other than Jesus say about the nature of Christ? I do not need to read the myriad responses to his heart-given words against atheism/agnosticism. Of course not – you have the power of faith. The 9/11 hijackers also had the power of faith. Your kind of blind devotion can be a tool for great evil. Any belief system which disallows or avoids criticism is flawed. It is arrogant and non-meek to assume that you have the answers to all of the great questions figured out. Atheism is a lie. Are you sure? Pat, for all of his good writing, is still a bit mixed up about what an atheist is – are you? How can you not be, if you don't read the responses from atheists? Proud men and men who believe themselves the ultimate achievement of the natural world deceive themselves and each other. This is a good example of your lack of understanding. It is the Christian who typically denies the other sentient animals that have existed along side man (and who aren't mentioned in the Bible) and exist now. It is the Christian who typically considers himself part of a hierarchy, with animals and plants at the bottom, then slaves, women next, men in the upper-middle, and God at the top. Most atheists consider man just another animal, nothing at all special in the grand scheme of things. Atheists often consider life precious, Christians think that life as we know it is just the first-draft and that only the human-animal is endowed with the “real”, second, special, life. The Christian can have no respect for the proud man who places himself above God. Christianity has determined “humility” the proper approach toward men. How can an atheist be above something he doesn't believe exists? For an atheist to consider himself above God, must he not first believe in God? I, as an atheist, can have no respect for a Christian who places himself just below an imaginary and infinite being, claims to know precisely what that infinite being means to my life and demise, while ignoring the many other humans who place different imaginary beings in similar places. Natural men are always demanding “proof”. They have been given proof. The creation is proof. The flood of Noah’s day is proof. The deliverance of Israel from Egypt is proof. The taking of the lands promised to Abraham by the tiny nation of Israel is proof. Jonah is proof. The resurrection is proof. The spread of the Gospel from a few scared believers is proof and there is too much more proof to have placed it into a single tome. A Christian can preach 100 years and not be able to cover all the proof God has placed at the hands of men. Biblical creation didn't happen, where is there proof outside of the Bible? Can we use the Bible as proof for itself? Isn't that circular logic? The flood didn't happen, where is there proof for the Biblical flood outside of the Bible? Can we use the Bible as proof for itself? Isn't that circular logic? The rest of those events also didn't happen as described with miracles and such. Jonah? Does anyone who believes this myth literally have any sense telling anyone else what the Big Cheese wants us to do with our lives? We're talking about a man living and surviving inside of a fish, folks. Clearly, this is a myth, a fable at best. If God placed this proof at the hands of men, why are so many men unconvinced? Why will Islam soon convince more men? Perhaps God did a lousy job of presenting this proof? Perhaps Allah is better at proof-presentation? Christians oversaw the worst period of Western history and Christianity was spread by “divine” kings and wars. Only when man took a step towards secularism did the Christian West give a hoot about human rights. The Christian should never be ashamed or “refrain” from preaching Christ! And the Christian must accept that in a pluralistic society based on the freedom of religion and the separation of church and state, that the atheist will criticize him. The Christian belief holds no special place, it is up for debate just as socialism, capitalism, pacifism, the best way to make airplanes, the best local restaurant and every other idea is. What many atheists fail to understand is that one voice speaking truth can smother a thousand voices speaking lies. This probably only applies to God’s word. Well, since faith is belief without evidence, we can't ever determine what is lie or truth when it comes to religion, but I guess we can say that the notion of new faith ideas amongst accepted faith ideas popping up and spreading is basically correct. This is how Scientology and Mormonism started and spread. So, no, this mechanism applies to any faith, not just the faith of Skip. Normally, lies spoken often enough are eventually believed, but there is no lie against God that can stand against the witnessed resurrection of the Lord Jesus. It has yet to be demonstrated that Jesus came back from the dead, just like it has yet to demonstrated that there is a galactic ruler who wants Earth to be ready to join his empire, just like it has yet to be demonstrated that Jesus chatted with the American Indians in Biblical times and directly influenced their history. Remember Christian; the LORD thinks upon you! Allah, on the other hand, is the God of ALL peoples, and ALL cultures. He thinks upon ALL of us. Maybe that's why Islam is spreading so fast? Not that I find Islam more attractive than Christianity – I don't, for the record - I think it's worse in these modern times. The point is, we can all quote from any religion and find happy, hopeful, messages – religions which otherwise conflict with each other. ------------ About the author Frederick Smith: I enjoy writing about the positive virtues of humanism - humanists are the good guys. I now have a blog that I will start to increasingly maintain and update. Here is the link: fredsuberview.blogspot.com/ About my personal background and life: I was born, I got some education, worked, ate, and had some kids. It seems I like to write � something that was unknown to me until relatively recently...How's that for detail? ;) Hate mail is welcome unless you are from the Army Of God. Please! It's not that I mind seeing pictures of aborted fetuses in my inbox, but once you've seen one you've pretty much seen them all... Email: dahlek65@gmail.com Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. 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