Here is another thing to consider. Many atheist's first start to question their faith when they run into a conflict between their faith and what they have determined to be true from secular sources.
When I was about sixteen I was shocked when someone I respected from my church brought up Deuteronomy 7:3 - "Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son."
This person, that I had respected, did not believe that Christians should marry outside of their race. They searched out and found a few bits of hateful scripture to support their point of view and quoted them whenever the opportunity presented itself. This was not something that I could readily accept.
Moments like the one I just shared highlight the fact that Christians pick and chose which passages of the bible to embrace and which passages to reject. The sermon that you shared on livejournal recently talks about this very subject.
Adam Hamilton advises us to consider all scripture in light of the true word of god which is Jesus. Basically, he echoes the sentiments expressed in Prop 8 the musical.
I suspect that many atheists ask Christians to interpret the bible in a strictly literal manner because they know from personal experience that it is impossible. The bible contains too many conflicting world views for anyone to hold them all as true without playing some sort of mind game.
Please bear in mind. I am not saying that it was right and proper for this person to attack you. It was not. I am merely attempting to help you understand where he might have been coming from.
For you, I want only sunshine and flowers and rainbows.
See, when you say things that way, you are being respectful, not condescending.
From what I see, the main difference between Atheists and fundamentalists is that both try to reconcile what they learn of the world to the fundamentalist viewpoint (because that's what they've been fed). They cannot do this. The Atheist rejects the religion and embraces the world view; the fundamentalist rejects the world and changes his world view (via made up conspiracy theories, junk science, and outright lies) to match his beliefs.
The Bible has been used to justify the anti-gay agenda, bans on biracial marriage, treating women like third class citizens, segregation, slavery, and the Holocaust. (And to tell other Christians we aren't good enough)
Yes, we ALL pick and choose, but the fundamentalists will say they don't.
I read and interpret everything through the lens of Jesus, as Adam Hamilton says. That cliche WWJD (what would Jesus do?) means something to me.
The attitude this guy had was condescending. He repeatedly said he did not care what I believed, but kept telling me why it doesn't make sense. And he made sure I knew his beliefs.
That is not a conversation. That's a monologue. But I have stopped listening.
Here is another thing to consider. Many atheist's first start to question their faith when they run into a conflict between their faith and what they have determined to be true from secular sources.
When I was about sixteen I was shocked when someone I respected from my church brought up Deuteronomy 7:3 - "Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son."
This person, that I had respected, did not believe that Christians should marry outside of their race. They searched out and found a few bits of hateful scripture to support their point of view and quoted them whenever the opportunity presented itself. This was not something that I could readily accept.
Moments like the one I just shared highlight the fact that Christians pick and chose which passages of the bible to embrace and which passages to reject. The sermon that you shared on livejournal recently talks about this very subject.
Adam Hamilton advises us to consider all scripture in light of the true word of god which is Jesus. Basically, he echoes the sentiments expressed in Prop 8 the musical.
I suspect that many atheists ask Christians to interpret the bible in a strictly literal manner because they know from personal experience that it is impossible. The bible contains too many conflicting world views for anyone to hold them all as true without playing some sort of mind game.
Please bear in mind. I am not saying that it was right and proper for this person to attack you. It was not. I am merely attempting to help you understand where he might have been coming from.
For you, I want only sunshine and flowers and rainbows.
Eric
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From what I see, the main difference between Atheists and fundamentalists is that both try to reconcile what they learn of the world to the fundamentalist viewpoint (because that's what they've been fed). They cannot do this. The Atheist rejects the religion and embraces the world view; the fundamentalist rejects the world and changes his world view (via made up conspiracy theories, junk science, and outright lies) to match his beliefs.
The Bible has been used to justify the anti-gay agenda, bans on biracial marriage, treating women like third class citizens, segregation, slavery, and the Holocaust. (And to tell other Christians we aren't good enough)
Yes, we ALL pick and choose, but the fundamentalists will say they don't.
I read and interpret everything through the lens of Jesus, as Adam Hamilton says. That cliche WWJD (what would Jesus do?) means something to me.
The attitude this guy had was condescending. He repeatedly said he did not care what I believed, but kept telling me why it doesn't make sense. And he made sure I knew his beliefs.
That is not a conversation. That's a monologue. But I have stopped listening.
Sunshine, flowers and rainbows to you!
Reply
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