"Be like the bird that, passing on her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing that she hath wings." – Victor Hugo
Atheism/New Atheism
Bill O’Reilly Takes on Atheist Richard Dawkins and His New Children’s Book
"If atheism spread, it would become a religion as intolerable as the ancient ones." –Gustave le Bon
Quiverfull+Loss of Faith: On Evangelical Abuse and Legalism
“We’ve gotten beyond the Galatian brand of legalism today. We haven’t resurrected circumcision as a requirement for salvation, and we’re clear that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ apart from the keeping of the law. Instead, we have developed another brand of legalism, a brand that is concerned, not with salvation, but with how we live the Christian life. I call this “evangelical legalism”… -Jeffrey Bridges Vyckie Garrison TWW has long been focused on the issue of abuse within the church. There are certain movements which seem to spawn a high number of reports of abuse behavior. The abuse can take the form of physical or serious psychological damage. This trend can be seen especially in groups that impose "rules" for behavior that are based on an extreme, wooden literal translation of the Scripture. Sadly, some of these movements are gaining in popularity within mainstream evangelicalism. For example, Sovereign Grace Ministries (CJ Mahaney) has received much attention due to their practice of strict authoritarianism on the part of pastors. This group has spawned a host of survivors groups Another movement that has come into close scrutiny are groups that eschew birth control Continue reading →
Atheists/Humanists vs. Evangelicals: Rhetoric on Both Sides
Amiable agnostics will talk cheerfully about "man's search for God." To me, as I then was, they might as well have talked about the mouse's search for the cat. C.S. Lewis Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster Fifteen years ago, I began to question my faith and set out on a journey that profoundly changed me. I studied the difficult passages of Scripture as well as various belief systems and atheism from the perspective of both believer and nonbeliever. I also read countless books written by theologians, apologists, and expositors of religion and philosophy. I developed friendships with atheists, agnostics, Hindus, Zen Buddhist, Catholics, mainstream Protestants, Muslims, Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses. I rarely turned away anyone who knocked on my door or approached me on the street. I give a shout out to those who post on Ex Christians.Net. This site was developed by, and for, those who have walked away from Christianity. They challenged my assumptions about ex-believers. Much to the dismay of many, I have grown stronger and deeper in my evangelical beliefs. At the same time, I think I am far more understanding of those who think differently than I. Today I hope Continue reading →
The Humanist (Atheist) Advertising Blitz
How many of you remember those black and white roadside signs that had some cute slogans purportedly from God. "If you must curse, use your own name-God." You can see them here at God Speaks. Well, the atheists have taken the cue and they are doing it in black and white as well. The humanists are coming and they are miffed. Gone is the quiet curmudgeon who never went to church. Well-versed extroverts, who believe that teaching children about the Bible is tantamount to child abuse, have replaced him. I have spent the last four years talking with and learning about atheists and agnostics at ExChristians.net I think the average Christian has many misperceptions about nonbelievers. I know that I did. TWW will deal with these tomorrow. I spent about 1/1/2 years talking with a well-placed Mormon. I had read the typical books on“How to Witness to a Mormon.” My friend told me he was tired of hearing the pat responses to his heartfelt faith. So, I made a promise to him. I would read the Mormon sites and the Book of Mormon and would discuss my cold reading with him. I learned much Continue reading →
The New Atheists Are Bright and You Are Stupid
Well, the current lack of civility in the public square has invaded the once hallowed halls of polite discourse in the area of religion. Have you heard about the “new atheists”? Why new, you ask, haven’t they always been around? Surely you remember Madalyn Murray O’Hair and her success in getting prayer banished from the public square?
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