1. 4 Sermon for Matins: 'Dawkins and The God Delusion'

Comment #38908 by yayevidence on May 9, 2007 at 1:00 pm

"Dawkins is crystal clear that his real target, so far as religion is concerned, is extremism, whether Christian or Islamic. However, since he sees the potential for extremism in all religions, he will accept no defence of moderate Christianity or moderate Islam over against the extremist variety. He thinks the moderate practice of religion is dangerous because it can always revert to extremism."


hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... It looks to me that this guy is cherry-picking dawkins' book just like he cherry-picks the bible. Dawkins clearly says that moderate Christians, although they do not suspend reason as much as their fundamentalist brothers, attribute to the fundamentalist ability to suspend reason in the first place.

2. Atheism isn't the final word

Comment #38473 by yayevidence on May 8, 2007 at 8:33 am

"What would a world without God look like? Well, for one, morality becomes, if not impossible, exceedingly difficult. "Thou shalt not kill" loses much of its force when reduced from commandment to a suggestion. How inspiring can it be to wake in the morning, look in the mirror, and see an accident of evolutionary history — the end product of the random collision of molecules?

A universe that isn't God-centered becomes ego-centered. People come to see choices through the prism of self: what promotes the individual's well-being and happiness. Such a worldview does not naturally lead to benevolence or self-sacrifice."




WOW. Athiests have no morals. What an original statement. I happen to sponser a child in India, helped rebuild houses for the poor, and gave all of my extra money to street children in a 3rd world country- but according to this guy, I have no morals because I don't believe in God, or follow a book that says that shellfish are an abomination.

For Christ's sake! (no pun intended)

3. Sam's Flea!

Comment #38462 by yayevidence on May 8, 2007 at 7:25 am

Jessie:

The worst part about all of this is that if this guy would actually READ the bible, God DOES tell his people to murder- he tells them to kill anyone who is not of their faith, any child who does not listen to their parents, anyone who so much as gathers firewood on the Sabbath, etc, etc, etc. God's servant, Abraham, gives his daughters up to be raped by the sodomites to spare his "angelic guests" the same fate. In what universe do these stories promote any kind of morals?

4. Atheism, not religion, is the real force behind the mass murders of history

Comment #38283 by yayevidence on May 7, 2007 at 12:14 pm

Just read through the following scripture- there is enough killing in the bible alone to contradict everything that the man who writes this article says. All of the killing that the bible speaks of was not only in the name of religion, but instructed by God himself.

Exodus 32: 27 Moses told them, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Each of you, take your swords and go back and forth from one end of the camp to the other. Kill everyone—even your brothers, friends, and neighbors." 28 The Levites obeyed Moses' command, and about 3,000 people died that day.
Hebrews 9: 22 In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.
Hebrews 10: 28 For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God's mercy to us.
Jude 1: 5 So I want to remind you, though you already know these things, that Jesus first rescued the nation of Israel from Egypt, but later he destroyed those who did not remain faithful."
Genesis 38: 24 About three months later, Judah was told, "Tamar, your daughter-in-law, has acted like a prostitute. And now, because of this, she's pregnant." "Bring her out, and let her be burned!" Judah demanded.
Exodus 12:29 And that night at midnight, the LORD struck down all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn son of the prisoner in the dungeon. Even the firstborn of their livestock were killed.
Exodus 19:12 Mark off a boundary all around the mountain. Warn the people, 'Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Anyone who touches the mountain will certainly be put to death. 13 No hand may touch the person or animal that crosses the boundary; instead, stone them or shoot them with arrows. They must be put to death.' However, when the ram's horn sounds a long blast, then the people may go up on the mountain.
Exodus 21:15 "Anyone who strikes father or mother must be put to death."
Exodus 22: 18 "You must not suffer a witch to live."
Exodus 22: 24 (God says)"My anger will blaze against you, and I will kill you with the sword. Then your wives will be widows and your children fatherless."
Exodus 22: 29 "You must not hold anything back when you give me offerings from your crops and your wine. You must give me your firstborn sons."
Exodus 30: 20 They must wash with water whenever they go into the Tabernacle to appear before the LORD and when they approach the altar to burn up their special gifts to the LORD—or they will die! 21 They must always wash their hands and feet, or they will die.



Now, in actually reading the bible (which many Christians have not), you will come across more violence than you would care to know.