Dawkins Refuses to Debate Intelligent Design Scholars

Chaz »

Wed Oct 14, 2009 1:39 pm Agree: 5   Disagree: 11

Why is it that a smart guy like Dawkins simply cannot grasp the following truth? "No believer will find his faith shaken by evidence that is evidence only in the light of assumptions he does not share and considers flatly wrong." -Stanley Fish

I (and many others) simply do not share his assumption that human beings are the starting point for defining reality. Hence the mountains of "evidence" he puts forward based on that assumption are "castles in the sky" talk to me. And yet he would insist that his assumption is the only "scientific" "reasonable" one and then sets out to prove his assumption is right based on evidence that only makes sense in the light of that very assumption? Amazing.

'Ardi' Reverses Common Understanding of Human Evolution

Chaz »

Fri Oct 02, 2009 10:36 am Agree: 6   Disagree: 0

Faffy, a question for you: on what basis do you assume that the letters you used to form the words you wrote to convey your thoughts has meaning? In other words, what is your assumed meaningfulness to what you wrote based on? And I am not targeting you. This is the question I wish I could get an answer on from scientists who assume WHAT? behind statements they make they would have us believe are, in fact, ultimately meaningful statements.

ELCA Opens Ordination to Noncelibate Homosexuals

Chaz »

Sat Aug 22, 2009 4:14 pm Agree: 4   Disagree: 3

Blacksho89 -- sorry to you and all. According to your reference, here is the quote:

"Syphilis remains uncommon in the general population, but has been increasing in men who have sex with men. It is extremely rare among lesbians. However, lesbians should talk to their doctor if they have any non-healing ulcers."

ELCA Opens Ordination to Noncelibate Homosexuals

Chaz »

Sat Aug 22, 2009 2:16 pm Agree: 3   Disagree: 2

I think J. Budziszewski's thoughts are worth the read here. To think that a grouping of people who go by the name Christian are actually by this vote condoning, yes, even encouraging people to harm one another.

I quote: "What harms whom. The idea that homosexual acts don't harm anybody isn't even close to being true; they harm those who commit them at every level, physical, emotional, and spiritual. To begin with the most obvious — the physical — how could it not harm a man to suffer rectal trauma because a large object has been repeatedly forced into an opening which was designed for a radically different function? Lesbian sex is no picnic either; the rate of syphilis among women who practice homosexual acts is nineteen times higher than the rate among women who don't.

Other levels of harm. At the emotional and spiritual levels, the damage of homosexual acts is less obvious but just as grave. Consider emotional harm. God designed the male-female pair to balance each other; by contrast, same-same mating drives the partners to extremes. Instead of balancing each other, they reinforce each other. If you want an example, think of the promiscuous tendencies of men in general. Unbalanced by women, these tendencies lead to the anonymous, no-brakes promiscuity of men who have sex with hundreds, even thousands, of other men. Now consider spiritual harm. In homosexual acts you're seeking union with someone who is only your own mirror image, so in a way, you're still trapped inside yourself. You haven't experienced the power of marital sex to take you beyond the Self; you're rejecting the challenge of union with someone who is really Other."

ELCA Opens 2009 Church Assembly with Call for Respectful Discussions

Chaz »

Tue Aug 18, 2009 8:47 pm Agree: 4   Disagree: 0

Get this: I've been fill-in pastor for three years for two rural ELCA churches along with my present calling in another church. This evening I am preparing the bulletin for the Lutheran services and downloading this weeks lectionary lessons for this coming Sunday. Lo and behold the Gospel reading is from Mark 7:1-13 in which Jesus says: 6 "And he said to them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 7 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. 8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men. 9 And he said to them, You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!" Whoa.

Lutherans Brace for Policy-Setting Sexuality Debates

Chaz »

Sun Aug 16, 2009 6:44 pm Agree: 5   Disagree: 1

Note the shift in authority from the Word of God to "communal discernment of the Spirit’s leading" no matter where the votes may lead. If Martin Luther were to suddenly show at this gathering, he would take that shift to task big time. In a scorching, blistering rebuke on his way out the door it would be fried, burnt to a crisp, toasted beyond toast.

U.S. Episcopal Head Opens Triennial Convention with 'Crisis' Talk

Chaz »

Thu Jul 09, 2009 2:44 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 2

ESV on John 4:10 -- "Jesus answered her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, Give me a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."

KJF's "Theological MumboJumbo Version" (TMJV) -- John 10:4 -- "Jesus answered her, If you-all knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you-all, Give me a drink, you-all would have asked him, and he would have given you--the faith community, as a community, and only as a community--living water."

Huckabee, Jon Stewart Face Off on Abortion

Chaz »

Fri Jun 19, 2009 11:15 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

Chelsa,

I didn't say that "all humans are immeasurably important" is the starting point as implied in your post. I wrote that "we start with Him." Consequently what is "morally right" is to listen to Him. What is "morally wrong" is to not to. Moral issues are not "our decision." It is precisely because we take ownership of them and of life that we sink into the grey swamp.

"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12 I believe that is true for every single decision we will ever face without exception.

Huckabee, Jon Stewart Face Off on Abortion

Chaz »

Fri Jun 19, 2009 4:19 pm Agree: 3   Disagree: 1

I don't see this as an issue of the "government" dictating anything to anybody. It is about starting points for reason and morality.

If our starting point is other than God and we are going to reason and moralize about life to the exclusion of God then, frankly, nothing matters: not you, not me, not the unborn, not being good, not being evil, NOTHING. Let us eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die. (Dr. Tiller's work, for example, was perfectly consistent and logical in a godless world.)

But if God is there and He has revealed Himself in nature and the Christian Scriptures and we start with Him, EVERYTHING matters.

And considering that this God has made it exceedingly clear that all things human are immeasurably important to Him then questions concerning to abort or not are not even in the ball park. NOT EVEN CLOSE. What IS in order is fear and trembling at the very thought of mismanaging anything, especially anything and anyone who is vulnerable. "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." James 1:27

Hundreds Pay Last Respects to George Tiller

Chaz »

Sun Jun 07, 2009 8:45 pm Agree: 6   Disagree: 13

Where are the 100's to mourn and weep over the 60,000 pre-borns whose lives this man snuffed out? How profound our sinful blindness is. What part ot the following don't we understand?

"Embryos possess the epigenetic primordia for internally directed growth and maturation as distinct, self-integrating, human organisms. Each embryo is therefore already -- and not merely potentially -- a living member of the human species.

The being that is now you or me is the same being that was once an adolescent, and before that a toddler, and before that an infant, and before that a fetus, and before that an embryo. To have destroyed the being that is you or me at any of these stages would have been to destroy you or me."

-Robert George
Princeton moral and political philosopher

Piper, Driscoll Stay Passionate for Mission amid Criticisms

Chaz »

Fri Jun 05, 2009 10:33 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 1

My objection to 5 point Calvinism is that of George MacDonald: If God does not love every one then I don't care to have Him love me.

Iowa Court Legalizes Gay Marriage

Chaz »

Sat Apr 04, 2009 1:45 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 2

A lie at the very core of ones identity affirmed. Truly one of the saddest days in the history of our nation.

Anti-Theist: Christianity is Bad for the World

Chaz »

Mon Dec 29, 2008 4:03 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 2

"Atheist Hitchens in an earlier segment said he firmly does not believe there is an absolute truth but only relative truth."

Dear Dr. Hitchens, you say that you firmly do not believe there is an absolute truth but only relative truth? Tell me, just how are we to interpret what you just said--is your statement absolutely true or not?

Also, "No believer will find his faith shaken by evidence that is evidence only in the light of assumptions he does not share and considers flatly wrong." -Stanley Fish

Mr. Hitchens, your "evidence" for your point of view means zero to me just as the evidence I ascribe to in coming to an opposite conclusion means zero to you. So long as you or I remain true believers in our contrary assumptions, there is nothing to talk about. However, in all your preaching at least be honest and disclose your assumptions. (But then again, honesty is ultimately a meaningless exercise in your world view isn't it? What objective reference point can you point to to conclude otherwise?).

Hence,

"There is only one really serious philosophical question, and that is suicide. Deciding whether or not life is worth living is to answer the fundamental question in philosophy. All other questions follow from that." Albert Camus

If you, Mr Hitchens, asked yourself the question, "Why don't I commit suicide?" You would find, so long as you remain a true believer in your present set of assumptions, that your every reason why not are precisely the reasons why you should.

'The Shack' Author to Face Fans, Critics via Chat

Chaz »

Sat Sep 20, 2008 3:49 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 1

Blacksho89, the HUGE difference is that in the Scriptures the tenor is "God is like owner of a vineyard who..." No problem. Whereas with The Shack the tenor is that out pops the Papa woman with the clear understanding that "Here is your God" I see a WORLD of difference between those two ways of referencing the Holy One.

'The Shack' Author to Face Fans, Critics via Chat

Chaz »

Thu Sep 18, 2008 10:39 pm Agree: 5   Disagree: 3

My objection has to do with personifying the Trinity. That, to me, is unquestionably unbiblical and sinful every bit as much as a physical golden calf is. Just because the image is suggested to one's imagination is of no less consequence in shaping one's thoughts of God than an image of silver or gold sitting on one's kitchen table and saying, "Behold, your God."

per·son·i·fy
2. To represent (an object or abstraction) by a human figure. www.thefreedictionary.com

I believe that we are never to represent the Father (or the Holy Spirit for that matter) `by a human figure,' and any attempts to do so is serious error. Didn't the apostle Paul speak to this when he wrote "Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles." (Romans 1:22, 23, NIV.)

Think of it: "exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man." "The Shack," does PRECISELY that. On the potters wheel of his mind the author fashions an image, an image of the Holy One, God the Father-"the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no-one has seen or can see" (1Tim 6:15,16 NIV). And what does the image look like? It is "made to look like mortal man" --> the "Papa" woman.

Jesus said: "God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:24, NIV. NO IMAGES can convey "spirit" and any attempts to create one I think is a subtle form of idolatry and will instigate deception.

There may be some good insights in the book, but the ends don't justify the means-ever.

Episcopal Gay Bishop, Partner Joined in Civil Union

Chaz »

Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:09 pm Agree: 5   Disagree: 1

A picture is worth 1,000 words. I can hardly believe it. It is one thing to sin and be broken over it--> "Blessed are those who mourn." There is blessedness and eternal hope for all who confess and renounce their sins. But I shutter to see that picture and all that it represents--> brazen, unrepentant defiance of God's design and plan, let alone this being done in the name of Christ!

Rick Warren Supports Ugandan Bishops' Lambeth Boycott

Chaz »

Wed Apr 02, 2008 7:31 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

Good to see Mr Warren stand for the truth in this. I just wish he would have restricted his passion to the contents of his Purpose Driven Life book and let the Lord lead others through the Spirit. Instead he is seemingly trying to guide Christians along the lines of what he understands the Lord to be saying to him. And hence the Purpose Driven This and the Purpose Driven That. Just preach the Word, brother, and let the Holy Spirit do the guiding of His people in response to that Word. Not to worry, Jesus WILL BUILD HIS CHURCH.

Rick Warren Supports Ugandan Bishops' Lambeth Boycott

Chaz »

Wed Apr 02, 2008 7:20 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

Actually, he was invited to be there, just restricted as to his participation. He was upset with the restriction and is opting out.

Seven Errors to Avoid if You Want Your Ministry to Last

Chaz »

Sat Feb 09, 2008 4:51 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

It seems to me Jesus gave us just one word on bearing fruit: ““I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5, NIV. I am fully convinced that if I focus all my energies on abiding in Jesus (and He Himself will personally teach me all that that means) all will be well, and I mean ALL.

Osteen Reveals Keys to Becoming a 'Better You'

Chaz »

Tue Oct 16, 2007 8:34 pm Agree: 5   Disagree: 0

Another thought: Can you imagine the Apostle Paul, who wrote, “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2, NKJV), and “...You died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3, NKJV), turning out a book entitled "Becoming A Better You"?

Frankly, Brian Welch, (ex-KORN now new believer) I think did very well with his book title "SAVE ME FROM MYSELF" Try telling that dude, "No, man, you just need to become a better you!" Deliver me.

I praise Christ that He did not come to help me be a better me--I am precisely the problem I must be saved from. I praise Him with all my heart for the CROSS and the blessed chances He gives me daily to die with Him to myself and rise to live for one reality--HIM, to the exclusion of everything ME. Thank You, Jesus.