Demonizing the Rich

Veritas Maximus »

Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:16 pm Agree: 4   Disagree: 2

Wow! Reading some of the responses to this article convince me that the church has been converted by the culture rather than vice versa. You folks have no conception of the Christian worldview and its relation to economics. Astonishing! Intellectually dishonest? The 2007 economic data remains relevant to the point, which is about the relationship of tax cuts to the reinvestment of wealth. The date of the data does not refute the facts. "Carrying water for the Wall-Street money changers" - please! Read the article again! And, pointing to European nations with their supposed higher standard of living is fallacious. Compare their GDP, home ownership, new-business start-ups; unemployment is off-set by government employment (funded by tax-payers), which is four times that of the US, and having proudly served in the military where innovation and entrepreneurialism are discouraged, this wouldn't be conducive to building the largest economy of earth and I wouldn't want the whole nation to live under such constraints. Lastly, the Europeans are learning that socialism with its present public expenditures (responsible for the gov't-funded standard of living) is simply unsustainable. This article, along with the above responses, points out quite accurately the growing acceptance of secular-inspired socialism as the solution to man's vice. God help us!

In Pursuit of Community

Veritas Maximus »

Wed Apr 23, 2008 1:33 pm Agree: 3   Disagree: 2

I don't think Mr. Craven is following Charles Taylor theologically at all. He quotes Taylor on the subject of individualism, i.e. "our sources of self-identity have shifted from the external and transcendent to the internal and subjective experience of the individual." This is a very true statement relative to American culture that has nothing to do with any theological assertions. To Quecat, I think you need to read the article again because you have clearly failed to comprehend it. Furthermore to suggest that the church is not a "distinct community" is both ridiculous and unbiblical. With all due respect, your demand for a "proof text" reveals more about what you don't know than how to do proper biblical theology. The issues raised by Craven are of profound importance to the church and in no way associated with what you perceive, or label, as liberal ecumenism. The "community" to which Craven is referring is clearly that of orthodox confessing Christians. Again, you either ignored or failed to comprehend the thesis of this article. If you are going to offer criticism, you need to be both fair and much more theologically precise. Presently, your diatribe only serves as a further source of division.

Are Christians Contributing to Unbelief?

Veritas Maximus »

Sun Oct 28, 2007 7:21 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

The following passage is the primary point Craven is making and it is a good one: "For Christians, there is always an imperative for self-critique in the light of Scripture and we must be willing to face the toughest questions about ourselves first." What I read in the responses herein demonstrates a stubborn unwillingness to engage in such self-examination. Instead there is arrogance and Pharisaical certitude--precisely the attitudes that this article is addressing! God have mercy on us!

What Is Normal?

Veritas Maximus »

Wed Oct 03, 2007 7:18 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

Citizen, once again I find your posts to be dripping with contempt and superiority. Thankfully there are folks who do pray for healing but also offer love and compassion in the meantime. What fault do you find in that? Or, is your accusation really against God?

Thinking Small Can Change the World

Veritas Maximus »

Wed Oct 03, 2007 6:59 am Agree: 2   Disagree: 0

Citizen, with all due respect; what on earth are you talking about? Are you suggesting that living like Christ, teaching our children the christian worldview, etc. produced the Dark Ages?

Between Two Extremes: Liberalism and Fundamentalism

Veritas Maximus »

Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:25 pm Agree: 3   Disagree: 1

Mr. Craven has exposed a real and pervasive problem in the contemporary American church and the uncharitable and sometimes "catty" responses reveal the very thing which Craven's article addresses. I think he offers a fairly clear and thorough explanation of conservative fundamentalism, which is not the same as the "fundamentals" of the faith. The fact that some readers fail to understand his helpful critique is not grounds for condemning his assertions. Perhaps those in question should endeavor to understand the issue more fully before attacking. Unfortunately, attacking other believers is an all-too typical fundamentalist reaction.