I just received an E-mail informing me that the Presbyterians are having a convention, in Minneapolis, and they are considering the question, Is it OK to be gay?
Therefore I made a few phone calls and figured out that:
The Prebysterian Church USA is meeting this week, in the very same convention center where the ELCA Lutherans met last year and where the Lutherans voted to say, It is OK to be gay.
Last August, just as the Lutherans were getting ready to vote on this important issue, a tornado hit the building where they were meeting.
No one was hurt, but the tornado knocked the cross off from the steeple of the Lutheran Church, which right across the street, where a mini conference was being held by various GLBT organizations.
A Baptist Pastor from Minneapolis blogged asking the question: "Was God in the storm?"
I wonder if any of the Presbyterians currently meeting in Minneapolis have checked the weather forecast?
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
New photo
How does everyone like my new photo?
I'm sorry I'm not very good when they say, "Say cheese!" or "Smile for the camera!"
However take a look at that shirt. I've had it for a while, but I only had my photo taken while wearing it last week for the first time.
That shirt is my official, "Talk 2 a Pastor" shirt.
It says on it, "Talk 2 a Pastor" and under that it says, "Pastor Art".
A man I tried to help a lot, during a rough period of time in his life, gave it to me as a gift. I guess it was one of his ways of saying, "Thank you for helping me, Pastor Art!"
I'm sorry I'm not very good when they say, "Say cheese!" or "Smile for the camera!"
However take a look at that shirt. I've had it for a while, but I only had my photo taken while wearing it last week for the first time.
That shirt is my official, "Talk 2 a Pastor" shirt.
It says on it, "Talk 2 a Pastor" and under that it says, "Pastor Art".
A man I tried to help a lot, during a rough period of time in his life, gave it to me as a gift. I guess it was one of his ways of saying, "Thank you for helping me, Pastor Art!"
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Why are the non-religious more passionate about their beliefs?
This question was asked on the Yahoo Answers site and my reply didn't fully fit, so I wanted to show my complete answer here:
The question was:
Why are the non-religious more passionate about their beliefs?
Here is the link:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100405184703AATZY0q&r=w#TL1WDHv4JHaYqCoaKV3F
Below is my complete answer - the stuff in quotes below is from the answer of another person who answered the original question.
I thought the non religious had an absence of religious belief.
Are you telling me that the non religious, including atheists have beliefs?
I suppose you are correct, after examining the evidence it sure seems like since the non religious have no facts to back up their beliefs, their lack of religion, isn't a lack of faith, it is actually that they have the positive belief that there is no god.
Why else would they be so passionate about those who would otherwise claim, that they have no beliefs, they have no religion?
Edit: Karl P was right on again and the Lightning certain struck again with his excellent reply as well.
Allow me to respond to the reply of someone else by quoting his answer and then a one line comment of mine to each of his:
"I know I am because of all the harm caused by religion:"
Most of the activities you have listed are done by non Christian religions. Bible believing Christians have usually been on the forefront of stopping the objectional behaviors you list below.
"The demonization of other religions, e.g. Christianity demonizing Pagans ("They're devil-worshippers!"), the Romans demonizing Christians ("They're atheists and cannibals!")."
"Vilification of homosexuality, resulting in discrimination, parents disowning their children, murder, and suicide."
Not practiced by Bible believing Christians.
"People and animals sacrificed as an offering to gods."
Not practiced by Bible believing Christians.
"Food destroyed because it doesn't comply with specific religious beliefs."
Not practiced by Bible believing Christians.
"Women treated like second class citizens, or even slaves, based on religious teachings."
Bible believing Christianity was the first of the world's major religious which sought to give women equal rights with men.
"Children growing up without music."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"Children growing up to hate and fear science and scientists, because science disproves their parents' religion - leading to appalling scientific illiteracy."
Bible believing Christians don't do this. Bible believing Christians have contributed more to science than any other religious group.
"Tens of thousands tortured and killed as witches (a practice which still continues today)."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"Millions of cats killed in the belief that witches use them as familiars, leaving rats free to spread the black death throughout Europe, killing millions of people in turn."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"People bothered and sometimes woken up by door-to-door religion salespeople."
Bible believing Christians don't do this. False cults tend to do this the most: LDS and JWs
People dying because they believe their faith makes them immune to snake venom, or other lethal aspects of reality.
Bible believing Christians don't do this. False religious teach people to refuse medical care. Bible believing Christians pray on their way to see the doctor.
"People dying - and letting their children die - because their religion forbids accepting medical help."
Bible believing Christians don't do this. False religious teach people to refuse medical care. Bible believing Christians pray on their way to see the doctor.
"People choked, starved, poisoned, or beaten to death during exorcisms."
The last time I exorcised a demon, it was done over the telephone. Bible believing Christians have the power of Jesus in them and that power of Jesus has power over demons on the other side of the world.
The last time I exorcised a demon, I was in Florida and the person with the demon was in Great Britian, something like 4,000 or more miles away.
"Female genital mutilation endorsed by religious texts."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"People disowning family members for leaving their religion, in some cases symbolized by mock funerals."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
' "Abstinence-only" sex education, resulting in five times the amount sexually transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancies - often leading to ill-fated "emergency" marriages.'
The statment above is not true.
"Campaigns against safe sex, with similar results - responsible for much of the AIDS epidemic in Africa."
The statment above is not true.
"Censorship (often destructive) of speech, art, books, music, films, poetry, songs and, if possible, thought."
Today the only religious speech that seems to be censored is Christians who teach the Bible.
"The discouragement of rational, critical thought."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"Believers whipping, impaling, poisoning or crucifying themselves during religious festivals as a demonstration of their faith and piety."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"Children spending the period of their lives when the brain is most receptive to learning new information reading, rereading, and even memorizing religious texts."
Memorizing the Bible is a good thing, not a bad thing.
"People who believe the world is about to end neglect their education, are not financially responsible, and in extreme cases take part in mass suicides."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"Environmental issues ignored because of beliefs that God will magically fix everything."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"Wives told they will be tortured forever if they leave their abusive husbands."
Bible believing Christians don't do this. LDS - Mormons and Muslims do this, not Chirstians.
"People in times of trouble relying on advice from religious leaders without any sort of training in counseling or therapy."
As a general rule, Bible believing Christians are the most highly educated compared to the leadership of any other religious group.
"Holy wars - followers of different faiths (or even the same faith) killing each other in the name of their (benevolent, loving and merciful) gods."
Bible believing Christians don't do this. However when attacked, Christians will defend themselves.
"The destruction of great works of art considered to be pornographic/blasphemous, and the persecution of the artists."
There are no great works of art which are considered to be pornographic or blasphemous.
"Persecution/punishment of blasphemers (Salman Rushdie still has a death sentence on him), and blasphemy laws in general."
You just described the problems with Islam, the religion of peace which regularly tries to kill those with whom it disagrees.
"Slavery condoned by religious texts."
In Jesus first public religious statement Jesus said He had come to set captives or slaves free.
"Children traumatized by vivid stories of eternal burning and torture to ensure that they'll be too frightened to even question religion."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"Terminal patients in constant agony who would end their lives if they didn't believe it would result in eternal torture."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"School boards having to spend time and money and resources on the fight to have evolution taught in the schools."
Why do school boards spend money to promote the religion of Darwinism?
"Persecution of Heretics/scientists, like Giordano Bruno (burned at the stake) and Galileo Galilei."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"Mayors, senators, and presidents voted into office not because they're right for the job, but because of their religious beliefs."
A person's religious beliefs affects how they carry out the duties of their office.
"Abuse of power, authority and trust by religious leaders (for financial gain or sexual abuse of followers and even children) - but hey, atheists are the immoral ones."
Bible believing Christians agree with you on this.
"People accepting visual and auditory hallucinations unquestioningly as divine, sometimes with fatal results."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"Suicide bombers, who are certain they will be rewarded in heaven."
Bible believing Christians don't do this. You just described Islam.
"Discrimination against atheists, such as laws stating they may not hold public office or testify in court."
You can't have it both ways.
'Missionaries destroying/converting smaller, "heathen" religions and cultures.'
Cultures of hate need to be destroyed and replace with the culture which teaches us to love our neighbors.
"Hardship compounded by the guilt required to reconcile the idea of a fair god with reality ("why is God punishing me? What have I done wrong? Don't I have enough faith?")."
Bible believing Christians have the answer to this problem.
"Human achievements - from skillful surgery to to emergency landings - attributed to gods instead of to the people actually responsible."
Why have most of the patents and significant discoveries come mostly from Christians and Jews?
"Mother Teresa, prolonging the agony of terminal patients and denying them pain relief, so she can offer their suffering as a gift to her god."
Bible believing Christians don't do this. My own view is, after reading some of Mother T's writings is that she was not a follower of Jesus.
"Suppression of logical and critical thought."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"Billions spent to build, maintain, and staff houses of worship."
Bible believing Christians don't do this. They spend some, but their building are rather plain and lack ornimentation.
"Grief and horror caused by the belief that dead friends and family members are tortured as punishment for disbelief."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"Opposition to scientific (especially medical) progress on religious grounds."
Bible believing Christians don't do this. Bible believing Christians believe that all human life is valuable and we don't believe it is right to kill one person to save another unless the person being killed gives his concent.
"Whole societies divided by minor differences in belief or doctrine, often resulting in violence."
Bible believing Christians don't do this. Minor differences don't lead to violence.
"Natural disasters and other tragedies used to claim God is displeased and present demands to avoid similar events (it's like terrorism, but without having to plan or do anything)."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"The attempted genocide of followers of a particular faith (e.g. the Jewish Holocaust, "ethnic cleansing" in former Yugoslavia)."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
Most your objections were about Muslims, not Christians or Jews.
The question was:
Why are the non-religious more passionate about their beliefs?
Here is the link:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100405184703AATZY0q&r=w#TL1WDHv4JHaYqCoaKV3F
Below is my complete answer - the stuff in quotes below is from the answer of another person who answered the original question.
I thought the non religious had an absence of religious belief.
Are you telling me that the non religious, including atheists have beliefs?
I suppose you are correct, after examining the evidence it sure seems like since the non religious have no facts to back up their beliefs, their lack of religion, isn't a lack of faith, it is actually that they have the positive belief that there is no god.
Why else would they be so passionate about those who would otherwise claim, that they have no beliefs, they have no religion?
Edit: Karl P was right on again and the Lightning certain struck again with his excellent reply as well.
Allow me to respond to the reply of someone else by quoting his answer and then a one line comment of mine to each of his:
"I know I am because of all the harm caused by religion:"
Most of the activities you have listed are done by non Christian religions. Bible believing Christians have usually been on the forefront of stopping the objectional behaviors you list below.
"The demonization of other religions, e.g. Christianity demonizing Pagans ("They're devil-worshippers!"), the Romans demonizing Christians ("They're atheists and cannibals!")."
"Vilification of homosexuality, resulting in discrimination, parents disowning their children, murder, and suicide."
Not practiced by Bible believing Christians.
"People and animals sacrificed as an offering to gods."
Not practiced by Bible believing Christians.
"Food destroyed because it doesn't comply with specific religious beliefs."
Not practiced by Bible believing Christians.
"Women treated like second class citizens, or even slaves, based on religious teachings."
Bible believing Christianity was the first of the world's major religious which sought to give women equal rights with men.
"Children growing up without music."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"Children growing up to hate and fear science and scientists, because science disproves their parents' religion - leading to appalling scientific illiteracy."
Bible believing Christians don't do this. Bible believing Christians have contributed more to science than any other religious group.
"Tens of thousands tortured and killed as witches (a practice which still continues today)."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"Millions of cats killed in the belief that witches use them as familiars, leaving rats free to spread the black death throughout Europe, killing millions of people in turn."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"People bothered and sometimes woken up by door-to-door religion salespeople."
Bible believing Christians don't do this. False cults tend to do this the most: LDS and JWs
People dying because they believe their faith makes them immune to snake venom, or other lethal aspects of reality.
Bible believing Christians don't do this. False religious teach people to refuse medical care. Bible believing Christians pray on their way to see the doctor.
"People dying - and letting their children die - because their religion forbids accepting medical help."
Bible believing Christians don't do this. False religious teach people to refuse medical care. Bible believing Christians pray on their way to see the doctor.
"People choked, starved, poisoned, or beaten to death during exorcisms."
The last time I exorcised a demon, it was done over the telephone. Bible believing Christians have the power of Jesus in them and that power of Jesus has power over demons on the other side of the world.
The last time I exorcised a demon, I was in Florida and the person with the demon was in Great Britian, something like 4,000 or more miles away.
"Female genital mutilation endorsed by religious texts."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"People disowning family members for leaving their religion, in some cases symbolized by mock funerals."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
' "Abstinence-only" sex education, resulting in five times the amount sexually transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancies - often leading to ill-fated "emergency" marriages.'
The statment above is not true.
"Campaigns against safe sex, with similar results - responsible for much of the AIDS epidemic in Africa."
The statment above is not true.
"Censorship (often destructive) of speech, art, books, music, films, poetry, songs and, if possible, thought."
Today the only religious speech that seems to be censored is Christians who teach the Bible.
"The discouragement of rational, critical thought."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"Believers whipping, impaling, poisoning or crucifying themselves during religious festivals as a demonstration of their faith and piety."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"Children spending the period of their lives when the brain is most receptive to learning new information reading, rereading, and even memorizing religious texts."
Memorizing the Bible is a good thing, not a bad thing.
"People who believe the world is about to end neglect their education, are not financially responsible, and in extreme cases take part in mass suicides."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"Environmental issues ignored because of beliefs that God will magically fix everything."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"Wives told they will be tortured forever if they leave their abusive husbands."
Bible believing Christians don't do this. LDS - Mormons and Muslims do this, not Chirstians.
"People in times of trouble relying on advice from religious leaders without any sort of training in counseling or therapy."
As a general rule, Bible believing Christians are the most highly educated compared to the leadership of any other religious group.
"Holy wars - followers of different faiths (or even the same faith) killing each other in the name of their (benevolent, loving and merciful) gods."
Bible believing Christians don't do this. However when attacked, Christians will defend themselves.
"The destruction of great works of art considered to be pornographic/blasphemous, and the persecution of the artists."
There are no great works of art which are considered to be pornographic or blasphemous.
"Persecution/punishment of blasphemers (Salman Rushdie still has a death sentence on him), and blasphemy laws in general."
You just described the problems with Islam, the religion of peace which regularly tries to kill those with whom it disagrees.
"Slavery condoned by religious texts."
In Jesus first public religious statement Jesus said He had come to set captives or slaves free.
"Children traumatized by vivid stories of eternal burning and torture to ensure that they'll be too frightened to even question religion."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"Terminal patients in constant agony who would end their lives if they didn't believe it would result in eternal torture."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"School boards having to spend time and money and resources on the fight to have evolution taught in the schools."
Why do school boards spend money to promote the religion of Darwinism?
"Persecution of Heretics/scientists, like Giordano Bruno (burned at the stake) and Galileo Galilei."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"Mayors, senators, and presidents voted into office not because they're right for the job, but because of their religious beliefs."
A person's religious beliefs affects how they carry out the duties of their office.
"Abuse of power, authority and trust by religious leaders (for financial gain or sexual abuse of followers and even children) - but hey, atheists are the immoral ones."
Bible believing Christians agree with you on this.
"People accepting visual and auditory hallucinations unquestioningly as divine, sometimes with fatal results."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"Suicide bombers, who are certain they will be rewarded in heaven."
Bible believing Christians don't do this. You just described Islam.
"Discrimination against atheists, such as laws stating they may not hold public office or testify in court."
You can't have it both ways.
'Missionaries destroying/converting smaller, "heathen" religions and cultures.'
Cultures of hate need to be destroyed and replace with the culture which teaches us to love our neighbors.
"Hardship compounded by the guilt required to reconcile the idea of a fair god with reality ("why is God punishing me? What have I done wrong? Don't I have enough faith?")."
Bible believing Christians have the answer to this problem.
"Human achievements - from skillful surgery to to emergency landings - attributed to gods instead of to the people actually responsible."
Why have most of the patents and significant discoveries come mostly from Christians and Jews?
"Mother Teresa, prolonging the agony of terminal patients and denying them pain relief, so she can offer their suffering as a gift to her god."
Bible believing Christians don't do this. My own view is, after reading some of Mother T's writings is that she was not a follower of Jesus.
"Suppression of logical and critical thought."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"Billions spent to build, maintain, and staff houses of worship."
Bible believing Christians don't do this. They spend some, but their building are rather plain and lack ornimentation.
"Grief and horror caused by the belief that dead friends and family members are tortured as punishment for disbelief."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"Opposition to scientific (especially medical) progress on religious grounds."
Bible believing Christians don't do this. Bible believing Christians believe that all human life is valuable and we don't believe it is right to kill one person to save another unless the person being killed gives his concent.
"Whole societies divided by minor differences in belief or doctrine, often resulting in violence."
Bible believing Christians don't do this. Minor differences don't lead to violence.
"Natural disasters and other tragedies used to claim God is displeased and present demands to avoid similar events (it's like terrorism, but without having to plan or do anything)."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
"The attempted genocide of followers of a particular faith (e.g. the Jewish Holocaust, "ethnic cleansing" in former Yugoslavia)."
Bible believing Christians don't do this.
Most your objections were about Muslims, not Christians or Jews.
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