Second, you do make lots of claims on this blog. Sometimes these are done in jest, sometimes not. In many ways, you are as “evangelical” as Mr. Barker, only not as aggressive. Being an agnostic is not really even accurate. If one were a consistent agnostic, he would attend a religious service of some sort at least 50% of the time. But one’s actions typically demonstrate what he really believes. I would also apply this to the person who claimed to be a Christian but lived his life much the same as you do.

Finally, you will not calmly prepare yourself for an end without being reconciled with God. This only comes through Jesus Christ. But I would be glad to talk with you about this more at length elsewhere.

That is, if you are really serious about prepare for your end (but 65 ain’t that close; my own dear mother is older than you, and she ain’t nowhere near the end!).

Report comment to moderator

I met Dan Barker in person after he debated a prominent Christian apologist.

He was pleasant and personable. We had a brief, cordial argument. I said I didn’t see the point of “evangelical atheism.”

He said he did. We both got bored with the discussion and drifted away from each other.

Seriously, I have met Christians I liked and Christians I disliked.

I have met atheists I liked and atheists I disliked.

If you look at the history of Christianity, there are many excellent episodes and many terrible episodes. I would say that people at this website tend to be in denial about the latter.

The terrible episodes of atheism are more spectacular, especially in the last few centuries. However, atheism is not the “essence” of Communism and Communism is not the essence of atheism.

Atheism is not a “movement” by itself. It’s a lack of belief in God. It’s not going to free people or make them good.

Christianity may bring people to Heaven and God. I don’t think so; most here do.

Christianity has had a couple of thousand years to demonstrate that it solves the problems of our mundane world. I am a mundane person; I don’t think Christianity has made it’s case for the tremendous value for that world that most here think it does. Mileage varies.

I don’t claim to know how to make a better world. I’m just trying to take care of my family, help get my granddaughter started on an OK path, and calmly prepare myself for my end, which at 65 will be sooner rather than later.

Report comment to moderator

But anyway!

Report comment to moderator

On the face of it, it could simply be an accurate description, because people for whom English is a second language are likely to use grammar and syntax that make sense to them from their native language until they learn English better. I have known few Asians who were not already fluent in English, so I wouldn’t know if there is any sound basis for Outkast’s guess.

I attempt to respond only to people’s actual statements and not speculate as to their intentions were in saying them. On that basis it seemed best to simply ignore the comment, which – taken literally – could simply be a description of observed language patterns.

Report comment to moderator

Report comment to moderator

It can only be to God’s glory, then, for you to treat each other i the same friendly way as Christ treated you. (Jerusalem Bible translation)

A textual note: I love the translation, though honestly, it is a bit of a paraphrase. The key Greek verb, proslambanw doesn’t have an especially clean English counterpart; it packs a great deal of culture.

Anyways, this was the text that went into my journal. And it seems a good one to keep in mind when the political discussion heats up.

Report comment to moderator

I know that in the distant past campaign rhetoric was more vile than it is today, but we seemed to have gotten past that for a while, only to be headed back in that direction lately. It’s usually not the candidates themselves that use hatred as a weapon, it’s often the everyday blogger or some low level surrogate that acts as if the other political party is the enemy, instead of just a group of people that see things differently than they do.

Report comment to moderator

Report comment to moderator

Report comment to moderator

Plenty of folks that aren’t Christian post on WOW. Are they “the best” or “the least” or “something inbetween”?

My point? Only one lens of those rose-colored glasses seems to be working.

Report comment to moderator