tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526647904385272392.post2834678608779490721..comments2024-03-28T03:05:37.670-06:00Comments on The Barb Wire: GREAT QUOTE IN NEWSWEEK ABOUT TODAY'S ATHEISTSBarbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016832868807957194noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526647904385272392.post-70473142600463763422009-11-01T20:58:47.152-06:002009-11-01T20:58:47.152-06:00Barb,
Yes, do check out his stuff. The books are ...Barb,<br /><br />Yes, do check out his stuff. The books are small and simple, not heady or overly intellectual. They would lend themselves very well to Sunday School classes.matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13584788454804813006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526647904385272392.post-79120374001705807732009-11-01T15:42:08.045-06:002009-11-01T15:42:08.045-06:00Prominent atheists like Harris, Dawkins, and Hitch...Prominent atheists like Harris, Dawkins, and Hitchens have been very vocal about the dangers of Islam. And apart from Mudrake, I'm not aware of any atheists, certainly not PZ Myers, who are calling for the incarceration of believers. While they may be very critical of certain religious people and religion in general, there is a huge difference between ridicule and persecution. To suggest there is or will be some unholy alliance between atheists and Muslim extremists borders on hysterics worthy of Glenn Beck.AndThenSomenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526647904385272392.post-38732257401650515422009-11-01T13:08:23.420-06:002009-11-01T13:08:23.420-06:00Actually I sent a powerpoint presentation to peopl...Actually I sent a powerpoint presentation to people on my email list and described the first photo as being taken in my home area. I think I sent it to you too.<br /><br />Anyway, I didn't post any photos in France but the host did and I just answered the questions asked of me.Jeanettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00099630003366955841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526647904385272392.post-58180048876609526572009-11-01T10:27:06.886-06:002009-11-01T10:27:06.886-06:00Thanks, Matt, for that additional info. I had not...Thanks, Matt, for that additional info. I had not heard of Wilson. As CE Director, I shall get right on it!!! Duty calls! even for a lowly woman! : DBarbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05016832868807957194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526647904385272392.post-69950246204164812392009-11-01T10:23:44.756-06:002009-11-01T10:23:44.756-06:00Jeanette, I didn't blame just the Catholics. I...Jeanette, I didn't blame just the Catholics. I mentioned the protestant Church of England. I've also commented previously on the Salem witch trials you suggested --being the work of the devil against Christians --using occultic witchy teen girls and a hypocritical Christian judge as his instrument of torture. That was a case where superstition and hypocrisy worked together. Nevertheless, TRUE Christianity survives onslaught and misrepresentation in every generation from within and without the church.<br /><br />I have also agreed with Christianity's critics that protestants found biblical support for slavery before they began to apply the Bible's Golden Rule teachings of Christ and the message of compassion and equality in God's sight found throughout the NT.<br /><br />Speaking of the church today: <br /><br />I am in the healthiest church that I have been in since my home church where I grew up which WAS healthy-- my present church had some historical hard times, too many self-annointed (though admittedly sincere) lay "prophets, teachers, and exhorters," heady with their self-proclaimed "spiritual gifts" (I'm always leery when people are encouraged to figure out their spiritual gifts and claim a lofty biblical title--then they won't do anything out of their role asked of them.) There have also been "my way or the highway" types from which we have recovered.<br /><br />Now, we in leadership at our church are mostly lovers. It's the best church board I've ever been on for fellowship and loving spirit --where the people at the board meeting seem the same as they are out of the board meeting and strive for genuine fellowship with one another --instead of belonging to factions. Our pastor, even as a young man, was never a clique-ish sort seeking the favor of people --but strives to be respectful of all and not in any one person or family's pocket, seems to me. (And I would say our past pastor was that way, also.)<br /><br />The church can stand against sin --as in the social issues-- without being unloving --and when the church IS unloving within (or without) its walls and to other Christians, it has a major deficiency of the Holy Spirit and will be hindered from God's intention for them.<br /><br />Agreed, the church and believers will be persecuted --doesn't mean we should therefore retreat behind our walls --or that our method is wrong because we meet with opposition.<br /><br />Many of us still believe that a perfectly loving approach to opposition will win people over to our side. Not according to prophecy. Of course it is true that "a soft answer turns away wrath," and there is no reason to be arrogant as a means of witness! And of course, love is powerful. But just because we are hated or persecuted, doesn't mean we were the ones in error. <br /><br />I see you are posting pictures in France. Fare thee well!Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05016832868807957194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526647904385272392.post-83225555899289995252009-11-01T01:17:56.102-06:002009-11-01T01:17:56.102-06:00Barb,
Doesn't the New Testament tell us over ...Barb,<br /><br />Doesn't the New Testament tell us over and over again that in the last days the Church will be persecuted?<br /><br />We are merely seeing what Jesus told us we would see.<br /><br />And we Protestants are not completely clean either. Remember the witch trials and burning at the stake of women deemed to be witches.<br /><br />All groups that claim to be Christian have committed atrocities in the name of Christianity. Don't blame just the Catholics.Jeanettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00099630003366955841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526647904385272392.post-44035081421203135042009-10-31T20:02:29.817-06:002009-10-31T20:02:29.817-06:00I've read the book that came out of the debate...I've read the book that came out of the debate between Hitchens and Wilson, the Idaho pastor. I've read a lot of Wilson's books, actually. He's a great guy. He has a series of books on the Christian family that are among the most helpful I've ever read. Well worth checking out...matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13584788454804813006noreply@blogger.com