Showing posts with label agnosticism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label agnosticism. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Do Christians despise and persecute homosexuals?

We often get this accusation thrown at us, and seldom can we defend ourselves without losing temper and staying polite. The latest episode of that nature happened today, and I simply have to clarify some things in order to be straightforward and as clear as possible.

A whole group of good students got classified as intolerant because of their Christian convictions. I am not sure whether 16-year old people are able to defend Christian faith well enough to make themselves perfectly understood. I hope they can. But I think it is necessary to point out some aspects of our beliefs that may be perceived in a certain way and that should not be perceived as hate, despise, bullying.

Let me be blunt: we believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, is God-breathed, "theopneustos", and completely infallible in the matters of faith. This Bible teaches us that people are sinners, and therefore commit sins. We all do, without exception, and the only Man who was sinless was Lord Jesus, God incarnate. Every sin is a law breaker and separates us from God. Sin of theft, sin of lying, sin of covetousness, sin of adultery, sin of idolatry, sin of homosexuality. Every sin has to be paid for, and the only payment is death. By no means do we treat homosexuality as somehow special in the register of sins. For every sin there is a punishment. Every sinner will pay. Unless...

Unless a sinner trusts in Jesus and His forensic payment for our sins, unless the sinner repents from his ways and becomes the follower of Jesus, it will be the sinner who is going to pay. A thief, a liar, an adulterer, a homosexual. What we, Christians, want more than anything, is for the sinners to repent and run to the cross. We are compelled to loving all people, because of the love God showed us while we were yet lost sinners.
We love sinners, we are sinners too, but we are the forgiven ones, and desire all people to beg God for forgiveness. But love does not mean shutting our eyes to sin and calling it good. Sin is evil, and it has to be said. Therefore we do say it. We say it out of love, though, and NOT out of hate. This is the huge difference.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Pro-marriage speech garners professor's profane wrath

After being called a "fascist" by his professor, a Christian California student has filed suit against his college for violations of his free-speech rights.

Less than a month after voters in California decided to amend their state constitution and protect traditional marriage, Jonathan Lopez -- in a public speaking class -- shared his beliefs on faith and marriage. David French of the Alliance Defense Fund picks up the story.

"Jonathan talked about his faith -- and one of the things he talked about in context of his faith was...marriage," says French. "He read from the dictionary definition of marriage. The professor stopped the class, called him a 'fascist b_____d' -- [he] used the expletive -- [and] told the class that anyone who wanted to could leave if they were offended...."

Read on...

Monday, February 09, 2009

Interesting article

Charles Darwin zealots have made science a substitute religion
Christopher Booker is troubled by the fervour surrounding the 200-year anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth.
Darwinians refuse to accept how much they don't know Photo: PA

As councils ran out of the grit they had failed to stockpile because they fell for the Government line that climate change made it unnecessary, Britain was last week doubly-carpeted, partly by snow, partly by a blizzard of tributes to Charles Darwin. What did these have in common? In contrast to the centenary of Darwin’s death 26 years ago, what has been noticeable about this homage, not least on the BBC, is how relentlessly reverential it has been.

One would never have guessed from the adulation heaped on the great man by the likes of Sir David Attenborough that there is something very odd about Darwin’s theory. He did not, of course, originate the idea that life on earth had evolved. This notion went back to the ancient Greeks, and was accepted by many of Darwin’s predecessors, including his own grandfather Erasmus. The novelty of Darwin’s thesis was his claim that evolution could be explained solely by the process of natural selection, whereby an infinite series of minute variations gradually turned one form of life into another.

One great stumbling block to his argument is that evolution has repeatedly taken place in leaps forward so sudden and so complex that they could not possibly have been accounted for by the gradual process he suggested - “the Cambrian explosion" of new life forms, the complexities of the eye, the post-Cretaceous explosion of mammals. Again and again some new development emerged which required a whole mass of interdependent changes to take place simultaneously, such as the transformation of reptiles into feathered, hollow-boned and warm-blooded birds.

Years ago, a good illustration of this was Attenborough himself claiming to 'prove’ Darwin’s theory by showing us a mouse and a bat, explaining how one evolved into the other. He seemed oblivious to the obvious point that, as the mouse’s forelegs evolved by minute variations to wings, there must have been a long period when the creature, no longer with properly functioning legs but as yet unable to fly, was much less 'adapted to survive’ than it had been before.

As even Darwin himself acknowledged, these jumps in the story might have seemed to render his thesis â absurd’. He might therefore have recognised that some other critically important but unknown factor seemed to be at work, an â organising power’ which had allowed these otherwise inexplicable leaps to take place. But so possessed was he by the simplicity of his theory that, brushing such difficulties aside, he made a leap of faith that it must be right, regardless of the evidence. In this he has been followed by generations of 'Darwinians’ who have found his theory so beguiling that, like him, they have refused to recognise how much it cannot explain.

What is fascinating about the Darwinians is their inability to accept just how much they do not know. Armoured in their certainty that they have all the answers when they so obviously don’t, neo-Darwinians such as Richard Dawkins rest their beliefs just as much on an unscientific leap of faith as the â Creationists’ they so fanatically affect to despise. It is revealing how they dismissively try to equate all those scientists who argue for 'intelligent design' with Biblical fundamentalists, as their only way to cope with questions they cannot answer.

Something strikingly similar has been taking place over the belief that the world is dangerously warming, due to the rise in man-made CO2. For a time the believers in this theory seemed to have the evidence on their side, as CO2 levels and temperatures rose in apparent harmony. But lately all sorts of evidence has been put forward by serious scientists to suggest that this theory is seriously flawed, not least the fact that recently falling temperatures were not predicted by any of those computer models on which the advocates of global warming rest their beliefs.

It becomes increasingly obvious that, like the Darwinians, the warming supporters are so convinced by the simplicity of their theory that they are unable to recognise how much they do not know - and like the Darwinians their response has been to become ever more fanatically intolerant of anyone who dares question their dogma. This might not matter so much if they hadn’t, on the basis of their faith, persuaded so many of the world’s politicians to propose measures which threaten to inflict a real economic disaster on the world.

Continue reading...

Friday, January 30, 2009

Religion: The Evolution of Self-Control

Jan 1, 2009 — A psychologist came up with a new theory of how religion evolved. It evolved to give people more self-control.
Science Daily reported the ideas of Miami psychologist Michael McCullough. Basically, “Religion May Have Evolved Because Of Its Ability To Help People Exercise Self-control,” the article states, with a picture of a rural church to boot. Self-control is a nice thing to have. Apparently, it produces fitness. “This, in turn, might help explain why religious people tend to have lower rates of substance abuse, better school achievement, less delinquency, better health behaviors, less depression, and longer lives.
McCullough was non-sectarian with his view. The article said “explained” how “the same social force that motivates acts of charity and generosity can also motivate people to strap bomb belts around their waists and then blow themselves up in crowded city buses.” It’s a little more challenging to see why that would improve fitness, but to him, evolution teaches that “religion can motivate people to do just about anything.”
Maybe one thing evolution could do to help scientists is help them get their origin of speciesScience Daily announced, “Longstanding Theory Of Origin Of Species In Oceans Challenged.” According to our 01/15/2003 entry, this has been a religious war of sorts within the Darwinist camp. Sympatric speciation is struggling against allopatric speciation for survival of the fittest theory. In the oceans, the heretics are winning. Maybe they have a better navy.
doctrine right. Another article on Let’s get this straight. Religious people have self-control, therefore religious people are more fit. The question becomes, is it a lack of self-control that is causing Darwinists to say stupid things?
Brace yourself; we’re going to hear a lot more nonsense in the month leading up the King Charles’ 200th Birthday Re-Coronation Ceremony. You see what they do, don’t you? They gloss over the real issues by asking how religion evolved, not whether religion evolved.
This tactic is just the bully asserting his turf. What you do to stand down a bully is face off with him and turn his energy against him. Don’t accept his premise; fling it right back at him. Ask him if he is just saying this just because he is a sinner looking to rationalize his evil ways. What evil ways? he will sputter. Why, the evil of contradicting yourself. What? Right, you continue, pointing out that he said religious people tend to have longer lives. “How does a young boy blowing up a school bus have a longer life? How could that evolve?” you ask, diverging temporarily into a discussion of why a theory that explains opposite things explains nothing at all. “And come to think of it,” you continue gently but relentlessly, “if religion is a positive thing, what religion are you?” He mumbles that he is an atheist. “Then according to your own theory, you are less fit. In fact, you look kind of depressed and delinquent. Better get on a fitness program. Why not make a resolution to get some self-control and righteousness in your life instead of making up stories out of your own imagination? Come on, I’ll take you to church where we can learn about Truth that doesn’t evolve.”
The evolution-of-everything crowd can’t even get their basic core ideas on the origin of species right 150 years after Darwin supposedly figured it out, and they want us to think they can explain religion. Well if religion evolved, it evolved downward from a true knowledge of God to all kinds of deceptions and lies, including evolution. Time for an update of Darwin’s title: On the origin of specious ideas by natural man’s rejection, or the degradation of evident truths in the struggle for existentialism. But then he would just be plagiarizing Paul.



Published without permission, but with greatest respect.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Total Depravity scientifically proven

People 'still willing to torture'

Electric shock
Subjects were apparently given electric shocks

Decades after a notorious experiment, scientists have found test subjects are still willing to inflict pain on others - if told to by an authority figure.

US researchers repeated the famous "Milgram test", with volunteers told to deliver electrical shocks to another volunteer - played by an actor.

Even after faked screams of pain, 70% were prepared to increase the voltage, the American Psychology study found.

Both may help explain why apparently ordinary people can commit atrocities.

Continue reading...

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

The Lies Called "Post-Modernism"/Relativism and Tolerance





Have you ever had someone tell you, "Hey, you have your truth and I have mine. There is no such thing as absolute truth."? At that point you should then ask them, "Is what you've just said, 'there is no absolute truth' absolutely true?" They may say, "Well, I'm just saying that we can't be completely sure about anything." You should then ask, "Are you completely sure that we can't be completely sure about anything?" Then they may say, "Ok, ok... You're not right because we can't know that anything is right or wrong. That's all I'm saying. It's all relative." You should then say, "Is what you're saying, 'You're not right because we can't know if anything is right or wrong' ...right?" Behold, the essence of "post-modernism" or relativism as it's also so called. Here's basically what the philosophy stands for: Self-refutuation. It's a walking contradiction, and it's a lie. When someone says that we can't know if anything is absolutely true, tell them that they are lying and remind them what one is called who tells lies. Of course they will get mad, but anyone who doesn't love truth and says we can't really know what truth is, is opposed to the One who is the Truth, the Way, and the Life and those who believe in Him.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Philosophy of Science - Fred Butler

I know this message is not in its entirety, but I find it very relevant and hence I publish it anyway.



Saturday, May 31, 2008

The Search for Absolutes in a Pluralistic Society


The Search for Absolutes in a Pluralistic Society (1 of 4) - Listen Now
You’ve probably heard people say “Well, that’s true for you but not for me” when referring to some opinion or religious belief on which they disagree. Are there any “truths” that can be considered universal or absolute?


The Search for Absolutes in a Pluralistic Society (2 of 4) - Listen Now
Absolute truth is under attack – and the search to find it has become more and more difficult. Join us today as Ravi shares part two of his message and looks at the rise of secularism and its negative effect on absolutes.


The Search for Absolutes in a Pluralistic Society (3 of 4) - Listen Now
For the last few days Ravi has looked at the progress of secularization against the concept of absolute truth. Today he’ll begin a look at the second enemy Truth has in our culture.


The Search for Absolutes in a Pluralistic Society (4 of 4) - Listen Now
Ravi Zacharias concludes his powerful message, “The Search for Absolutes in a Pluralistic Society,” with a look at the final philosophy opposing the very concept of truth.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Futile efforts of arrogant men


In light of the latest developments in Californian legislature the words from the Bible describing human futile efforts and God's laughter at these become even more significant.

Our wonderfully independent societies of the West have rejected His authority. People who take pride in calling themselves enlightened, spiritual, tolerant and multicultural, erased their Creator from their lives. They usurped the complete sovereignty over their lives and embraced the fake freedom of will. Blindness is ruling the world. Blindness and amnesia, historical ignorance, humanistic arrogance, deafness to the loud and clear Word of God. Christ, when on Earth, was healing the blind and the deaf. opening their eyes and ears to the truth of God. Today's society chose to close their eyes and ears to this truth, deeming their own wisdom higher and better.
The gate to hell stands wide open. In fact, it is invisible and well-hidden under the pretences of tolerance, beauty of feelings, human rights to performing every possible immorality in the name of self-fullfillment, and the hell's inside is painted in nice shiny colors, with pink hallway these days. The prettier it is made, the more dangerous it gets. The more lure it presents, the less substance it contains. The sweeter smell, the more bitter aftertaste.
We stand and watch this, and the only hope we have is God's Providence. We know He is using it for good, though the people are using it for evil. This does not let us off the hook, so we have to stand and preach the Biblical truths and the Gospel, believing that even among those thousands of happy sinners celebrating in California there are a few who will repent and believe, and who will serve Christ.
Many good things have come out of the bad circumstances. Many wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ used to be horrible sinners before God stretched His Grace over them and softened their hearts. This is not going to be a different outcome. Everything is pointing to a great shift, probably initiated by a total depravation and sin, but out of these horrors a revival will come, when people realize that their own efforts proved futile, stupid and contradictory to their goals.
No society thrives and develops in a moral decline. No society grows when anything goes. No society likes zero boundaries in community law. We are not better, wiser and richer than the societies of old, the ones that perished when degradation took over their good intentions. In fact, we are worse, because in spite of their examples we still make their mistakes and are proud of them.
The awakening will hurt. It will probably be the awakening into Islam, into physical and spiritual enslavement of the liberal, post-modern man, who will go into it blind and deaf, proud of his steps, not aware of the consequences. He will wake up. Pain does it to you.

Dear Lord, Our Saviour, keep us safe in our trusting You and following You. Make our days fruitful, open the hearts of many, wipe the tears of many, give them Your Salvation and show them the beauty of Your Cross. In Your precious Name I pray, Amen.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Silencing Christians

SilencingChristians.com will webcast and The Inspiration Networks will broadcast Speechless...Silencing the Christians. Sign up to be reminded to watch each episode and take action. Americans are at greater risk of losing their basic freedoms today than ever before in the history of this nation. Political correctness and the voice of the liberal minority are undermining the morals and values of mainstream America.

Renowned author and commentator Janet Parshall takes you on a journey across the country to meet citizens who have been arrested for speaking out at a public rally, students who are being forced to attend classes that require them to recite verses from the Koran and to stage their own jihad and activists pushing social tolerance to such an extreme that the Bible itself is being labeled “hate speech.”

Follow these cases and learn how you can take action to stop the erosion of your personal freedoms on this episode of Speechless ... Silencing the Christians.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Debate between Swedish atheist and Christian

...or: Know what you believe in and why you believe it. Unfortunately, Sievert has no clue, and in spite of his kindness, he makes matters worse...

This is really sad - the atheist is so easy to defeat, if only the Christian knew what he believed in. He is a good example of shallow understanding, of giving in to post-modern way of thinking, of seeking peace with the enemy. And the atheist? Same old arguments, refuted thousand times, arrogant, sure of his victory, supported by the journalist.

So why do I post it? Because I could so easily refute this arrogant man today... And because he will never be refuted on this TV station, in this country. Not because of the lack of Christians who are able to do that, but because of the silent consensus of the humanists, who, themselves using laughable arguments, are too afraid of real Christianity to let it enter and demolish their house of cards.








Monday, May 05, 2008

Christianity without Christ


"There is a Bible on a pedestal in Gretta Vosper's West Hill United
Church in Toronto. She would prefer it did not have a special place,
she said, because it is just a book among other books. In a similar
way, the cross that is high above the altar has no special meaning, but
there are a few older congregants for whom the Bible and the cross are
still nice symbols so there they remain.

Though an ordained minister, she does not like the title of reverend. It is one of those
symbols that hold the church back from breaking into the future -- to a
time "when the label Christian won't even exist" and the Church will be
freed of the burdens of the past. To balance out those symbols of the
past inside West Hill, there is a giant, non-religious rainbow tapestry
just behind the altar and multi-coloured streamers hang from the
ceiling.

"The central story of Christianity will fade away," she
explained. "The story about Jesus as the symbol of everything that
Christianity is will fade away." "


Read on...


Saturday, April 12, 2008

Ophra and her New Earth

Woe to the false teachers...

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
(2Pe 2:1-3)