John Loftus posted the following quote.
I think the Christian delusion is harmful if for no other reason than that it weaken one's critical thinking skills. If faith is the basis for what one thinks then anything can be believed. It also adversely impacts us in polls that bolster the delusion in others, in donations to faith-based causes that are harmful, in TV, radio, and book buying habits that grant spokespersons for the delusion a bigger voice than warranted, and in voting patterns that place deluded people in power who in turn cause harm to individual people, one's particular nation, and the world at large.
I think that there is a serious problem. In Christianity there is no reason to believe everything, especially stuff that comes out of your own head. Christianity is about trusting God and building a relationship with God on God's Terms not your own.
Debunking Christianity: Quote of the Day, By Yours Truly ;-)
In Christianity there is no reason to believe everything, especially stuff that comes out of your own head.
ReplyDeleteWould you agree that one could confuse "stuff that comes out of [their] own head" with the "inner witness of the holy spirit"?
It seems you would have to given your view on apostates.
Would you agree that one could confuse "stuff that comes out of [their] own head" with the "inner witness of the holy spirit"?
ReplyDeleteYes. It does explain apostasy. So how do you know when it really is the Holy Spirit and not you or something you ate?
Several, and a few are:
1. There is no conflict with scripture
2. The revelation you get is confirmed in other ways.
3. Belief is sustained and does not falter
4. You see the fruit of the Spirit manifested in your life (Galatians 5)
5. You see more of you and how you fall short of God's standard
6. Peace with God because your sins have been done away with (without you having to ignore them)
Wait, if there is an easy six step process to knowing then how could one possibly confuse it with "stuff that comes out of [their] own head"?
ReplyDeleteAlso, #3 is tautology.
Your problem with number 3 is because it invalidates your personal delusion, but it's supported by scripture.
ReplyDeleteThis ain't an exhaustive list, but it is a start. People get confused because they don't really want to follow scripture and want to go their own way, as you have.
Would you say it's impossible for you right now to be confusing the "inner witness of the holy spirit" and "stuff that comes out of your own head"?
ReplyDeleteI'll admit that it's possible if you agree that you could be confusing a like of witness of the Holy Spirit with that stuff coming out of your own head. It would explain what happens when I am wrong, but I find that scripture always corrects me when I have something wrong. What do you have to show you "when you go off the reservation"?
ReplyDeletebut I find that scripture always corrects...
ReplyDeleteGiven that all language is inherently vague, everyone reads what they want into scripture. There's a post at Vox Popoli that uses scripture and unimpeachable logic to come to a conclusion I'm sure you'd totally disagree with, but be unable to prove incorrect.
Vox is a libertarian, and it's no surprise he comes to a libertarian view whenever he reads the bible.
Just like you come to whatever conclusion you need to come to.
What do you have to show you "when you go off the reservation"?
Not sure what you are asking here.
Given that all language is inherently vague, everyone reads what they want into scripture.
ReplyDeleteJust because you don't understand scripture and twist it into an unrecognizable pretzel doesn't mean everyone does.
There's a post at Vox Popoli that uses scripture and unimpeachable logic to come to a conclusion I'm sure you'd totally disagree with, but be unable to prove incorrect.
Thanks for the link, and you are wrong. I don't completely disagree with the article.
Vox is a libertarian, and it's no surprise he comes to a libertarian view whenever he reads the bible.
I don't see anything wrong with anything in the article until the last sentence because it's racist and undoes all the "unimpeachable logic" up to the end.
Just like you come to whatever conclusion you need to come to.
I think the parable clearly shows what Vox says it does with the statement:
First is the confusion between who one's neighbor is and who is not. The usual Churchian concept is that everyone is your neighbor and the Christian should be mindlessly nice to everyone. This is why Churchianity is essentially the religion of niceness that doesn't so much preach salvation through faith or works, but through etiquette and due regard for the social mores. But if we follow the pure logic of the parable, one's neighbor is the individual who shows mercy to you. It's not everyone, in fact, it cannot possibly be everyone since only one of the three men was the correct answer. Second is the fact that the Samaritan had the wherewithal to help the helpless man. Third is the fact that the man was actually helpless, half-dead, to be specific.
However, the point is lost at ...I don't think that anyone can reasonably appeal to the Parable of the Good Samaritan as a basis for criticizing John Derbyshire's advice to young people concerning individuals of African descent in apparent distress requesting assistance.
I looked up Derbyshire's advice and I was offended because it's directed against black people. As if black people can't be your neighbor. It misses the point Jesus was given. Jews hated and discriminated against Samaritians.
Samaritans. It's like a black man coming to the aid of a member of the KKK. That is why the parable is so honorable. Is it true that not everyone who seems to need help is your neighbor? No. But that should not be based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or not. It should be subject to the guiding of the Holy Spirit about how you should react. It is more than being nice. It's about being obedient to Jesus. In His time, to the Jews of Jesus' era, "good samaritan" was an oxymoron - like a young black man in the hoodie is assumed to be up to no good. Does the parable apply? Yes it does.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what you are asking here.
How do you keep from just going on your own head and stay objective?