This is one of those times headlines grab my attention.
Here’s a man who goes beyond saying God is dead. He tells us “Why We Should Ditch Religion.”
Philosopher Sam Harris stated, "We should be talking about real problems, like nuclear proliferation and genocide and poverty and the crisis in education." The article describes him as "a well-known secularist, philosopher and neuroscientist who is the author of the books 'The End of Faith' and 'Letter to a Christian Nation.'"
The article also says that "Religion causes people to fixate on issues of less moral importance," according to Harris. "Religion has convinced us that there's something else entirely other than concerns about suffering. There's concerns about what God wants, there's concerns about what's going to happen in the afterlife," Harris said.
What, besides his litany of important things, is the focus of his reason for ditching? "And, therefore, we talk about things like gay marriage as if it's the greatest problem of the 21st century. We even have a liberal president who ostensibly is against gay marriage because his faith tells him it's an abomination. It's completely insane."
I do believe that a great deal of focus, both within our government and within citizen activities, is given to ending nuclear proliferation, genocide, poverty and crises in education.
I do not understand why ditching religion would provide alleviation for any of the items on his list.
Wasn’t it after the return of open Christianity in Russia that movement was made toward lessening of nuclear weapons within both Russia and the United States of America? Is it not the USA, ostensibly still a Christian nation, responding first in times of tragic natural disasters, aiding those in need? What Christian areas are bent on genocide?
Yes, we Christians are focused on achieving God’s will. And we spend time not only worshipping Him, but in prayer with Him. Much of this prayer is focused on our country’s political well-being, the ceasing of unprovoked slaughter, ending hunger and disease, while educating those who will hear.
Apparently Sam Harris does not see the Bible part of what he feels "are issues which tremendous swings in human well-being depend on." He states that religion is "not at the center of our moral concern."
Thank you, but no thank you. I do not wish to give up whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8 KJV)
I do not wish to quit on my goal of giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5-8 KJV)
Thank you, but no thank you, philosopher. I choose Christ, who said Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Matthew 22:37-39 KJV)
Here’s a man who goes beyond saying God is dead. He tells us “Why We Should Ditch Religion.”
Philosopher Sam Harris stated, "We should be talking about real problems, like nuclear proliferation and genocide and poverty and the crisis in education." The article describes him as "a well-known secularist, philosopher and neuroscientist who is the author of the books 'The End of Faith' and 'Letter to a Christian Nation.'"
The article also says that "Religion causes people to fixate on issues of less moral importance," according to Harris. "Religion has convinced us that there's something else entirely other than concerns about suffering. There's concerns about what God wants, there's concerns about what's going to happen in the afterlife," Harris said.
What, besides his litany of important things, is the focus of his reason for ditching? "And, therefore, we talk about things like gay marriage as if it's the greatest problem of the 21st century. We even have a liberal president who ostensibly is against gay marriage because his faith tells him it's an abomination. It's completely insane."
I do believe that a great deal of focus, both within our government and within citizen activities, is given to ending nuclear proliferation, genocide, poverty and crises in education.
I do not understand why ditching religion would provide alleviation for any of the items on his list.
Wasn’t it after the return of open Christianity in Russia that movement was made toward lessening of nuclear weapons within both Russia and the United States of America? Is it not the USA, ostensibly still a Christian nation, responding first in times of tragic natural disasters, aiding those in need? What Christian areas are bent on genocide?
Yes, we Christians are focused on achieving God’s will. And we spend time not only worshipping Him, but in prayer with Him. Much of this prayer is focused on our country’s political well-being, the ceasing of unprovoked slaughter, ending hunger and disease, while educating those who will hear.
Apparently Sam Harris does not see the Bible part of what he feels "are issues which tremendous swings in human well-being depend on." He states that religion is "not at the center of our moral concern."
Thank you, but no thank you. I do not wish to give up whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8 KJV)
I do not wish to quit on my goal of giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5-8 KJV)
Thank you, but no thank you, philosopher. I choose Christ, who said Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Matthew 22:37-39 KJV)
I think the problem is they think of religion as being some form of becomming holy, and have no clue of the "relationship" that true religion requires wih Jesus Christ. They are just blind.
ReplyDelete