Tag: religion

Pre-conceived ideas should not change your standard of judgement

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When I was growing up there were studies in the news by various scientists whose research was touted as “proof” that cigarette smoking was not harmful, or at least not as harmful as some would have you believe. Those scientists, we later learned, were funded by large tobacco companies. From time to time when research grants were in jeopardy, there have been those caught faking results to keep the grant money heading their way. None of this should be a surprise. Scientists, after all, are people too.

Research faked to please big companies, or to protect the interests of those who stand to make or lose money based on the outcome is nothing new. And the presence of con men is not exclusive to science. So-called scientists who fake results for reasons other than science are no different than so-called ministers who will say whatever it takes to keep the donations coming in. To echo my previous statement: ministers are people too. Individuals in the lab and in the pulpit are subject to temptation.

What I find interesting in all this is that while some people are quick to understand that you don’t ignore science simply because results have been faked for financial gain, they are eager to condemn Christianity because some so-called minsters proclaim falsehoods for the same motivation.

Shouldn’t the standard by which a discipline is judged remain the same?

What are your thoughts?

Are Christians “almost” skeptics?

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When Christians reject the claims of all religions but their own, aren’t they doing the same thing Atheists do? That is, aren’t they skeptics, but just not as skeptical as atheists? This question is often posed by anti-theists seemingly trying to demonstrate that Christians are close to the truth, but not as close as the atheist.  It is also a question that sidesteps something very important.

Christians do not reject other religions from the same skepticism as that expressed by anti-theists.  False doctrines are rejected by Christians because they have had their eyes open to the realities of sin, and God’s gift of redemption. Christians reject false doctrine because of a posteriori knowledge; that is, knowledge only known by experience.  In this case, it is secondary to God’s gift of salvation. It’s understandable that an atheist, especially anti-theists, would be skeptical because a Christian cannot share his or her first-hand knowledge.  It’s like trying to tell someone what a broken bone feels like.  You can tell someone it hurts, you can show them how the body functions to experience pain, but you cannot KNOW how a broken bone feels until you’ve had one.  But it seems the skepticism of anti-theists is very different than that expressed by Christians.

The skepticism of anti-theists, at least those with whom I have had dialog, amounts to rejection of anything that would lead to even the possibility that there may be a God.  Too be clear, Christians reject that which contradicts his or her own first-hand experience with God, atheists usually reject other people’s a posteriori knowledge, but anti-theists reject anything that results in a conclusion they don’t want to reach.  Take a moment to scan social media debates with a critical mind.  It’s clear there are those who change their standard of acceptable evidence depending on to what conclusion that evidence would lead. There is a difference between the type of skepticism.

God calls everyone to repentance. Everyone has the freedom to accept or reject His offer of salvation and forgiveness of sin through the blood of his son Jesus.  It doesn’t matter what I’ve experienced, or what an anti-theist wants you to accept or reject.  The most important question is: Will you accept His gift, or reject it without consideration?

Seattle arsonist tosses incendiary devices during Thursday-night service

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The sound of worship and praise music at a Seattle, Washington church was abruptly interrupted by an arsonist who threw Molotov cocktails at the building shortly after the opening hymn.

The attack happened around 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, at the Iglesia ni Cristo church about a half-hour after the service began.   Seattle Fire Department spokeswoman Kristin Tinsley told The Seattle Times there were multiple hand-held incendiary devices used in the attack. Tinsley told the paper the improvised firebombs were lit bottles of an unknown liquid.

King5 Television reports none of the estimated 50 people who were inside the sanctuary were injured by the criminal’s actions.  The fire was put out by congregation members before the fire department arrived.

A news release issued by the Seattle, Washington Police Department says, “Seattle Police Arson/Bomb Squad detectives have taken over the investigation and are working with witnesses to develop a suspect description.

Officials have not yet determined a motive for the act of violence against the congregation.

 

Atheist group appeals ruling that its ads have same restrictions as religious organizations

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A Pennsylvania atheist organization is appealing a judge’s ruling that the Lackawanna County transit system did not violate the group’s First Amendment right to free speech when it declined ads that, “promote the existence or non-existence of a supreme deity, deities, being or beings,” on buses.”

U.S. District Judge Malachy Mannion in July found the County of Lackawanna Transit System, COLTS,  has a legitimate reason to reject ads submitted by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Freethought Society.  The judge’s ruling says COLTS’ treatment of the organization follows COLTS’ advertising policy and is no different than any other group seeking to buy advertisement.

The American Civil Liberties Union represents the society in the case.  The ACLU filed the appeal with the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals. A news release issued by the ACLU says, “The trial court’s ruling in this case does not diminish our belief that COLTS is suppressing our clients’ right to free speech. As a government agency, COLTS is significantly limited in its ability to censor speech. It can’t censor speech in order to keep people from debating important public issues, which is exactly what COLTS has tried to do here.”

Federal judge: Transit system that bans religious ads can ban atheist posters too

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A United States federal judge this week ruled the County of Lackawanna Transit System (COLTS), of Pennsylvania, did not violate an atheist group’s right to free speech by rejecting its ads.  COLTS cited a policy it enacted in 2011. The policy states COLTS will not accept advertising that, “…promote the existence or non-existence of a supreme deity, deities, being or beings.”

The Northeastern Pennsylvania Freethought Society filed a federal lawsuit alleging the transit system allowed several churches to advertise before the atheist group tried to place an ad in 2012, according to an Associated Press report printed in the Seattle Times. The AP report does not mention that COLT’s ban on such advertisement was already in place when the atheist group applied to place its ad.

US District Judge Malachy E. Mannion’s ruling concludes, “The legal issues presented in this case are particularly fact specific. By way of this decision, the court in no way diminishes the importance of free speech in our society. In fact, in today’s society, free speech is more important than ever. That being said, the law dictates that, under the facts of this case alone, that COLTS’ advertising space is a limited forum  and  that COLTS did  not violate Freethought’s First Amendment right to  free speech by refusing  to place  its advertisement on COLTS’  buses. For the foregoing reasons, judgment will be entered in favor of COLTS and against Freethought. An appropriate order will issue.