How strange. Criticizing religion as something that isn't good while claiming HIS interpretation of religion is the right one. No one is fooled by his claim that 'redemption' is somehow not religion. He certainly plays fast and loose with definitions, something I can already foresee he will do in the video below about science.
Not all of us need a delusional crutch though. I personally don't think it's worth the cost it imposes either.
Sounds like terrorism to me. If you base your beliefs solely on fear and not on evidence then I feel sorry for you and anyone that has to interact with you. Religion has done a terrible job at shaping our laws. Absolutely terrible. I repeat, absolutely fucking TERRIBLE. There is NOTHING that religion brings to the table that could not have been shaped in the absence of religion. The good laws and rules that religion has brought us are good for entirely different reasons than stated in religion. If you just started with those good reasons, and attributed them to the actual beneficial reasons for having them instead of religion we would be better off.
What about teaching children in public school alternatives to evolution? That is an absolute travesty. It does all of mankind a disservice to allow that horse shit to continue or even support it as you seem to.
I don't understand. Your logic is that science often fails to answer the WHY of things, therefore making shit up serves as an acceptable alternative? If you don't find harm in people making up and believing bullshit with no good reasons, then trying to shape the laws or education system to retroactively fit their crazy unfounded beliefs then I think you are as culpable as them.
He criticizes religion as if it's a bad thing while at the same time he is promoting religion. He is the pastor of a church and yet he appears to act as if he is immune from the criticism he spouts about religion. You are correct, redemption is not a religion yet he talks about it as if it was somehow an alternative to the religion he is criticizing. I'm not saying he made an error in his interpretation of religion, I'm saying he is claiming his interpretation of Xtianity is not religion but something else and basically insults anyone that has a different view on the teachings in the bible. Ironic that so many believers defend each other against us evil atheists yet have such widely disparate views that are wholly incompatible with one another.
1. Well, its not so much a choice, i believe, as it is a necessity. For 99% of humanity, (ill leave at little wiggle room for the more jaded reader) we struggle with creation, we ALL want to know where we originated from..its the oldest of all questions.So we search for answers, and set our minds to believe that there IS a higher power..something or someone good, who protects us and watches over us..every civilization has dieties that create a starting point.It is a point of faith and hope that all share...some dont believe in such things, others believe in science, still others think theres nothing out there further then the nose on our faces..pacification comes with comfort and security.
1. For me my belief was not a choice, I was fortunate enough to have had some truly inexplicable experiences that have convinced me there is a lot more than meets the eye.
My hero? how many other peoples video's have I posted. They are not all my hero's. They are people who I feel made very compelling arguments. Yes I think that this guy is very theologically sound but he is not the only authority that I look to. I did not throw any personal attacks. I was just baffled at your response and how you attempted to throw out some speculation about science that he never even hinted at.
"I see that you have no real argument so as usual you just try to criticize him."
His basic point was that we are designed to be worshipers. And everyone worships something. People model their lives after their Idols. In the secular psychiatric world this would be called the mirror affect. So if people are going to idolize something and mimic it than it should be someone like Jesus not MJ. same goes for the next one below
Please first define your use of the word consciousness. Do you not think lower animals are conscious beings? Or do you mean self-awareness? Why is it so hard to fathom how it is an additional step of intelligence due to increasing brain size? Apes and monkeys are able to think at deeper levels than dogs and rats. Whales communication is extremely complex with multiple levels of hierarchical information but we can't interpret therefore don't understand their songs. Minke whales also have a well-developed neo-cortex, the area responsible for intelligence. We have a bias because we have the ability to manipulate the environment and use tools due to anatomical adaptations that cetaceans are lacking. Are you sure they are not self-aware as we are?
I wonder where rhino1111 went? I guess he didn't like his beliefs challenged.
You are arguing that we should perpetuate ignorance. An ignorance many exploit to deceive, manipulate and relieve people of their money. Also, I don't think any of us have a problem admitting that we wish we were more 'enlightened' than we currently are. In fact, that desire drives the very heart of science.
1. No you cannot choose to believe something.. You can choose to educate yourself, evaluate evidence (if there even is any to evaluate) and be rational and honest with yourself. Drop any preconceived notions and look at the the evidence from a neutral perspective. This is the hardest thing for most people to do.