Across the world, we each live in varyingly religious societies. Depending on where you come from, it can seem like religion is a thing of the past, or it can be engrained into your everyday life. I’ve long wondered how far secular movements have come. How many atheists are there in the world? What’s the ratio of women to men? Country by country? Let’s take a look at the numbers.
It’s Not Looking Great
According to the Pew Research Center’s global study in 2012, only 16% of the world’s population identifies as irreligious. A more recent study of theirs states that in 2015, the number was around 18%. That’s incredibly low, at least, it seems low, according to my personal experience with faith.
I grew up in Tennessee, but it was a small town near a Nuclear Power Plant. The community was largely atheist as the majority of the locals worked in scientific fields. When I moved to Switzerland, the country was indeed more religious that I had ever known before, but the majority of people my age aren’t real believers.
I know only a few people who attend church – most of whom I don’t know to do so out of love for their God, necessarily. Only for their community. It seemed to me for a large part of my life that religion as an ideology was dead. That the remaining establishment had a real potential to contribute to society.
The more I’ve learned about the rest of the world, the more the idea of religion scares me. 18%? After all this time, after all this progress, what ties them to their faith? It can’t be reason. Not after we learned to fly, not after we went to the moon. The world we all live in today is evidence, yes, evidence of human progress. Evidence of what comes from scientific progress.
The Gender Gap in Religion
An additional question posed by the study in 2015 by the Pew Research Center was, how many atheists are women, and how many atheists are men?
Among women and men ages 20 and older, 83.4% of women and 79.9% of men across 192 countries and territories are religiously affiliated
Pew Research Center – Women are more likely than men to affiliate with religion
Even more interestingly, there are no countries in the world where men are more prone to affiliating with religion than women by more than 2%. What can devotion to faith tell us about the differences between men and women?
The difference is even larger in countries like Uruguay, the United States, the UK, Spain and Germany. There’s no room for speculation here as to why this is. I’d love to ask an expert what they think.
It does sadden me sometimes, although I am thankful for any and every person who is willing to think rationally and stand up for those without faith, that so often does it feel like a bunch of white men snickering at religion.
That’s what Secular Sanity is all about. Humanism is, quite literally, for everybody. Whatever imbalances there are today in our understanding of secular values, we can still fill those gaps. We don’t have to dwell on what got us to this point. This can be the first step to something amazing if we focus on the issue at hand.
If you’re a woman and an atheist, power to you. You seem to beat the odds a little bit. I always stand by the fact that faith has nothing to do with intelligence. Whatever it is, you overcame the temptation to believe just like any other atheist. That is a wonder in itself, and anybody who manages that should be proud.
And if you’re a male atheist, I want to remind you that the mysogynystic values embued in today’s society are partially due to religious values. If you truly oppose them, you must aknowledge that making the world a better place for women and making the world more secular go hand in hand.
Culture Contributes Heavily to Religion
It’s no surprise that since ethnicity and culture are heavily intertwined, ethnicity and religion are too. Where you’re from can influence how you’re raised, what you’re exposed to, and what you come to learn about the world.
How do we get cultures which were built upon the foundation of these beliefs to think critically about them? Is it even moral to do so? Is it even possible? It has become clear no culture, no country lacks free-thinking atheists.
It’s not that only certain people from certain ethnicities can unlock the knowledge behind secular values. It’s just that in certain cultures, freedom from religion isn’t only off the table – it’s off people’s minds. Whether out of fear or prejudice, faith is the only path for them.
So I ask you, in such a society, how does an atheist navigate? To whom do they go for help? From whom do they recieve their blessings? And for those of us who don’t live under such conditions; just because we don’t live in a place where faith is the only option, does that mean we should just ‘take it easy’? I don’t think so. Fixing the problem starts inside ourselves and in the people we love.
Sure, you can’t change the minds of everybody who believes. But it doesn’t have to be a crusade. We’re all just learning. Growing. Changing. All we can do is help the people we care about to embrace that, before it’s too late. But don’t be fooled. This isn’t a minor issue. 16% is not enough. 18% is not enough. Not in a world where we excuse this fact by suggesting that religion doesn’t even greatly impact our daily lives. If that’s the case, what’s all this for?
Michael… this is a very well-illustrated, meaningful dissertation and seeking of truth. This really motivated me to think and try explaining my sincerest perspective on the underlying principle at work here.
Science and technology have served to only stir the pot in my opinion being a sort of “Pandora’s Box” or even the “devil’s playground” if you will; a bag of tricks for mankind to inadvertently play with out of a provoked necessity; and now as we see in some schools of thought, to even play god, and that is totally screwed for real all caused by an original transgression or defiance! People had better climb down off their high horses, because, we actually know diddly-squat when we look at the picture in its totality of what we actually know and can do, as compared to what we really know about; it ALL. Not too much in the grand all-encompassing scheme of things for sure. Like kids playing with matches in a giant field of dry grass and tinder is what we have become, and so, it would be best for people “NOT” to turn away from God, or the concept that a “supreme wisdom and power of consciousness” that far exceeds our puny awareness and capability to be in the right, and know, “what the hell we are really talking about,” is quite infinitesimal and preposterous!
This makes me think about the old adage of “you’ve got a big chip on your shoulder” and that is the whole of the human race now, a bunch of spoiled rotten, messed up in the head punks, running loose starting, arguments, fights and all manner of discord, and the further they get out on that limb, the worse or more dangerous they get to each other and themselves. Modern man is not really better off than being in a cave; mind you if not for a higher power having a plan for us, when you come right down to it; because he has not surpassed the infantile stage of realizing how he is in a collective diaper, and it’s full of his own crap; itching and burning his butt so bad.
That is why I say God is the only hope and salvation of mankind, no two ways about it, because mankind will never make what needs to happen in order to change that diaper or paradigm, and is screwed, blued and tattooed on his own! That is why He, God Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth along with all things, came to advise in the manner in which He did; being the Supreme Being, came to tell us who we really are and how to get our act together, so that we can transcend all of this, and not be lost; which we will be; if we don’t take heed to ALL He has told us.
Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one doth come unto the Father, if not through me.” John 14:6
Think about what Einstein says here in the following; to me one of my favorite scientists and people, wrapping his head around so many mysteries but still remained humbled and aware that something was going on beyond human comprehension, that is far “more than meets the eye.”
“The most beautiful and most profound experience is the sensation of the mystical. It is the sower of all true science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead. To know that what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty which our dull faculties can comprehend only in their primitive forms – this knowledge, this feeling is at the centre of true religiousness.”
-Albert Einstein – “The Merging of Spirit and Science”
This man the father of physics had said a few great one liners but two that stand out are these. He referred to God as the “Old One.” He speaking to other physicists was known to have said during a discussion about the Big Bang Theory in which one scientist said that with enough random events occurring in this pre-millisecond before it happened eureka the right combination occurred; Einstein just plainly said; “God doesn’t roll dice.”
I think he put it so well and gave it all the right perspective, outside of his sitting trying to talk about, say Christianity, which he became familiar with as a young lad firsthand.
I say; there is absolutely “more going on than meets the eye” and a “plan” that we are not going to change one Iota. We all need to be humble and turn to Him our Maker for all things here in the seen and in the unseen worlds; to be sorted out as He will.
It was always God’s plan and not anyone else’s!
Blessings to you!
Brother in Christ Jesus,
Lawrence Morra III
Einstein didn’t believe in the god you do, Lawrence. He was at best, a deist. Christians often try Einstein as an appeal to authority fallacy.
And here you are decrying science and technology, but have no problem using it when it makes you comfy.
I have no need to “turn to” a vicious god that kills kids for the actions of their parents. I have far better morality than your ignorant imaginary god.
oh and I’m one of those females who beat the odds. 😉
“a vicious god that kills kids for the actions of their parents.” That’s a fanciful take on abortion as you sit up on your perch condescending like some know it all!
Einstein was not a Deist, but would not debate religion and waste time arguing between the faiths; he did learn Catholicism as well as Judaism not having a problem with them in any way, from his formative years.
I guess C.S. Lewis was a dumb ass according to you his having seen the light of how atheism is horrid and was happy to escape its clutches from hell which you seem to be hell-bent on; so take your moronic thinking to hell with you fella, and I won’t offer you a cup of coffee if you were working for me I’d fire you! And I won’t waste my time just like Einstein wouldn’t with the likes of you in your selfish blinded state of “being” lost! Love what you will! As the saying goes, “it’s your funeral!”
I do see you lack enough education and have no wisdom; that I’m picking up on.
Deists believe that a single creator god does exist, but they take their evidence from reason and logic, not the revelatory acts and miracles that form the basis of faith in many organized religions. He saw both sides of the equation which you obviously have a problem seeing either side; making you the biggest loser!
I’ll keep losing my way thank you very much! Wonderful affirmation!
And now the Christian reveals himself quite nicely.
Your god kills children. Per the myths, it kills David’s son for David’s actions. Your god promises not to do that. Of course it also promises it wll. Which would be the false statement?
Einstein wrote this “”I believe in Spinoza’s God, who reveals himself in the harmony of all that exists, not in a God who concerns himself with the fate and the doings of mankind.” This is the definition of deism “belief in the existence of a supreme being, specifically of a creator who does not intervene in the universe. The term is used chiefly of an intellectual movement of the 17th and 18th centuries that accepted the existence of a creator on the basis of reason but rejected belief in a supernatural deity who interacts with humankind.” From the Oxford dictionary.
Einstein was a deist. He did not agree with Christian nonsense. Your appeal to authority fallacy fails as usual.
C.S. Lewis tried to encourage lying. The bible goes on and on about how lying and liars are hated by this god, even if they think they are lying *for* this god. Romans 3.
There is no hell, so your sadistic fantasies are nothing important.
I have a very good education and I have plenty of wisdom.
Deism comes in many forms, pandeism, monodeism, etc. They assume that something needs to have started the universe. Current research shows this to not necessarily be the case. So their reason and logic were consistent for their times but no longer. That’s what happens with Christians, they are stuck with the ignorance of people a couple of thousand years ago.
There are no “revelatory acts or miracles”. Not one scrap of evidence has been provided for any.
Yea right fella and you and the rest will be traveling to the next galaxy in your space ship lmao! You are a joke and dumb! LOST IN SPACE, that will suit you well! Hop aboard! Lost Liberal leftist loony!
and here we go again with the Christian showing how little he has.
Don’t know if you have seen this Michael; but I couldn’t pass off the opportunity to let you know about it. I really admire C.S Lewis for how he did such a beautiful thing with his life; I wish I had done a fraction of what he accomplished through a life of highs and lows like most of us, yet, which he was able to strike that wonderful balance; by doing the right thing with his God given opportunity! We all get this one shot at it, and he sure didn’t blow it in my humble opinion! God bless him and you also brother. Take care.
Lawrence
https://www.cslewis.com/us/
C.S. Lewis told Christian to lie to potential Christians about all of the disagreements and contradictions in Christianity. This is in the forward of Mere Christianity:
“And secondly, I think we must admit that the discussion of these disputed points has no tendency at all to bring an outsider into the Christian fold. So long as we write and talk about them we are much more likely to deter him from entering any Christian communion than to draw him into our own. Our divisions should never be discussed except in the presence of those who have already come to believe that there is one God and that Jesus Christ is His only Son. ”
Not exactly moral at all.
You really are a confused pup! It was Muhammad the false prophet of the Muslims that told Muslims before his death in 632 that lying is good, derailing their original Old Testament beliefs based on the true prophets from the time of Abraham; they can lie to accomplish their goals! “Taqiyya” is a component of Sharia that allows, and even encourages you to lie to achieve your goals no matter what they are! That is pretty devilish to me!
Christians and the faith, from Jesus Christ; never said any such thing, and it is a mortal sin to willfully be deceptive and speak falsely!
I suggest you take up reading more books rather than playing on the net and start with some very in-depth historical accounts of history. Try Raymond Ibrahim’s book “Sword and Scimitar” to get a perspective on the European history which many Europeans need to wake up about soon; unless they want to repeat history; but in your case for now why things happened as they did! Who knows, maybe an atheist can eventually see a bit of truth over the fiction they are engrained with!
This is what C.S. Lewis wrote ““And secondly, I think we must admit that the discussion of these disputed points has no tendency at all to bring an outsider into the Christian fold. So long as we write and talk about them we are much more likely to deter him from entering any Christian communion than to draw him into our own. Our divisions should never be discussed except in the presence of those who have already come to believe that there is one God and that Jesus Christ is His only Son. ” – preface, Mere Christianity
I don’t particularly care what Muhammad said. Islam is as silly as Christianity. This is what Taquiyya is “In Islam, Taqiya or Taqiyya (Arabic: تقیة taqiyyah, literally “prudence, fear”) is a precautionary dissimulation or denial of religious belief and practice in the face of persecution.
A related term is Kitmān (lit. “action of covering, dissimulation”), which has a more specific meaning of dissimulation by silence or omission.
This practice is emphasized in Shia Islam whereby adherents are permitted to conceal their religion when under threat of persecution or compulsion. The practice is much less prominent in Sunni Islam, but may be permitted under certain circumstances such as threats to life.[9] There are two main aspects of taqiyya; avoiding the disclosure of association with the Imams when doing so may expose the community to danger or harm, and keeping the esoteric teachings of the Imams concealed from those who are not prepared to receive them”
You are lying about what it is. Muhammed did say in the hadiths that deception is acceptable in warfare.
Yep, it is is bad to lie per the bible. You seem to have no problem in doing it.
I have read quite a few books, and considering your ignorance, known quite a bit more than you do, Lawrence. Raymond Ibrahim is a known conservative Christian who hates Islam, and unfortunately his hate influences his work. This was noted in Jane’s Islamic Affairs “The recent article by Raymond Ibrahim is in this author’s opinion well-researched, factual in places but whose interpretation of taqiyya is ultimately misleading. It focuses on a very narrow use of the term taqiyya, which is sometimes used to refer to dissimulation allowed to Shias to preserve their own lives and the lives of others. It appears to be a polemical piece interspersed with cherry-picked citations from the Quran, the sayings of the Prophet and secondary works.
Islam is a universal religion that spans millennia of history and covers much of the earth’s population. Islam, however, does not have a central canon, a pope, or a single body that can set doctrine. So, it is extremely difficult to generalise about what Islam as a religion believes except in its core beliefs. One can always find Muslim jurists who offer opinions about matters of doctrine such as taqiyya, but it is also possible to find other respected jurists who disagree. So any assertion about doctrine needs to be carefully circumscribed.”
Now, Raymond wrote a rebuttal, and I rather like this bit from it “Moreover, the main point of my essay was not to demonstrate that Islam permits deceit during war—a phenomenon I indicated also prevails among many non-Muslim strategists as well—but to show that, for Islam, warfare with non-Muslims is eternal, “until all chaos ceases, and all religion belongs to Allah (Koran 8:39).” Hmm, the bible says similar, that those who don’t accept this god are to be killed and all religion will be just Christianity (do see Revelation). If lies are devilish, then Lewis is devilish and so is Raymond in his attempts to decry Islam and protect his nonsense.
unsurprisingly, you are just one more Christian who attacks another religion and appears to be quite racist too, with your concerns about “europe”.
Bravo; spoken like a true atheist manipulator of everyone else’s beliefs and doctrines when you have none of your own only that you are a heathen that loves to pick apart and twist anybody else’s concepts of reality and purpose for life but why wouldn’t you when your purpose is nothing more than that of a jelly fish’s floating on the cosmic sea!
You need help but sorry I have found nobody that can help a hard core losing atheism expert like you that hates God. You might try signing on with Satan; you could do very well with him, he loves to poke and tear at anyone that is susceptible to his evil ways!
Looks like you have much more reading and discerning of TRUTH to do fella! That is unless of course you have a much greater aversion to TRUTH than already surmised? Quit picking on C.S Lewis you’re not fit to walk in his old shoes let alone put him down with what you have accomplished in this world in comparison with you’re being an atheist rabble-rouse minion!
Speaking of Muslims and Raymond who is more of an expert than you could be in a 1000 years; how many ancient languages do you speak and write as he does! But, actually I decided before we part ways that you could never be a Christian that’s a foregone conclusion, not ever; but a Muslim, now that is very likely possibility because you lie and deceive as they do; while they call everyone else the infidels!
Forked tongue and two-faced mindset. If there were a redeeming quality to their faith and genuine love of God Almighty the leaders of the Muslim ideology would band together and take action to address the entire problem comprehensively by going to their fundamental philosophical precepts and determining what is wrong with them and then correcting them o removing them outright, As an example, Sharia Law is blasphemous to God and our Lord does not want any of his children living under such archaic, brutal and subhuman principles which absolutely do not come from God who is pure love! Then they should be proactive and seek out the hardened fanatical groups within their own population and chastise or imprison them to hopefully reeducate of if necessary imprison them permanently for their atrocities. Then there should absolutely be a proper guidance given to all the younger generation to learn and e educated of these misgivings within their own religious practices and that amends as well as rectification must take place to align with humanity and most of all God Almighty to be on the sure path to heaven and eternal life!
“Muslims lie when it is in their interest to do so and “Allah” will not hold them accountable for lying when it is beneficial to the cause of Islam. They can lie without any guilt or fear of accountability or retribution. A lie in the defense of Islam is approved even applauded in their “holy” books.” muslimfact.com/
“The Hadith makes it clear that Muslims are allowed to lie to unbelievers in order to defeat them or protect themselves. There are several forms: Taqiyya” thereligionofpeace.com
Where in any Holy Scriptures and the direct teachings of Jesus Christ would we hear any such wickedness or divergence from Holiness!
Is it any wonder that many of these believers grow up to be Jihadists and homicidal killers, actually beheading other humans for their religious faith here in 2020! This is a brainwashing with evil from hell to actually teach children these concepts which are obviously to any sane or God fearing person, blatantly wrong and evil!
These Muslims profess to be a religion of peace and it is quite the contrary as they prove time and again with their behaviors and outright acts of evil upon other innocent people in many locales! All while the leaders of that religion stand silent or mute to these atrocities doing nothing of any substantive value!
So true, and the difficulty is, that we face a cunning adversary the Devil who actually has masses of peoples following him to perdition and hell, they are the major obstacle we have to peace on earth and even in our own personal lives! We are dealing with an accursed and dammed to hell people that have only one goal to subdue, conquer and destroy all infidels! This problem began to crescendo when Muhammad in 632 A.D. said all those not following Islam are blasphemous to God and must be converted or executed! He was the key agent of Satan on earth, inspired by the evil one to destroy followers of Jesus Christ the Savior; yet these crazy demonic cultists call Muhammad a great prophet and their inspiration! Wickedness beyond measure is evolving before our eyes!
And I mention Europe only because all of your leaders are screwing you over royally and are setting you all up for the big battle coming there! Did you not have a giant influx of Jihadists? Right!
As I say you twist and try to concoct falsehood out of what I say, which was not RACIST or any LIE! You are a total lying, leftist liberal fool, and one who has no compass at all!
Atheists are just like that, they are “know it all” type rabble-rouse minions, that get off on stirring the pot! You are a fool!
Good luck anyway, who knows maybe you will end it all before you suffer too much! But it really is a shame you got so entrenched into Atheism! You could of had a chance to save your soul! Brainwashed I see it all the time! Tah, tah!
It’s very fun to see you show your true colors, Lawrence. Alas, I have plenty of my own beliefs. I find myself mostly an Epicurean, in worldview. I do love to pick apart the false and baseless claims of Christians and other theists. My purpose is to enjoy life, be with my husband and tear apart those who try to spread false and harmful nonsense.
I don’t hate your god, it is imaginary. I do hate the pitiful humans who lie and try to pretend how special they are. And no Satan either, Lawrence. But I do note that in your bible, your god works with Satan constantly.
You have no truth, but yep, theists do love to claim they do. Shall you stomp your feet some more, Lawrence when I can point out that Lewis instructed people to lie. So much for your “truth”.
Raymond is a poor man who has a hatred that influences his research. He could be a good historian, but liars always fail since others will point out how they twist things. I was a Christian, was born and raised that. Of course, you are quite sure that no one was a Christian unless they agree with you. I did have a good time looking at your blog. Always fun to see schism in the Catholic church.
I do also love a Christian thinking he is speaking for his god, but can’t even do what was promised for all baptized believers in Christ to do. I’m not impressed. Sharia law is little different from the ignorant laws that Christians and Jews claim their god invented. And yep, those are brutal. Your god isn’t love; it can’t even come up to the standards of the definition of love in 1 Corinthians. It is no surprise you want re-education camps to force people to agree with you.
As I’ve noted, C.S. Lewis has said that Christians should lie when it is in their interest to do so. And both Allah and God do nothing to hold anyone accountable. They are imaginary.
There are indeed several forms of Taqiyya and you lied about all of them. Hmmm, where in JC’s supposedly teachings would you find such nonsense? No where and its just as made up as the qu’ran.
Hmmm, Christians used to do all that you accuse Muslims of and more, Lawrence. It is that we have secular laws to keep you from doing it now. This is why having religion control countries is very bad. Religion teaches that people who disagree with you are evil; and that is a lie. Even Christianity teaches that. You try to pretend that Christianity is without blame and I know quite well it is not. You all brainwash children. Christianity claims to be a religion of peace and we see that is not true from every conservative Christian in the United States and yep the leaders also stand silent to the actions of their ignorant and hateful followers.
No devil, Lawrence. Christianity has that they are here to destroy all non-christians. Revelation goes into lovely detail about that. The bible says that all of those not following Christianity are blasphemous to god and must be executed, Revelation 19-21.
No giant influx of jihadists. That’s the delusion of bigots like you. Happily, I have a compass and it isn’t based on your ignorant religion.
and again with the “fool” nonsense. I see you aren’t interested in what your supposed messiah has to say on that subject. No souls either, Lawrence.
“No giant influx of Jihadists. That’s the delusion of bigots like you. Happily, I have a compass and it isn’t based on your ignorant religion.”
Tell that to my German friends that moved to Hungary to be safe, native Germans! You have some wacky ideas that have no grounds or basis in reality! Christians do not advocate killing non-Christians another blatant lie and insane misconception of yours!
How can your compass point anywhere but down, when you have no God to raise you from the dead? You are going to have a little life here and then the “rest” you need in oblivion! Your choice!
“Christians used to do all that you accuse Muslims of and more, Lawrence.”
Where did you get this fantasy? In a comic book? Christians were fighting Muslims in the Crusades, because “they” Muslims had expanded a caliphate throughout Europe and that was the result, no more capitulation but a forceful defending of their lives and property to get rid of the savages who enslaved, raped and murdered; even many of my European ancestors! I can’t believe you could be so uneducated but then liberals are like that; it’s called selective learning! What they don’t like they omit or even rewrite history to support their own narratives!
“liars always fail since others will point out how they twist things. I was a Christian, was born and raised that.”
That is you now, you lie and twist to suit your godless agenda! You don’t want to believe in anything higher and better than yourself; then good, stay that way and you will never change the facts and body of historical as well as prophetic actual witness accounting of all the Bible says! You just have a problem and that is all! But no one should have to be bothered by you and your problem; seek help! Because atheists do this all the time they attack believers and people of faith out of hate and stupidity!
You really need help! I know that and you do too! Many atheists are more times than not; very miserable, spiteful and twisted people; “that” is the evidence in itself, of how they fight tooth and claw to attack faith! Sick is what that is!
God have mercy on your soul!
Your friend from Germany ran to Hungary since they have a wannabee nazi government for a bigot to feel comfortable in. I’m half-Hungarian in ancestry and they are being quite stupid right now.
Your bible advocates Christians and believers in this god killing nonbelievers. You are showing either your ignorance of your bible again, or poor attempts to lie about it. “26 ‘I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27 But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and slaughter them in my presence.’”” Luke 19
“Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must be put to death. Such evil must be purged from Israel.” Deut 17
“They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul; and everyone who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, was to be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.” 2 Chronicles 15
“Suppose you hear in one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you that some worthless rabble among you have led their fellow citizens astray by encouraging them to worship foreign gods. In such cases, you must examine the facts carefully. If you find it is true and can prove that such a detestable act has occurred among you, you must attack that town and completely destroy all its inhabitants, as well as all the livestock. Then you must pile all the plunder in the middle of the street and burn it.” Deut 13
““Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of the mighty, the flesh of horses and their riders—flesh of all, both free and slave, both small and great.”” Revelation 19
Then we had the Inquisition, and Protestants and Catholics warring against each others in the Wars of Religion in the 17th and 18th Centuries. We also had the pogroms against the jews by Christans in the 15th up to the 20th centuries.
No one needs Lawrence or his imaginary god to live a good life. Your sadistic fantasies are all you have. Christians murdered Christians in the crusades, Christians and Muslims murdered each other during the crusades. Muslims were in Spain and in eastern Europe, not “throughout Europe at all. Your ignorance comes to the fore again. Christians also enslaved, raped and murdered. There were no good side during the crusades. Christians were idiotic enough to attack Christian Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade, weakening it and allowing the Ottoman Empire to take it.
It’s always amusing when a Christian has to lie and then tries to claim I agree with his lie. Alas, I’m not miserable, spiteful or twisted at all. So poof goes your “evidence” again. I have no soul and there is no god. Just a man who is upset that he doesn’t get the external validation he craves.
Are you really this stupid and you say you were brought up as a Christian?
Deuteronomy 17 “Do not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or a sheep that has any defect or flaw in it, for that would be detestable to him.
2 If a man or woman living among you in one of the towns the Lord gives you is found doing evil in the eyes of the Lord your God in violation of his covenant, 3 and contrary to my command has worshiped other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or the moon or the stars in the sky, 4 and this has been brought to your attention, then you must investigate it thoroughly. If it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done in Israel, 5 take the man or woman who has done this evil deed to your city gate and stone that person to death. 6 On the testimony of two or three witnesses a person is to be put to death, but no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness. 7 The hands of the witnesses must be the first in putting that person to death, and then the hands of all the people. You must purge the evil from among you.”
OLD TESTAMENT! The Muslims always followed that even after Jesus was here on earth and sill do especially he Jihadists but it’s worse now because of Muhammad perverting even the Old Testament!
Have you noticed how you pick apart what you don’t want to accept out of arrogant superiority complex and thinking you are the wise sage of the universe and how you find fault with so much around you even established truth by scholars and experts far more knowledgeable and wiser than you over the millennia; but not finding any fault o ignorance with yourself? TYPICAL HEATHAN Atheist MINDSET!
Mankind was fallen and hopelessly in gave mortal sin (something you apparently don’t think you do ever) and only death would result; but Jesus you must know by now was and is the only path to Salvation and eternal LIFE not DEATH! The old ways are null and void because Jesus became for our sake the total and fulfilling sacrifice for any who have faith in Him (God) not self like you do; so the old ways which were a deserved punishment and chastisement for a derelict evil race of sinners! NO MORE by Jesus Christ the old is passed away and the New Living Covenant of Grace and forgiveness is the path to restoring man to his rightful place with God almighty in heaven!
You need to go back to school because you have a learning defect that excludes truth and fact that shows you to be wrong which you can’t tolerate a second being so high and mighty; and yet you are dead wrong on so many things if not all of them! Have you ever experienced total humility and sorrow for your error! I doubt I very much but I hope you did so that you may have a chance to acquire that state again; because without it you are going straight to hell!
“It’s always amusing when a Christian has to lie and then tries to claim I agree with his lie.”
That right there proves what you are; a very sick demented individual! There is nothing amusing going on and I wasn’t here for some joke though you think that it’s all a joke in your puffed up “total arrogance” and stupidity of “self-righteousness” and you are so screwed it’s PATHETIC, not humorous at all what I see in you as a fallen lost soul!
Quite miserable and tragic what I see going on with you. If there is a joke in all of this it’s on you and you’re the one playing it on yourself! That is Moronic! I’m done with you as I gave you way more, as some insane atheist, than I ever did for any of them! Hit the road!
Evil comes in all shapes and sizes and “disguises” and you don’t fool me one bit! Don’t forget though the Devil gets his due! That IOU you’re holding; can be called in at any time then there won’t be any laughing or jokes!
“I am the way the truth and the life; no one comes unto the Father but through Me!” John 14:6
Here we go with Lawrence, like many Christians, trying very hard to pretend that the Old Testament doesn’t apply to him. Unfortunately, his supposed messiah says it does, “17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish ( to end the observance or effect of) the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish ( to end the observance or effect of) but to fulfill (to put into effect). 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5.
I pick apart your lies because they are lies. I do not think I’m a “wise sage of the universe” but I am quite a bit smarter than you, Lawrence. And there we go again with the appeals to authority and tradition fallacies.
If we are to believe your myths, mankind only “fell” thanks to this god either allowing Satan in or being too stupid to keep it out. This god wanted humanity to be ignorant of good and evil. It was Eve, not this god, who gave humanity morality. Jesus is not the only path to salvation. Jesus is imaginary. Jesus also purportedly said that all of the OT laws must be followed. How inconvenient.
I have no learning defect, but nice false claim, Lawrence. You have no truth. You have yet to show me wrong. I do not need to pretend to be humble to an imaginary god and an ignorant man. Hell does not exist, it is the fantasy of many theists who get upset if they are not considered special by others.
You have said this “You really need help! I know that and you do too!” It isn’t true and I don’t agree with you. Atheists are not fallen souls. There was no fall, there is no soul.
You gave me nothing at all, but a moment’s amusement. And there is no devil. Repeating nonsense from the bible doesn’t make it true.
Look I told you I was done with you and yet here you are like the immature petulant child with the heathen superiority complex (unless you are actually possessed) that you are running back to say, see I told you so! You are an idiot!
Because we all deserve hell! As it is written, “There is no one righteous; no, not one.” Romans 3:10
Quoting what you posted it says all I told you previously!
“17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish ( to end the observance or effect of) the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish ( to end the observance or effect of) but to fulfill (to put into effect). 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5.
God said the human race was doomed to sin and none are righteous not one, so we all fail hat is what is pointed out to illustrate that He came to end all of that you jackass and it is as the said the world is passing away but in the meantime he said here is the one opportunity to save your sorry asses and that is what this is saying not anything like you try to impose, which doesn’t make it TRUE because you come along and know what is happening when all the others know noting “according to you!” Do you work and have anything else that would be constructive to do?
I am far wiser and more knowledgeable with world experience tan you as I see you for what you are a babbling loud mouth who is demented just in lieu of the fact that you make such ridiculous childish statements and announcements! And if you are as great as you think in you antichrist deluded mind, then you are going publish the book that explains in great detail all of your great knowledge and wisdom putting all to shame; how you are correct and no others are; like when you’ve been going about your knocking Raymond Ibrahim who did what I just said, with exhaustive research and study of all the factual information and you have done NOTHING! Now get lost little girl!
Not only is your slip showing you your dumb childish insecure personality complex!
Do you try go hassle Muslim Jihadist’s in your area like this! Seek them out online and keep carrying on how they are wrong and you are right and Allah is a crock? Of course you don’t because you are a little fraidy cat with no convictions or guts; little one! Now go play in traffic or something stupid like that kid! You’re obviously not any responsible for yourself adult; let alone support dependents!
Either do what I just suggested or read the following and study hard for a long time and maybe you will get your mind right! I haven’t had to deal with the likes of you since straightening out some wayward teens that had some hard lessons coming!
The law, as thus inscribed on the heart of the first man, is often styled the law of creation, because it was the will of the sovereign Creator, revealed to the reasonable creature, by impressing it upon his mind and heart at his creation. It is also called the moral law, because it was a revelation of the will of God, as his moral governor, and was the standard and rule of man’s moral actions. Adam was originally placed under this law in its natural form, as merely directing and obliging him to perfect obedience. He was brought under it in a covenant form, when an express threatening of death, and a gracious promise of life, was annexed to it; and then a positive precept was added, enjoining him not to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge, as the test of his obedience to the whole law.–Gen. ii. 16, 17. That this covenant was made with the first man, not as a single person, but as the federal representative of all his natural posterity, has been formerly shown. The law, as invested with a covenant form, is called, by the Apostle Paul, “The law of works” (Rom. iii. 27); that is, the law as a covenant of works. In this form, the law is to be viewed as not only prescribing duty, but as promising life as the reward of obedience, and denouncing death as the punishment of transgression. ….
Section II.–This law, after his fall, continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness; and, as such, was delivered by God upon mount Sinai in ten commandments, and written in two tables; the first four commandments containing our duty toward God, and the other six our duty to man.
Upon the fall of man, the law, considered as a covenant of works, was annulled and set aside; but, considered as moral, it continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness. That fair copy of the law which had been inscribed on the heart of the first man in his creation, was, by the fall, greatly defaced, although not totally obliterated. Some faint impressions of it still remain on the minds of all reasonable creatures. Its general principles, such as, that God is to be worshipped, that parents ought to be honored, that we should do to others what we would reasonably wish that they should do to us–such general principles as these are still, in some degree, engraved on the minds of all men. – Rom. ii. 14,15.
But the original edition of the law being greatly obliterated, God was graciously pleased to give a new and complete copy of it. He delivered it to the Israelites from Mount Sinai, with awful solemnity. In this promulgation of the law, he summed it up in Ten Commandments; and, therefore, it is commonly styled the Law of the Ten Commandments.”
Are we under grace or law?
CAN YOU BE UNDER ONE AND NOT THE OTHER?
~The unregenerate Jew is under one and not the other.
~Can one be under grace and be under the law?
On the sermon on the mount, Jesus proclaims:
“17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but rto fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
The apostle Paul proclaims in Romans 3:
“21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God dthrough faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. eFor there is no distinction: 23 for fall have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 gand are justified hby his grace as a gift, ithrough the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God jput forward as ka propitiation lby his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in mhis divine forbearance he had passed over nformer sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
27 oThen what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith papart from works of the law. 29 Or qis God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since rGod is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and sthe uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.”
We uphold the law! Do you see the balance in what has been said here? Although we are under grace and the law surely does not save nor justify, the believer holds to the idea that the law is good.
THE GREAT COMMANDMENT
Timothy writes:
1 Tim 1:8
8 Now we know that rthe law is good, if one uses it lawfully,
What? Can the law be used unlawfully? How is that? Listen closely to these passages:
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2). “The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. . . . They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:7, 10). “O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97).
Last weekend J. Paugh was teaching on Zepheniah and I came across this passage:
Zep 3:1-4
To the oppressing city! 2 She has not obeyed His voice, She has not received correction; She has not trusted in the Lord, She has not drawn near to her God. 3 Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; Her judges are evening wolves That leave not a bone till morning. 4 Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people; Her priests have polluted the sanctuary, They have done violence to the law.
Having read all the above, How does the believer understand this balance in light of Christ’s sacrifice and our being justified by faith alone? Weren’t the Judaizer’s in Gal 3 rebuked for returning to the law?
Gal 3 :1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? zIt was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly aportrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: bDid you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by chearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? dHaving begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by1 the flesh? 4 eDid you suffer1 so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and fworks miracles among you do so gby works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as hAbraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?
and what about Romans:
Rom 7:4
4 Likewise, my brothers, gyou also have died hto the law ithrough the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, jin order that we may bear fruit for God.
“The believer is not redeemed by obedience to the law, but he is redeemed unto it. He is not free to sin but to righteousness, and righteousness is simply conformity to the law of God. The moral law is the reflection or expression of the moral perfection of God and is therefore the immutable standard of obligation, norm of righteousness and rule of life. To deny the permanent authority of the moral law is to deny the holiness of God. God has declared, ye shall be holy for I am holy.”
THE END
If you don’t calm the fuck down your next comment won’t be welcome on this post my guy. Throwing around insults isn’t productive. We have all read the Bible, damnit. Why are you quoting scriptures at a woman who has made very clear to you that she was raised as a christian?!
You calm done buster! You have a woman on your blog attacking the Christian faith and any great Christian I brought up and then hassling me with BS, even that she was raised in the faith which doesn’t mean Jack in her case; and you sit back doing NOTHING!
Then you have the nerve to come along as Johnny Come Lately with your hair in a muss ragging at me! Get your act together or block me that is your prerogative and the only option as far as I’m concerned now! Don’t you dare condescend on me!
I provided some nice information for YOU at the start with your name not hers and you let her take over completely so you are the fool! And you had her that crazed person winding up YOUR blog like she owned it; so where do you come off that I need an adjustment; when I was thinking you would have jumped in long before now to make your position clear?
Learn your lesson and for anyone else be a man and state you purpose at any given time on YOUR blog; it isn’t hers! Do what you want and grow up; I’m done with the idiocy! And this blog! Get it?
I may have written this post, but you don’t get to decide what I do with my site. You’re clearly under the impression that me wanting to read someone dismantling these ignorant, hateful notions of yours means I’m not ‘man enough’ to speak for myself. Don’t speak to me about being a man. I don’t aspire to be your perception of a man anyways.
She doesn’t own this blog nor did she ever claim to. Just like you, she found herself typing a reply to someone because she had something to say.
You are so blinded by this desire to be percieved as the bringer of good news that anybody who doesnt accept it with open arms is instantly deemed a heretic. You have not demonstrated that you are a reliable source for anything other than a perfect model of how not to conduct yourself online.
“If you don’t calm the fuck down your next comment won’t be welcome on this post my guy. Throwing around insults isn’t productive. We have all read the Bible, damnit. Why are you quoting scriptures at a woman who has made very clear to you that she was raised as a christian?!”
Did you not say that wise ass disrespectful punk with the four letter word directed at me; I know you would never do that to my face if you didn’t want to be hurting? “Why are you quoting scriptures,” was she not quoting scriptures incessantly after I even told her I was done with her and the site? You have fools like her running slipshod on your dumb ass site misinterpreting scripture, and putting down fine experts in the given area of discipline being discussed like she is some know it all like you think you are, both of you trying to tear Christianity apart because you are full of arrogant hate! I suggest you take all of that with her and find some Muslim Jihadists in your own screwed up country and tell them what you think to their faces if you have the balls; which we both know you do not! I do, and have seen and done far more than you will in 3 lifetimes; even putting my enemies on the spot to shoot me when they are ready if they want to back up their threats or real substantive gestures they made; not this child’s play fairy queen baby cakes BS!
You are a complete waste of time and I have no interest in you or anyone who you associate with; you got that now punk! And I won’t explain anything further to you other than you are a screwed up child that has far too much growing up to do; which I doubt you ever will accomplish! Be and continue as an atheist and die one for all I care, it’s your soul that will be in damnation!
Remember, you came to my blog site; I wasn’t ever seeking this dumb site out nor would I have with its 23 followers; but gave you the benefit of the doubt which you promptly vanquished with your obvious lies and stupidity along with childish behavior and idiots you associate with on it! All a fraud! Now beat it!
You hear that guys? 23 followers already!
pretty good, and of course quality over quantity 😀
Now Lawrence tries to be tough and still can’t support his claims. No one needs you to explain anything Lawrence, you are a willfully ignorant failure with impotent sadistic fantasies.
And a size queen too, tsk. It’s hilarious to see him telling the blog owner to “beat it”.
I’m here to show how Christians fail. Until the blog owner says “knock it off”, I’m here to stand against your nonsense. I have time and the resources to do so.
No one deserves hell because of what some ignorant agrarians wrote in a book.
The passage from Matthew 5 shows that most, if not all Christians are failures for not following all of the laws in the OT.
There is no god that you can show exists so whining “God said” is just amusing to me and any one who doesn’t agree with you. No one needs Lawrence, his god or his jesus to be “saved”. There is nothing to be saved from.
Nothing demonstrates you are wise or knowledgeable. No book needed, I’m content with my blog. Ibrahim was called out as misleading by his peers. Oh and “little girl”. Alas, not, but nice you have nothing else but poor attempt at being insulting.
I do “hassle” Muslims. They are as ridiculous as you are. And now you wish harm on me. How typical.
I’ve already read apologetic nonsense and have studied it well. I enjoy reading and researching anything. You’ve never straightened out anyone with your false claims.
Nope, no law inscribed anywhere, and Christians can’t agree on what they want to falsely claim was inscribed. Christians can’t agree on morals either, so poof goes any lies about having objective morality. What’s more, many of you have no problem in your god doing something horrible that you would be aghast if a human did it. That shows nothing more than subjective morality, based on what something is, not the action being objectively moral or not. It’s morality based on might equals right.
Adam per your bible was created under no law, since this god didn’t tell him it or allowed him to know good and evil. If there had been an objective morality from the beginning, Adam wouldn’t have been allowed to run around naked, since that apparently was a sin since God himself made clothes to cover Adam and Eve up.
You are right, the bible is about nothing more than obedieance, no love, nothing else. And nice plagiarism, Lawrence. You stole it (everything from “Adam was originally….. to THE END) from The Reformed Faith An Exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith by Robert Shaw.
There is no “new and complete copy” of any laws from your god. It is made up by humans and no stone tablets were given on Mt. Sinai. There are far more than the first 10 commandments that you are to follow. Christians love to forget that the bible does not separate the first ten from the rest.
you’ve failed again and done me a great favor of showing Christians are often not what they try to claim to be.
Lawrence, get some sleep.
you are quite bizarre in your liking of my comments and then your rants about them.
They DO go on and on…. and on, don’t they? 😯