Constructive Criticism

Hi Mark,

Good luck on the blog project! There are a couple of blog ideas of my own that I've had that have stalled at the starting line, so it is no small thing to get the ball rolling as you have.

Two observations about the project. Fostering engagement from any audience is a challenge even in topics that are light and fun. Doing so on the topic of religion is that much more of a challenge given the energy required to participate. By its very nature it is likely to turn into a kind of debate. This kind of dialog may be exactly what you are looking for, so no harm in giving it a go. I do think that you may have to populate the blog with entries that you generate on your own (without questions or prompting from others) so that the posts can be there for people to come to when THEY are ready to engage. If you gently promote blog entries through twitter etc. eventually someone will drift over to the site and hopefully get caught up in the subject, presented in your "voice."

This brings me to the second observation. I scratched my head a bit at what appears to be an over reliance on external links and references for someone to check out; links to folks who "say it better than you." As the author of the blog (of any blog) I do believe that you should write with authority. I don't mean that you should come across as having all the answers or being a "know-it-all", rather people will want to read what YOU have to say about the subject. If there is some relevant info in a link, by all means provide it, but you should always synthesize the info from external sources for your reader right in the blog entry itself, and in your voice. I understand that this may be a fine line to walk with regards to religion: speaking your mind and not putting forward the very "belligerent" tone that you are trying to combat in others. This then is the major challenge!

It is likely that you already know about both of these observations. Then my input is more about encouraging you to continue to develop "that voice" that creates content more that it passes content along.

Hope these notes are helpful. Feel free to quote any of this email--using my name if you wish--if there is anything you want to address on the blog itself.

Cheers,

Bob Mills

P.S. Here is a topic/question: As an atheist I don't hold that the bible holds any authority as a "divine" work. I routinely tune-out biblical quotes as "evidence" of the existence or will of God--not to mention the divinity of Jesus. So how does one argue about the existence of God without using a source like the bible to bolster arguments?

Bob,

     Thanks so much for your words of encouragement and honesty. I just had to smile as I read your email because, as you said, I knew exactly what you were talking about. This is really new to me and I know I am putting myself out there in doing this...makes me nervous. However, from the responses I have seen so far, I feel that this will be a great place to bring up topics on Christianity that can be discussed in a civil understanding way from both parties.

  As far as the fear that no one was seeing this blog...I guess I have gotten so used to the instant reply to online posts(especially when religion is involved) that I have been spoiled. Obviously I feel that this is a very important forum for discussion, so I guess I was a little over anxious to see some immediate results. Now that a couple of days have gone by...I see that I will have more than enough to keep me busy.

   I was a little worried about just posting links to info only. I don't want this to be just that. I am a sub-novice writer at best, but I do want to improve and to be able to put these things into my own words the best I can. Emails like yours are and will be great for me to see...I greatly appreciate it! The links are mostly to point to teachings that I think are very good and informative. There is a lot of content in them that I agree with and want to share, but at the same time I do want to do my own research and present my own arguments to the reader. A secondary reason is that I do want to show that there are many other Christians out there that are scholarly, intelligent, and are presenting in a very Christian manner, with love and respect. There is way too much hate from both sides these days and that is one of the things I want to keep well away from this blog.

  I don't know if you had a chance to read my response to Kevin, but I feel that post had a fairly good format(and hopefully some good content) followed by some relevant links.

  The question that you posed at the end really made me smile as well. That topic was one of the main ones I wanted to start looking into because I feel that it is a very important one. It may be a while before I can comment on it because I really want to do my research. There is a ton if info out there from people who have spent years studying the validity of the Bible(so expect more links). I have some more thoughts on this brewing in my head, but they are best left until I can put together a more meaningful post on the subject.

  Again, thanks so much for showing that atheists and Christians can and do have meaningful and respectful discussions. I hope to have many more with you and others in the future.

Mark "ClydeFrog" Ritter

God's Character

  I was invited to view the following video and I invite you also to do so. I found that from my perspective, not too much was really settled on one way or the other, but that is the nature of debates. They are mostly to present two sides and the viewer is to make their judgement calls. So please watch(there are actually 4 parts to it), but also please consider also watching the other two videos below it. The other two are some videos from noted Christian Apologetic scholars. They are discussing one of the same themes brought up in the debate. That theme is the nature of God's character. The common thought is that in the Old Testament God is a vindictive harsh God and in the New Testament God is a God of love. These videos are quite long, but please take the time to watch them in their entirety and I hope that they all might shed some light on things.





 

A response to Kevin

Mostly the problem with Christianity that I, and a lot of others have can be fairly simply stated in this quote:

"I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world." – Richard Dawkins

To the statement above I would have to partially agree.

Religion is defined(dictionary.com) as:

1.a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

2.a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.

3.the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.

4.the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.

5.the practice of religious  beliefs; ritual observance of faith.

6.something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.

7.religions, Archaic . religious  rites.

8.Archaic . strict faithfulness; devotion: a religion to one's vow.

   Religion does not specifically mean Christianity, though that is the association a lot of people make. Many horrible things and ignorant beliefs, Christian and non-Christian, have been done/held in the name of religion.

   However, what I would ask concerning the above quote would be; Where in the Bible does it teach us to be satisfied with not understanding the world? I think that you would find that it really teaches the direct opposite. I believe that God encourages us to investigate the world and observe it in order to provide evidence for His existence and power:

Romans Chapter 1:20
 "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse."[NASB]

This verse implies that we should have a better understanding of the world around us, because it is His creation and it is constantly showing us evidence for God.


  Also, the importance of wisdom is taught in many places in the Bible, specifically Proverbs.

Proverbs Chapter 16:16

  "Get wisdom — how much better it is than gold! And get understanding — it is preferable to silver." [NASB]

Specifically, those that oppose things like medicine, technology, science (like Evolution and the Big Bang), claiming that it's all false and a book written by desert nomads 2000 years ago somehow contains more knowledge than all of modern science.

In addition, we have an issue with those Christians that try and change the laws to suit their own personal belief systems, such as banning gay marriage, abortion, euthanasia, pornography, video games, etc. I know you mentioned to not say "Christians", but they do these things with their Christianity as support. Again, that somehow this book written 2000 years ago is smarter than all modern scientists.

This is Nivekeryas, by the way.

  All of what you have stated is actually focused on what people have done in the name of religion. This is the danger that I want people to realize and why I stated things the way I did in my post about the purpose of this blog.
  I want people to search their hearts and look into the Bible on their own. Listen to good Christian speakers/philosophers and scientists and the studies they have done. Talk to Christians who are actually living the life that Christ would want them to. Don't let bad examples overwhelm you. Look at the good examples of Christianity to provide some evidence.


I have included some links below that I feel are pretty good and related somewhat to your response. They are all good Christian thinkers that really act and speak in a way that is contrary to the Christian stereotype in the world today:


This is a definition that I think you would currently subscribe to:
http://apologetics315.blogspot.com/2010/09/terminology-tuesday-scientism.html

Some examples of past Christian Scientists:
http://apologetics315.blogspot.com/2011/07/scientists-of-faith.html


This is a fairly long series that I have not finished, but so far it has some really good stuff in it. Bear with it and listen to what he has to say.
http://feeds.feedburner.com/ScienceAndTheBible-RobertBowman

This is a shorter lecture that you may want to consider listening to first. It is Lee Strobel, a former atheist:
http://www.chcc.org/resources/1/midpoint_mp3s/chcc_midpoint_101310.mp3

The links in my earlier post are filled with talks and articles by Christians who hold to the belief that we are not to be ignorant and have blind faith.

http://clydefrogsgod.blogspot.com/2011/07/couple-of-really-good-sites.html

I hope I have given you some things to think about and I hope that you will check out the links above...they are much better at this than I am ;)

Take care and let me know what you think.

A couple of really good sites...

Just for reference...these are two really great sites that I will frequently refrence. I just thought I would share them here so you can take a look.

Apologetics 315

http://www.bethinking.org/

What is this blog all about?

The words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 describe my thoughts on doing this blog.


1 Corinthians 2
Paul’s Reliance upon the Spirit
1 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the [a]testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my [b]message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not [c]rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
Footnotes:

[a] 1 Corinthians 2:1 One early ms reads mystery
[b] 1 Corinthians 2:4 Lit word
[c] 1 Corinthians 2:5 Lit be


I am no great writer, philosopher or scientist. I come to you humbly and with a little bit of nervousness about what I am looking to do.

I am trying to study and gain a better understanding of God, the Bible and why I believe in Jesus as Savior of my life. In doing this I wish to share and use your questions as topics to study so that I might gain a better understanding of what peoples real views are and what the Bible has to say concerning them.

If you are not a Christian, I would like you to let me know what your biggest problem with Christianity is. Not what your biggest problem with Christians is...but the theology itself. There are plenty of folks out there that call themselves Christian, but are clearly not living the way they should.

If you are a Christian, please let me know why you believe. Give your testimony so that others can hear and also help me to spread the Word in a way that is consistent with 1 Peter 3:15.

1 Peter 3:15

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

15 but [a]sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a [b]defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and [c]reverence;
Footnotes:

1 Peter 3:15 I.e. set apart
1 Peter 3:15 Or argument; or explanation
1 Peter 3:15 Or fear
Help by reading what I post and link to and let me know if maybe I am missing the point or getting something wrong..I want to always be speaking the truth with wisdom.

I will try my best to address all questions as best I can and as soon as I can, so please be patient with me. This is going to be a real learning experience for me as well.

As a Christian I am called by God to share His Word to others. I am not called to judge, force or be belligerent...I am to present the message of God so that others may hear and decide what they believe. Salvation is between you and God only. You must decide what you believe, but you must do it intelligently. Don't let the false/bad witness of some who call themselves Christians, but do not live the life turn you away from God. Also, do not let the criticism of atheists or other non-believers keep you from ever investigating the claims of the Bible for yourself. You must search your own heart and mind and make these decisions for yourself.

This blog will be my attempt to share God's Word to those that want to do just that. I will invite people to ask questions and I will try to give the best answers I can. Mostly I will probably point you in the direction of articles and audio of those that are much better than I am in explaining the Bible. I hope that you will use this as a way to start thinking about what you truly believe in.

Thanks for checking this out and I look forward to your questions & comments.
Mark "ClydeFrog" Ritter