Comments on: A story of revelation and rebirth, but not as Christians would like it http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/05/20/a-story-of-revelation-and-rebirth-but-not-as-christians-would-like-it/ The voice of atheism since 1881 Sun, 12 Feb 2012 11:48:54 +0000 hourly 1 By: Anne Rice ditches Christianity http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/05/20/a-story-of-revelation-and-rebirth-but-not-as-christians-would-like-it/comment-page-1/#comment-39979 Anne Rice ditches Christianity Tue, 10 Aug 2010 12:23:22 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=6369#comment-39979 [...] on Rice’s defection, William Lobdell, a former Los Angeles Times staff writer and author of Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith [...] [...] on Rice’s defection, William Lobdell, a former Los Angeles Times staff writer and author of Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith [...]

]]> By: PeterBrietbart http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/05/20/a-story-of-revelation-and-rebirth-but-not-as-christians-would-like-it/comment-page-1/#comment-17547 PeterBrietbart Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:28:16 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=6369#comment-17547 At least we're not spiritually disingenuous and intellectually empty Mr Green. At least we're not spiritually disingenuous and intellectually empty Mr Green.

]]> By: rdgreen http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/05/20/a-story-of-revelation-and-rebirth-but-not-as-christians-would-like-it/comment-page-1/#comment-17516 rdgreen Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:09:17 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=6369#comment-17516 The basic problem guys like Breitbart and Lobdell have is what I would loosely term the "Ghandi syndrome" - i.e. the quote allegedly attributable to Ghandi saying he loved our Christ, just not our Christians. Like Plato's shadows on the cave walls (gratuitous nod to the benefits of a liberal education) they see Christians *as* God, and not *of* God. The unvarnished truth is that it's because mankind is broken like shards of glass that God's perfection is distorted as it shines through us. In some, the brokeness is immense and mosaic, creating the horrific crimes of headlines and history books. In others, the brokeness is more subtle and fine, and as they work through their paths to salvation through Grace God's light shines through them in more Christ-like fashion. Either way, condemning God and His love for man because His message is hijacked by the weak is both intellectually disingenuous and spiritually empty. The basic problem guys like Breitbart and Lobdell have is what I would loosely term the "Ghandi syndrome" – i.e. the quote allegedly attributable to Ghandi saying he loved our Christ, just not our Christians. Like Plato's shadows on the cave walls (gratuitous nod to the benefits of a liberal education) they see Christians *as* God, and not *of* God. The unvarnished truth is that it's because mankind is broken like shards of glass that God's perfection is distorted as it shines through us. In some, the brokeness is immense and mosaic, creating the horrific crimes of headlines and history books. In others, the brokeness is more subtle and fine, and as they work through their paths to salvation through Grace God's light shines through them in more Christ-like fashion.

Either way, condemning God and His love for man because His message is hijacked by the weak is both intellectually disingenuous and spiritually empty.

]]> By: Kate http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/05/20/a-story-of-revelation-and-rebirth-but-not-as-christians-would-like-it/comment-page-1/#comment-17102 Kate Sat, 30 May 2009 03:31:10 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=6369#comment-17102 Jack, Another kind of insanity (conspiracy theory) is no cure for the first (religion.) Jack,

Another kind of insanity (conspiracy theory) is no cure for the first (religion.)

]]> By: Sambo http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/05/20/a-story-of-revelation-and-rebirth-but-not-as-christians-would-like-it/comment-page-1/#comment-16985 Sambo Tue, 26 May 2009 12:31:36 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=6369#comment-16985 There are many people leaving Christianity and there are many joining it. The difference, however, is that those who leave inevitably end up writing best-sellers. There are many people leaving Christianity and there are many joining it. The difference, however, is that those who leave inevitably end up writing best-sellers.

]]> By: Jay http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/05/20/a-story-of-revelation-and-rebirth-but-not-as-christians-would-like-it/comment-page-1/#comment-16903 Jay Sat, 23 May 2009 20:22:00 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=6369#comment-16903 I like Thomas Jefferson's take on religion. He was vehemently against the “corruptions” of Christianity, and against the religious bigotry and hypocrisy of arrogant, self-important and self-righteous people who claimed to be Christian authorities. But, even so, Jefferson loved the actual teachings of Jesus. Jefferson decided to do something about it. He compiled a reformed version of the gospels to rescue the philosophy of Jesus and the "pure principles which he taught," from the “corruptions and artificial vestments” which were established as “instruments of riches and power” for church patriarchs. Jefferson concluded that Jesus never claimed to be God, and he regarded much of the New Testament as corrupted with "palpable interpolations and falsifications." So he separated ethical and true teachings from the religious doctrine and dogma. He called his book “The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth Extracted Textually from the Gospels.” He didn’t publish it, because he regarded religious beliefs as a private matter. But now people know it as The Jefferson Bible. Read a similar take at: <a href="http://reformationcomingsoon.bravehost.com" target="_blank">http://reformationcomingsoon.bravehost.com</a> I like Thomas Jefferson's take on religion. He was vehemently against the “corruptions” of Christianity, and against the religious bigotry and hypocrisy of arrogant, self-important and self-righteous people who claimed to be Christian authorities. But, even so, Jefferson loved the actual teachings of Jesus.

Jefferson decided to do something about it. He compiled a reformed version of the gospels to rescue the philosophy of Jesus and the "pure principles which he taught," from the “corruptions and artificial vestments” which were established as “instruments of riches and power” for church patriarchs.

Jefferson concluded that Jesus never claimed to be God, and he regarded much of the New Testament as corrupted with "palpable interpolations and falsifications." So he separated ethical and true teachings from the religious doctrine and dogma. He called his book “The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth Extracted Textually from the Gospels.” He didn’t publish it, because he regarded religious beliefs as a private matter. But now people know it as The Jefferson Bible.

Read a similar take at: http://reformationcomingsoon.bravehost.com

]]> By: pilgrimomega http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/05/20/a-story-of-revelation-and-rebirth-but-not-as-christians-would-like-it/comment-page-1/#comment-16815 pilgrimomega Fri, 22 May 2009 00:42:17 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=6369#comment-16815 One of the rites of passage from childhood to adulthood begins with the sad news that parents break to their kids, that Santa Claus isn't real. In my case, the dominoes all ticked over in a perfect line: If there's no Santa, there's no Easter Bunny, tooth fairy...man, next thing you know they are gonna tell me that there's no Batman... Anyway... It's time for humanity to grow up and let that last domino fall. One of the rites of passage from childhood to adulthood begins with the sad news that parents break to their kids, that Santa Claus isn’t real. In my case, the dominoes all ticked over in a perfect line:

If there’s no Santa, there’s no Easter Bunny, tooth fairy…man, next thing you know they are gonna tell me that there’s no Batman…

Anyway…

It’s time for humanity to grow up and let that last domino fall.

]]> By: albert http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/05/20/a-story-of-revelation-and-rebirth-but-not-as-christians-would-like-it/comment-page-1/#comment-16795 albert Thu, 21 May 2009 17:49:30 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=6369#comment-16795 We ate all Atheists. Many reject all gods but one and I reject all gods.. And if you believe in ghosts,re incarnation and superstition then you can't believe in a god... We ate all Atheists. Many reject all gods but one and I reject all gods..
And if you believe in ghosts,re incarnation and superstition then you can't believe in
a god…

]]> By: Stonyground http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/05/20/a-story-of-revelation-and-rebirth-but-not-as-christians-would-like-it/comment-page-1/#comment-16794 Stonyground Thu, 21 May 2009 17:09:52 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=6369#comment-16794 I think that after the latest revolting revelations, any "Peters" that don't Denounce the Catholic Church and leave it to rot are "Judases" by association. I think that after the latest revolting revelations, any "Peters" that don't Denounce the Catholic Church and leave it to rot are "Judases" by association.

]]> By: valdemar http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/05/20/a-story-of-revelation-and-rebirth-but-not-as-christians-would-like-it/comment-page-1/#comment-16787 valdemar Thu, 21 May 2009 13:08:26 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=6369#comment-16787 I for one think Mr Lobdell is to be congratulated for intellectual and emotional honesty, especially in a USA where religiosity is still equated with morality by most media pundits and politicians. I for one think Mr Lobdell is to be congratulated for intellectual and emotional honesty, especially in a USA where religiosity is still equated with morality by most media pundits and politicians.

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