The Preoccupation With Sin is Christianity's Undoing
A Christian commentator recently lamented the decline of Christian numbers and the growing irrelevance of the faith in national affairs. His solution was for the faithful to stop arguing about fine points of theology, stop calling out sinners and start serving society.
One practical idea he had was an army of Christian volunteers helping children in poor areas with their reading and math skills. He said it might lead a few to read the Bible but that would not be the goal. The goal would be to selflessly serve other human beings.
One might think this would be an easy sell to the vast majority of the faith. But, it is not. I would guess there would be few takers.
There is a large branch of the faith which really enjoys arguing the fine point of theology. It is far more fun to argue about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin than it is to help a child to read.
The same is true about calling out other sinners. Think of the money that has been spent and continues to be spent creating new denominations in order to condemn gay clergy and gay church members. This is a sin worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Helping a child read is worth almost nothing.
It would be fair to ask what atheists are doing to help others. Our small group here raising lots of money each year and gives it to public schools. We request to go to pay fees low income students cannot afford. Atheists have a nation-wide fund which gives quite large amounts to various groups doing work we support.
I'm not criticizing the benevolence of the faith. I'm saying it will be next to impossible to make benevolence its main thrust as the link author proposes.
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ReplyDeleteLittle helper--Welcome back. When you are in a better mood post again.
ReplyDeleteJon; You just proved how insecure you truly are. You can't bear to see honest contradiction, then block it.
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ReplyDeleteIs this the way of a professor? No exchange of ideas? Shamie shamie little Jonnie.
DeleteWhile I disagree with parts of the link, the author of it didn't mention "sin", nor imply sin as a major factor.
ReplyDelete"the author of it didn't mention "sin", nor imply sin as a major factor."
ReplyDeleteDid you happen to read this part, "We even lament and lecture each other on how this sect is wrong and this denomination is corrupted.." It's fair to conclude he was implying sin but was more careful not to offend than I am.
Not a hint of implying sin. Wrong, and corruption, error if you like, yet not "sin". Like in your youth; dancing, movies and alcohol, Saw sin when there was no sin. Move beyond the pietism of your youth. (pietism includes being judgmental )
DeleteChristians like the author and yourself like to avoid admitting you are preoccupied with sin. You like to present the face of Christianity as being about "forgiveness." It's better marketing. But the preoccupation is with sin. In your case the big sin is abortion. To others the big sin is homosexuality. When I was growing up it was working on Sunday, alcohol and ballroom dancing. Abortion was not a sin--approved of in magazines like "Christianity Today." Sin as a general topic is still numero uno. What has changed is the favorite sins.
DeleteThere you go. making accusations and judging. Poor form for a proud atheist. Even that can be forgiven if you admit to it. None of it, ( including abortions) is in my hands to condemn OR forgive. Consequently, it's not on our hit parade. (It may be for others as a political thing, but not us. Remember the separation of church and state.) In many instances you co-mingle the two, and conflate.
DeleteJon; Just by observing your blogs now and in the past, you are many times over more preoccupied with sin than I am. A point to be considered. "No daddy, I did not kick the dog. He just runs away when I get near.")
ReplyDelete"you are many times more preoccupied with sin than I am." The faith called Christianity is preoccupied with sin. Without sin people would need no forgiveness. With no need for forgiveness there would be no need for the faith. Sin is central. What is a sin, however, changes all the time.
DeleteCivil law pretty much defines what is called sin. You would not deny civil law, or would you? Apart from the first three of the 10 c's, the remainder apply in your case. Or would you negate all legal ramifications of the remaining seven? Then let all murders, rapists, thieves, and slanderers go free? The civil is the second paragraph of a two paragraph chapter with the same objective. admission, and debt paid, (forgiveness, or time served) in either case.
Deletere. "What is a sin, however changes all the time". Considering your past, have you considered what you thought was sin was not sin in the first place? Pietism has a tendency to do that. Once a pietist, always a pietist, including you.
Delete"have you ever considered what you thought was sin was not sin in the first place.?" Here we go debating how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. Millions of Christians thought these things were sins. What people thought were sins were sins. Today they think other things are sins. Christianity is what Christians think it is. Of course Christians disagree with each other because there is no ultimate decider--it's all what individuals carry around in the heads.
ReplyDelete"civil law pretty much defines what is called sin." No it does not. Abortion is legal. Alcohol use is legal. Cursing is legal. Not believing in the "Holy Ghost" is legal. The latter is the most grave of sins according to the Bible. Civil laws is about not harming other people or taking their property. It is not about sin--at least according to our Constitution it is not supposed to be about sin. If it were about sin it would be promoting a government approved religion. Do you support the Constitution?
DeleteAbortion is not legal in many places around the world. Neither is alcohol in many places. Public drunkenness is not legal.----Not believing in the Holy Ghost is legal, but rejecting it has it's ramifications apart from the civil. (There you go again confusing the sacred with the secular. That church and state thingie)----------"Civil law is about not harming other people or taking their property", But it IS about harming or taking after the deed is done. Indeed, civil law can and does provide some measure of restraint before some crimes are committed. How many more robberies would be committed if there was no fear of being caught?. What planet are you from. Did I not make it clear, and have I not always made it clear of the separation? I did. I do support the constitution on account of that. Do you support Sharia? Do you support the civil intruding into the sacred? You have said as much in the past.
DeleteIn the earlier post you said civil law is about sin. In this post you do some nifty footwork trying to say well they are the in some cases and different in others.
ReplyDeleteI said; "Civil law pretty much defines sin". NOT CIVIL LAW IS ABOUT SIN !! You just can't the sacred from the secular, along with your weakness in reading comprehension. Herein lies your problem. Back to grammar school with you.
DeleteJust trying to be helpful.
"Do you support the civil intruding into the sacred?" When the sacred takes away my rights of the rights of other law abiding citizens, of course.
ReplyDeleteThat's not the question. Do you support forcing churches to accept abortions, etc?
Delete"Back to grammar school with you." I just follow sins through time. They continue to change. That helps keep Christianity alive. Smart versions of the faith keep pace with society.
ReplyDeleteAs I said, you are obsessed with sin. Even when a particular so called sin is not sin. So it is with pietism.
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