Anyone non-religious here? Please be nice!

[farmerlor]

That website got me a little riled so I started to write something a little cranky but I'm an adult so I'm going to bed.

 

[deb1]

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I understand, it got me angry also.

 

[redux]

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Even though I know that most of us know this I feel like I should add that most Christians do not think like this guy. The article that I linked to is troubling.



He has done a lot of work on his muscles though, hasn't he? LOL Ignore the muscle man and read the article.

I don't think he represents Christians at all. He is promoting himself and his book, which he conveniently sells on his website for just $16.95

 

[Kelly G]

I posted a link earlier this week on the movie, Religulous, but no one responded (I posted it as a link)...my husband and I loved this movie...we felt it was such a defining movie. It seemed to give a voice to all the questions we have - about religion & how people come to believe what they believe in the face of evidence that supports different conclusions than what religion provides.

We have watched the movie several times. We come away shaking our heads every time...especially when we pass the Holy Land Experience off of I-4 just west of Orlando.

The only thing I wish is that he could have found some really, really artuculate and well-spoken representatives of each of the religions instead of every-day people...I want to see equally matched intellects jousting over this topic. My husband maintains that each of the people in the documentry is holding themselves up as a knowledgeable religious spokesperson - each feels as if they have it all figured out and are a great resource for their denomination. I'm not so sure. None seem to be able to answer questions in a clear, cohesive manner.

Did anyone else see it? What did you think?

 

[mom'sfolly]

I googled Christianity and Religion after you posted that link Deb. Evidently that guy's attitude is not that uncommon. I guess there is a trend in Christianity, at least some branches, to deny that it is a religion. I find this very interesting, because by every reasonable definition, it is certainly a religion. There is also an element of exclusivity in each of these links, implying that the wrong branches of Christianity are religion, but the right branches are not.

http://hubpages.com/hub/Whats-the-difference-between-Christianity-and-Religion

http://relijournal.com/religion/defining-the-difference-between-religion-and-christianity/

http://www.helium.com/knowledge/399...differences-between-christianity-and-religion

 

[farmerlor]

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I saw it but then I adore Bill. I don't agree with him about half the time but I adore him nevertheless. The movie was exactly what I expected. I don't really think he was in the market for anyone who could actually articulate a persuasive argument for religion and so he got some wackos and nutjobs to make their declarations. Don't get me wrong, some of these people sound an awful lot like my relatives and I confess that I laughed when I saw them but I'm not going to sit here and tell you that any of my relatives have a clean mental bill of health.
Okay, okay, back to bed for Lor.

 

[Chickie'sMoma]

deb1, i just couldn't get past the first paragraph on his site.

i guess i just got too confounded by him calling it a 'non' religion and then to pretty much talk about how it is according to his own words.

 

[deb1]

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I have not seen it but I would like to see it. Was he respectful of other faiths? If he tears down people just for the sake of tearing them down, it might not appeal to me.

 

[Kelly G]

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I saw it but then I adore Bill. I don't agree with him about half the time but I adore him nevertheless. The movie was exactly what I expected. I don't really think he was in the market for anyone who could actually articulate a persuasive argument for religion and so he got some wackos and nutjobs to make their declarations. Don't get me wrong, some of these people sound an awful lot like my relatives and I confess that I laughed when I saw them but I'm not going to sit here and tell you that any of my relatives have a clean mental bill of health.
Okay, okay, back to bed for Lor.

I know, I know! I LOVE Bill Maher - he's brilliant in a verbal jousting match! And I also have very close relatives who sound an awful lot like those he interviewed. It was painful at points!


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I have not seen it but I would like to see it. Was he respectful of other faiths? If he tears down people just for the sake of tearing them down, it might not appeal to me.

You know, he asks legitimate questions. They are simple questions, but loaded questions. My husband and I believe that those practicing, believing, and holding up religion as an accurate explanation for life here on earth - and after - should be able to articulate a cohesive answer.

My husband and I differ on one point: he thinks those answering questions for this movie held themselves up as experts and having answers. I think these were just vocal, convicted every-day people. Not equiped to handle a verbal jousting match with Bill Maher - who really may qualify as a genius (the real thing...not because of any views he holds - the man is just quick thinking, articulate, and well educated on the issues he brings up).

So, I don't think he was dis-respectful...but he could have matched himself with his peers and it would have been much more impressive. My husband says - these people he spoke with represent the common, every-day, believer that most people are in this country: the believe because they've been told it's true. So it must be true.

I tell my daughters....Question everything. Everything. Don't believe everything you are told. If you question, and you still believe after you questioned everything - then how much stronger are your beliefs?!

I questioned, and I do not believe. Why does it have to be the unbelievable, least likely explanation - that makes no sense at all - that so many are asked to be the explanation for everything?

....likely, none of what seems to be miraculous (rising from the dead, immaculate conception, Adam/Eve, Noah's Ark) is likely to be the answer. It is likely the most reasonable explanation that will be true...not magic or miracles. That's how it is in my world, anyway - but I do not have all the answers....I rely heavily on Darwin, I must admit!

 

[thaiturkey]

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At first, what he wrote seemed interesting. However, after a few sentences, his game became clear. If you want to create a business based on any product, you have to make it look different from and better than your competitors' products. It's a clever move to sweep aside all of your competitors by distinguishing between religion and faith and then linking religion to 'bad' things such as career, sex and pornography. All of the successful preaching methods are linked with religion. It sounds so much better to use 'Christ' or 'Christian' than 'religious'. Smart move, boy, but not smart enough!

In other words, he's trying to do exactly what other evangelists do but package it differently. It's marketing.

His logic is defective too. Long rambling text with vague references to the bible and to events that have never been proved to have happened is not about fact. There's not even any evidence that Christ existed let alone the events described in the new testament so it's impossible to prove the worth of one religion or faith over another.

And the image. Who would give credibility to teachings about lifestyle and the hereafter from a kid who wears half a shirt and a skirt and walks around waving a sword?

His business is selling religious books. Nothing more, nothing less. He's the same as so many others but with a different image. He needs to be noticed, hence the clothes and the extreme religious views.

I wonder about his emotional state. Standing over a relative's grave looking like an under-dressed Braveheart whilst casting the shadow of a cross with a conveniently shaped sword and claiming that god is honouring the visit doesn't seem very well balanced to me.

I had a look into the background to his website. The ranking is low, showing that few people visit it. Also, nothing has been done to it for a couple of years. That perhaps suggests he either went totally psychotic or was taken away for treatment. Alternatively, the business pitch didn't work so he's left the website and got a job as an actor.

Thanks for the link, Deb1. This idiot illustrates very concisely what puts me and probably many other people off organised religion and evangelism.

Incidentally, if the churches become temples of 'faith' and convincingly prove that they are not religions, they might lose some very favourable tax breaks. So, it won't happen, will it?