This quote from noted theologian C.S. Lewis highlights a major problem for modern atheists: they borrow heavily from a worldview they reject. When thinking about the process of thinking, atheists assume that their brains can be relied upon to give good answers.
One simple reason is that we tend to think that God loves us for what we do. If God loves us because we're nice, it becomes easy to look down on mean people. If God loves us because we're generous, we have no trouble being critical of stingy people.
Solipsism is the idea that only one's own mind is certain to exist. Very few people are sincere solipsists. Instead, solipsism is generally used as an argumentation tool. For example, one might ask how another knows that something is true, to which a scoffing reply might be "How does anyone know that anything is true?
King James-Only folks make some outlandish statements about God, the Bible, and the King James. It's not a monolithic movement, so you'll find that some are more "out there" than others. Here's a sampling of the kinds of things that KJO folks believe:
Christianity and the teachings of Landmark Forum are not at all compatible! Landmark Forum says that nothing has any value at all, except that which we give it...so there is no right or wrong, no good or bad, no evil, and no sin. A Christian is a follower of Jesus, who taught the opposite.
In Russia, most of the tap water is undrinkable. In Russia, some folks drank the tap water anyway. Why did they do it? Well, they looked at the calendar and assumed that everything would be different. Yes, I know that sounds odd.
I'd like to personally challenge Mr. Camping to act with integrity on May 22, 2011. On that date, it will be refreshing to hear him publicly and undeniably say that he was wrong. I've extended the same challenge to other would-be prophets with little success, so I'm not going to hold my breath.
The Greek word PAN means "all", and THEOS means "god". Simply put, Pantheism is the view that everything is God. Another way a pantheist might explain it is that nature and God are the same thing.
The most radical among us (including those who know the real reason for the creation of Planned Parenthood) believe abortion is a good thing. Some consider pregnancy a form of male tyranny, and abortion is their cure. Some have much more 'noble' reasons for thinking abortion is good. One of these people is an Episcopal minister.
Many atheists and modern philosophers are materialists...that is, they reject the notion that anything non-physical exists. The second law of thermodynamics, however, proves them wrong.
How would your church handle a protest? Opponents of Proposition 8, California's recently-passed marriage amendment, just might show up at your door. It's not just a California issue...here in Denver, a Book of Mormon was placed on the steps of their local temple and lit on fire. Omaha could be next.
A common argument among atheists and the irreligious is that the Ten Commandments doesn't belong in our courthouses. Some say that having the Ten Commandments posted there gives an implicit recommendation of one religion over all others.
