Posted on 12/17/2004 9:42:37 AM PST by bondserv
"History will also afford frequent opportunities of showing the necessity of a public religion...and the excellency of the Christian religion above all others, ancient or modern." Benjamin Franklin "
If Franklin was a 'deist', why would he promote the Christian faith?
Both had it independent of one another.
I couldn't agree more, but most of the great religions (as well as non-religions) have had great thinkers....Homer, Plato, Confuscious Socrates..etc.
But I am not selling any particular faith. I just don't like one religious group trying to destroy another as we can clearly see happening in this country.
To some extent, but it's been exaggerated.
More credit goes to the Byzantines. And some must go to the Church, which saved much of the Latin heritage of the Greco-Roman world.
BUMP!
bump...for later reading...
Nobody, but nobody, beats David Coppedge for insane creationist conspiracy theories.
Yep, Nature ran a politically correct review of medieval Muslim contributions to science because they know that Darwinism has crumbled, and they're searching for a new evil dogma to push.
David, I say you should run with this concern. Run with it like your life depended on it! Dig up every example of modern mainstream science saying anything complimentary about Muslims in any context, and show the world how this is just another part of Satan's plot to transfer our alliegiance from the evil Charles Darwin (now that you've triumphantly vanquished him) to the evil Muhammed.
The Irish lay claim to having saved the old Greek Texts as so have Jewish scholars.
Zero Mostel?
I think I stayed there once.
I am visualizing poor Mr. Coppedge lying awake at three in the morning imagining demons and conjuring conspiracies. Makes you wonder about his coffee intake.
From whom the Muslims adopted it and then transmitted it to the West. It's not unfair to say the West got it from the Muslims.
I just don't like one religious group trying to destroy another as we can clearly see happening in this country.
If you take a moment to consider Christianity in it's Biblical form. We are aware that there have been so-called Christians that have not lived the example of Christ's teaching. I would contend that a person who takes a straightforward reading of the Bible, and applied it to their lives, they would be living by superior principles than all of the other "religious" beliefs in history.
A person can examine the documents of each religious dogma and determine if the principles lead to that which is most beneficial to society and the individual. It is my contention and the contention of over 2,000 years of most brilliant minds, that Christianity leads to peace and prosperity. Both developing character in a person, as well as enabling a society to enjoy real self-responsible freedom.
Of course a person, in and of themselves, cannot abide by the principles in the Bible. Without forgiveness of sin there can be no freedom from sin. This forgiveness is a free gift offered to all by the Creator of the universe. The only requirement is recognition of a need for forgiveness (repentance), and receiving the gift of salvation by believing Jesus Christ died on the cross to provide that forgiveness. Doing this puts us back in the good graces of our Creator. From there, God internally motivates the person to let go of the destructive sin that has been plaguing them. People have been being transformed in this way for over 2,000 years. The successes are miraculous.
Now the creative wisdom of the Creator is back within our grasp. By having pure fellowship with Him, which we couldn't have before acceptance of Jesus Christ's death on the cross, we grow in the wisdom and knowledge He so freely offers. It is truly amazing!
Look at the results around you. They speak the loudest.
Thanks for the ping!
I am sure Dr. Hovind would be disappointed in your change of heart.
Yep, Nature ran a politically correct review of medieval Muslim contributions to science because they know that Darwinism has crumbled, and they're searching for a new evil dogma to push. David, I say you should run with this concern. Run with it like your life depended on it! Dig up every example of modern mainstream science saying anything complimentary about Muslims in any context, and show the world how this is just another part of Satan's plot to transfer our alliegiance from the evil Charles Darwin (now that you've triumphantly vanquished him) to the evil Muhammed.
You underestimate the determination of the Liberal extremists. Nature has chosen to take sides, watch the "Hard Science" departments at the Universities follow suit in the coming years.
Thus, the "principles [that] lead to that which is most beneficial to society and the individual" pre-exist (or at least exist independently of) the religious dogma, correct? If this is so, why do we need the religious dogma?
To provide income for the clergy.
Most religions claim a "Higher Authority" in order to set it off from just being the ideas of a mortal person. The key to which "Higher Authority" to trust in lies with an intellectually honest appraisal of the said "HA's" ability to demonstrate that reality.
Christians, including Isaac Newton, believe that by examining the prophetic reliability of the Biblical text, as well as the circumstantial evidence of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ; we can trust in the Biblical God's veracity. Couple that with personal experiences of supernatural transformation, and you have a group of people coming up with a Constitutional Republic.
"Have you no curiosity?", said the hypnotist to the skeptic.
And what the overwhelming percentage of practitioners of a specific faith actually do is of no consequence?
Beam me up, Scotty!
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