Perhaps due to a natural sense of curiosity in my younger years, I developed a bent toward skepticism. I used to refer to myself as the world’s biggest skeptic. I understood skepticism to mean requiring evidence before you believe something, and I considered it to be a very valuable tool—a way to filter out lies … Continue reading A Healthy Dose of Skepticism
Month: December 2016
It’s Ok to be Wrong, Part II
If you haven’t read Part I of this essay, I highly recommend reading it first. It may help eliminate some misunderstandings of Part II. The principle tenet of every religion is that that particular religion is “the way.” It is the only correct worldview that will reconcile man and God. The Christian religion, not surprisingly, … Continue reading It’s Ok to be Wrong, Part II
It’s Ok to Be Wrong, Part I
I recently began writing an essay on the standards of belief that Christians set as criteria for salvation, church membership, and ministry. The focus was on the disunity that this breeds and the harm that it causes. I believe that this is an important concept, but before I discuss it, I think it’s important to … Continue reading It’s Ok to Be Wrong, Part I
The Cultural Requirements of a Secular Society
The shrill voice of the segment of the American Public that continually clamors for more self-serving governmental policies, incessantly demands that public policy be formed in a secular vacuum—completely devoid of any religious influence. The offered rationale is that one’s religious views should not be forced upon another. While that is true, what goes completely … Continue reading The Cultural Requirements of a Secular Society
The Obsessive Need for Thought Control
As I’ve alluded to previously, Christians continually succumb to the tendency to coerce others into accepting their understanding of God, Jesus, the Scriptures, and religious practice. They’ve been doing this since Jesus left earth, and they continue to do so today. This practice leads to monolithic oppression when one group is in power, such as … Continue reading The Obsessive Need for Thought Control
The Feminine Nature of the Christian Religion
American culture over the past decade has, If I may generalize, been increasingly hostile to anything innately masculine. The psychological emasculation of American males is a travesty and is playing a key role in tipping a severely unbalanced society right over the edge. Churches, taken as a conglomerate, have done virtually nothing to counter this trend. In fact, they have largely contributed to it, and have driven many men away from the faith in the process.
Is Christianity a Viable Alternative to Humanism?
I saw this essay from Ann-Marie Slaughter today over at Foreign Policy. It is entitled, “The Only Way Forward,” and the by-line was “Can the new world order be saved by humanism?” The essay described a good number of world events that ranged from confusing, to concerning, to troubling, to downright horrible. She went on to … Continue reading Is Christianity a Viable Alternative to Humanism?
The Body of Christ is Malnourished
The collective assembly of those who follow Jesus, the metaphorical body of Christ, is severely out of balance here in 21st century America. The body is malnourished—lacking in nutrients that are critical to development. The severe imbalance in American Christianity is due primarily to one unbiblical practice that infects nearly every congregation of every denomination: the reliance on paid clergy. Virtually every church is almost entirely dependent on one man for spiritual guidance. That man is the Pastor (Bishop, Priest, Reverend, you pick)—the titular head of the church and the one who is considered to be the spiritual authority over the congregation, despite precautions from Jesus and the apostles against this practice.
The Christian Religion is Crumbling (and I’m Glad It Is)
It seems pretty apparent that the Christian religion is crumbling, and I’m glad that it is finally happening. I’ll offer reasons for this conclusion, and then I’ll offer my thoughts on why it is a good thing. Several societal phenomena led me to this conclusion, but the big three are the cultural shift toward moral relativism, the number of people that are leaving churches, and the increasingly frantic tactics of churches to recruit and retain members. The results of the collapse of the Christian religion will be enormously beneficial, and we should do all we can to hasten its demise.
A Worldview Built on a Shaky Foundation
Most Christians hold a worldview that is built on a shaky foundation. (Cue the outrage.) Allow me to explain. Very few Christians are able to articulate their rationale for why they believe what they believe. When asked for a rationale for their worldview, they are generally unable to offer a cogent reason and say something to the effect of “Well, that’s why it’s called faith.” The end. God said it, I believe it, that settles it.
The Wild Frontier 