No surprises here for me, i.e. ministers et al (priests, imams, etc.) are just people, regardless of their `titles’, so can also be beset by doubt like the rest of us.

posted on December 7, 2010
report this as inappropriate

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

The only surprise is that more clergy haven’t come forward.

posted on December 7, 2010
report this as inappropriate

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

It’s a lot harder for literalists, because they don’t have mysteries and traditions to fall back on, most specifically the tradition that doubt comes to everyone. I suspect the reason more don’t come forward is either that they need the job too much, or that they believe, or have convinced themselves, that the fables are better than nothing at all.

posted on December 7, 2010
report this as inappropriate

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

No surprises here for me, i.e. ministers are just people, so can also be rational, sometimes, like the rest of us.

posted on December 7, 2010
report this as inappropriate

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

Genesis 2: 4 - 4
A. The Meaning of the Name Jehovah LORD

1. The name LORD appears second in the Bible after the name God. It appears after the Creation of man (see Gen. 1:27,31; 2:4). It occurs 6,823 times in the Old Testament and is associated with His people.

2. The original term for Jehovah is from the Hebrew verb hayah that signifies “to become.’ It is translated “I AM THAT I AM” Jehovah or LORD; Exod. 3:14). It also means “the Self-existing One.”

3. God called His name Jehovah or LORD. It is perhaps His favorite name (refer to 6:3).

4. LORD (all four letters capitalized) is pronounced “Yahweh” or “Jehovah.” There are no pronunciation marks in the original Hebrew, so we do not know how to accurately say it. Out of reverence, many Jews would not write or pronounce the name.

5. LORD is a special name of deity in relationship to those He created and especially to His people. He is the covenant-keeping LORD.

6. LORD is a redemptive name. The LORD God Oehovah Elohim) sought out sinning Adam (see Gen. 3:9), promised redemption (see v.15) and obviously offered the first sacrifice when He prepared coats for Adam and Eve from animal skins (see v. 21).

B. The Absolute Moral Attributes of God

We don’t know how many attributes God has. One theologian says that God has a thousand. Charles Wesley, the hymn writer, describes them as “glorious all and numberless.”

1. The LORD is holy.

a. The word holy means “to cut off” and implies separation. “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty” (Rev. 4:8).

b. Holiness is the perfection of God in all His moral attributes (see Ps. 11 1:9).

c. Negative holiness means God is separate from all that is negative and evil. Positive holiness means God is the personification of all that is good and right.

2. The LORD is love.

a. Most describe God (LORD) in terms of love because that is what they want Him to be : Love is not just His virtue. When God loves, it is the expression of His whole nature (see 1 John 4:8,16).

b. Love is the perfection of the LORD’s divine nature by which He is eternally moved to communicate Himself.

c. Love is an attitude of giving (see John 15:13; 1 John 3:16).

3. The LORD is good.

a. God’s goodness is all the positive aspects of God (see Exod. 34:6,7).

b. “There is none good but one that is God” (Mark lO:18).

C. The Comparative Attributes of God (non-moral) Psalm 139:1-16

1. The LORD is omniscience (see vv. 1-6).

a. Omni means “all,” and science is from the root of the word for ’knowledge in all things.” The LORD knows everything actual and potential (see Rom. 4:17).

b. The LORD knows Himself. He knows without effort, and He never had to learn anything (see Isa. 40:14).

c. Since God is perfect, He has perfect knowledge.

2. The LORD is omnipresent (see Ps. 139:7-11.).

a. The LORD is present everywhere at the same time (see vv. 71 1). His perfection demands this.

b. The LORD is transcendent (above; see Jer. 23:24; Eph. 1:20,21), and He is close to His creation (intimate; see Acts 17:27,28; Rev. 3:20).

3. The LORD is omnipotent (see Ps. 139:12-16).

a. God can do everything within harmony of His nature-the impossible and improbable (see John 1 1: 1-44; 6:19). But God can’t do things that are contrary to His nature, or the result of His own self-limitation (see 2 Tim. 2:13; Heb. 6:18; Jas. 1: 1 3).

b. God’s sovereignty is the result of His omnipotence.

D. Practical Application

1. The LORD is the God of Creation, but He is also “the LORD [who]is my shepherd’ (Ps. 23:1), i.e. intimate, caring and responsive.

2. He is the LORD because He created us, so our response should be to:
a. (see 2 Chron. 30:8; Rom. 6:13);
b. (see Luke 11:1-4; 2:17:18; Rom. 1:16);
c. (see Deut. 6:13; Ps. 100:2).

3. We can’t prove the existence of God to others, but we demonstrate His love and care by our actions.

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Please contact me at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.

posted on December 9, 2010
report this as inappropriate

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

^lol

posted on December 9, 2010
report this as inappropriate

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

Has anyone ever noticed how aggressive theists are? They bravely invade non theist websites and proselytize. They are fanatics. They cant just mingle with their co-believers. They have to deliver their unwanted messages in areas not meant for them.

posted on December 10, 2010
report this as inappropriate

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

The issue of why nominally intelligent people adhere to old dogmas defies simplistic explanation. Social environments, with all their local, national and international variations, obviously shape perceptions of the nature of the world, but psycho-emotional factors also influence individual choices of the particular cosmic framework on which to hang the fabric of interpretation. So an individual with access to evidence based information about nature and origins may still have too much social and emotional capital invested in maintaining a traditional worldview to allow it to be undermined by evidence, especially if that evidence is associated with entities seen as threatening to community coherence and continuity. People cling to old ways when new ways threaten disorder.
One of the major challenges for those who disseminate a naturalistic worldview is to break through this emotional resistance to change.
Most of Earth’s people still struggle to survive on the most mundane level. Even if they had access to intellectual forums where theists and atheists compete for the minds of the overfed, why would they embrace another potentially destabilising influence?
Those who do genuine harm using religious justifications must be vigorously confronted and exposed. However, nothing is gained by denegrating those who simply have a different view of things or by labelling people with a sincere wish to share something they see as good and positive as idiots or fanatics.
A naturalistic worldview will be more broadly embraced when people link it with improvements in their Earthly existence, or at least see it as non-threatening.

posted on December 11, 2010
report this as inappropriate

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

Overseas Property for sale, overseas property investment advice on buying or selling property [url=“http://www.davidstanleyredfern.com/investment-property/cayman-islands/
“] Property Cayman Islands [/url] overseas from DSR Asset Management’s analysts.

posted on December 15, 2010
report this as inappropriate

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

I believe that if we could stop indoctrination of children by their parents, religions would seize to exist in 60 years.  Indoctrination of children is the religion’s single most powerful force.

posted on December 17, 2010
report this as inappropriate

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

Dear baby Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a winner. I believe Jesus died, or at least some People named Jesus - though Most of These may have been Mexican for all I know - and is/are not currently undead, a zombie, or otherwise mobile. I can’t really say I repent of my sins; if we’re being honest here I’d probably do most of them again. By faith I rename the Lord Jesus as Xavier. You promised to save some people, and to return 2,000 years ago, and probably some of them believed You - poor saps - because “You are God and cannot lie.” I think We both know how that turned out. Nevertheless, I believe right now that the Lord baby Xavier is my personal and bestest Friend, and that all my sins are an abstraction of certain decisions or actions, having nothing to do with His delicious blood. I thank You, dear Lord baby Jesus/Xavier, for Your magical superpowers and for presents ‘round the tree every year. In Xavier’s name, Amen.

posted on December 20, 2010
report this as inappropriate

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

@nikkor man

It is like the Hitler youth movement and the way children were raised in the early soviet years . . . indoctrination early on works.

posted on December 26, 2010
report this as inappropriate

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

It is scary how children are brainwashed early. I think people should be allowed to raise their children however they want, but the public education system should be teaching religion. NOT THEOLOGY, but religion as its part in history, art and civilization in general. That way young adults can at least make more informed decisions and see all religions for what they are. (systems of political and social control) Sadly, American kids know nothing about religions especially Christianity!

posted on December 27, 2010
report this as inappropriate

You don't have permission to flag this entry.