Posted on 11/10/2006 5:53:21 AM PST by presidio9
Despite a full century of scientific insights attesting to the antiquity of life and the greater antiquity of the Earth, more than half the American population believes that the entire cosmos was created 6,000 years ago. This is, incidentally, about a thousand years after the Sumerians invented glue. Those with the power to elect presidents and congressmen—and many who themselves get elected—believe that dinosaurs lived two by two upon Noah's Ark, that light from distant galaxies was created en route to the Earth and that the first members of our species were fashioned out of dirt and divine breath, in a garden with a talking snake, by the hand of an invisible God.
This is embarrassing. But add to this comedy of false certainties the fact that 44 percent of Americans are confident that Jesus will return to Earth sometime in the next 50 years, and you will glimpse the terrible liability of this sort of thinking. Given the most common interpretation of Biblical prophecy, it is not an exaggeration to say that nearly half the American population is eagerly anticipating the end of the world. It should be clear that this faith-based nihilism provides its adherents with absolutely no incentive to build a sustainable civilization—economically, environmentally or geopolitically. Some of these people are lunatics, of course, but they are not the lunatic fringe. We are talking about the explicit views of Christian ministers who have congregations numbering in the tens of thousands. These are some of the most influential, politically connected and well-funded people in our society.
It is, of course, taboo to criticize a person's religious beliefs. The problem, however, is that much of what people believe in the name of religion is intrinsically divisive, unreasonable and incompatible with genuine morality. One of the
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
bttt
Certainly open about their agenda, aren't they? In particular cases, like Newsweek or the NYtimes, it's easy enough to keep them away from your life . . . and your children's lives. But where exactly are the alternatives? I would very much like to read a morning newspaper that did not insult me and every belief I hold dear, but there is none to be had here in Atlanta.
Wrong! We believe Adam and Eve fell from their divine physical state into their mortal state about 6000 years ago. Based on the Big Bang, the leading Christian scientists believe the physical universe is about 15 billion years old.
I see that Mr. Harris has no moral compunction in killing babies so that he might have a slim chance of living 10 or 20 or 30 years more. As such I'm not sure he's the right person to talk about "faith-based nihilism."
This sounds like a start in rationalizations for
beheading Christians, these people already want to eliminate jews.
This is an incredibly stupid article. Thanks for posting it. I do not waste time with Newsweek and would have missed it otherwise. It is a perfect "know thy enemy" piece.
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters
Genesis 1:1-2
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters
Genesis 1:1-2
Oh yeah, right. All the great scientists of the past were atheists.
Sure.
As an engineer I've come the see the universe as an excellent example of brilliant engineering genius. My hat's off to the Great Engineer.
LOL. People of faith have babies. Secularists have abortions. Pagan Europe is dying.
Also, who knows how much time passed between verse 1 and verse 2. While I don't subscribe to some versions of the "gap" theory which speculate as to lots of things which supposedly happened durning this period, there is much biblical evidence to support the theory that there was a long gap beteen the two verses.
Yup, here it comes.
Christians, your age of witnessing with your blood is near at hand.
I think this is the work of the gay sub-cabal within the MSM-liberal cabal. This is an outright attack on faith, for rejecting sodomy, for not "reconciling".
But I'll start with this one. It should be clear that this faith-based nihilism provides its adherents with absolutely no incentive to build a sustainable civilization—economically, environmentally or geopolitically. Some of these people are lunatics, of course, but they are not the lunatic fringe Let's see.
Who settled THIS country?? Yep, that's right, Christians.
Who has the best economy on the planet? Yep, right again, fog clearing for ya?
Which country, although not a signatore of the Kyoto Treaty, has a clean environment? Yep, that's us!!!
Time to line the birdcage.
Good point.
The great engineers of the 19th century and the great scientists of the 16th through 20th centuries were mostly theists, Jews, or Christians of some description. Marie Curie was a Polish Catholic.
The real builders of modern civilization were grounded in Judeo-Christian morality and, yes, revealed teaching, which included values. They were much more productive, too, than the lotus-eaters this journalist represents to us as "moderns", who are now trying to read theists out of society.
The newest social slur: atheists and scientific materialists who refer to one another as "brights" -- in distinction, of course, from religionists and theists.
Obviously (to me) Adam was a subcontractor and Eve an interior designer spawning many change orders..
And Jesus was/is a Home Inspector looking at/and for flaws in the construction..
God is the General Contractor and there is a pay day coming..
The Top Off Party(for the laborers) might be quite cool...
Be there.... or be... out of square..
TABOO??????? WHO are you kidding?? It's taboo to criticize the religious beliefs of everyone other than Christians and Jews. Moslems are off limits, the people who'll cut your head off if you don't convert, as well as Hindus, Buddists, New Agers -- but the people who might turn the the Psalms for a little comfort -- THOSE people are nuts
Look for more crap like this from the MSM.
After all, those Republican Conservatives have been put back in their places. The order of things is being restored. Eutopia on Earth is not far away!
oops, forgot to add </sarcasm>
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