Posted on 03/20/2009 2:50:14 PM PDT by ReformationFan
The atheists and humanists must have been eyeing the benefits of Christian congregations because they now want a piece of the action. To accomplish this, they are establishing God-free, um, church-type places. They want all the benefits of a Christian church without the Christian part. I can save them a great deal of trouble in starting this God-free denomination.
All they need to do is find their local mainline Protestant church. Why reinvent the wheel? These atheists, agnostics and humanists will feel right at home on Evolution Sunday, listening to lectures about the glories of man, and they can have all the leftist social justice activities they desire. The United Methodists would welcome them, as would liberal Presbyterians, American Baptists, Episcopals, Congregationalists, United Church of Christ churches, ELCA Lutherans and a vast assortment of other various and sundry apostate bodies. I can guarantee them that it will truly be a God-free experience. It will not, however, be a god-free experience. Man is always the god of choice for humanists and atheists, whatever their affiliations. Man was designed by His Creator to worship, and the atheist proves that as he bows low before the altar of his own reason.
I have always tried to picture what a God-free congregation would do and sing. I have tried, in the past, to compile a list of hymns for the adulation of man that could be sung with gusto in these places.
“All rise!” says the First Grand Atheist Cyclops on the platform.
Assembled atheists rise. The organ swells. The group begins to thunderously sing.
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Darwin, Just to take him at his word, Just to rest upon his research, Even though its called absurd.
Darwin, Darwin, how we trust him, How we’ve proved him o’er and o’er We are all evolving primates, Oh for faith to trust him more.
or
Blessed Assurance! Reason is mine, Oh, what a foretaste of wisdom so fine, Heir of Charles Darwin, Risen from slime, Filled with our goodness, Mankind divine!
How pitiful to see the lengths these atheists will go. The only reason they value community is because God put that longing in the human heart. Rather than have true community based on a right relationship with their Creator, they attempt to establish community based on a mutual hatred for God. Like the homosexuals in rebellion who are reduced to mimicking heterosexual marriage that God designed, and demanding recognition for their warped substitute relationships, atheists have nothing of their own to offer. They want life on their own terms, and they will have it for a time. But as Scripture tells us, “It is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgement.” (Hebrews 9:27) In their pitiful “congregations” they will have nothing to offer adherents for that great day when they will stand before God. They will be naked and ashamed. Only the blood of Jesus covering their sins will make them acceptable in the eyes of their holy Creator.
Bold will I stand on Thy great day, For who aught to my charge shall lay, Fully absolved through these I am, From sin and fear, from guilt and shame.
–Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness
"The atheists and humanists must have been eyeing the benefits of Christian congregations because they now want a piece of the action. To accomplish this, they are establishing God-free, um, church-type places. They want all the benefits of a Christian church without the Christian part. I can save them a great deal of trouble in starting this God-free denomination.
All they need to do is find their local mainline Protestant church. Why reinvent the wheel? These atheists, agnostics and humanists will feel right at home on Evolution Sunday, listening to lectures about the glories of man, and they can have all the leftist social justice activities they desire. The United Methodists would welcome them, as would liberal Presbyterians, American Baptists, Episcopals, Congregationalists, United Church of Christ churches, ELCA Lutherans and a vast assortment of other various and sundry apostate bodies. I can guarantee them that it will truly be a God-free experience. It will not, however, be a god-free experience. Man is always the god of choice for humanists and atheists, whatever their affiliations. Man was designed by His Creator to worship, and the atheist proves that as he bows low before the altar of his own reason."
We already have Unitarians.
Sounds like they’re devolving into a cargo cult.
So now atheism is officially a religion and its practice can be banned in schools, the public square and anywhere else religion is banned, just like Christianity?
If they go to Episcopalean, they even get a God-Head of Prince Charles, private schools in many states, existing convents and priesthoods, and existing tax-exempt status.
Hymns I actually heard at a brief stint at North Texas Church of Freethought (atheist):
“Imagine” by the former Beattle
“All We Need Is Love”
“Building a mystery” by Sara McLaughlin
Jimmy Buffet My head hurts, my feet stink and I don’t love Jesus
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing!
What can make me whole again?
Nothing!
Nonexistent is the Flow
That makes me white as snow
What absolute can I know?
Nothing!
This rates right up there with whole body hot wax hair removal, or getting realistic armpit tattoos of Britney Spears, except with that, you actually get something out of the deal.
All they need to do is find their local mainline Protestant church
******
Let me guess- you’re Catholic, right?
“All they need to do is find their local mainline Protestant church
******
Let me guess- you’re Catholic, right?”
With my username?
At least they didn’t have a rousing rendition of “Dropkick Me Jesus, Through The Goalposts Of Life”
That’s EXACTLY what I thought. (it’s nicer than mentioning the Episcopalians, but there are many atheist bishops out there.)
Interestingly put.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.