http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/skeptics-religion/ en-us Tue, 29 Dec 2009 01:45:38 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2416658/posts Which road are you on? You Tube http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2416658/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 01:45:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2416380/posts "It was only minutes after Pope Benedict XVI was violently attacked on Christmas Eve by a woman described by authorities as mentally deranged, but leftist blogs lit up with joy over the assault. . . ." Patrick Madrid http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2416380/posts#comment Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:54:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2416262/posts So it's happened again, just as it does every year around this time: A concerted effort to subvert the real meaning of the holiday and twist it into something far removed from its origins. To take an ancient and revered celebration and rebrand it. That's right – it's the annual War on Wicca. No, no. Just kidding. What I'm really talking about is the annual War on Paganism, of which Wicca is a small subset. Daily Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2416262/posts#comment Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:23:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2413719/posts It’s fitting that James Cameron’s “Avatar” arrived in theaters at Christmastime. Like the holiday season itself, the science fiction epic is a crass embodiment of capitalistic excess wrapped around a deeply felt religious message. It’s at once the blockbuster to end all blockbusters, and the Gospel According to James.But not the Christian Gospel. Instead, “Avatar” is Cameron’s long apologia for pantheism — a faith that equates God with Nature, and calls humanity into religious communion with the natural world. In Cameron’s sci-fi universe, this communion is embodied by the blue-skinned, enviably slender Na’Vi, an alien race whose idyllic existence on... nytimes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2413719/posts#comment Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:46:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2413247/posts There are some people who think that if you join a religion, you'll go to heaven with the crowd. This is a very narrow gate. This is like a turnstile, admitting only one person at a time. It is exclusive from the start. It is intensely personal. It is not a group experience. It doesn't happen to everybody who joins a church, or everybody who is baptized, or everybody who is in a family of quote/unquote "Christians." It isn't something you inherit from your parents or your grandparents. It isn't something you sign up for along with another person. It... Grace To You http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2413247/posts#comment Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:26:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2412727/posts 60 Minutes' Magalie Laguerre-Wilkinson Reflects on Meeting The Patriarch...A slight man in stature, his presence is that of greatness. My first encounter with him is one that I will never forget. I was filming some shots with my camera crew at the Phanar - the Church's headquarters in Istanbul - when someone from His All Holiness's office came to us stating that The Patriarch wanted to meet us right then and there. Because this meeting was not to happen until that evening, I didn’t feel I was appropriately dressed to meet him right then and there. We are so focused... CBS http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2412727/posts#comment Tue, 22 Dec 2009 03:46:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2410725/posts WASHINGTON, D.C., DEC. 18, 2009 (Zenit.org).- With only one week left before Christmas, and as ordinary Americans flood shopping malls and prepare for the holidays, the U.S. Senate is working overtime to pass a massive health care reform bill before the end of the year. President Barack Obama has made health care reform a hallmark issue of his first year in office, calling it the most significant legislation of its kind since Franklin D. Roosevelt's Social Security Act of 1935. The U.S. episcopal conference has taken an active interest in articulating guidelines for health care reform, and gained national recognition... ZENIT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2410725/posts#comment Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:31:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2410423/posts Once again the nativity season brings attacks by those offended by ubiquitous displays of Christmas. This Christmas, I’m drawn to the similar ways some Christians and Republicans create opposition to their beliefs and, like the innkeepers of Bethlehem, provide no shelter for travelers. Every year brings new incidents of holiday political correctness, from removal of nativity scenes from public places to banning of Christmas references and displays in public schools. These events do not bother me, and I do not see them as infringements on my Christian beliefs. I do not need to see Mary, Joseph, and the Baby Jesus... Townhall http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2410423/posts#comment Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:37:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2409803/posts Stroll by the Capitol building at Little Rock, Arkansas, and you'll come across an unlikely duo: A traditional nativity scene next to an eight-foot "freethinkers" display which features noted freethinkers including Bill Gates, Albert Einstein, Mark Twain, and Thomas Jefferson, among others. The nativity scene has been on display during the holidays for more than 50 years; the freethinkers display was slated to be in place yesterday. For several years, the Arkansas Society of Freethinkers had requested that it be allowed to put up a display celebrating the Winter Solstice and freethinkers next to the nativity scene. Arkansas officials denied... ComputerWorld http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2409803/posts#comment Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:42:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2409575/posts The author Philip Pullman has expressed his disappointment that the second two novels in his fantasy trilogy have not yet made it to the big screenThe author Philip Pullman has spoken of his disappointment over the failure of Hollywood to complete the film trilogy of his series of fantasy novels, His Dark Materials. The actor Sam Elliott, who starred in the 2007 adaptation of the first novel, Northern Lights (the film was called The Golden Compass), said earlier this week that books two and three were not being filmed due to a successful campaign by America's religious right. The Golden... The Guardian (UK) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2409575/posts#comment Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:37:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2409415/posts A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes. Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door. She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention, but he was... email http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2409415/posts#comment Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:59:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2408625/posts While browsing some threads on a popular forum recently, I was introduced to an interesting critique of Ayn Rand's ethics, by John Piper. I already knew the critique was going to be from a Christian perspective, but was pleasantly surprised by it, nevertheless. This is what I wrote to the poster who provided the link to the article: "I'm a long time student of Rand, since the 50's, and have read almost everything I could find related to Rand and her philosophy, and of course everything she has written, including her journals and correspondence. I have never read John Piper's... Independent Individualist http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2408625/posts#comment Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:22:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2406797/posts For the past 150 years archaeologists have been verifying the exact truthfulness of the Bible's detailed records of various events, customs, persons, cities, nations, and geographical locations. Dr. Nelson Glueck probably the greatest modern authority on Israeli archeology, has said, “No archeological discovery has ever controverted [overturned] a Biblical reference. Scores of archeological findings have been made which confirm in clear outline or in exact detail historical statements in the Bible. And, by the same token, proper evaluation of Biblical descriptions has often led to amazing discoveries.” In every instance where the Bible can be, or has been checked out... alwaysbeready.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2406797/posts#comment Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:41:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2405838/posts Even though the Bible was completed 2,000 years ago, long before the invention of the microscope, the telescope, satellites, etc. it does not contain any scientific errors. This might be considered a miracle in itself. Without exception, every ancient religious writing has certain unscientific views of astronomy, medicine, hygiene, etc. The Qur’an says in Surah 18:86 that the sun sets in a muddy spring. Qur’an 18:86 “…when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring” The only exception to these kinds of errors, among ancient religious writings, is the Bible. Not only is... AlwaysBeReady.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2405838/posts#comment Sat, 12 Dec 2009 00:56:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2405748/posts Introduction The famous evolutionist Julian Huxley once said, "Any view of God as a personal being is becoming frankly untenable. The difficulty of understanding the functions of a personal ruler in a universe which the march of knowledge is showing us ever more clearly as self-ordered and self-ordering in every minutest detail is becoming more and more apparent" (Essays of a Biologist [New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1923], p. 217). His sentiments were echoed by the British philosopher Bertrand Russell: "That Man is the product of causes which had no prevision of the end they were achieving; that his origin,... Bible Bulletin Board http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2405748/posts#comment Fri, 11 Dec 2009 22:38:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2404691/posts The Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Vatican Observatory recently brought together a group of scholars who study astrobiology, that is, the possibility of some kind of life existing elsewhere in the universe.The media immediately seized on the convocation as a sign that the Pope was affirming the existence of intelligent extraterrestrials. This notion was given an unfortunate nudge forward by statements from Jesuit Father Jose Gabriel Funes, an astronomer who now directs the Vatican Observatory. “How can we rule out that life may have developed elsewhere?” Father Funes has said before, in an interview in the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore... NCR http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2404691/posts#comment Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:47:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2404345/posts Dinesh D’Souza has been no stranger to controversy, whether editing the Dartmouth Review as a student or taking on the American left. D'Souza has worked for the Reagan Administration, the Heritage Foundation, and the American Enterprise Institute. A native of India and now a U.S. citizen living in California, he has written several notable volumes, including Illiberal Education. D'Souza sparked outrage with his 2007 book, The Enemy at Home, in which he argued that the American cultural left bears responsibility for provoking militant Muslims into the September 11 terrorist attacks. Facing a firestorm of criticism from the left and the... Catholic Education Resource Center http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2404345/posts#comment Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:34:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2400896/posts   As Catholics, it comes as no surprise to us that the human brain is hard-wired for religion. We believe in a God who created us in His image so that we would come to know and love Him. But for Enlightenment thinkers, who had committed themselves to the "liberation" of human thought from the shackles of religious dogma, the news would not have been welcome at all.   If political society, as Hobbes wrote, abhors a vacuum, the same is true of religious belief. One cannot destroy without creating something else in its place. The new society or... Inside Catholic http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2400896/posts#comment Sat, 5 Dec 2009 13:16:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2399571/posts I said to him: The Church doesn't accept darwinistic evolution Here's how he replied: "In July 2004, the International Theological Commission published a statement titled "Communion and Stewardship: Human Persons Created in the Image of God" on creation, evolution, and God's providence. The president of the commission was Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, then head of doctrine in the Catholic Church, who the following year became Pope Benedict XVI." "The statement made explicit the Church's support of the findings of modern science and biological evolution, calling universal common descent "virtually certain," and that "even the outcome of a truly contingent natural process... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2399571/posts#comment Thu, 3 Dec 2009 19:53:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2396302/posts The first of five U.S. cities will be hit by a new atheist holiday ad campaign this Thanksgiving weekend. Washington, D.C., residents can expect to see ads proclaiming, "No God?...No Problem!" inside buses and rail cars. Washington, D.C., residents can expect to see ads proclaiming, “No God?...No Problem!” inside buses, rail cars and on the side or tail of buses by week’s end. The campaign, sponsored by the American Humanist Association, will then target the transit systems of New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. According to AHA, the holiday ad campaign is the first by a humanist group... Christian Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2396302/posts#comment Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:15:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2395089/posts Just a few years ago, it seemed curious that an omniscient, omnipotent God wouldn’t smite tormentors like Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and Sam Harris. They all published best-selling books excoriating religion and practically inviting lightning bolts. Traditionally, religious wars were fought with swords and sieges; today, they often are fought with books. And in literary circles, these battles have usually been fought at the extremes. Fundamentalists fired volleys of Left Behind novels, in which Jesus returns to Earth to battle the Anti-Christ (whose day job was secretary general of the United Nations). Meanwhile, devout atheists built mocking Web sites like... New York TImes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2395089/posts#comment Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:37:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2389430/posts Freepers- I need some help finding a book explaining the dovetail of science and religion. Here is my senario: My 15 year old nephew has been raised Catholic, goes to Mass every week, made all sacraments. Mom is practicing, father, agnostic but was raised Catholic. self http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2389430/posts#comment Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:36:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2387761/posts I just finished watching the video of a public debate recently held in England on the proposition: "The Catholic Church is a Force for Good in the World." As a Catholic who ardently believes in the truth of that proposition, this was an exchange that was not pleasant to watch. There was so much at stake vis-a-vis public opinion that was swayed in the wrong direction as a result. It could have had a much different outcome. The two Catholics who defended the debate proposition were Nigerian Archbishop John Onaiyekan and British MP Anne Widdecombe. The two men denying the... Patrick Madrid http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2387761/posts#comment Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:09:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2246301/posts Testimony of the Evangelists by Simon Greenleaf (1783-1853)   Simon Greenleaf , one of the principle founders of the Harvard Law School, originally set out to disprove the biblical testimony concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He was certain that a careful examination of the internal witness of the Gospels would dispel all the myths at the heart of Christianity. But this legal scholar came to the conclusion that the witnesses were reliable, and that the resurrection did in fact happen.   I n examining the evidence of the Christian religion, it is essential to the discovery of truth that... bibleteacher.org http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2246301/posts#comment Thu, 7 May 2009 19:03:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2384088/posts EVIDENCE FOR THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST A Challenge for Skeptics [ NOTE: For a response to the book The Empty Tomb: Jesus Beyond the Grave (Prometheus, 2005) by Lowder / Price see the free 500+ page E-book This Joyful Eastertide: A Critical Review of The Empty Tomb  (PDF) by Steve Hays, et al (c) 2006 ] A reasonable challenge to the skeptic is this: If it can be proved that Jesus really rose from the dead, will you believe in him? For if he really rose, that validates his claim to be divine and not merely human, for resurrection from... Bring to you http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2384088/posts#comment Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:41:08 GMT