This will be a sermon not only for Christians, but for Muslims, Jews, Hindus… If you are a member of a theist religion, this one is for you (although deists, agnostics, atheists, and ignostics are more than welcome to come along for the ride).
If you would be so kind, take a moment to think about the following scenario: Imagine that you are the one true god for a day. All power in the universe is yours, to do as you will. What do you do?
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Sunday Sermon: On Conversion
One of the scariest things for any Christian, is to question their faith. The absolute scariest thing for any Christian, is to reject it and walk away from it. As with most religions, the vast majority of Christianity's adherents were introduced to the religion virtually from birth, and grew up believing that it is true. As a result, to question it is to admit that you are uncertain about some of your most core beliefs about how the world works, and to reject it is to admit that the most fundamental part of your worldview - something that you have based your life on for years - is simply incorrect.
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
On Scepticism
It is not uncommon for discussions (or shouting matches, whichever the case may be) between creationists and scientists (yes, the two are mutually exclusive) to be characterized by both parties having a substantial amount of skepticism of the other party's position. That said, the character or degree of the skepticism of these parties is very much different, and I think that degree of difference merits being discussed.
Monday, July 7, 2014
Where is the Graveyard of Dead Gods?
"Memorial Service" by H. L. Mencken. Published 1922.
Where is the grave-yard of dead gods? What lingering mourner waters their mounds? There was a day when Jupiter was the king of the gods, and any man who doubted his puissance was ipso facto a barbarian and an ignoramus. But where in all the world is there a man who worships Jupiter to-day? And what of Huitzilopochtli? In one year - and it is no more than five hundred years ago - 50,000 youths and maidens were slain in sacrifice to him. Today, if he is remembered at all, it is only by some vagrant savage in the depths of the Mexican forest. Huitzilopochtli, like many other gods, had no human father; his mother was a virtuous widow; he was born of an apparently innocent flirtation that she carried on with the sun. When he frowned, his father, the sun, stood still. When he roared with rage, earthquakes engulfed whole cities. When he thirsted he was watered with 10,000 gallons of human blood. But today [in 1922] Huitzilopochtli is as magnificently forgotten as Allen G. Thurman. Once the peer of Allah, Buddha, and Wotan, he is now the peer of General Coxey, Richmond P. Hobson, Nan Petterson, Alton B. Parker, Adelina Patti, General Weyler, and Tom Sharkey.
Where is the grave-yard of dead gods? What lingering mourner waters their mounds? There was a day when Jupiter was the king of the gods, and any man who doubted his puissance was ipso facto a barbarian and an ignoramus. But where in all the world is there a man who worships Jupiter to-day? And what of Huitzilopochtli? In one year - and it is no more than five hundred years ago - 50,000 youths and maidens were slain in sacrifice to him. Today, if he is remembered at all, it is only by some vagrant savage in the depths of the Mexican forest. Huitzilopochtli, like many other gods, had no human father; his mother was a virtuous widow; he was born of an apparently innocent flirtation that she carried on with the sun. When he frowned, his father, the sun, stood still. When he roared with rage, earthquakes engulfed whole cities. When he thirsted he was watered with 10,000 gallons of human blood. But today [in 1922] Huitzilopochtli is as magnificently forgotten as Allen G. Thurman. Once the peer of Allah, Buddha, and Wotan, he is now the peer of General Coxey, Richmond P. Hobson, Nan Petterson, Alton B. Parker, Adelina Patti, General Weyler, and Tom Sharkey.
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Sunday Sermon: Christianity - An Abusive Relationship
It is quite common for Christians to maintain that Yhwh is a benevolent deity, who loves humans to such an extent that he wants a special, personal relationship with each one of them. While I'll admit that - at first glance - the idea of being held in such high regard by an omnipotent being seems absolutely wonderful, I would argue that this relationship is not all that it's cracked up to be, and is actually outright harmful. To illustrate, let's take a moment to consider the following scenario:
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