"Why I Am Not a Christian"

I just wanted to say that, thanks largely to feedback and creative suggestions I received here and elsewhere, the Secular Web published my article today on its homepage.

The final version, accepted by Internet Infidels, is here.

Thanks for all the helpful comments!
 
"I am not a Christian because god is absent or, at the least, silent."

So your starting place is conception of God is that of an entirely autonomous external entity "out there" somewhere?
 
The Bible speaks of god as a being (after all, he merits a masculine pronoun) who is capable of acting in a clear, unambiguous way, as he did during biblical times.

He does not act at all right now, which makes the biblical accounts rather suspect.
 
MrFrankZito said:
The Bible speaks of god as a being (after all, he merits a masculine pronoun) who is capable of acting in a clear, unambiguous way, as he did during biblical times.

He does not act at all right now, which makes the biblical accounts rather suspect.
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Have you concluded that Divinity itself is not real, or have you merely concluded that an exoteric Christian conception of it is wrong?
 
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There's an extensive interview with a atheist/agnostic in today's Los Angeles Times.
She relates the final step in her loss of her religion was doing social work in South Central LA, with black and Hispanic women, whose fervent belief was obvious, but whose circumstances were just plain evil.
Evil and good... where at do they come from?
 
Limbo said:
So your starting place is conception of God is that of an entirely autonomous external entity "out there" somewhere?
Click to expand...

Limbo said:
Have you concluded that Divinity itself is not real, or have you merely concluded that an exoteric Christian conception of it is wrong?
Click to expand...

Let me guess: Pantheist, right?
 
Limbo said:
Have you concluded that Divinity itself is not real, or have you merely concluded that an exoteric Christian conception of it is wrong?
Click to expand...

When you say 'Christian' are you referring to the belief in Christ or are you also including all religions who believe in his father? Don't Jews, Muslims, and Christians all believe in the same god?

My reason for not believing in god is the need for St. Judes Children's Hospital and other such hospitals.
 
GT/CS said:
When you say 'Christian' are you referring to the belief in Christ or are you also including all religions who believe in his father?
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Well whatever way MrFrankZito means it.


Don't Jews, Muslims, and Christians all believe in the same god?
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Yeah. But they get stuck on their metaphors and don't realize their reference.
 
gentlehorse said:
That being?
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imo, the Self.


psyche.gif
 
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If god wrote, or dictated, the bible why must 'experts' interpret and explain it to us? And why do they end up with different interpretations?

Why has god's book been replaced with those inspired by Jesus, and Mohammed, and Joseph Smith?
 
GT/CS said:
If god wrote, or dictated, the bible why must 'experts' interpret and explain it to us? And why do they end up with different interpretations?

Why has god's book been replaced with those inspired by Jesus, and Mohammed, and Joseph Smith?
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No easy answers. I would recommend that you check out The Power of Myth series on google video or youtube or whatever. It's an award-winning PBS mini-series. Here is episode one to get you started.

http://vimeo.com/4824510
 
Nice essay. I read most of your sources as well and in fact find it very convenient that you took the time write such an extended summary. I"ll bookmark the blog.
 
Limbo said:
Have you concluded that Divinity itself is not real, or have you merely concluded that an exoteric Christian conception of it is wrong?
Click to expand...

Divinity, I think, is a malleable word.

I have concluded the supernatural is not real. I also have concluded, more specifically, that Christianity is false.

That does not mean I reject the numinous and the transcendent, but merely the superstitious and the supernatural.
 
MrFrankZito said:
Divinity, I think, is a malleable word.
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Yes indeed. As is 'supernatural'. Not to mention 'transcendent' and 'superstition'. Perhaps what you reject is outdated exoteric orthodox conventional ways of conceiving of such things?
 
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