Comments on: The Coming Evangelical Collapse: A Statistical Review by Michael Bell

By: My Prediction: The Coming Evangelical Collapse (1-3)Internet Monk « Tents of Issachar

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:55:32 +0000

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By: J. Reiser

J. Reiser — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:50:45 +0000

TJ – Christians created a society wherein they are worthy of being bludgeoned or shot? This is the epitome of hate speech. Why, because they disagree with certain lifestyles? Do you agree with the way every single person lives their life? Obviously not, which renders you guilty of the same offense. Moreover, based on the logic of your statements, you yourself would deserve the same punishment. Disagreeing with someone does not amount to hate; This thought process is utterly ludicrous. If Christians were as hateful as you infer, given all the Christians and how long they’ve been around, gays and non-believers would have long been eradicated.

By: Bosnian

Bosnian — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:16:21 +0000

In 1382 AD, the followers of John Wycliffe finished a version known as “God’s Law” which was the first Bible translated into English: but Wycliffe was condemned by the Church for heresy.

In 1522 AD, Martin Luther’s New Testament in German
appeared. Within ten years William Tyndale hatched
another version: copies of this version were put to
the torch, and so was Tyndale.

Dr Maurice Bucaille: The Bible, The Qur’an and Science
http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MB_BQS/default.htm

Dr Maurice Bucaille: What is the Origin of Man?
http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MB_OM/default.htm

By: TJ

TJ — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 03:26:46 +0000

Two things… First off, rwh, not all people of faith mock education and science. I love all kinds of science. Always have. Follow the news constantly in all kinds of fields.
I’m an equal-opportunity skeptic. I don’t trust any “faith” that says, “Well, God made it, so I can be happily ‘child-like’ and ignorant.”
On the other hand, not a week goes by that I don’t read about some finding that the scientists weren’t expecting. I don’t think I’m an idiot for saying we still don’t have solid evidence of spontaneous increases in an organism’s complexity, the kind that would obviate the need for intelligent design.

Back to the original material… American Christians might end up being persecuted? I must admit there’s a part of me that says, “Well, good. It’s about time.”
When they have to go to every meeting with this nagging thought in the back of their heads — “You know, it’s very possible I might be bludgeoned or shot when I leave.” — maybe they’ll wake up to the reality of the society that they’ve helped create in Jesus’ name.
In case anyone doesn’t get it, I’m talking about the “Christian” treatment of gays in our country. Turnabout is fair play.

By: rwh

rwh — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:39:02 +0000

“The Darwinists’ childlike faith in a “science””

Where do you people come from? Science has produced tons of empirical evidence to support the findings of Darwin, and Darwin wasn’t the only one uncovering these findings. The fact that people of faith continually mock education and science is so ironic considering your entire faith is based on nothing more than hearsay and superstition. You continue to astonish. Well done.

By: Eclectic Christian - Michael Bell

Eclectic Christian - Michael Bell — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:08:10 +0000

“Simplistic and reductionist thinking, anti-scientific biases, and absolutist morality are in the heart-and-soul of evangelicalism.”

Xino, I can’t agree. The gospel is or needs to be at the heart of evangelicalism. The things you have just mentioned are more trademarks of fundamentalism than they are of evangelicalism as a whole.

“I’m not sure it can be “reformed” so much as some portion of it can re-establish a Protestant center with help from mainlines disillusioned with their own churches’ problems.”

There are already many Christians and Pastors out there who are part of the evangelical faith, who are not characterized by the things you have listed. The reformation of evangelicalism, especially among the young, has already begun.

By: Xino

Xino — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:42:16 +0000

Michael’s comment about “Christian education” not producing a product that can withstand secularism struck a chord. I was educated at Gordon College, where the faculty admitted that evolution was likely true and that an old earth was definitely true. The school was leery of the Religious Right, and stressed that evangelicals had to appreciate the value of the intellect and rise above its anti-intellectual fundamentalist heritage.

You know what? Many of my fellow church-goers have told me that I didn’t go to a “real” Christian school and hold up places like Word of Life Bible Institute and Liberty University as examples of “real” Christian schools that teach the Truth. The average evangelical has an authoritarian personality at heart and yearns for a flamboyant personality to shout simple answers from the pulpit. If you get evangelicalism to abandon this trait, you’ll be morphing evangelicalism into something else, something more akin to mainline Protestantism. Simplistic and reductionist thinking, anti-scientific biases, and absolutist morality are in the heart-and-soul of evangelicalism. I’m not sure it can be “reformed” so much as some portion of it can re-establish a Protestant center with help from mainlines disillusioned with their own churches’ problems.

By: Lance

Lance — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:39:29 +0000

Wow. How did the folks with Bush derangement syndrome find there way here? They are everywhere. To respond to the rambling posts of Clark and James is an act of futility. James tries to imply that evangelical Christians are going to become violent. Yeah, when the pastor was shot in the church in Maryville there was marching in the streets. Ooops. No. Instead of shouting and carrying signs that say H8 like they do in CA or throwing rocks at people because someone published a comic strip that you did not like, there were prayer meetings. It is because of nonsense like this that Paul said he would preach Christ and Him crucified. What Clark and James and others like them want us to do is allow them to raise our children in their secular schools. And if your boys actually act like boys in the school then Clark and James give them drugs to prevent them from acting like boys. But now I am rambling. Forgive me. Like I said. Responding to rambling nonsense can make you sound crazy as well.

By: Barry

Barry — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:47:24 +0000

I am a Christian. I have been a missionary. I have lived in S. Carolina for three years now, and have been to church three times. Evangelicals spend too much time telling others what they should think and do and not enough time in a personal relationship with God. They mistake telling others what to think and say as a personal relationship with the almighty. Change the world! Bring everyone to Jesus no matter if it drives millions away! If you do not believe what their pastor says then you are not a Christian. I live in a small town with over 50 churches and all of them are different except for the one fact they all believe that their teaching is the only correct one. My thoughts. Pray in a closet so no one sees. Get the secular out of the churches. Put God in your heart. Not on your car bumper. Treat your neighbor as yourself no matter if they are Christian or Muslem or Jewish or Atheist. I could go on but lastly, remember, you will be known for your works(people will see and come), but it is God who gives the increase.

By: Susie Toquain

Susie Toquain — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:25:24 +0000

Ok. I have to comment just to Clark D. You were making a lovely point about how people pick and choose which laws are importanat.
And then you and chose divorce to rail on. Kind of killed your argument entirely. So either argue against self serving judgementalism, or be judgemental.