tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140917903722388348.post2721789655576450723..comments2023-10-29T08:19:51.395-05:00Comments on The Raytractors - Ray Comfort's Detractors: Ya know what really urks my nerves?MacGyver Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02307024564664964571noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140917903722388348.post-68025104989698997772008-08-12T08:33:00.000-05:002008-08-12T08:33:00.000-05:00Rob,I agree with Matt D and Felix.I think they are...Rob,<BR/>I agree with Matt D and Felix.<BR/><BR/>I think they are saying, in a nice way, if you have a bag of shit and tie a red bow around it, it's still a bag of shit.<BR/><BR/>I know you have a huge emotional investment in your beliefs, probably financial and time investments too, yet you sometimes sound like you aren't quite buying into the Christian worldview.<BR/><BR/>I don't know how you will reconcile becoming a youth minister or whatever while telling the kids that the books in Xtian bookstores are a bunch of tripe.<BR/><BR/>In fact, the more we talk the more I find myself wondering exactly what it is that you do believe in.<BR/><BR/>I think you said you are going for a degree in psycology. Why not theology?<BR/><BR/>There is something about you that makes me think that you may be looking for a way "out" of the belief systems you find yourself in.<BR/><BR/>Respectfully submitted, /dFroggiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12972110380349786742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140917903722388348.post-83681049985575172592008-08-12T05:07:00.000-05:002008-08-12T05:07:00.000-05:00hi matt d.,nice to see you pop in here once in a w...hi matt d.,<BR/>nice to see you pop in here once in a while. You described the work of Plantinga very well (I'd add Swinburne to that drawer). It seems to me that every few decades, a small number of intelligent and well-educated theologians set out to get a picture of how their faith fares in the world, and then use all their energy to mold their interpretation to form an understanding that will hopefully carry on to the next decade or two. But what do they actually accomplish? Back in the days, (mostly) dropping outright justifications for violence and maltreatment was the step that changed the face of Christianity in Europe. But what is there to change today? Moderate faith and scriptural interpretation appear to be following events in the real world, constantly adapting ever so slightly to keep pace. Surely, believers today have no more hope of salvation than they had three hundred or six hundred years ago. The only thing that has changed in that regard is the outlook on human behavior; recognition of environmental issues, gradually growing acceptance of homosexuals, and replacement of damnation with advice. Practically the only differentiating factor between clergy and social workers is the former's claim of authority, as you illustrated in your recent show by wearing the collar. I can't see how adding an externalized source of information or inspiration adds any value whatsoever to a contemplation of ethics and morality, as that source still remains extant in a realm of speculation no less than it has for all previous centuries. Outspoken theists and clerical figureheads make very clear statements, but when asked for a substantiated justification they slip right back into foggy mysticism.felixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00749925395851545703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140917903722388348.post-31022505308593338902008-08-12T01:44:00.000-05:002008-08-12T01:44:00.000-05:00Curiously, I'm not impressed with Metzger or Zacha...Curiously, I'm not impressed with Metzger or Zacharias or people who studied theology at Princeton.<BR/><BR/>They have no more evidence to support their position, they are no more experts than Ray on the important issues - because one can't be a recognized expert without a demonstrable, independently verifiable truth.<BR/><BR/>They simply have a particular view of theology that YOU prefer because it doesn't insult your intelligence quite so quickly as the nonsense that Ray spews.<BR/><BR/>I'm surprised you didn't list Alvin Plantinga. While he is, perhaps, the most cerebral of the theologically elite, he simply reworks tired old arguments into new forms via obfuscation.<BR/><BR/>While there's little doubt that they all surpass Ray in their understanding of reality, that doesn't make them any more correct in their claims about the supernatural.<BR/><BR/>They suffer from the additional crippling blow that their positions often contradict the literal message of the Bible. Their 'authority' is nothing more than their own interpretation - just like every other Christian.<BR/><BR/>For an outsider, it's impossible to determine who (if anyone) is correct in their interpretation, but the literalists will always have a more compelling argument from authority (though still mind-numbingly weak) than those who appear as revisionists.<BR/><BR/>What arguments or insights have your "scholarly" theologians provided that have been able to withstand the critical eye of reasoned investigation?Matt D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06865398618141711897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140917903722388348.post-21665348540773718082008-08-12T00:19:00.000-05:002008-08-12T00:19:00.000-05:00Rob-On the lighter side- it might make you feel be...Rob-<BR/><BR/>On the lighter side- it might make you feel better to make your own church signs here-<BR/><A HREF="http://www.churchsigngenerator.com//" REL="nofollow"><BR/>Church Sign Generator</A><BR/><BR/>Hours of fun...marko99https://www.blogger.com/profile/10984312680018635898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140917903722388348.post-60362044605837400702008-08-12T00:07:00.000-05:002008-08-12T00:07:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.marko99https://www.blogger.com/profile/10984312680018635898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140917903722388348.post-19041833542317153582008-08-11T20:28:00.000-05:002008-08-11T20:28:00.000-05:00(shrugs) You could always go looking for a non-stu...(shrugs) You could always go looking for a non-stupid religion.<BR/><BR/>So long, Rob, it was nice knowin' ya....<BR/><BR/>;-)Weemaryannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06329039927702839707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140917903722388348.post-72840517074558927712008-08-11T19:45:00.000-05:002008-08-11T19:45:00.000-05:00I think this is the age of self help for many reli...<I>I think this is the age of self help for many religions and Ray and others are riding the wagon.</I><BR/><BR/>In a way I envy his success. He is making good money milking his flock of sheep. I sometimes wonder if I could lie like that -according to Ray I should be free to do lie my socks off - but it is beyond me.John Doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00451787184309404296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140917903722388348.post-16212982980139046222008-08-11T19:39:00.000-05:002008-08-11T19:39:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Froggiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12972110380349786742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140917903722388348.post-51550819926416555622008-08-11T19:32:00.000-05:002008-08-11T19:32:00.000-05:00I suppose that in the early years of Christianity ...I suppose that in the early years of Christianity only the academic elite was literate. Now any idiot can write a book and get it published.spiraxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13958633839188130020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140917903722388348.post-5531328067996023532008-08-11T18:09:00.000-05:002008-08-11T18:09:00.000-05:00A monk told Joshu, "I have just entered the monast...A monk told Joshu, "I have just entered the monastery. Please teach me."<BR/><BR/>Joshu asked, "Have you eaten your rice porridge?<BR/><BR/>The monk replied, "I have eaten."<BR/><BR/>Joshu said, "Then you had better wash your bowl."<BR/><BR/>At that moment the monk was enlightened.Andrew Louishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18204999524677028033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140917903722388348.post-44242250646703282512008-08-11T17:59:00.000-05:002008-08-11T17:59:00.000-05:00I think this is the age of self help for many reli...I think this is the age of self help for many religions and Ray and others are riding the wagon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com