Maybe you read this graphic (supplied by an Internet atheism community) and thought “Ya, whoever this Lovecraft dude was, he has a point.”
Okay, then. I have no problem writing that sadly, some parents do try to “bludgeon” their young into artificial conformity. And it saddens me because those children will likely abandon faith rather than embrace it (you can read a few examples here: http://wp.me/p2wzRb-Y).
But consider this FACT: as children from a family of faith venture out into our culture, their worldview will be severely tested by a tsunami of ideas and trends that are absolutely opposed to everything they believe.
That tsunami of non-faith philosophies and lifestyles inevitably serves the exact purpose of H.P. Lovecraft — an American horror fiction writer who wavered between atheism and agnosticism — and others who are opposed to faith (especially Christianity, which is my faith).
That tsunami serves to bludgeon people into conformity with a world that acts as if there is no creator and no absolute truth.
Resisting the tsunami is challenging at the best of times. Followers of Jesus Christ (whom serious Christians believe is the divine Son of God) believe in what the Bible teaches:
- God is the real, eternal creator of the universe, this planet and everyone on it.
- God created the gift of freewill and stands by it, no matter how often we humans spit on it.
- God is a personal god who is involved in the lives of everyone who permits Him to live in them through his Holy Spirit.
- God is perfect and that’s his standard for every human being.
- God knows humanity can’t even agree on a definition of perfection, much less adhere to it.
- God offers Jesus Christ as a gift to everyone who is willing to accept Him — His life, His words, His sacrificial death (to make up for all the wrong things we’ve done and the right things we’ve failed to to) and His glorious resurrection.
At least some of these basic tenets are rejected by most of humanity. Perhaps you’re one of them. But are you at least open-minded enough to realize that what H.P. Lovecraft considered an “unbending quest for truth” is usually quite subjective?
A remarkably telling three-word sentence in one of the three Bible accounts of Jesus’ physical life on earth speaks volumes: “What is truth?” asked the political leader of Jesus, who had been arrested on the authority of religious leaders who opposed Him.
Jesus didn’t answer the question. Can you, with absolute objectivity? Without my Christian faith, I know I couldn’t.
So from your perspective, do you know there’s nothing behind all we see and experience? Do you know that morality is entire subjective? Do you know that when you die, ALL that you are will become NOTHING more than rancid worm food?
If you don’t know all this for sure, then perhaps you’re open minded enough to consider that maybe there is a creator. And maybe He does have a divine Son who died to make up for all the wrongs YOU’VE done and all the rights YOU’VE failed to do. And hey, if you’ve come this far, perhaps you’ll even consider that by trusting in this Son and following Him, you’ll have a permanent place with Him in Heaven.
What do you think? Post your thoughts below and let’s have a conversation.
And exactly how did this death help. Why exactly did this character, Jesus of Nazareth have to be brutally sacrificed?
Can you please explain this, Frank?
Thanks for your question. Here’s how it works:
1. Christianity teaches that God is perfect.
2. Perfection is God’s standard for us (it’s in the Bible) to gain entry into Heaven for all eternity.
3. Knowing we could never achieve that standard, God went out of His way to create a method for us to still get to Heaven.
4. That way is a perfect Son – Jesus Christ – paying the penalty for everyone who believes in Him and follows Him. So God’s standard is upheld, since anyone who believes in Jesus and follows Him is seen just as Jesus is seen: perfect.
5. The brutality of that death? Put the blame for that squarely where it belongs: the Roman empire, with help from “religious” leaders who hated and feared Jesus.
I know you’re an atheist, so all of this is likely pure idiocy in your eyes. But I’m not really writing it for you. I’m writing it for people who are open to spirituality.
Are you saying his brutal death was not necessary?
Was not preordained?
Please read my previous comment again.
Yes, I understand the comment , Frank,
But why was a brutal human sacrifice required?
Put another way, if Jesus was Yahweh’s ”link” why could he not have simply forgiven humanity then sent the disciples onto the world to tell everyone.
Or, better still, being from an omniscient Father, why not simply implant the information./message?
Free will would have remained intact ( there was nothing to say humans had to accept this forgiveness) and Jesus would not have been slaughtered.
So why did Yahweh require/ force his son to suffer execution ( as he surely knew it would happen as he preordained his son’s death)
Can you offer a fuller explanation please?
1. God serves as judge and jury for all humanity. As our creator, that’s His absolute right.
2. A penalty HAD to be paid for all wrong things we’ve done and all the right things we’ve failed to do. Just as a penalty is *supposed* to be paid for that in western culture. For everyone who believes in and follows Jesus, that penalty has been paid.
Why was that penalty the brutal torture and slaughter of Yahweh’s son?
These days we are trying to do away with the death penalty and strive for a more humane way of dealing with criminals.
So, while I am prepared to accept that Yahweh might have deemed a penalty must be paid , why the brutal death of his son?
Also, I have a post up on my own blog asking Christians to explain the Trinity (I don’t know if you believe in the Trinity?)
If you do I would be genuinely fascinated to read your interpretation if you are prepared to offer it?
Thanks for your invitation. I believe in the Trinity. But I’m not sure of the value of posting my thoughts on an atheism website.
I should mention that I have not been called to minister to atheists; I have been called to reach out to people who are open to spirituality. 🙂
I also suggested believers write a post on their own blogs.
It would be an interesting exercise. And I am serious, I truly would be fascinated to read as many personal interpretations of the Trinity.
I appreciate your interest in the variety of viewpoints on this topic. All I need to write on the Trinity can be found here: http://wp.me/p2wzRb-8w
In particular, I suggest you might find it valuable to read some of the comments.
The phrase concerning baptism is a clear delineation not an explanation of a single Triune god.
Jesus was a Jew as were those he was teaching.
He did not consider himself a god, or even Yahweh, and plainly recognised that God (Yahweh) was his father.
How then, does this become a a single god in three parts?
I’ve written all I’m going to write about this topic. No one but atheists has ever, ever mentioned it to me.
(P.S. there are many, many other websites that tackle this topic in great detail. Please feel free to visit any of them.)
Sorry. I forgot to post a link.
https://attaleuntold.wordpress.com/2016/09/17/open-challenge-for-any-christian/comment-page-1/
1. I second Arkenaten’s question, particularly why did he have to be brutally sacrificed?
2. Your biggest complaint that children leaving their homes of faith face a tsunami of differing opinion that tests their faith is exactly Lovecraft’s point. Are you really complaining about adults finally being able to gather and evaluate evidence and come to conclusions that may differ from their parents?
Are you opposing Christian parents teaching their children about Jesus Christ so they’re fully armed with the truth of their faith when they’re bludgeoned by the “truth” of this sick and broken world?
You didn’t answer my question. But to answer yours Am I opposed to parents teaching their kids about Jesus? No. Am I opposed to parents indoctrinated their children about Jesus as “The Truth TM” without evidence? Yes.
Wouldn’t those children be better served by being taught several world views objectively so they can come their on conclusions so they are not overwhelmed by a “tsunami” when they actually have the freedom to experience other world views?
Why do you think this world is “sick and broken?”
Thanks for your thoughts. Are you opposed to parents indoctrinating their children about atheism as the truth without evidence?
As for faith in Jesus, children brought up in Christian households inevitably encounter many other worldviews.
I believe the evidence for this world being “sick and broken” is absolutely overwhelming. Read newspapers for a week and you should have no trouble understanding my point.
Good hearing from you Frank, although you still haven’t answered my question. Are you really complaining about adults finally being able to gather and evaluate evidence and come to conclusions that differ from their parents?
You also skipped this question too, do you think children’t wouldn’t be better served by being taught several world views objectively so they can come to their own conclusions so they are not overwhelmed by a “tsunami” when they actually have the freedom to experience other world views?
To answer your question: yes I am opposed to parents indoctrinating their children that atheism is the truth. My son is too young right now but I have friends who are Hindu, we will go to Temple, I have friends who are Muslim, we will go to Mosque, I have friends who are Christian, and we will go to church.
When he comes to me with questions I will give him the good and the bad, what several other cultures believe along with my beliefs as objectively as I am able at age appropriate levels. And if he comes to conclusions that differ from my own I will know he has had all the information and the critical thinking skills to evaluate that information.
Children raised in atheists households inevitably encounter many other worldviews. But for some reason you don’t hear many atheist’s complaining about the tsunami of other worldviews corrupting their children. To encounter another worldview means nothing.
No Christian parent should *ever* present Jesus Christ to their children without also presenting evidence. I grieve every time that happens. It leaves children horribly unprepared for a world that generally opposes the life, death and resurrection of Christ. 😦
Atheist parents would never complain about other worldviews because our culture generally operates as if there is no creator. In other words, to be an atheist (or an agnostic) is to be in the vast majority. So there would never be a need to complain.
Frank, are you American? I’m assuming you are American. “In God we Trust” is written on our money, “One nation, under God” is in our pledge of allegiance. There is a church on every street corner. Atheists are virtually unrepresented at all levels of government.
We may soon have our first atheist president, but only because he lied about being a Christian. Across the country Sheriffs are plastering “in God we trust” and sometimes actual bible verses to county police cruisers. Judges keep erecting the ten commandments on public property, public schools host Christmas nativity plays.
While the so-called “nones” are growing they are still one of the most negatively perceived minority groups in the country, it is a pretty tight race with Muslims right now. Don’t tell me their is no reason for Atheists to complain and that our culture operates as if their is no creator, that is a bald-faced lie, And I thought Christians weren’t supposed to lie.
I’m curious though Frank, what evidence should parents be presenting to their children about the life, death, and resurrection of Christ?
I am Canadian. The situation is dramatically different in my country. So your accusation of lying is quite inaccurate. Would you like to take it back?
I’m not about to get into a long, drawn-out debate about parents and teaching children. That’s absolutely not the intent of Frank’s Cottage. There are many other websites where you can have such debates.
Absolutely, I apologize Frank. Like I said I was assuming you were American, humbly in my defense you did say “our culture,” its just that we don’t share the same culture.
Well, I don’t want to detract from the intention of Frank’s cottage. So I hope you have a good day. If you ever do get in the debating spirit, feel free to stop over byblacksheep sometime and pose a question. Question and debates are always welcomed and encouraged there.
To be fair on Frank he’s not complained about the tsunami of differing opinion so much as pointing out that children venture out into a culture full of different ideas all the time, so as Christian parents we’re not isolating or bludgeoning, we’re trying to guide our children wisely by giving them truth about Jesus. I agree that sometimes we get this wrong but that’s because as with all people we are still human.
On the Arkenaten question, ‘why the brutal sacrifice?’ I’d say this: because the brutality reflects the human brutality that made Jesus’ death necessary (it reminds us that doing wrong has a cost and an ultimate one), and its necessary because only a perfect God-human being could die for all the wrongs in the world (otherwise its just another martyr there have been loads of them in the history of the world).
I chose, without forfeiting my brain as some would claim, to believe and trust in Jesus Christ back around 1980 when I was still a young man. To this day, have never regretted my decision.
I am now approaching retirement, have been quite successful in so many ways including financially although that benefit is not guaranteed within the Bible. In my opinion, real science and real religion do not conflict in any way.
God’s conditional promises in Psalms and Proverbs have stood the test of time….. provided I was willing to meet the conditions stipulated therein. But what I have trouble believing today is politicized science such as anthropogenic global warming…… It may be true but somehow, after digging deep for the last four 1/2 years to find good reasons to believe it…the arguments continually seems to fall short.