Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!lll-crg!lll-lcc!qantel!ihnp4!cbatt!clyde!watmath!watnot!watdcsu!magore From: magore@watdcsu.UUCP (M.A.Gore - ICR) Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc,net.religion.christian Subject: Re: Atheism is DEAD! Message-ID: <2584@watdcsu.UUCP> Date: Sat, 27-Sep-86 21:24:47 EDT Article-I.D.: watdcsu.2584 Posted: Sat Sep 27 21:24:47 1986 Date-Received: Tue, 30-Sep-86 00:49:47 EDT References: <1136@mit-trillian.MIT.EDU> <1144@cybvax0.UUCP> <1135@mhuxt.UUCP> Reply-To: magore@watdcsu.UUCP (M.A.Gore - ICR) Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario Lines: 92 Xref: linus talk.religion.misc:301 net.religion.christian:4775 The following quote had no comment so my reply is not to the poster but in general. Also I would like to get some discussion going about some issues that need clearing up.... In article <1135@mhuxt.UUCP> mtglass@mhuxt.UUCP (RICHARDSON) writes: >> "There is something feeble and a little contemptible about a man who cannot >> face the perils of life without the help of comfortable myths." ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Gee I wounder just *who* could be implicated here considering the news group??? But I put this question to the news group. WHO is it that believes in myths? Is it the Christians that have a Living God that reveals himself to those who seek him OR those who believe in myths about what Christians believe??? (ok the last question is stacked (-: well so is the above quote). Main point of this posting. What do non-Christians think that Christians believe in God for?: 1) 'Just because the Bible tells us.' 2) 'Because we need a crutch to hold are lives up.' 3) 'Our parents told us.' 4) 'Not very bright. No science in our education.' 5) 'There is a sucker born every minute.' These are just a few of the myths that non-Christians have about Christians. But I contend *if* you believe these or statements like these that you have a 'comfortable myth' and a crutch that will keep you from understanding Christians. I grew up being a non-Christian and did not think it was required that I *need* a God to make life work. I felt that *many* were being deceived by the Christian 'myth'. I remember doing a report in high school about Galileo - and my blood boiled when he was put down by the 'Church'. I felt there was just no sense in talking to Christians. They were just another cult off to rape the minds of our young - to be stopped if reason was to live and so on... Yes those myths about Christianity came to have the appeal of 'truth' or 'common' sense. TV put 'it' down as did the educational system-but lightly by only showning the Church to be the block to the modern 'Scientific' way of thinking. The 'Church' was put down because of the politics in our history etc etc... Yet people around me put 'it' down (as I did also) and laid more foundation to the 'myth'. (Of course good myths have some truth. - It would be like saying *all* people can't read 25% true if you believe reports these days. But *ALL*, -garbage) Still I came to believe in God/Christ because I used the method of *verification* outlined in the Bible. - Nothing any Christian can say (that is words) will convince another of the validity of Christianity. God/Christ ultimately does the convincing/convicting (re Bible etc) but they have to do the looking. Luke 11:9 (NIV) "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. & Jeremiah 29:13-14 John 14:16-17 (NIV) "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, The Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me;" & John 15:26 & Psalm 16:7 You need not be blind: Proverbs 4:7 (NIV) 7) Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Watch out for 'myths' because: Proverbs 14:6 (NIV) 6) The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. Yet He didn't say that understanding would be easy: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 Keep an open mind while you look else: Acts 13:41 (NIV) "Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you." # Mike Gore # Institute for Computer Research. # These ideas/concepts do not imply views held by the University of Waterloo.