Atheists who once were christians
14 Apr 2012 17 Comments
in Culture Tags: Atheism, behaviour, christianity, christians, churches, reason, religion, western society
We can read the statistics which show that, in most western countries, church attendance has fallen in the last century. In some cases it is still falling, though in others it has levelled out. The ‘leavers’ are not necessarily giving up all belief in God – many list themselves as ‘not committed’ – but some are choosing to be atheists.
But this is all statistics. There is also a human face to these changes.
Does God prefer belief or obedience?
06 Apr 2012 1 Comment
in Culture Tags: apologetics, Atheism, behaviour, christians, ethics, God, mission
“God Prefers Kind Atheists Over Hateful Christians” said the article and the photo, and it caught my attention as it caught many others’ (as it was aimed at doing).
Is it true?
Reason and ridicule
29 Feb 2012 6 Comments
in Apologetics Tags: apologetics, Atheism, Belief, christians, making disciples, persecution
Criticisms of christians and christian faith seem to be more widespread and trenchant than they used to be. And the main basis of the attack is that christianity is not reasonable, not based on evidence. Yet in my experience, the attacks that have greatest impact are not intellectual but emotional, built as much on ridicule as on reason.
What are we to make of this? And how should we deal with it?
Urban Neighbours of Hope
11 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in Serving Tags: Change the world, christianity, christians, Good news, Hope, western society
I met Jon Owen at the Black Stump music festival. Over three days I listened to his stories and was impressed. I laughed a lot, but had the odd tear as well.
Jon and his wife Lisa live in one of Sydney’s most depressed suburbs as part of a community supported by Urban Neighbours of Hope, and try to bring hope to the many people who need it. I deeply admire them and their work, and I don’t think I could do it. I blogged about his book, Muddy Spirituality.
Here is an article from the Sydney Morning Herald about their life. It’s worth reading. (The photo above was taken from the article.)
Who’s afraid of Yahweh?
07 Feb 2012 1 Comment
in Doctrine Tags: apologetics, Atheism, Bible interpretation, christians, doctrine, ethics, God, Old Testament
It doesn’t take long before a thoughtful Bible reader comes across some rather odd and nasty things, especially in the Old Testament. And non-believers use the odd and nasty things as a weapon against christians: “How can you believe in a God who is genocidal?” they might say.
What are we to make of these things? Do they make it hard to maintain faith in Jesus? And how should we answer the critics?
Training disciples to stand
03 Feb 2012 5 Comments
in Making disciples Tags: Belief, christians, churches, making disciples
I have been looking at the problem of christians losing faith and turning away from following Jesus (see Making disciples is a new game these days, Why do some christians give up belief?, and Do christians believe for irrational reasons?).
So what should we do about it?
How do we help young christians to be prepared for attacks on their faith, to be able to grow through doubt and questioning, and after all, to stand (Ephesians 6:13)?
Why do some christians give up belief?
15 Jan 2012 1 Comment
in Making disciples Tags: apologetics, Atheism, Belief, christians, reason
We’re taking a look, over a few posts, in why it is getting harder to make disciples in the western world, and why more christians are dropping out.
This post looks at the many different reasons why christians stop believing, and is based my discussions with atheists on forums and blogs over the past six years, and on accounts people give of their own ‘deconversion’ on mainly atheist websites. (These are not too hard to find.)
Making disciples is a new game these days
12 Jan 2012 3 Comments
in Making disciples Tags: apologetics, behaviour, Belief, christians, God, Jesus, making disciples, reason
Jesus told his followers to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20), and for two millennia they did just that, and now about a third of the world follows Jesus, nominally at least. But it’s getting much harder to make disciples in western societies these days, and it is becoming more common for apparently strong disciples to turn away from following Jesus.
I think this is a crucial matter, and I want to devote a number of posts to it. Today, I just want to scope the problem.
Fair Trade chocolate – report 2
22 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Serving Tags: behaviour, Change the world, Chocolate, christians, ethics, Protest, western society
Back in November I reported on exploitation in the world cocoa trade in My pleasure, their misery?. At that time I wrote about this to two prominent chocolate manufacturers.
I subsequently reported (Fair Trade chocolate – report 2) that I had received a reply from Cadbury indicating their ongoing support for Fair Trade products. I think they could do more, but it is encouraging that they have come this far.
Now, more than a month after I wrote to Darrell Lea, I still have not received a reply. Of course, Christmas is probably their busiest period, so I may hear from them in January. We shall see.
Anyone want to join in writing to Darrell Lea, and also to Nestle, Lindt or others?
Photo courtesy of World Vision.
Christians and Twitter
18 Dec 2011 2 Comments
in Behaviour Tags: behaviour, christians, mission, western society
I’ve never used Twitter. I’m not really interested, and I doubt anyone would want to read my tweets anyway. But many christians use it, especially well-known ones – writers, leaders, entertainers and bloggers.
But I’m beginning to wonder whether a lot of this christian tweeting is counter-productive.
How does reading the Bible change you?
13 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Bible Tags: Bible, christians, ethics, science and faith, world
Some people read the Bible nearly every day. Some people feel guilty that they don’t read it every day. Some people read it only to criticise it, while others never read it.
What effect does Bible reading have on the reader? Some recent surveys have some interesting findings.
Gay marriage
03 Dec 2011 15 Comments
in Culture Tags: apologetics, christians, ethics, Protest, western society
The Australian Labor Party, which forms the present Australian Government, is having its national conference, where policy ideas are discussed and decided. This year, one of the “hot” topics for discussion is gay marriage. (Technically, I think the proposal is a change to the Marriage Act, which currently specifies marriage is between a man and a woman.)
The main opposition comes from the churches, especially the Anglican and Catholic churches, and Labor party officials with church links. Are they right?
Barriers to belief: Exclusivity
30 Nov 2011 Leave a Comment
in Apologetics Tags: apologetics, christianity, christians, churches, doctrine, western society
A recent survey in Australia identified common barriers that made it more difficult for people to believe in Jesus or attend church. I think it is important that we christians consider these barriers, and do what we can to remove them. I have addressed one, Church abuse, and now I want to look at exclusivity.
Christian leadership
25 Nov 2011 1 Comment
in Church Tags: christianity, christians, churches, doctrine, Leadership, making disciples
Leadership is an important matter for christians. A fundamental aspect of being a christian is meeting with other believers in churches and other groupings. How these groups are led – that is, make decisions, form attitudes, gain knowledge and encourage each other – will have an enormous impact on our success in carrying out the mission entrusted to us.
What if we have got it badly wrong?
Prayer is power sharing?
10 Nov 2011 Leave a Comment
in Doctrine Tags: Books, christianity, christians, doctrine, prayer
I’m currently reading Knowing Christ Today by Dallas Willard, and I found this quote:
“Prayer is God’s arrangement for a safe power sharing with us in his intention to bless the world through us.”
I like this, because it touches on a number of important things.
Christians and world poverty
30 Oct 2011 Leave a Comment
in Serving Tags: behaviour, Change the world, christianity, christians, ethics, mission, western society, world
Those of us who are christians in the western world are currently facing one of the biggest ethical challenges we have ever faced. Consider the following population graph – the world’s 7 billionth person is about to be born.
Dawkins vs Craig
23 Oct 2011 7 Comments
in Apologetics Tags: apologetics, Atheism, behaviour, christians, mission, reason
I have blogged before on the atheist vs christian wars, most recently in Atheist vs christian internet wars. The latest instalment is the verbal slanging match between US christian philosopher William Lane Craig and UK atheist biologist Richard Dawkins.
I think there are some things we can learn from this unedifying exchange.
Atheist vs christian internet wars
18 Oct 2011 2 Comments
in Behaviour Tags: apologetics, Atheism, behaviour, christians
The past six years, I’ve spent a lot of time on the internet, making comments on blogs and discussing on forums. The two most common subjects I’ve discussed have been web design and God. The people I’ve met discussing web design have almost always been friendly and helpful. I wish I could say the same about discussing God, religion and christianity!
I’ve made a lot of friends over that time, but I’ve also seen some ugly personal attacks, a mass of derogatory put-downs and a lot of polarisation. Modern day atheism can be a lot more militant and outspoken than it once was, no doubt partly in reaction to provocation, and I have sometimes been on the receiving end even though I try not to be provoking.
But the sad thing is, I see just as much bad behaviour from the christians.
Support persecuted christians
29 Sep 2011 Leave a Comment
in Serving Tags: christianity, christians, Islam, persecution, world
Christians face persecution in many countries today, especially North Korea, Saudi Arabia and Iran. According to some estimates, about 100 million christians face persecution, far more than any other religious group.
Right now, two people need our support.
Asia Bibi
Asia is a christian woman, wife and mother of two children. She has been imprisoned in Pakistan for several years because she professed faith in Jesus. Voice of the Martyrs is seeking signatures on a petition in her support. Perhaps you would like to sign, perhaps post a link on your own website or blog. Here is a video outlining her need.
Youcef Nadarkhani
Youcef is an Iranian pastor under imminent threat of execution because he converted to christianity. Voice of the Martyrs and other groups are calling for prayer and representations to be made on his behalf, though the link to find out more doesn’t seem to work.
What do christians have to say about a broken society?
27 Sep 2011 Leave a Comment
in Serving Tags: christianity, christians, ethics, western society
Last weekend’s Sydney Morning Herald carried two opinion pieces on greed, ethics and a “broken” western society that presented a disturbing picture.
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