The Gospel of Supply Side Jesus

[Alex]

"The single most cause of atheism in our world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips but walk out of the church doors and deny Him with their lifestyle. This is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable." Brennen Manning

I would call this nonsense. The lack of any requirement that you actually live a life of faith or dedication to call yourself a Christian (or most other religions) makes it all the easier to not be an atheist.

I would say the biggest cause of atheism is that pretty much every religion has latched onto a god or gods that refuse to make themselves apparent and rather manifest through the mumblings of so-called prophets (and generally they did it just once, millennia ago). The secondary reason is that scientific advancement of our understanding of the universe has relegated these gods to an every shrinking unobserved segment of the universe making their existence all the more unlikely. When you have a mechanical explanation for rain and thunder saying that it is a sign the gods are angry and the Jesus is pissing in heaven seems a little sillier.

As for supply side Jesus I'm just glad Al Franken is doing something that doesn't require listening to him talk. It doesn't matter to me if it is funny or accurate satire, just so long as the man doesn't speak the world is a better place for me.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

I would call this nonsense. The lack of any requirement that you actually live a life of faith or dedication to call yourself a Christian (or most other religions) makes it all the easier to not be an atheist.

I disagree, Alex.

While I like the quote, I think the word "athiest" may not be the best choice.

However, I agree with the sentiment of the quote wholeheartedly.

If someone claims to be a Christian and yet does not attempt to live according to the tenets of Christianity, why would someone then consider Christianity to be something of interest at all to them? Why would there be a need or desire to participate in something with no practical application or meaning?

I would suggest that when Jimmy Swaggart had his fall, not many people were saying "Cool! I want to be a Christian because that means I can have hookers, too!". Rather, I would figure the vast majority of those who cared to have thoughts about it were thinking "There goes another hypocrite Christian leader". No one likes hypocrisy. To claim to have a faith in the Christian God and yet make no attempt to live up to what the teachings of the faith entail (not talking about making mistakes, as no one is perfect) is the ultimate turn off.

[Alex]

If you want to chang the word atheist to something else then we can have a different discussion. But I have never met an atheist who says "you know, I don't believe in god because religion just isn't rigorous enough these days, but boy, back in the 1400s I'd have been all over that like an Inquisitor on a witch."

Considering that the vast majority of "Christians" I know seem to think that Christianity means nothing more than going to church on Easter I will stand by my claim that more people claim Christianity because it is too easy to do than reject it because it is too easy to do.