"Why Believe in God" ad campaign

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

But, then, many Christians aren't looking to convert anyone. (It simply wasn't something we did in the diocese where I grew up.) And [big disclaimer here] a few extremist Muslims aren't looking to allow anyone who isn't Muslim to survive.

But as an institution, Christianity has historically encouraged it more than any other. Or at the very least, have been most successful at expanding their conversion efforts worldwide. Just ask native Americans and Africans and European pagans, and just about everyone during the crusades, and countless island nations, and...well you get the point.

I'm sure there are Jews that have taken it upon themselves to proselytize their religion, but if they do so it's without encouragement from any accepted part of the community or the world-wide institution such as it exists.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

But, then, many Christians aren't looking to convert anyone. (It simply wasn't something we did in the diocese where I grew up.) And [big disclaimer here] a few extremist Muslims aren't looking to allow anyone who isn't Muslim to survive.

I know some groups are more into upholding Christ's command than others. To certain groups, it is COMMAND!

This was one of the songs we sang over and over based on Matthew 4:19-20 and Mark 1:17.

"I will make you fishers of men
fishers of men
fishers of men
I will make you fishers of men
if you follow Me

if you follow Me
if you follow Me
I will make you fishers of men
if you follow Me..."

In my church, we took the Fishers of Men part pretty seriously - my family even more so since my Mom was raised a version of Pentecostal.


Oh, and in my seraches to confirm bible verses (somehow I just cn't quote them like I used to) I found GODTUBE!

[Alex]

Well, in terms of religious outlooks on salvation, I suppose evangelism (sure, give up what you are and join us) is preferable* to racism/ethnicism (tough titties said the kitty when the milk ran dry, unless you were born to the right group of people then it is a nice titty).


*If you accept as a given that at least one religious faith is the truth (which, of course, I don't ).

[flippyshark]

Oh dear, GODTUBE is going to cost me a lot of hours and brain cells.

A very dear friend of mine is involved in the drama ministry of her Methodist church. (As churches go, I like it. It's very gay-friendly and has a terrific music program.) My friend often brings scripts to work and I sometimes run lines with her for practice. I've noticed a trend, well exemplified by this skit, called "The Stool." Go ahead, give it a look.

I've ended up reading as some hip, cool version of "Jesus" numerous times for skits very much like this one, and I'm always surprised at how nonchalantly modern day Christians put words in the mouth of their Lord and Savior. These skits are the dramatized equivalent of those billboards that feature messages such as "Hey, why don't you spend Sunday at MY place? - GOD."

I know its supposed to be a light-hearted way of getting a message across, but, really, I could see this approach creating problems. ("I don't feel as close to Jesus as I'd like." "Well, perhaps you aren't listening hard enough." "But, the lady in the skit was able to trade lame quips and actually climb all over him. Why can't I?")

I think there are scriptural passages that would discourage such casual attributions. Anyway, it's hard to satirize this stuff. Jesus needs a better PR person.

[flippyshark]

I just have to add, for those who have watched the skit linked in my previous post - where in the Bible does Jesus say anything like "Let me make all of your decisions for you!"

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by flippyshark

I just have to add, for those who have watched the skit linked in my previous post - where in the Bible does Jesus say anything like "Let me make all of your decisions for you!"

WWJD?

And don't dare question WHY!

[David E]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

We have, for instance, a pretty damned good set of laws in the US that do not rely on belief in God. Whether they were inspired by religious beliefs to begins with is irrelevant as to whether belief in God is a necessity for goodness.

I wasn't saying one had to believe in God, rather that the concept of rules coming from a transcendent authority, and that are known and predictable, is what has created our successful concept of good and bad. Even though our laws came from religion, what's more important is that people develop a sense of conscience (traditionally through religion) so that they choose to behave well before the law has to be used to reign them in.

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

as long as I can remember, my sense of morality was, "Be good because it's the right thing to do," not "be good because god said so."

But the first thing doesn't make sense without the latter. That was my point about the bus ads: our idea of what "the right thing to do" is didn't just come from nowhere or from instinct, it DID start with "because God said so". (Whether you believe or not as Voltaire said). Without that, we are back to whatever each person feels is good.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by David E

Without that, we are back to whatever each person feels is good.

Yes, we are. And there's nothing wrong with that.

[David E]

Without that, we are back to whatever each person feels is good.

Originally Posted by Alex

Yes, we are. And there's nothing wrong with that.

You don't think there's anything wrong with murder as long as the murderer feels he is doing good? I don't know if you read my original post, but I gave 3 examples of this (Mao, Jim Jones, suicide bombers).

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by David E

Without that, we are back to whatever each person feels is good.

I would argue that people are like that anyway.