Comments on: an atheist’s response to “things you can’t say in church”

By: esbee

esbee — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 18:08:38 +0000

funny thing about atheists…if they are right….that there is no God and that there is nothing after we die, why are they even bothering to say anything at all to those who do believe? If there is no God and nothing after you die, what does it matter what you believe or do while alive? If an innocent child dies of cancer, a fireman dies trying to save a life, Mother Teresa and Hitler all go to the same nothingness, what did it matter what they did while alive on earth? Even those who suffered under Hitler all went to the same nothingness. The athiest can’t even say I told ya so after death, but ironically, if there is God and an afterlife, that after death the believer can say “i told ya so” to the athiest, but he might have to make a long distance call to do so.
Atheists do make an excellent barometer, though, on the faults and problems in how people practice Christianity, as they do comment on them and offer insight, even though, I guarantee, that if an athiest sees those problems and faults, a Christian saw and recognized them first.

By: angela

angela — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 04:47:20 +0000

I think that we ought to be deeply concerned about these sorts of comments. Because they are entirely true.
Most atheists have not actually rejected God or Christ, but have rejected the institutions that claim to serve and represent Him.
If they were untrue, we could dismiss them easily.
Unfortunately, these perceptions about the church are almost always true, and we should not pretend that the average North-American institution of denominational church is charecterized by openness, unity, joy, love.
But they should be.
As a Christian, I am determined to “be” the church, and change the way we “do” church, so that someday, God-willing, the ‘atheists’ will actually be wrong about what we have to offer.

By: Jodi

Jodi — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:46:36 +0000

I was just asking myself this question – why do I go to church?

I don’t really know anymore…

By: Kim

Kim — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:05:04 +0000

Anne – I can see where some churches might inhibit open discussion. For me, I’d hesitate to ask a question for fear of looking stupid. My knowledge of the Bible has grown, but it lacks a LOT. I may not “get” something that is obvious to most. Sometimes God speaks to me that way – in a different perspective.

To me, the church service is a message to each of us, but addressed to a group. *I* wouldn’t want to sit through a long, drawn out discussion or debate about the specifics, especially if they didn’t apply to me. However asking for clarification could be helpful.

The beauty of small groups is to have time to formulate your thoughts and bring them to the table. It has been enlightening for me to participate in these discussions.

(Also, we’re moving back home to Okla – looking forward to meeting you!)

By: tony

tony — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:27:11 +0000

learned a long time ago that non-christians slam christians when they admit they are human (non-churchy) AND when we act like we are perfect (churchy). it’s no win, and we don’t really care anyway

it goes with the territory – they killed Jesus and it didn’t appear that He won, either – but guess what?

water off the duck’s back in my opinion – let the criticism and cynicism come – it’s OK – we love our non-believing friends and are just being a little real in here, that’s all

(p.s. Greta – good bait, but no thanks)