Episode 35 is now available, featuring a discussion of the remarks made by Alabama Governor Robert Bentley, an explanation of the famous Pascal’s Wager, a general deconstruction of American Evangelism, and our hosts break down why Buddhism shouldn’t be such an attractive pseudo-non-religous option for those on the fence.
Episode 35: Gov. Bentley, Evangelism, Pascal's Wager, Buddhism [56:42] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (802)Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must more approve the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear.
- Thomas Jefferson
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An interesting prayer study was released a while ago, and reported upon by the New York Times. See this Wikipedia article for some good background information on these prayer studies.
A wide ranging study on the effects of intercessory prayer (not to be confused with the more violent “imprecatory” prayer), was conducted on over 1,800 heart patients. There was a “blind” group of patients that was not told someone was praying for them, and a second group that was told someone was praying for them. The blind group did no better or worse than the average heart patient, and the group that was told they were prayed for did slightly worse.
My first reaction to this study was dismay that the Templeton foundation found another $2.4 million to waste on studying prayer that could have been spent on studying real remedies. More alarming, our United States government has spent $2.3 Million on studying prayer, according to the article. Continue reading…
Many Christians claim that the primary way to get into heaven is through good works. There is, however, substantial reason to not believe that this is true. I submit that it seems wicked to people to not be rewarded for doing good by getting into heaven. It also seems evil that their friends, neighbors and loved ones who do not accept Christ because they are a member of another religion or simply because they are non-believers cannot get into heaven even though they are good people. You often hear this question posed and many Christians pose it themselves: well if I live a good life, or my friend lives a good life, can I get into heaven without accepting Christ? Most Christians, I argue, would think that a fair and just God would still let in people that they love and who they view to have done good deeds. However, it is very hard to escape a literal or metaphorical reading of the Bible’s conclusion on the matter:
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
NIV John 14:6
Perhaps I am guilty of cherry picking as many religious people do. However, one of the most famous lines of the Bible, said by scholars, theologians, and laymen alike, summarizes the whole of the Bible:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
NIV John 3:16
Let’s beat a dead horse:
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:12
Well, are you SURE that it is only through believing in Jesus and not good works?
…he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,…
NIV Titus 3:5
And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
Romans 11:6
Yes, yes I’m sure the Bible conveys this. This issue, however, isn’t like the issues of slavery, homosexuality or anything else people bring up and that apologists defend with the notion that you ‘need to understand the historical and Biblical context.’ Many Christians seem to disregard this notion, however, and accept that they will get into heaven because they are good (which is not guaranteed by the Bible, even if you are a believer). Even the Christians who seem to disregard the notions I have submitted claim to adhere to the Bible. The thing is, people don’t adhere to the Bible. The Bible, instead, is just an excuse for them to create a way for them to believe that God wants what they want. Is homosexuality a sin? These people don’t look at the Bible, they ask themselves instead. This is, in many instances, a great relief. People do not subscribe to the great deal of terribleness in the Bible, but instead often think for themselves. When we look at such a core tenant of Christianity though, such as entrance to heaven and belief in Christ, it gives me some hope that maybe religious people aren’t that far off from disregarding the Bible entirely.
Well, as a final note, in the line of Pascal’s wager, what if I am wrong? Well if I somehow were, it doesn’t concern me much since the person asking somehow thinks I can redeem myself (not that I am looking to):
And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
NIV Matthew 12:31-32
It is nice that such a just God would regularly forgive graven trespasses such as murder, rape, pillaging, etc. (Paul/Saul, amongst others) but my trespasses, should such a God exist, are unforgivable.
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