Comments on: The Day I Learned the Ten Commandments http://andrewclapper.wordpress.com/2008/03/20/the-day-i-learned-the-ten-commandments/ Andrew Clapper discusses his views on many different topics. Sun, 01 Mar 2009 05:32:30 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Sarah Bellam http://andrewclapper.wordpress.com/2008/03/20/the-day-i-learned-the-ten-commandments/#comment-63 Sarah Bellam Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:49:44 +0000 http://andrewclapper.wordpress.com/?p=22#comment-63 Perhaps the truth is that nobody can prove there is a god. In general, religion excludes, and divides people from one another. Bigotry is formed when religionists believe that they have another (etenal) life and that non-believers (destined for eternal hell) do not. Why do good things for bad reasons when good reasons exist? Do we really want to stone adulterers or keep slaves as prescribed in the Bible? It's time to let religion go the way of superstition and mythology. Until there's compelling evidence to the contrary, I believe this is the only life we've got and I'm not going to waste it following some ancient text that didn't reveal anything that couldn't have been written by someone living in that era. Perhaps the truth is that nobody can prove there is a god. In general, religion excludes, and divides people from one another. Bigotry is formed when religionists believe that they have another (etenal) life and that non-believers (destined for eternal hell) do not. Why do good things for bad reasons when good reasons exist? Do we really want to stone adulterers or keep slaves as prescribed in the Bible? It’s time to let religion go the way of superstition and mythology. Until there’s compelling evidence to the contrary, I believe this is the only life we’ve got and I’m not going to waste it following some ancient text that didn’t reveal anything that couldn’t have been written by someone living in that era.

]]> By: Dan http://andrewclapper.wordpress.com/2008/03/20/the-day-i-learned-the-ten-commandments/#comment-60 Dan Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:56:59 +0000 http://andrewclapper.wordpress.com/?p=22#comment-60 Hi Andrew: I just read your blog about the Ten Commandments. It sounds like a rather unfortunate experience. I'm sorry to hear it. I teach at a Christian school here in Texas. I welcome children's questions about the Bible and yes, they have some good ones. It is unfortunate that some adults are uncomfortable fielding such inquiries. Over Thanksgiving, I was reading to my four-year old neice the story of Jesus feeding the multitude. Her father (my brother) is in seminary training for the pastorate. When we got to the part about Jesus giving thanks to God, she noted, somewhat playfully, that Jesus was giving thanks to Himself. I think that overall there exists a lack of thorough equipping in the "mind" department for many Christians. I see so often people become frustrated and engage in ad hominem arguments. I myself try to stay on my intellectual toes, especially as a teacher. I read philosophy, history, science, etc. And while you perhaps wouldn't agree with me, I think the Christian faith is in a phrase, "Scriptural, miraculous, incarnate, historical truth." We have to have some sort of truth in order to function as humans. While I wouldn't agree with you that the Commandments are "pointless", I do however believe that what you've described above happenes more than it ought to. I don't think that Christianity in the U.S. has witnessed an emphasis/impact on the mind in a cultural sense from the perspective of the Christian faith really since the First Great Awakening Jonathan Edwards. Thanks for the post. Again, I'm sorry about your experience. It is a shame. Hi Andrew:

I just read your blog about the Ten Commandments. It sounds like a rather unfortunate experience. I’m sorry to hear it.

I teach at a Christian school here in Texas. I welcome children’s questions about the Bible and yes, they have some good ones. It is unfortunate that some adults are uncomfortable fielding such inquiries.

Over Thanksgiving, I was reading to my four-year old neice the story of Jesus feeding the multitude. Her father (my brother) is in seminary training for the pastorate. When we got to the part about Jesus giving thanks to God, she noted, somewhat playfully, that Jesus was giving thanks to Himself.

I think that overall there exists a lack of thorough equipping in the “mind” department for many Christians. I see so often people become frustrated and engage in ad hominem arguments.

I myself try to stay on my intellectual toes, especially as a teacher. I read philosophy, history, science, etc. And while you perhaps wouldn’t agree with me, I think the Christian faith is in a phrase, “Scriptural, miraculous, incarnate, historical truth.”

We have to have some sort of truth in order to function as humans.

While I wouldn’t agree with you that the Commandments are “pointless”, I do however believe that what you’ve described above happenes more than it ought to.

I don’t think that Christianity in the U.S. has witnessed an emphasis/impact on the mind in a cultural sense from the perspective of the Christian faith really since the First Great Awakening Jonathan Edwards.

Thanks for the post. Again, I’m sorry about your experience. It is a shame.

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