Comments for Careful Thought

Comment on Birds of the Panama Canal by High Resolution Webcam at Panama Canal | Careful Thought

High Resolution Webcam at Panama Canal | Careful Thought — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:43:11 +0000

[...] webcams at the Panama Canal have been upgraded with the addition of a high-resolution camera at Miraflores. (Java required). It’s always interesting to see what’s passing through the canal [...]

Comment on Song Meme by Favorite Song Meme – One Month Later « The Responsible Puppet

Favorite Song Meme – One Month Later « The Responsible Puppet — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:04:54 +0000

[...] one to turn down a meme, Steve made sure to put in his [...]

Comment on I’m Trying to Be a Christian by Steve

Steve — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:19:31 +0000

Karen,
I suppose if you take Christian to mean ‘a follower of Christ’, then I can buy it, but too often I see it taken in the ‘I have arrived’ sense. Trying to be a Christian, as in the Julie Burchill article, may or may not be a part of sanctification, and I’m still struggling with that whole concept. I understand it, but I want it to happen NOW.

Comment on I’m Trying to Be a Christian by Karen Joy

Karen Joy — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:40:40 +0000

OK. I understand what you’re saying… And I do agree that, essentially, to be a Christian is to be Christ-like, and that no one should make the claim that they have arrived. There are few things worse than a pompous Christian.

OTOH, I think the enemy can mess with our minds when we get into the mode of trying, trying, trying, trying to be a “good” Christian, and leave us feeling deflated for never quite measuring up. And, a discouraged Christian is an entirely ineffective Christian.

I know that is/was true for me, anyways. I needed to gain some confidence that my Christianity wasn’t gained or lost by my own efforts, but by the grace of God, and the gift offered to me by the death and ressurection of Jesus.

I had this revelation, btw, upon reading Watchman Nee’s The Normal Christian Life which I’d like to quote here, but I can’t find it. He said something early on in the book, comparing such efforts to earnestly praying to be in a room in which one already was.

Comment on A Spectrum of Beliefs on Evolution, Creation and Literalism by Steve

Steve — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:11:14 +0000

McCants:
I originally deleted your comment as it doesn’t add anything to the conversation, but I thought I’d pass along a thought. You claim to be an atheist, but I think you’re not being honest, with yourself or with others. You are a nihiltheist, a worshiper at the altar of nihilism, and quite a fundamentalist nihiltheist to boot. There’s very little difference in tone or intent between your snide comments and the worst of Jerry Falwell or Moqtada al Sadr’s remarks.

Take a look at Julie Burchill’s article at the UK Guardian. She is - or was - an honest atheist who came to see the vacuous nature of modern atheism. Here’s a taste:

Say [atheist] now and a vision of fun-hating killjoys, desperately scared that somewhere a Christian is having a good time by singing lustily in church on a Sunday morning, comes to mind. And, sadly, the alleged “humanist morality” never happened – to this day, 80% of all unpaid and unself-interested voluntary and charity work is faith-driven.

The problem, which western atheists miss, is that to be a heretic here requires no bravery whatsoever. On the contrary, when the mocking of Judeo-Christian belief is a mainstay of prime-time entertainment and has been so since The Life of Brian, being an atheist in the west can easily be seen as a desire to be on the winning side.

Comment on A Spectrum of Beliefs on Evolution, Creation and Literalism by onein6billion

onein6billion — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:54:41 +0000

“No, you’re being banned for being boorish and inconsiderate.”

Yes, I can see how pointing out the truth could be considered “inconsiderate” when you think is conflicts with your faith. Still, it moves.

“Science and faith are mutually compatible,”

Ok, fine. I never claimed that they could not be “compatible” as long as they do not “conflict”. What I said was:

“science will never detect whether or not a supernatural entity had any influence on the development of life.”

That means only that you cannot “prove” your “faith” using “science”.

Comment on Thought for the Day by Uncle Ben

Uncle Ben — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:54:37 +0000

Ooh, I like that. Very wisely put.

Comment on A Word to the Wise by kingdavid

kingdavid — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 02:18:54 +0000

Aren’t there easier ways to defrost the freezer? Big toes, quite possibly the most under-appreciated body parts there are. You always take them for granted until you hurt them. Should we start calling you Festus?

This will be my last blog interaction until we get back from camping. Hopefully I’ll have lots of uplifting stories to relate from God’s country, MN, the BWCA.

Comment on Functional Atheism by Steve

Steve — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:27:30 +0000

Sam,
Functional atheism is distinct from ‘traditional’ atheism in that many nominal Christians (me included) often act as if their faith in God’s grace overrides any obligation to act in a Christ-like manner. It’s certainly not a badge of honor.

Comment on Functional Atheism by Samuel Skinner

Samuel Skinner — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 08:08:58 +0000

It is the voice of sanity and reason. Don’t worry- you’ll kill it soon enough.