Easter letter from a pastor father

[Raeven]

Yeah, hand him a snake.

[Ryantology]

Those who prefer to adhere to a secular, relativistic world where there are no absolute; where self satisfaction is the soup de jour, do so not because of the lack of evidence on the existence of God. No, I have discovered that when a person does not want to be judged, they just proclaim that the Judge doesn’t exist. However they wish to believe, it does not change the reality of justice. Be certain of this, one day when the Author of the play walks on the stage, the curtain will be dropped.

I don't wish to be judged by human justice, either. And that's why I... don't deny the existence of human judges because they actually exist?

[Whateverist]

I too am largely ignorant of the bible so I have no scriptures to offer. I would point out to your father that there is indeed plenty of evidence of God for those seeking to confirm the belief they already hold. However for those of us who acquire the habit of challenging our assumptions and biases, there is no evidence in either direction. The only choices are belief through unreasoned faith or lack of belief for lack of evidence. Personally I put my faith in whatever truth I can find. To guard against delusion, I am slow to declare truth and slower to generalize. I'm trying to keep myself pure for the actual truth and open to as much of it as I can hold wherever that may lead. God didn't make the cut.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

I love all of you

Letter would seem to indicate the contrary.

[JesusHChrist]

Ozzie osborne loves all of us too! Thank you!

Good night!

[ThomM]

So my father is in the habit of sending me letters and mostly I just ignore them, however this one struck a cord(see the 4th paragraph). He sent it to me and my brothers but the family knows it is directed specifically at me, since my own proclivities are often lamented facts of family lore(movie reference). So many things wrong with this letter. I am formulating a response but I figured the smarter minds on here would critique it and at the very least give me nugget or two I had not thought of....so fire away in 3, 2, ...

Napoleon expressed the following thoughts while he was exiled on the rock of St. Helena. There, the conqueror of civilized Europe had time to reflect on the measure of his accomplishments. He called Count Montholon to his side and asked him, "Can you tell me who Jesus Christ was?" The count declined to respond. Napoleon countered:

"Well then, I will tell you. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne and I myself have founded great empires; but upon what did these creations of our genius depend? Upon force. Jesus alone founded His empire upon love, and to this very day millions will die for Him. . . . I think I understand something of human nature; and I tell you, all these were men, and I am a man; none else is like Him: Jesus Christ was more than a man. . . . I have inspired multitudes with such an enthusiastic devotion that they would have died for me . . . but to do this is was necessary that I should be visibly present with the electric influence of my looks, my words, of my voice. When I saw men and spoke to them, I lightened up the flame of self-devotion in their hearts. . . . Christ alone has succeeded in so raising the mind of man toward the unseen, that it becomes insensible to the barriers of time and space. Across a chasm of eighteen hundred years, Jesus Christ makes a demand which is beyond all others difficult to satisfy; He asks for that which a philosopher may often seek in vain at the hands of his friends, or a father of his children, or a bride of her spouse, or a man of his brother. He asks for the human heart. He will have it entirely to Himself. He demands it unconditionally; and forthwith His demand is granted. Wonderful! In defiance of time and space, the soul of man, with all its powers and faculties, becomes an annexation to the empire of Christ. All who sincerely believe in Him, experience that remarkable, supernatural love toward Him. This phenomenon is unaccountable; it is altogether beyond the scope of man's creative powers. Time, the great destroyer, is powerless to extinguish this sacred flame; time can neither exhaust its strength nor put a limit to its range. This is it, which strikes me most; I have often thought of it. This it is which proves to me quite convincingly the Divinity of Jesus Christ."

This weekend marks the most climactic point in all history. The birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus did more to affect the course of mankind and eternity than any other event. A person may wish to ignore Jesus’ claims to be God in the flesh, the one who took the punishment for our sins and reconciled us back to God, but they cannot overlook how He has changed the world. Christianity is unique. And its impact on the world is hard to apprehend now because we take for granted the values grounded in it. Christians invented hospitals, orphanages, and social programs because they loved each other and others because God loved them and commanded them to. Christianity established equal human value despite differences based on simply being God's creature. These kinds of values are commonplace now, but they were spawned by the Christian worldview and still find their home in Biblical values.

Those who prefer to adhere to a secular, relativistic world where there are no absolute; where self satisfaction is the soup de jour, do so not because of the lack of evidence on the existence of God. No, I have discovered that when a person does not want to be judged, they just proclaim that the Judge doesn’t exist. However they wish to believe, it does not change the reality of justice. Be certain of this, one day when the Author of the play walks on the stage, the curtain will be dropped.

In the meantime, God still reaches out to all who seek him and call on the name of Jesus.

One time when Jesus’ disciples were telling him what all the people of the town were saying about him, He asked them a question that each person must eventually answer for themselves and how they answer it will set their course for peace, hope, and eternal destiny.

Jesus looked at them and said “but who do you say I am”.

Have a blessed Easter. I love all of you

Another nice Fairy tale to ADD to the rest of the xtian fairy tales
Of course - there is no reason to accept that the christ was a real person - there is not a single mention of him in the historical record of his time - none at all.

And if you could post this nonsense -- you do not know what the words Atheist/ agnostic actuallly mean.

[Esquilax]

Those who prefer to adhere to a secular, relativistic world where there are no absolute; where self satisfaction is the soup de jour, do so not because of the lack of evidence on the existence of God. No, I have discovered that when a person does not want to be judged, they just proclaim that the Judge doesn’t exist. However they wish to believe, it does not change the reality of justice. Be certain of this, one day when the Author of the play walks on the stage, the curtain will be dropped.

Jeez, what a classy fucking statement. Where the hell do christians get off, saying things like that? I don't see anyone else trying to reinterpret his motives into some weakness of character. It's just a real class act, a top to bottom fucking masterclass in schoolyard intimidation: "you just don't believe me because you're a dumb dumb who eats poo, and I'm going to tell everyone!"

Oh, and he's "discovered" all this, has he? Well, discoveries generally come with evidence and not petty bullshit, so what exactly was it that informed this "discovery" of his?

[coldwx]

Another nice Fairy tale to ADD to the rest of the xtian fairy tales
Of course - there is no reason to accept that the christ was a real person - there is not a single mention of him in the historical record of his time - none at all.

And if you could post this nonsense -- you do not know what the words Atheist/ agnostic actuallly mean.

Are you stating that I don't know what atheist/agnostic means? Because I posted a letter from a family member to me, soliciting feedback and conversation? How does posting a letter from someone else in any way translate to not knowing what those terms mean? Wow, thanks for the helpful dialogue. Maybe I am misunderstanding you though.

---

Those who prefer to adhere to a secular, relativistic world where there are no absolute; where self satisfaction is the soup de jour, do so not because of the lack of evidence on the existence of God. No, I have discovered that when a person does not want to be judged, they just proclaim that the Judge doesn’t exist. However they wish to believe, it does not change the reality of justice. Be certain of this, one day when the Author of the play walks on the stage, the curtain will be dropped.

Jeez, what a classy fucking statement. Where the hell do christians get off, saying things like that? I don't see anyone else trying to reinterpret his motives into some weakness of character. It's just a real class act, a top to bottom fucking masterclass in schoolyard intimidation: "you just don't believe me because you're a dumb dumb who eats poo, and I'm going to tell everyone!"

Oh, and he's "discovered" all this, has he? Well, discoveries generally come with evidence and not petty bullshit, so what exactly was it that informed this "discovery" of his?

Precisely. That is the paragraph that really pisses me off and has prompted me to finally tear his email apart line by line. I have ignored it for far to long trying to be respectful but that has now left the building. This equates to nothing more than hell, fire and damnation preaching.

[Faith No More]

Tell your dad that his need to stoop to character assasination just shows him to be a bitter, petty fool that is desperate to avoid the fact that he doesn't have logic, reason, facts or evidence on his side.

Then tell him that if he ever wants to have an adult conversation about his beliefs, you'd be more than willing, but until he has anything more than small-minded insults, you're just going to laugh at the fact that he believes in supertitious fairy-tales.

[Clueless Morgan]

No, I have discovered that when a person does not want to be judged, they just proclaim that the Judge doesn’t exist. However they wish to believe, it does not change the reality of justice.

Likewise, however sincerely you believe, it doesn't change the fact that you can't prove that there is a judge.

I have no problem being judged for my actions. I have a problem with people lying to me and threatening me.