Having good theology is an integral part of assessing the validity of the Christian faith. One of the main problems with studying religion, is the fact that there are many separate streams of theology. There are Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox, there are Quakers and Liberal Protestant, there is Neo-Orthodox and Charismatic and Dispensational theology as well as fundamentalist and then the various branches of Catholic and Orthodox theology. This is just in the modern age.
Commonly, atheists attack the Christian faith by pointing to fundamentalist Christianity. Now, I know many fundamentalist Christians, they are good people. But not all Christians are fundamentalist.
Here are some things to consider:
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1. Not all Christians are young earth creationist / Not all Christians reject evolution. A recent study that I saw said that 48% of evangelical seminary professors accept evolution theory. Many high profile scientists who are evangelicals accept evolutionary theory, such as Francis Collins. Gregory Mendel, the father of modern genetics was a Christian, as are many other scientists whose work has impacted evolutionary theory. Also, not all Christians accept a global flood. Many Christians have basically or near complete agreement with the secular science world, except as it relates to philosophical teachings like naturalism.
2. Not all Christians believe that all unbelievers will go to hell. A range of positions that have been taught by such authoritative figures as John Wesley, CS Lewis, Billy Graham, Zwingli, (maybe) Aquinas, (I think) Justin Matyr, Origen and other Cappocian Fathers and many others. There is Biblical support for this view which you can see in the salvation of Job, Melchizideck and the Ninevites.
3. Not all Christians minimize spirituality and prayer or trivialize it. Many churches in America do not take prayer or the supernatural seriously. Maybe you grew up in one of these churches and never experienced anything. I am sorry to hear that. I have traveled and been to monasteries, to charismatic prayer ministries, and to other churches where I have seen the Holy Spirit and seen a vibrant Christian spiritual life. I have experience this on my own. I understand some churches do not get into all this sort of stuff, but if you have not experienced it, that does not mean that it is not real. I promise you that it is real, and what I have seen is so clear to me, I would literally send you $100 if doing that could convince you of what I have seen. It is so real, it has changed my life.
4. Not all Christians have traditional opinions on gender. Gordon Fee is a Pentecostal theologian who has advocated for egalitarian gender roles. I attended a church that had a female pastor and many female medical students. There are many churches that do not follow the traditional gender roles but understand versus such as "there is no jew or greek, male nor female, barbarian Scythian slave nor free but Christ is all and in all" Galatians to teach that God gifts all people equally.
5. Not all Christians historically have supported things that atheists typically criticize Christians for, slavery, the crusades, etc. Christians like William Wilberforce and John Wesley and Abraham Lincoln were actively opposed to slavery. Many Christians through history have been pacifists such as the Quakers, Mennonites, some Catholics like Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker movement as parts of the Catholic Monastic movement.
6. Not all Christians are theocratic. Many Christians support Ron Paul or Democratic politicians in America and oppose figures like Jerry Fallwell and Pat Robertson.
Basically, what the Christian church does teach is that there is a right way to live, and that people must live right otherwise they will reap what they sow.
Commonly, atheists attack the Christian faith by pointing to fundamentalist Christianity. Now, I know many fundamentalist Christians, they are good people. But not all Christians are fundamentalist.
Here are some things to consider:
======================
1. Not all Christians are young earth creationist / Not all Christians reject evolution. A recent study that I saw said that 48% of evangelical seminary professors accept evolution theory. Many high profile scientists who are evangelicals accept evolutionary theory, such as Francis Collins. Gregory Mendel, the father of modern genetics was a Christian, as are many other scientists whose work has impacted evolutionary theory. Also, not all Christians accept a global flood. Many Christians have basically or near complete agreement with the secular science world, except as it relates to philosophical teachings like naturalism.
2. Not all Christians believe that all unbelievers will go to hell. A range of positions that have been taught by such authoritative figures as John Wesley, CS Lewis, Billy Graham, Zwingli, (maybe) Aquinas, (I think) Justin Matyr, Origen and other Cappocian Fathers and many others. There is Biblical support for this view which you can see in the salvation of Job, Melchizideck and the Ninevites.
3. Not all Christians minimize spirituality and prayer or trivialize it. Many churches in America do not take prayer or the supernatural seriously. Maybe you grew up in one of these churches and never experienced anything. I am sorry to hear that. I have traveled and been to monasteries, to charismatic prayer ministries, and to other churches where I have seen the Holy Spirit and seen a vibrant Christian spiritual life. I have experience this on my own. I understand some churches do not get into all this sort of stuff, but if you have not experienced it, that does not mean that it is not real. I promise you that it is real, and what I have seen is so clear to me, I would literally send you $100 if doing that could convince you of what I have seen. It is so real, it has changed my life.
4. Not all Christians have traditional opinions on gender. Gordon Fee is a Pentecostal theologian who has advocated for egalitarian gender roles. I attended a church that had a female pastor and many female medical students. There are many churches that do not follow the traditional gender roles but understand versus such as "there is no jew or greek, male nor female, barbarian Scythian slave nor free but Christ is all and in all" Galatians to teach that God gifts all people equally.
5. Not all Christians historically have supported things that atheists typically criticize Christians for, slavery, the crusades, etc. Christians like William Wilberforce and John Wesley and Abraham Lincoln were actively opposed to slavery. Many Christians through history have been pacifists such as the Quakers, Mennonites, some Catholics like Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker movement as parts of the Catholic Monastic movement.
6. Not all Christians are theocratic. Many Christians support Ron Paul or Democratic politicians in America and oppose figures like Jerry Fallwell and Pat Robertson.
Basically, what the Christian church does teach is that there is a right way to live, and that people must live right otherwise they will reap what they sow.
