(August 26, 2013 at 11:16 am)max-greece Wrote: Hello sword I don't think we have conversed before.
The others are beating up on you perfectly well without my help but I just wanted to add a couple of questions of my own.
They're not denting my faith particularly, quite the opposite if anything. If these are the best arguments for atheism/against Christianity you can come up with.
Quote:Jesus without sin? Please read the story of the canonite woman in Matthew (or the story of the Greek Woman in mark - same story). Tell me you see a man behaving morally there.
He was testing her faith/resolve if you read it. His initial reaction would have been typical for a Jewish holy man and no-one around him would have raised an eyelid. Jesus parable of the good Samaritan more than demonstrates his stance on the racial/ethnic equality of mankind you simply can't make the claim that he was a racist this is very easily refuted.
Quote:The reason we are improving morally is Jesus? I don't see anything in the bible on equality, slavery, exploitation or any of the other ills that have beset humanity over the last 2000 years.
We're evolving collectively toward a more Christlike state through Christs power working it's way within and through the hearts of mankind.
"1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5 NIV)"
For all your efforts that light is not ever going to be overcome by your atheist philosophy, it will shines on regardless of whether you see it or not or whether you like it or not.
Quote:I do a great many advances that do not come from Christianity however, minor stuff mainly like democracy, philosophy, science, mathematics, medicine .... or even such things as sporting competition, drama, comedy, literature.....
Are those all advances in human morality and ethics/spirituality? I'm not talking about politics, science or education. However the way these things are used are certainly influenced by our moral advancement through Christ. For instance the poor members of society are entitled to a free state education, in the UK we have the NHS.
Quote:I am sure you would agree that these are the foundations of our improving morality in reality and these were all borne before Jesus.
Just a thought.
You do know that the all things you mentioned can be used immorally or to benefit the rich or an elite few? Democracy representing the collective desires of the common man is certainly a moral political system we developed. You know Jesus's stance when it came to the elite rulers and the common man/poor. He wouldn't have approved of totalitarian controlled states.
Come all ye faithful joyful and triumphant.