|
Post by sacerdotal on Apr 21, 2014 14:22:48 GMT -5
Or, so says the following article- which I agree with. Especially in regards to the 2x2 fellowship and these quotes from the article: Those seeking answers to their religious questions are finding comfort with each other, instead of the place where they should be finding comfort - the church.
The Internet has raised a generation of critical thinkers. When some churches are confronted with tough questions about the faith they've embraced for generations, they levy criticism instead of answers.
It's blind faith or no faith.
Tack on the blatant use of faith as fear mongering and as a tool for political agendas and it's easy to see why young people are fleeing the church.
Don't blame the Internet for the downfall of religion. Religious leaders are doing a good job of killing religion themselves.
The solution for churches is simple - address those burning questions with poignant answers.
Answers that don't condemn or criticize.
Of course, those answers aren't always an easy pill to swallow. The truth hurts. But when delivered with compassion, even the most bitter pill is sweetened.
It's true that scriptures are often murky, leaving lots of room for interpretation. But that's by design. It should encourage more questions, more conversation, more study, more dialogue. www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/04/the_internet_isnt_killing_reli.html
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2014 15:45:13 GMT -5
nonetheless the internet is a great place for dissension for those that don't want to follow Christ anymore...
|
|
|
Post by kencoolidge on Apr 21, 2014 15:48:48 GMT -5
nonetheless the internet is a great place for dissension for those that don't want to follow Christ anymore... Wally What made you say that? Was it doctrine or God inspired. Good question we all should ask ourselves where did we learn that! ken
|
|
|
Post by BobWilliston on Apr 21, 2014 15:49:53 GMT -5
nonetheless the internet is a great place for dissension for those that don't want to follow Christ anymore... And it all (including the Internet) is the result of "education" and "freedom of expression". Ignorance is a wicked evil.
|
|
|
Post by sacerdotal on Apr 21, 2014 15:54:17 GMT -5
nonetheless the internet is a great place for dissension for those that don't want to follow Christ anymore... And it is a great place for those that want to follow Christ to communicate.
|
|
|
Post by dmmichgood on Apr 21, 2014 16:45:26 GMT -5
Or, so says the following article- which I agree with. Especially in regards to the 2x2 fellowship and these quotes from the article: Those seeking answers to their religious questions are finding comfort with each other, instead of the place where they should be finding comfort - the church.
The Internet has raised a generation of critical thinkers. When some churches are confronted with tough questions about the faith they've embraced for generations, they levy criticism instead of answers.
It's blind faith or no faith.
Tack on the blatant use of faith as fear mongering and as a tool for political agendas and it's easy to see why young people are fleeing the church.
Don't blame the Internet for the downfall of religion. Religious leaders are doing a good job of killing religion themselves.
The solution for churches is simple - address those burning questions with poignant answers.
Answers that don't condemn or criticize.
Of course, those answers aren't always an easy pill to swallow. The truth hurts. But when delivered with compassion, even the most bitter pill is sweetened.
It's true that scriptures are often murky, leaving lots of room for interpretation. But that's by design. It should encourage more questions, more conversation, more study, more dialogue. www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/04/the_internet_isnt_killing_reli.html Actually, that statement is a form of circular argument!
(young people are leaving the faith, because scripture is murky by design, therefore needs more questions, more questions, more conversation, more study, more dialogue which will then increase their faith)
The scriptures are murky because they aren't centered any clear substance! Think muddy pool vs a clear brook.
If it was done by design, who designed it that way?
If one claims that the scripture is written by GOD, (as so many think,) -then why design it to make it so "murky" that it leaves lots of room for interpretation?
Leaving lots of room for interpretation is the cause of such difference of opinion which in turn caused so much division amongst "Christians" that there are thousands of different denominations!
Does anyone really think that actually "more questions, more conversation, more study, more dialogue" will get it straightened out and lead to "More faith?"
|
|
|
Post by dmmichgood on Apr 21, 2014 16:48:37 GMT -5
nonetheless the internet is a great place for dissension for those that don't want to follow Christ anymore... The internet is a great place for people to find the truth behind Christianity and many other religions as well.
|
|
|
Post by sacerdotal on Apr 21, 2014 17:08:40 GMT -5
Or, so says the following article- which I agree with. Especially in regards to the 2x2 fellowship and these quotes from the article: Those seeking answers to their religious questions are finding comfort with each other, instead of the place where they should be finding comfort - the church.
The Internet has raised a generation of critical thinkers. When some churches are confronted with tough questions about the faith they've embraced for generations, they levy criticism instead of answers.
It's blind faith or no faith.
Tack on the blatant use of faith as fear mongering and as a tool for political agendas and it's easy to see why young people are fleeing the church.
Don't blame the Internet for the downfall of religion. Religious leaders are doing a good job of killing religion themselves.
The solution for churches is simple - address those burning questions with poignant answers.
Answers that don't condemn or criticize.
Of course, those answers aren't always an easy pill to swallow. The truth hurts. But when delivered with compassion, even the most bitter pill is sweetened.
It's true that scriptures are often murky, leaving lots of room for interpretation. But that's by design. It should encourage more questions, more conversation, more study, more dialogue. www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/04/the_internet_isnt_killing_reli.html Actually, that statement is a form of circular argument!
(young people are leaving the faith, because scripture is murky by design, therefore needs more questions, more questions, more conversation, more study, more dialogue which will then increase their faith)
The scriptures are murky because they aren't centered any clear substance! Think muddy pool vs a clear brook.
If it was done by design, who designed it that way?
If one claims that the scripture is written by GOD, (as so many think,) -then why design it to make it so "murky" that it leaves lots of room for interpretation?
Leaving lots of room for interpretation is the cause of such difference of opinion which in turn caused so much division amongst "Christians" that there are thousands of different denominations!
Does anyone really think that actually "more questions, more conversation, more study, more dialogue" will get it straightened out and lead to "More faith?"
I tell my kids that if we can prove God exists one kills God because faith is a requirement and proof kills faith. Circular logic indeed. I prefer an atheist over a religious nut any day of the week.
|
|
|
Post by dmmichgood on Apr 21, 2014 17:18:11 GMT -5
nonetheless the internet is a great place for dissension for those that don't want to follow Christ anymore... The internet is simply a means of spreading information to a wider audience and more quickly. ( doesn't mean it is all true!)
It is disparaged for the same reason that invention of the the printing press was disparaged.
Just too much information in the hands of people who couldn't use it correctly! (That is, just believe what they were told)
Making the bible available through the printing press so all people could read it threatened the hold that the "church" had on the people.
Now, the internet will enable information that might endanger the hold that Christianity has on people.
The same old idea in a different package.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2014 19:18:08 GMT -5
nonetheless the internet is a great place for dissension for those that don't want to follow Christ anymore... It's also a great place to find renewed meaning in Christianity that isn't found in lifeless institutional religious settings.
|
|
|
Post by faune on Apr 21, 2014 19:32:51 GMT -5
Or, so says the following article- which I agree with. Especially in regards to the 2x2 fellowship and these quotes from the article: Those seeking answers to their religious questions are finding comfort with each other, instead of the place where they should be finding comfort - the church.
The Internet has raised a generation of critical thinkers. When some churches are confronted with tough questions about the faith they've embraced for generations, they levy criticism instead of answers.
It's blind faith or no faith.
Tack on the blatant use of faith as fear mongering and as a tool for political agendas and it's easy to see why young people are fleeing the church.
Don't blame the Internet for the downfall of religion. Religious leaders are doing a good job of killing religion themselves.
The solution for churches is simple - address those burning questions with poignant answers.
Answers that don't condemn or criticize.
Of course, those answers aren't always an easy pill to swallow. The truth hurts. But when delivered with compassion, even the most bitter pill is sweetened.
It's true that scriptures are often murky, leaving lots of room for interpretation. But that's by design. It should encourage more questions, more conversation, more study, more dialogue. www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/04/the_internet_isnt_killing_reli.html Actually, that statement is a form of circular argument!
(young people are leaving the faith, because scripture is murky by design, therefore needs more questions, more questions, more conversation, more study, more dialogue which will then increase their faith)
The scriptures are murky because they aren't centered any clear substance! Think muddy pool vs a clear brook.
If it was done by design, who designed it that way?
If one claims that the scripture is written by GOD, (as so many think,) -then why design it to make it so "murky" that it leaves lots of room for interpretation?
Leaving lots of room for interpretation is the cause of such difference of opinion which in turn caused so much division amongst "Christians" that there are thousands of different denominations!
Does anyone really think that actually "more questions, more conversation, more study, more dialogue" will get it straightened out and lead to "More faith?"
Dmmichgood ~ It all depends on what questions you are asking and how much seeking you are doing yourself for your own answers. I feel it's a two way street here and if something is the truth, it can stand up to scrutiny without crumbling under the microscope.
|
|
|
Post by rational on Apr 21, 2014 20:21:54 GMT -5
I tell my kids that if we can prove God exists one kills God because faith is a requirement and proof kills faith. Circular logic indeed. Proof doesn't kill faith. It makes it unnecessary. Faith is currently a requirement because there is no faith. There are atheistic nuts as well!
|
|
|
Post by xna on Apr 22, 2014 16:50:29 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by dmmichgood on Apr 22, 2014 17:08:17 GMT -5
From the above link:"America is less religious than ever before. The number of Americans who reported no religious affiliation , doubling since 1990." That sounds like a good thing!
|
|
|
Post by xna on Apr 22, 2014 17:23:29 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by rational on Apr 22, 2014 19:10:09 GMT -5
Religions come and then, when they have served their purpose they go. It is not the internet - it is knowledge and an understanding of how things work.
The religions of Egypt lasted a long time. People worshiped the Greek/Norse/Roman gods and built temples to revere them. But there are not a lot of followers today. Does the christian story have elements that will keep it around for another 1,000 years?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2014 20:10:51 GMT -5
Religions come and then, when they have served their purpose they go. It is not the internet - it is knowledge and an understanding of how things work. The religions of Egypt lasted a long time. People worshiped the Greek/Norse/Roman gods and built temples to revere them. But there are not a lot of followers today. Does the christian story have elements that will keep it around for another 1,000 years? Absolutely. "Pure, unstained religion, according to God our Father, is to take care of orphans and widows when they suffer." James 1:27 The morality of reaching out to the disadvantaged of our society will underpin Christianity forever.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2014 20:22:04 GMT -5
Yes the internet is wonderful. Just look at how many people refuse vaccines because of what they read on-line. Just look at Apple's Steve Job's - he sought "alternative treatment" for his treatable cancer because he read it - guess where?
|
|
|
Post by snow on Apr 22, 2014 22:39:53 GMT -5
It's not the internet's fault that some people aren't too bright.
|
|
|
Post by rational on Apr 23, 2014 6:49:10 GMT -5
Religions come and then, when they have served their purpose they go. It is not the internet - it is knowledge and an understanding of how things work. The religions of Egypt lasted a long time. People worshiped the Greek/Norse/Roman gods and built temples to revere them. But there are not a lot of followers today. Does the christian story have elements that will keep it around for another 1,000 years? Absolutely. "Pure, unstained religion, according to God our Father, is to take care of orphans and widows when they suffer." James 1:27 The morality of reaching out to the disadvantaged of our society will underpin Christianity forever. If this was a feature that was unique to christianity I would agree but it is not. The morality of reaching out to the disadvantaged of our society will underpin humanity forever.
|
|
|
Post by rational on Apr 23, 2014 6:55:53 GMT -5
Just look at Apple's Steve Job's - he sought "alternative treatment" for his treatable cancer because he read it - guess where???? I do not believe you can substantiate this point of view. While it is true that Jobs did put off the surgery for 9 months it was not because of trying treatments found on the internet.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2014 7:09:55 GMT -5
Absolutely. "Pure, unstained religion, according to God our Father, is to take care of orphans and widows when they suffer." James 1:27 The morality of reaching out to the disadvantaged of our society will underpin Christianity forever. If this was a feature that was unique to christianity I would agree but it is not. The morality of reaching out to the disadvantaged of our society will underpin humanity forever. It's not that it is unique to Christianity, but it is the fact that it is a universal idea within Christianity. It is not a universal idea within the broader humanity. Humanity has a wide range of morality.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2014 7:17:31 GMT -5
Just look at Apple's Steve Job's - he sought "alternative treatment" for his treatable cancer because he read it - guess where? I do not believe you can substantiate this point of view. While it is true that Jobs did put off the surgery for 9 months it was not because of trying treatments found on the internet. This information came from his biographer who interviewed him 40 times over 2 years: In spite of pleas from family and friends, he tried to cure himself through acupuncture sessions, drinking special fruit juices, visiting "spiritualists" and using other treatments he found on the internet.www.nytimes.com/2011/10/21/technology/book-offers-new-details-of-jobs-cancer-fight.html?_r=0
|
|
|
Post by rational on Apr 23, 2014 9:37:25 GMT -5
I do not believe you can substantiate this point of view. While it is true that Jobs did put off the surgery for 9 months it was not because of trying treatments found on the internet. This information came from his biographer who interviewed him 40 times over 2 years: In spite of pleas from family and friends, he tried to cure himself through acupuncture sessions, drinking special fruit juices, visiting "spiritualists" and using other treatments he found on the internet.www.nytimes.com/2011/10/21/technology/book-offers-new-details-of-jobs-cancer-fight.html?_r=0I see the confusion. My post was not clear. Jobs did not put off his conventional medical treatment because he was trying cures found on the internet. He put off the surgery because he was initially not willing to have the operation and during that time tried many alternative cures, some of which he discovered on the internet. Bert's post, to which I was responding, misrepresented the facts: The delay was not because he read about alternative treatments on the internet.
|
|
|
Post by xna on Apr 24, 2014 14:59:56 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by xna on Apr 29, 2014 11:27:57 GMT -5
Or, so says the following article- which I agree with. Especially in regards to the 2x2 fellowship and these quotes from the article: Those seeking answers to their religious questions are finding comfort with each other, instead of the place where they should be finding comfort - the church.
The Internet has raised a generation of critical thinkers. When some churches are confronted with tough questions about the faith they've embraced for generations, they levy criticism instead of answers.
It's blind faith or no faith.
Tack on the blatant use of faith as fear mongering and as a tool for political agendas and it's easy to see why young people are fleeing the church.
Don't blame the Internet for the downfall of religion. Religious leaders are doing a good job of killing religion themselves.
The solution for churches is simple - address those burning questions with poignant answers.
Answers that don't condemn or criticize.
Of course, those answers aren't always an easy pill to swallow. The truth hurts. But when delivered with compassion, even the most bitter pill is sweetened.
It's true that scriptures are often murky, leaving lots of room for interpretation. But that's by design. It should encourage more questions, more conversation, more study, more dialogue. www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/04/the_internet_isnt_killing_reli.htmlIn the news... How the Internet Is Taking Away America’s Religion www.technologyreview.com/view/526111/how-the-internet-is-taking-away-americas-religion/Christianity’s faith-based freakout: Why atheism makes believers so uncomfortable www.salon.com/2014/04/28/christianitys_faith_based_freakouts_why_atheism_makes_believers_lose_their_minds_partner/
|
|
|
Post by snow on Apr 29, 2014 14:43:47 GMT -5
Or, so says the following article- which I agree with. Especially in regards to the 2x2 fellowship and these quotes from the article: Those seeking answers to their religious questions are finding comfort with each other, instead of the place where they should be finding comfort - the church.
The Internet has raised a generation of critical thinkers. When some churches are confronted with tough questions about the faith they've embraced for generations, they levy criticism instead of answers.
It's blind faith or no faith.
Tack on the blatant use of faith as fear mongering and as a tool for political agendas and it's easy to see why young people are fleeing the church.
Don't blame the Internet for the downfall of religion. Religious leaders are doing a good job of killing religion themselves.
The solution for churches is simple - address those burning questions with poignant answers.
Answers that don't condemn or criticize.
Of course, those answers aren't always an easy pill to swallow. The truth hurts. But when delivered with compassion, even the most bitter pill is sweetened.
It's true that scriptures are often murky, leaving lots of room for interpretation. But that's by design. It should encourage more questions, more conversation, more study, more dialogue. www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/04/the_internet_isnt_killing_reli.htmlIn the news... How the Internet Is Taking Away America’s Religion www.technologyreview.com/view/526111/how-the-internet-is-taking-away-americas-religion/Christianity’s faith-based freakout: Why atheism makes believers so uncomfortable www.salon.com/2014/04/28/christianitys_faith_based_freakouts_why_atheism_makes_believers_lose_their_minds_partner/I was definitely not allowed to miss meetings. I had to attend them all, special meetings, gospel meetings, Wednesday study meetings, Sunday morning Meetings, conventions and even for a short time while it existed, a youth group meeting on Friday nights. There was no getting out of it.
|
|
|
Post by sharingtheriches on May 2, 2014 18:16:43 GMT -5
nonetheless the internet is a great place for dissension for those that don't want to follow Christ anymore... It's also a great place to find renewed meaning in Christianity that isn't found in lifeless institutional religious settings. Perhaps our fellowship mtgs. here on TMB have been far more "educational" then any of the fellowship mtgs. we've had in established religions, eh? I was thinking about different churches here in this large city and how they have responded or not responded to different problems within their church....esp. when they should have sacked their present minister and looked for a better one! Seems some churches like to get a minister who is set in stone there but at the same time they pay for that in the fellowship meetings or the preaching being less then desirable and less then "lively" or living word. I know that there are about 3 people in this retirement center that continue going to said type of church...part of the time. One lady is getting so off and on with her attendance due to the minister not being a good minister...but hey, the man has been in that church for umpteen years...he appreciates the guaranteed job, I'm sure...but perhaps if he was to have to enliven his preaching to keep his job or be put on the circuit for another church he might just remember how and why he became a minister to start with! This makes me think of what Jesus told one of the 7 churches in REvelations about them being neither hot nor cold, but being lukewarm and if they didn't change, he was going to spue them out of his mouth! These kind of conditions were seemingly some of the same conditions that caused a number of new churches to crop up back in the 1800's or so, aren't they? IF so, then small church groups like the 2x2's will simply peter out, won't they?
|
|