I had to laugh at yesterday's "Pearls Before Swine" cartoon. Click the image to be taken to a larger version at the comic's Web page.
In the clergy "trade" we used to refer to the "hatch, match and dispatch" crowd - those who would be seen in church for baptisms, weddings and funerals, but at almost no other time. I think Rat kinda sums up their attitude towards faith: ignore it until it's absolutely necessary, and then scream for help and hope for the best (and probably sue every church and denomination they can think of in the hereafter if their "faith" fails to bear fruit).
Still, there's nothing wrong with a last-minute plea for mercy. Who knows? It might make all the difference . . . assuming you actually have time to make it. Failing that, "taking care of business" every day is a rather better bet, IMHO. (If I'm wrong, then my atheist friends are going to be vindicated. I guess we'll have to wait and see!)
Peter
12 comments:
One of the Pastors at a local church called them CEO's.
Christmas
Easter
Only
If we're wrong, we'll never know and the atheists won't be around to gloat either. On the other hand, if we're right....
"... seen in church for baptisms, weddings and funerals, but at almost no other time."
Or maybe we're just willing to accommodate the religious people in our circle without being judgmental for the sake of social peace and tranquility within that circle.
Not everyone who feels organized religion is a ridiculous piece of mythology (combined with the crazy in people that makes them believe in astrology, crystals, ouija boards, alchemy, ghosts, and witches) behaves like an offensive atheist.
I have no particular use for any organized religion, but that doesn't mean that is true for other people. I have no desire to tell them what to believe any more than I want them to tell me. I don't dislike them because of their beliefs. I don't ridicule them, and I expect the same courtesy. I find the aggressive atheists to be rude and distasteful, but the same goes for the aggressively religious.
I admire the great cathedrals and works of art, and am grateful that some men felt so enamored of their religious beliefs that they made the great effort to create them.
As a child, I was exposed to one of the Protestent versions, and so I have a certain resonance with some of the church traditions, not because of belief but because of nostalgia.
But I have no intention of "screaming for help" when my time to pass comes along. I rather hope to go in a pile of hot empty brass surrounded by my dead enemies.
what does church have to do with faith?
Because God is too stupid to know when someone is trying to pull a fast on on Him?
Had a priest once tell me and some other teenagers that as long as the last thought, no matter how nasty sounding, was a sincere plea for help and forgiveness, then God will accept it.
On the other hand, no matter how nice the plea for forgiveness is, if it's insincere then it's either to The Waiting Room (formerly known as Purgatory) or down to Hell.
A sincerely thought "F-word" or "g-damn" carries more weight than insincere Shakespearian prose.
@Sherm:
Some people certainly must think so. Know what an Eruv is? :)
Jay Dee, don't forget, it's possible for both to be wrong.
Atheists can go to hell.
I don't talk to aggressive atheists anymore. It's a failure of mine.
But living in a post Christian country, I try to reach people who are not so hateful.
Try to be kind, generous, as a believer.
We are all sinners. I try to remember that when I deal with losers.
I had made a comment on another board recently that the 48% of the world population that does not subscribe to Christian or Moslem beliefs would really appreciate it if those 2 sides could avoid nuking the whole friggin planet in their current rubber-match.
Host deleted it, lol.
Funny to me, but zealots gonna zealot.
Hats off to Peter for being open to discussion!!!
This really needs to be discussed more often.
I consider myself religious, but do not attend any organized church.
Its funny how, advocates for organized religion will look down on you for saying such. Like there's a narrative to protect or something.
You assume to know what others are thinking and make an ass out of yourself. It is not that some find it unimportant to go it is that we feel pastors like yourself are full of it and are in the way of what is important.
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