Economic crisis boosts Dutch Christianity

Taken from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8140821.stm

Economic crisis boosts Dutch Calvinism

By Oana Lungescu BBC News, the Netherlands

Ruben van Zwieten is a trainee reverend who spreads the message

Five hundred years after the birth of French Protestant theologian John Calvin, his teachings seem more topical than ever.

Hard work and frugality, the values espoused by Calvinism, are back in fashion as people reassess their lives because of the economic crisis.

Nowhere is this more so than in the Netherlands, which is often described as the most Calvinist nation in the world. Calvin never set foot there, but his influence is hard to miss.

The Thomas church, in Amsterdam’s financial district, looks far from inviting, with stark concrete walls and bare brick floors. You could call it Calvinist architecture – but the simplicity has a calming effect.

With all the excess, I thought the sobriety, the down-to-earth approach to things, is right after all Ingrid Toth, translator

Ruben van Zwieten, 25, is training to be a reverend here. Unusually, he also runs a recruitment company.

So he feels he is uniquely placed to give business people a chance to unload their burdens.

“I know a lot of people working in the business district, I know their doubts,” Ruben said. “They are working harder and harder and it seems increasingly meaningless.”

TV gameshow offers atheists ’salvation’

(CNN) — A Turkish television show is offering contestants what it claims is the “biggest prize ever” — the chance for atheists to convert to one of the world’s major religions.

The TV show offers converts to Islam the chance to visit Mecca.

The show, called “Tovbekarlar Yarisiyor,” or “Penitents Compete,” features a Muslim imam, a Catholic priest, a Jewish rabbi and a Buddhist monk attempting to persuade 10 atheists of the merits of their religion, according to CNN Turk.

If they succeed, the contestants are rewarded with a pilgrimage to one of their chosen faith’s most sacred sites — Mecca for Muslims, Jerusalem for converts to Judaism, a trip to Tibet for Buddhists and the chance to visit Ephesus and the Vatican for Christians.

Ahmet Ozdemir, deputy director of Turkish channel Kanal T, which will air the show from September, said the program aimed to “turn disbelievers on to God.”

For more Information go to CNN

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/07/03/turkey.religion.gameshow/index.html

Martin Luther King “I have a dream”

John Polkinghorne – God and Science 3 Videos

Cambrian Explosion vs. Darwin’s Tree of Life

http://defendtheword.wordpress.com//defendtheword.wordpress.com1c3fbde666346473a5026790827e7f479c1e4221.html

Faith leaders back anti gay law?

ops CNN should this be Indian faith leaders? Should therefore “Most popular on CNN” currently standing on No 8 be amended?

And note that in the HTTP address title it states that the entire India is anti gay see directly below. (Words in green) I don’t think this was intended message they wanted to put across to the readership of CNN but should we have more common sense to avoid offending entire continent by not utilizing caution before going to the publishing desk with half ready articles.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/06/29/india.antigay/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

India faith leaders: Anti-gay law must stay

Michael Jackson is dead but is this, the end of him?

Michael Jackson is dead but is this, the end of him?

As all News channels have spent most of their news coverage today on the sad premature death of the King of Pop few are contemplating what lies beyond our death. Some have questions if TV producers are yet again doing their best to milk the audiences on the very traumatic and tragic personal story. As we watch it unfold on TV screens we forget that this is one solitary life. Man who was hurting who had need for privacy and help that may not always come in the best form. Many have questioned why was he so badly advised on his financial affairs? Some have again pointed finger at the mighty pharmaceutical companies and the over prescription and excessive use of the pain killers in our society that we are prescribed by our doctor today.

^{Matthew 24:28} Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures³⁷ will gather ^[1]

This is reminiscing of the tragic deaths of King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley and great Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe but have we learnt the lessons yet. I remember the film about Johnny Cash and his fight with pain killers. We often treat the symptoms and forget about tackling the cause of the problem. Our unhealthy lives, our lack of focus on what is truly important and our desire to succeed is driving us in the wrong direction to our early grave. Should we be starting to think about how our actions affect us and people that are dear to us? As a father I could only guess that one of the highest if not the highest priority for Michael Jackson was his family and children, we have heard from many celebrities about his love and care for his children. As a Christian who loves his own children I could only imagine what is it that God feels for his creatures that are in need of his love. If one claims to be a Christian then  one can’t help but wonder where our deceased relatives have gone and what will they encounter once they get there. I found this story very endearing and am sure is the question most who profess love for God would be asking themselves. Have I lived good life that has been a light to those who don’t know Christ? Have I lived up to my name as Christian?

Are all Atheists just making excuses?

Where does the Atheism come from?

This is not an academic question with the simple answer that would point to the birth of atheism in 17 century and spread of it in early 19th century. It is the heart of the matter question, “why and when do we decide that there is no God for us”?

Someone recently commented on the kind of debates we mostly have today when we talk about religion. One of the major things that came up is that people who refuse to accept the possibility of existence of God do so in order to avoid any sense of being responsible to someone else. From the psychological point of view he said “it’s like trying to grow up, when child looks forward to becoming his/her own person”. I Think this was meant to represent sense of emancipation kind of freedom from oppression under which they did not want to stay. This says more about our upbringing and far less about any meaningful understanding or relationship one is supposed to have with any higher being.

^{2 Tim 3:16} Every scripture²³ is inspired by God²⁴ and useful for teaching, for reproof,²⁵ for correction, and for training in righteousness, ^3:17 that the person dedicated to God²⁶ may be capable²⁷ and equipped for every good work.

How do we discern or decide what is right? Philosophy of thought is according to some completely disappeared, people often look to others to guide them, and if one is to escape this and come to his own views how is he/she to go about their way in order to find that inner happiness of knowing that their mind was not made up for them by somebody else. According to Christians, Jesus came to provide us with this option, his word the Bible is that independent tutor who can teach us, under which light we can make up our own mind.

Honesty or dishonesty – Fear mongering or Open debate: This light is necessary otherwise how can anyone make sense of anything in the darkness? There are therefore many reasons to attack these pillars of the Christian faith in order to stay at the same elevated position of not being obliged to own anyone or anything. But can we truly say that we are totally independent, or self sufficient. I think it was Marx who said that “Humans are social animals” therefore we are co-depend on one another. I know of no one who happily exist in his/her solitude and can claim that they can do things their own way.

We often have much greater expectations of God than anybody else, but frequently we refuse to give him even slightest possibility of granting him same rights that we would offer to anyone else. (So we judge him more harshly but we give him absolutely no rights, the very thing we so boldly demand) Is our humanity, limited by time, space to process information, lack of necessary knowledge and will this be enough to see us through to the point where we can say with great certainty that we know and understand, answers to all the basic questions we ask as humans? Why are we here? Who are we? Where are we going? These are not simply philosophical questions that are non relevant to us. Indeed they make us what we are, our view of ourselves directions we take and desires we cultivate are noting short of being honest searching and attempting to decipher the question of life and meaningful reasons for our existence.

According to the Bible this is not meant to be limited time of up to 80 years (Average life span) we spend on earth? We have all heard of John 3:16 ^3:16 For this is the way³⁶ God loved the world: He gave his one and only³⁷ Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish³⁸ but have eternal life.³⁹ ^3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,⁴⁰ but that the world should be saved through him.

Should you walk away from Christianity?

Five common excuses used to walk away from Christianity

It has not been very hard for me to think of a number of reasons why anyone should walk away from Christianity but here are some for anyone who may be looking for reasons why they should just accept that Modern Christianity is down right wrong.

1. I don’t like Church and the rules that it stands for: I don’t want some “higher power” within church telling me how to live my life, especially when there are so many things that are wrong with the leadership of churches in so many denominations. Just look at the many issues that the Catholic Church is facing, being sued by so many re child abuse cases etc.
2. I don’t like Christians: as they think they are better than other people, and they are so judgmental towards others, like homosexuals, or people who value their sexual freedom, or pro abortion people and people who don’t adopt their high standards.
3. Science destroys Religion: Evolution and Science have made Christianity completely obsolete and irrelevant and should as such serve to guide people away from God and towards humanism and atheism.
4. Life is not fair: How can a good God allow all this suffering to exist? This is evidence that either he does not care or he is not there. I was hurt so badly in my life, therefore I think I’m justified in refusing to believe in God especially when you look at all the bad things that happened in the Christian Bible.
5. The Bible is old and out-of-date and irrelevant for today, plus it’s big time wrong: There are so many wrong things in the Bible, Christianity has copied other religions, and Dan Brown has showed us how bad the Christians are in his film Da Vinci Code. We also learn from people like Richard Dawkins, Chris Hutchins, about all the things we should distrust about the evils of religion.

After losing two very good friends through suicide, losing a child to genetic disorder, losing a father to cancer at the age of only 39 (I was only 3 years old at the time of his death) losing my friend in a civil war, one has to start asking some serious questions.

I have been told stories by a very good friend who has witnessed murder and immense human suffering and encountering unrepentant criminals who have profiteered from human addictions, desires and basic needs. What can I say, except that we have good reasons to raise this question like I did “Where is God when we needed him most?”

“Why did he allow this car accident to happen to me?” “Why did my father die when I was only 3 year old?” “Why did he allow pain to strike people, the very people for whom I care for, why did some of them get sexually abused?” “Why did my friend pull the pin, from the hand grenade to blow his own brains out?” “Why is there disease that plagues and will likely kill people that I care for?”

Tell me then if I am right to ask today’s nominal Christians this simple question, where is your God?  I want to be free to do what I want, so why is it then that your Bible is telling me how to live my life? Can I trust the Bible, and if not what can I trust? What is the meaning of life or do we simply exist without meaning?

Just tell me, please answer me why?

Can we trust the Bible?

The Accuracy and trustworthiness of the Bible,

And the importance of its message on our lives today.

The Bible in Context of Time and “Authors”

Written by more than 40 authors with varying characters and from a wide range of educational backgrounds and different statuses in society, the Bible took 1,500 to 2,000 years to complete. Three common languages were used that would have been understood by the majority of people in that part of the world: Hebrew Old Testament (with small parts in Aramaic) and Greek New Testament. Note that post Alexander the Great most of the Roman occupied world spoke this language, and Hebrew was understood by neighbouring nations. A Semitic influence was significant and not least due to many wars, expulsions and repatriation of entire peoples all dependent on the policies of the conquering nations. The Bible preserved both in the Old Testament and the New Testament was seen as an integral part to their identity and has always been perceived to be holy books. All evangelical Christians hold that the Bible is inspired through the Holy Spirit.

Accuracy of the Scripture

Today, more than ever, many liberal Theologians have pushed their twisted agenda of fervent liberal fundamentalist evangelism. By attempting to cleverly demolish the authority of the word of God they want us to believe that scripture was corrupted by a biased clergy who wanted to push its own agenda. Many liberals would say that it is “textual criticism” (analysis of available Greek and Hebrew manuscripts) that supports their assessment. Note that textual criticism is accepted by all as a science as it deals with available manuscripts and painstakingly reconstructs the original text. One should be aware however that those liberal theologians inevitably employ “higher Criticism”. (Higher Criticism, on the other hand, deals with historical and philosophical ideas and in its nature is therefore inherently based on opinions and not on hard science.)  With complicated language they hope to baffle us with science. Many young and mature Christians have suffered crises of faith, due to a lack of willingness on the part of many leaders to stand up for what is right. This is why I think we should always be supportive of our church leadership and pray that God would give them wisdom and understanding needed to protect God’s flock from attacks by Satan.

Ida the Missing Link: The Link to What?

Question: Is “Ida” a “missing link”we have all been waiting for? Good to hear Mr Attenborough make statements like “we are no longer missing the “missing link” finally there is open and frank admission only noted when supposed link was discovered. Makes you wander what made them come to their conclusions they had previously without this evidence, was it strong physical evidence or their faith in abstract pre supposition?

ANSWER:

Taken from: Answers in Genesis at http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2009/05/19/ida-missing-link

For all the headlines and proclamations, this “missing link” story includes an amazing amount of hot air.

A story we first previewed on May 16 has since rocketed to the heights of media hype as a team of scientists reveals “Ida,” the latest and greatest supposed missing link. But does Ida actually support “the evolution of early primates, and, ultimately, modern human beings,” as one news outlet reported?¹

Another reporter raved, “The search for a direct connection between humans and the rest of the animal kingdom has taken 200 years—but it was presented to the world today at a special news conference in New York.”²

Historical Resurrection of Christ? NT Wright responds

The New Atheists are Not Intellectually Bright

Meaning of Easter and Questioning the resurrection of Jesus

Meaning of Easter

^{John 3:16} For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

To so many, Easter means little more than just a date in the Church calendar. We have lost insight into the main reason behind the arrival of Jesus on earth. There are a number of love stories that touch our hearts, their influence will be evident in the way we live our lives. It is therefore a great shame, I think, that we too often forget about the motivation that drove God to sending his Son to be the redeemer of the human race.

We attain a great victory over death. This is promised to all who believe in Jesus and accept his sacrifice.  Through the resurrection of Christ we have been promised that we will not remain dead once our life expires here on earth.

This great act of selfless love was demonstrated by the sacrifice of God who loves us so much that he was prepared to pay the ultimate price. As the word of God says, this is the greatest form of love, nobody would naturally commit such a selfless act. This then reiterates the greatness of God’s love by saying that whilst there may be some who may be prepared to die for their friends, there is nobody who would go so far as to die for their enemies. (See John 3:16)

Bible, financial crisis and Banking on Faith

After reading this article I thought it right as it’s provocative enough to include it here. I will link it directly to it’s original published page I hope you enjoy it as it will both make you think and hopefully encourage to re assess where your priorities lay and at the same time encourage you to think in what you would like to invest your life.

Kind regards

Defend the Word

By Philip Sampson

If you believe Richard Dawkins, science and religion are mortal enemies. We have confidence in science because it is grounded upon knowledge and facts, while religion flounders in a sea of faith and groundless superstition. Science is evidence based. Faith is by definition irrational, blind trust divorced from evidence or, worse, believed in the teeth of the evidence.
It’s not a new point of view. Reason, it was once said, would gradually illumine even the darkest recesses of superstitious faith, and religion would fade away, revealing the sunlit uplands of secular progress. The Enlightenment would, well, enlighten us.
Of course, it did not quite work out like that. For better or worse, religion is resurgent worldwide, and scientific advances like electricity generation and petrol engines have proved a mixed blessing. It seems that both religion and science are more complex than rationalists allow. Is faith really an evidence-free zone, a leap in the dark? And conversely, is science really religiously neutral?

For more information on this article go to

http://www.e-n.org.uk/4592-The-Bible-and-the-banks.htm

Morocco expels five missionaries

Several churches were built in Morocco during the colonial era

Morocco has expelled five European missionaries for attempting to convert local Muslims to Christianity.

The five women have been put on a ferry and sent to Spain – the home country of four of the five. The other is German.

Morocco prides itself on its religious tolerance, but it has also cracked down on Shia Muslims in recent weeks.

It is against the law to try to convert Muslims in Morocco and the interior ministry spokesman said the five had been caught “red-handed”.

A number of video cassettes in Arabic were apparently found when police broke up the meeting, described as Evangelical.

In recent years a number of converted Christians have been convicted for holding illegal religious gatherings and similar offences in neighbouring Algeria.

But BBC Rabat correspondent James Copnall says Morocco has always prided itself on its religious tolerance.

But human rights groups have protested at the recent series of events targeting those apparently promoting the Shia form of Islam.

Morocco is almost entirely Sunni.

The kingdom cut off diplomatic relations with Iran at the beginning of this month, and accused the Iranian embassy of trying to convert Moroccans into Shias.

A school has been closed, and there have been reports of Shia books and CDs being seized.

The Moroccan authorities are adamant there is no link between this and the expulsion of the five Christians, but our correspondent says this is unlikely to convince everybody.

Monday, 30 March 2009 09:39 UK from BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7971491.stm

Evidence of God: Biochemistry

Evidence for God from Cosmology / Lee Strobel

Evidence for God from Physics & Astronomy / Lee Strobel