Rev. Gretta Vosper wrote a book which included this in the title - why how we live is more important than what we believe. I've thought the same for many years, but last Saturday experienced what I think is the living embodiment of this. I was privileged to conduct a memorial service for the sister of a good friend. While the family was born Buddhist, they were not active in a congregation. Since I have also begun to practice Buddhism, the service combined Christian and Buddhist elements.
A brief look at three interesting stories in religion news, including Progressive Christian advertising, a Christian argument for "assisted dying," and the atheist movements' source of morality.
"In Political Ads, Christian Left Mounts Sermonic Campaigns"
The Wall Street Journal isn't known as one of the most progressive publications out there. Of course that doesn't mean their particular slant on the news isn't interesting, or that they have nothing worthwhile to report. Take, for example, their recent article on an ad campaign by evangelicals supporting legislation curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
The campaign, which is comprised of radio ads running on Christian and country music stations across 10 states in the U.S. Ads speak about God's creation crying out for relief, and refer to the Gospel of John, speak against energy interests, and say "Please join the faithful in speaking out against the powerful." Needless to say, not everyone is crazy about these ads.
Is there a Christian argument for "assisted dying"?
"There is no reason from Christianity why the law should prevent assisted dying, at least so far as those wanting to die are self-aware and sane. The presence of such law would allow a dignified end to those wanting to have one, without requiring others to die against their wishes."
The above statement is sure to provoke discussion, at the very least. "Assisted dying" or "assisted suicide" or euthanasia - whatever you call it, it is far from being an uncontroversial topic. John Cartwright, writing for the Guardian Online, makes a case for "assisted dying" from a Christian perspective. Cartwright's argument centres around being allowed to make one's own moral choices, and prevention of the needless extension of suffering.
A recent article on the website of UK newspaper The Daily Mail reports on a survey of British teens on the importance of God and religion undertaken by Penguin books. The survey was carried out to mark Penguin's publication of controversial novel Killing God by Kevin Brooks.
According to the survey, 66 percent of teens surveyed do not believe a deity exists while 50 percent have never prayed and 16 percent have never been to church. 59 per cent of children believed religion has had a negative influence on the world, 60 percent only go to church for a wedding or christening, yet 91 percent agreed they should treat others the way they wished to be treated themselves.
Both the Church of England and the British Humanist Association have their own takes on these results. To read about them, and form your own opinion, check out the article here.
Me and a friend got in quite an arguement. So, do you think Atheism is limited to the common disbelief of God, or does it have it's own aspects or "religion" such as beliefs, rules or followings?
Here's a question that has been floating around in my head for a while:
For those who would call themselves atheists/agnostics/freethinkers - What is the philosophical foundation of your morality? That is to say... why BE good? How do you know what good is? Does good/evil, right/wrong even exist?
If you have a moral system, where does it come from? What justifies it's form and existence?
Like the subject header says, can someone really be "de-baptized"? It seems to me, like the bishop says in the article, it's really something between someone and God, or, if you don't believe in God, in a person's own heart and mind.
Sometimes it gets a little heavy in the forums with clashes between believers and non-believers, fundamentalists and progressives, the intelligent and the ignorant. So, I spent a few hours building this little oasis. There's a couple of comfy sofas, three or four leather recliners, a 60" flat-screen plasma tv, coffee tables and ottomans. You'll notice the large collection of DV D's and CD's, the library, the fully-stocked bar in the corner with four bar-stools and plates of pretzels, chips, nuts and fruit. You can even smoke if you want. The best part is,
Well, obviously there is a difference, but what about the more "radical" Progressive Christians, such as John S. Spong or United Church Canada's own Gretta Vosper? I've read a lot of Spong's works as well as finishing up Vosper's "With or Without God," and one comes away feeling like they both, more or less, pay lip service to Christianity while there is nothing that really distinguishes them from atheists.
