Finding Jesus

It's a timing thing. They never seem to be able to find god until after they do all their evil deeds. Or maybe they're just trying to blame their unindicted co-conspirator.

No such list is complete without mention of Chuck Colson.

I found him. He was in the kitchen, raiding the fridge.

No such list is complete without mention of Chuck Colson.

...the man who gave us the bon mot "if you have them by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow".

Yes, it is definitely a timing thing. Oh, if only they had found God earlier, because without God you cannot be moral. Yes, it's the Rabbi Shafran argument again, but the argument doesn't belong just to him. I read it a couple of years ago in a letter from a Fresno State student who knows the truth about atheists.

I found him. He was in the kitchen, raiding the fridge.

And I thought he was hiding behind the couch the whole time.

From RSR:

Enron Corp. Chairman Kenneth Lay took part in a public prayer session in the courtroom with the Rev. Bill Lawson. Lawson compared Lay to Jesus who, he said, "was convicted and even executed." Lay declared himself "blessed" by his conviction.

Nice wording. The quote suggsts that Lawson thinks Lay should be executed. After all, that would make him more like Jesus.

Not even gonna get into the pros and cons of THAT ... :)

Yes, it is definitely a timing thing. Oh, if only they had found God earlier, because without God you cannot be moral. Yes, it's the Rabbi Shafran argument again, but the argument doesn't belong just to him.

It's a fairly common argument. Dale Reich comes to mind.

Man, those guys can't even *ACT* pious well. So they're not good professionals, they're not good statesmen, they're not good Christians, they're not good citizens...hell, they're not even good people.

What good are they?

Man, those guys can't even *ACT* pious well.

Although I categorize religion as irrational, I can appreciate the difference between the real thing and blatant fakery. Authentic Christianity makes a point (missed by many of its contemporary practitioners) of speaking quietly, modestly, and personally with God instead of beating one's breast in public and loudly proclaiming one's piety for all to hear. It's the passage in Luke 18 that contrasts the humbly faithful (the publican) with the loud hypocrite (the Pharisee).

Some Bible-learning is one of the best defenses against Bible believers.

Ralph Reed.

Yes, it is definitely a timing thing. Oh, if only they had found God earlier, because without God you cannot be moral. Yes, it's the Rabbi Shafran argument again, but the argument doesn't belong just to him. I read it a couple of years ago in a letter from a Fresno State student who knows the truth about atheists.

Bravo Mr. Zeno.

No such list is complete without mention of Chuck Colson.

The National Lampoon once ran a mock ad for a book by Colson called God Is My Unindicted Co-Conspirator.

Turning to God is a common way of exonerating yourself in public opinion. The real shame is that it works enough to be a technique. Teachers who sleep with students are using it too. http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/03/21/charges.dropped/index.html

"Although I categorize religion as irrational, I can appreciate the difference between the real thing and blatant fakery. Authentic Christianity makes a point (missed by many of its contemporary practitioners) of speaking quietly, modestly, and personally with God instead of beating one's breast in public and loudly proclaiming one's piety for all to hear. It's the passage in Luke 18 that contrasts the humbly faithful (the publican) with the loud hypocrite (the Pharisee)."

Excellent point, Zeno! I'm often deeply chagrined by the parallels between Fundamentalist Xianity and the Pharisees.

Ah, yes, the Pharisees. I characterize Jesus, assuming he existed as anything like the biblical character, as fighting the religious establishment of his day as personified by the Pharisees. He lost, and his teachings were twisted and coopted by a new establishment with an essentially Greco-Roman theology (a god comes to Earth and impregnates a woman who then bears a half-god) dressed up to resemble judaism. How convenient that one has only to pronouce a word in the right way (that was one test christians took from the OT) to get into heaven. None of this "love your neighbor" or "do unto others' crap is necessary.

Man, those guys can't even *ACT* pious well. So they're not good professionals, they're not good statesmen, they're not good Christians, they're not good citizens...hell, they're not even good people.

What good are they?

A good laugh?

Bob

Why should anyone expect any different - given that ...

All religion is blackmail.

( Or, in other words all religion is a form of criminal activity )