American Vision, one of my favorite book publishers and Biblical world view sources, has just created a new site dedicated to confronting and debating the falsehoods of the militant atheist movement (Dawkins, Hitchens, Harris), also known as the New Atheism. The site? FoolsHeart.com, taken from the scripture below. Don’t miss their short TV spot, soon to be on air near you (or at least on the web).
“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” (Psalm 14:1)
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Yes, I've always found these ad hominem attacks on its critics in the Bible particularly offensive. "If you don't agree with our ex cathedra assertions you're a fool and a tool of the Devil." Disgusting.
While such statements should not replace argument, this statement is a bottom line declaration of truth, not an ad hominem attack.
It is like saying "the wise man receives correction, but the fool despises it." The scriptures are just providing one more litmus test for foolishness, which much of the book of Proverbs does.
Yes, I can see where a believer would see it this way. However, to those of us on the outside, it is nothing more than an insult and an attack on our integrity. It is an attempt, in advance, to discredit good faith criticism of the assertions it puts forth as "truth." It feeds my growing conviction that Christianity has all the hallmarks of a cult.
I proudly accept the label "fool" when it comes from Christians, for I must point to the source of the slander.
Skeptic,
"I proudly accept the label "fool" when it comes from Christians, for I must point to the source of the slander."
Skeptic, you've been reading your Blake!
Commendable.
"Listen to the fools reproach! it is a kingly title!"
Thanks, Cedric. Kingly company indeed!
I proudly accept the label "fool" when it comes from Christians
Actually, that scripture is from the Jewish scriptures, so I'd say that both Jewish and Christian traditions would label atheism as foolish.
But my own opinion of you should not worry you in the least. The real claim is that GOD calls such men foolish, which is worthy of note. You can proudly wear that label until the day when you face God.
When Jesus taught that on the day of judgment, there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth," he meant utter despair and uncontrollable rage by those who must now face the consequences of their juvenile and haughty unbelief. As they are ushered off to the Godless vacuum of their eternity of isolation, they will curse God as being unjust, even though he gave them opportunities to turn from their own sins and hatred.
Wearing that label with pride is the hallmark of the fool. He has no idea he is resisting the truth, and has all kinds of mental justifications for his position. He hides behind the excuses of the religious hypocrites he thinks he has seen, the injustices of God he has calculated, and his vain and limited reasoning.
But all fools end up in the same place – destruction of themselves and anyone else foolish enough to follow them. So wear that badge with pride.
Yep, of course: typical stupid Christian effort of last resort. When all else fails, when you can't convince people with your b.s. about "love" etc. (TM), you are reduced to the fascistic impulse: threaten. At its base, the monotheistic religions are fascistic enterprises resting on self-righteous power-hungry irrationality and threats. It's pathetic, really, for you cannot persuade, you can only threaten. Reminds me of Nazism (send malcontents to the concentration camps) and Communism (send to "re-education" camps). Ugly. Evil. Moronic. Monstrous.
"He firmly believed that everything he did was right, that he ought on all occasions to have his own way — and like the sting of a wasp or serpent his hatred rushed out armed and poisonous against anything like opposition. He was proud of his hatred as of everything else. Always to be right, always to trample forward, and never to doubt, are not these the great qualities with which dullness takes lead in the world?" – William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair.
threaten
I am not threatening. I am telling you what the scriptures say. You can take or leave them. The truth can be threatening if you live in ignorance or disobedience to it.
Those who tell you unprotected sex can lead to disease are threatening you too ;).
There are many reasons to believe the scriptures, and rejecting the parts you don't like because you don't like them is unwise. You shouldn't make rash decisions when so much is at stake.
If you want to raise your middle finger to the God of the Bible, you are free to do so, but if you fail to honestly consider the consequences of your actions, don't say you weren't warned.
I might not be correct. You better be sure that the myriad evidences for the Christian faith that you are ignoring are really spurious, and that you are correct.
Reality is threatening if you ignore it, and if such claims are reality, you are a fool.
BTW, I am not a big fan of Pascal's wager, in case anyone thinks that's what such "threats" are about. Rather than just taking the "safe" side, I am asking you to consider well your conclusions. It won't be my *ss burning in hell if you are wrong – it's your life and eternity on the line.
Your intellectual bankruptcy has already been established. Why would anyone pay any attention to anything you have to say?
Keith: forget it, there's no common ground with this fanatic.
Your intellectual bankruptcy has already been established. Why would anyone pay any attention to anything you have to say?
Logic at it's best- er, I mean, ad hominem slop at it's best. I answer with logic, but too much biblical content for you to handle. I'm sorry you are not able to discuss such ideas dispassionately.
Such is the fool, and esp. the one who denies that there is a God.
Seriously, I am amazed that, when confronted by a simple list of a few scriptures, you bail out so completely.