Smi-i-ite the unbeliever.

[reddragdiva]

We (me, Freda, arkady, redcountess, mirrorshard, neonchameleon) are off to the Pembury shortly to celebrate Arkady's baptism. (The church did not catch fire as I entered.) See you there.

Comments

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

The church did not catch fire as I entered.

But did you hear the disapproving clucking of a thousand nuns?

;-D

[xlerb.livejournal.com]

I am disappointed by the lack of flaming church.

[reddragdiva]

The Church of England is pretty robust against mere atheists entering the building.

[loosechanj.livejournal.com]

What is it with people (intelligent ones no less) getting religion lately? I've been steadily losing mine.

[redcountess]

I think Christianity *needs* more intelligent people like A, who also believe in Evolution, have actually read *all* the Bible, and the Apocrypha, and the Dead Sea Scrolls, and fight Charismaticism and Fundamentalism.

[loosechanj.livejournal.com]

have actually read *all* the Bible

*raises hand* Oooh ooh!!!

the Apocrypha

Damn, I need to get on that. I've read a little.

I think the point at which I stopped even giving any credit to christianity was when I realized it's really mostly a fanclub for the Bible itself, not any possible God(s).

I suppose I can understand the appeal as a social organization, but looking for Truth? No way.

[heliumbreath.livejournal.com]

Some of us didn't get that memo, and are more into the search for God and Truth than being a fanclub for a particular book. Extra points for being Lutheran and lubricating the quest with beer.

[reddragdiva]

I'm a sceptical atheist, but I try not to be dickish about it, and am very pleased with those religious people who understand the same. I assume you're familiar with Simon Cozens' words on the subject.

[heliumbreath.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've been reading Simon's blog for a long time (and I trust you've read his latest entry!).

Being in Canada, basically having Americans on the other side of the bed nationally, we get to see their version of things up close, yet we've got a different set of national assumptions and that leads directly to questioning what's what. Certainly one tries to stay positive and not just be reactionary to someone else's negative.

[reddragdiva]

I just read his latest one :-)

It disappoints me that sensible Christians don't seem to do more to rein in the nutters. OTOH that may be like holding Unix admins accountable for NT script kiddies.

[heliumbreath.livejournal.com]

One person's sensible group is another's bunch of nutters, and vice versa. I'm sure the NT professionals pull their hair out over the the Unix oldtimers too, but I'd still rather wear a beard than a tie.

On the church front, ours (http://www.holycrosslutheran.ca/Main.htm) is holding an ordination extra ordinem this Friday and causing some waves, and there will likely be repercussions (some of the rest of the denomination not being quite as ready for someone to go from the closet to the pulpit, and there being Rules against that sort of thing), but we think we're doing a good thing and being more inclusive. And I honestly think erring on the side of love is a better thing, and that being judgemental is fraught with danger to one's own soul.

[reddragdiva]

"And I honestly think erring on the side of love is a better thing, and that being judgemental is fraught with danger to one's own soul."

Well, yes. I'd call that a rule for living. And people using religion as an excuse to act like arseholes is annoying at very best.