After a spate of atheist-authored books decrying religion, along comes the contrarian An Atheist Defends Religion: Why Humanity Is Better Off with Religion than Without It. Atheist author Bruce Sheiman reminds us of what many sociologists of religion have been proving for some years: that religion helps people live happier and healthier lives by giving them meaning and purpose; and it benefits society enormously, by establishing food closets and hospitals and rescue missions and what not. As the subtitle says, all told, humanity is better off as a result of religion.
At the link below, you will find the entire article, but I wanted to just point out that I know this priest – and he is still an activist. We have plenty in West Virginia. I have only heard stories about this moment in history, some from a few of those union coal miners who supported the teachers.
The Rev. Jim Lewis was a young Episcopal priest with four children in public schools in 1974. After he spoke out in favor of the new textbooks, he became seen as a clerical counterpoint to the protesters. For a while, he and his family had round-the-clock police protection because of death threats he’d received.
I want to thank Intervaristy Press for this review copy. In the course of my studies, due to a long time commentator, on the history of doctrinal development, I have become interested in the Church Fathers. While I may not always agree with everything found in them, they serve as a vital link from our time to the Apostles. (Not to say that everyone followed the Apostles) It is important to constantly test your doctrine against that of history. With the multitude of new doctrines being formed, and ancient heresies resurrected, we should look to the past before going forward with any new idea, or revelation, which we might have.
I was out all day, working, and didn’t get to read my daily dose of blogs – so, I thought that I might read a few now and share some with you. By the way, I am now collecting a retirement fund so that I can sit and read blogs all day long. Please feel free to donate.
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Dr. West tells us of Bart Ehrman’s latest interview. Personally, I will Bart would should go away. We all know how he feels about the bible anyway.
Fresh Air from WHYY, · Bible scholar Bart Ehrman says that the Gospels are at odds with each other on important points regarding the life, death and divinity of Jesus. In his new book, Jesus, Interrupted: Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible (And Why We Don’t Know About Them) Ehrman examines how these contradictions affect our understanding of the historical Jesus — and of the authors of the Gospels.
Ehrman is a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the author of more than a dozen books, including Misquoting Jesus and God’s Problem.
Stefan (Esteban Vázquez) is giving away a book – and like all books, I simply have to have it.
As I noted above, engaging in the task of historical reconstruction is both necessary and unavoidable, and we would all do well to acquire such bibliographical resources as would set our investigation on firmer footing. On the subject of the Pharisees and other Jewish sects in the First Century, one would be hard pressed to find a better and more comprehensive study than the late Anthony J. Saldarini’s Pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees in Palestinian Society (1988; reprint, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001). Quite fortunately you, my gentle snowflakes, as I searched my library for books touching on this important subject, I discovered that I have not one, but two copies of this important work. I have therefore decided to bestow the additional copy upon one of you in the first (and probably the only) ever Week of the Publican and the Pharisee Giveaway at The Voice of Stefan! Following Nick Norelli’s sage advice, I only ask you to sign up for the giveaway in the comment section of this post, and perhaps to advertise the giveaway on your own blog, should you have one. [UPDATE: If you choose to announce the giveaway on your own blog, I will enter you name twice into the contest.] I will draw a winner next Friday, February 13 (N. S.), 2009, and send out the undoubtedly coveted prize to the winner’s regular US address shortly thereafter. (With profuse apologies to readers outside the US, I am presently unable to ship internationally.) Best wishes to any and all who choose to participate!
I suddenly became immeasurably older on Friday. For this reason, my wife allowed to pick out a book. Granted, it usually works like this, regardless of holiday. I want nothing but books, you understannd, and although I am have a large wishlist at Amazon, I still have a few favorites that I really want. The one that I picked up was The Apostolic Fathers. I really do not have time to read much, but I find that the resource books, such as this one, are a huge help when studying. Granted, there are a few books that I would like to get to just read, such as this one. I will wait on that one for a little bit, however. I recently came across this and I am thinking about getting it, for the notes alone. We will see though.
Otherwise, it was as mundane as a birthday that I could hope for. Frankly, I just do not celebrate birthdays would rather no one feted me. And they didn’t this year! Good for me. I am a cranky, boring individual. I have come to accept this, and I believe that I dear wife has as well. My children, not so much.
As usual on Sunday morning, we are all getting ready for Church service. Feel free to join us, if you have no where else to attend this morning. As a reminder, we are going to start a season of tent revivals in May, with the first in Ohley, West Virginia. I hope to see you at one of them. If you are able to come to one, let me know.
I was reviewing some of the search engine terms that have brought people to this blog. I found some interesting ones,
the church of jesus christ wordpress
the church of jesus christ sermon
catholic prophesy
what funny things to do in a mormon church
First, to those that know this blog by name, thank you for still coming here. Second, how did I get a ‘Catholic Prophesy’? Finally, don’t go to a Mormon Church, stay away and don’t worry about doing funny things there.
It seems that ‘Sid Roth’ and ‘Obama Bible Codes’ are the ones that continue to bring the most traffic here. That’s fine I guess. I would rather something like the first two.
This morning, like other morning, we will gather to read our Scriptures, sing the songs of praise, hear a word from God, and commit ourselves to a better lifestyle in accordance to that word. Further, it is a good possibility that many of us will sit in the pews and comment on the hypocrites around us, feel somewhat self-righteous, believing that the word preached skipped right over us to hit the person behind us. We might find plenty of time to balance the checkbook, play with the children, or read a magazine, but find trouble in keeping up with the sermon. Further, some of us might find it a chore to be there, finding that the pleasure of someone else is the real reason we are there. We might go through the (e)motions of being in service to the King, but in the end, are the among the first to hit the doors, all the while knowing how much we do not want to be there.
Well, as for me, the only one that I can control, I am going to look towards Jesus Christ, to seek the face of God. I don’t care about what is not right, or what someone is doing wrong – unless it is doctrine, or related to the congregation as a whole – and frankly, I am there for no one else, but to save my own soul and to be a light to those around me.
I hope that you all join me in the same fellowship.
I was on my way to a conference this week, and I flipped to te Gospel station on my Sirius XM. This song was one it, and well, it got me to thinking about the Prodigal’s Father, and indeed about God, when a child is gone into the world.
The Prodigal Son is my favorite parable, finding more in it every time I read. One thing that I noticed is that the Father did not treat the sons differently, nor beg the young son to stay, nor even change the condition of the house for the young son to desire his Father more than the world. The Father loved the son, that is evident in the humiliation of the Father’s marathon when He saw the son; however, the love of the Father for the older son would not allow Him to change for the younger son.
Anyway, below is a particular favorite of mine, namely because I go to a little mountain church house.
Disclaimer: My lawyer tells me I should point out that if anyone is offended by the little asides and sometimes snarky comments interspersed below, that I should apologize. I don’t really want to, but he tells me I should. But I don’t
The good Dr. West gets to the good stuff…although the latest number 12 on the Top 50 Biblioblogs was somehow excluded….
I suddenly became immeasurably older on Friday. For this reason, my wife allowed to pick out a book. Granted, it usually works like this, regardless of holiday. I want nothing but books, you understannd, and although 
