Is it surprising? Most Americans believe in God according to this survey:
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/cwn/091506survey.aspx
But why do so many think God is "authoratarian" but not "forgiving"? Obviously there are more out there who believe in the God of the Old Testament who sets down Law, yet do not believe God's promise of sending a Messiah (Jesus) to free us from the heavy burden of keeping the Law perfectly (Gospel--New Testament).
We can't have one without the other... Without the Gospel, all you have is an authoratarian God you fear about crossing the wrong way. That's essentially Islamic philosophy for you. You'd better watch your step or do something really spectacular (crash a plane into a building and take out lots of "infidels") or else you don't have certainty that you'll get into heaven.
But without the Law, you find yourself mixed up in all kinds of things that aren't good for you--stealing, lying, cheating, killing. God forgives, but He loves us too much to simply "walk away from His Creation" (which a good percentage of Americans believe he did) and leave us to rot in our own sorry sinful condition.
God loves us enough to give us the Law for guidance, and He loves us enough to give the Gospel of Jesus declaring His forgiveness when we can't quite keep the Law as we should. It's a win-win situation all around!
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Friday, September 15, 2006
The Pope can't quote others on the topic of Islam?
Muslims express fury over Pope's remarks:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060915/ap_on_re_mi_ea/pope_muslims
Freedom of speech is obviously not a guarantee in the Muslim world. Pope Benedict simply quoted a Byzantine emperor who held a discussion with a Persian scholar during the 14th century over the differences between Christianity and Islam.
The quote essentially says that Islam spread primarily through the use of the sword more than anything else. And who can really argue with that? Show me that the same isn't true today--in predominately Muslim countries if you convert to Christianity (or any other religion or no religion at all) you are threatened with severe ostracism and even death. Why should 21st century Muslims get all bent over shape that these same actions were observed in the 14th century as well?
Perhaps Pope Benedict should have erred on the side of caution and simply said, "By their fruit ye shall know them..."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060915/ap_on_re_mi_ea/pope_muslims
Freedom of speech is obviously not a guarantee in the Muslim world. Pope Benedict simply quoted a Byzantine emperor who held a discussion with a Persian scholar during the 14th century over the differences between Christianity and Islam.
The quote essentially says that Islam spread primarily through the use of the sword more than anything else. And who can really argue with that? Show me that the same isn't true today--in predominately Muslim countries if you convert to Christianity (or any other religion or no religion at all) you are threatened with severe ostracism and even death. Why should 21st century Muslims get all bent over shape that these same actions were observed in the 14th century as well?
Perhaps Pope Benedict should have erred on the side of caution and simply said, "By their fruit ye shall know them..."
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