tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422857.post116096595587106401..comments2023-10-05T08:25:13.232-04:00Comments on Biblical Evidence for Catholicism: Critique of John W. Loftus' "Deconversion" Story From Church of Christ Pastor to AtheistDave Armstronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07771661758539438173noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422857.post-61193619286779837522010-12-23T08:33:53.527-05:002010-12-23T08:33:53.527-05:00I think that what alienated Loftus was, in part, h...I think that what alienated Loftus was, in part, his beliefs in many unscientific dribble that dwells in the (fundamentalist) evangelical community. It’s not surprising. If I believed in a 6000 yrs old earth or that Genesis 1-3 is to be taken literally as a history book… then I’d also fall flat on my face.<br /><br />If you think Christianity is about young-earth creationism then it's logical that when you are confronted with the evidence you are put off. <br />I think many Christians (even Catholics at time) think that the bible is a science book, or that we have all the answers now. This is however not true and many great catholic thinkers (Aquinas, Augustine and several Church Fathers understood this as well). <br /><br />I, for example, I accept the theory of evolution. Sure it raises questions on how we must understand Genesis 1-3… but it does not touch the fact that man was created by God (although this ‘creation’ is not the same as intended by hard creationists…)<br /> <br />Of course there are questions and there are doubts and a person should always strive to find the truth with humility. It's not an easy feat, mind you, and sometimes you just have to admit that there is no certainty. We can doubt anything, after all, even our perception and the reality we live in, but in the end we must accept something with some degree of faith (e.g. the world we see is real).<br /><br />Sure I know that there are questions about the gospel and Jesus, etc… and I have read scholarly discussion who focus on both sides (for and against the Christian case) and although I understand certainty might never exist, I think that Christianity is true and it makes a good case even from the rational point of view. (For example Bart Ehrman: in his books he cites several problems known to scholars for many decennia, and although what he says is mostly true, the conclusion he reaches is quite irrational… but then Ehrman also viewed the bible in a fundamentalist evangelical context before is deconversion… and that can be a put off). Of course many might disagree with me…but then I disagree with them too :P<br /><br />---<br /><br />Regarding tragedy and having a crisis… well that’s common. Even Bl. Mother Theresa and St. John of the Cross speak about the ‘dark night of the soul’ and many other great saints and thinkers had to face hardships, problems, doubts, pain, etc…<br /><br />I know many people who find faith through crisis or that their faith is renewed. Many things in life depend on your disposition… Someone facing a tragedy kills himself… another one learns from the experience.<br /><br />Besides I doubt Loftus faced the same hardships as Edith Stein or Maximilian Kolbe…<br /><br />---<br /><br />Regarding lack of love among Christians: I have found all sorts of people. <br /><br />I found nice people and bad people in my Catholic community. That’s how people is… Christ died for all, but not everyone wants to accept Christ in their hearts.<br /><br />By Analogy, I have met many medical doctors that smokes or lived quite unhealthy lives. That did not make me question medical science, however. They knew that smoking was bad but they did not care.<br /><br />So Christians as well: they know (hopefully) that they are not supposed to behave like that, but they do that anyway. What can you do? :P<br /><br />---<br /><br />In the end… reading Loftus material had the opposite effect on me than what he probably he’d have hoped for: both my faith and understanding of Christianity have grown.<br /><br />I guess his ‘poison’ (as he himself refers to) did not kill me but built an immunity in me LOLPaper Baghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05118747216132040457noreply@blogger.com