RIP Christopher Hitchens: Abortion survivor, post-abortive father, cognitive pro-lifer
I say, “RIP,” sadly thinking Christopher Hitchens is not.
The renowned liberal author and journalist died yesterday at the age of 62 following a short battle against esophageal cancer, since summer 2010.
Hitchens spent his latter years evangelizing atheism. So he wanted it known he would not convert to Christianity at the end, and if he did, he really didn’t. From Causa Celsum:
Hitchens suspected there would be rumors of a deathbed conversion – but even more he feared that he might actually call out to God. Speaking perhaps truer than he knew, he sought to give a preemptive strike against such a possibility, explaining that would not be the real Christopher Hitchens doing such a thing:
Even if my voice goes before I do, I shall continue to write polemics against religious delusions, at least until it’s hello darkness my old friend. In which case, why not cancer of the brain? As a terrified, half-aware imbecile, I might even scream for a priest at the close of business, though I hereby state while I am still lucid that the entity thus humiliating itself would not in fact be “me.” (Bear this in mind, in case of any later rumors or fabrications.)
But hope springs eternal. Wrote Denny Burk, associate professor of biblical studies at Boyce College:
I would like to think that perhaps his skepticism didn’t win out in the end. I would like to think that the gospel he heard from Wilson and others might have broken through just in time as it did for the thief on the cross. Stranger things have happened, and the Lord’s arm indeed is not too short to save even in such a moment.
With such a bio, one might assume Hitchens was pro-abortion. While it is difficult to exactly explain his position, he was not that, in small or large part due to his history, as he explained in his Vanity Fair column in 2003:
I was in my early teens when my mother told me that a predecessor fetus and a successor fetus had been surgically removed, thus making me an older brother rather than a forgotten whoosh….
And I’ve since become the father of several fetuses, three of which, or perhaps I had better say three of whom, became reasonably delightful children. There was a time, it seemed, when I couldn’t sneeze on a woman without becoming a potential father….
[A]t least once I found myself in a clinic while “products of conception” were efficiently vacuumed away. I can distinctly remember thinking, on the last such occasion, that under no persuasion of any kind would I ever allow myself to be present at such a moment again.
The lucky abortion survivor must at times have asked, “Why me?” and other times, “Why not me?” And Hitchens clearly felt bad about killing two of his own children.
These experiences gave him pause to reconsider the gravity of abortion, writing:
In the brisk paragraphs above, you will note that I have semiconsciously employed the terms “birthplace,” “grave,” and “conceivable.” This idiom of this argument is basic and elemental. It’s about the essentials. Thus, the justification proposed by the “right” for its intrusiveness is that the fetus is also an autonomous individual, and that society cannot decently permit one body (or soul) to be owned or disposed of by another….
There was a time when the feminist movement replied to this with militant indignation. What “individual”? What “person”? The most famous title of the period – Our Bodies, Ourselves – captures the tone to perfection. If we need to remove an appendix or a tumor from our own personal spaces, then it’s nobody else’s g**d*** business. I used to cringe when I heard this, not so much because in the moral sense fetuses aren’t to be compared to appendixes, let alone tumors, but because it is obvious nonsense from the biological and embryological points of view. Babies come from where they come from.
The diagram of a vacuum-suction abortion in Our Bodies, Ourselves gave the female anatomy in some detail but showed only a void inside the uterus. This perhaps unintended concession to queasiness has since become more noticeable as a consequence of advances in embryology, and by the simple experience of the enhanced sonogram. Women who have gazed at the early heartbeat inside themselves now have some difficulty, shall we say, in ranking the experience with the planned excision of a polyp….
That the most partially formed human embryo is both human and alive has now been confirmed, in an especially vivid sense, by the new debate over stem-cell research and the bioethics of cloning. If an ailing or elderly person can be granted a new lease on life by a transfusion of this cellular material, then it is obviously not random organic matter. The original embryonic “blastocyst” may be a clump of 64 to 200 cells that is only five days old. But all of us began our important careers in that form, and every needful encoding for life is already present in the apparently inchoate. We are the first generation to have to confront this as a certain knowledge.
As an atheist who put his entire stock in science, and who tried to be honest about it, Hitchens acknowledged the “biological and embryological points of view” that the product of sperm-meets-egg is human. But his countering belief that there is no truth caused Hitchens to lapse into moral relativism. From Newsweek, 2008:
At the same time, [Hitchens] adds, “I don’t think a woman should be forced to choose, or even can be.” Hitchens does not recommend the overturning of Roe v. Wade. What he wants is for both moral callousness and religion to be excised from the abortion debate and for science to come up with solutions to unwanted pregnancies, like the abortifacient mifepristone (RU-486), “that will make abortion more like a contraceptive procedure than a surgical one. That’s the Hitchens plank, and I think it’s a defensible one.”
No, it’s not. It’s illogical, which Hitchens would not want to hear.
I wonder if Hitchens got to meet his siblings or his children.

I hope so.
So sad. I wonder if he did cry out to God in his last moments? Its not for us to say. Only God knows. But I really hope he did. If he did he is enjoying a beautiful reunion with his children and siblings.
I’m so thankful you posted this. As a pro-life Atheist who is saddened to hear of Hitchens’ untimely death, this article could do so much to mend the gap between pro-life Christians and pro-life members of other beliefs. Please don’t look at Atheists as immoral citizens. Rather, look at us as people who want good in the world just like Christians. Some of us, like Hitchens, realize the horrors of abortion, but we need the acceptance and encouragement of ALL pro-life Christians to help us speak out.
Very interesting guy, fascinating speaker.
Interesting. I am glad he was pro life of course, atheist or not, it just is plain common sense in my book. I am a neonatal ICU nurse and I can (and have) argue the evils of abortion and the fact that it is murder on a strictly scientific basis without needing to bring religion into it at all. I have had to do this many times, because with so many, if you bring religion into it, they automatically tune out and turn their ears and minds off. However I have no problem doing this. I do have to wonder however, being an abortion survivor, exactly who he credits that miracle to?
My only explanation for atheists who rail out against God, or Christianity, is that it’s not that they don’t believe (as they claim), but they are either afraid, or, more likely, angry at God. It’s rather like when a child, or even an adult is twisted in anger, holding a grudge, and they rage against the person they are angry with. If these atheists didn’t really believe, they simply wouldn’t care. They wouldn’t seek to ‘destroy’ our faith, the way Dawkins claims to wish to.
I can’t claim to speak to what was or wasn’t in Hitchens mind at the end. I do know I prayed for him. I choose to believe if Hitchens did cry out at the end, it was because he had made peace with the Lord, and had returned to him. God doesn’t hold grudges, he never stopped loving Christopher Hitchens, just as he never stops loving us.
May God douse the flame of his sinfulness in the ocean of His mercy. There is always hope for anyone and everyone.
Patrick, I can only speak for myself, but I happily accept all pro-lifers regardless of their reasons. Secular and atheist pro-lifers are particularly essential. The pro-aborts love to lie and say we are a bunch of psycho fundamentalists who want to run the world like something out of the Handmaid’s Tale. Secular/atheist pro-lifers prove that the pro-life movement is not about forcing “theocracy” on anyone. It’s about the scientific fact that abortion is the murder of a human being.
Whatever else Hitch was, he was fundamentally a man of conscience and courage. Who knows what his heart may have been opened to in his last moments? No man can place limits on God, for He is merciful and strong to save.
Rosie, I’m thinking the life-span on your posts may be limited.
I liked Hitch, great writer. I think it’s in poor taste to speculate about his last moments though.
Thank you for doing this, Jill!
However, I think anything Newsweak says should be taken with a grain of salt.
I’m more inclined to listen to clips I’ve found of him on YouTube talking about the humanity of the unborn and the fact he had direct involvement in the Pro-Life movement than an agenda-driven rag like that.
So can we honestly say Hitchens was pro life? He supported chemical abortions?
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Hitchens about 7 years ago. He was speaking at the university where I work, and I bought a copy of his book, something about letters to a young contrarian, to give to my brother who was currently serving in Afghanistan. He was so nice and especially wanted to inscribe it for my brother becasue he had a real heart for the military and its servants. He wrote “To Chris, who is out there for all of us.” So sweet.
I pray he is at peace.
Very sad news. Hail and farewell, Christopher.
So,
The point of this piece (judging by the tone, and focus on his last moments) is “Gee thanks for being pro-life, but I hope you found God or you’re still going to hell”.
Hitchens is indeed resting in peace. Perfectly content to be a part of the death and rebirth cycle of nature. (Well that is, if they didn’t pump him full of preserving embalming fluid and a biodegradable casket). So what if he’s an atheist. Leave him be, no need to be all back handed thanks, but only if you converted about it.
I’m a bit tired of all the gushing over this man, particularly on Catholic blogs. He spent his life mocking the faithful, demonizing the Church and religion in general, and leading countless souls into error.
I don’t hope that he is in hell but I have little doubt that he is, with the rest of the unrepentant mortal sinners. Despite the pablum we’ve all been fed since the sixties and are still being fed by the Father Baron’s of the world (we can hope hell is empty), there is a hell and it’s not populated simply by the fallen angels waiting around for their first soul to show up.
I will say a prayer for this life long enemy of God Almighty, knowing that it won’t be wasted one way or the other. But I will pray more fervently for my brothers and sisters still here on earth who have been misled by the life’s work of Mr. Hitchens, but for whom there is still time to repent and convert. For Catholics to non-stop wax hopeful about this man’s salvation as if it’s a foregone conclusion might be in line with the wishy washy teaching of the post conciliar Church, but all it does is encourage those following in his footsteps. Making our brothers and sisters feel comfortable in their error is not what we are supposed to be doing and we will have to answer for that.
Lastly, I note that a Prince of the Church, John Cardinal Foley, died last week after almost 50 years serving God and his people in the Catholic priesthood. Where are the Catholic blogs who are spending any time on this man and his life, with comment boxes full of well wishes and prayers that his time in purgatory be brief? Pray for Cardinal Foley.
You have my most sincere apology that all pro-lifers are not religious. Riiiight.
Xalisae,
For once, I agree with you. 12/17/12 2:42 comment.
Duck! Just think of all the neat things you and Hitchens will have to talk about!
Coo. So to speak.
And the drivel to continue to ‘speculate’ and ‘re-evaluate’ one man’s life…
You know, Christopher Hitchens defeated the Kaiser, after all..
Courtnay,
What?
Jack Borsch….”poor taste…”? Really? The man speculated on it himself, in a very public (in your face) way. How can continuing what he himself started be in poor taste, especially when most of the speculation is hoping that he met a Savior and is spared from an eternity seperated from God?
Patrick Ptomey…Pro-life folks are happy to have anyone be pro-life. Of course I must wonder why an avowed atheist would want “good” in the world, and where his definition of good comes from. Christians realize that there is no good in themselves (which is why we need a Savior), nor is there good in anyone (only God Himself is good…which is what, of course, makes Jesus the Christ God…for He was indeed good). Atheists are indeed as “good” as anyone else, which is no consolation as none are good. So, you desire good and are pro-life because it’s good, but why? If there is no God, there is nothing more than this life, so nothing has meaning, but only matter. Matter cannot be good or bad. So why proclaim your own goodness? I’m just wondering.
Jill Stanek…great post, thank you.
Just because there is nothing more than this life doesn’t mean this life is without meaning. Individuals are perfectly capable of assigning their own lives meaning. Objective good exists, and one need not subscribe to religion to have access to it. “The Golden Rule” isn’t just a biblical thing. You’ll see it repeated often the world over. Pro-Life falls under that jurisdiction, wouldn’t you say?
The high horse gets pretty old. After this many years, I honestly thought I had made some progress. *sigh*
I know Hitchens is no longer an atheist today, and hope he did reach out to his Creator at the last minute.
lukuj,
If you want to be really technical, and really literal, he’s no longer an atheist because he’s dead and no longer sentient. But it’s not cause he suddenly found god.
Not sure I agree with every view of his but not many people have the guts to even be associated with a book like that. I can completely respect that. RIP man
oh holy night…I just upvoted a Duck comment. must…resist…urge…to…cut off…clicking…finger….
Xalisae,
It’s ok. I won’t hold it against you. :)
Yes, Geoff, in poor taste. If a Christian public figure died, and an atheist blogger talked about how she hoped that the Christian had turned away from God in his last moments, I would find that in poor taste as well. And I am sure that most Christians would complain about it as well.
^what Jack said
The anti-abortion community always is upset that those of us who were adopted don’t uniformly share their views. I’ve never seen any data that being adopted has any bearing on one’s attitude toward abortion.
Perhaps a reason for this is that being adopted may cause a greater appreciation of the many vagaries and accidents that went into one’s ever being born. The circumstances that led to the mating of a couple not ready to raise a child typically include adultery, sex at tender years, poverty, alcohol abuse, bad judgment, and desperation, and sometimes include rape. A couple of those appear in my own biological history. I’m glad for all of the events and accidents that led to me being here! But that doesn’t make me leap to recommend them all as practice. Had my own biological parents followed the usual moral norms, I would not have been born. The same result as if had my biological mother later had chosen to abort.
Contrary to Jack Borsch, I think the religious should think on Hitch’s last moments. All evidence is he died a non-believer. Shouldn’t Christians praise their god, for what he then intends for Hitch’s soul? If that causes them some moral qualm or hesitation, what does that say about the god they worship?
Had my own biological parents followed the usual moral norms, I would not have been born. The same result as if had my biological mother later had chosen to abort.
There’s a difference. In the first scenario, you not only would never have been born, you would never have been conceived. You would not have existed at all. In the second scenario, you would’ve most certainly been born, only, you would’ve been born dead. You would’ve existed, and had been killed. 1.) you never would’ve had a life, 2.) your life would’ve been taken from you.
To me, there is a difference, and it is profound.
@Russell: Shouldn’t Christians praise their god, for what he then intends for Hitch’s soul? If that causes them some moral qualm or hesitation, what does that say about the god they worship?
I do praise God for His justice and righteousness. But what you’re suggesting is that I should be happy someone may have (probably did) die and not go to Heaven, which is unthinkable. I’m sad even when Christians die, whose fate after death I look forward to, and that’s not wrong or illogical. It is perfectly reasonable to miss someone who is dead. Therefore, it is much more reasonable to feel sorrow for someone who died and whose fate after death I did not wish for and very much want everyone to avoid. I want everyone to be coming with me. My sadness over the fact that this is not the case is not a moral reaction but an emotional one.
I’m not going to speculate on Hitchens’ last moments for a number of reasons. Nor do I doubt God’s goodness, justice, or righteousness. But I’m not going to celebrate someone going to Hell, hypothetically, speculatively, or otherwise.
Alice, thank you for your response.
Alice writes: “But I’m not going to celebrate someone going to Hell, hypothetically, speculatively, or otherwise.”
Why not? Don’t you believe that that is a perfect scheme? I’ve never quite understood how a Christian expects to sing his god’s praise, for all eternity, while that god keeps loved ones in hell for eternity. Just as I’ve never quite understood how anyone could think Abraham was anything other than deplorable, after the story of his willingness to sacrifice Isaac. Hitchens had some choice words on that.
But Christians should think all that is wonderful.
Wishing for a man as great as Hitchens to have renounced everything he believed in seconds before his death bears company with some of the most disgusting thoughts I believe a person can have and contributes to proving some of his life’s work.
Geoff, great post. Jack and X, how is it a high horse to point to a Savior and say that no one is good (not even me or Geoff0? How is it in poor taste to hope this man has eternal peace with God? Don’t understand you guys.
If you don’t believe in God, well then fine. Who cares if we post that we hope Hitchens is in heaven? I don’t speculate where he is or isn’t. I’m not God. I don’t know what was in his heart, but to hope he is in heaven offends you so mightily yet you apparently don’t believe in heaven/hell/God yourselves? Why the sensitivity then?
I will never be ashamed no matter how many people bash it. There is none righteous, no not one and every single soul is in need of a Savior. That Savior is Jesus Christ who shed His own blood to be a ransom for many. Accept it or reject it but I will not be silent about it.
Sydney, I was not responding to those who genuinely wish him well in whatever the afterlife brings. It’s more geared toward those who rather gleefully speculate on where he is now, or the barely veiled insults to the non-faithful in the OP. “You would think he would be pro-abortion”, well no, I wouldn’t, because I attempt to not make assumptions about what people believe based on their religion. Maybe if you have been told that you are going to hell, or that you are immoral based on your religion, more times than you can count, you would understand why it gets old. Plus, like I said, would you find it offensive if someone did the same to a prominent Christian? Methinks you would.
Not I nor X told you or anyone else that they should be quiet about their faith. I will, however, always say something when people are rude or cruel.
^What Jack said Part Deux
And also, I think the “high horse” comment more refers to the assumption that Christians are automatically better people and that atheists are by definition amoral cretins… lol.
I think it’s disrespectful, is all. I also sneer at atheists who say crap like, “Boy, they’re gonna be disappointed!” when a Christian dies and one of their fellows eulogizes with a postulation that they are in Heaven, or “a better place”.
You wrote that “his countering belief that there is no truth caused Hitchens to lapse into moral relativism.”
Another blog obit says the opposite: “What nuance could one bring to such a horror [the bombings in Bali in 2002] that doesn’t tip over into moral relativism, a sin the Hitch was never, ever guilty of?”
http://dailymaverick.co.za/article/2011-12-16-rip-christopher-hitchens-1949-2011
I did not know about his post-abortive background. I only read his bio yesterday as being an aetheist and thought, “how sad.” Thanks for providing more background.
God sends no one to Hell. At the hour of our death, at our last breath or even after our last breath, we are given one last chance to say yes or no to God. He never takes away our free will even to the end of our life. Once we make that irrevocable choice, free will and our mission on earth is over. Hopefully, through the years, enough holy souls on earth helped give Hitchen enough prayers for him to humble himself and say yes to the mercy of God.
Once again:
I think it’s disrespectful, is all. I also sneer at atheists who say crap like, “Boy, they’re gonna be disappointed!” when a Christian dies and one of their fellows eulogizes with a postulation that they are in Heaven, or “a better place”.
RESPECT. Respect for human beings. Respect for human beings in the womb. Respect for human beings after they’re dead. Let’s try and have it!
Once again:
(borrowing your idea X)
It’s a bit like a back handed slap in the face to someone who supported your cause. “Hey gee thanks for supporting us, but you’re still going to hell.”
Why can’t you just leave him be? If an atheist or anyone for that matter said something about a prominent christian dying and saying “They’re going to be so disapointed when they find out heaven isn’t real”. You all would be screaming your heads off at the injustice.
LEAVE HIM BE.
Did Hitchens search for truth? Did he try and bring love into the world according to his capacity to love? Only God knows the answer. That’s why the Catholic belief in purgatory makes so much sense to me – a place of recovery, healing and preparation for heaven.
I see it as a sign of God’s understanding and generosity. He knows our human weaknesses and all the influences we have had so if we need some time of purification in purgatory I believe God will enlighten us in a compassionate way. I think it is a place of great learning and personal growth.
Hell is different – it’s where you freely choose to reject goodness and prefer to hate. Because God doesn’t impose his will on us, people can’t be forced to choose goodness. However, genuine choice requires knowledge and capacity.
As for Hitchens, who knows. If he is in Hell he has chosen to be there. If he is in purgatory he will be receiving the medicine he needs and if he is in heaven …say no more!
*facepalm* peeps really can’t help themselves… Looks like I’ll just have to keep this thread in mind the next time a Christian goes nuts about a Christian leader passing and being ridiculed for their “fantasies”.
If Christopher Hitchens did not come to Christ he is in hell.
If he did he is in heaven.
It is as simple and profound as that.
Thanks for trying to babysit us, duck. Too bad that we, as adults are entitled to share our thoughts.
theresa,
I am not Catholic.
Although purgatory sounds nice and makes sense to you please show me scripture from God’s word that supports the doctrine of purgatory.
Duck-
Just do what I do all these years:
sneer at both camps.
You can still come over here and be prolife if you want. Christopher Hitchens was.
Sad as it is that his death was somewhat premature, he’s dead.
Most of us would have agreed with some of his positions and disagreed with others, but he’s dead.
He now only exists in what he has left behind in our memories of him and the books, videos etc. etc. that he created.
Some of you will believe that he is either in heaven or hell. He’s not. He’s dead. But that won’t stop you believing and you are, of course, free to do so.
Russell sez:
“Shouldn’t Christians praise their god, for what he then intends for Hitch’s soul? If that causes them some moral qualm or hesitation, what does that say about the god they worship?”
I don’t feel like praising God for sending someone to hell. This guy chose to go there. Without free will, there cannot be love. It is easy to “love” someone or something that does good by you.
Try loving your enemy.
For there to be love, there has to be free will where we can choose to love or not love. For there to be free will to do good or bad, there has to be free will to do good or bad.
God sets us in a world where the opportunity is there for us: figure things out with your mind and your heart. It is all up to you, your free will. Either position makes sense. If it were a no-brainer, then we would not be free to go ahead and choose to follow what our Father wants us to do, out of his love for us, as independent beings.
This guy fully knew the deal: God says the road is narrow, and this guy knew it. This guy was aware of the story of Jesus, his redeemer.
this guy got what he wanted. God made a world where he will allow you to go ahead and give you an altenative other than living with Him forever.
You choose to go to hell, you got it.
That is what we all deserve anyway. just for the way I conducted myself today, which by most measures would be recognized as a decent day for a human, I know I was far from perfect, and deserve death.
Fro mGod, you either get justice or mercy. This guy got one or the other. You do not get injustice from God.
For atheists to make these declarations about how capricious, or petty, etc., God is just shows their ignorance of Jewish/Christian theology, or indicates that they ARE aware of this theology, but choose to ignore and distort it in a desperate play to be equal to God.
We are not eqaul to God. I am thankful that I figured this out before esophageal cancer, a city bus, or whatever, brings me to the end of this mortal life. Sure, I have foolish pride, but not so much to choose to not be with God forever.
If you are an atheist reading this, try to be an honest investogator and evaluator of Christianity, and figure out what this theology is. we are not the brain-dead fools like your friends and heroes try to say. You are not being a hero, or being wise. You are playing a game of pride.
“For atheists to make these declarations about how capricious, or petty, etc., God is just shows their ignorance of Jewish/Christian theology, or indicates that they ARE aware of this theology, but choose to ignore and distort it in a desperate play to be equal to God.” – all of this is a little difficult for atheists to achieve since we do not believe in the existence of any god. It is what theists claim for god that we attribute these things to.
We are not playing a game of pride, we are living truth.
And what is it that you lack within yourself ‘thelastdemocrat’ which causes you to justify a need for god?
Watching you few talk about the abrahamic god as some all loving entity, freely offering some pleasent gift is as if I’m watching a Catholic talk about how pro-choice s/he is. Sure, you can claim anything you want, but it doesn’t fit the label, so why use it.
Xalisae,
Are you sneering at me?
Cause I am smiling at you. Smiling’s my favorite.
Reality,
I am assuming that you have studied for yourself the claims of Christ and devoured thousands of theology books to come to the conclusion that you must reject God and what He has done for you. Otherwise how could you come to such a conclusion?
I ask you to consider The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel.
An atheist who set out to discredit Jesus and studied everything he could get his hands on. He could not deny Him at the end and became a believer.
God will give you want you want in this life and the next. You do not want Him in this life? You will not have Him for eternity. That, my friend, is hell.
Aw, xalisae, I don’t sneer at anybody – but I don’t join ’em, either. ;)
I was extremely religious when I was an adolescent – which baffled my parents, as they had not raised us to be religious. I would spend Saturday nights with my best friend’s family and we would go to church together, as my family didn’t go.
When I was about 14, a [different] friend’s mother died unexpectedly – she was very healthy and the doctors never figured out what went wrong. My friend, at 14 years old, was traveling home with her parents on the bus when her mother just went into convulsions. My friend and her dad screamed for the driver to pull over at a pay phone (this being the archaic days pre-cell phone) and they called 911, then waited anxiously on that corner trying to keep their wife, their mother off the ground and breathing, but she was dead by the time the ambulance arrived.
I was devastated and terrified. The woman was more health-conscious than most people, and in her mid-30’s. She ate healthily and walked – rarely did strenuous exercise but was always very active. The autopsy revealed nothing. She just, apparently, dropped dead for no reason.
I went to church that week and mentioned it to my youth pastor. He brought it up in front of the congregation later that day and asked everyone to pray that my friend’s mother – a devout Jew – had turned to Christ in her final moments. That she, essentially, turned away from everything she had taught her daughter, the religion in which she married her husband, in those last moments as they stood next to her crying and trying to keep her tongue out of her throat.
I felt so violated in a way I could not possibly articulate at 14. I felt violated that all these people who had never known what a wonderful and compassionate person she was were praying to change one of the core things about her, the thing to which she attributed so many of her good qualities. For the first time in my life I remember thinking, “What do you know, anyway?” as the minister spoke of heaven and hell. Not in a snotty way, but just – what DID he know? What does anyone know? I know that my friend’s mother was a wonderful person, and that she died too soon. Everything else is up to whatever god is out there, but that day, I gave up trying to find it in a church. Not consciously – I kept going for a while – but it was the beginning of the end.
Lee Strobel, the man who was ignorant of the arguments for/against faith until he thoroughly researched only one side and then agreed with it.
Strobel is appealing, I think, because he gives a veneer of respectability, scholarship, and reasonableness to completely unreasonable religious beliefs. Strobel makes it easier to rationalize the irrational and gives believers hope that it may be possible to justify their religion on the basis of solid arguments, evidence, and reasoning. This is ultimately why any apologists are popular, but Lee Strobel is a good and engaging writer so he’s risen to the top in a crowd not know for it’s quality scholarship.
If Strobel’s book had been promoted only as an apologetic, I would have no objection. But Strobel’s book was promoted as more than just another Christian apologetics book; it was promoted as the result of an investigation into Christianity by an investigative reporter. Yet Strobel did not interview any critics of Evangelical apologetics. He sometimes refutes at great length objections not made by the critics (e.g., the claim that Jesus was mentally insane); more often, he doesn’t address objections the critics do make (e.g., the unreliability of human memory, that non-Christian historians do not provide any independent confirmation for the deity of Jesus, etc.) Perhaps this will be a welcome feature to people who already believe Christianity but have no idea why they believe it, as most do not. For those of us who are primarily interested in the truth, however, Strobel’s book was not written according to the standards of contemporary journalism.
I am praying for you, Alexandra. I am sorry that you lost such a wonderful person in your life.
As for the truth being told at funerals. I would much rather hear the truth. Instead of being told that someone was in heaven when they were not a believer to make the rest of us “feel better.” I have been to quite a few of those services. There was no way that some relatives of mine went to heaven as they did not profess a faith in God or His Son Jesus. And yet what was preached was “He is in a better place now and heaven welcomed him.” Wrong.
We do not get into heaven on our good thoughts or deeds. It is nothing we have done or not done. It is what He did.
I don’t usually share my faith here but I love Jesus with all of my heart, mind, soul and strength and consider myself a Christ follower. I grew up with organized religion “shoved down my throat” left it and came to Him in my 30’s.
Looking at my life why in the world would He forgive me? Why in the world would He love me? Abuse, abortion, drinking, partying, promiscuity?? He rescued me from myself. He rescued me from my suicide attempt.
That is how much He loves you. I love you too much to lie to you.
If you would like to continue this elsewhere you know where to find me. :)
Fair enough, volunteer. That is your humble opinion of course.
My suggestion stands.
“There was no way that some relatives of mine went to heaven as they did not profess a faith in God or His Son Jesus.”
But that’s my point – how do you know? How does anyone know?
I’ve read apologetics (CS Lewis and Peter Kreeft are my favorites) etc. From that I took away that at least Catholicism leaves room for those people who are GOOD PEOPLE, who live out what some would call Christ-driven values and principles in their lives even if they are not Christians themselves, could ostensibly be admitted to heaven. That people on earth cannot actually know what God does or does not do, in the end. I can dig that.
My friend’s mother was a generous, compassionate person who gave of herself first and foremost, always. Where she is now – except in the ground – is not something I can know. I just remember the complete emotional revulsion I felt at a man who didn’t know her, who doesn’t KNOW anything beyond this world, as no one can – telling me where she is now depending on what she may have done or felt in her last few seconds on earth. And I just remember thinking, “How do you know anymore than I do?” He didn’t. He was just more certain than I was.
I would always rather hear the truth. But I have at times been told things were ‘the truth’ and known or even just suspected they were false.
As for forgiveness and love – in one of my favorite movies, one character tells another, “God loves you just the way you are, but he loves you too much to let you stay that way.” I don’t know about God, but I try to live my life like that – to love people the way they are and have that love be a catalyst and reason for change. Doesn’t always work too well – people who play loud music on the subway are pretty hard to love just the way they are – but I figure it’s a good way to go through life. :)
Alexandra–
When my family and I sit down to eat together, we say a prayer, and it ends like this:
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His mercy endures forever.
I will depart from some of my Christian brothers and sisters on this blog and tell you that I believe this prayer. I believe God’s mercy will continue even after death, and He will never, ever give up on any of us, until He has reconciled us to Himself. I believe that’s a process, and it could be a lengthy and/or painful one, but He is our Daddy, and he will eventually welcome everyone home.
I also believe that the Bible verse about the three things: faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love. We are doing His will when we show compassion and love to his people.
Part of that love and comapassion is telling you that Jesus is real. Life in him is abundant life.
Ok, I do not comment here very much because I don’t like the internet near as much as my husband but I had to say something on this article.
Christians are CALLED to spread the word and love of the Lord. We are failing in our duty if we allow ourselves to be turned politically correct by people who don’t want to hear what we have to say.
God loves my husband, Xalisae, Volunteer, Alexandra, and all the others who do not believe and think that his love has no place in this world. I do not pretend that I know where Mr Hitchens is. But I will say that I pray that he came to the Lord in his final moments. It is my duty to hope and pray EVERYONE does. Pro-life or not Mr Hitchens deserves to be prayed for and hoped that he has received the eternal blessings of our Lord. I will pray the same for all you nonbelievers because I love you all, even though I do not know all of you. I want everyone to understand that God’s love is available to everyone and that they need it even if they think they do not.
Required reading for anyone wanting to criticize atheists.
http://www.alternet.org/story/152395/10_myths_many_religious_people_hold_about_atheists,_debunked?page=entire
Why?
Because the average atheist has read and has a better understanding of the bible and church tradition than the average Christian. So, they’ve read about your religion, read about their lack of religion. Don’t criticize them using the same ol’ worn out myths about them that are just absolutely not true.
RIP Hitchens, your work will live on forever.
Hey Ellie – I’m glad you stopped in and commented. I certainly understand, respect, and appreciate your thoughts on the subject, because I do know that in the context of your beliefs they are the kindest, most compassionate thing you could ever do for me or anyone else.
I think that sometimes, in the immediate wake of a person’s death, it is on occasion uncharitable to speculate on the state of their soul, or whether they are burning in hell at this very moment, or whatever – and I think that when a 14-year old girl is in shock after losing a loved one, maybe that’s one of those occasions – but I certainly don’t intend for that feeling to make you feel as though you cannot hope, pray for, and share your own good intentions for Christopher Hitchins, me, or anyone other person out there. :)
Ellie,
Praying for you and your husband!! :)
Alexandra,
I’m not Catholic. I have never found any Scriptural passages that speak to “being good” gets anyone into heaven. If you find any please let me know. God reveals Himself in the Bible. I believe it. If I die tonight I will be with Him in heaven.
Courtnay,
You do not believe there is a hell? You do not believe anyone goes there?
Duck,
The average atheist knows more about my faith than I do? Prove it.
Don’t criticize Christians using the same ol’ worn out myths about them that are just absolutely not true.
Fixed that for ya.
Carla,
I’m not criticizing using the same ol’ worn out myths of anyone. Still, you don’t know me, you don’t know anything about me really, so you don’t know that I take great pains to get to know people, religions, concepts, etc before making a personal judgement or assessment of them. I’m not going to do your research for you. If you think I’m soooo wrong, look it up yourself.
BTW Carla,
A quick way to gauge whether my assertion is true, is to ask the Atheist readers and supporters of this blog.
Yes. Yes. Of course. Of course.
You’ve got nothing. Well except unsolicited advice. You have never backed up any assertion you have ever made here, duck.
You are so predictable.
Good day.
Carla,
For once, I’m in agreement with Xalisae about the whole quit bashing atheists thing. I just don’t care to spoon feed you. You claim to know how to look stuff up, if something I say bothers you that much, do it yourself. Or, maybe Xalisae will indulge you.
But whatever
Carla,
You could also read that article I already linked. It has most of the info I’ve been saying, and further reading sources. But like I said, I won’t spoonfeed you. Research for yourself.
thelastdemocrat: “If you are an atheist reading this, try to be an honest investogator and evaluator of Christianity, and figure out what this theology is. we are not the brain-dead fools like your friends and heroes try to say.”
Believers are not brain-dead, and atheists are not horrible heathens. Speaking as a praying “Catholic agnostic” (and I believe most people just aren’t sure, deep-down), I really wish those two groups would quit being so awful to each other.
Alexandra, belated condolences related to your friend’s mom. And I’m always amazed by those who will so grossly misuse a sudden tragedy, as that youth pastor did.
Required reading for anyone wanting to criticize atheists.
http://www.alternet.org/story/152395/10_myths_many_religious_people_hold_about_atheists,_debunked?page=entire
Duck, good mention. The one thing there that I’d take issue with is this:
5) Atheism is just a faith like any other. You occasionally see agnostics trot this one out, as well. The idea is that arguments for and against the existence of any gods have equal value, but it’s simply not true. The logical position toward an extraordinary, supernatural claim is skepticism until proof is offered, and so far none of the thousands of gods that have been claimed to exist throughout history have lifted a finger to prove themselves. In fact, most believers grasp this for themselves; they automatically disbelieve all religious claims except their own, barring actual proof that never produces itself. Atheists just do religious people one better, and make no exceptions for a religion because it happens to be the one we were raised in or convinced by friends to convert to.
On one hand, I would not say that the idea is that arguments for and against really are “of equal value.” Perhaps it’s philosophical, but there cannot be proof of the negative in the first place, so are we to equate that with a positive statement, where at least it could be true? For, me it’s rather like dividing by zero – instead of setting the expression there to be equal to something, all we can do is say that it has no meaning.
On the other hand, is it really “doing religious people one better”? Saying, “there is no proof” is one thing, but asserting that there cannot be any proof is another, and in doing that I’d say it’s operating on unprovable subjective belief as much as any religious person, i.e. the agnostics have a point.
Doug,
I thought of you when reading that article. :) It reminded me of the other day when you asked me about my assertion that all religions are philosophies but not all philosophies are religion. :)
I don’t bash atheists. Please cut and paste where I have.
I won’t read anything you link to as you have not established any credibility whatsoever with me here.
I am so done with your “I won’t do your research for you. I won’t spoonfeed you.” crap as though if I would ONLY read you piddly link I would FINALLY understand what you have been trying to say all these weeks.
Like I said…you come here to make assertions without any sources to cite anything you assert!
The sky is green. Because I said so. I have a different philosophy from you. I don’t need to cite sources. Look it up yourself. Do your own research. I won’t spoonfeed you.
And shame on me for responding to your drivel.
I never said you’d agree with me. I never said I gained your credibility. I do however, find it quite amusing, that if I agree with prolife Xalisae, you discredit me and not her about the atheism. If I agree with prolife Jack, Amber, or ex-Gop as I have in the past about other stuff, you’ll discredit me and not them. Me thinks that you just hear “blah blah blah death blah blah blah blah death blah blah anti religion blah blah blah” when I speak, but when someone who’s prolife speaks and agrees with me, you actually hear them. Funny that.
I also find it ironic that you claim I never back up my assertions, BUT you also say “I won’t read anything you link to”. Well, which is it? Is your claim that I never back up my assertions? Or is your claim that you just don’t want to read what I have to say?
How many times can this be said?
When YOU make an assertion YOU should be able to back it up. Life begins at birth. You have been asked to prove that a thousand times. Have you? No.
I, ME, CARLA think you have no credibility. You don’t. I STATED IT.
Are you high???
I have known some of the prolifers here for more than 4 years. Yeah. I read and respect what they have to say.
You never back up your assertions.
I don’t want to read what you have to say but I have to since I am a moderator.
Whatever,
Clearly so long as I’m prochoice you’ll never care to hear what I have to say, and ignore any link I do post to back up my assertions as you’ve admitted.
Not like I was expecting any less, but if you Willfully Ignore and are willing to brag that you’ll ignore any link I post, then you can no longer claim I don’t back my assertions up.
At least there are still reasonable people on this page who can hold a conversation.
It has NOTHING to do with you being proabortion. Nothing at all.
Have any links yet to life beginning at birth? If you just keep saying Whatever I can only assume that explains that life begins at birth? All righty then.
I JUST wrote to you I HAVE to read everything you write because I am a moderator. The only link I have seen you post is about atheists. I don’t care to read it so I won’t.
I have yet to see you hold a conversation.
*facepalm* whatever Carla
All atheists and agnostics,
Please excuse all the narrow minded Christians commenting on this site that say only believers will see God when they die. I am a catholic and I can assure you that Catholicism does not teach this unwelcoming nonsense. Our God values all those who bring love and goodness into this world, all those who search for the truth, all those who forgive each other and who reach out to help others. God doesn’t exclude atheists, Hindus, Moslems, Jews or anyone else who is not a professed christian.
This doesn’t mean God doesn’t want us to follow Christ. It just means God knows exactly why people don’t believe and sees into their hearts. I suspect that christians will have to answer for much of the unbelief in this world – sadly, many are not doing God any favours.
As a pro-life Christian I am utterly appalled at some of the sentiments coming from Christians. If being pro-life is simply the logical outcome of belonging to a particular persuasion then abortion really is no more ‘wrong’ than eating meat on Good Friday. And it is not ‘wrong’ to eat meat on Good Friday. Killing someone in cold blood is wrong. Period. And ANYONE who recognises that is right. All right thinking and moral people have a duty to support each other in affirming this undeniable , yet sometimes inconvenient , truth. Whatever we choose to believe about that which we do not and cannot know. Christopher Hitchens was never afraid to make enemies of people who could have been friends if he had been prepared to compromise on his values. In choosing to speak his mind regardless of the cost Christopher distanced himself from ‘the world’ – and was perhaps closer to God than some Christians could imagine. RIP Christopher. I never met you but would love to meet you in the next life. You might like me too.Maybe. I am quite an argumentative fellow myself.
Carla – I guess you would probably want to ask a Catholic about that. I’m not Catholic and have no dog in this fight, so it seems ill-advised for me to comment. From my understanding it is not that Catholics believe “being good” gets you into heaven, but rather that people simply cannot know what God does in the end.
If we all get to go to heaven cause we are “good enough” then I guess Jesus Christ did not have to hang on a cross for all of our sins did He?
Sorry theresa. You cannot call me narrow minded when I believe the Holy Bible is the Word of God. He said it. I believe it. He has the final say over where we all spend eternity. I will trust Him with the souls of all of us.
As for Christopher Hitchens…..I simply do not know but I can hope he repented.
Sorry, Alexandra. I thought you were Catholic.
John Jones: RIP Christopher. I never met you but would love to meet you in the next life. You might like me too.Maybe. I am quite an argumentative fellow myself.
:) John, that was great!
Quite a compelling argument you have there, duck.
Indeed.
Carla–believe me when I tell you that the idea of hell is something I have spent a great deal of time pondering. I know I divert from Scripture here. Do I believe in hell? If you a mean a place where we are permanently separated from God, then no, I don’t. Like a loving Father, whose justice comes from his love, I truly believe that He will bring us all back into the fold. That’s the power of God–that’s the Shepherd looking for the one lost sheep. That’s the Father waiting for his prodigal son. His blood is sufficient for all.
I know we will disagree here. I bless you, girl.
Yes I absolutely disagree.
Hell is separation from God for eternity. True. God is just and merciful. To those that do not follow Him he will give them separation. Why? Because they do not know Him. They have rejected Him all of their lives. Does God desire that for His people? Absolutely not!
There is no other conclusion I can come to when studying God’s word. The Bible is VERY CLEAR how one earns salvation.
I will not divert from Scripture so I can feel better about those that will be separated from God for eternity. He has revealed Himself and His plan through His word. We do not get to make up parts that we feel uncomfortable with. We do not add to Scripture.
Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
Carla Indeed. And what else does Our Lord say ?. He says in Mathew 25 40 that eternal life will be granted THROUGH Him BY His Father to whom ?. To those who feed ‘the least of these my brothers and sisters’. And who are Christ’s brothers and sisters ?. Earlier on Christ tells us that his brothers and sisters are those who DO the will of His Father. And what is the will of His Father ?. That is no big secret either because there are 2 200 places in scripture where we are told , asked , commanded and enjoined to care for each other – especially the poor. Whether it is the poor in body or soul. The hungry , thirsty , naked , lonely , persecuted , distressed , bewildered and bereaved. And yes the most helpless , the poorest , the most innocent yet most persecuted of them all — the unborn.Please Carla make very sure that you know the will of the Father and that you DO the will of the Father. Deciding who will go where at the end of the day is God’s Business. God Bless — John
Nope, Carla! Not Catholic, though I have a lot of respect for Catholicism. :)
I do believe I just said that, John.
God knows and I will leave it up to Him.
I am staking my eternal life on knowing Him and His will.
A rebuke from a total stranger such as yourself is not necessary.
Carla Sorry I thought that this is an American site. I am English and my countrymen do this strange stiff formal ‘but we have not been introduced yet’ thing. It’s news to me that Americans also do it. I always imagined that Americans were less formal than us. Anyway Ce la vie!. We live and learn I suppose. Carla I was not rebuking you I just read and was disturbed by that bit at the top where you said ‘There was no way that some relatives of mine went to heaven as they did not profess a faith in God or His Son Jesus.’ which does not rhyme with ‘God knows and I will leave it up to Him’. God Bless John
Dear John Jones,
I was relating a very personal story of going to some relatives funerals. They were living far from God and their lives showed it. They were not believers. BUT at their funeral services the pastor was telling all of us that they were in heaven and in a better place now. Is their salvation up to God? Absolutely.Maybe they repented. I don’t know. Should the pastor have said that? I think not.
Contrast that to other services I have been to where believers have died? WOW! We celebrate their life and are in awe that they are with Him.
And again at the end of our lives we shall all see His face and He will decide. I will trust Him.
God bless.
Please excuse all the narrow minded Christians commenting on this site that say only believers will see God when they die.
Yes, and you can “excuse” Jesus Christ Himself, too, I suppose.
Matt. 7:
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
John 14:
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
And for the record, everyone’s entitled to their own beliefs, but to call Christians who adhere to the teachings of Jesus Christ “narrow minded” is pretty hilarious, in my opinion.
There are 30,000 different churches who view the teachings of Jesus Christ differently. To claim to have the singular correct view point seem to be the narrow minded approach.
I have never ever got my head around that one Volunteer. It’s like they are all trying to interpret one plus one equls two. Jesus worked as a carpenter before his mission. Which a good thing for the Holy Family because He would never have cut it as a diplomat. He spoke so plainly one could almost say He was blunt . His teachings are 1. Love the Lord your God with all your might and all your heart and all your soul. 2. Love your neighbour as yourself. ——– and because of human cussideness of course He went on to make sure we all understood who ‘our neighbour’ was.
Well done John Jones in your latest reply to Carla.
Kel, I would never call christians who adhere to the teachings of Jesus narrow minded. It’s simply that I believe your’s and Carla’s views do not adhere to the teachings of Jesus. I believe you only have a partial understanding.
The buddhist, atheist, moslem, etc, men and women who spend their lives assisting the poor, establishing peace in their communities, forgiving their neighbours, respecting life, seeking truth and bringing love into this world ARE ADHERING TO THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS.
What sort of a God will condemn a loving buddhist to Hell?? I can tell you that I would utterly reject that sort of God. It is very likely that this way of thinking and interpreting the bible will turn people away from a loving and compassionate God.
Carla and Kel, I choose (after using my intellect as well as praying)to accept the interpretation of the bible as the centuries old catholic faith sees it. I hold Mother Teresa up as more evidence that this interpretation makes a lot more sense than yours. She never told the sick and dying that they needed to convert to christianity to be ‘saved’. She told them about (and showed them) the love God has for them. And as a reult many were converted.
So it’s that simple for me:
Do I believe Carla’s and Kel’s (and others like them)interpretation of the bible or Mother Teresa’s?
Yep, you guessed it!
Hi Theresa. Carla , Ken and yourself are all my brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s not about and should not be about ‘winning’ any argument. On the other hand there is nothing that would surprise Jesus Christ about our confusion because right from the get-go His disciples were squabbling over doctrines and issues and even who Jesus actually was. The thing to notice about those early moments when the disciples were with Christ is that he never chastised or rebuked any one side. He was patient with His disciples and gently led them on as we should do with each other. Carla is correct in that we must confess our faith to the world so that Jesus will confess us to His Father and you are correct in that he commanded us to let our light shine before men that they may see our good deeds and praise our Father in Heaven. So yes I agree , giving Our Father a ‘bad press’ is something to be avoided in possible. If men regard our proclamation of the Good News of the Kingdom as ‘bad news’ then so be it. Tough. But ‘even the pagans’ regard arbitrary condemnation as wrong.So we should shrink from it. Judge not and ye shall not be judged and all that……God Bless John
(*grumble*) Too many comments, too little time! I’ll try to drop a comment here, when I get a moment… but just for the time being:
The Catholic position and the position of Carla and Kel are not nearly so far apart as some might think; the Church condemns the heresy of indifferentism (i.e. the belief that it makes no difference what one’s religion is, regarding salvation), the heresy of syncretism (i.e. the belief that all religions are substantially the same, differing only in flavour and style and details), the heresy of universalism (i.e. the belief that all will be saved, no matter what they do or believe), and so on. The Church absolutely insists on the fact that every last person who is saved is saved only through the merits of Jesus Christ; there is no other way to be saved. None. Some might be saved because they were innocently ignorant of that fact (i.e. they were saved through God’s mercy, and through the fact that they did not reject the bits and shadows of Christ that they DID see and know); but no one is saved by “alternate paths or beliefs”. Those who are innocently ignorant of Christ and His Gospel are saved DESPITE their erroneous ways (and because they did not willfully embrace any evil which would set them at direct odds with Him), not BECAUSE of them.
More later; must dash!
Paladin, great post. Thank you.
It’s good to see some intelligent discussion emerging. I am not into judging people but I’m very much into judging beliefs and ideas.
Unfortunately, my experience of many christians is that they have such a narrow belief system that they say the majority of the world (since most people are not christians)are off to Hell. They’ve even told me that I also need enlightenment as I’m a catholic (and this faith is not from God according to them).
They believe that all you have to do is show someone the bible, give their interpretation of it and that’s their duty done. If the person you show rejects it then its the loss of their soul.
I have certainly rejected their interpretation so according to them I’m not saved either, along with the many others. I find their whole mentality offensive so I have little patience with their ideas.
Theresa 1 Cor 13:4 ‘Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.’ Methinks St Paul mentioned patience first because it is the hardest attribute of Love and is the most painful. But that is the thing about Love. It is not Love unless it hurts and costs us in some way as it cost the Good Samaritan and it cost Our Lord His life. God Bless John
Before I leave for Christmas methinks the word that should be uppermost in everyones mind is ‘Mercy’. Christ told us that the Good Samaritan showed Mercy to the traveller. In a universe where nothing gets created and nothing gets destroyed Mercy is an act of creation.It bring something out of nothing. As an act of creation it unites us with our Creator. To atheists agnostics I would say live lives filled with Mercy and Forgiveness to others. In that way you will have created something out of nothing. And will have left something behind that was not there went you came into the Cosmos. It is my fervert hope as well and I own to it without shame that in doing so you will see more and more of the ‘bits and shadows’ of Christ that Paladin speaks of. To Christians of all perpectives I enjoin you too to practice Mercy. Muchly. Because the narrow road that leads to Eternal Life has a street name. It is called Mercy.
Walk the road of Mercy and pay the toll charges. Because Mercy costs. But the price paid by others for our lack of Mercy is higher than the cost we pay. The fight against abortion is a great work of Mercy that can be enjoined by everyone. God Bless all of you and Happy Christmas.
Paladlin: “Those who are innocently ignorant of Christ and His Gospel are saved DESPITE their erroneous ways (and because they did not willfully embrace any evil which would set them at direct odds with Him), not BECAUSE of them.”
If that does happen to be true, then the people who proselytize or “spread the good news” to people who don’t know about Jesus Christ are actually doing a harmful thing. Before, those people could have gotten into Heaven on the “innocently ignorant” ticket, but now you’ve doomed them with the possibility that they may choose not to embrace Jesus.
“Sir Jake”,
The only reason this mention is even on Jill’s blog is because I asked her to do a story mentioning Hitchens because you’ll find quite a few of us here are actually *GASP* not religious!
I don’t believe in an afterlife, but that doesn’t mean I feel the need to berate others who take comfort in their own beliefs, because I am not some pompous, arrogant, tantruming child. Talk about immaturity and the need to “grow up”! Jerks like you make all non-religious people look bad. It’s people like you that give us a bad name and make atheists the least respected, least trustworthy, most looked-down-upon demographic in the United States. I hope you’re proud.
And, if you’re the only living child out of THREE siblings, and two of your brothers and/or sisters had ended up getting killed, that makes you the only survivor. Have a hard time dealing with that fact? Then perhaps you should re-evaluate your view on the matter rather than pointlessly venting your spleen on people who are working to make certain that no other child has to be the lone survivor in a family of aborted children.
Educate yourself, please: l4l.org secularprolife.org