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[sophiaserpentia]

...[A]mong those celebrating the prominence of these two Darwinians [Richard Dawkins and Daniel Dennett] on both sides of the Atlantic is an unexpected constituency - the American creationist/intelligent-design lobby. Huh? Dawkins, in particular, has become their top pin-up.

How so? William Dembski (one of the leading lights of the US intelligent-design lobby) put it like this in an email to Dawkins: "I know that you personally don't believe in God, but I want to thank you for being such a wonderful foil for theism and for intelligent design more generally. In fact, I regularly tell my colleagues that you and your work are one of God's greatest gifts to the intelligent-design movement. So please, keep at it!"

... Michael Ruse, a prominent Darwinian philosopher (and an agnostic) based in the US, with a string of books on the subject, is exasperated: "Dawkins and Dennett are really dangerous, both at a moral and a legal level." The nub of Ruse's argument is that Darwinism does not lead ineluctably to atheism, and to claim that it does (as Dawkins does) provides the intelligent-design lobby with a legal loophole: "If Darwinism equals atheism then it can't be taught in US schools because of the constitutional separation of church and state. It gives the creationists a legal case. Dawkins and Dennett are handing these people a major tool."

Why the intelligent design lobby thanks God for Richard Dawkins (Thanks to supergee for the link)

Say it with me, now: atheism is not a religion. There is no doctrine, no scripture, no church, no congregation, no priesthood, no tradition, no temple, no ritual, no prayerbook, no dietary restriction, no almsgiving, or any other religious trapping, associated with atheism.

Disbelief in God is not a religious belief. This assertion presumes that "belief in God" is normal and standard, such that disbelief thereof requires maintenance of faith and positive reinforcement. No, "God" is an assertion made by most religions, the burden of proof for which rests on those who promote religion. Not subscribing to someone else's assertion is not an act of faith.

Comments

[mysticphyre.livejournal.com]

well I am hoping there will be more of us...

http://www.tcpc.org/

Just for shitz and giggles.. this is what they define themselves as;

The Eight Points by which we define Progressive Christianity

By calling ourselves progressive, we mean that we are Christians who:

1. Have found an approach to God through the life and teachings of Jesus;

2. Recognize the faithfulness of other people who have other names for the way to God's realm, and acknowledge that their ways are true for them, as our ways are true for us;

3. Understand the sharing of bread and wine in Jesus's name to be a representation of an ancient vision of God's feast for all peoples;

4. Invite all people to participate in our community and worship life without insisting that they become like us in order to be acceptable (including but not limited to):

believers and agnostics,
conventional Christians and questioning skeptics,
women and men,
those of all sexual orientations and gender identities,
those of all races and cultures,
those of all classes and abilities,
those who hope for a better world and those who have lost hope;

5. Know that the way we behave toward one another and toward other people is the fullest expression of what we believe;

6. Find more grace in the search for understanding than we do in dogmatic certainty - more value in questioning than in absolutes;

7. Form ourselves into communities dedicated to equipping one another for the work we feel called to do: striving for peace and justice among all people, protecting and restoring the integrity of all God's creation, and bringing hope to those Jesus called the least of his sisters and brothers; and

8. Recognize that being followers of Jesus is costly, and entails selfless love, conscientious resistance to evil, and renunciation of privilege.

[mystiphi.livejournal.com]

http://community.livejournal.com/jesusliberation/profile

same stuff :-D

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

I discovered the TCPC four or five years ago, when i still identified as Christian and was looking for a way to reconcile things.

I have a number of concerns about liberal religion, having been a member of various liberal churches for many years. It looks great on paper, but in practice what i've seen is that people in liberal churches pat each other on the back a lot and talk about how enlightened they are.

I guess some people need that for healing, but it becomes a kind of cocoon. People in that cocoon are not prepared to acknowledge the real problems being caused by religious conservatives. For example, they think that reasoned discussion or public debate will solve the problem, and wring their hands over evidence that conservatives are using lies and force to get their way. In general, i have not seen much reason to trust religious liberals to be effective allies.

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry if that last reply sounded harsh, i don't mean to be. I just wanted to explain why i have become less than enthusiastic about liberal Christianity. I would love to see it take more of a hold in this country and in general.

[mysticphyre.livejournal.com]

It's all good, hun. I know the lack of commitment by many "liberals" in both the religious and political arena is frustrating.

Perhaps my experience is unique due to my work environment, but I will relate a story here dealing with something from work. (I am a massage therapist at a spa)

A girl at work became "born-again" in November. This was encouraged by the fact that a couple months earlier she had a few drinks and made a pass at a fellow employee (another female) which was rebuffed. She freaked herself, I guess. By January/Feburary she was doing "missionary" work AT work. Passing out flyers for revivals, leaving books, pamphlets and other things about our sins, hell, and whatnot. She was "witnessing" to clients while giving them massages.

Now silly ole me had no clue it had gone this far from being in the post-death of my father haze, so I innocently invite her to my church. I was met with a "What does YOUR CHURCH BELIEVE.." Then the usual.. God created MAN AND WOMAN. She stormed out. I then find out she had been passing around a petition against gay marriage at work. I went to my boss. My boss then heard from various clients and employees her fanaticism had increased. She gave her a good talking to this week.

However, she must of confronted several women at work. Over the last week, strangely enough, many of them have come to me asking about my perspective on scriptures, and to help them understand stuff. To quote one from last night "I find the Bible very confusing, conflicting and the stuff "name" says to me scares and confuses me more, can you explain such-n-such" I proceed to give her some history of biblical times, politics, and the customs. And also helped her with some issues with her mother-in-law.

It is by example, I lead where I work. I am very out, honest, and known for a big heart and some unusual healing abilities with clients. I remain true to my beliefs, have no trouble speaking my mind and standing up for what I believe but it is by my behaviour that I seem to draw more. The old fire and brimstone sets most people back. Everyone is spiritually hungering for something. And I know it is easy to get discouraged by those who YELL louder. I truly believe actions do speak louder than words.

Statistically, though the conservatives may have more joining, they have just as many if not more, running away in fear. This girl I have been referring to was an infinite loving spirit who I see as being squeezed into a tiny box. Sooner or later she will have to break out, or break down, as I told one of her friends who told me how "she missed her friend." I just pray for people to be willing to see, hear and experience the truth. There are two things. Love God (and all that God is in and around) and Love each other. It IS upon these two things, humanity depends.

It is the same with the political climate, it is time to stand up without lowering ourselves to the levels of name-calling, and the tactics they use. Knowledge/truth eventually prevails and all the fire and brimstone is scaring the hell out of plenty of folks, including ones within their own congregations. It is time to be involved with the politics of your area, elections are coming up. Supporting political and religious beliefs and organizations that promote truth, fairness, and understanding.

By actions, they will know us.

I can hope, and I gotta believe that is true.