The Religion Virus: Is Christianity Dying?

The Religion Virus: Is Christianity Dying?

An interesting set of posts. From the title, it is obvious the author has characterized religion as something evil that must be eradicated like a plague. Religions are after all, ideas. Just as a bias against religion is an idea. Of course, there are good ideas and there are bad ideas. Each needs to be evaluated on its merit and substance rather than attaching to it blanket generalizations that do nothing to educate but are only self serving.

The very idea of liberty is an idea that competing ideas should be presented and debated based on reason and the merit of evidences for or against it. So, to seek to suppress ideas by any means other than substantive argument is a violation of liberty. Unfortunately, careers and reputations are built around ideas, so competing ideas are seen as an infectious and ruinous invasion that needs to be dealt with by any means necessary.

Characterizing the host of a competing idea as dangerous (as opposed to the idea itself) is an all too tempting means of debate regardless of which side we are on. Likewise, Painting the opposition with broad brushes and/or setting up 'straw man arguments' are all tactics that actually signal the weakness of an argument, though not necessarily the weakness of an idea itself.

Arguments both for or against Christianity in particular tend to take on these broad dimensions because it relieves us of the burden of substantive examination. Broad brush strokes that paint all religions as evil or all science is true are simply not helpful in the extreme.

The notion that science and religion are incompatible is simply false. So also is the notion that Christianity is dead. There will always be true followers of Christ just as there will always be those who characterize themselves as atheists. The degree of influence that each has on society will vary with the times, but since each position is primarily a spiritual one, they will always be as long as man exists.

True science is observational, falsifiable and repeatable. All of our technologies are the result of applying observational principles to an ordered and predictable set of assumptions. (What one would logically expect from an intelligent designer).

Science that explores our past or future, by its very nature implies a belief about the past that relies on unobservable, untestable, and unrepeatable set of assumptions (about uncontrollable variables) that therefore result in unreliable predictions.

So, where 'science' is seen to be in conflict with religion, is usually where world-views about the past or future collide. It is not a conflict of true science with religion but simply a conflict of religions, ideas or beliefs. Each defender makes their argument based on the assumptions that their world-view leads them to.

So, let's not be duped into thinking that all that is called science and religion are mutually exclusive.

Tebow or not Tebow?

Tim Tebow is as well known for wearing Bible verses on his eye black as he his for his athletic ability. Some feel that this is inappropriate as the following comments posted on Huffington Post illustrate:

"...Athlete's display a lot of bloody cheek when the simply dismiss their teammates in favor of some mythical celestial peeping tom!"

"...the coach should have put a stop to this grandstanding a long time ago. Wearing the eye-black long after the game was over in the post-game interview was just too much."

A number of 'straw man' arguments surface such as the following:

"When I see this kind of stuff I have to wonder what would happen if someone had a reference to the Koran on their face. They b... (complain) about prayer in school but would never allow Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist faiths to be practiced. Bunch of hypocrites."

"Kudos to all the posters who point out that wearing your faith on your face is only okay if you're a Christian. Christians are better served by walking the walk than advertising on their faces."

Then there are some who think that posting Bible verses are used as some sort of superstitious shields against harm or loss...

"It's funny how colleges, coaches and sponsors like to appoint players like they're the "Golden Child" and then when they get to the next level, they choke. So many examples of big name busts. Tebow can write all the scripture on his face that he wants but that's not going to stop some huge defensive tackle in the NFL from trying to knock his block off."

The point is simply this. Tim Tebow is one of those rare breeds of young men who strive for excellence in all that he does. While I cannot speak for Mr. Tebow, I can admire him for, from all appearances, not being ashamed to show that his strength and motivation comes from God and not from himself.

This is a bold and refreshing contrast to some college and professional athletes that think that there talent (let alone their very breath) owes nothing to God.

Mr Tebow's post game interview acknowledged the talent and superior play of Alabama, he did not blame God or his team mates for the loss. He shows class and humility and by wearing bible verses for all to see simply acknowledges that God is the foundation of his life. Is that a dangerous message?

On Saturday, Tim Tebow wore John 16:33 posted on his eyeblack. It quotes the words of Jesus:

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

My first impression of his choosing this verse to display was that it was a bit ominous. Yet, in reality is simply states what many people need to know: That the worlds disappointments are inevitable but they need not be overwhelming because there is a greater reality and comfort to those who who trust in Jesus as their Lord.

By extension, the acknowledgment of God as the source of strength is not unlike the founders of this nation acknowledgement that God is the source of all liberty. They enshrined in their documents that liberty is the right of all men and it is a gift from God Himself. The willful ignorance of this fact and of the reality of God Himself, leads men and nations into perdition.

We need more young men and women like Tim Tebow that are not ashamed to acknowledge that all that they have, whether good or bad is a gift from a loving God that wants us to learn that He alone is the source of all strength and comfort.

Steve McMurray