Baptist (Fundie) Press weighs-in on Hurricane Katrina (PUKE!)

[Ian David]

FIRST-PERSON: The goodness of God and the reality of evil
Aug 30, 2005
By R. Albert Mohler Jr.
Baptist Press

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--Every thoughtful person must deal with the problem of evil. Evil acts and tragic events come to us all in this vale of tears known as human life. The problem of evil and suffering is undoubtedly the greatest theological challenge we face.

Most persons face this issue only in a time of crisis. A senseless accident, a wasting disease or an awful crime demands some explanation. On Aug. 29, evil showed its face again as Hurricane Katrina came ashore on the Gulf Coast.

For the atheist, this is no great problem. Life is a cosmic accident, morality is an arbitrary game by which we order our lives, and meaning is non-existent. As Oxford University Professor Richard Dawkins explains, human life is nothing more than a way for selfish genes to multiply and reproduce. There is no meaning or dignity to humanity.

For the Christian Scientist, the material world and the experience of suffering and death are illusory. In other religions suffering is part of a great circle of life or recurring incarnations of spirit.

Some Christians simply explain suffering as the consequence of sins, known or unknown. Some suffering can be directly traced to sin. What we sow, so shall we reap, and multiple millions of persons can testify to this reality. Some persons suffer innocently by the sinful acts of others.

More:
http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=21489


On edit: To conact The Baptist Press- [e-mail]

[Dogmudgeon]

1. No dignity to humanity?

Well, Mr. Mohler should know all about that. He and his co-religionists have denied dignity AND humanity to the people they disdain for hundreds of years.

I've never met an atheist who held human life cheap; I have met plenty of Christians who do, and who fervently hope for the end of the world and the deaths of all those who disagree with them.

--p!

[Ian David]

8. From The Humanist Manifesto

Ethical values are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience. Humanists ground values in human welfare shaped by human circumstances, interests, and concerns and extended to the global ecosystem and beyond. We are committed to treating each person as having inherent worth and dignity, and to making informed choices in a context of freedom consonant with responsibility.

<snip>

Humans are social by nature and find meaning in relationships. Humanists long for and strive toward a world of mutual care and concern, free of cruelty and its consequences, where differences are resolved cooperatively without resorting to violence. The joining of individuality with interdependence enriches our lives, encourages us to enrich the lives of others, and inspires hope of attaining peace, justice, and opportunity for all.

<snip>

Working to benefit society maximizes individual happiness. Progressive cultures have worked to free humanity from the brutalities of mere survival and to reduce suffering, improve society, and develop global community. We seek to minimize the inequities of circumstance and ability, and we support a just distribution of nature’s resources and the fruits of human effort so that as many as possible can enjoy a good life.

Humanists are concerned for the well being of all, are committed to diversity, and respect those of differing yet humane views. We work to uphold the equal enjoyment of human rights and civil liberties in an open, secular society and maintain it is a civic duty to participate in the democratic process and a planetary duty to protect nature’s integrity, diversity, and beauty in a secure, sustainable manner.

More:
http://www.americanhumanist.org/3/HumandItsAspirations.htm

[Solly Mack]

2. You have to be a liar or truly ignorant to equate being atheist

with a lack of morals and values.

[Bellamia]

16. Atheist=Lack of Moral Values?

Bushhit.............my daughter-in-law, a self professed atheist, would put ANY Freeper to shame. I'm a Humanist as of recently; I no longer care to say I'm Christian.

[Solly Mack]

17. Exactly

[Maat]

3. I saw that!

Mohler is one of their nuttier prominent spokespeople.

My evidence:

http://www.bpnews.net/bpcolumn.asp?ID=1910 .

'Deliberate Childlessness' is a sin - if that isn't bat-bleep-crazy, nothing is.

By the way, my hubby just talked to the fundie relatives this morning; they not only have sipped the Kool-Aid - they've imbibed the whole pitcher. I let him interface with them - I can't without getting into a screaming match.

[MadeinOhio]

4. Of course they know no dignity or humanity....

They're fundies!!!!

Dominionists have never know the meaning of the word dignity OR humanity, it is their misguided ways, their very un-christian ways which is creating this mess.

Punishment? You bet!!!! Punishment to their greed and selfishness and not believing in global warming......They indeed are evil, or as one of real faith would say, anti-humanity.

:wow:

[SunDrop23]

5. Pardon me while I vomit.

Thanks.

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. "What we sow, so shall we reap".. So they understand

global warming, then?

[sinkingfeeling]

7. So what's the idiot saying? That the South is evil and sinful?

[Salviati]

9. :puke:

:puke:

Hey, just because I don't believe that god breathed life into dust 4004 years ago and named it Adam, doesn't mean that I don't value life.

In fact, (though I really wouldn't call myself an atheist in the stictest sence, but that's just me), my doubts make me value life all the more. The morality of atheists as much more grounded than the morality of true belivers IMO, the Atheist has to approach each problem with the question, does my action help or harm myself or others. What can be more arbitrary than an unexamined book of rules which include "thou shalt not wear clothing made of two different fabrics".

The meaning and dignity of humanity to the atheist is how we overcome our baser instincts towards hostility, mistrustfulness, and work towards the betterment of all. And the atheist does this why? Not for the promise of some reward after death, not because some book told them to do it. They do it because it's the right thing to do, and because helping others is its own reward. What can be more noble than that?

[charlie]

10. In case you mistake our concern for cruelty...

these OTHER GUYS are FAR worse. We LOVE you, we really do, you Godless fuckers...

[gratuitous]

11. That says some pretty hard things about MS and AL

I thought the Baptists were real big there.

Honestly, don't these people EVER look inside their Bibles? Fer crissakes the entire book of Job and the ninth chapter of the Gospel of John might just as well be cut out of their scriptures.

[Cooley Hurd]

12. Thank you for affirming my athiatism...

:thumbsup:

[SalmonChantedEvening]

13. It's a VEIL of tears you dolt!

Ignorance upon ignorance. TAGLINE!!

[demo dutch]

14. I was waiting for some idiot to come out with a statement!

[roguevalley]

15. Fuck them. I will NEVER set foot in a church again. Where is their

shame?

[really annoyed]

18. Whatever

I say that as a former Baptist who is now a religious humanist.

"Humanity" and "dignity" are not traits associated with Christianity.

Yeah, I'm sure all the atheists are sitting around cheering on the hurricane! :eyes:

Hey, did the author of this piece ever visit Free Republic? You know, those good "Christian" conservatives who think the victims in NO are scum?