Good man. This makes *quality religion, how I see religion and how more people should see religion.

Boosting this quality contribution up in the Hot Listing - declared quality by rasch187.

More?

18 seconds in and I was floored.

I love the last line

I love that the interviewer right from the get go looks like the preacher just stole his lollipop!

His opinion is just that, an opinion. He has no authority to back his opinion up. It may sound logical, and sure some people may believe what he is saying. However, you have to understand that he is talking from his own interpretation of what he thinks God is and what he thinks God's plan is.

Sure... compared with the Church mandate which, I take it, is the opinion of GOD HIMSELF?

I don't agree with his belief system, but I respect it much more than those he criticizes.

I also enjoyed his message and candor. I could probably listen to and appreciate one of his sermons. He's delivering a positive message even if it's flawed and that's more than I can say for most preachers I've ever heard.

>> ^xxovercastxx:
I also enjoyed his message and candor. I could probably listen to and appreciate one of his sermons. He's delivering a positive message even if it's flawed and that's more than I can say for most preachers I've ever heard.


What do you mean by it is flawed? What belief system are you basing that judgment on?

religion = ignorance

>> ^maximillian:
His opinion is just that, an opinion. He has no authority to back his opinion up.


And who the fuck does? What an absolutely pointless, stupid comment.

LOL, he says "The function of The Christ", sounds like he doesn't practice what he preaches.
You can't preach Christ and deny Him. "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." Jesus also said "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
1st John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
Like it or not, this man IS an antichrist...

The function of The Christ?


## Call the function of the Christ
##

$church -> tithe( .1 * $pay );

i agree! i also cringe at how ignorant the host is at ~ 0:46 . ("teh choorch made up hell's??/")> O_o

>> ^TerryF:
LOL, he says "The function of The Christ", sounds like he doesn't practice what he preaches.
You can't preach Christ and deny Him. "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." Jesus also said "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
1st John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
Like it or not, this man IS an antichrist...


Stop quoting bible passages like it somehow validates whatever batshit point you are trying to make.

...

What point are you trying to make?

Also: Why do I bother? Some questions are not for answering.

"The idea that the truth of God can be bound by any system, by any human creed, by any human book, is almost beyond imagination for me."

"The Way that can be named is not the true Way."

He's actually a Taoist (not that that means anything, as he points out).

Religion is in the business of control, obviously. Organized religion has the sole purpose of squeezing people for money and freedom. Unorganized religion, people being spiritual an whatnot, are just people not wanting to face reality as it is. It's a shame, but what're you gonna do?

>> ^JohnnyMackers:
>> ^maximillian:
His opinion is just that, an opinion. He has no authority to back his opinion up.

And who the fuck does? What an absolutely pointless, stupid comment.


A scientist's opinion derives authority from independently observable evidence.

This preacher is "just saying stuff," even if it's nice "stuff."

This is what a 'man of god' should be. Someone that understands the inherent flaws and functions of the religion then sees the inadequacies of that function.

Based on the title, I was really expecting to not like this guy.

I like this man; he is one of the Good Guys. However, I resent the implication that the only way to be fully human is to accept Christ. We are all fully human already, for better or worse. Our challenge is to work out decent moral guidelines within the limitations of our humanity.

I realize that what he's saying may be perceived as the same thing, and that he and I are working towards the same goal. But it seems to me that assigning the name "Christ" to that "moral compass", as it were, is only a lifeline used for clinging to one's childhood faith.

Heh, I knew before reading the comments that lots of people here would be cheerleading this "rebel," but this guy is making up as much bullshit as he is criticizing it. Everyone's so desperate to latch on to the anti-religion/anti-Christian movement that they'll accept just about anything else. He's no less a fool.

>> ^chilaxe:
>> ^JohnnyMackers:
>> ^maximillian:
His opinion is just that, an opinion. He has no authority to back his opinion up.

And who the fuck does? What an absolutely pointless, stupid comment.

A scientist's opinion derives authority from independently observable evidence.


That is not an opinion. That is knowledge based on facts.

It's ok, Fox frequently mixes these up too.

why isn't this in *talks already

Adding video to channels (Talks) - requested by EDD.

If every religious man/woman thought the same way as this preacher, atheism would completely loose its appeal.

>> ^TerryF:
LOL, he says "The function of The Christ", sounds like he doesn't practice what he preaches.
You can't preach Christ and deny Him.


Yeah? Well you also shouldn't "preach Christ" and molest little boys. But that never stopped them.

Quoting a made up book that talks about an invisible man up in the sky who had a son which eventually turned into a zombie will not score you many points around here. Most of us don't subscribe to it's ramblings.

I heard his employers employer took his "retirement benefits" for this talk.

This is what i was telling everyone all the time. Now even the holy man says it's true.

Interesting stuff. Anyone know who this guy is?

John Shelby Spong, retired Episcopal bishop from Newark, N.J., talks about why Christianity must change its view of hell. Spong is one of the leading spokepersons for liberal Christianity.

This is only interesting because he's saying obvious truths about religion being false. But rather than coming about these truths by evidence (or lack thereof), he's coming about them by faith, which is retarded.

A lot of this sounds a bit like what I already believed.

For all the Christians who will deem it appropriate to remind us all how this is just some loose nut in the bolts. Please be advised that this kind of FOREWORD thinking is probably what your religion and many other religions needs to stay relevant. Your inability to let go of ridiculous things like Heaven/Hell and sins are exactly what holds you back, "metaphorically" or not.

He may not be the most brilliant thinker of the 21st Century but what he is doing is thinking for himself and I think you'll find this process is refreshing to a lot of people, religious and non-religious.

Heathens! Follow the Atheist Commandments that Wayne didst proclaim from atop Mount Shopalot:

1. Don't be an asshole.

That is all.

Loved it. Anybody know the preacher's name?

That sort of honesty is startlingly refreshing.

It's something that I myself have thought for a long time now, and it was comforting to hear him second my assessment.

Sounded OK (for a theist) until the clumsy speciesist nomenclature.

The teleology is not to "Become more human", but to improve ourselves.

Roughy, the preachers name is just a couple posts up.

What is the interviewers name? The guy is comical. He is almost a parody of himself. The Saturday Night Live guy who parodies him does him better than himself.

Why is it that atheists preach more than anyone?

Spirituality is personal, so if you need to push your belief or nonbelief onto others than you are probably seeking confirmation for your own thoughts.

I think there is one important thing that the "vs" argument is missing here.

His message works equally well for people who believe and people who don't.

Be a better human being. If you happen to believe, then this will help you be a better *insert religion here*. If you're an aetheist, this will just help you be a better human being.

Where's the downside? A good example of this would be Fred Hollows (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Hollows), an aetheist doctor who dedicated his life to giving sight back to the people of the 2nd and 3rd world who would never normally have the chance. Being a better person doesn't mean you have to be religious, just better.

I usually disagree with religious types because of the dogma they cling to. I admire the tenets of Christ but his followers bring far too much baggage for me (and they tend to forget what their lord and saviour actually did in the story of his life). I admire this guy for his humanity. What he chooses to believe is up to him.

This guy is a breath of fresh air

>> ^crillep:
Why is it that atheists preach more than anyone?
Spirituality is personal, so if you need to push your belief or nonbelief onto others than you are probably seeking confirmation for your own thoughts.


I could comment on the "preaching" and pushing beliefs bit... But both of those points aren't nearly as interesting as your conclusion. So, I'll keep myself to one comment:

Everyone should ALWAYS be seeking confirmation in their own thoughts. That's pretty much the whole point.

If he was a watch maker, would his mother suck cogs in hell?

When he mentions the Christ, he's not mentioning Jesus. He's mentioning the Messiah. The fact that he believes Jesus is the Christ does not hinder the effect of his message.

>> ^crillep:
Why is it that atheists preach more than anyone?
Spirituality is personal, so if you need to push your belief or nonbelief onto others than you are probably seeking confirmation for your own thoughts.


Oh fuck off. Atheists react to your type's bad-acid-trip religious mumbo-jumbo with facts and observations.

That isn't "preaching".

1

>> ^Payback:
>> ^crillep:
Why is it that atheists preach more than anyone?
Spirituality is personal, so if you need to push your belief or nonbelief onto others than you are probably seeking confirmation for your own thoughts.

Oh fuck off. Atheists react to your type's bad-acid-trip religious mumbo-jumbo with facts and observations.
That isn't "preaching".


I call bullshit on your sir. As an atheist, I have to admit that the one thing that will keep me calling myself an agnostic in public, is the general attitude most atheist fervently display. I really disdain how most atheists will call Christians out describing their beliefs as "bat-shit crazy" or the like only to turn around and say "I hate when Christians try to force their beliefs on me".

My favorite part about most atheists by far has to be the fact that the vast majority of us do not have even the faintest TRUE understanding of how these "LAWS/FACTS" of science work. Even if we do have a good understanding on a few of them, it takes a rare individual to grasp the understanding of the majority. Therefor, almost all of us are still dealing with FAITH in regards to our reasoning for atheism.
Religion in any form is an act of faith.

Questioning ANYONE'S faith is dangerous and usually leads to anger and anger leads to the darkside. (sorry could not resist.) Lets just suppose for a moment that all of a sudden GOD descended from the sky. While most Christians would be happy enough in their affirmation, their would be a few that felt the need to make sure you knew just how wrong you have been. Your natural instinct would be anger towards this person. Not because your they were right, but because they felt the need to point out that you were wrong. That does not make you a bad person, it just makes you human. SOOOO now turn the table. EVERYDAY we are discovering some new and interesting scientific observation, that you and I see as an affirmation in the lack of divinity. Some will make sure to point these facts out to those that practice religion, trying to reassert just how wrong they are to believe in there god/gods.
So I beg to differ on your opinion that it is not preaching.

Just keep your thoughts on creation and existence to yourself, unless it is asked or it encroaches on your well being. If you choose not to, then you are truly no better then the nutbar zealots we love to point our fingers at.

*philosophy

Invocations (philosophy) cannot be called by turboj0e because turboj0e is not privileged - sorry.

Irrational beliefs lead to irrational behavior.
It's perfectly reasonable to advocate against some beliefs.

*philosophy

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shinyblurry said: "What Jesus said is clear..Hell is a place of eternal punishment created for the devil and his angels, and anyone who wishes to follow in their ways. It is not an invention of the church, it is in scripture, clear as day."

@shinyblurry, you seem to forget that the "Scripture" IS an invention of the church!

To believe otherwise is delusion. (therefore I fear for your sanity)

Lots more good discussion is here:
>> ^siftbot:

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Check it out...

Delusional self-serving inventions?? Not religious people.

This perfectly sums up Shiny
http://i.imgur.com/8O7Do.png

I would consider sitting in a room listening to this man talk on occasional sundays.

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>> ^maximillian:

His opinion is just that, an opinion. He has no authority to back his opinion up. It may sound logical, and sure some people may believe what he is saying. However, you have to understand that he is talking from his own interpretation of what he thinks God is and what he thinks God's plan is.


You, good sir, just summed up every religion ever.

>> ^crillep:

Why is it that atheists preach more than anyone?
Spirituality is personal, so if you need to push your belief or nonbelief onto others than you are probably seeking confirmation for your own thoughts.


The moment one decides to restrict them self to and organized religion, to be told by someone else what is right, wrong, and why, one gives up the right to claim their is anything personal about their views on spirituality. Ironically, the reasoning behind ones decision to deny themselves this freedom of thought is usually exactly what you just cited; confirmation from others.