Bill, I agree with you. We don't need religion! No, not one of us do. But rather, what we need is a relationship....
As a Christian for many years with concern over the so-called atheists and agnostics in the U.S. seeming to be more vocal and more involved in politics nowdays, I decided to watch Bill Meher's comedy documentary called "Religuous" to see exactly he had to say. I suspected that it was a hit piece on Christianity and deeply concerned over what kind of influence it might have on spiritually and politically vulnerable people who might be influenced by it. Actually, now that I've watched it and have been thinking about it for a while, it is a hit piece on all of the world's religions and he's saying it's all rediculous. He even goes farther than that though. I would say that he is clearly saying that the world's religions play too big of a role in politics and he blames all or most of the world's violence as stemming from it and is a or the source of all kinds of evil. Did I get that right at least Bill? (if he's also reading this)
Trouble is, I say as far as he got things right in the documentary, he also got a whole lot of things wrong. I'll go even farther than that by saying that he is trying to change the country by diminishing or removing religion's influence in the public square. Also, he lumps Christianity in with all the other world religions and even various cults as bad. He fails completely to see the major differences between Christianity and all other religions (including cults and nutjobs) and he fails to see the role true biblical Christianity played in building this country and securing all of our individual God-given liberties and blessings, including all of our strengths as a nation and the security that we have enjoyed and taken for granted for so long in this country. Our founding fathers recognized that life and liberty is an individual right given by God and sought to secure a system of government that would best secure these freedoms. This can be seen clearly just by reading our founding documents such as the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
What is most disgustingly low to me is how he shamefully attempts to revise history by putting up quotes written by some other atheist (most likely) and saying they were written by our founding fathers. First of all, there are only 3 quotes in the movie which is suspect in and of itself. My guess is that other atheists wrote 2 of them (the Benjamin Franklin and John Adams quote) and then just attached an often repeated founding father name to them. The other quote claiming to be authored by Thomas Jefferson (who was a Christian), was probably based on a true quote and then revised to say the opposite. Here it is, I wrote all three down: "Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man." Is this supposed to fool the American people? Not me, I've been collecting founding father quotes for a long time. Although I've lost some of them, now I again have a pretty good arsenal and I know how they talked. First of all, Thomas Jefferson would not contradict himself within the same sentence. He and others were much better at using the English language. What do I mean? Well, "shone" is the past tense of the word shine or shined, that is to light up or bring light which reveals truth. So if it shone on us then it could in no way be something twisted or perverted. Also, even though the founding fathers frequently refered to God or the bible, they did not usually use the word "Christianity".
Here is a real Thomas Jefferson quote: "God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift from God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever." Thomas Jefferson, 1781 (notice also a little more detail, that is, the year it was written is included. Doesn't that make it a bit more believable at least? Also, similar language and points can be found in other government documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.) For all these reasons, Bill Meher's attempt to sell lies to the public is a dispicable, laughable, shameful and pathetic attempt to revise true American history. Bill, if your reading this, we can go to the Library of Congress for a quote or even just a regular library. We do not need a comedian for that, okay? Thanks for the laugh anyway! (Gee this is fun!:O)
You see, Bill doesn't really say exactly what he believes in the movie, only that he is one of 16% in this country that doesn't want anything to do with any religion. He claims this is a huge minority. Well maybe so bill but still a minority. Why should 16% be making the laws for the 84% that don't think or believe as you? Well Bill, what do you call evolution or humanism? Is it not also a religion just as religions are a bases for one's world view? It's certainly not science.... It's not even a ligitimate theory anymore. It hasn't been proven. Why do they keep talking about needing a "missing link" for sooooo long and why do they need all this time for things to upgrade themselves? Why are we finding flesh on dinosaur bones and whole trees that were buried upright through multiple rock layers? This evidence is better explained by the quick burial of a global flood. (ie, Noah's flood which the bible speaks of). Slow burial over ages and ages of time simply could not produce this kind of evidence. The bible in fact, has not been misproven by any recent discovery. They have only been found to be compatible with biblical history. In one part of his mockumentary, Bill was standing on the spot where it is believed to be where Sodom and Gomorrah once was, a story in the bible he claims to be unworthy to be believed. Yet, how do we know that's the spot where the towns were? Could it just be that something in the bible matched up with the known realities of this region?
Evolution has been taught in almost exclusively in our public schools for decades now and still more people believe in God than in billions of years required so that we can be viewed as an accident with no creator, purpose or destination. Those who want to teach evolution only often talk about critical thinking and diversity for the student. Yet, when those of us that believe in the inerrancy of the Bible want to provide another possibility as to explain the source of life and earth history and the physical evidence, they sing another tune altogether.
Also, I don't want to wait too long to thank Bill Meher for making this documentary movie. Why? Because I believe he made a case for mankinds fallen nature through sin as the bible teaches moreso than he made a case against true biblical Christianity. Also, he made a better case against all other religions and cults which want people to follow the leader of the cult rather than the Creator of life and all things seen. (such as Mormanism or that spanish guy that says he's Jesus that was included in the movie).... Or for that matter, idol worship which is a part of many "religions" which is really worshipping the created rather than the Creator, as the the bible correctly points out in one passage. You see, true biblical Christianity has been distorted by man's fallen nature or desire to do something to deserve God's approval, (or, ie, go to heaven) as do many "religions" and cults. The bible and true biblical Christianity taught therein, does not teach a "religion" per se, but rather, a relationship. This is such an important and vital distinction that needs to be talked about and shared throughout the whole world. (and why President Reagan referred to our nation as a shining city on a hill--like our founding fathers also believed--read the "Mayflower Compact" sometime)
You see Bill, I agree with you. We don't need religion! No, not one of us do. But rather, what we need is a relationship.... a proper relationship with God according to His rules, not ours. And here's the best news yet. His rules (Word) is not grievace and God is a giver (not like a selfish or jealous person but a selfless one like Jesus Christ), who said, lay down your burdens and give all your concerns to me (paraphrasing) for my burden is easy and my yoke is light. Also, salvation is a free gift from God and it cannot be earned through any observance mandated in a "religion" or by one's own good works, (actions commonly known as good), but only by trust in Jesus Christ's work which was "finished" when he died on the cross for the sins of all mankind. God layed on Him the penalty for our sin and then raised Him from the dead on the 3rd day for our justification before Him. Jesus now becomes our righteousness and our righteous judge. Our own best works are "as filthy rags" compared to Him who was sinless yet took our place to pay the debt we owed, so we would not get what we deserve (mercy instead of spiritual death) and gaining what we don't deserve (grace); forgiveness of sin and Christ Jesus' righteousness.
Most everbody knows John 3: 16 but verse 17 should also be known more. "For I come not in the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved." It's only a matter of humbly receiving this gift of God.... Bill. Then, by the Spirit the rest of the bible will be more and more understood with growthand you can believe in any and all of it's miracles. A miracle is by definition something that cannot be explained by natural observance, only by supernatural power can it be explained. The kind of power only the Creator of this world could have.... and only by the kind of love that Jesus our Lord exhibited can a man know his Creator and Savior and guide as one. That my friend, is not religion. That is relationship. Anything else is a rip-off and a lie the king of lies (Satan), the king of this world would want you to follow or believe. Believe only the truth (Jesus is Lord of heaven and earth) and the "truth will set you free".
God bless you all and may God bless America! If you have any question or like more information on how to become a Christian, please email me at jay_talsma@hotmail.com. Below is my Profound Quotes page, taken from the website I had made. It has some more founding fathers quotes as well as some great ones by President Ronald Reagan.
Jay Talsma
Bloomingtoon, IL
Bio-Line: Jay Talsma is currently a free-lance writer on the web and Christian/Conservative/Pro-Life song writer with many years experience on the front line in the Pro-Life Movement. He has worked as a side-walk counselor in front of numerous Chicago abortion mills and a male counselor at a PASS, Tinley Park, a Care Net pregnancy resource center. He has also been a coordinator for the National Life Chain for the 7 years in Bloomington/Normal, IL.
Profound Quotes:
OUR NATION WAS FOUNDED ON BIBLICAL AND RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES:
John Adams said, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people." George Washington said that national morality cannot prevail "in exclusion of religious principle." James Madison said, "We have staked the whole future of American civilization... upon the capacity of each and all of us to GOVERN OURSELVES (emphasis mine) according to the Ten Commandments." Below are a few more of my favorites which clearly demonstrate my point.
"Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon the teachings of the Redeemer of Mankind. It is impossible that it should be otherwise; and in this sense and to this extent, our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian." U.S. Supreme Court, 1892 (this was after 2 years of researching)
"We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that 'except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it.' I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel." Benjamin Franklin (Statement he made at the Constitutional Convention, June 28, 1787
"If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity." Daniel Webster, 1821
"God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift from God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever." Thomas Jefferson, 1781
"Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited... What a paradise would this region be!" John Adams, 1756 (America's 2nd President)
"I have lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live the more convincing proofs
I see of this truth; that God governs in the affairs of men."
Benjamin Franklin at the Constitutional Convention meeting at Philadelphia in 1787
More founding father quotes:
"Posterity - You will never know how much it has cost my generation to procure your freedom. I hope that you will make good use of it." -- John Quincy Adams (6th President of the USA and son of our 2nd President)
Here's just a few more profound quotes from President Ronald Reagan:
*** "Freedom is not something to be secured in any one moment of time. We must struggle to preserve it every day. And freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction."
*** "America needs God more than God needs America. If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under."
*** "Let us resolve that young Americans will always find there is a city of hope in a country that is free... and let us resolve they will say of our day and our generation, we did keep the faith with our God, that we did act worthy of ourselves, that we did protect and pass on lovingly that shining city on a hill."
-- President Ronald Reagan
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