Why I Am Not A Christian, by Bertrand Russell Introductory note: Russell delivered this lecture on March 6, 1927 to the National Secular Society, South London Branch, at Battersea Town Hall. Published in pamphlet form in that same year, the essay subsequently achieved new fame with Paul Edwards' edition of Russell's book, Why I Am Not a Christian and Other Essays ... (1957). As your Chairman has told you, the subject about which I am going to speak to you tonight is "Why I Am Not a Christian." Perhaps it would be as well, first of all, to try to make out what one means by the word Christian. It is used these days in a very loose sense by a great many people. Some people mean no more by it than a person who attempts to live a good life. What Is a Christian? Nowadays it is not quite that. But for the successful efforts of unbelievers in the past, I could not take so elastic a definition of Christianity as that. The Existence of God The First-cause Argument The Natural-law Argument Then there is a very common argument from natural law.
The Roman Catholic Inquisitions Baal is the Catholic God So in St. Peter's square, the symbol of Baal is within the symbol of Ishtar, and at the center is an Egyptian obelisk, all representing pagan sun worship. Here is a close-up of the obelisk in front of St. The Medieval Tortures It is an historical fact the Roman Catholic Church supplanted all civil authority of the European Governments for exactly 1,260 years. The most common means of torture included burning, beating and suffocating, however the techniques below are some of the more extravagant and depraved methods used and allowed by the Roman Catholic Church. Torture room in the Inquisition cathedral in Nuremberg Iron Gag or Mute's BridleThis device stifles the screams so as not to disturb the conversation of torturers. Often those condemned to the stake were thus gagged because their screams would interfere with the sacred pagan music played during the grandiose public festivities in which dozens of heretics were burnt at one time. The Pendulum The Rack The Stocks
Evidence for the historical existence of Jesus Christ Evidence for the historical existence of Jesus of Nazareth (the Christ) as portrayed in the Bible is only found in three places: the Bible itself, other early Christian writings, and references by the various early churches (c. 100 CE) to the long dead leader of those churches. The only known possible contemporaneous (i.e. someone who lived during the supposed time of circa 6 BCE to circa 36 CE) source regarding Jesus is Paul who expressly states that he got his information through revelation not any human being.[1] Historians focusing on this era generally accept that there was likely an individual named Jesus who lived in Palestine roughly two millennia ago, had a very small following of people studying his views, was killed by the government, and whose life became pivotal to some of the world's largest religions.[2] Beyond this, however, there is no evidence over the accuracy of any of the descriptions of his life, as described in the Bible or as understood by his believers.
Dominionism Dominion Theology or Dominionism is the idea that Christians should work toward either a nation governed by Christians or one governed by a conservative Christian understanding of biblical law. At least under this name, it exists primarily among Protestants in the United States. It is a form of theocracy and is related to theonomy, though it does not necessarily advocate Mosaic law as the basis of government. Some elements within the mainstream Christian right have been influenced by Dominion Theology authors. Etymology[edit] And God blessed [ Adam and Eve ], and God said unto them, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." History[edit] Most of the contemporary movements labeled Dominion Theology arose in the 1970s in religious movements reasserting aspects of Christian nationalism. Christian Reconstructionism[edit] See also[edit]
Francis Schaeffer Francis August Schaeffer (30 January 1912 – 15 May 1984[1]) was an American Evangelical Christian theologian, philosopher, and Presbyterian pastor. He is most famous for his writings and his establishment of the L'Abri community in Switzerland. Opposed to theological modernism, Schaeffer promoted a more historic Protestant faith and a presuppositional approach to Christian apologetics which he believed would answer the questions of the age. Schaeffer's wife, Edith (Seville) Schaeffer, became a prolific author in her own right.[2] Schaeffer was also the father of—initially a collaborator with, and after his death the object of criticism from—Frank Schaeffer, an author, film-maker and painter. Biography[edit] Schaeffer was born on January 30, 1912, in Germantown, Pennsylvania to Franz A. In 1935, Schaeffer graduated magna cum laude from Hampden-Sydney College. In 1937, Schaeffer transferred to Faith Theological Seminary, graduating in 1938. Family relationships[edit] Apologetics[edit]
Census of Quirinius The Census[edit] Now Cyrenius, a Roman senator, and one who had gone through other magistracies, and had passed through them till he had been consul, and one who, on other accounts, was of great dignity, came at this time into Syria, with a few others, being sent by Caesar to be a judge of that nation, and to take an account of their substance. Coponius also, a man of the equestrian order, was sent together with him, to have the supreme power over the Jews. Josephus links the census to an uprising led by Judas of Galilee. The leaders of the uprising claimed that the census and taxation associated with it were tantamount to slavery.[6] It is unclear as to whether this was based on the fact that for the first time in many years they were to pay taxes to a foreign power, or simply that they feared the tax burden would be too high, although there has been debate about whether this was higher under the Romans than it had been under Herod.[7] The Gospel of Luke[edit] See also[edit] [edit]
U.S. Religious Knowledge Survey The Pew Forum’s religious knowledge survey included 32 questions about various aspects of religion: the Bible, Christianity, Judaism, Mormonism, world religions, religion in public life, and atheism and agnosticism. The average respondent answered 16 of the 32 religious knowledge questions correctly. Just 2% of those surveyed answered 29 or more questions correctly (including just eight individuals, out of 3,412 surveyed, who scored a perfect 32); 3% correctly answered fewer than five questions (including six respondents who answered no questions correctly). The scores on individual questions ranged from 8% to 89% correct. At the top end of that scale, at least eight-in-ten Americans know that teachers are not allowed to lead public school classes in prayer, that the term “atheist” refers to someone who does not believe in God, and that Mother Teresa was Catholic. White evangelical Protestants answer an average of 17.6 religious knowledge questions correctly. The Bible World Religions