Monthly Archives: September 2005

When is an atheist an atheist?

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“I’m an atheist.”

The newest fashionable philosophic stance!  But I’m not sure what people mean by it!

Used to be we had Madalyn O’Hair around to aggressively point out that atheism was not Christianity.  Then we had the university crowd who wanted freedom from teenage ideas of God.  But now?

Now we have the new atheists.  Of course, there are the agnostics.  Meaning they don’t know whether their is a God or not.  They take a neutral stance.  But, the new atheists would not like the term agnostic.

I hear some of the most spiritual people claim they are atheists.  Spiritual in that they believe in visions, yoga, coincidences, big bang theories and almost anything!  They seem to want to deny “God”, but accept anything that looks like God – as long as it is not called “God.” 

And so the new atheist says there isn’t a God.  And by saying it, dismisses God.  Then they look at phenomenon around them and create new linguistic categories that sound a lot like the old word “God.”

So, help me out.  When is an atheist an atheist?

Life's bowl

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A picture is worth a thousand words!  So what words are in this picture??

If you look on a kitchen countertop you may find a bowl turned upside down.  A melmac bowl, a term that is year’s old and no longer used. 

An inheritance from my grandmother.  From almost thirty years ago.  One that has lasted the years.  Of all the things we may inherit, I’m inclined to enjoy the daily reminders.  Those ordinary items that remind me day by day of those that have had an effect on my life.

Grandma lent us her house when we first got married.  She raised nine children.  Carried plowshares across fields to town to be fixed.  Had that quiet kind of approach to life you love to be around.  And every time her husband would tease us and start to joke with the grandkids we’d hear “Now, Carl!” and we all knew we were in for a good time!!

Grandparentitis

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We are going to be grandparents.  End of October.

So, I’m practicing.  Last night we had a famiiy group over that had an 8 month old.  So I held her for a bit while the mother ate (high chairs are good for a few minutes, then there is always the inevitable desire to escape – that’s where another set of hands is good to have around.)

                                                               

The week before, we were with a young couple in a restaurant.  They had an infant less than a year old.  He was rather cute (rather photgenic if you ask me!).   I grabbed him (OK, so mom let me gently lift the young man) and held him.  It’s just plain fun!

Of course, I’d like to think I’m still young enough to be a father!  But I have to accept reality!  At 52 (which I hit on Wednesday), I’m no longer what I used to be.  And maybe there is some good to that. 

The kids go home at night.  I go home at night.  I sleep – and they . . .

 

Bumper stickers

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An author proclaimed he disliked bumper sticker theology.

That’s where someone writes something in a short sentence summing up myriads of thought and consideration over centuries of discussion and debate. 

I love bumper stickers.  I have a feeling this author did too!  His article was full of pithy sayings.  “We don’t live to survive, or even thrive, but to serve.”  Not bad.

But here is the one that really struck me.  “Let’s die facing the right direction.”  Never in retreat, always in advance.  That’s how I want to live! 

The preceding comments brought to inspired by the latest Promise Keepers book The Awakening Experience.  [Which book is not on a Canadian website – you have to phone 1-888-901-9700]