Comments on: What If Christianity’s Critics Got Serious?

By: Ash

Ash — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I agree with your article, but the David Ott reference seems to be a little far fetched. I can't find any case within the last 10 years that fits your description. There is one that happened in 1996. It was dismissed. Also, it wasn't a hate crime...heck, I don't even think those existed back then...it was a charge of disorderly conduct with a hate crime modifier. Not the same thing.

Again...I agree with what you are saying, but you and others don't help our cause by failing to properly vet the sources of your information.

By: Ralph

Ralph — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

instead of worrying about thought police, we might be better off as Christians if there were more persecution….we take our faith too lightly. we should engage in assisting the poor and disenfranchised…not sure Jesus would always engage with critics….let them rant.

By: John UpChurch

John UpChurch — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Perhaps we, as American Christians, have simply become too accustomed to our own bubble. The stories I hear from believers who return from China remind me that Christ never promised an easy life for those who follow Him--in fact, He often told His disciples the opposite (He brought the sword, He said).

I stand in awe of those in other countries who have to memorize Scripture because owning a Bible is forbidden, face arrest, and still have such joy and hunger. Me? I sometimes forget to do my daily devotional. I even wonder how I would stand up under such threat. I can hope I would do well, but I've been quite sheltered in comparison.

I certainly pray that such things never happen here, but perhaps the prospect will be enough to wake us up somewhat--get us focusing on God more. And, really, the other benefit is the Sermon-on-the-Mount effect: praying for and loving those who attack us.

I know that I have been somewhat more asleep at the wheel than I should have been. And the more I hear about such things, the more I search God's Word for parallels and pray for peace and guidance. But, really, it's better not to need a wakeup call.

By: Phil

Phil — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56701

By: Brandon Cox

Brandon Cox — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I heard this week from a man who lives in a country where carrying two Bibles in your car places you at risk of arrest for an intent to evangelize. It always seems so far off, but the current shift in our culture is pretty radical.

By: Lex

Lex — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I think it can and it will. God's going to purify His church before He returns – even the Church in America. It's looking like He may use atheists and fundamentalist Muslims to do it.

By: Will

Will — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I'd say Christianity's critics already are pretty serious in...China, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, North Korea, Myanmar, former Soviet bloc and pretty much the entire Arabic world. How serious do we need it to become before we take to heart even Bob Dylan's words of some twenty years ago. "WHEN YA GONNA WAKE UP!". It is only in the overly affluent western world that the Christian witness often sleeps.

By: Anthony Peterson

Anthony Peterson — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I can hardly blame Richard Dawkins for his comments re the God of the Old Testament. Our theologians and preachers have dropped the ball in adequately reconciling this paradox. The truth is far more beautiful than it appears on the surface.

To be fair, the Jews have had trouble reconciling this as well. There's a reason why the film "The Ten Commandments" stopped at Mt Nebo, because to tell the rest of the story would have made Tarantino look mild.

God is good, but he is also very theatrical when he chooses to be.

By: mediaslinky

mediaslinky — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Check out Dinesh D'Souza's book "What's so Great About Christianity". He's an apologist that takes on the athiestic critics head on. I heard him speak lat year. maybe the smartest guy I've ever heard.

By: lemonfemale

lemonfemale — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

That isn't a source. It just links to someone saying the same thing. There is reference to him telling his story on a video but nobody I can find links to anything like a news story or court records or any such thing, and that includes pro-gay sites that say Ott was charged with harrassment for refusing to leave the other person alone when requested. I would have to call this story unfounded so far.