January 10, 2009, 4:03 pm by dc-agape.

I have mentioned in a few posts about the bible verses and religious experiences that have contributed to my de-conversion from Christianity to Atheism.  Another topic that has contributed to this process is baptism.  In this post I will not go deeply into what the Word of God has to say about baptism.  Baptism is quite a complex topic and will require a number of posts in the Biblical topics section of this blog.  I will use a couple of verses and my experiences with baptism to explain how this topic has contributed to me becoming an Atheist.

Many different opinions exist on the purpose of baptism in the Christian faith.  Very few different “faiths” will accept the baptism of an “opposing” faith.  Catholic baptism verse Anabaptist faiths form of baptism being the worst.  But the Bible is quite clear on how baptism relates to the religion:

 ^{Eph 4:3-6} Make every effort to keep the unity of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

The Bible is not clear on how to baptize or who can baptize.  The word is used in many different contexts.  There is John’s baptism, Jesus’ Disciples baptism, Jesus’ baptism by fire, and the baptism that Jesus must go through.  As a result baptism has cause division in the faith, which Paul warned about in Ephesians.  This division is directly due to the Traditions of Men getting in the way of the Word of God.  This division, as a result, has nullified the Christian religion.  Without unity, which faith is the correct one?  Is any Christian faith correct at this point?

^{Luke 18:8} I tell you the truth, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?

Jesus was concerned about his return to earth.  He wondered if any would have the “true” faith.  Today, he has every right for that concern.  The Christian religion cannot agree on baptism and without agreement the unity of the body and the Spirit are corrupt.  If the Christian religion is “True” and exists, there is no way today of decipher which faith is the true faith! 

This disunity of the “True faith” is one reason I have de-converted.   But this is the “bookish” reason.  I have experienced this disunity in my personal life.  Each time I was “re-baptized” I became more confused about Christianity.  I have been baptized as a Presbyterian, a Sothern Baptist, and a Church of Christ.  Because of the Presbyterian baptism I can even enter Catholicism with minimal effort.  But the first one should have been enough!  Both the Southern Baptists and the Church of Christ had long and hard arguments for the additional “rites”.  Each time I accepted these arguments, and believed that I was doing the right thing.  The problem was: my sins had been washed away when I was baptized as a Presbyterian!  These additional “rites” to correct for the previously incorrect baptism only reinforced the fact that the Christian faith has a major schism! 

From the Atheist perspective, and interpretation, of my experiences (both bookish and personal) this schism in the religion shows that no god controls the religion.  The religion is only Traditions of Men, no Holy Spirit is involved.  The only “proof” required that no Holy Spirit is involved in today’s Christian religion is that the schism exists!  In future posts I will attempt to clarify the power of the Holy Spirit and how the schism in the church is “proof” enough that the Christian religion has no power and that its god is not real.

Posted in State of Mind, Becoming an atheist | Print | No Comments »

January 10, 2009, 1:44 pm by dc-agape.

Genesis 41:1-40

In this story we see prophetic dreams again.  YHWH knows the future, in fact he has plans to use a hideous famine (that he creates) to form his Chosen Nation out of his Chosen Family.  Two years have passed since the last prophetic dreams of the Cupbearer and the Baker.  Jacob has continued to be a prisoner in Potiphar’s house under something like Cupcake Camp (except that Potiphar’s house is mostly for men). 

On the day of Potiphar’s birthday, he has a dream. In the first dream, seven healthy cows are eaten by seven scrawny ones.  In the second dream, seven healthy heads of grain are consumed by seven withered ones.  None of the Pharaoh’s wise men could see the meaning of these dreams.  But all agreed that the dreams had a meaning.  Hindsight being 20/20, these dreams are quite easy to interpret.  In Pharaoh’s day only one person can figure out what the dreams mean:  Joseph.  Joseph, of course, claims that only YHWH can interpret the dreams that YHWH gives to people about the events that YHWH sets in motion.  Joseph tells the Pharaoh that both dreams mean the exact same thing.  There will be seven years of good crops and seven years of famine. 

Joseph goes on to tell the Pharaoh what to do to advert the disaster.  Pretty gutsy of Joseph, to tell a god-king what to do!  He tells the Pharaoh to store 20% of the harvest each year for used during the famine.  The Pharaoh sees this as good advice.  But he does not know of anyone, in his advisors, who can accomplish the job required.  He immediately appoints Joseph as the man of the hour.  And instantly, Joseph is made equal to the Pharaoh except in respect to the throne.

From a realistic point of view there is one major problem with this plan.  All grains, except rice, are very perishable.  And we know that the Egyptians did not grow rice!  Rice cultivation did not make it to the Mediterranean area until Alexander the Great in 344-324 BC.  We also know that rice by-product do not feed cattle very well.  So if grains do not store well, and does not feed animals at all, how can storage of 14 years of grain actually occur at all?  More can be read about grain storage here which includes problems with temperature, humidity, and pests.  This story could not have happened the way it is written!  The Word of God does not tell the “Truth”!  This story is a tall tale just like Johnny Appleseed and Paul Bunyan.

Posted in Tall Tales, Genesis, Readings | Print | 3 Comments »