Archives For American

Top 5 Reasons I Should Be An Atheist

Chris —  May 20, 2010

5.  I’ve never seen God heal an amputee.

4. It’s hard for me to honestly reconcile my understanding of science with a literal interpretation of scripture.

3.  Life would be easier if I didn’t have my beliefs.

2.  Religion is responsible for some of the worst things ever.  The crusades, Apartheid, CCM.

1.  It’s hard to tell the difference between atheists and many Christians.

Across the country (even in Austin) 80% of Americans  self-identify as Christians.  Yet we don’t see churches busting at the seams, divorce rates plummeting and peace breaking out everywhere.

I’m not an atheist, but it seems like I’m meeting them more and more.  I’m not talking scientifically minded people who enjoy the angry rhetoric of Richard Dawkins and the like. I’m talking about those within the 80%, whose lifestyles, relationships and beliefs structure show no evidence of any life change resulting from following Jesus.

Many who self identify as Christians might as well be atheists. I see it most in my generation. They’ve heard the gospel.  They’ve been to church.  They just don’t care.  Might as well be atheists.

Why do you think that is?

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A Peaceful Transition

Chris —  January 18, 2009

My roommate Trevor has been watching HBO’s Rome. It’s about Julius Caesar dismantling the Republic and becoming Emperor. We’ve seen similar demonstrations: countries whose military might is constantly fighting over who is in control. But I don’t think that’s what is going to happen on Tuesday.

I’m not a “proud to be an American” kind of guy. Don’t get me wrong, it’s just that my kingdom is not of this world. But some things do make me proud, like that fact that trough 44 presidents and over 200 years of history America history we have had one successful transition of power after another.

It’s easy to look back at Obama’s election and feel like it’s inevitable. But think about where what’s really happening: We’re going from 8 years of Republican rule to a Democratic president; From the man who rode into DC on the backs of the Religious Right, to the man who created a new generation of liberals. Then there’s the little part of being the first Black president in American history.

What we’re talking about here is PARADIGM shift.

On Tuesday, it will happen–peacefully. There will be parties. Police might even get called in. But I think we can count on it being generally peaceful. The fact that the Americans can go through a total paradigm shift, and do it without shedding blood, makes me proud to be an American.

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