From: Dr. Blake Nelson (bnelson301@yahoo.com)
Date: Fri May 23 2003 - 09:20:07 EDT
JimE,
It is statements like "it is obvious that atheists
enjoy freedoms that Christians don't" that continue to
boggle my mind.
I don't mean to be disrespectful, but you appear to
have no understanding of Christian theology when you
make a statement like this. I suppose if you mean
that atheists are able to worship Baal, covet things
that belong to other people, bear false witness, etc.
you are on a superficial level _partially_ correct.
(Of course, Christians still do many of those things
-- although I doubt whether any Baal worship occurs
these days.) However, if you mean that atheists are
in any sense existentially more "free" than
Christians, you are simply wrong.
Part of the problem is that I think you don't have a
clear understanding of what freedom means. And in
fact the Gospel produces a profound freedom -- when
properly understood -- that atheists do NOT have.
May I suggest that a good place to start (although
others on the list may have better references) is with
Luther's "Concerning Christian Liberty".
http://www.bartleby.com/36/6/2.html
Perhaps, it will begin to banish some of your
misunderstandings of what freedom means and why
Christians have more meaningful freedom than an
atheist.
As Luther writes:
A Christian man is the most free lord of all, and
subject to none; a Christian man is the most dutiful
servant of all, and subject to every one.
Although these statements appear contradictory, yet,
when they are found to agree together, they will make
excellently for my purpose. They are both the
statements of Paul himself, who says, “Though I be
free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto
all” (1 Cor. ix. 19), and “Owe no man anything, but to
love one another” (Rom. xiii. 8). Now love is by its
own nature dutiful and obedient to the beloved object.
Thus even Christ, though Lord of all things, was yet
made of a woman; made under the law; at once free and
a servant; at once in the form of God and in the form
of a servant.
-----------
Don't worry, JimE, it is a relatively short read and
well worth it.
--- RFaussette@aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 5/22/03 8:32:55 PM Eastern
> Daylight Time,
> jeisele@starpower.net writes:
>
>
> > it ought to be obvious that atheists enjoy
> > freedom that Christians don't.
> >
> >
>
> Yes, but do you know any group of atheists that has
> survived 4,000 years as a
> distinct and gifted people? I don't. You don't
> mention the advantages of
> religion, only freedom? To do what? Sacrifice to
> moloch, lie with another man as
> with a woman? Which freedom is most important to
> have?
> rich
>
>
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