Christianity And Reason

Christianity And Reason

(This is my response to Mr. Floyd Johnson, one of our unbelieving neighbors who often attacks Christianity in his letters to the Daily News Sun. JHW)

Once again our good neighbor Floyd Johnson has floundered in his fallacious attack against Christianity. Although he evidently sees himself as a prophet of unbelief, his letter manifests a lack of understanding about biblical Christianity, and the history of the church. He also displays a proneness to "mix apples with oranges" when trying to find some grounds for discrediting the religion of Christ.

I find it interesting that when unbelievers attack Christianity and those who follow Christ, it is considered genteel and appropriate but when a Christian responds to the charges and wild accusations, the anti-Christian squeals, Your answer is "extremely rude." Back in Mississippi the farmers had a strange saying. "Whether I cheer or complain depends entirely on whose bull got gored in the fight." Mr. Johnson's complaint was heard.

Again I state that I offer no apology or justification for the persecutions of medieval Catholicism. By citing that persecution and then assuming that all Christians are responsible for that is a logical fallacy. Watch as I use the same logic. Atheistic rulers in Russia and China have persecuted and murdered millions of Christians. But Mr. Johnson is an atheist. Therefore, he is responsible for the murder of millions of Christians. (I think I can hear him shouting, "Not so!)

I have Charles Lea's history of "The Inquisition of the Middle Ages" along with two other similar histories. They demonstrated the cruelty of a misdirected religious body that had forgotten the teachings of Christ. "Love your enemies and do them good" (Luke 6:35).

He is correct in saying that "the Church in Rome . . . ruled Europe" for centuries. However, this proves my point not his. When asked about his kingdom, Jesus responded, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If it did, my followers would be fighting to save me . . . " (John 18:36, NEB). Churches that are subject to Christ have never ruled a nation, nor will they ever do so!

He says, "Our Christian heritage began in 100 AD with the writing of the Gospels." Mr. J needs a study in Church History 101. Christianity had its beginning with Jesus who was born c.a. 5 B. C. The church belonging to Christ began in Jerusalem in the year of Jesus' death and resurrection in the 33rd year of the Christian era. The four Gospel accounts of his life are dated as follows: Matthew c.a. 60 A. D.; Mark, prior to 70 A. D., Luke, prior to 63 A. D.; John, 85-90 A. D. Paul's thirteen Epistles were all written prior to his death in 68 A. D. Roman Catholicism emerged in the 5th century.

He provides us with the name of the first and last heretics to be executed, although he offers no proof for his information. I remind him that Jesus, the founder of our faith, was executed by Roman authorities at the instigation of the leaders of the Judaism. Stephen was the first disciple of Christ to be murdered, James, the brother of John was killed by Herod Agrippa I and Paul was executed at the order of Nero. Many thousands more perished in the early centuries of Christianity, before Catholicism arose. Persecution of Christians continues to the present. The bloody history of atheistic Communism has accounted for thousands of Christian martyrs. It continues in China. Today, in most Muslim nations Christian's are considered fair game for persecution. Some are killed for their faith.

He repeats the talking points of the prophets of atheism, that most of the Founding Fathers of America were deists, not Christians. He seems to need a course in The Birth of our Nation 101. A check of the historical record shows that the 204 men recognized as "Founding Fathers of America" all claimed affiliation with a Christian denomination. To see this information in detail, check www.adherents.com

Our neighbor closes with his credo "May superstitions die and reason rule." For ones claim to "reason" to be legitimate there must be the following ingredients: 1. Facts. 2. Absence of prejudice. 3. Logical conclusions. 4. A willingness to hear and weigh arguments against one's position. 5. The ability to provide reasonable answers without vitriol and ad hominem attacks.

Our readers can evaluate who demonstrates these characteristics in his letters. Christianity is a reasonable religion. Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17). John concluded his Life of Jesus by noting that he had presented the facts of Jesus' life and ministry "that ye might believe" (John 20:31). Christianity is for those who want a reasonable faith, a meaningful purpose for life and an inspiring hope for the future.

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