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Right Turn: Turning Lives Around Through Community

Penn Jillette is one half of the magic team known as Penn and Teller.  He is widely known for his hard to believe illusions.  But Penn is also known for his disdain for Christianity.  Penn writes and speaks often against religious belief.  In an on-line video blog, Penn tells of meeting a Christian man after a magic show.  The man tried to share his faith with Penn (in Penn’s words, the man tried to “proselytize” him.)  Here’s what happened…Read More »Right Turn: Turning Lives Around Through Community

Irreligious: Forsaking Religion and Finding Jesus’ Lord (Mk. 12:35-37)

Chris Altrock – August 15, 2010

Robin Meyers grew up in Churches of Christ.[i]  Along his journey, however, he became disenchanted not only with Churches of Christ, but with all theologically conservative groups.  In his book Saving Jesus From the Church Meyers describes this disenchantment as him rejecting Christ but embracing Jesus.  In fact, the subtitle to his book is “How to Stop Worshiping Christ and Start Following Jesus.”  Meyers began to make a distinction between the “Christ” whom conservative mainline churches have historically emphasized and the “Jesus” whom Meyers had rediscovered recently in the pages of the Bible.  Meyers ultimately became repulsed by people who mistreated others yet said they believed in the orthodox doctrines about Christ (e.g.,. the virgin birth, the miracles of Christ, and his resurrection from the dead).  Meyers came to believe that all of these doctrinal matters about Christ were of little significance.  What mattered most was living out the example left behind by Jesus—treating people the way Jesus would.

 

Read More »Irreligious: Forsaking Religion and Finding Jesus’ Lord (Mk. 12:35-37)

Irreligious: Forsaking Religion and Finding Jesus’ Law (Mk. 12:28-34) Chris Altrock – August 8, 2010

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” (Mk. 12:28 ESV)  A scribe approaches Jesus in the temple.  This scribe joins a long list of people at the temple who have been verbally sparing Jesus.  The chief priests, scribes and elders have interrogated Jesus about his authority.  The Pharisees and Herodians have double-teamed Jesus regarding taxes.  The Sadducees have grilled Jesus about resurrection.  And now this scribe takes up the fight.  Matthew specifically tells us that this scribe has come to “test” Jesus.  Mark notes that the scribe has seen how Jesus handled the Sadducees.  Perhaps the scribe believes he can do a much better job than the Sadducees.[i]

 

Read More »Irreligious: Forsaking Religion and Finding Jesus’ Law (Mk. 12:28-34) Chris Altrock – August 8, 2010

Irreligious: Forsaking Religion and Finding Jesus’ Money (Mk. 12:13-17) Chris Altrock – July 25, 2010

Politics and religion.  Church and state.  They are often the two topics which many people refuse to talk about.  And people are especially wary of attempts to combine the two.  A 2008 study by the Pew Forum found a significant increase in the number of people who say that churches should not get involved in political issues.[i] In 2004, 37% of conservatives felt the church should stay out of politics.  In 2008, that number rose to 51%.  The same study found that a growing number of people are uncomfortable with political candidates speaking about religion. In 2004, 40% said they did not want political candidates talking about religious issues.  By 2008, that number rose to 46%.

 

Read More »Irreligious: Forsaking Religion and Finding Jesus’ Money (Mk. 12:13-17) Chris Altrock – July 25, 2010