C hristianity as we know it today is, arguably, more a product of Paul than of Jesus. The core Christian doctrine—that Jesus' death served as a sacrificial atonement for humanity's sins—is nowhere clearly taught by Jesus himself. Instead, this strange and unsettling idea originates largely from Paul, whose letters and theological interpretations reshaped the simple moral teachings of Jesus into a complex and often dark theory of blood sacrifice and divine wrath. In essence, Paul hijacked the message of Jesus and replaced it with a bizarre atonement concept rooted more in Jewish sacrificial traditions and Hellenistic mystery religions than in anything Jesus actually preached. Jesus’ Teachings vs. Paul’s Theology The teachings of Jesus, as presented in the Gospels, emphasize love, forgiveness, and moral integrity. Jesus taught his followers to love their enemies, turn the other cheek, and treat others as they would like to be treated. The Kingdom of God, according to Jesus, wa...

W hat does anyone know of Omniscience. Are there actually any "know-it-alls?" How far does omniscience extend for an omniscient being? Is there anything It wouldn't know? What does the Bible have to say about omniscience? The video below explores this topic with thoughtfulness, logic and some humor.

By MTC ~ I (a 39-year-old female) was diagnosed with autism in early childhood. Even though I turned out to be higher-functioning in several ways, I practically got punished for it (having autism).   My mom, having a tendency to be overprotective, and having to be cautious in certain places because my hearing was heightened and therefore loud noises triggered me, and people thinking I should live in a group home and/or be in special education... are just a few ways of how I practically got punished for something I didn't choose. My family had to overcome hardships and challenges as well because of my diagnosis, and I feel terrible for them. They love me and wouldn't change a thing, but I still wish they didn't have to endure their obstacles.   On one hand, my autism wasn't preached to me and/or my family as the result of sin, a punishment, or the work of "the devil." On the other hand however, I was taught that "God" creates us how we are, or at ...

By TheRedneckProfessor ~ T he concept of hell, on its surface, seems pretty straightforward.    Sin, evil, injustice, inequity, and all manner of human depravity are eliminated in one final stroke of god’s divine retribution.    It appeals to our own sense of morality; because there is some part of humanity that earnestly believes in, seeks out, and, indeed,  needs , justice, fairness, and equality.    Hell seems to provide that.    Even when no justice is ever served on earth, in this life.    Hell provides the suffering for those who made us suffer.    We want the Hitlers and the Dahmers of the world to be punished; yet, at the same time, hell provides the incentive for kindness when mercy, compassion, and humanity fail.    Simple, straightforward retribution for the crimes and atrocities of the worst of us.   Yet, as a christian concept, hell is extremely difficult to defend, when viewed in relation to...

L ately, I’ve noticed an interesting trend at the fitness center I frequent: as the years tick by, an existential panic seems to be driving many of the older regulars  into the welcoming arms of a trendy "Faith over Fear" version of Christianity. Meanwhile, my own enthusiasm regarding life after death has waned, much like my childhood fascination for Froot Loops that long ago lost any appeal to my more mature  palate. I refrain from openly scoffing at the comfort faith may provide to some; I appreciate the very human desire for safety and assurance in the face of the unknown. But while some people see the horizon of mortality approaching and find solace in the idea of something beyond the grave, I’ve found a peculiar kind of peace in simply accepting that one day I won’t exist. And strangely enough, that doesn’t bother me. Understanding mortality from a naturalistic perspective means letting go of the idea that I need a cosmic encore to make my time here meaningful. The fa...

By DissentOfMan ~ S ince becoming an exchristian thirteen years ago I've searched for answers to make sense of things. Mostly, searching for answers pertaining to why we are the way we are, why we behave/believe the way we do? I believe I've found the answers in determinism. What convinced me was the book Determined: A Science Of Life Without Free Will : by scientist and author, Robert Sapolsky. Here are some quotes from him. "All we are is the end product of what came before". "If you really believe this stuff, and take it to it's logical conclusions, were nothing more than the biology and environment over which we had no control." "If you really believe that, blame and punishment never make any sense, either intellectually or ethically." "Likewise praise and reward never make any sense, and those are the logical conclusions that come from this". How could we possibly have free will? Here is a video of him explaining in great...

I magine for a moment scrolling through your favorite social media feed, only to find that every post is a selfie—with a divine twist. That’s Paul the Apostle for you. His letters, replete with the singularly majestic "I," might just qualify him as the original poster obsessed with himself, albeit with heavenly credentials. The Many, Many “I’s” If Paul were alive today, his Instagram bio might read, “I, me, and I—delivering divine revelations one letter at a time.” A quick glance at his epistles reveals an unabashed love affair with the first-person singular. In a literary world where collaborative spirit is often celebrated, Paul’s incessant “I received,” “I saw,” and “I declare” almost reads like the ancient equivalent of a Twitter feed completely dominated by his own thoughts. Is it narcissism, or is it just really, really, really confident storytelling? One might joke that if self-absorption were a sport, Paul would have been the undefeated champion of the apostolic ga...

R ecently a Christian believer contacted me with the following request: "I received an assignment for a Christian Apologetics course. We were asked to ask someone who is not a Christian to present their worldview. Would you be willing to help me? I would be very grateful." To make the exercise a bit more interesting and perhaps thought provoking, I decided to answer the posed questions here as if we were having an actual discussion. Using the Socratic method, I answer the questions, and ask my own questions in return.  Sometimes my questions go unanswered.  Evangelical: Let's begin our discussion with a fundamental question: What do you think happens after we die? Skeptical Former Evangelical: That's a profound question. But before I answer, may I ask—what assumptions do you make about the nature of the soul and afterlife? Evangelical: I see life as having an eternal dimension—a continuation with God. How do you view the possibility of an afterlife? Skeptica...

By TheRedneckProfessor ~ I magine, if you will, a seedy hotel room in the dirty part of town.    In the corner there is a small table, the drawer of which contains a Gideon bible.    A garishly ornate lamp casts a pool of dingy yellow light upon the wall behind it, covered in peeling wallpaper, the fading floral pattern now more a study in browns after decades of dust and cigarette haze.    In this room we have a 10-year-old girl: a singular expression of innocence and unfettered hope.    Beside her, on the bed, is a 39-year-old pedophile rapist: the epitome of sociopathic sadism, a monster.    He is neither her father, nor her uncle.    He is, in fact, no one with whom this little girl should be alone.   We know what is going to happen in this room; there is no need to provide further detail.   This is the essence of meaningless, purposeless, gratuitous suffering inflicted upon innocence, examples of which can be s...