Posted by Jim Henderson on: 02.08.2006 /
I read the comments people make in response to Hemants post about his first experience at a Catholic Church Mass and I find myself wondering:
Why aren’t Christians more interested in people, in hearing more about others viewpoints and insights.
Why don’t Christians honor people for “trying,” for being open and for being willing to hang out with us even though we are so opinonated and frankly scary way too much of the time?
Why did people feel a need to instruct Hemant about Catholicism even though he could care less about it? Why weren’t people able to “hear” that in his observations?
Why are we addicted to “preaching” people into relationship with God?
I would like to suggest a spiritual discipline for those of us who are planning to follow Hemant’s journey over the next few weeks.
Let’s cheer him on.
Let’s say, “thank you.”
Let’s say, “Wow - where do you get the courage.”
Let’s ask him questions about himself and stop talking about ourselves.
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Comment by: kim
1 02/8/06 11:45 PM | Comment Link |Does it sound insincere if I take this opportunity to say “Way to go Hemnant?” I really do think this is one of the most creative and gutsy things I’ve seen in a long time. Thanks to both of you for partnering up to do this.
Comment by: heidi
2 02/9/06 4:31 AM | Comment Link |Ditto, I’m impressed!
I’ve been following the posts as well, and it makes me sad. But I’m really anticipating Hemant’s observations and the dialogue it will spark.
Rock on!
Comment by: Bill
3 02/9/06 5:32 AM | Comment Link |Are you serious? How dissected from reality do you have to become to believe that lying to someone is “showing the love of God” and telling them the truth - that there will come a day when we will stand before Jesus Christ and be judged in righteousness, those covered by the blood of Jesus Christ through Godly repentance and faith in Jesus Christ will receive eternal life while those who do not repent and/or put their faith in Jesus Christ alone will be condemned to the fires of Hell for eternity - is somehow wrong-headed and misguided?
I would simply ask you Mr. Henderson if you are aware Hemant has said your money will be going to support an organization that is bent on scraping every last bit of Godly presence out of schools and society in general? How does someone get so pumped up in himself that he loses complete sight of the responsibility to be an ambassador for Christ and rather misguidedly throws money at someone to simply get him “churched” for a time so he might possibly get “saved” when the message delivered to Hemant by Kirk Cameron could not have been better stated that there are fewer and fewer churches in America where the Bible plan of salvation is being adhered to and taught.
Congrats Mr. Henderson on your donation to the wicked God-haters club known as the Secular Students Alliance. What a way to honor you Creator.
Love does not lie or deceive but has the willingness to lose a relationship to save a soul and to put God before man that the man-to-man relationship would be on a solid foundation rather than a slippery slope of self-delusion.
Comment by: Paul
4 02/9/06 5:41 AM | Comment Link |It’s an interesting though - here’s someone in Hemant who is doing something that I wouldn’t do - i guess the mirror image would be to sell going to mosques, or to an athesiest rally or a gay club - and yet he’s doing this. What does that tell you about the man, to be I think he is doing an awesome, brave, adventurous thang and I hope he has a great time doing it!
Comment by: Hemant
5 02/9/06 2:24 PM | Comment Link |To answer Bill: I’m not sure what part of Secular Student Alliance’s website you were looking at when you noted that we’re a “wicked God-haters club.” Because that’s so far from the truth. If you’re religious, that’s fine. However, there are Atheists out there. And for many of them, they’ve never met other people who think the same way. Our groups’ meetings are a place for these students to go to meet other non-believers, have discussions, and possibly eat pizza while they’re at it. If pizza is evil, then I suppose you’re right about us… otherwise, I disagree.
If you’d like an analogy (that may or may not work), there are gay kids out there who don’t have anyone to talk to. No one turned them gay. But it’s great to see groups at high school and college campuses that welcome them. We’re trying to do that for Atheists. We welcome discussion/friendly-debate with other religious groups and in no way try to stop the good works that they so often do. When Off-the-Map bid, they were bidding on me. What I do with the money is my business, and I decided to donate the money to SSA because I think their mission is outstanding. I’m sorry if you don’t feel the same way.
– Hemant
Comment by: Esther
6 02/10/06 1:50 AM | Comment Link |Very impressive move, Jim & Off the Map! I’m 100% supportive of the bidding.
And Hemant, I like your sincerity and seriousness towards life and everything. Man, your detailed observation at the mass and your attentiveness at the service at church… really got my admiration. I must admit that most of the church goers are not even half serious when they go to church as you are. Keep it up! Hemant, my friend.
And lastly, I cannot help but want to comment on the comment Bill had made. Unbelievable! I’m just speechless at the arrogant and self-righteous attitude that he had! I’m just wondering what would happen if on that day when Bill sees Jesus and finds out that Jesus is with Hemant and all those “wicked God-hater” people and they actually were friends for a long time? I don’t want to say no more.
Comment by: Eric
7 02/16/06 10:03 AM | Comment Link |I am another one of those unbelievers, an Atheist, but I am on and have been on a quest for truth for a long time. A quest that has brought me away from mainstream religion, yes, but one that has opened my eyes to a great many things that I may not have otherwise seen had I been as close minded as many “true” believers are. I am not suggesting that being a believer means you are automatically close minded, not at all (and many, many of the posts on here prove that point quite elegantly, I am glad that this organization is welcoming of a dialogue with us non-believers, in the interest of furthering all of our education and knowledge).
I do, however, have an intense aversion to the tripe espoused by Bill. I would have never even began to question my faith if that blood thirsty version of Christianity wasn’t what was presented to me as being the “good news” of the bible. I urge anyone with an open mind (I do not include Bill in this statement, but I believe it would do him a world of good to) to take a look at a very fascinating site I found recently, by a Christian, that debunks the myth of “hell” and “eternal suffering”. I have to admit, if I could ever get past the whole “god” thing, this one individuals very learned and wise perspective on the scriptures (not “Bible” but scriptures, the originals, in the original language, from as many of the oldest sources possible) may just be what it would take to bring me back into the fray of Chrisitanity (though not organized religion, I’m done with that game…)… the site is bible-truths.com. I would just like to leave you with a small quote from the site, a refutation and rebukement that the author had for a evanganical preacher concerning a sermon on hell (italics mine):
“You made a statement regarding someone who didn’t believe in Hell. You said: “You say, ‘Preacher, I don’t believe in Hell.’ That’s too bad, it’s still there and you’re going…” I noticed how you often build to a crescendo with your voice when soliciting an applause, as you did in this statement. The congregation then began to snicker, laugh, and then broke out into an enthusiastic applause. That’s really sick! Laughing and applauding at the fancied notion that someone is going to burn in a place called hell for all eternity is sick. If you think that’s funny, you’ll answer for it to God.”