Church of England declares war on Atheists
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England’s churches are being encouraged to verbally assault the evil Atheists, from the pulpit no less. It goes without saying that violence often begins with words.
The arrogance of Christians the world over continues to astonish me. Religion, the “opiate of the masses,” is responsible for the slaughter and persecution of millions of innocent people. To my knowledge the Atheists haven’t killed anyone, at least lately.
Are the Jesus worshipers so concerned about the rhetoric of well known atheists that they feel the need to “mobilize” for an attack. Whatever happened to reasonable discourse? Wait. That is the policy of the atheist, not the Christian.
Here is the disturbing story from The Telegraph:
Clergy are to be urged to be more vocal in countering the arguments put forward by a more hard-line group of atheists such as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, who have campaigned for a less tolerant attitude towards religion.
Members of the General Synod, the Church’s parliament, will be asked at this week’s meeting to back the landmark report, which outlines a vision to ensure a strong future of the Church.
The rallying call comes amid fears that Christians are suffering from an increasing level of discrimination following a series of cases in which they have been punished for sharing their beliefs.
It expresses concern that Christians are facing hostility at work and says the Church could lose its place at the centre of public life unless it challenges attempts to marginalise religious belief.
A report endorsed by Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, warns that the Church faces a battle to prevent faith being seen as “a social problem” and says the next five years are set to be a period of “exceptional challenge”.
Commissioned by Dr Williams and Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, it says that religion in Britain is under threat from atheists, but admits that the Church faces many internal problems as well, from ageing congregations to rows over homosexuality.
Drawing particular attention to the threat posed by a new movement of militant atheists, led by Dawkins and Hitchens, it says the Church must respond if it is not to be pushed from the public square.
“One of the paradoxes of recent times has been the increasing secularization of society and attempts to marginalize religion alongside an increasing interest in spiritual issues and in the social and cultural implications of religious faith,” says the report, called Challenges for the New Quinquennium.
The Church must be “explicit about the need to counter attempts to marginalize Christianity and to treat religious faith more generally as a social problem,” it says.
“This is partly about taking on the ‘new atheism’.
“Bishops have a key role here both as public apologists and as teachers of the faith.”
The Church is keen to address the rise of new atheism, which has grown over recent years with the publication of bestselling books arguing against religion.
However, the document says that this intolerance is becoming more widespread and can be seen in public bodies, which it says must be challenged over attitudes of “suspicion or hostility towards churches and other faith groups”.
In recent years, a number of Christians have taken legal action against local councils and hospital trusts after being disciplined for expressing their faith by wearing crosses or refusing to act against their orthodox beliefs.
“There is still work to be done to counter the prevailing tendency of treating faith as a private matter which should not impact on what happens in the public realm.
“This is a challenge for all churches and faiths, but especially for the Church of England.”
The report, produced by the Rt Rev David Urquhart and the Rt Rev Alastair Redfern, the bishops of Birmingham and Derby respectively, also highlights the main problems facing the Church.
It says the Church of England can appear too vague on where it stands on issues and risks further divisions over the introduction of women bishops and future debates about sexuality.
“By conducting its internal discussions in public it offers a model of openness yet sometimes makes it hard for others to discern where it stands on particular issues,” the report states.
It predicts “the next five years are set to be a period of exceptional challenge for the nation and the Church of England.”
In particular, it points to the fallout from the economic crisis, shrinking and aging congregations and the retirement of 40 per cent of its paid clergy in the next decade.
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Your false claim that Christians have slaughtered millions is wrong. Atheists have slaughterd millions and this was in the 20th century. Hitler approximately 60mil, Stalin approximately 70mil and Mao no one actually knows. What about the genocide in Africa? I have not heard that they claim to be Christians. If atheists are so secure in their beliefs why do they try and prove there is no God? Why are they pushing their nonbelief on me?
The person making the extraordinary claim is the one who must provide proof of the claim. In the absence of proof, (most Atheists are scientific and skeptical, they need to be convinced before believing) one must have “faith”. This is a capacity not all people have. I have “reason” not “faith” in the case of supernatural claims about things like God, life after death, reincarnation, who was a “prophet” on earth, etc.
People are born unconvinced, and must be taught the specifics (brainwashed if you will) of their particular religion.
I don’t know of any atheists who “push” an “agenda” analogous to the political posturings of the religious right in America. All they ask for is that in fairness to ALL people (this includes Christians too), religion should be kept private so everyone can practice it in their own way- or not practice it at all.
Hitler was a Christian. Get your facts straight. Africa is almost entirely Christian, Muslim, or tribal-based supernatural religion. I can think of no secular societies in Africa.
You need to get your facts straight. They have taken religion out of the schools and are attempting to take it out of society. Why do you think crime is so high? Young adults and children do not know the consequences of right and wrong. I was a deputy sheriff for 35 years, I have seen through the years thoses who do not believe in God prey on others. Hitler was raised a Christian but he gave it up, he believed in the occult. Hitler had people give their oaths of loyality to him, not a higher authority. Without faith, society becomes more concerned about themselves and less towards others. How do explain all the crime we have today? Why do atheists have billboards and file civil actions against religion? I would say they are pushing an agenda.
Anyone else get the feeling that seats are empty in churches because people are turning to the dark side, and now the powers in those churches are getting bent there’s no money coming in? That’s my feeling about how vocal they are all getting. It’s like jingles for Jesus might help gets butts in the seats, let’s try that tactic.
Churches that embrace a secular society beliefs, abortion, gay marriage are the ones with empty seats. The Church of England is losing seats including their priests to the Catholic Church because they keep changing and redefining what is right and wrong. Churches that refuse to follow a secular society are thriving.
What the hell is wrong with treating faith as a private matter?
Your religion is like your genitals. Keep both to yourself and the world won’t ridicule you for flaunting what might be laughable. I sure don’t want either one waved around in my face or shoved down my throat.
Well said MH! I believe that these Uber-Jumpers have convinced themselves that it is their duty to recruit the unwitting and the unwilling into the Army of the Lord, and are prepared to do so at all costs.
Beautifully said!
If you read the New Testament, you will understand that Christ did not teach privately. Atheists teach publicly, what about Richard Dawkins? In fact he makes vile statement about God, how mean and cruel he is he writes books about it. He sounds like a public preacher for atheists to me.
Jesus didn’t preach privately. Atheists want to spread their beliefs, so, what is wrong with Christians spreading their beliefs?