Christian Piatt Patheos Blog - Latest Comments

Re: Hispters, Hippies and a Moroccan Mothers’ Day (Day Thirteen)

carol l — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:47:51 -0000

I have recently enjoyed your writings. I want to go to Israel. Is this a good kubbutz? How so you join a group? Carol Lawson

Re: Mark Driscoll on Women as “Weaker Vessels”

Mystery_gals_rock — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:20:04 -0000

sorry the ... that in the garden of Gethsemane Jesus submit to the Father in saying... Not my but Your will be done. And what about, Eph5:22

Re: Mark Driscoll on Women as “Weaker Vessels”

Mystery_gals_rock — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:08:39 -0000

In reference to your comment about women being the "helpers" of men, this is seen in scripture (Gen2:18) also the same word is used to describe the Holy Spirit (John14:26) and yet you would not say that, that makes the Holy Spirit any lesser than the Father would you? Also i noticed that you did not acknowledge .... stating that women are called to submit to their husbands as Christ submitted to the Father. Again i question whether you see Jesus as lesser to the Father. And yet these same words are the words that Mark has used to describe women as quoted from the Bible. This calls into question what scriptures you have to back up your point of view as all you seem to have done is poorly attempted to poke holes in his theology that seems to hold true to the Bible much firmer than your feeble hole poking attempts.

Re: “Angry Queers” Take on Driscoll, Mars Hill the Wrong Way

Tjay2988 — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:16:54 -0000

The violence and bullying I experienced growing up made me want to burn down every church, however, God has me that his love and grace is for all

Re: Hispters, Hippies and a Moroccan Mothers’ Day (Day Thirteen)

Jim Robinson — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:41:59 -0000

Enjoy the ramblin', Dude! You're on vacation, for cryin' out loud! And with a beautiful woman, at that. Forget us for a day or two. We'll (at least I'll) be here when you get back.

Re: Hispters, Hippies and a Moroccan Mothers’ Day (Day Thirteen)

Linda Brendle — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:17:38 -0000

It was a sweet e-mail. You're forgiven. :)

Re: This Is My Body (Day Ten)

Paul Freeman — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:39:58 -0000

Hi Christian. My comments may not parlay with your blog for today. But thought you might be interested. One of the members at Portland 1st is Keith Watkins. He has his own blog: http://keithwatkinshistorian.w... He writes much about bicycling, which brings up a point about Portland and pretty much most of the PNW. We are fairly well known for the love of bike riding, and Portland is known as the bicycling capital of all of the USA. The 3 ordained pastors at Salem FCC, in fact are avaid bicyclers getting to and from church on them and visitations to the hospital and about town that way.

How that fits into ministry, fitness, and our environment - great concepts and how we utilize it.

Re: Church Sign Epic Fails, Volume Thirteen

Roger Wolsey — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:48:00 -0000

in this era of photo-shop... i don't trust what I see anymore, but at least a few of them are legit, and at least a few are funny! (except for the ones that are tragic)

Re: Church Sign Epic Fails, Volume Thirteen

JoelR — Sun, 13 May 2012 22:53:04 -0000

Thanks, Christian. This is the first time I've laughed about that damn Amendment One crap.

Re: This Is My Body (Day Ten)

Carhopehas — Sat, 12 May 2012 12:37:36 -0000

Great reflection! Thank you...I will share it.

Re: This Is My Body (Day Ten)

Artbyjessicagilliland — Sat, 12 May 2012 01:25:32 -0000

Wow. Amazing. I love your writting style and the content. I struggle every day to slow down. I am an artist. I have to work very hard and intentionally to ground myself, to slow, to live. I agree that living so fast is so unbiblical. It allows no time to enjoy our heavenly Father or his blessings. It allows no real time got thanks and joy. I'm looking forward to reading more.

Re: This Is My Body (Day Ten)

Gayle — Fri, 11 May 2012 23:05:11 -0000

Interesting about how walking is what our bodies are made for; this is especially hitting home with me because of a bout with plantar facsitis. I have been doing lots of research and really becoming convinced that wearing shoes is very bad for us, for our backs and knees and feet... they give us an unatural stride and we lose touch with the earth. Conventional shoes also cause us to 'heel strike' which is not natural for our body. There are new shoes called barefoot shoes, like the New Balance Minimus, that let us walk around naturally... you can feel the sand or gravel or grass or pavement under our feet.... puts our body in a more natural stride and causes less stress on our whole body. I am rambling now, but this article is just confirmation for what direction I am leaning towards; thanks.

Re: Are Atheists Better People Than Christians? (Day Seven)

Bobby — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:02:42 -0000

The idea that Christians do good things because we have to and others do them because they want to is essentially what Christopher Hitchens leveled at many of the Christians he debated with. It’s a good point to keep in mind and while I wouldn’t say the entirety of the discussion can be wrapped up in such a generalization, it makes we Christians go back and do a double take. Loved the church sign, too. And I’ve sadly heard the same sentiment from waiters in other parts of the internet: Sunday crowds right after church suck.

Re: Don’t Think Too Hard; You’ll Kill God (Day Nine)

Josh Kelley — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:21:32 -0000

I am highly analytical, so my faith looks very different than my wife's, who is much more of a feeler. Yet that is how I relate to God and would be very unsatisfied with a "because I said so faith."

But one of the most important lessons I have had to learn is that the mind, as well as the heart, can easily mislead us. The problem with being analytical is not that the mind leads you away from God but the assumption that the mind is capable of understanding everything that needs to be understood.

Re: Top Five Stories from the Past Month

Jendogdoc — Thu, 10 May 2012 23:04:38 -0000

Christian, your "Vasectomy" story is an absolute HOOT! good job, we totally LOL! Jen

Re: Is Social Media Making Kids Sick?

cuffy_meigs — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:57:03 -0000

"Jeremy" went to Richardson High School.

Re: On Asperger Syndrome and Broken Hearts

Nancy Brink — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:53:07 -0000

Chapman University has a Nobel Economist on our faculty, Dr. Vernon Smith. When he came to Chapman, he and his wife joined First Christian Orange and he was baptized. And yes, Asbergers. One day at a time!

Re: Are Atheists Better People Than Christians? (Day Seven)

Elizabeth Anderson — Wed, 09 May 2012 21:40:57 -0000

That's exactly why I follow your blog, because I'm definitely not anyone's idea of a typical Christian. Which is why it hurts so much when people - even people on the Internet - judge me as soon as I say I'm Catholic, telling me how intolerant and evil I am.

And I have plenty of atheist friends, and all of us try to be decent people, and we can talk about our views without getting into anything bad.

I have to agree with two comments below:

First of all, I too am dubious of the study...I mean, how exactly do you "study" this? Are we picking random people off the street? Are we following them around to see their good deeds, or just asking them how many good deeds they do? I mean, what were the parameters of this study?

And also, I like the idea someone had about atheists potentially doing good because they've suffered themselves. My boyfriend and I are the same way... We were both bullied when younger, and we figure that's why we tend to not be judgmental now, because we know what it's like to be the "weird" kids.

Re: Are Atheists Better People Than Christians? (Day Seven)

Pixie47 — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:18:21 -0000

This reminds me of the story of The Good Samaritan. All the super-religious people ignored the person in need, but it was somebody who was an outcast because of his race and religion who showed compassion to a total stranger.

I find that the biggest predictor of how kind people are to others is to have suffered yourself. Perhaps a lot of athiests who have suffered unjustly for their views are more likely to be sensitive towards others' pain.

Re: To the Edge of the Earth (Day Eight)

Johnmoreno2007 — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:56:38 -0000

This whole passage exudes a desire for a life with meaning. If this is what you're looking for then you are doing the right thing. Just repeat what St. Augustine used to pray, "Whisper in my heart, tell me you are there."

Re: Are Atheists Better People Than Christians? (Day Seven)

Michael Mock — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:06:08 -0000

So, speaking as an atheist...

Put another way, if you’re part of a group that is stereotyped in a
negative way, you might go out of your way to act differently, even at
an unconscious level, to try and defy that stereotype.

...I don't think so. I suppose it's possible, at some level, but even if it were true, I don't think it's enough to explain the results of that study.

I'm also a little dubious about the study itself. In my personal (and purely anecdotal) experience, atheists aren't noticeably less moral than Christians... but they (we) aren't noticeably more moral, either. Which makes me wonder if there isn't a flaw in the methodology of the study, or - more likely - some flaw/bias in how that article is reporting the results and methodology of that study.

For example... how did the study define "highly religious"? I mean, are we talking about religious belief, or religious conviction? If they're measuring in terms of, say, attending church regularly and following religious rules, then what they're calling "highly religious" might skew more towards authoritarian personalities than actual religious beliefs... and I wouldn't be at all surprised to find a measurable connection between authoritarian mindsets and a lack of charitable impulses.

The fact that I find the idea (that atheists are more compassionate and generous) so appealing is precisely why I distrust it, if that makes any sense.

Re: Are Atheists Better People Than Christians? (Day Seven)

Otrotierra — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:46:14 -0000

Excellent article, Christian. Your provocative title reminds me that sometimes atheists are more christ-like than evangelicals. And I agree that coming to terms with this is not necessarily (nor merely) about indictment, but about confronting the truth and working toward a better future.

Re: Are Atheists Better People Than Christians? (Day Seven)

dschram — Wed, 09 May 2012 08:34:00 -0000

I would say that the majority are either agnostic or nominal Christians. Unfortunately it is the nominal Christian (who retain the outer form of religion but deny its power) is what the atheist or agnostic usually see.

Re: Are Atheists Better People Than Christians? (Day Seven)

Green Monk — Tue, 08 May 2012 23:33:05 -0000

Great post! I love this church sign. The church (much of it in America) has become a kind of franchise with its own logo. Sadly it should be that people will know one follows Jesus by their love, rather it becomes that society knows them for the very reasons mentioned above. Thankfully there are folks like you showing a different way.

Re: Hating Religion, Loving Jesus: A Well-Meaning False Dichotomy

Christian Piatt — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:28:10 -0000

I think there's still an assumption about Christian beliefs in your question that the article linked here addresses:

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/c...

Hope this helps.