tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post7450575346311592842..comments2024-03-10T10:40:32.319-07:00Comments on Pyromaniacs: April 1: Happy (?) Atheists' Day — Plus....Phil Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00649092052031518426noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-77204073077777385042008-04-04T17:10:00.000-07:002008-04-04T17:10:00.000-07:00Sweet post! Very thought-provoking!Sweet post! Very thought-provoking!Brookehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063032886145862296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-22225584958949608212008-04-03T19:36:00.000-07:002008-04-03T19:36:00.000-07:00A couple of good quotes from the March/April Moder...A couple of good quotes from the March/April Modern Reformation magazine "The New Atheism" issue:<BR/><BR/>"It amazes me to find an intelligent person who fights against something which he does not at all believe exists."<BR/>-Mohandus Gandhi<BR/><BR/>"Atheism is a crutch for those who cannot bear the reality of God."<BR/>-Tom Stoppard<BR/><BR/>"A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion."<BR/>-Francis Baconreformed truckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02502420700543848088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-89107373565097249532008-04-03T08:34:00.000-07:002008-04-03T08:34:00.000-07:00"When I was in college, I had one that said "Don't..."When I was in college, I had one that said "Don't be stupid" and on the back the verse w/ reference: "The fool has said in his heart there is no God"."<BR/><BR/>When I was in the Navy stationed in Virgina I used to wear a t-shirt that had Buddha hanging on a cross with the title:<BR/>"What's wrong with this picture?"<BR/><BR/>It was quite the eye-catcher and led to some great opportunities to share the truth. It also made quite a few people mad.<BR/><BR/>BillBill Lonashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15471751280072744556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-25123886524431092022008-04-02T18:17:00.000-07:002008-04-02T18:17:00.000-07:00Thanks!! Will try that - yes, I've seen some INCRE...Thanks!! Will try that - yes, I've seen some INCREDIBLY mocking things (esp. in cyberspace) aimed at God, and at Christ in particular. I was reflecting on that this morning during my morning commute...how that must make Him feel. Imagine you've died for someone, only to be sneered at and have your name dragged through the mud for a couple of millenia. Now imagine you're God Incarnate, same scenario. Yet it never ceases to amaze and sadden me.<BR/><BR/>On a lighter note, amen on Trader Joes. Very good prices on nice European cheese and organic avocados....oh no wait; we have to keep those away from Phil.....tell you what, if we have a pyro-party, I'll make the guacamole this time and handle all the sharp implements. Phil needs his hands.mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07786469453707749478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-28374699933308789312008-04-02T16:46:00.000-07:002008-04-02T16:46:00.000-07:00Marie:Google "cafepress" to get you to a tshirt si...Marie:<BR/><BR/>Google "cafepress" to get you to a tshirt site that equals Amazon in size and scope; then, in their search box, just type "atheist" and scroll through all of the selections. Note: the site is fantastic in terms of selection (vast), service, reliability, etc., but just be aware that they do not hold to any particular ideological positions because they are simply an online mall of sorts for various vendors. With a search like "atheist," be prepared for some highly offensive and hurtful remarks about our God.<BR/><BR/>Oh, I didn't know Trader Joes was also back east; I love that store for everything I want, but do not necessarily need, that fills my fridge! Such tasty food!Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01930864320573865515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-91198070217669548102008-04-02T12:55:00.000-07:002008-04-02T12:55:00.000-07:00Daryl, A joke? Well thanks a lot you just mess up...Daryl,<BR/><BR/> A joke? Well thanks a lot you just mess up a good righteous indignation moment there:-). Thats what happens when you breeze through the comments section.<BR/> Brother I am sorry will you forgive me?<BR/> <BR/>Bryan,<BR/><BR/> Amen! Blessings.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-91055581769078198822008-04-02T12:47:00.000-07:002008-04-02T12:47:00.000-07:00It's not often one gets a chance to use this quote...It's not often one gets a chance to use this quote:<BR/><BR/><I>...so that atheism which consists rather in ostentatious words and blasphemies should be called speculative, but that which is rather occupied with impious deeds should be termed practical. Now while we admit there are many practical atheists, we deny that there are any speculative.</I> <BR/> Turretin, <I>Institutes</I>, V1, Third Topic, Question 2Crishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05560400979069985587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-58520436985584843382008-04-02T05:03:00.000-07:002008-04-02T05:03:00.000-07:00Ummmm...Alex?(whispering so as not to embarrass an...Ummmm...Alex?<BR/><BR/>(whispering so as not to embarrass anyone) that was a joke...<BR/><BR/>It's OK, jokes in the meta often get missed by on-lookers...<BR/><BR/>(In a normal voice)<BR/>You're right, of course, Alex.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-43266244019063172312008-04-02T02:19:00.000-07:002008-04-02T02:19:00.000-07:00Polycarp,Seriously, where can I get one of those s...Polycarp,<BR/><BR/>Seriously, where can I get one of those shirts?!? <BR/><BR/>When I was in college, I had one that said "Don't be stupid" and on the back the verse w/ reference: "The fool has said in his heart there is no God". <BR/><BR/>Used to annoy lots o' folks in the dining halls of Syracuse University. We have Trader Joes here in MA, too. Good on you for the proselytizing.mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07786469453707749478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-69922844208320763102008-04-01T23:49:00.000-07:002008-04-01T23:49:00.000-07:00Prov 29:20 "Do you see a man who is hasty in his w...Prov 29:20 "Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him."the postmortemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06374570360503910669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-29623256850862009062008-04-01T23:22:00.000-07:002008-04-01T23:22:00.000-07:00Dan, I think it's a mistake to use Scripture for w...Dan, I think it's a mistake to use Scripture for wordplay.the postmortemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06374570360503910669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-15285710308414704512008-04-01T22:58:00.000-07:002008-04-01T22:58:00.000-07:00Alex,I am glad this verse was true for me.But God ...Alex,<BR/><BR/>I am glad this verse was true for me.<BR/><BR/>But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.Bryan Rileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00788345747841842640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-2072212406930379542008-04-01T20:41:00.000-07:002008-04-01T20:41:00.000-07:00And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of he...And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!<BR/><BR/>My paraphrase: stupid fools (more softly, you big dummies), be believing all the prophets have spoken!<BR/><BR/>But the O! is emphatic, indicating amazing incredulity...<BR/><BR/>"It's just a flesh wound."<BR/><BR/>"A flesh wound, your arms cut off."<BR/><BR/>"No it isn't."Strong Towerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13834108238546908018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-50601200159217170182008-04-01T20:27:00.000-07:002008-04-01T20:27:00.000-07:00One who is wise is cautious and turns away from ev...One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless...<BR/><BR/>Addendum: fools are the 'spontaneous' generationStrong Towerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13834108238546908018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-73039311972406168662008-04-01T20:21:00.000-07:002008-04-01T20:21:00.000-07:00Daryl,Jesus loves everyone? I think you need to be...Daryl,<BR/><BR/>Jesus loves everyone? I think you need to be careful, read Psalm 5:5<BR/>He HATES workers of iniquity! He wants them to come to repentance, but if these fools, as the bible describes continue in their stiff neck ways the wrath of God abides on them (John 3:36).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-33527548370790790422008-04-01T20:05:00.000-07:002008-04-01T20:05:00.000-07:00Whatd'ya mean, "fools"? Ya mean spontaneous genera...Whatd'ya mean, "fools"? Ya mean spontaneous generation isn't true????<BR/><BR/>:-Pterriergalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08801794520433439408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-3072485612875683242008-04-01T19:27:00.000-07:002008-04-01T19:27:00.000-07:00Good point Stefan! It just may very well be that o...Good point Stefan! It just may very well be that ol' Willie was familiar with this verse, and that he possibly (I say this with strong hesitation) held a secret desire to celebrate the Christian message through the use of all his "fools" in every play where they appear? Who knows. But, nonetheless, it is indeed a common thread throughout all of Shakepeare's works that the role of the fool is always characterized by an individual who is seemingly invaluable and/or irrelevant to the environment in which he resides, mocked, completely disregarded as having nothing worthwhile to say....and yet offers his hearers some of the best gems of wisdom. Some brilliant and profound words come from fools.<BR/><BR/>Again, great point!Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01930864320573865515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-57782031394239719952008-04-01T19:11:00.000-07:002008-04-01T19:11:00.000-07:00It just occurred to me...we are fools for Christ, ...It just occurred to me...we are fools for Christ, who preach the folly of the Gospel.<BR/><BR/>In Shakespeare's plays (e.g., King Lear), wasn't it the fool who saw the truth of a situation clearly?<BR/><BR/>Just a thought....Stefan Ewinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05530690016594029847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-60795577482661780812008-04-01T18:38:00.000-07:002008-04-01T18:38:00.000-07:00The Postmortem — Of course you're right about the ...<B>The Postmortem</B> — Of course you're right about the dangers of committing semantic anachronism. However, here it was a wordplay, and was not presented as a precise philological explanation — any more than Exodus 2:10. (This isn't my Greek blog.)<BR/><BR/>My Collins unabridged gives a first definition for "moron" of "a foolish or stupid person." That works.<BR/><BR/>And no, Romans 1:22 does not come in an immediate context of idolatry and immorality to the exclusion of the noetic effects of sin; see the immediately-preceding verses.<BR/><BR/>As to the rest, it's okay with me if it irritates atheists to find that their faith-position has made them stupid — morons, even. I don't find Scripture to be overly concerned with flattering atheists, idolaters, or other suppressors of God's revelation, or with protecting their feelings. In fact, I observe a good deal of taunting (cf. 1 Kings 18:27).DJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-64438039006804584442008-04-01T18:14:00.000-07:002008-04-01T18:14:00.000-07:00To "honor" their day, I wore my bright red t-shirt...To "honor" their day, I wore my bright red t-shirt that reads:<BR/>"God does not believe in atheists; therefore, athesits do not exist". I thought today would be a good day to do some food shopping at my local Trader Joes store (a so. cal thing for those of you who might be unfamiliar with this chain); this particulalr store tends to attract a more left-leaning customer base for some reason, although there tends to be that feel, to some degree in all of them. I found myself engaged in three "conversations" about my shirt and my reason for wearing it today of all days (got a very nasty look from a gal boasting a PETA shirt...wonder why???). Hey, I was missional today--whaddayaknow!Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01930864320573865515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-12395319980178213692008-04-01T17:20:00.000-07:002008-04-01T17:20:00.000-07:00Dan,In your post, you reference the word "ἐμωράνθη...<B>Dan</B>,<BR/><BR/>In your post, you reference the word "ἐμωράνθησαν", transliterated "emōranthēsan" and made a parallel to to our English word "moron". You recognized Paul was using that Greek word referring to atheists, thus justifying your calling them "morons". <BR/><BR/>But is this correct?<BR/><BR/>My Webster's dictionary defines a moron as "a feebleminded person or mental defective who has a potential mental age of between 8 and 12 years..." (which is what I think people mean these days), Thayer and Smith define that greek word as, "to be foolish, to act foolishly". <B>Feeblemindedness</B> and <B>stupidity</B> (slow-mindedness) are both <I>very</I> different than <B>foolishness</B>, though often (and wrongly) understood to be synonymous. I don't think it's true that that Greek word means the same thing in modern English as it did in Paul's day. <BR/><BR/>In D.A. Carson's book "Exegetical Fallacies" he classifies this type of mistake as <B>semantic anachronism</B>: "when a late use of a word is read back into earlier literature". Interestingly, he makes his first example "dunamis" in Romans 1:16, since preachers often conflate it with the current meaning of the word "dynamite" when that (wasn't even created yet) clearly wasn't Paul's intent. <BR/><BR/>Getting back to the matter at hand...<BR/><BR/>In the context of what Paul is talking about in Romans 1, he's certainly not reprimanding the unbeliever for not being smart; he takes them to task for a <I> foolish lifestyle</I> of idolatry and unnatural sexuality. Is he not?<BR/><BR/>Thus, your opening claim that atheists are morons seems to me to be unnecessarily inflammatory. At worst, it runs the risk of calling someone else "raca", or empty-headed, when we should actually say they are foolishly wasting their life on evil pursuits.the postmortemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06374570360503910669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-58938726865549586142008-04-01T16:59:00.000-07:002008-04-01T16:59:00.000-07:00A fool is a fool is a fool. No need to create cate...A fool is a fool is a fool. No need to create categories of greater or lesser foolishness. All the categories of fool we need are explained in the Scriptures, particularly in Proverbs as Dan has listed so many of here.<BR/><BR/>Or to paraphrase Forrest Gump: <B><I>Foolish is as foolish does.</B></I>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-15884592216532926112008-04-01T14:55:00.000-07:002008-04-01T14:55:00.000-07:00Today's Spelling Lesson(tap, tap)Attend, please:"'...<EM>Today's Spelling Lesson<BR/><BR/>(tap, tap)<BR/><BR/>Attend, please:</EM><BR/><BR/>"'i' before 'e' except after 'c' -- also in 'neighbor' and 'weigh'"<BR/><BR/>So much for mnemonic devices. As you were...threegirldadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10514416693800430357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-65021094318210328182008-04-01T14:54:00.000-07:002008-04-01T14:54:00.000-07:00Wonderful post...wish I had thought of connecting ...Wonderful post...wish I had thought of connecting April fool's Day with God's definitions of a fool! As my late Texan pastor dad used to say, "That'll preach."Cindy Swansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14090693362997103412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-44700292437469731252008-04-01T13:57:00.000-07:002008-04-01T13:57:00.000-07:00Dan,I like the post, but, I submit that today is a...Dan,<BR/><BR/>I like the post, but, I submit that today is also a day for those in Christ to "celebrate", at least according to 1 Corinthians 1:26-29.<BR/><BR/>In other words, according to Paul's rebuke in chapter 4, verses 6-13, we should all gladly consider ourselves "Fools for Christ"!<BR/><BR/>Soli Deo GloriaNoLongerBlindhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00442745304762344386noreply@blogger.com