Last year, I wrote something about the need to fight anti-gay discrimination, even if we believe homosexual activity is morally wrong. If you still think these efforts are unnecessary (or even bad), please read this article:
Teen Commits Suicide Due to Bullying
I know one article probably won't completely change anyone's mind, but I hope it gets you to keep thinking about the issue. This guy didn't identify himself as gay, but a severe lack of tolerance for people who fit gay stereotypes and a severe lack of people sticking up for the guy led to his death.
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Monday, December 29, 2008
The End.
Do you ever notice themes to certain years in your life? I half-jokingly called 2007 my year of worldly success. I started that year unemployed, living with my parents, and without a girlfriend. By the end of the year, I had a job, I owned a condo, and I had a girlfriend.
2008 seems to be the year of endings.
For the first time that I know of, a couple whose wedding I attended are now separated.
My girlfriend and I broke up (in February).
On more of a national and global scale, our economic growth has ended, for a while. Somebody even said, "We are not in a recession. We are not even in a depression. We are at the end of an era." I have no idea if they're right.
For the second time that I know of, a couple whose wedding I attended are now separated.
Recently, the Christian college I attended in 2000-2001 (Taylor University College) announced that it is closing next year. Its seminary will remain open.
Most of these things don't directly involve me, and I can't say that I regret the changes that do directly involve me. But thinking about all this stuff puts me in a bit of a melancholy mood.
2008 seems to be the year of endings.
For the first time that I know of, a couple whose wedding I attended are now separated.
My girlfriend and I broke up (in February).
On more of a national and global scale, our economic growth has ended, for a while. Somebody even said, "We are not in a recession. We are not even in a depression. We are at the end of an era." I have no idea if they're right.
For the second time that I know of, a couple whose wedding I attended are now separated.
Recently, the Christian college I attended in 2000-2001 (Taylor University College) announced that it is closing next year. Its seminary will remain open.
Most of these things don't directly involve me, and I can't say that I regret the changes that do directly involve me. But thinking about all this stuff puts me in a bit of a melancholy mood.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Why people give up faith
You get two posts for the price of one today!
A Christian radio station in Edmonton likes to mention something related to Christianity during it's newscasts. Frequently, they have reports about things that World Vision or other Christian organizations are doing in poor countries. Today, they played a clip of Ken Ham from Answers in Genesis talking about how bad it is that some churches support the theory of evolution. The report said many people give up their faith in Christ when they get into college where they're taught evolution as fact.
I wonder about the backgrounds of these people who give up their faith. How many of them actually came from churches where evolution is accepted? Maybe many of them were raised in churches where evolution was fiercely denounced. If they end up thinking the evidence for evolution is pretty good, and they've been raised to think Christianity and evolution are incompatible, I can certainly see why they'd give up their faith. Maybe the message of Answers in Genesis is backfiring.
Or maybe some of these people who give up their faith come from churches where commitment to God doesn't really matter. Maybe they get into college and think, "Why bother? Faith doesn't make a difference in my life anyway."
There are some people, like Human Genome Project leader Francis Collins, who say a person can be completely committed to God and believe the theory of evolution. And it's not like this leaves us with no evidence for Christianity. Francis Collins himself wrote a book about why he believes in God. There's also evidence for the resurrection of Jesus. And some people have personal experiences that make God's involvement in their lives seem pretty obvious.
A Christian radio station in Edmonton likes to mention something related to Christianity during it's newscasts. Frequently, they have reports about things that World Vision or other Christian organizations are doing in poor countries. Today, they played a clip of Ken Ham from Answers in Genesis talking about how bad it is that some churches support the theory of evolution. The report said many people give up their faith in Christ when they get into college where they're taught evolution as fact.
I wonder about the backgrounds of these people who give up their faith. How many of them actually came from churches where evolution is accepted? Maybe many of them were raised in churches where evolution was fiercely denounced. If they end up thinking the evidence for evolution is pretty good, and they've been raised to think Christianity and evolution are incompatible, I can certainly see why they'd give up their faith. Maybe the message of Answers in Genesis is backfiring.
Or maybe some of these people who give up their faith come from churches where commitment to God doesn't really matter. Maybe they get into college and think, "Why bother? Faith doesn't make a difference in my life anyway."
There are some people, like Human Genome Project leader Francis Collins, who say a person can be completely committed to God and believe the theory of evolution. And it's not like this leaves us with no evidence for Christianity. Francis Collins himself wrote a book about why he believes in God. There's also evidence for the resurrection of Jesus. And some people have personal experiences that make God's involvement in their lives seem pretty obvious.
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