If pastorg doesn't find anything to back up his claims...wonder if he'll be man enough to come back on the thread and admit it? I find many times when proven wrong, many never admit it or apologize for it. Maybe he'll be different.
I do not have a low opinion of anyone. I just hate that when someone tries to post something that can be helpful or spiritual, they get hammered. Now if someone could post stuff with cussing and low down content and get away with it, everyone would sing their praises........
From another thread: I would have hoped that he would of done his research before pumping this crap on his followers!
Sorta of hard to state that murder and rape is the number one problem in schools now...then come back and say its your opinion when facts don't bear that out...that was my point on it.
My apologies for the crude method of quoting and addressing the quotes. From Pastor G... "1. We are living in a time at which our society is trying it's best to remove all reminders of God. 2. We've removed Him from our schools and today murder and rape are the number one problems in our schools. 3. We've removed his commandments from our courts and government buildings and we've passed laws that has made it legal to murder millions of unborn babies. 4. We've removed Him from our families and divorce rates are at an all-time high. Did you know that the murder suicide rate in the U.S. is up 400%? Why? 5. Could it be that our churches have stopped preaching the idea that we will all be judged? That we don't get away with things? That we will all have to give an account? Food for thought." My responses: 1. FWIW, ”our society” implies that the collective was ever able to do anything. We’ve never, nor do I hope we ever. Have 100% agreement on any idea that cannot be proven. You talk in Faith, pastor. I like facts. I see just as many people trying to inject their idea of God into society to the exclusion of other ideas of God, as much as I see people trying to remove those ideas. 2. “We’ve” removed…Who is the “we”, pastor. I see and hear many kids praying in school. The fact that they are able to do so in a free society should tell you that your statement is incorrect. I don’t object to anyone’s praying in school, as long as they don’t expect others to have to participate or lead. And, no doubt, you’d be as upset as the prayer than some might offer, as they would be over yours. And, pastor, the peer pressure probably isn’t the appropriate way to drag folks to religion, is it. Seems that they’d probably develop their faith better if they came of their own accord. 3. I see the 10 Commandments in many places. I don’t always see them being obeyed, especially by those who claim the mantle of being saved or being religious and leading a biblical life. 4. You presume that God was removed from families. I see no more evidence of that, than I do the number of people looking to their Faith for answers and help. 5. Could it be that people are as concerned with the life they live now, as opposed to the one they may encounter next. You must live in a perfect world, pastor. Those whom I see needing help do not. And more and more of us are needing that help daily. 6. Talk is cheap. I have more respect for those who intervene daily in the lives of the downtrodden, more than I do someone who talks the talk. I see miracles daily, performed by those who need no pulpit, nor recognition. Enjoy the meal…. Carl
Broad brush ya got there, girl. 1. Kent has posted many, many uplifting and spiritual posts, and I don't recall ever seeing him criticized for it. 2. Everyone would sing the praises for cussing and low down content?
Ok just throwing in my few thoughts on this, not sure all the info here is fact but somethings can just be assumed, you have more violence in schools now than ever, just google it and articles just pop up about it, not sure about the rape didnt really google that one. But somethings like that are not reported as much so just throw that out! Clif agree the law was passed before the ten commandents got took down no argument there from me! The last percentage I saw was the divorce rate was at 70 something so you know that has risen alot over the years so that is fact! We have a high number on murder-suicdes but not sure what the percentage is I couldnt find it yet but it is on the rise! But in all things are going down hill in America blame it on what you want I say its the lack of beliefs and the lack of respect for others! But to each there own, I answer for me and only me in the end!
70%? Try 40% http://www.divorcerate.org/ and divorce rates are higher amongst Christians than for Atheist or agnostics http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_dira.htm http://www.divorcemag.com/statistics/statsUS.shtml Also using Google to determine that school violence is increasing. Damn I wish I looked that up on Google back in 1976. My schools were very violent back then.
Well, according to your link, the 70% is, technically correct. If you are talking about third marriages.
Hatteras6 1. FWIW, ”our society” implies that the collective was ever able to do anything. We’ve never, nor do I hope we ever. Have 100% agreement on any idea that cannot be proven. You talk in Faith, pastor. I like facts. I see just as many people trying to inject their idea of God into society to the exclusion of other ideas of God, as much as I see people trying to remove those ideas. 2. “We’ve” removed…Who is the “we”, pastor. I see and hear many kids praying in school. The fact that they are able to do so in a free society should tell you that your statement is incorrect. I don’t object to anyone’s praying in school, as long as they don’t expect others to have to participate or lead. And, no doubt, you’d be as upset as the prayer than some might offer, as they would be over yours. And, pastor, the peer pressure probably isn’t the appropriate way to drag folks to religion, is it. Seems that they’d probably develop their faith better if they came of their own accord. 3. I see the 10 Commandments in many places. I don’t always see them being obeyed, especially by those who claim the mantle of being saved or being religious and leading a biblical life. 4. You presume that God was removed from families. I see no more evidence of that, than I do the number of people looking to their Faith for answers and help. 5. Could it be that people are as concerned with the life they live now, as opposed to the one they may encounter next. You must live in a perfect world, pastor. Those whom I see needing help do not. And more and more of us are needing that help daily. 6. Talk is cheap. I have more respect for those who intervene daily in the lives of the downtrodden, more than I do someone who talks the talk. I see miracles daily, performed by those who need no pulpit, nor recognition. 1. Well I do speak in faith (kinda what I'm about) but I also speak based on as many facts as possible. Some things can simple be observed. However, for the argumentative types they will always disagree on what can be seen so... 2. "I see and hear many kids praying in school." Really? You've hung out in our schools lately? Grated I have seen and do know of Christian kids in our schools who aren't afraid to pray or share their faith, but most of the time you hear God's name used it's not in prayer or praise. "And, pastor, the peer pressure probably isn’t the appropriate way to drag folks to religion, is it." Well, I've never pressured another to believe or follow after God. We all have a choice to make and I can't nor do I want to make that choice for anyone. Faith is a personal decision. 3. Christians are sometimes the biggest hippocrates around and for that I do apologize. We just like everyone else are not perfect and if you have been offended by our behavior let me be the first to apologize for that. 4. On this one the facts speak. The divorce rate is over 50% in the US and yes even higher among "Christians". How do I explain that? When people, even "Christians" get self-centered marriages often fail. 5. "Perfect world"? NOT! I live in the same imperfect world as the rest of us. I have struggle and face discouragement and pain just like the next person. I doing things to make a tangible difference in the world... how about you. "Tangible" = Our church partners with another ministry and feed and cloth and meet medical needs to the poor in downtown Raleigh. 6. (See #5) It's a good thing to do your research before drawing conclusions and making assumptions. You meal was full of fat. Chew on that. Pastor Glen
All this is very interesting. But y'all are seeing a cause and seeing an action and relating the two without taking any other potential cause(s) into account. For example, rising violence in school (which we will stipulate for the moment). During the same period of time that religion was being excised from school, other events were also taking place. Television and radio became mainstream, corporal punishment in schools was stopping, etc. To say that the effect (rising school violence) was the result of a single cause (removing of religion in schools) takes a huge (if you'll excuse the pun) leap of faith.
I think Clif is right to a point. We allowed too much to come into the school system while taking things out that more or less kept "order", so to speak. I think that combination in itself is rather damaging.
haha I do, I was fixing to post and say that I was WRONG, see I can admit it!!! Clif you do have a very good point we have alot of different factors that effect our daily lives! No one thing can be said to contribute to all these things.
Yeah I know no need to really argue with you, but just being crazy today.. You can take the fact that TV and radio have become more mainstream and argue the value of what we see today is nothing like what our parents heard or watched on TV. More Mr Rogers back then and today its almost anything goes. (phrasing this next is kinda hard, forgive me) But religious values back then where took more into consideration when things where being made then what they are today! I know this could be said better by other, but hey I try!!
Pastor, please let me verify something for Hat. One of the highlights of my day working in a local High School, is coming up every morning and seeing students gathered around the flag pole before school, in a circle, holding hands and praying. It gives me encouragement each day and I say a silent prayer thanking the Lord for those students.
