The Anti-Church ZoneDare to be Different2008-05-27T10:55:55+01:00franknhonesthttp://www.antichurch.co.uk/index.phpjdcastro@fastmail.fmtag:theanti-churchblog,2008:TheAnti-ChurchZonePivotCopyright (c) 2008, Authors of The Anti-Church ZonePure Dogma2008-05-26T19:32:00+01:002008-05-26T19:29:00+01:00tag:theanti-churchblog,2008:TheAnti-ChurchZone.11Let's look at some typical evangelical doctrine:
1. GOD
There is one God, who exists eternally in three distinct but equal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is unchangeable in his holiness, justice, wisdom and love. He is the almighty Creator; Saviour and Judge who sustains and governs all things according to his sovereign will for his own glory.
These are just words. Where is the evidence? Tens of thousands of Iraqis dead - I suppose that was the will of God, was it? What about child molesters and gangs that terrorise housing estates with knives and guns? Or natural disasters like the recent cyclone in Burma or the Chinese earthquake? If you ask me, there is little evidence for such a God.
2. THE BIBLE
God has revealed himself in the Bible, which consists of the Old and New Testaments alone. Every word was inspired by God through human authors, so that the Bible as originally given is in its entirety the Word of God, without error and fully reliable in fact and doctrine. The Bible alone speaks with final authority and is always sufficient for all matters of belief and practice.
This has to be one of the most ridiculous statements about the Bible ever conceived. Every word inspired by God, including the slavery, oppression, polygamy, genocide and many other travesties? That's hardly believable, unless you think God is evil. There is another problem: what does "as originally given" imply? The only reason such a phrase appears in this statement is to provide a loophole for explaining away the errors and absurdities which are littered throughout scripture. "As originally given" is not good enough for a God.
3. THE HUMAN RACE
All men and women, being created in the image of God, have inherent and equal dignity and worth. Their greatest purpose is to obey, worship and love God. As a result of the fall of our first parents, every aspect of human nature has been corrupted and all men and women are without spiritual life, guilty sinners and hostile to God. Every person is therefore under the just condemnation of God and needs to be born again, forgiven and reconciled to God in order to know and please him.
So the only reason we exist is to worship this great God, whom no man has seen nor heard? Is God really this insecure? Can't he live without us? How can our worship make any difference to an infinite being?
It was God who set up this state of affairs in the first place. Why was that tree put in the garden of Eden? Why was the snake allowed to roam around and suggest naughty things to Adam and Eve? God, if he exists, is ultimately responsible for the state of the world today. Yet because of the actions of one man and woman we are all screwed. This is insanity.
4. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
The Lord Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and lived a sinless life in obedience to the Father. He taught with authority and all his words are true. On the cross he died in the place of sinners, bearing God's punishment for their sin, redeeming them by his blood. He rose from the dead and in his resurrection body ascended into heaven where he is exalted as Lord of all. He intercedes for his people in the presence of the Father.
How do you know? Where is the evidence? Haven't his prayers for unity completely failed? Where did he go when he ascended? Did he vanish into thin air? What about the fish and honeycomb he ate? Does he need a heavenly toilet?
5. SALVATION
Salvation is entirely a work of God's grace and cannot be earned or deserved. It has been accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ and is offered to all in the gospel. God in his love forgives sinners whom he calls, granting them repentance and faith. All who believe in Christ are justified by faith alone, adopted into the family of God and receive eternal life.
Even the evangelicals must admit this is nonsense. The gospel is "offered to all" but God only calls the elect. Then the gospel is not really "offered" at all. It is all down to who God chooses to be saved.
6. THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit has been sent from heaven to glorify Christ and to apply his work of salvation. He convicts sinners, imparts spiritual life and gives a true understanding of the Scriptures. He indwells all believers, brings assurance of salvation and produces increasing likeness to Christ. He builds up the Church and empowers its members for worship, service and mission.
Apart from the natural benefits that may accrue from following the Christian religion (e.g. increased tolerance and acceptance of other people), where is this divine presence in the churches?
7. THE CHURCH
The universal Church is the body of which Christ is the head and to which all who are saved belong. It is made visible in local churches, which are congregations of believers who are committed to each other for the worship of God, the preaching of the Word, the administering of Baptism and the Lord's Supper; for pastoral care and discipline, and for evangelism. The unity of the body of Christ is expressed within and between churches by mutual love, care and encouragement. True fellowship between churches exists only where they are faithful to the gospel.
Church sucks. Always has, always will do. Especially here in the West, although I have a sneaking suspicion it is much the same the whole world over.
8. BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER
Baptism and the Lord's Supper have been given to the churches by Christ as visible signs of the gospel. Baptism is a symbol of union with Christ and entry into his Church but does not impart spiritual life. The Lord's Supper is a commemoration of Christ's sacrifice offered once for all and involves no change in the bread and wine. All its blessings are received by faith.
Pointless rituals which the evangelicals have just admitted achieve absolutely nothing.
9. THE FUTURE
The Lord Jesus Christ will return in glory. He will raise the dead and judge the world in righteousness. The wicked will be sent to eternal punishment and the righteous will be welcomed into a life of eternal joy in fellowship with God. God will make all things new and will be glorified forever.
Why do Bible believers think so much in black and white? How is an eternity of punishment possibly fair? We've been waiting 2,000 years for his return, despite the fact that Jesus and the church taught an imminent coming in the first century.
1. GOD
There is one God, who exists eternally in three distinct but equal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is unchangeable in his holiness, justice, wisdom and love. He is the almighty Creator; Saviour and Judge who sustains and governs all things according to his sovereign will for his own glory.
These are just words. Where is the evidence? Tens of thousands of Iraqis dead - I suppose that was the will of God, was it? What about child molesters and gangs that terrorise housing estates with knives and guns? Or natural disasters like the recent cyclone in Burma or the Chinese earthquake? If you ask me, there is little evidence for such a God.
2. THE BIBLE
God has revealed himself in the Bible, which consists of the Old and New Testaments alone. Every word was inspired by God through human authors, so that the Bible as originally given is in its entirety the Word of God, without error and fully reliable in fact and doctrine. The Bible alone speaks with final authority and is always sufficient for all matters of belief and practice.
This has to be one of the most ridiculous statements about the Bible ever conceived. Every word inspired by God, including the slavery, oppression, polygamy, genocide and many other travesties? That's hardly believable, unless you think God is evil. There is another problem: what does "as originally given" imply? The only reason such a phrase appears in this statement is to provide a loophole for explaining away the errors and absurdities which are littered throughout scripture. "As originally given" is not good enough for a God.
3. THE HUMAN RACE
All men and women, being created in the image of God, have inherent and equal dignity and worth. Their greatest purpose is to obey, worship and love God. As a result of the fall of our first parents, every aspect of human nature has been corrupted and all men and women are without spiritual life, guilty sinners and hostile to God. Every person is therefore under the just condemnation of God and needs to be born again, forgiven and reconciled to God in order to know and please him.
So the only reason we exist is to worship this great God, whom no man has seen nor heard? Is God really this insecure? Can't he live without us? How can our worship make any difference to an infinite being?
It was God who set up this state of affairs in the first place. Why was that tree put in the garden of Eden? Why was the snake allowed to roam around and suggest naughty things to Adam and Eve? God, if he exists, is ultimately responsible for the state of the world today. Yet because of the actions of one man and woman we are all screwed. This is insanity.
4. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
The Lord Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and lived a sinless life in obedience to the Father. He taught with authority and all his words are true. On the cross he died in the place of sinners, bearing God's punishment for their sin, redeeming them by his blood. He rose from the dead and in his resurrection body ascended into heaven where he is exalted as Lord of all. He intercedes for his people in the presence of the Father.
How do you know? Where is the evidence? Haven't his prayers for unity completely failed? Where did he go when he ascended? Did he vanish into thin air? What about the fish and honeycomb he ate? Does he need a heavenly toilet?
5. SALVATION
Salvation is entirely a work of God's grace and cannot be earned or deserved. It has been accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ and is offered to all in the gospel. God in his love forgives sinners whom he calls, granting them repentance and faith. All who believe in Christ are justified by faith alone, adopted into the family of God and receive eternal life.
Even the evangelicals must admit this is nonsense. The gospel is "offered to all" but God only calls the elect. Then the gospel is not really "offered" at all. It is all down to who God chooses to be saved.
6. THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit has been sent from heaven to glorify Christ and to apply his work of salvation. He convicts sinners, imparts spiritual life and gives a true understanding of the Scriptures. He indwells all believers, brings assurance of salvation and produces increasing likeness to Christ. He builds up the Church and empowers its members for worship, service and mission.
Apart from the natural benefits that may accrue from following the Christian religion (e.g. increased tolerance and acceptance of other people), where is this divine presence in the churches?
7. THE CHURCH
The universal Church is the body of which Christ is the head and to which all who are saved belong. It is made visible in local churches, which are congregations of believers who are committed to each other for the worship of God, the preaching of the Word, the administering of Baptism and the Lord's Supper; for pastoral care and discipline, and for evangelism. The unity of the body of Christ is expressed within and between churches by mutual love, care and encouragement. True fellowship between churches exists only where they are faithful to the gospel.
Church sucks. Always has, always will do. Especially here in the West, although I have a sneaking suspicion it is much the same the whole world over.
8. BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER
Baptism and the Lord's Supper have been given to the churches by Christ as visible signs of the gospel. Baptism is a symbol of union with Christ and entry into his Church but does not impart spiritual life. The Lord's Supper is a commemoration of Christ's sacrifice offered once for all and involves no change in the bread and wine. All its blessings are received by faith.
Pointless rituals which the evangelicals have just admitted achieve absolutely nothing.
9. THE FUTURE
The Lord Jesus Christ will return in glory. He will raise the dead and judge the world in righteousness. The wicked will be sent to eternal punishment and the righteous will be welcomed into a life of eternal joy in fellowship with God. God will make all things new and will be glorified forever.
Why do Bible believers think so much in black and white? How is an eternity of punishment possibly fair? We've been waiting 2,000 years for his return, despite the fact that Jesus and the church taught an imminent coming in the first century.
]]>antichurchChurch : Leave and Live2008-05-21T22:48:00+01:002008-05-19T00:19:00+01:00tag:theanti-churchblog,2008:TheAnti-ChurchZone.10The last few years I spent going to church were utter torment. Why I bothered to put up with all that stress is something of a mystery, but I know for sure I'll never attend a church again. Church did nothing for me and it never will. The same goes for millions of other people worldwide. Today, more people are leaving the church through the back door than are entering it through the front. Amazingly enough, there are still over 45,000 churches in the UK (although most of them are tiny), and I say screw 'em. Screw 'em all.
The worst aspect of Christianity is its doctrine of eternal punishment. Just think of it: an eternity of punishment! It is written that Jesus said: "He that believes and is baptised shall be saved, but whoever does not believe will be damned". However I strongly suspect that a priest put these words in his mouth. There is something false about that verse, indeed about the whole gospel of Mark. Never has such a short phrase instilled so much fear in the hearts of men. I do not believe it. To be born under the shadow of eternal punishment is sheer tyranny. It is a cruel lie. An abomination, and just one of the many detestable doctrines of Christianity. I will not submit to the fear of it. I will live my life outside the mental and emotional straightjacket of the church that teaches it. I will listen to no more preachers, nor priests, nor pastors. They are all useless - a stain upon the surface of the earth. Why don't they give up and go and find themselves proper jobs? They would be doing everyone else a favour. But no, they have to carry on the charade and continue to exert the pitiful, albeit weak, influence that they have on society.
Churchlings just can't think for themselves. They spend their lives in the pews, listening obediently to the crap that spews out of the mouths of the preachers, and worse still, paying for it. What immense stupidity! What a waste of the life! To waste one's life on religion is the ultimate folly. If you're a churchgoer reading this, then I beg you, do not pursue such a course. Come out of the churches and enter the world of reason, knowledge and light!The last few years I spent going to church were utter torment. Why I bothered to put up with all that stress is something of a mystery, but I know for sure I'll never attend a church again. Church did nothing for me and it never will. The same goes for millions of other people worldwide. Today, more people are leaving the church through the back door than are entering it through the front. Amazingly enough, there are still over 45,000 churches in the UK (although most of them are tiny), and I say screw 'em. Screw 'em all.
The worst aspect of Christianity is its doctrine of eternal punishment. Just think of it: an eternity of punishment! It is written that Jesus said: "He that believes and is baptised shall be saved, but whoever does not believe will be damned". However I strongly suspect that a priest put these words in his mouth. There is something false about that verse, indeed about the whole gospel of Mark. Never has such a short phrase instilled so much fear in the hearts of men. I do not believe it. To be born under the shadow of eternal punishment is sheer tyranny. It is a cruel lie. An abomination, and just one of the many detestable doctrines of Christianity. I will not submit to the fear of it. I will live my life outside the mental and emotional straightjacket of the church that teaches it. I will listen to no more preachers, nor priests, nor pastors. They are all useless - a stain upon the surface of the earth. Why don't they give up and go and find themselves proper jobs? They would be doing everyone else a favour. But no, they have to carry on the charade and continue to exert the pitiful, albeit weak, influence that they have on society.
Churchlings just can't think for themselves. They spend their lives in the pews, listening obediently to the crap that spews out of the mouths of the preachers, and worse still, paying for it. What immense stupidity! What a waste of the life! To waste one's life on religion is the ultimate folly. If you're a churchgoer reading this, then I beg you, do not pursue such a course. Come out of the churches and enter the world of reason, knowledge and light!
]]>antichurchThe Alpha Curse2008-05-07T19:59:00+01:002008-05-06T17:50:00+01:00tag:theanti-churchblog,2008:TheAnti-ChurchZone.9I expect most people in the UK (and a lot overseas as well) have heard of the banal and rather too popular Alpha Course, pioneered at Holy Trinity Brompton in the 1970s and modified for the general public by Nicky Gumbel, an Anglican vicar, in the 1990s. By 2007 it had been reported that over 10 million people worldwide (2 million in the UK) had attended a course.
The Alpha Course is meant to be an introduction to the essentials of Christianity. It involves eating a meal, watching a video and then having a discussion, with about a dozen sessions in total spread over several months. I went on the course in 2001, which was organised by a local Anglican church. Most people on the course were already attending the church. It was all very low key (do these people really believe in an eternal lake of fire?), the video talks were lacking in substance and the questions/answers raised during the discussion were of a trivial nature. The final session involved going on a "Holy Spirit Weekend" in order to "get zapped by the Spirit". As I expected, nothing happened. I wondered what kind of "spirit" these people were promoting.
I came away from the course feeling that nothing spiritual had happened. The course has been hugely successful in facilitating social interaction with fellow enquirers, but it does not demonstrate that God is real or working in the world. In fact, from a Biblical point of view (not that I believe the Bible), the course is inoculating people against the true faith, and hence should be called a curse, not a course. If you want to become a silly admirer of Nicky Gumbel and all his charismatic craziness then the Alpha Course is for you. However if you'd rather keep yourself from becoming the 10,000,001st victim of a scam (and an attractive one at that), then all the better for you.
Alpha Curse Mug
If you would like to purchase an Alpha Curse mug, they are available from the Anti-Church Store. Good for annoying Christians! You could even secretly put one or two in your local church crockery cupboard... I expect most people in the UK (and a lot overseas as well) have heard of the banal and rather too popular Alpha Course, pioneered at Holy Trinity Brompton in the 1970s and modified for the general public by Nicky Gumbel, an Anglican vicar, in the 1990s. By 2007 it had been reported that over 10 million people worldwide (2 million in the UK) had attended a course.
The Alpha Course is meant to be an introduction to the essentials of Christianity. It involves eating a meal, watching a video and then having a discussion, with about a dozen sessions in total spread over several months. I went on the course in 2001, which was organised by a local Anglican church. Most people on the course were already attending the church. It was all very low key (do these people really believe in an eternal lake of fire?), the video talks were lacking in substance and the questions/answers raised during the discussion were of a trivial nature. The final session involved going on a "Holy Spirit Weekend" in order to "get zapped by the Spirit". As I expected, nothing happened. I wondered what kind of "spirit" these people were promoting.
I came away from the course feeling that nothing spiritual had happened. The course has been hugely successful in facilitating social interaction with fellow enquirers, but it does not demonstrate that God is real or working in the world. In fact, from a Biblical point of view (not that I believe the Bible), the course is inoculating people against the true faith, and hence should be called a curse, not a course. If you want to become a silly admirer of Nicky Gumbel and all his charismatic craziness then the Alpha Course is for you. However if you'd rather keep yourself from becoming the 10,000,001st victim of a scam (and an attractive one at that), then all the better for you.
Alpha Curse Mug
If you would like to purchase an Alpha Curse mug, they are available from the Anti-Church Store. Good for annoying Christians! You could even secretly put one or two in your local church crockery cupboard...
]]>antichurch
Alpha Curse Mug