It would appear that for over 1500 years the debate has raged over the origin of life.”Natural Theology, published in 1802 by William Paley, discussed the evidence for design using the “inferred watchmaker” analogy. The majority of scientists at that time professed belief in a Creator, in one way or another. This was reflected in their studies. To some extent, design was assumed. ”
“Evolution lacked a reasonable engine to drive biological change. When Charles Darwin published “The Origin of Species” in 1859, those who preferred evolution had a seemingly plausible mechanism to explain it – natural selection.”
“Almost 150 years later, the scientific community at large speaks of the “facts” of evolution. Those who propose non-natural causes for biologic effects are soon branded as “ignorant,” “superstitious,” or “closed-minded.” ”
Thousands of years ago, ancient Greeks and Romans considered the idea that life had been designed by some unknown force. At the same time, they wondered if life had progressed from “higher” or “lower” forms over time. Jump forward to today, and the same two questions are still at war. The intelligent design movement, unlike prior competitors to naturalism, represents a solid, clear, and compelling case for design theory. This newer approach partially explains why the intelligent design movement has endured intense scrutiny yet continued to gain support in the worldwide intellectual community.
Scientific and logical evidences that support the influence of an aware designer are the only bullets in the intelligent design movement’s gun. Arguing only through logic and science, the intelligent design movement forces evolutionists to argue their case based only on provable, observable facts – and to admit the assumptions and gaps inherent to a naturalistic view.
Some may not care if a leader of our country spouts off made-up biblical utterances but to me this just shows the dire dirth of knowledge present on capital hill. They call them misstatements but in reality they are lies plain and simple. No attempt is made by these ‘leaders’ to search out truth they just continually spout out falsehoods after falsehoods and the American people seem to just give them a pass.I am not the smartest bird in the nest but this eagle can spot a doo doo bird simply enough. No wonder they became extinct. Perhaps we should send some of these congresspersons the way of the doo doo bird into oblivion.
On Earth Day, Nancy Pelosiquoted the Bible: “The Bible tells us in the Old Testament, ‘To minister to the needs of God’s creation is an act of worship. To ignore those needs is to dishonor the God who made us.’ On this Earth Day, and every day, let us honor the earth and our future generations with a commitment to fight climate change.”
Apparently, it’s a favorite verse of hers. She has used it in official statements on global warming, the budget, Martin Luther King Day, Christmas, and why she’s a Democrat. Jim Hoft has audio chronicles.
CNS News asked other Bible scholars for the source of the quote in the Old Testament that Nancy Pelosi keeps invoking.
Could it be true that proponents of Darwinism are militant in their views? Could it be any opposition to this THEORY is being met with violence and censure? Who is more vocal about their religion anyway, the Darwinists or the Christian? Makes one scratch their head in wonderment.
As the pro-intelligent design documentary “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” launches full throttle into over 1,000 theaters this Friday, its producers are no doubt feeling a strong sense of anticipation and anxiety.
The film, which explores the existence of what it claims is an elitist scientific establishment dedicated to Darwinism and the silencing of all its critics, has generated fierce reactions and attacks from the moment of its conception, according to producers.
“Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed,” starring actor and former presidential speech writer Ben Stein, is an in-depth investigation of teachers, professors, and researchers who are mocked and threatened with expulsion by an elitist scientific establishment that punishes the scientific proponents of intelligent design because they reject some of the claims of Darwin’s theory of evolution.
Lets take a look at this a little deeper shall we?
THE LORD… defining singularity and exclusivity. HE IS THE ONE AND ONLY.. He is not a wannabe LORD.. he is not trying to find himself or make a place for himself. HE IS THE LORD
THE LORD IS……. Now we are not Clinton here that we need to define what the meaning of IS IS do we?? IS means present-NOW happening… IT is not WAS LORD.. it is not GOING TO BE LORD.. HE IS LORD! HE IS THE NOW LORD….
MY… possessive pronoun taking ownership of.. HE Is not ONLY THE LORD, HE IS NOT ONLY LORD NOW, HE is MY LORD… I acknowledge and accept HIM and HIM ONLY.. HE can not be MY Lord along with others either. HE IS THE LORD OF ALL or HE is not LORD AT ALL..
AND IF HE IS MY LORD then HE is also
MY SHEPHERD….. A shepherd leads the flock… Heads up, looks out for, stands watch over, protects, guides and directs.. HE IS not only a SHEPHERD but HE is the GOOD SHEPHERD.. He is a good shepherd able to take good care of that little flock..
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32 (KJV)
It is GOD’S DESIRE to give you heaven.. HE WANTS to take you there.. HE desires to have you there with him.. HE IS MY SHEPHERD
Now then if all of the above are true, then and only then can we state affirmatively to the rest of this scripture…
BECAUSE THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD I WILL NOT BE IN WANT…
LACKING ANY GOOD THING
BEING IN need of that which is needful
Finding myself lost and alone…
Wanting something we do not have leads us to that place I like to call the land of discontentment.. IT IS there, that we find ourselves feeling lack and fearful and empty.. Keeping our focus on who HE IS and WHOSE we are, should free us from the desire for more, FOR HE IS ALL I NEED and HE is all I am ever going to need.. THAT has to be settled in order to live out the rest of this psalm Continue reading “A Fresh Look at Ol’ 23”→
On March 17, 2008, Oprah hosted her third webnar class with author Eckhart Tolle. Since her endorsement of Tolle’s book, A New Earth, about 3.5 million copies of his spiritual self-help guide have been sent out and more than 2 million people in 139 countries have now signed up for the World Wide Web seminar using a new technology called Skype. (Skype is a free software that allows you to make Internet and videophone calls from all over the world.)
After reading the first two (2) chapters of A New Earth, it is apparent that Tolle does not embrace any one religion over another but instead creates his own, new religion by blending many tenants of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Sufism, Christianity, and other faiths into one. According to a review in the Vancouver Sun by Douglas Todd, Tolle’s “spiritual outlook has become more complex since (his earlier book), The Power of Now, when he dismissed external reality as an illusion and made it sound as if “living in the now” was a panacea for all the world’s problems. In addition, Tolle believes outer realities – including politics, war, poverty, and even the climate – will magically be transformed when individuals change their inner consciousness. This may be true, but only to an extent.”
In essence, Tolle’s approach to his spiritual quest is basically to dumb down all faiths including, and in particular, Christianity. By reducing Christianity to a watered down version, Tolle supplies a Christianity that is more appealing to the masses. According to Chuck Norris in his article, Oprah’s New Easter, “Tolle only quotes relatively benign sayings of Jesus, avoiding the more difficult ones. For example, Tolle notes that Jesus taught that the kingdom of heaven is already present on earth and can be experienced right now, but Tolle overlooks Jesus’ teaching that one must be born again (by believing in Him as the Son of God and Savior) to see that kingdom in the future” (Norris 1). Additionally, Tolle makes no mention that Jesus was making reference to the kingdom of heaven that will take place on earth after Jesus’ pending return in which He will set up his new kingdom here on earth.
Needless to say, Tolle incorrectly interprets this passage on page 43 of his book when he writes, “‘Blessed are the poor in spirit,’ Jesus said, ‘for theirs will be the kingdom of heaven’. What does ‘poor in spirit’ mean? No inner baggage, no identifications. Not with things, not with any mental concepts that have a sense of self in them. And what is the ‘kingdom of heaven’? The simple profound joy of Being that is there when you let go of identifications and so become ‘poor in spirit'” (New).
As Norris noted, Tolle does indeed dumb down Matthew 5:3 by declaring the poor in spirit is here and now and all one needs to do is live in the present as well as do away with all your earthly possessions. While controlling our insatiable need for material possessions – as Americans – would most definitely be a worthy goal for each and every one of us, Tolle misinterpreted this scripture by taking it out of context. Whether intentional or not, he misconstrued what this passage is really about.
What Tolle leaves out of his dumbed-down version of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is that in this particular passage, the word poor is linked to in spirit. If Jesus had used the word poor by itself, than Eckhart’s interpretation would be valid. However, Jesus links poor to spirit to clarify His intention. “To be poor in spirit is to acknowledge honestly and with understanding our spiritual poverty – indeed our spiritual bankruptcy – before God” (bible 3).
Norris also states that we “need to rebel against low expectations of culture and choose to do hard things” (Norris, 1). In other words, instead of falling at the feet of the current guru and hearkening his dumbed-down version of ‘Christianity,” we need to take a stand and follow the road that is less traveled. Although a much harder road to travel, it is one that will ultimately lead us to the eternal One who has all the answers, not just for our own personal lives, but for the society we live in.
Ultimately it is our own personal decision to make. We can choose to accept the dumbed-down version of Christianity that is being espoused by the Tolle-Oprah church, or we can take the harder route and the less traveled road and follow Jesus Christ. In order to do so, however, we must accept all of Him, not the dumb-down version offered up in A New Earth.
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