A different way to question religion

Dr. Mike Adams confronts nonsense in academia all the time, in clear and pointed language. I’ve followed his columns for years, because it’s so enlightening — and rare — to see someone boldly challenging a liberal establishment with its own logic…or lack thereof. He holds feet to the fire, and when they get hot they try to stomp on him.

In his latest column, Adams is asking some of his trademark tough but logical questions again — but this time of his church.

Before I left the United Methodist Church to join Scotts Hill Baptist Church, I made a few remarks critical of the United Methodists. Since I officially walked out of the “open doors” of the UMC, I’ve been asked repeatedly about what motivated me to make that decision.

Based on my conversations with a number of other unsatisfied Methodists I started to have an increasing number of unanswered questions about the direction in which the church is going. Many of these questions deal with sin in general and sexual sin in particular. Instead of answering the question of “why I left”, perhaps some Methodists who did not can answer some of my questions concerning “why they are left.”

Adams is always philosophically discursive. That’s why his arguments work so well. People aren’t used to being asked these things in politically correct culture. Adams puts political correctness into knots using its own rope.

So he asks a list of questions of his church, which could be applied to an awful lot of churches. Here are a few:

1. A young pastor was conducting a UMC 101 course required of all prospective members of a small Methodist Church. When asked whether there was such a thing as hell, she answered “I’m not sure and I don’t know that it’s important.” Given that Jesus talked about hell more than anyone else in the Bible, isn’t the question of whether hell exists an “important” one? If there is no hell, doesn’t that make Jesus a liar?

2. A Methodist preacher makes the statement “We don’t like to talk about sin here at (deleted) United Methodist Church.” Instead, he likes to talk about “grace.” If there is no sin and there is no hell, what was Jesus saving people from? Does silence on the issue of “hell” and “sin” render the term “grace” completely meaningless?

Belief in ‘sin’ has gone out of style in the popular culture, along with ‘the devil’ and ‘hell’. It’s logical to ask why, then, mankind needs a savior. It’s like I mentioned in an earlier post — discrediting God goes back to the Garden. It makes picking your own choices easier.

6. A United Methodist preacher supports John Kerry for President. She says this is because she opposes war and the killing of innocent children. Is she aware that Kerry thinks life begins at conception but supports abortion anyway? That means he supports 4000 intentional murders in the name of “choice” every day in America. How many children are killed on purpose by U.S. troops every day? Is it less than 4000? Is it time for the Methodists to start talking about abortion?

7. A college freshman goes to school and begins sleeping around the first week of college. A Methodist minister visits her in her dorm to give her a talk. He is unhappy with her behavior. Can he have a meaningful talk with her without using the term “sin?” Would things have been different if she heard that word at least once in her eighteen years as a member of the United Methodist Church?

8. A United Methodist men’s group leader uses a pro-socialist book in his class. It was written by an avowed Marxist. Who has killed more innocents a) The Marxists, or b) The Marines? Take the time to re-read #6.

You know, intellectual honesty and critical thinking skills applied to these questions would make for a good debate. It’s just so blasted hard to get people who believe in relativism to apply them.

10. A man gives his testimonial in a United Methodist Church. He says that he likes the church because no one talks about sin and it makes church fun. He says he isn’t a religious person. He’s only a spiritual person. Why is the preacher seated behind him nodding vigorously in approval? Is the United Methodist Church still a religion? Or is it just whatever you would like it to be?

Adams is waiting for some answers. Meanwhile, he’s preparing more questions…