Chris Jepson’s article, “I Have No Faith in Religion,” in the Thursday, January 10, 2010 Observer reflects his Darwinian evolution profession of faith; it is chaotic. He rambles all over the place in search of a thesis. One would expect that it would be a unified attack against religion, but instead it is a protest of religion-inspired war. Or is it? The reader is treated to a panoramic view of: religion is worthless, religion means war, the Muslims are fighting against us (but maybe it’s our fault), to the decline of Western Europe that implies our own doom. No one could successfully answer all that Jepson alleges, but a few false allegations need reply.
I have no faith in Darwinian evolution, which is unproven and unprovable. I am amazed when any thinking person actually professes a belief in it. I have never once found myself thinking, “I don’t know why I’m here, and I don’t care.” I find any reliance on evolutionary superstition an impediment to moral living (since evolution implies no morality). “If there is no God, everything is permitted” (Fyodor Dostoevsky). Apart from an objective source of revelation, the only morality anyone possesses is either what he invents or what he subscribes to. No other logical alternative exists.
It is nice that Jepson values freedom and humanism; Hitler valued humanism and control over others. On what basis is Jepson right and Hitler wrong? What anyone values is irrelevant. Perhaps Jepson is a product of his home environment, a slave to what he has been taught, or the result of his genetic makeup. Who cares what he values? Apart from God, Who created man, no objectivity exists; everything is subjective, and according to postmodernism, everyone has a right to his own interpretation (unless it is Christian or conservative in nature). Morality cannot exist in such an environment because people’s values always clash.
Jepson claims that Mother Earth gave birth to man (was there a midwife?) and that he shares a common ancestry with modern apes of 6 to 8 million years ago. Yawn. He could just as easily believe that Xenu and his Galactic Confederacy populated the earth 75 million years ago. Both lack substantial evidence. That the Bible is the Word of God, however, is demonstrated by the testimony of reliable witnesses and supernatural proofs, such as the resurrection that convinced a world of pagans in the first century.
The charge against religion for creating wars is an old, not to mention, tired argument. To be sure, many have fought wars in the name of religion, but many have also been fought in the name of atheism. Perhaps Mr. Jepson would like to describe Hitler’s theology. Could it be that he was influenced by, hmm, Darwinian evolution? How many millions did Stalin kill, and in the name of what God? What was the religion of Mao Tse-Tung, and how many millions did the Red Chinese exterminate? Comparing the Spanish Inquisition to one of these “purges” is like comparing a candle to a powerful searchlight.
Those who have fought wars in the name of Christianity were wrong to do so, violating the very teachings they professed to believe. Perhaps Mr. Jepson can produce the New Testament passage that is comparable to those in the Qur’an that instruct its adherents to kill their enemies (Jews and Christians). He might recall that Jesus taught that men should love their enemies and do good to those who hate them (Matt. 5:44).
How gracious of Mr. Jepson to condescend to allowing people to believe something he has judged to be worthless. His imagination is so lacking that he cannot accept the idea that anyone would believe in God unless they were so confused and frightened by life that they were driven to it. Apparently, he has never heard that some people believe because that is where the evidence takes them. Did we come from God or goop? Let’s make a brief comparison test.
Is it possible that intelligence made this universe, or did it just pop into existence on its own? The universe does show intelligent design, and in all of our accumulated human experience we have never noticed anything just creating itself. In fact, we have some scientific laws that oppose that idea.
If we were to land on Mars and see houses or cities, we would immediately deduce that intelligent life had once been there, yet we look at the amazing universe and say, “It just happened”? Yes, out of chaos came order that is so precise that we can send a man to the moon and bring him back—because of all the “natural laws” that just “happened” to develop. And how marvelously has the human body evolved, with all of its complex systems! Ain’t “chance” grand! And Jepson thinks that the idea of God is fantastic? Sigh.
Christianity, if followed, has always been good for mankind. False religion usually has provided man with conflicts. Some of today’s false world religions teach violence, but Christianity does not. Those who possess a warlike mentality may do so in the name of religion, but they have also done it in the name of a political philosophy—or in neither. Prior to the Flood, the earth was filled with violence (Gen. 6:11), but none of it was commanded or taught by God. And, rats, they had no ape ancestors to blame it on, either.
Man, without compelling motivation, has no reason to live at peace with all men (Rom. 12:18). Conflicts will continue. Man also is at war against himself. For that reason Jesus offers peace (John 14:27). People are hostile towards others, themselves, and God frequently because they do not know the truth or possess spiritual knowledge. And Mr. Jepson was kind enough to present us a column that demonstrates that we are at war with our own ignorance.
Excerpts from Chris Jepsen’s Column
[Editor’s note: The column is too long to reprint in its entirety, but portions to which I responded follow below.]
I have no faith in religion. Quite candidly, I am amazed when any thinking human expresses an allegiance to one particular religion over another. It seems inexplicable (to me) that one is Catholic rather than an Episcopalian, or a Missouri Synod Lutheran as opposed to an American Lutheran. But then again I’m not versed in the intricacies of specific religious dogmas.
I have never once found myself asking, “What is God’s plan and how do I fit in?” …I find any reliance on religion and/or superstition an unnecessary impediment to living….
As a believer in Darwinian Evolution, I believe Mother Earth bore us out of her fertile primordial juices and that once upon a time we shared a common ancestor with modern apes (6 million, maybe 8 million or so years ago)….
…most Americans subscribe to a level of religious nonsense that is laughably absurd. Of which I am, for the most part OK with. If life is so formidable, so frightening, so confusing, so “unbelievably” miraculous that no other explanation but “religion” gives it (you) meaning, well, go for it….
Our religions have always been killing us. It’s been one constant slaughter. I won’t even say one after another because there has never been a break. It’s relentless. Invent a God. And the slaughter starts anew. Or rather resumes under a new name. A variation on the “infinite” theme: Allahu Akhbar?
Perhaps it’s just a pretext. We are genuinely nasty little monkeys after all. Is it that our real pleasure is found in killing (maiming, torturing, raping, slaughtering ad infinitum, ad nauseam) one another? And doing so in the name of God, well, a mere ruse. Which came first? The slaughter or the “excuse” for the slaughter? Maybe that is religion’s function: to give meaning to our relentless, mindless slaughter of one another. We can’t be killing for no reason!?! What God would want that? Hmmmm? The human kind, perhaps.
… But where does America find itself today but at the vanguard of a religious war with Islam [which the United States is not fighting in the name of religion, GWS]. President Bush actually invoked the word “crusade” in describing it. Sigh.
The very values I place a premium on—freedom, humanism, relativism, a societal respect for the infinite diversity of ideas, freedom from religion—have all made Europe vulnerable….
Yes, we are at war. Forever. With our own ignorance. Religion, by any other name.
[The introduction / conclusion were printed as above.]
CULTURAL CRISIS OR
DEFIANT CLASH WITH GOD’S WORD?
Marvin L. Weir
The Tuesday, December 21, 2004 Dallas Morning News has an article in the Metro section by Kent Fischer about an 18-year-old honor student at Trinity Christian Academy who was forced from school because he is “gay.” The student was active in practically every activity at school and well liked by everyone. However, upon discovering that the teen “had created a Web site where teens chat about homosexuality,” the administrative board gave him a choice to “leave quietly or face expulsion for ‘immoral behavior’.”
While we would disagree with much of the doctrine of this religious group, we do applaud them for standing firm against the sin of homosexuality. The school’s decision has caused quite a stir by people within and without the school. Let us consider some of the things that are being said.
First, the newspaper article states, “students, teachers and administrators at Trinity Christian are left debating whether forcing the withdrawal of a popular lifelong student was the ‘Christian’ thing to do.” I must ask, “Would these same people be questioning this decision if the teen had been “unpopular” and a relatively new student? Do you get the idea that people are treated differently because of who they are? Does this same thing not occur time and again today with popular, overpaid athletes? Is it right when some people are exempt from rules that should apply to everyone? This problem is far reaching in our country—from the halls of Congress to the oval office of the White House!
The second part of the quote really needs exposing. Was forcing this popular student out of school “the ‘Christian’ thing to do?” So many today go the extra mile to leave the impression that Christianity has the obligation to accept sin and wrongdoing. Where does one read in the Bible where Christians are to embrace sin? Where does the Bible teach that Christians are to show compassion for willful sin? Does Jesus teach that sin is to be ignored and tolerated? Does the Bible teach that man has the right to do as he pleases regardless of what he chooses to do? Absolutely not! The Lord promised that the Holy Spirit would teach the apostles “all things” (John 14:26) and guide them “into all the truth” (John 16:13). Paul, an apostle, taught that homosexuality is a sin and that those who practice such will not inherit Heaven (Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9-11). It is never the Christian thing to do to bid “Godspeed” to error (2 John 9-11).
Second, the student says, “I feel completely violated…. The big lesson here for me is that you can’t really trust anybody. That, and I should have kept my mouth shut.” Here is a perfect picture of the warped, twisted thinking of today’s society. The student chooses a sinful, homosexual lifestyle while attending a “Christian school” and then claims he has been “violated” when the school administration asks him to leave. The thinking of many today is that religious groups must tolerate any type of behavior from their members. The Bible, on the other hand, teaches that church discipline is to be respected and exercised (2 Thess. 3:6).
Third, the newspaper article states, “simmering under the surface are questions about forgiveness, compassion and redemption.” Let us consider these subjects one at a time.
Does the Bible teach that we are to forgive those who sin? Yes, but only when they repent of their sins! It is “repent or perish” (Luke 13:3). There is a “sin unto death” for which we are not to make request unto God for forgiveness (1 John 5:16). This is any sin one refuses to turn from (repentance) or give up. The “sin not unto death” is any sin that one will confess and cease to practice. For this person one can certainly pray for forgiveness.
Those who have no desire to give up sinful activities are fond of making a plea for “compassion.” The homosexual’s ideal of compassion is for one to feel sorry that some reject his ungodly lifestyle.
One cannot live in sin and expect to be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. People today toss around the word redemption as if it belongs to everyone regardless of the way he has chosen to live. Impenitent sinners will not be in Heaven among the redeemed. One can be forgiven of any sin that he turns from or ceases to practice (1 John 1:9).
Fourth, “the student said several school administrators and teachers, in an attempt to help keep him from being expelled, coached him on how to handle the situation.” It appears that the Trinity Christian staff is not all on the same page. Let sin rear its ugly head and you will quickly separate the chaff from the wheat! Even in the Lord’s church, some will buck popular sentiment and stand with Christ, and some will not. The homosexual problem may be called a “cultural crisis,” but in reality it is a defiant clash with the Word of God (Lev. 18:22; 20: 13; Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9-10).
(Bonham Street Beacon,
Paris, Texas, December 20, 2009)
[Editor’s Note: The above article provides an excellent analysis of the situation. Consider also these points:
1. Private schools provide a student a handbook, which includes a section on discipline. Various offenses are listed that require punishment, suspension, or expulsion. While every offense possible may not be specified, the handbook includes moral principles which cannot be violated, and homosexuality certainly falls within that description. Furthermore, either the students, the parents, or both are asked to sign a statement of compliance with all that is set forth in the handbook. The student in question, therefore, knowingly and willfully violated the moral principles he had agreed to defend.
2. A second additional point is the hypocrisy of those who chose to defend the young man’s actions. If he had been found guilty of theft, would the newspaper and other students still defend him? What if he had cheated on tests and was selling papers to other students to turn in as their original compositions? How about if he was hosting drinking parties while his parents were out of town or was supplying marijuana to other students? What if he had seduced three young ladies?
3. Probably the newspaper would take no interest in the story if they involved those things. They would immediately recognize that a Christian school has standards and that the administration was right in exercising whatever discipline they thought was appropriate. The problem with the news and entertainment media is that they refuse to believe that homosexuality is a sin and do not want Christians to say it is, either.]