Is 'Golden Compass' 'selling atheism to kids'? — OZONE Asylum, home of the Mad Scientists

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Is 'Golden Compass' 'selling atheism to kids'?

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Your Text: Insert Slimies » Insert UBB Code » Close Last Tag \| All Tags UBB Help	[quote] [b]jade said:[/b] Well the only one thing I can say for sure is "I can pray for change for the very disturbed in the world we live in." I believe prayer with many can literally move mountains"[/quote] OK. I'll buy that. [quote]...But, what I pray most about is that some Christians not take a defeatist attitude like " since its the way of the world in these times even if its contrary to what I believe, how can I make a difference."[/quote] I see what you're saying here, but I think there is a difference between accepting reality and being defeatist. The bottom line is that you cannot change the way people think or act. Attempt to do so and you will only inspire resentment. What I really want to hear is what sort of difference you want to make. If you're talking about making a difference in your own life or in the lives of your family members, I say go for it. If you're talking about having a positive influence on others through your actions, that's fine. But if you're talking about changing society, that means you want to change the way people think and act. And, like I said, that can't be done. [quote]Before in older times sexual promiscuity was done with guilt or remorse and in hiding.[/quote] Again, I'm sorry, but (like DL) I'm going to have to call you on this. What "older times" are we talking about? Biblical times? I've been reading the book of Proverbs during my daily meditations these days, and the most vivid depiction of wickedness is the image of the seductress who stands out by the street and lures men to her bed while her husband is away. The text makes it very clear that this was neither done in hiding nor did those who engaged in it feel any particular guilt or remorse (if they did, the writer of Proverbs wouldn't have had to spend so much time denouncing it). Read the seventh chapter of Proverbs for a particularly descriptive image. The fact of the matter is that sexual promiscuity has been around as long as men and women have had sexual urges. This is not something new. Even the attitudes toward sexual promiscuity aren't anything new. It is true that at certain points in our history, humanity has been more staid and proper than at other times, but it's more of a cycle than a progression in a single direction. [quote]I know of many Christians who live together without commitment and think it has no bearing or their faith...Like I am an adult and I can decide what I want.. Which is fine for them.. But don't say you are Christian and then live against Christ teachings.[/quote] This is a different story entirely, and I agree with you here. If you are going to call yourself a Christian, I believe you should live like a Christian. Sexual purity, though, is not the only aspect of Christian living. Though I may be pure and faithful to my wife, there are plenty of other areas in my life where I struggle. Thus I try not to judge. I know that you try not to judge as well. But I understand what you are saying. However, talking about the Christian community and talking about society at large are two entirely different things. If you want to encourage your Christian friends to live pure lives, that's great. But you can't expect the rest of society to follow suit when they don't share our beliefs. This is not what you are asking, is it? Because it kind of seemed like that a few posts back. [quote]A certain friend of mine goes to Pentecostal church and is very spirit filled but she goes to clubs to look for guys and maybe if she is lucky she thinks, she can end up with a nice guy as a possible boyfriend but before then she sleeps, and sleeps with him on a regular basis...Then she comes to church and praises the Lord like her sex life has no bearing on her faith. Her faith is about her relationship with God and if she knows its not right, its between her and God.[/quote] I won't say anything about your friend, but I will reiterate what I said above: sexual promiscuity isn't the only sin out there. Nor do I think it's any worse than something like, say, hating your brother or gossiping. It might seem worse, but sin is sin. I'm not making a judgment on your friend or you or anyone else, I'm just saying we all have our thorns in our sides. [quote] she could be the victim in a society that has given in to the way society has viewed sexual promiscuity like its not a big deal in regard to being Christian.[/quote] So I guess the question is this: would it be easier for an individual to change their actions or for society as a whole to change so that it doesn't influence individuals to act in certain ways? It really comes down to where you place the responsibility for individual action: is the individual responsible for his or her actions, or is society to blame for the influence it has on that individual? I'm inclined to think the former--the problem isn't necessarily in social views or mores, it's in personal beliefs and convictions. To illustrate my point, there are plenty of people, Christians even, who do things which are [b]not[/b] condoned or advocated by society, and yet they still find ways to flee from their consciences. Putting the blame on society's influence is simply ignoring personal responsibility. Human beings will always find ways to justify their actions. Social influence is an easy one, but if it's not that, it will be something else. I'm not saying that there are not problems with society--I think everyone, Christian or no, will agree that we have problems--I'm just saying that change starts with the individual. [img]http://www.liminality.org/asylum/sigs/suho_text_factory_02.gif[/img] ___________________________ Suho: [url=http://www.liminality.org]www.liminality.org[/url] \| [url=http://www.ozoneasylum.com/4837]Cell 270[/url] \| [url=http://www.ozoneasylum.com/5689]Sig Rotator[/url] \| [url=http://www.ozoneasylum.com/22173]the Fellowship of Sup[/url] [small](Edited by [url=http://www.ozoneasylum.com/user/2031]Suho1004[/url] on 12-13-2007 03:22)[/small] Loading...
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