Reading through the news took me to a really sad story and an indication of how messed up our world has become.
A 20 year old girl getting so drunk at a themed night (ironically called 'Misbehaviour') in a Cardiff nightclub that she stripped off completely during a 'Innocent' wet t-shirt contest whilst being egged on by the crowd.
One 'fan' wrote 'She just got drunk and naked for a bit of banter. No biggie'. I wonder if her family, future husband and future children share that sentiment. Imagine it was your daughter/girlfriend/wife. It is a 'biggie' really isn't it?
This just sums up how I feel about Britain right now. How many people actually truly care about each other? Not by their words - How are you doing? (and I ask that way too often without truly caring - to me truly caring is not just accepting okay for an answer if you know something is wrong and trying to do something about it to help them!) - but by loving on people as ourselves, like Jesus commanded (Matthew 22:39 is one of a few occasions in the Bible). I would love to see a Britain where people truly thought about others and blessed others rather than just pay fake respect to each other, if even that for some.
Who was looking out for this girl? Everyone just wanted a bit of pleasure, as if life is all about enjoying yourself with no consideration for others and for the God that made you that many suppress. (yes, there is no such thing as an atheist, everyone knows God exists - Romans 1:18-20 - and are suppressing the truth because it doesn't quite fit in with their idea for life) I am all for enjoying life, but I have tried without and with God and I know where true enjoyment comes. Not in the perverted, selfish and sensual orientations of today's world but in the joyful, selfless and loving arms of Jesus Christ. It's actually scientifically proven as well! Yes, I said His Name..sue me! (I believe a Christian will go to prison in this country for standing for their faith in the next ten years, free speech and belief is getting this suppressed here)
This is a challenge for me also, when praying about this I felt God telling me to lead by example. If I want to see others care about people then I need to care about people so ridiculously that people take notice and are inspired that way themselves. Not everyone will take notice but some will and lives will be changed and God's Kingdom would come further on this earth. Incentive enough?
The Bible is all about examples, from the good but tainted such as Abraham, Moses & David to the tainted but changed Jacob & Paul to the perfect example of Jesus.
This society drives me crazy, from the way it denies and buries God when every argument against God assumes God through the assumption of the laws of logic, (Ask any Atheist how he knows anything and watch him squirm, you cannot claim to know anything without confessing the existence of God - I am happy for an atheist to come and debate this!), from the way it takes a pleasurable drink (for some) such as beer or wine, drink way too much of it..wrecking their bodies, their relationships, their minds and their lives pretending it's cool whilst doing so. If you need alcohol to have fun and be confident, you have serious issues.
To continue this rant, the word 'banter' is getting out of hand. I am not against fun between friends, but when this 'fun' involves serious repercussions that will affect them their whole life (as for the 20 year old Glamorgan student) you have to question whether you are treating that person as a friend or your worst enemy. True banter is fun for everyone, not just you!
God Loves us, God sent us Jesus, Jesus told us to love each other, we love each other. God Loves us...this is the true circle of life.
If you want to become a Christian, have questions, not sure, need prayer or want to talk about anything just Facebook me, tweet me @mjw6150, e-mail me: mjw6150@hotmail.com
God Bless you all, God wants us to change the world, to change our lives...He can do anything, therefore we can do it!
Love and Blessings :-)
Showing posts with label Broken Britain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Broken Britain. Show all posts
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
The Question of Morality
This is a follow up to my recent blog post on the issue of morality. It is an interview between a Christian journalist and the prominent atheist Richard Dawkins.
“What defines your morality?” I asked with genuine curiosity.
There was an extended pause as Dawkins considered the question carefully. “Moral philosophic reasoning and a shifting zeitgeist.” He looked off and then continued.
“We live in a society in which, nowadays, slavery is abominated, women are respected, children can’t be abused—all of which is different from previous centuries.”
He leaned forward as he warmed to his subject.
“I’m actually rather interested in the shifting zeitgeist. If you travel anywhere in the Western world, you find a consensus of opinion which is recognizably different from what it was only a matter of a decade or two ago. You and I are both a part of that same zeitgeist, and [as to where] we get our moral outlook, one can almost use phrases like ‘it’s in the air.’”
At this point, perhaps a word of explanation is necessary. Zeitgeist is a German word meaning “spirit of the age.” Dawkins here refers to the prevailing moral climate or mood of a given place or time. We may observe that what constitutes moral or ethical behavior differs from one culture to another; indeed, it may even differ within a given culture. This is not in dispute. The question, rather, is this: should moral standards be based on the societal zeitgeist or should they look beyond it to something else?
I asked an obvious question: “As we speak of this shifting zeitgeist, how are we to determine who’s right? If we do not acknowledge some sort of external [standard], what is to prevent us from saying that the Muslim [extremists] aren’t right?”
“Yes, absolutely fascinating.” His response was immediate. “What’s to prevent us from saying Hitler wasn’t right? I mean, that is a genuinely difficult question. But whatever [defines morality], it’s not the Bible. If it was, we’d be stoning people for breaking the Sabbath.”
I was stupefied. He had readily conceded that his own philosophical position did not offer a rational basis for moral judgments. His intellectual honesty was refreshing, if somewhat disturbing on this point.
Dawkins proceeded to cite the abolition of slavery and the civil rights movement as examples of Western moral advancements, but would not credit Christianity in the slightest.
“Now you have to remember where I am from,” I objected. “Birmingham, Alabama—the home of the civil rights movement. Many there would argue that the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., was motivated by his Christian convictions. And what of William Wilberforce?”
But Dawkins would have none of it.
The really interesting bit I have put in italics. It proves that if you do not believe in God, literally anything can go. There is no morality except what someone decides personally. But then that means things such as genocide, murder and rape are not wrong because it's all down to personal preference. But we know these things are wrong and the one true level of morality for all mankind, from God, declares them wrong. No matter what Joe Bloggs thinks.
This interview also shows Dawkins irrational opinions on Christianity, which makes a mockery of his credibility on this issue.
“What defines your morality?” I asked with genuine curiosity.
There was an extended pause as Dawkins considered the question carefully. “Moral philosophic reasoning and a shifting zeitgeist.” He looked off and then continued.
“We live in a society in which, nowadays, slavery is abominated, women are respected, children can’t be abused—all of which is different from previous centuries.”
He leaned forward as he warmed to his subject.
“I’m actually rather interested in the shifting zeitgeist. If you travel anywhere in the Western world, you find a consensus of opinion which is recognizably different from what it was only a matter of a decade or two ago. You and I are both a part of that same zeitgeist, and [as to where] we get our moral outlook, one can almost use phrases like ‘it’s in the air.’”
At this point, perhaps a word of explanation is necessary. Zeitgeist is a German word meaning “spirit of the age.” Dawkins here refers to the prevailing moral climate or mood of a given place or time. We may observe that what constitutes moral or ethical behavior differs from one culture to another; indeed, it may even differ within a given culture. This is not in dispute. The question, rather, is this: should moral standards be based on the societal zeitgeist or should they look beyond it to something else?
I asked an obvious question: “As we speak of this shifting zeitgeist, how are we to determine who’s right? If we do not acknowledge some sort of external [standard], what is to prevent us from saying that the Muslim [extremists] aren’t right?”
“Yes, absolutely fascinating.” His response was immediate. “What’s to prevent us from saying Hitler wasn’t right? I mean, that is a genuinely difficult question. But whatever [defines morality], it’s not the Bible. If it was, we’d be stoning people for breaking the Sabbath.”
I was stupefied. He had readily conceded that his own philosophical position did not offer a rational basis for moral judgments. His intellectual honesty was refreshing, if somewhat disturbing on this point.
Dawkins proceeded to cite the abolition of slavery and the civil rights movement as examples of Western moral advancements, but would not credit Christianity in the slightest.
“Now you have to remember where I am from,” I objected. “Birmingham, Alabama—the home of the civil rights movement. Many there would argue that the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., was motivated by his Christian convictions. And what of William Wilberforce?”
But Dawkins would have none of it.
The really interesting bit I have put in italics. It proves that if you do not believe in God, literally anything can go. There is no morality except what someone decides personally. But then that means things such as genocide, murder and rape are not wrong because it's all down to personal preference. But we know these things are wrong and the one true level of morality for all mankind, from God, declares them wrong. No matter what Joe Bloggs thinks.
This interview also shows Dawkins irrational opinions on Christianity, which makes a mockery of his credibility on this issue.
Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Britain's 'Broken Society'
Being away in Llanelli for PCY Camp last week (will blog on the incredible things that God did later this week!) meant that I wasn't privy to the News and it was with great shock that I saw a newspaper during the week with pictures and comments about rioting in the country.
This is something I have never seen before and I naively thought that it was a thing of the past.
Despite all the different theories flying around, I agree with David Cameron when he attributed it to a 'broken society' and 'moral collapse'.
Blaming the riots on the economy is foolishness. Everyday necessities were not being stolen, luxury items were. This was down to sheer hate from the groups seeking to cause trouble and sheer greed.
I have seen signs of this for a while now indeed, the breakdown of communities, the highest prisoner numbers ever and the increased signs of depraved behaviour in the country. It is as if evil behaviour has become 'cool' and the normal way to behave in Great Britain.
It is no co-incidence to me that this happens to parallel to decreased influence of the Christian Church in society and the recent attacks on it from militant Athiest groups.
You see, this is the problem...if God doesn't exists then neither can morality.
Without God, it is simply a matter of personal opinion. 'I believe this is wrong' or 'We believe this is wrong'. This doesn't work because not everyone has the same ideals. Does a pedophile believing molesting children is right make it right? Does a society believing that adultery is acceptable make it acceptable? NO IT DOESN'T.
God is perfect and has no evil in Him. He created the world and set down laws for the people to abide by. Not because of a power trip, but because He Loves us and wants us to enjoy our lives. The truth is that sin doesn't help us enjoy our lives, it actually destroys lives.
Because God is so much higher than us, and has authority, it means His Law is the only form of morality we can realistically rely upon.
So when Great Britain decides that it doesn't need God anymore and it's own opinions are more important, it spells TROUBLE.
The only hope for 'Broken Britain' is that the hearts of the people turn to Christ and follow Him. Otherwise, we will just continue in a vicious circle of selfishness, hate and greed.
Deuteronomy 5:29
Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children for ever!
This is something I have never seen before and I naively thought that it was a thing of the past.
Despite all the different theories flying around, I agree with David Cameron when he attributed it to a 'broken society' and 'moral collapse'.
Blaming the riots on the economy is foolishness. Everyday necessities were not being stolen, luxury items were. This was down to sheer hate from the groups seeking to cause trouble and sheer greed.
I have seen signs of this for a while now indeed, the breakdown of communities, the highest prisoner numbers ever and the increased signs of depraved behaviour in the country. It is as if evil behaviour has become 'cool' and the normal way to behave in Great Britain.
It is no co-incidence to me that this happens to parallel to decreased influence of the Christian Church in society and the recent attacks on it from militant Athiest groups.
You see, this is the problem...if God doesn't exists then neither can morality.
Without God, it is simply a matter of personal opinion. 'I believe this is wrong' or 'We believe this is wrong'. This doesn't work because not everyone has the same ideals. Does a pedophile believing molesting children is right make it right? Does a society believing that adultery is acceptable make it acceptable? NO IT DOESN'T.
God is perfect and has no evil in Him. He created the world and set down laws for the people to abide by. Not because of a power trip, but because He Loves us and wants us to enjoy our lives. The truth is that sin doesn't help us enjoy our lives, it actually destroys lives.
Because God is so much higher than us, and has authority, it means His Law is the only form of morality we can realistically rely upon.
So when Great Britain decides that it doesn't need God anymore and it's own opinions are more important, it spells TROUBLE.
The only hope for 'Broken Britain' is that the hearts of the people turn to Christ and follow Him. Otherwise, we will just continue in a vicious circle of selfishness, hate and greed.
Deuteronomy 5:29
Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children for ever!
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