Articles Comments

Reason and Capitalism » Religion

My Last Words

March 19th, 2008 | 2 Comments

So the other day I was thinking about what I would say if I knew that I could write one letter, or a note, to the whole world, and know that they’d read it. Well, there’s so much that I want to say about all of the important things that make life what it is. Something tells me that the “Christian” last letter would be to say something about living for God, but I know that it’ll take a hey of a lot more than this note to convince anyone of anything like that. I know the “freedom” loving letter would be something along the lines of asking for a defense of social and economic liberty, but that’d take even longer than talking about religion. So when it comes right down to … Read entire article »

Filed under: Philosophy, Random, Religion

Total Makeover?

March 7th, 2008 | 2 Comments

As many of you know, I love blogging about Making Money Online — it’s a great hobby and part-time job for me. I’ve bought a lap-top and some other cool stuff with my income generated through my blogs. I’m the main author and operator of Reason and Capitalism, Rebirth of Freedom, … Read entire article »

Filed under: Capitalism, Philosophy, Politics, Random, Religion, Uncategorized

Government and Morality

March 5th, 2008 | 2 Comments

I present a challenge to any Christian who believes that governments have more of a right to use violence than everyday citizens. I want you to point out a verse, somewhere in the New Testament, that gives government an /exclusive/ right that the citizenry don’t have. Then tell me exactly what that is, from the Bible. Be careful. If you are conservative, your entire political philosophy rests on this. Otherwise, you have a lot of explaining to do. “There is in all a strong disposition to believe that anything lawful is also legitimate. This belief is so widespread that many persons have erroneously held that things are ‘just’ because the law makes them so.” -Frederic Bastiat … Read entire article »

Filed under: Philosophy, Politics, Religion

Be a Savior

March 4th, 2008 | 4 Comments

I have really strange taste in music. I like Irish Punk, classic rock, classical music period, heavy, and pretty much everything in between. The following song by My Chemical Romance is one of my favorites. It’s about a man who’s on his deathbed, and is thinking back on his favorite memory, when his father took him to a parade, and asked him to use his life to help others. The first lyrics are simply incredible. Welcome To The Black Parade Lyrics When I was a young boy, My father took me into the city To see a marching band. He said, “Son when you grow up, will you be the saviour of the broken, The beaten and the damned?” He said “Will you defeat them, your demons, and all the non believers, the plans that they have made?” Because one … Read entire article »

Filed under: Random, Religion, Uncategorized

The Church is Lame

February 29th, 2008 | 3 Comments

Warning: Random Rant Following. I’m currently reading the book “Starving Jesus”, written by the guys at XXXChurch.com. These guys aren’t afraid of doing the right thing, even if it offends someone, or makes them go “omgosh! they talked about porn/sex/booze”. The book has been incredible so far, and the honesty that they write with is simply amazing. For example, they didn’t go to church for years though they were in full-time ministry. I can completely understand, given that so many aspects of the church are random, irrational and unbiblical. Church has become a cult of tradition rather than a group of believers. Shame on it. At one point in the first chapter, the guys literally say, “Church sucks!” Dead on. I’m probably going to write more about this at Rational Christianity, but I … Read entire article »

Filed under: Religion

Salvation

February 18th, 2008 | 1 Comment

I woke up, startled, felt feverish. It was only three in the morning. The darkness was more potent than usual and I couldn’t see a thing. He was talking to me again. But I didn’t believe in the voices in my soul, because I knew they weren’t real. Good God!, I screamed at those who didn’t exist. Why do you haunt me? Why can I not live on the basis of the rational truth? I felt the universe chuckle, as though this was a cosmic-wide joke. I knew what reality was saying to me, that I had no point, and that empty feeling didn’t exist, and that I was the happiest man in the world. It was a joke, and reality was laughing. I didn’t lay back because there was no use … Read entire article »

Filed under: Random, Religion

The Philosophy of Rational Happiness

February 11th, 2008 | 5 Comments

I believe that there is a universal reality that we are all apart of. Reality does not exist because we perceive, we perceive because reality exists. In order to understand reality we must use at least two basic means of reason — logic and sense. The two should never contradict and should be used to compliment each other. Our purpose in life is that which we choose. I’m a Christian existentialist. At first this sounds contradictory, but given some thought it reasons out perfectly. I believe that man should find his purpose in life, and act accordingly. How to determine one’s purpose? Happiness. Happiness is the emotional response to the achievement of one’s values. People who win the lottery experience at least temporary happiness because they valued the lottery.* People who love … Read entire article »

Filed under: Philosophy, Religion

10 Jesus Quotes

February 1st, 2008 | 10 Comments

It could be said that I’m a Jesus guy. I’m completely sold out to Him, not just as my savior, but as a philosopher. If I didn’t believe Christ was God, I’d still have Him as my favorite philosopher. The following quotes are great examples of why I love Him so much. Given the context of the quotations, He was preaching revolution. So they killed him for His love. Note that I quote the Gospel of Thomas occasionally. This is not considered Scripture by any major denomination. I’m of the camp that the gospel of Thomas is the Q document that Mark and Luke based their writings on. I am not completely sure of this to say that it should be in the Bible, of course. Either way, the sayings are … Read entire article »

Filed under: Philosophy, Religion

Legislate Morality!

January 29th, 2008 | 16 Comments

I have recently decided to join the “legislate morality” camp. I was listening to an audio recording by a pastor of a two-family Bible church, and it just hit me all of the sudden. I believe that we should punish immoral actions, because, well, that’s just why we have government. To punish sin. Now, of course, I’m not tyrant. I sin a lot, and as a Christian, I believe everyone sins and deserves death. But I won’t let this get in my way, because I want to punish evil people. Nono, I mean people more evil than the typical evil person. So how do we decide? Simple. If it’s a threat to the foundation of civilization, then we outlaw it. If it corrupts the general morality, well dang, that’s bright-line enough for … Read entire article »

Filed under: Politics, Religion

A Post About You

January 28th, 2008 | 5 Comments

One of the first rules of polite conversation is that you never bring up religion. Let’s break the rule. I have about 50-50 ratio of atheists to theists that read Reason and Capitalism, and I’m equally eager to hear both sides in the comments below. Unfortunately, the “split” between the religious and non-religious tends to destroy the ability to discuss and communicate like human beings, with the discussions often ending up in a brawl. Let’s combat the destructive behavior, and be unpolite by talking publicly about religion. It’s my goal to have more of these posts in the future for the sake of discussion rather than isolation. What are the top 5 reasons you believe what you believe regarding God and/or religion? What would it take for you to change your mind? … Read entire article »

Filed under: Philosophy, Random, Religion

Next Page »