Quote of the day
posted at 10:30 pm on May 11, 2009 by Allahpundit
“When I think about atheist friends, including my father, they seem to me like people who have no ear for music, or who have never been in love. It is not that (as they believe) they have rumbled the tremendous fraud of religion – prophets do that in every generation. Rather, these unbelievers are simply missing out on something that is not difficult to grasp. Perhaps it is too obvious to understand; obvious, as lovers feel it was obvious that they should have come together, or obvious as the final resolution of a fugue…
My departure from the Faith was like a conversion on the road to Damascus. My return was slow, hesitant, doubting. So it will always be; but I know I shall never make the same mistake again. Gilbert Ryle, with donnish absurdity, called God ‘a category mistake’. Yet the real category mistake made by atheists is not about God, but about human beings. Turn to the Table Talk of Samuel Taylor Coleridge – ‘Read the first chapter of Genesis without prejudice and you will be convinced at once . . . ‘The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life’.’ And then Coleridge adds: ‘‘And man became a living soul.’ Materialism will never explain those last words.’”
Blowback
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God bless you blogger known as Allahpundit.
carbon_footprint on May 11, 2009 at 10:32 PM
…well…at least the quote of the day isn’t about Megan McCain or Romney, Mormons or gays.
Sarjex on May 11, 2009 at 10:33 PM
There goes AllahPundit slinging mud on the good name of Christians again.
//Sarc.
Gaurav on May 11, 2009 at 10:34 PM
Allahpundit,
JOIN US!
Sincerely,
The Christian Church
terryannonline on May 11, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Already over MegMac?
Upstater85 on May 11, 2009 at 10:38 PM
Maybe this is his announcement that he has.
: P
jgapinoy on May 11, 2009 at 10:38 PM
You’re always welcomed to visit my church, Allahpundit. Er, if our willing 2 fly all the way to South Texas.
terryannonline on May 11, 2009 at 10:38 PM
I lost faith after five years of hell. Perhaps I should find my way back.
txag92 on May 11, 2009 at 10:39 PM
“terryannonline on May 11, 2009 at 10:36 PM”
we have tea and cookies!
/had to be said
Buckaroo on May 11, 2009 at 10:39 PM
Or that obscure writer who call himself a Republican…what’s his name?
jgapinoy on May 11, 2009 at 10:40 PM
“Upstater85 on May 11, 2009 at 10:38 PM”
hourly miss cali posts in 4, 3, …
:-)
Buckaroo on May 11, 2009 at 10:40 PM
I’m in SA, you?
john1schn on May 11, 2009 at 10:41 PM
As long as there are pictures ;)
Upstater85 on May 11, 2009 at 10:41 PM
Heretics,somebody is going to get stoned!!
canopfor on May 11, 2009 at 10:41 PM
Corpus Christi
terryannonline on May 11, 2009 at 10:42 PM
I’m sorry about your hardships. This comes highly recommended:
http://www.amazon.com/When-God-Doesnt-Make-Sense/dp/0842382275
jgapinoy on May 11, 2009 at 10:42 PM
Maybe the Big Bang has finally knocked some sense into some people.
Limerick on May 11, 2009 at 10:42 PM
“Upstater85 on May 11, 2009 at 10:41 PM”
from your keyboard …
Buckaroo on May 11, 2009 at 10:42 PM
Appropriate.
jgapinoy on May 11, 2009 at 10:43 PM
I absolutely love the name of my city.
terryannonline on May 11, 2009 at 10:43 PM
Catholics come home:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs6qZd_xP1w
I’ll sponsor ya, AP… ;-)
JetBoy on May 11, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Are you afraid Obama is going to rename it Corpus Obamasissi?
Upstater85 on May 11, 2009 at 10:44 PM
LOL!
terryannonline on May 11, 2009 at 10:45 PM
a sign that faith is sometimes rewarded…
sven10077 on May 11, 2009 at 10:45 PM
……………. What could go wrong?
Seven Percent Solution on May 11, 2009 at 10:46 PM
good stuff. ap, you know how to pick ‘em!
homesickamerican on May 11, 2009 at 10:46 PM
Via con Dios
Via con Diablo
Via con Zero
Limerick on May 11, 2009 at 10:47 PM
I’m not Catholic but those videos almost make me wish I were :)
terryannonline on May 11, 2009 at 10:47 PM
Hey, just make sure he doesn’t get Kennedied in Texas… we still remember how Texas is FULL of HATE [by all of those commies down there ///s]. The D’s will change the name…
Upstater85 on May 11, 2009 at 10:47 PM
Deep thoughts from Allah today
AbaddonsReign on May 11, 2009 at 10:48 PM
So Diablo is on the left hand of Zero?
Upstater85 on May 11, 2009 at 10:48 PM
Oh yeah, well we have wine and crackers!
Laura in Maryland on May 11, 2009 at 10:48 PM
After MegMac f****ng broke his heart… Doesn’t she know who he is???
Upstater85 on May 11, 2009 at 10:49 PM
My parents church only has crackers and grape juice every 3 months…
Upstater85 on May 11, 2009 at 10:50 PM
Allah has an announcement coming?
SnarkVader on May 11, 2009 at 10:50 PM
“Laura in Maryland on May 11, 2009 at 10:48 PM”
it doesn’t have to be either/or …
:-)
Buckaroo on May 11, 2009 at 10:50 PM
Allahpundit, you’ve been exposed to the truth. If you have ears to hear, you will hear it. I pray God gives you ears to hear.
Daggett on May 11, 2009 at 10:50 PM
Sadly this puts me in my place. There have been many instances in my life when I did the easy thing instead of the right thing just to get along. Men of faith (real men) have the conviction to do what they know in their hearts is right regardless of the consequences here on earth. Intellectuals will always tell you what they think, but then expect you to defend them.
Tommy_G on May 11, 2009 at 10:51 PM
Hey, where’s the link to K.Parker?
chewydog on May 11, 2009 at 10:51 PM
…………What could go wrong?
Seven Percent Solution on May 11,2009 at 10:46PM.
Seven Percent Solution: What could go wrong,me thinks,
tied to a stick,with kindleing
at your feet!:)hehe.:)
canopfor on May 11, 2009 at 10:51 PM
This seems similar to the Mother Theresa had doubts about her Faith type of post…
Upstater85 on May 11, 2009 at 10:51 PM
“After MegMac f****ng broke his heart… Doesn’t she know who he is???”
we should just be happy the whole big mac thing flamed out due to her inability to keep her true colors from garish display in just a few weeks; can u imagine if this dragged through the summer?!?!?!?!?!
Buckaroo on May 11, 2009 at 10:52 PM
I agree with the poster above, the shock and disillusionment of the MegaMac fiasco has turned AP to look for answers.
Come into the light AP, the girls at church are much hotter!
conservnut on May 11, 2009 at 10:52 PM
Nah. Summer bikini shots aren’t for Jenny Craig dropouts.
Limerick on May 11, 2009 at 10:53 PM
“the girls at church are much hotter!”
can i get an amen?!
Buckaroo on May 11, 2009 at 10:53 PM
Yeah, I can just see him defending her when the San Diego Zoo was called in to keep her wet in July…
Upstater85 on May 11, 2009 at 10:53 PM
“Limerick on May 11, 2009 at 10:53 PM”
precisely my point …
Buckaroo on May 11, 2009 at 10:54 PM
Dunno which church you are talking about ;)
Upstater85 on May 11, 2009 at 10:54 PM
I’d say church is a perfect place 2 find love. Although, you shouldn’t walk into church looking for a date.
terryannonline on May 11, 2009 at 10:54 PM
“Upstater85 on May 11, 2009 at 10:53 PM”
i ain’t touching that one …
Buckaroo on May 11, 2009 at 10:54 PM
You know how the prodigal son’s father ran out to meet him upon his return and greeted him with love and joy? That’s God waiting for you with open arms.
SheofTwoMinds on May 11, 2009 at 10:55 PM
You can be, terryann…you can be…
:-)
JetBoy on May 11, 2009 at 10:57 PM
*~@:{)>
Seven Percent Solution on May 11, 2009 at 10:57 PM
The ‘human being’ category mistake strikes me as very narrow-minded. Are we to consider those who came before Christ as sub-human? Or aboriginal peoples who were isolated from organized religions? Perhaps it might be argued that they had ‘gods’ of their own, but everywhere you turn, the modern believer pooh-poohs the ‘tree worshippers’ and the ‘false gods’ of the unbelievers.
The only human thing about modern religion is the desire for power over others.
Peri Winkle on May 11, 2009 at 10:57 PM
Hey Allah, I’ll probably piss off some people here but if you are on a journey of faith…seek God and make Him alone, your religion…. not the other way around.
katy on May 11, 2009 at 10:58 PM
If you have a fatal condition, embrace Jesus. You have nothing to loose.
Life is a fatal condition.
RadioFreeUSA on May 11, 2009 at 10:58 PM
Shhhh, we’re trying to get AP to come into a church first. :-)
conservnut on May 11, 2009 at 10:59 PM
Oh, come on, who’s going to get pissy over that? [apparently me ;) ]
It’s true. Religion alone is worthless…
Upstater85 on May 11, 2009 at 10:59 PM
Alright. Powerful argument.
radiofreevillage on May 11, 2009 at 11:01 PM
AP, dude it must be a great day. You find God and you’re stepping up your game with the ladies! Congrats man, congrats!
youngO on May 11, 2009 at 11:01 PM
Doubt in the truth of atheism is a very good thing.
Sometimes intellectual people come to God from a different direction. Religion and the knowledge of God is a deeply, intensely, human, thing.
The author of that article was right to compare it to music or love. Both of those experiences are very close to religious sensibility. And music and love increase religious experience. Reverence for God is like the most soaring beautiful music. That was very insightful.
I am grateful that my own religious experience has always been positive. I have never doubted that I have a Heavenly Father who knows me, and loves me, no matter what life brings. I am so grateful for my upbringing and my church.
petunia on May 11, 2009 at 11:04 PM
I lost faith when the Catholic Church gave me to boot because I wouldn’t agree, nor pay $5,000 bucks to have my marriage annulled.
Sorry…
Knucklehead on May 11, 2009 at 11:05 PM
Ummmm not to toot my own horne too much but… I kid at school told my daughter that BYU ranked #1 in good looking women… on some list anyway.
petunia on May 11, 2009 at 11:07 PM
“petunia on May 11, 2009 at 11:07 PM”
er, the list of lds-run schools with hot women?
:-)
:-)
Buckaroo on May 11, 2009 at 11:08 PM
What church do YOU attend? All the women at my church have blue hair. And I’m not talking the kinky blue.
Daggett on May 11, 2009 at 11:10 PM
The one who says the Republicans need to start being more welcoming to “moderates”, “centrists” and “non-whites”.
LibTired on May 11, 2009 at 11:11 PM
What church are YOU going to?
terryannonline on May 11, 2009 at 11:11 PM
what terry said — go find a place with a larger singles group than seniors group — duh …
:-)
Buckaroo on May 11, 2009 at 11:13 PM
It is amazing that Meg has been tossed out. It’s Green Acres in reverse. A boy from Queens falls for Ellie May Clampett.
Limerick on May 11, 2009 at 11:13 PM
According to Martin Gilbert’s concise biography of Churchill, his parting words on leaving Number 10 for the last time as Prime Minister were simply : “Man is spirit.”
reliapundit on May 11, 2009 at 11:14 PM
I used to believe in God, purpose, and those things.
I don’t anymore, and it’s the most depressing thing ever.
When I stopped going to church, and believing in anything, I sat for days just looking out the window, not eating.
I don’t really know what I believe. It kind of changes day to day. But I’ll admit this — not having a strong faith in anything is the most lonely, depressing, sad, and pathetic thing I’ve ever felt.
blatantblue on May 11, 2009 at 11:15 PM
At 68 [WSC'S GRANDOSN], sports the dapper tailoring and the pink glow of opulence. A Conservative MP until 1997, he now works for several charities, besides acting as a custodian of his grandfather’s memory.
The latest addition to the library of Churchilliana is a ‘bible’ of the great man’s sayings, entitled Churchill by Himself.
Young Winston’s favourite quote so far is Churchill’s farewell to his ministers in 1955. ‘He told them: “Man is spirit.”’
reliapundit on May 11, 2009 at 11:16 PM
Compelling. I’m glad he’s found what he’s looking for.
SouthernGent on May 11, 2009 at 11:17 PM
“Those temptresses are aglow with hellfire. That’s why they are hot!”
“I ask again, brother, are you ready to be saved??”
Ummmm…Door #2?
Peri Winkle on May 11, 2009 at 11:17 PM
It’s punch and pie, Buckaroo.
“More people will come if we have punch and pie.”
The Apostle Cartman
techno_barbarian on May 11, 2009 at 11:19 PM
I live about 15 miles North of BYU and have attended several football games there. I will confirm that BYU has many, many beautiful young women attending school there and they are all looking for a husband. I am a Utah fan so I won’t comment about BYU’s football team.
evenkeel on May 11, 2009 at 11:19 PM
The Catholic Church is a religious organization not ‘faith’. I’m a recovering Catholic myself.
thomasaur on May 11, 2009 at 11:21 PM
Wow, I’m so sorry about that. I wish I could help encourage you in a way that wouldn’t be perceived as just trying to get a “convert” notch on my belt. But really, coming to faith in Jesus Christ is the best solution for you.
jgapinoy on May 11, 2009 at 11:22 PM
When I was quite young, I was a snarky atheist myself. About the time I was in college, I realized how much of a profession of faith this entailed — just because I have seen no evidence of God, how could I maintain that He doesn’t exist — I’ve seen no evidence of Madagascar, either, but I have it on good authority that it’s out there.
And so I came to the point of relaxed agnosticism — surely, an all-powerful being could toss me a clue if he actually wanted anything specific from me.
And that freed me from a great deal of anxiety and misdirected effort. As the poem goes:
Trying to prove the nonexistence of the nonevident is only slightly more foolish than trying to prove the existence of the nonevident.
cthulhu on May 11, 2009 at 11:23 PM
I lost my faith to “reason” in college. For many years I was in the desert, as it were. When I came back, it was not to Church or dogma, but accepting into my heart the certainty of God.
disa on May 11, 2009 at 11:23 PM
Sometimes, the place you just described, is the most powerful place to find your faith.
He comes when there is little left and no more distractions. Then you begin to hear Him…. and not you or others
katy on May 11, 2009 at 11:23 PM
Allah, you could always convert to Mormonism. You get to retain all of the derision you receive as an atheist with the upside of actually getting in to heaven. It’s a win/win.
I believe I see a mob with pitchforks and torches in the distance…I wonder what they want.
Mormon Doc on May 11, 2009 at 11:24 PM
AWESOME QUOTE OF THE DAY! That’s the Holy Spirit, man. He works differently for different people. It could be something you just can’t explain that happens to you. It could be something that was out of your control that worked out that makes you believe. It could be a revelation concerning someone else which helps.
But faith is about questioning for understanding. When you understand that nobody has all the answers. . . when you understand that every answer you discover creates another 10 questions, then your faith will begin to grow.
Nobody knows everything. Nobody can. It is comforting to believe that there is an order to things and there is a higher power beholden to nobody in charge. THAT is faith.
Faith is in not knowing and being OK and comforted in not knowing. You can be brilliant and not know everything. In fact, you can be brilliant and know you know very little. . . faith fills in the gaps.
ThackerAgency on May 11, 2009 at 11:24 PM
Why?
Maybe he wants you to stand up on your own, and if not doesn’t give a rat’s patudy about your nonevident nonexistence.
Limerick on May 11, 2009 at 11:25 PM
But trying to prove the existence of the non-existent is perhaps even more fruitless.
Peri Winkle on May 11, 2009 at 11:25 PM
Psssst…guys. AllahP isn’t becoming a Christian, Ok? Just a post to get people thinking and generate some traffic.
AUINSC on May 11, 2009 at 11:26 PM
I feel the exact same way.
SnarkVader on May 11, 2009 at 11:26 PM
If you are looking… Everyone who has honestly sought out God has found him. Not looking to disprove him.. but earnestly looking to see if he is real.
For years, I had a horrible time with my faith. I finally stopped looking for answers and just looked for Jesus.
GoodBoy on May 11, 2009 at 11:28 PM
People,
May be I am wrong, but I seriously doubt AP is having crisis of (un)faith, in all probability he just posted this because he thought it would be good for conversation and it was.
So I guess what I am saying is go easy on Allah has found God in his heart, most probably it is just bacon.
Gaurav on May 11, 2009 at 11:30 PM
The annulment was not my idea. Along with a few other cruel things that happened to me in that faith, I’ve pretty much soured on all religion and belief.
Knucklehead on May 11, 2009 at 11:31 PM
Geez, I keep wondering if I’ve stumbled onto a time warped progressive site replaying a Ground Hog Day version of 21, January 09.
Speakup on May 11, 2009 at 11:31 PM
We all come to God. Some of us are just more surprised then others.
Limerick on May 11, 2009 at 11:34 PM
I say to myself:
“What’s the point?”
I mean seriously. How can you even “love” someone? You can’t, if you don’t believe God, or anything spiritual. If you don’t, love is just a bunch of synapses and electrical pulses in your brain just firing off, telling you that you want this person– how sad is that? So can I really even “love” my girlfriend? I wonder.
So that’s depressing.
I just have this feeling of complete and utter non-purpose. It’s easy to go day by day and not think about it, but in the dark isolation of one’s bed at night, the doubts start to crawl in. Why get a good job? Why bother? What’s it going to change? In the end we’re all dead anyway, right?
So that’s depressing.
Those are some of the lines of thought I encounter.
I don’t know. I try to chalk it up to age, or say something will come down the line and show me the way. I hope it does.
Hell — how can you deal with death without faith? Those of faith know they’re going to see someone again. I sat over my buddy’s casket and thought how it was the last single time I’d ever see him.
And that’s depressing.
With faith, there is purpose. My girlfriend has a deep faith in God, and she’s able to get through almost anything. People like me? What foundation do we have? Answer: none. So what say us when the sh*t hits the fan? Where do we turn to?
Ourselves? Hah – we’re just men.
People of faith have something to look towards. Something that provides answers and a guiding hand. I just can’t bring myself to believe it; that out in this vast sea of nothing, we on this tiny speck of a planet are important.
Ah I’m done. Sorry for the long winded post.
blatantblue on May 11, 2009 at 11:35 PM
Of course you’d have to overlook the fact that 100% of ancient Native American DNA comes from Siberia and not Palestine.
Mojave Mark on May 11, 2009 at 11:35 PM
“just words”
heh
blatantblue on May 11, 2009 at 11:36 PM
The new testament is pretty specific on what He wants. It’s been written for centuries.
Belief in Jesus demands a relationship with Him. As in ANY relationship it doesn’t get anywhere if you don’t work on it and stay in communication. Just as a marriage or friendship will not succeed if there is no real communication.. neither will a good relationship with Jesus.
He is the the faithful friend that will stay exactly where you left Him and He’s patiently waiting for you to return.
Read and study His Word, pray and worship.
Always remember… Satan is always there trying to rip you away from that relationship.
GoodBoy on May 11, 2009 at 11:38 PM
jgapinoy on May 11, 2009 at 10:42 PM
SheofTwoMinds on May 11, 2009 at 10:55 PM
Thank you.
txag92 on May 11, 2009 at 11:38 PM
OK. You take care.
jgapinoy on May 11, 2009 at 11:40 PM
Surrendering your ignorance to faith is the way of the liberal.
You don’t want to learn how to feed the starving? Then just believe that somehow they will be fed.
You don’t want to accept why income must exceed outgo? Then just hope that things will change sometime soon.
You don’t want to die? Then pray that you won’t.
There’s a lot to be said for searching for the truth, or even understanding. There’s very little, in my book, for giving up.
Peri Winkle on May 11, 2009 at 11:41 PM
You will be assimilated.
ronsfi on May 11, 2009 at 11:42 PM
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