A Christian Commentator Offers Good Counsel

[Carolyn Marie]

I like this piece, very much. I wish more thoughtful people like Mr. Merritt would speak out.

http://jonathanmerritt.religionnews.com/2013/08/19/transgender-issues-more-complicated-than-some-christians-portray/

Carolyn Marie

p.s. I would appreciate it If someone could translate Russel Moore's comments. I don't have time this morning to study up on epistemology.

[VickySGV]

The actual author of this article has hit some very good points about the Christian belief systems.

Russel Moore, whom he quoted thinks that using big words makes him smarter and more authoritative.

Doing a little bit of Wikipedia searching, the words translate out to "We have a Bible that we believe in and believe its true and you can't change it." (Epistemology) "We have Science which has a lot of theories, but has not given us Proof we can believe in, they change them all the time!!" (Ontology). Ontology has not PROVEN the Bible WRONG!!! Who can you really BELIEVE, relgion or science??

Sure gives my imagination free play on how he might want to prove his belief that because trains are not mentioned in the Biblical Canon, that one hitting him on a railroad track can't happen.

[Guest Deanna]

I have always had a hard time dealing with the religion issue. I was raise catholic and presently going to Methodist church (unfortunately not for long due to my transitioning). I was always taught it was about one's soul. That is what religion was about and that we should be accepting of all people. But it seems they are more interested in my gender. I have seen another already get shunned by the church ( as I am starting be). They don't ask questions nor try to understand anything. I see this in some of the comments to that article.

[VickySGV]

This article also heads to the heart Russel Moore's basic stand on things. Another religion commentator has her say.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/wp/2013/08/19/what-transgender-people-teach-us-about-god-and-our-humanity/

[Guest Jenn348]

Russell Moore isn't a believer in truth. Sure, he claims to be into truth, but he refuses to seek it. He claims to have it, puts his fingers in his ear and hums loudly. Jonathan Merritt, OTOH, is looking for truth and is willing to accept new data.

Moore would argue that Merritt is abandoning his Christianity in favor of the new information, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

Moore is obsessing over the window dressings of Christianity, the fringe beliefs that aren't really essential for salvation. Merritt is acting on his core beliefs, which are loving God (by trying to understand His work) and living his neighbor (by being kind the way the Savior would).

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." -Matthew 7:15-20

[Guest LizMarie]

In short, Jenn, I just say that people like Moore are Pharisees. It hammers the point home well enough.