[9rCR9hWL]

Which of these two do Christians view as a greater threat to their religion? The theory of evolution that is taught in school or the fictional series of books about Harry Potter. A survey said that 50% of American children have read at least one Harry Potter book.

[seodiary]

Neither are a threat to Christianity.

[Kimaamighed]

Neither are a threat to Christianity.

I did not ask which is a greater threat but which of them they view as a greater threat. The idea that the earth rotates around the sun was not a threat to the Christian religion. But the Church killed Copernicus for teaching it and Galileo was imprisoned for teaching it. He was not killed since he publicly withdraw it so he would not be killed. Christians on TV have said that they are at war with people who promote evolution.

[formobilagsw]

Most Christians aren't fundamentalists, those who do those things or voice those concerns are in the minority.

And Copernicus died peacefully at 70. His On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres was published the year he died. Galileo wasn't imprisoned per se but was under house arrest until he recanted.

[IoninnyHaro]

Which of these two do Christians view as a greater threat to their religion? The theory of evolution that is taught in school or the fictional series of books about Harry Potter. A survey said that 50% of American children have read at least one Harry Potter book.

Hi, Chuck. Neither is a “threat” per se. Christ’s triumph has already been guaranteed 2,000 years ago by His resurrection from the dead, but at present I would say evolution represents a greater delusion. At least most people recognize that the Potter series is fiction, etc. Evolution is also fiction, but many Ph.D.’s from Harvard believe it.

[IvJlNwum]

I would say that on this board the greatest threat to Christianity is Paul Humber, he paints fundamentalist Christians in a very dim light and makes it hard for Christians with more moderate views to be taken seriously.

[QEoMi752]

Most Christians aren't fundamentalists, those who do those things or voice those concerns are in the minority.

And Copernicus died peacefully at 70. His On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres was published the year he died. Galileo wasn't imprisoned per se but was under house arrest until he recanted.

I have a feeling this post will be the end of logical posts. And ef the OP for even starting the thread.

[Opening-auto]

I think the biggest threat is the Vatican. When the Vatican moves child molesting priests from parish to parish to try and hide the fact that they rape boys and ruin lives, i'd say that is a threat to the survival of the church. In 2003, the Archdiocese of Boston spent $83 million on lawsuits. $83,000,000!! And they still have the balls to send the collection plate around. The message the Vatican sends is 'try not to get caught raping children. If you do get caught, we'll move you and pay off the family to keep quiet'.

Real nice religion. Where do I sign up??

[happyman]

I completely agree that the Catholic Church did a horrible job of protecting children and dealing with criminal priests and I agree that the church has lost members because of this. I would just caution you not to paint all priests with the same broad brush. I feel sorry for those who do their job well and are forever tainted by these unthinkable events. I also believe that people who accept notions like creationism and the idea that only those who accept Jesus will get into heaven also pose a threat to Christianity. Thinking people do not want to throw their lot in with narrow-minded people and other rabid fundamentalists. These people do NOT represent the views of millions of other Christians. I do think Christianity will survive provided that those who believe give a good example of living a good life, including using the brains they were born with and treating people of other faiths with respect.

[WumibBesowe]

The question was about the biggest threat to Christianity. Not about how many good priests vs. bad priests. The "bad priests" practically bankrupted the Archdiocese of Boston.

[Corporal White]

I would say that on this board the greatest threat to Christianity is Paul Humber, he paints fundamentalist Christians in a very dim light and makes it hard for Christians with more moderate views to be taken seriously.

Amen.

FWIW, though, I'd say that "evolution" is, not because of any problems with it, but because of people like Paul Humber, who in their dogmatic zeal to endeavor to disprove what is above all else a science and thus beholden to the rules of science, manage instead to discredit all Christians in the eyes of others and even encourage more moderate cultural Christians to rethink their religious orientations, thereby achieving the exact opposite of what they are endeavoring to attain.

[KitRittyTug]

Evolution is also fiction, but many Ph.D.’s from Harvard believe it.

Because the earth is static and never changing Humber, right?

I'm really sick of your willful ignorance. You have ignored hundreds of posts that have debunked every. single. one. of your half-baked creationist ideas. Every last one. Yet you keep on going, because of how you've compartmentalized your brain, if you realized that if you are wrong, your entire life is one spent as a fraud harming the minds of children and trying to force your religious views into science and politics, you'd have a breakdown.

If your measure of a person is through deeds, and you feel that people who force their opinions on others are bad, then you are a bad person. You may be nice, you may be caring, but you try to do harm to the world. You do not see it as such, but you not only try to force your opinions on others, you misrepresent and lie to do so.

[Cofeeman]

Because the earth is static and never changing Humber, right?

I'm really sick of your willful ignorance. You have ignored hundreds of posts that have debunked every. single. one. of your half-baked creationist ideas. Every last one. Yet you keep on going, because of how you've compartmentalized your brain, if you realized that if you are wrong, your entire life is one spent as a fraud harming the minds of children and trying to force your religious views into science and politics, you'd have a breakdown.

If your measure of a person is through deeds, and you feel that people who force their opinions on others are bad, then you are a bad person. You may be nice, you may be caring, but you try to do harm to the world. You do not see it as such, but you not only try to force your opinions on others, you misrepresent and lie to do so.

Never lose track of the fact that religion is a business, a very big tax free business.

[heennaRaf]

Jid,
I did read the question. It offers a choice of two options. You suggested a third so I might fairly ask if you read the original question but I did not because I think your suggestion is worthy of discussion. I agree that the issue of pedophile priests is enormously damaging to the Roman Catholic denomination but they are not the only Christians and I question whether the issues of these priests affected Christianity in general. I sincerely believe that the fundamentalist fringe affects Christianity overall more than the priest scandal for the reasons that Hammersklavier put so well. Disbelief of evolution has the potential to discredit Christians in general, not just one denomination. This is an enormous threat that has invaded many aspects of our daily lives. Look at the political situation and the effect fundamentalists have had in recent years.

I understand your anger at the Vatican. I was a Roman Catholic myself once upon a time. I happily switched religions a numbers of years ago (before the pedophile priests came to light) over issues such as what I perceive a the second-class status of women in the Roman Church. I still stand by my assertion that there are many fine priests, and ministers in all denominations that do excellent work.

[ASSESTYTEAH]

Jid,
I did read the question. It offers a choice of two options. You suggested a third so I might fairly ask if you read the original question but I did not because I think your suggestion is worthy of discussion. I agree that the issue of pedophile priests is enormously damaging to the Roman Catholic denomination but they are not the only Christians and I question whether the issues of these priests affected Christianity in general. I sincerely believe that the fundamentalist fringe affects Christianity overall more than the priest scandal for the reasons that Hammersklavier put so well. Disbelief of evolution has the potential to discredit Christians in general, not just one denomination. This is an enormous threat that has invaded many aspects of our daily lives. Look at the political situation and the effect fundamentalists have had in recent years.

I understand your anger at the Vatican. I was a Roman Catholic myself once upon a time. I happily switched religions a numbers of years ago (before the pedophile priests came to light) over issues such as what I perceive a the second-class status of women in the Roman Church. I still stand by my assertion that there are many fine priests, and ministers in all denominations that do excellent work.

I understand your point. I guess the original question of the OP is more of a tongue in cheek kind of question. More of a ha ha kind of question. I'm referring to Harry Potter. What I mean by that is that there are a lot more damning threats to the Catholic church than Mr. Potter. And when it comes to child molesting clergy, a few rotten apples spoil a lot of the bunch. So Harry Potter being a danger to the church is ridiculous. If your are going to have a serious discussion about what threatens the longevity of the church, sex scandals has to be discussed as well as the church being opposed to safe sex for young people. And at the same time, be against abortion.

[funnyPasds]

I agree that Harry Potter per se is not a serious threat. The OP's posts are sometimes hard to fathom. Is he trying to be funny or is he serious- hard to say. Certainly sex scandals trump any Harry Potter threat. BUT, I think the whole Harry Potter issue goes right back to the fundamentalist fringe. Anything that goes against their very narrow view of Christianity is fought. That includes children's books about wizards and witches. Don't get me started on their hysteria about Halloween.

BTW, I like your signature.

[Anykeylo]

I agree that Harry Potter per se is not a serious threat. The OP's posts are sometimes hard to fathom. Is he trying to be funny or is he serious- hard to say. Certainly sex scandals trump any Harry Potter threat. BUT, I think the whole Harry Potter issue goes right back to the fundamentalist fringe. Anything that goes against their very narrow view of Christianity is fought. That includes children's books about wizards and witches. Don't get me started on their hysteria about Halloween.

BTW, I like your signature.

Thanks. Speaking of Harry Potter and crazy Christians, have you ever seen this??
YouTube - Harry Potter is the Devil!

[JimmyHas]

Too funny. But sad. And, hopefully, not terribly influential to the larger body of Christians. In fact, there is a Vacation Bible School curriculum based on Harry Potter, proving we are not all crackpots!

[EzequielTMann]

The irony is that in the end Harry Potter has a very Christian morality. We can see it in the Christ-like figure of Harry himself, who overcame death itself to overcome evil. (Sound familiar?)

[8Zgkdeee]

If anything has turned me off about Christianity, it's fundementalist preachers and religious wackjobs like Kirk Cameron. Hard to believe this rabid fanatic was once a mainstream television star. Heck, Christ Himself had a very low opinion of the religious leaders of his time. Seems Christ's message of Love is lost amongst those who want to condemn and judge everybody and everything.