Brian63

Over at the Ann Coulter forum (yes, I know), I have been challenged to provide examples of absurd statements that are made in churches regularly and not questioned or challenged.

I think that "God exists" is an absurd statement, but obviously they will not. In addition to anything that may seem absurd to an atheist, I am looking for examples of things that even some Christians will also find absurd. Obviously, there are many different types of Christians that will find many different types of statements normal or absurd, and that is part of the point. Please assist in providing a compilation of statements (or activities) that some, but not necessarily all, Christians would find absurd that are routinely unchallenged in churches across the world. Or, statements that you as an atheist find absurd.

Direct quotes are preferable, when possible. If you can find a church website with an absurd statement, please provide the URL. If you can find absurd statements made by prominent religious leaders outside of a church setting that can reasonably be considered to also be uttered regularly inside a church, and without dispute, please feel free to quote them. Quotations from religious organizations (not necessarily churches) are fair-game also. Bible quotations are also encouraged.

Bonus points to those statements made by some Christians that most other Christians would even find outlandish, and uttered regularly without a whiff of public dissent by congregants.

Here is a start:

"the Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God"

"he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary," (part of the Nicene Creed)

"Jesus Christ, born of the virgin Mary, fully God and fully man,"

"Every time a person is healed we are given a visible testimony that our Lord is faithful and will one day return"

"We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth. "

Thanks,

Brian

Imnotspecial

Our priest to my 8 year old grandson today: He talked to them about becoming a priest and the kids asked about how much money he makes. His answer: God will provide - look at my new truck out there. Apparently some old lady bought it for him recently.
This is according to my daughters testimony.
I am convinced that he actually believes this.

Ubercat

Do they ban anyone who might threaten their beliefs over there? Might be interesting to join if I'm not wasting my time.

-Ubercat

Brian63

I should mention that this challenge was an offshoot of a different point that I was making---that it is silly that priests/pastors are given a podium every week to speak to hundreds or thousands of people about various life and cultural issues, and there is no opportunity to challenge or question the statements they make. There is no Q&A session after a sermon, and it is socially unacceptable to raise your hand during a sermon to simply ask a question or dispute something that is said.

If you want to discuss that item, I would be happy to in a separate thread. Please keep this thread focused on absurd statements made regularly in churches, with no public dissent or challenge.

Thanks,

Brian

Overkill

Something that has always bothered me was the Easter Challenge. Churches will read all 3 completely contradictory accounts of the Resurrection that are impossible to sync up both in time and in place and not even notice it. In fact, they'll say goofy things about how marvelous the agreement is and how in perfect harmony the Bible is on the issue when its plain to see that it couldn't be more confusing if it tried.

naturalist.atheist

Not that the story makes much sense even if the three canonical accounts agreed in all details. After all, why would god fake its own death and pretend to be tortured in the process? And how is this a loving act for a god? It is all rather bizarre.

naturalist.atheist

I always thought the eucharist was a pretty odd thing to do. Not to mention that the Catholics "believe" in transubstantiation. That at the moment the priest announces 'the body of christ' what you are swallowing is the actual body of Christ. Not that the protestants that practice the eucharist are all that much better. They don't think it is the actual body of christ, they think it is a symbolic body that they are swallowing. Since when is ritual cannibalism considered to be acceptable in public or anywhere else? Whether you think what you are swallowing is a pretend body or not? But if you are swallowing your god that it is somehow better than pretending to swallow a regular human? How crazy is that?

Aikanaro

I've heard Mary being called the 'virgin of virgins' before - don't know wtf that means...

Speaking in tongues is pretty damn absurd.

Oh, and part of one of the prayers during Eucharist goes along the lines of 'We are not worthy to receive you God, but blah blah blah' - soooo ... how are we not worthy?

seebs

It seems hard to come up with a clear standard of "absurdity" that people will agree with.

I know that, when I used to participate in a Republican forum, they consistently derided and mocked absurdities such as "turn the other cheek". You might get something from that, for this audience.

You have to know your audience, though; what matters is not what seems absurd to you, but what seems absurd to them, and obviously, their own church probably doesn't seem absurd to them.

Absurdity mostly has to do with conflict with your paradigm. To people who accept some of the premises of Christianity, many "absurd" things may sound quite reasonable. I think this may be an unwinnable point. You might get somewhere with exploring the things that are said in one church that are rejected vehemently by others; for instance, debate about Mary's title as the "mother of God".

IonMic

I once went to a ultra conservative presbyterian church on a few occasions with my then Girlfriend.

Anyhow the pastor wanted to offer a woard of prayer for one of the congregation who had been accepted into police training college.

the pastor started out in his usual fashion : "Dear God Blah blah blah..."

Then mid sentence he goes quiet and im like huh?

Then he puts on his best effort at a deep and booming voice and starts saying things to the effect of. "I am very pleased with you my son, it is I God the father blah blah blah...."

So here I was totally like WTF that dude needs locked up their pastor is impersonating God.

But the rest of the congregation didnt even seem concerned.

After the service I questioned my GF's family about what happened and their reply was: "Oh thats just Pastor Tom, ever since people started leaving our church he has started impersonating God, We think its cos he feels this will make it more interesting for those that still attend and they wont leave, but its okay cos Tom is a good man and a man of God...."