Amos

Spurly, with all respect (and I know you mean well and you mean the best for your friend), but what you are about to do is wrong and should not be allowed (I personally don't care if you zap the whole neighborhood). If God wants him let God talk to him and you keep out of it. In fact the best thing for you to do is send him into the other direction once he knows your message exist and if God still wants him he will drag to be one of his own. This would be nothing for a trice omni God, don't you think?

Fiach

Thank God:-), Mel has published here the Barna statistics in the post following yours. OK, the pie graph shows Fundies (evangelicals plus born-agains) at 41% of the US population. So my 49% was too high. So 41% of the poplation make up the vast majority of violent prisoners. So we cleared that up.

Atheists/agnostics are 8% of Americans, but 0.05% of prison population. That is from a summation of about 8 studied reviewed by John Patrick Michael Murphy, a lawyer, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. Most prisons surveyed didn't have a single atheist. One study showed only 3 Atheists in (New York, I think).

Actually there are quite of number of Fundies with College degrees then fewer in mid-education, then another large clumping at the lower end. I suspect that the educated Fundies are not a significant part of the prison populatiion. That they have college degrees is interesting. I would like to know what their majors are. I doubt if it is in sciences. I suspect that many are in Theology, Biblical Studies, and maybe literature.

I forgot to add another aspect (in your favour) to the low representation of atheists in prison. My American friends tell me that a convict who "finds Jesus" has a greater chance of parole than an atheist. Finding Jesus is considered "good behaviour." So prisoners would be motivated to "fake Christianity" for the better treatment.

Fiach

christ-on-a-stick

*bump*

Kevin, I'm still very interested in knowing whether you will encourage your 13-year-old potential convert to examine Xianity from all angles before making a decision. The Library here at II is an excellent source of information and critical examination of Xianity.

If not, why not? (*note in my previous post I edited to reflect that it would probably make more sense for him to do some reading in The Library first, before checking out the forums).

So? Whaddya say? Are you willing to encourage your potential convert to really investigate Xianity before making a decision? Otherwise it's kind of a like a trial where only the defense gets to present witnesses, no? Not too useful for trying to discover the "truth" of the matter.

spurly

Will I invite Kaylon to come here and read the library, probably not. Right now the stuff here is way over his head. He needs the basics - on his level. So that is what his friend and I will talk to him about.

We will try to answer his questions on his level.

Kevin

christ-on-a-stick

Hi Kevin, Hmmm... my first thought on this is, if the in-depth critical exmination of Xian theology such as in the library is "way over his head", *is he really competent to make a rational and informed decision at this time? But will you be presenting him with information from all sides (not just PRO-Xianity) so that he can be fully informed before making a decision?

If you are worried that the info in the Library is over his head, I am certain that if you send him over to these forums many of us will be willing to discuss Xianity with him on a level that he understands. I'd be happy to volunteer myself

If the answer to any suggestion that you encourage him to expose himself to a critical investigtion of Xianity is still "NO", then I have to ask myself, what are you afraid of?

If Xianity is true it will hold up to rational challenge, right?

christ-on-a-stick

Hi Kevin

Why are you ignoring my questions?

Love, Lauri

spurly

Yes. We will talk out these spiritual matters - does God exists? How do we know he exists? If God exists, is he the God of the Bible? What was the cross all about? etc. However, since I unashamedly follow the God of the Bible I will admit that I may be a little biased in my presentation. Biased, IMHO, toward the truth. Just like you would be biased toward your position if you were talking to him.

I wasn't ignoring your questions, I just had a busy day.

Kevin

Starboy

Amos, I gotta say. A good deal of the time I can't understand what you are trying to say, but you have to be the most fair minded theist I have ever come across.

Starboy

Amos

Thanks Starboy, what I write is true. It is wrong to be afraid of "God" and of "religion" itself. If you have a mind of your own let the words speak to you without any persuasion from others. Like "pray in your closet?" Send them away and let faith do the rest.

Maybe you read Kally's post about them "fake smiles" and "fuzzy warm" hugs until the party is over and the wole works comes to a grinding low of insane behavior.