I'm addicted to sports ( indoctrinated in my youth ) . Why should I care what others are engaged in? Identity crisis? I've tried repeatedly to stop checking sports scores or statistics. these are just other humans living their life, while I'm not living mine. I was never religious and I come to it from a history angle, but I can understand the addiction. ( checking the bible scores everyday ) ( I've found sports is mostly about money tribalism. $$$ tickets, merchandise, etc...get them hooked young and you'll have a customer for life! )
I remember thinking about this concept years ago that Christianity worked a lot like advertising. Before I can get you to buy my mouthwash, first I need to convince you how bad your breath smells. In ministry, there is no point in telling someone they need Jesus if they aren't convinced yet how bad their sin smells. In some cases, the person really didn't need the mouthwash so their halitosis was a created illusion just so they'd buy the Listerine, but in some cases their breath really DID stink and they are GRATEFUL for the solution of mouthwash. I think it is the same in Christianity. I agree with you that some people were cajoled and convinced of a "God shaped hole" that was never there. They were advertised at (evangelized) until they bought a bottle of quick fix Jesus promising to cure everything when really they needed something else entirely. But some people truly feel a need for God and continue to feel satisfied with Him. As I'm sure you know, there are so many different expressions of the Christian faith and what it means to each person. What need is their version filling? I'm a Preterist Christian who enjoys studying the Bible and praying to my God. I'm not into church attendance though. For some, the church fellowship is a real social need. Yes there are other places to socialize but some of those places carry their own addictions (bars, gyms, etc). So some people derive great benefits from socializing in an environment that is centered on the addiction of God. I'm not one of them, but I get why some of my friends like it. I don't believe in evangelizing the world, but I do make myself available to people who ask me to "share Jesus" with them because they're the ones deciding they have a "God shaped hole" first. I'm not into convincing people they're depraved in order for me to offer the solution. That's advertising illusions. And yet, all types of people do this naturally to some extent. A friend might get excited and say "oh you GOTTA see this movie" or "you really need to play pickleball with me on Tuesday, you'll love it." They actually think that what satisfies their needs must be advertised to others so they can be as happy as them. It's different if I see the joy that pickleball gives them and then I approach them and ask if I could play sometime. But if they're telling me I need it, they're trying to create a void in me that's not even there and they're just as annoying as Christian missionaries. There are evangelical atheists too. They believe everyone will be as happy as they are without God so they keep advertising calling others lost. I totally believe a person can be happy without God. I don't buy into the "lost without Jesus" scheme. But I do know I'm not that person. For whatever reason, I like having Jesus. And you are spot on that you could present me every evidence of His non existence or whatever and I'd still return to my addiction. But it works both ways. Christians can present every evidence of God and the validity of the Bible to convince themselves yet fail in turning an unbeliever into a convert. Why? Let's just accept that some of us just like where we're at and what we believe. My point is, it's not just Christians that are guilty of this scheme of creating a void in order to fill it. Most people do this because they found something that worked for them. By the way, I noticed neither of you were wearing rollerskates. When's the last time you went skating? Skating burns calories and helps improve balance, heart rate, and builds strong muscles. The music is uplifting and you can meet new friends. What else are you doing with your time that could outrate that? You need to come to the rink with me. Here's a free pass. I'll introduce you to some friends and get you started. Just try it once, you'll love it and wonder why you didn't start sooner ...... Blah, blah, blah. I confess, I really am a skate addict and even had some stickers made that say "Make America Skate Again" but in jest. I don't intend to evangelize America into the rink. I do have great joy in skating myself and some friends have been drawn to try it for themselves but I did't evangelize them. I accept that some people prefer to bake cookies, do puzzles, watch movies, or yell at football games but they're going to hell of course. Only us skaters will enter the pearly gates.
@@AnswersFromJenesis ha ha. Yep , we all got 'em. This isn't the first time I've heard you or Alan. I know a little bit of your backgrounds and have no ambitions of "rescuing you" back into the fold. I accept where people are at and appreciate when others accept me where I'm at. I am fascinated by and learn from everyone's story regardless if we land at the same conclusions.
I did! I saw the fireworks @17:35 after Alan stated, "I think it's very difficult to remove the brainwashing of a god culture just by hearing arguments about how awful Christianity is or how illogical it is. That's not going to work." 🎆
This is a bizarre "concept." i.e Chrstianity creating a void where did not exist before. Strangely, it is one that is profound and a great example of original thinking. Hmmm.
I'm only a few minutes in and already finding him hard to follow because he didn't clearly define "void". Perhaps it's a bad word to keep using as void means emptiness or nothingness, but what he's describing is something, ie. addiction/craving or a feeling of being broken in sin. Smoking and religion create a need, not a void.
Jen and Alan: LOVE IT! Great job!
Thanks!
That was a great conversation. Looking forward to the next episode.
Thanks!
I'm addicted to sports ( indoctrinated in my youth ) . Why should I care what others are engaged in? Identity crisis? I've tried repeatedly to stop checking sports scores or statistics. these are just other humans living their life, while I'm not living mine.
I was never religious and I come to it from a history angle, but I can understand the addiction. ( checking the bible scores everyday )
( I've found sports is mostly about money tribalism. $$$ tickets, merchandise, etc...get them hooked young and you'll have a customer for life! )
Interesting. You may not relate to this particular series as much as Christians will then, but I hope you find it a bit different!
Thank you Jen and Alan! This was so insightful. Best wishes. J
Glad you enjoyed it!
Much appreciated.
Great stuff! I am tempted to order that book.
Which book are you referring to?
I remember thinking about this concept years ago that Christianity worked a lot like advertising. Before I can get you to buy my mouthwash, first I need to convince you how bad your breath smells. In ministry, there is no point in telling someone they need Jesus if they aren't convinced yet how bad their sin smells. In some cases, the person really didn't need the mouthwash so their halitosis was a created illusion just so they'd buy the Listerine, but in some cases their breath really DID stink and they are GRATEFUL for the solution of mouthwash. I think it is the same in Christianity. I agree with you that some people were cajoled and convinced of a "God shaped hole" that was never there. They were advertised at (evangelized) until they bought a bottle of quick fix Jesus promising to cure everything when really they needed something else entirely. But some people truly feel a need for God and continue to feel satisfied with Him. As I'm sure you know, there are so many different expressions of the Christian faith and what it means to each person. What need is their version filling? I'm a Preterist Christian who enjoys studying the Bible and praying to my God. I'm not into church attendance though. For some, the church fellowship is a real social need. Yes there are other places to socialize but some of those places carry their own addictions (bars, gyms, etc). So some people derive great benefits from socializing in an environment that is centered on the addiction of God. I'm not one of them, but I get why some of my friends like it. I don't believe in evangelizing the world, but I do make myself available to people who ask me to "share Jesus" with them because they're the ones deciding they have a "God shaped hole" first. I'm not into convincing people they're depraved in order for me to offer the solution. That's advertising illusions. And yet, all types of people do this naturally to some extent. A friend might get excited and say "oh you GOTTA see this movie" or "you really need to play pickleball with me on Tuesday, you'll love it." They actually think that what satisfies their needs must be advertised to others so they can be as happy as them. It's different if I see the joy that pickleball gives them and then I approach them and ask if I could play sometime. But if they're telling me I need it, they're trying to create a void in me that's not even there and they're just as annoying as Christian missionaries. There are evangelical atheists too. They believe everyone will be as happy as they are without God so they keep advertising calling others lost. I totally believe a person can be happy without God. I don't buy into the "lost without Jesus" scheme. But I do know I'm not that person. For whatever reason, I like having Jesus. And you are spot on that you could present me every evidence of His non existence or whatever and I'd still return to my addiction. But it works both ways. Christians can present every evidence of God and the validity of the Bible to convince themselves yet fail in turning an unbeliever into a convert. Why? Let's just accept that some of us just like where we're at and what we believe. My point is, it's not just Christians that are guilty of this scheme of creating a void in order to fill it. Most people do this because they found something that worked for them.
By the way, I noticed neither of you were wearing rollerskates. When's the last time you went skating? Skating burns calories and helps improve balance, heart rate, and builds strong muscles. The music is uplifting and you can meet new friends. What else are you doing with your time that could outrate that? You need to come to the rink with me. Here's a free pass. I'll introduce you to some friends and get you started. Just try it once, you'll love it and wonder why you didn't start sooner ...... Blah, blah, blah. I confess, I really am a skate addict and even had some stickers made that say "Make America Skate Again" but in jest. I don't intend to evangelize America into the rink. I do have great joy in skating myself and some friends have been drawn to try it for themselves but I did't evangelize them. I accept that some people prefer to bake cookies, do puzzles, watch movies, or yell at football games but they're going to hell of course. Only us skaters will enter the pearly gates.
Awesome analogies! Thanks for sharing!
Keep listening though. We’ll hit your hot buttons soon enough!
@@AnswersFromJenesis ha ha. Yep , we all got 'em. This isn't the first time I've heard you or Alan. I know a little bit of your backgrounds and have no ambitions of "rescuing you" back into the fold. I accept where people are at and appreciate when others accept me where I'm at. I am fascinated by and learn from everyone's story regardless if we land at the same conclusions.
I did! I saw the fireworks @17:35 after Alan stated, "I think it's very difficult to remove the brainwashing of a god culture just by hearing arguments about how awful Christianity is or how illogical it is. That's not going to work."
🎆
This is a bizarre "concept." i.e Chrstianity creating a void where did not exist before. Strangely, it is one that is profound and a great example of original thinking. Hmmm.
Thanks!
I'm only a few minutes in and already finding him hard to follow because he didn't clearly define "void". Perhaps it's a bad word to keep using as void means emptiness or nothingness, but what he's describing is something, ie. addiction/craving or a feeling of being broken in sin. Smoking and religion create a need, not a void.
It's a typical word used in religion.
Void as in you are not good enough as you are, something is missing.
@@brianbrown1159 Thank you for clarifying. That's exactly right.
This is a drug like any other thing.
Sure is