Stay or leave?

By Phynnodderee

Not everyone who becomes disillusioned with the Christadelphian community decides to leave. I’d like to look at some of the reasons for staying and the reasons for going – and explain why leaving was the best decision I ever made.

Quote of the day

"The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks."

From Letters to a Young Contrarian by Christopher Hitchens

The state of Israel: Seventy years on

By Jon Morgan

Seventy years ago today, the British Mandate over Palestine ended and the state of Israel was declared. Christadelphians were delighted, seeing in this the fulfilment of promises made thousands of years ago that one day Israel would return from exile. It was expected that Jesus would soon return, an expectation that was heightened 19 years later by Israel’s victory in the Six Day War.

However, while much has changed about Israel since then, there has been no return of Jesus and no establishment of world government from Jerusalem with compulsory religious teaching. While Israel has religious elements, it is a secular state which has made major contributions to the technology of the world. And one of the consequences of that new technological world is that many former believers, including me, have found it easier to discover the problems with our religion.

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Quote of the day

"One of the truly bad effects of religion is that it teaches us that it is a virtue to be satisfied with not understanding."

Richard Dawkins, biologist and science writer

Quote of the day

"Blind faith in authority is the greatest enemy of truth."

Albert Einstein, physicist

Video: Can Science Explain the Origin of Life?

Video: The Pale Blue Dot

In 1990 the Voyager 1 probe took a photo of the Earth from a distance of about 6 billion kilometres. In this image, which became known as the 'Pale Blue Dot', our planet appears as a tiny speck in the vastness of space. Carl Sagan produced this moving commentary that invites us to consider our true place in the cosmos.

Quote of the day

"It has always seemed absurd to suppose that a god would choose for his companions, during all eternity, the dear souls whose highest and only ambition is to obey."

Robert G. Ingersoll, American orator

Viewpoint: Christadelphians and young people

By Phynnodderee

One of the main reasons why the Christadelphian community is in decline is the fact that it is failing to retain its young people. There are many reasons why people leave the community, but is there something that makes it specifically unappealing to young people? And are there reasons why a young person should think carefully before committing?

Quote of the day

"How is it that hardly any major religion has looked at science and concluded, ‘This is better than we thought! The Universe is much bigger than our prophets said, grander, more subtle, more elegant’? Instead they say, ‘No, no, no! My god is a little god, and I want him to stay that way.’ A religion, old or new, that stressed the magnificence of the Universe as revealed by modern science might be able to draw forth reserves of reverence and awe hardly tapped by the conventional faiths."

Carl Sagan, astronomer and science communicator

A Believer's Guide To Atheism In 9 Minutes

Created by a former Jehovah's Witness, this video brilliantly captures some of the ways in which atheism can offer meaning and purpose in this life. If you think life would be meaningless without a belief in God, then perhaps this video will change your mind.

Quote of the day

"I am now, for the first time, truly happy in my life and I can honestly say it has nothing to do with my background as a Christadelphian. In fact, much of my happiness is rooted in the complete freedom I now have from the guilt and negativity imbued in me by the Christadelphian faith."

Anonymous contributor, Whose Truth?

10 things I wish someone had told me when I was a Christadelphian

By Phynnodderee

The things I wish I had figured out sooner…

Quote of the day

"Man was certainly not the goal of evolution, which evidently had no goal... Is his place in nature, then, that of a mere accident, without significance?... The situation is as badly misrepresented and the lesson as poorly learned when man is considered nothing but an accident as when he is considered as the destined crown of creation... The result is the most highly endowed organization of matter that has yet appeared on the earth - and we certainly have no good reason to believe there is any higher in the universe. To think that this result is insignificant would be unworthy of that high endowment, which includes among its riches a sense of values."

From The Meaning of Evolution by George Gaylord Simpson

Quote of the day

"If you're REALLY looking for the truth, start with questions; don't start with answers."

Anonymous

Did 500 believers see the resurrected Christ?

By Jon Morgan
In a letter to the Corinthians, Paul states that the resurrected Jesus Christ appeared to 500 brothers at one time. With Easter coming up this week, this is one of the resurrection claims that will be talked about as historical fact. Believers lean heavily on this record because it is viewed as a very early creed with no time for embellishment. But can it bear the weight?

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Video: A Selection Of Scenes From Monty Python's Life Of Brian

Since it came up in discussion a while back, here are some selected scenes from Monty Python's Life of Brian... enjoy!

Quote of the day

"It doesn’t matter what you believe; all that matters is why you believe it, and how accurate you can show your beliefs to be."

Aron Ra, atheist activist

Video: Why do intelligent people believe weird things?

Do you ever find yourself thinking "How did I ever believe that stuff?" or "How can my perfectly intelligent Christadelphian friend/family member believe that stuff?" In this conversation with Seth Andrews, Michael Shermer explains why even intelligent people sometimes believe things that reason suggests they probably shouldn't.

Quote of the day

"You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts."

From On Children by Khalil Gibran