The Delusion of Atheism [Spirituality & Religion]

@CopperCicada You mean Zacharias was a sinner? I mean it is part of Christian belief that all people are sinners needing the Atonement of Christ.. This Zacharias was no different..

I stopped being a supporter of Zach when he started to promote the ecumenical movement with the catholic church.. Not because he was a sinner.. Of course we did not find out about the extent of his sinning until he died..

@Adstar Actually— I don’t judge him for his sin. Though I would say serial and habitual molestation of women is more than a moral defeat.

But I take this personally. This has happened in my own spiritual community. Worse than Zacharias. In the end, the women and girls lost out. The abusive men were exalted. Just this language used to defend them. We all are the same in sin, in grace. And hey. These were men doing important religious work.

What I have come to judge religious professionals on— is their professionalism.

I have no idea if Zacharias repented and transformed himself before death. It’s none of my business.

What I do know is that he displayed a grotesque lack of professionalism. I have seen ministers who openly aired their personal failures to their congregation. Pastoral failures. Personal failures as a husband, friend. His own weaknesses of character.

When I first saw that I understood everything that had been wrong in my religious experience up till that point.

@CopperCicada [quote]Are you at all bothered that Zacharias is a known molester of women?[/quote]

For all of sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. This is why we all need Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

@CopperCicada My religious experience is centered on Jesus and His Word.. So failures of religious professionals never undermined my trust in the LORD.. Yeah there are a lot of wolves out there in sheep clothing.. As the Bible declares and forewarns..

(2 Corinthians 11:13-15) "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. {14} And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. {15} Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."

As for the video i did not watch it.. I stopped watching Zach when i saw the video where he promoted ecumenical ism with the roman catholic religion.. I did get some value out of some of the video's he produced, he did make some good points.. But he was a faulty man same thing happened to the more famous Billy Graham, he ended up getting into bed with the catholic church..

So i trust in the Bible and the leading of the Holy Spirit.. I can and do listen to preachers but i never place my trust in them.. Always compare what they preach to what the Bible says..

@Adstar After watching sexual abuse in my own community and in seemingly countless communities around me I just came to the conclusion that genuine spirituality, religion if you wish, supports and defends the equality and dignity of women and girls as a non-negotiable principle. I would just say defends the equality and dignity of everyone, but respecting women and girls seems to be a problem spot.

@GodSpeed63 what are your sins?

@Miram [quote]what are your sins?[/quote]

Would you tell me if I asked what your sins are? The real issue here is the condition of your soul and the condition of my soul. Where do you stand where Jesus Christ is concerned?

@CopperCicada [quote]respecting women and girls seems to be a problem spot.[/quote] Well i can only talk from personal experience.. Treating woman and girls with dignity has not been a problem for me..

@Adstar Not been a problem for me either.

But I will no longer be affiliated with any spiritual tradition that doesn't make the equality and respect of wonen and girls something to value.

@GodSpeed63

I attempted to kill my father when I was a teen, I didn't but I left lasting scars on his face. I engaged in racial violent tensions, I plotted and took away leverage from people for my own sake. And I took away my siblings from my mother and raised them as my own despite how it broke her to pieces.

Wrath and lack of mercy are mine.

So how about you? What are your sins?

@Miram [quote]So how about you? What are your sins?[/quote]

My sins have been forgiven by God through Jesus Christ by His Holy Spirit. The old man in me is dead and the new man in me is alive. That old man used to dishonor his father and mother by disobeying them, he cheated and stole from them. He also cheated on his first wife and was abusive to her and their three children. He scared the heck out of me and I got out. I met Jesus Christ through other brothers and sisters in Christ, who were living in my home town at the time, and invited Him into my heart and life.

@Miram 🙂🤗 Thank you.