Comments on: The Persecuted Atheists http://www.pomotheo.com/2007/missional/the-persecuted-atheists/ Joining the post-modern, post-church, post-evangelical, emergent, missional, theology, and world events conversation. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:30:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Trent http://www.pomotheo.com/2007/missional/the-persecuted-atheists/comment-page-1/#comment-356 Trent Thu, 15 Nov 2007 21:47:14 +0000 http://www.pomotheo.com/2007/christian-news/the-persecuted-atheists/#comment-356 Discrimination against atheists is more common than you think (see, for example, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discrimination_against_atheists). If you refuse to believe in God without evidence, it's fair game to paint you as eccentric and untrustworthy. How would Jesus handle this situation? Matthew 5:18-19: "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Jesus endorses the Old Testament rules. Deuteronomy 13 makes it clear what to do with unbelievers: "And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God... Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him: But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God." Discrimination against atheists is more common than you think (see, for example, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discrimination_against_atheists). If you refuse to believe in God without evidence, it's fair game to paint you as eccentric and untrustworthy.

How would Jesus handle this situation? Matthew 5:18-19: "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

Jesus endorses the Old Testament rules. Deuteronomy 13 makes it clear what to do with unbelievers: "And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God... Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him: But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God."

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