Some Responses from My Life Today Appearances

May 2, 2007 By Guest Contributor 25 Comments

After my appearances on Life Today, I received a number of emails from people who saw me on the show. There have also been a number of comments made on this blog from Christians more interested in preaching than having a conversation.

While more letters are coming in, I thought I’d share certain excerpts from a few of the emails.

They can basically be lumped into one of a handful of categories…

Good:

I was shocked to see you on a christian program but after watching I was very pleased that both of you treated each other with total respect which is very lacking at times in both beliefs (mostly with Christians unfortunately)

Ouch:

Caught you on the tube this AM. Good countenance and spirit, but seemingly lost in the intellect.

Thanks for the sentiment, but did you listen to anything we said on the show…?:

Praying for you:)

From seeing you on the show, you are a very sweet guy. However, if you ever find yourself in any kind of trouble, just remember to call out to Jesus. I know you don’t believe in Him, but I know He still loves and believes in you.

It is not my job to convert you to Christianity. That belongs to my Savior. My job is to just tell you about who He is and what He did for me and you. As an atheist, ?Is there still an emptiness within your soul that needs to filled? Think about this for a moment. There is only One that can fill that emptiness. He is ready to purchase your soul (even on eBay) if you let Him. Seek and you shall find Him. His name is Jesus Christ. I’??m not a smart person, I’??m not educated but I do know that true wisdom is to know and fear the Lord.

…

God is calling you Hemant. Will you listen and hear His voice?

Seriously?

My life research as a doctor, chemist, scientist, minister, and researcher as reveald the following:

1) Evolution: There is no evidence that proves that either creation or evolution occured. You have to have faith to believe in either one.

…

2) No person is intelligent enough to proove that God exists or does not exist. You have to have faith to believe either one.

Don’t worry my friend. You do not believe because God has not given you the gift of belief.

…

So don’??t be concerned my friend, God loves you, and will give you the gift of faith when He is ready too.

I watched the last 2 days on Life Today. I was quite confused because you seem like a great guy.

…

I am sure you don’t believe in Satan, But know that he is real, because I have gone through a period of spiritual warfare and Satan actually left a message on my answering machine.

…

Did you know that actually a bumble bee technically can’t fly with the way it’s body is made? Only a Creator could have done that. [Hemant's note: I responded by explaining how that is a myth and provided links that explain bumblebee flight mechanics]

?????:

I am not interested in exposing the logical consistency and thus veracity of Creationism over Darwinism, though sound ratiocination is something I tend to enjoy. In this acutely particular respect, I am disinterested in the conjectural theorizing of the likely/unlikely subliminal national-scale indoctrination of the admirably candid atheist society. Albeit, the comically presumed Constitutional citation of “??separation of Church and State” does stimulate me to dialectics, and, frankly, didactics, I have a sole end in specific dialogue.

I must thank Our Lord Jesus for you… Can i get to read your testimony?
And also can you spread the same kind of awareness in India or rather Asia. We need more and more people to accept Our Jesus. I dont know the way but i am sure your knee mail will work wonders.

I do appreciate the emails… really, I do. But I am having trouble understanding the mentality of those who send some of these letters. Do they think I’m going to convert as a result of their testimony? Do they think I’ve never heard their arguments before? Do they even want a response…?



[tags]atheist, atheism, Life Today, Christian, Jesus, evolution, Creationism, God, Satan, Darwinism[/tags]

Filed Under: General 25 Comments
  • Bart Dorsey

    So, here’s an question for you. In all the churches you went to, did you not run into people who made the same sort of comments? Or is it only on the internet that you run into these types of comments?

    I guess I need to go ahead and order the book ;)

  • http://friendlyatheist.com FriendlyAtheist

    So, here’s an question for you. In all the churches you went to, did you not run into people who made the same sort of comments? Or is it only on the internet that you run into these types of comments?

    Well, when I went to the churches, I think the people just assumed everyone there was a believer, so it never happened to me in person.

    But the Internet does make evangelizing easy…

  • http://www.missheretic.com/ Becky Robinson

    “I watched the last 2 days on Life Today. I was quite confused because you seem like a great guy.”

    Wow. Apparently you can’t be a nice guy AND an atheist. Does that mean that “Friendly Atheist” is an oxymoron??

  • http://inthenuts.blogspot.com King Aardvark

    I’m impressed that Satan left a message on that person’s answering machine. I didn’t know that Satan even had a phone? His number is probably unlisted. Can you email that person back and find out what Satan sounds like? I’ll be really disappointed if he’s got a nasally Conan O’Brien voice.

  • Karen

    I am not interested in exposing the logical consistency and thus veracity of Creationism over Darwinism, though sound ratiocination is something I tend to enjoy. In this acutely particular respect, I am disinterested in the conjectural theorizing of the likely/unlikely subliminal national-scale indoctrination of the admirably candid atheist society. Albeit, the comically presumed Constitutional citation of “??separation of Church and State” does stimulate me to dialectics, and, frankly, didactics, I have a sole end in specific dialogue.

    Is that … George W. Bush!!??

    I watched the last 2 days on Life Today. I was quite confused because you seem like a great guy.

    LOL!

    Hey, I heard the bumblebee thing in church myself, back in the day. I didn’t know it was an urban legend. Not surprising, in retrospect.

    Enjoy opening your email for the next week or so … :-)

  • http://atheistself.blogspot.com David W.

    …and Satan actually left a message on my answering machine.

    Note the word “actually.” Isn’t it interesting how, despite the fact that this person is so convinced of the existence of God/Satan as to send you a proselytizing email, they still (perhaps subconsciously) admit that the concept of Satan interacting with the real world is difficult to believe?

  • http://bjornisageek.blogspot.com Bjorn Watland

    Because of a review I did of a debate between Rev. Dwight Knight, and Dr. Robert Price, one of Rev. Knight’s people posted a comment on my blog, posing as Rev. Knight. When he did then was try to open up a dialog with me about the debate. I had mentioned that I have not been convinced that there is a god, or that the Bible happens to be the word of god. He went on to argue that my faith was misplaced in science, and scientists only examine things so far to prove what they want to prove, but don’t investigate further. I responded to him once more, how I understood that his faith was not blind, that he had his reasons for belief, but that I didn’t share them. He then wrote back, saying he wasn’t trying to convert me, wanted to know what the point was of me emailing him, wanted to know if I was only engaging in mental masturbation, and that if I wanted, I could write him back to continue my search for the Truth.

    Now, he tells me that I’m not going to be converted, and that if I only keep asserting that I don’t reason as he does, I’m the one who isn’t open minded, and exercising in mental masturbation.

    I wish some people would just understand that people, whether they are believers, or atheists, are not irrational. Christians aren’t irrational, although that’s a blanket statement, for the most part, people know why they believe what they believe. Some people are interested in intellectual debate about their religion, but it shouldn’t be, “Well, the Bible has no contradictions in it, it’s 4 million words, written over thousands of years! That’s highly unlikely to happen, so it must be the Word of God!” I’m happy if that’s what you have reasoned, because you used reason to come to your conclusion, but I haven’t reasoned in the same way, I don’t agree, but I also don’t want to be accused of being closed minded if I don’t agree with you.

    Has anyone else been targeted by a representative of a leader of a church, posing as that leader, to spark up a conversation to have a conversion?

  • Richard Wade

    As well as the incredulity, the word “actually” in that person’s statement also adds a tone of importance, a subtle suggestion of pride that he has so important an adversary taking time from his busy schedule to leave a message.

    I’m surprised that Satan didn’t know that the person wasn’t at home. He’s usually in a foul mood; bet that really pissed him off:

    (Deep scary voice) “Are you there? Are you screening my calls? Pick up the phone, damn you!”

  • Mriana

    Has anyone else been targeted by a representative of a leader of a church, posing as that leader, to spark up a conversation to have a conversion?

    Not yet and I hope I never do. I avoid them like the plague.

  • Richard Wade

    Bjorn,
    How did you discover the person was posing as Rev. Knight? I wonder how the Reverend would feel about one of his people trying to deceive you by impersonating him.

  • http://bjornisageek.blogspot.com Bjorn Watland

    I rarely get anyone on my blog besides my family and friends. The person posted as Rev. Knight, and later apologized if he felt my privacy had been violated by posing as Rev. Knight. I was looking through the logs for my blog, and noticed that someone had been searching for Rev. Dwight Knight, and specifically the debate he had with Dr. Robert Price.

    I took a walk at work with three women who were all raised Catholic. But, they all had problems with the church and took it upon themselves to find places where the church’s beliefs fit better with their own. For example, one woman has a gay brother in law, and doesn’t think he should be damned to hell if he leads a good life, and is kind to others. They complained about the hypocrisies of Christians who do their bit on Sunday, but are awful people Monday through Saturday.

    I like to see people question beliefs or dogma which feel wrong. I like to see people who are concerned with making the world a better place, who will be compassionate to everyone, not to lead by example, so more people will want to be Christian, but who will do what they feel is right ethically. One woman was still scared to leave the Catholic church because she feels it’s such a big decision, even if she remains Christian, she’s turning her back on the church, and to them, she could be damned.

  • http://www.conversationattheedge.com/ Helen

    Bjorn, I’ve heard it’s illegal to pose as someone else online. Maybe you might like to point that out to that person. Surely a Christian wouldn’t really want to be engaging in illegal activity??

  • http://bjornisageek.blogspot.com Bjorn Watland

    A Christian may bend the law if it meant saving a soul. However, I don’t believe it is illegal to pose as someone else online. There may be an issue if he were providing a service, or selling a product, signing a contract, or other business.

  • http://www.conversationattheedge.com/ Helen

    Bjorn, it’s a criminal offense in Tennessee:

    http://www.tncrimlaw.com/TPI_Crim/24_01.htm

  • http://www.experiencechurch.tv Dennis Cummins

    I am a Pastor of a growing church and I caught your interview on T.V. I sincerely want to thank you for your candor about us “Christians”. I think we need to do a lot less convincing and a lot more listening – to the Spirit of God and to the “unsaved”. We “Christians” think we have all of the answers but yet the majority of our life decisions and attitudes sure doesn’t show it. If we really believed what we preached, we would live by the law of love and honor. I believe that no one can convince anyone to get saved, it has to be by the Spirit of God. In some unique way, I see God using you as an instrument to speak to the hearts of the Christians that are willing to listen.

    I can see by this blog that many were too focused on how they could convince you that you were wrong and they are right. All that tells me is that they must really be unsure of their own faith.

    Keep sharing with us the hearts of the atheist communities so that we can better understand them, so we can better listen to them and really hear what they are saying.

  • Yvette

    Hi! I will only suggest you read a book. “The Normal Christian Faith” by Watchman nee

  • http://www.atheistvolunteers.org Tom Slowikowski

    I watched the last 2 days on Life Today. I was quite confused because you seem like a great guy.

    This is the most sad one for me. In their eyes, you’re supposed to NOT be a great guy. In fact, they believe you’re supposed to be a BAD GUY. I can already imagine the suspicion that Satan has given you amazingly persuasive acting skills that can fool viewers so that they will fall into Satan’s trap.

    I sincerely hope that the viewers of this show will be able to accept you for the good guy you really are.

  • Richard Wade

    To Dennis Cummins,
    Thank you for your open-hearted attitude and self-honesty. I hope more Christians come to practice their faith as you have envisioned, and that better understanding and acceptance between believers and non-believers can continue to grow.

  • Mriana

    Pastor Cummins,

    I can see by this blog that many were too focused on how they could convince you that you were wrong and they are right. All that tells me is that they must really be unsure of their own faith.

    A wonderful Christian friend of mine said the same thing about those who profess to be Christians, yet they jump me for saying anything about their behaviours and alike. She said if they were sure of their faith, they would not take so much offense as to start calling me names for some of the things I point out to them. We don’t always agree, but she can see some of the things I mention by way of behaviours and can agree with those things more often than not, for she sees them also.

    Thanks for sharing these thoughts here too. I don’t know what church you pastor, but you seem like a Christian I could very well get along with and one who would listen to what others see without passing judgement. That I can appreciate greatly, because there are far too many who corrupt the teachings of truth and love.

  • http://www.experiencechurch.tv Dennis Cummins

    Mriana

    Thank you, our church is http://www.experiencechurch.tv and we are truly trying to be Christ like.

    Thank you,

    Dennis

  • Mriana

    I haven’t looked over the video network, but from what I see so far there is none of the frightening and horrid things I complain so much about and call a source of misery for others- hellfire and damnation, Jesus Camp, preaching of hatred towards those who don’t agree about God with you, oppression and control, discrimination of others… You get the idea. It would seem you really are listening to others.

    I sometimes wonder if those Christians who use religion in such ways that cause other people misery are not miserable themselves. Sort of the idea of “midery loves company”. What adult/parent who is truly happy with their beliefs would inflict such things as seen in the Jesus Camp movie or allow them to play games like the “Left Behind” video game? Such things never did make sense to me and such behaviours occur in other forms too, but too numerous to list here.

    Judging by your site though, it looks as though you are watching and listening.

  • Mriana

    Can’t edit to add this: BTW, I think the most horrid thing I saw in the Episcopal church was how they treated the presiding bishop, Bishop Schori, all because she helped to elect Fr. Robinson, a known homosexual, into the priesthood. They shunned her as well as accused people of being demonic. To me, the behaviour of humans in that situation was what was demonic, not the showing of love, human dignity, and compassion to others who wanted to serve humanity. Not to mention how Bishop Spong has been treated over the years for his conception of god, which was encouragingly not too much different from mine. I don’t always agree with either one of them, but our human view of god is very much similar and neither one (or anyone else for that matter) should be treated badly for their views IMHO.

  • http://www.experiencechurch.tv Dennis Cummins

    I believe that we all hold to some sort of value system. The challenge is when we hold to a self-defined value system, this is what brings division, hatred and strife. If we choose to believe in God and confess Christ as our Lord, then we should hold to the values of God, loving God and loving men.

    I don’t want to give the impressions that I am a Pastor that embraces sin. I just believe that we should choose a side and live it.

    God says in Revelations 3:15-16 that he would rather us serve Him with everything or be a complete athiest, but if we are one of those people that call our self a Christian and live a doulbe life, then it makes God sick.

    God has more respect for the one that openly deny’s Him an Atheist, than those that play Christian games, and this is hard for a lot of lukewarm Christians to swallow.

    As a Christian, if a leader strays from being moral according to God’s standards, then we that are Christ followers are to do whatever we can to restore that person – with grace and humility knowing that I in my own self am not any better than the person that messed up. Knowing that there go I but by the grace of God. This is where many Christians mess up and send out mixed signals. The pompus arrogance of religion is nothing more than cold hearted and it leads to death. But Christ leads us as Christians to walk in humility and love the person unconditionally.

    Regards!

    Dennis
    http://www.experiencechurch.tv

  • Mriana

    Sounds like what I said about Pascal’s Wager. I think it is a bit flawed if one chooses a side only out of self-gratification because then it has no meaning, but if it’s from the heart (regardless of the choice or version- be the Christian, Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, Muslim, Atheist, or Humanist version of the wager) without the expection of reward or punishment then it is true belief and has far more meaning. I sort of saw Pascal’s wager and upped by one from the heart.

  • dwight edward knight (yep the real one)

    Bjorn,
    So glad that you weren’t personally offend by the person who responded as me. I will be in the twin cities next week. I would love to talk in person if you have the time. because I am a minister of the gospel, it is only right the you know that my interests would be evangelical. But also I am interested in finding out where you are coming from. Agnostic, Atheist, humanist, etc.
    If you’re willing type back at me.