Soapbox: Noah's Ark Zoo Farm debate
In response to the comments of Alex of Redcliffe that religion has no place in the educated and modern society of today, and the beliefs of "those people", well I am one of those people.
The Bible, being the Word of God, is not fiction. The Old Testament prophesises what was to happen in the New Testament. The book of Daniel in the Old Testament says it all. The Bible is made up of 66 books, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament and has been written in many languages.
It is the Word of God and it cannot be changed or be added to.
I know that many people mock and laugh at people like me, in fact we are used to it, but there is a place in the immoral society of today for religion, and I respect the beliefs of all religions.
I am a devout Christian and proud to be so, as I see it, society has pushed Christianity away because man now thinks he is better than the Creator himself – many are using the free will we were given by God to make the wrong decisions, instead of following his teachings. Thus we have wars and strife in the world.
We all want peace in this world, and all religions will tell you so.
There are also many 'closet' Christians that will not let their beliefs be known as it is not the 'in thing' of today to be a Christian. I find this to be very sad.
In Jeremiah 29 verse 13, God says: "If you seek me you will find me, when you search for me with all your heart." This is both encouraging and true, why not try it?
So I say to all non-believers, just let the Lord in, he will knock on the door of your heart 24/7 but the handle is on the inside, you have open it. It does not matter if you are rich or poor, if you think you have a good life or a sad life, you have nothing to lose but everything to gain.
Please note that I write this with no disrespect to any non-believers or to any other religion, I am not looking to offend any one.
Clive Heath,
By email.
● I write in response to the recent article in the Evening Post headed: "Free thinkers attack zoo for its creationist beliefs". Once again we Christians are being persecuted for our beliefs.
Why do these humanists 'attack' only Christians? Why not attack Muslims, Hindus or Jews?
Also, I would like to point out respectfully that Christians, or creationists, are not religions. Religion is man-made. We are followers of Christ, and Christianity is a way of life. We have personal relationships with our Lord Jesus, and live (hopefully to the best of our ability) according to God's Holy Word (The Bible). We do not live under law governed by a set of religious rules as other faiths do.
I am 100 per cent behind what Noah's Ark stands for and commend what Anthony and Christina Bush are establishing at Noah's Ark Farm Zoo.
Surely as we all have a free choice, the zoo should continue to be promoted by different organisations? We are not a communist country, we are a multi-faith country and other faith organisations are not persecuted, so why should a Christian farm be persecuted?
B Coates,
Brentry.
7 Comments
by Mike Hope, Easton
Saturday, September 19 2009, 6:45PM
“B Coates says "Why do these humanists 'attack' only Christians? Why not attack Muslims, Hindus or Jews?"
Humanists and secularists don't attack anyone. No-one ever murdered anyone in the name if atheism and secularism but plenty of murders have happened in the name of god.
We all know what Anthony Bush is establishing in his 'zoo': creationist nonsense based on no science at all.”
by Barry, Brentry
Sunday, September 13 2009, 8:20PM
“I respect those with religious beliefs. If in their heart they can believe and that means they have more certainty and more confidence when facing the world then I am pleased that faith persists and may even envy those who possess such conviction. But if faith dictates that I should hate or despise others because they are different and do not believe what I, through my faith, know to be true, then faith is an evil and should be opposed, whatever names I am called in the process. This is the tenet of humanism and this I shall nail to whatever door is available to me.”
by Matt, Bristol
Friday, September 11 2009, 4:52PM
“"just let the Lord in, he will knock on the door of your heart 24/7 but the handle is on the inside"
When I was young and naive, I tried that. There was no-one there.”
by Steve, St George
Friday, September 11 2009, 10:46AM
“B Coates, so followers of christians are not part of a religion? That one claim underlines the fact that you are at best simple and at worst have mental health issues - whatever, you are deluded.
Forget the whole fairy tale that is the bible, the only phrase you need is "And on the first day, man created god."”
by Mark, BRISTOL
Thursday, September 10 2009, 1:16PM
“It baffles me that we give any time or money to the fairy tales promoted by the religidiots commenting here. Evolution has passed enough tests for it to be considered fact... FACT! It is not perfect & may one day be proven wrong, by science, empirical evidence, not religion. However, just because it is not perfect does not mean that by default God did it. This is a stupid argument. Creationism must NEVER be taught as fact or even as an alternative, if we do we open the floodgates and will be left with generations of unquestioning religidiots who understand nothing of science.
We must eradicate religion through education.
Power to the enlightened atheists!”
by Martin, Knowle,Bristol
Thursday, September 10 2009, 12:55PM
“Thank you Clive Heath for your brilliant defense of entrenched beliefs in the face of overwhelming evidence. I couldn't have put your case better if I tried.
I understand how hard it is to face the probability that the only god around is inside your head. Put there by people with entrenched beliefs. The thought that you may have wasted a large part of your life is not nice. Especially as there is no evidence to suggest that we have more than this one life.
I am not offended by your delusions at all. I promise I wont laugh.
B Coates. Persecution?
Don't talk to me about persecution.You as a christian should be an expert in the subject. For the umpteenth time no humanist is persecuting the noahs arkists, or christians. They just pointed out that the noahs ark story flies in the face of knowledge. Or to put it another way,is incorrect and not helpful to education.As such they question why it is supported by establishments with educational interests. It has as much going for it as the stork "theory".
Me, I don't feel so polite about it. I quite like a mythical story but when people like you seriously assert that said stuff is true and refuse to accept scientific evidence that refutes it then I think they are either lying or mentally ill.
I am sick and tired of having Christian, Islamic, and any other nonsense forced on me everywhere I turn, dressed up with "I know its true! I just do!"
Well it may be true in your head, but not in mine or in the real world. So yes, free speech is vital. Respect my right to it.”
by Spartacus, Bristol
Thursday, September 10 2009, 11:08AM
“"The Bible, being the Word of God, is not fiction. The Old Testament prophesises (sic) what was to happen in the New Testament."
So the Bible validates itself then. How does this make it true.
The BHA are not trying to persecute Christians, just trying to prevent creationism being put forward as scientific.
As for a lack of religion causing war, when groups of people believe that their one true god is better than other peoples one true god, it's not going to end well.”