Christians know God is not cruel
1. 41-vehicle wreck ties up traffic Sunday on I-81 in Rockbridge County
2. Virginia Tech football roster has holes on picture day
3. Medicare penalties hit hospitals in Roanoke, New River Valleys
4. Microfestivus beer event gets downtown Roanoke hopping
5. McFarling: 2 little numbers are a big hurdle for Virginia Tech football
6. Arrest made in case of missing Nelson County teen
7. DAN CASEY: Copter cost still stirring up dust
8. Roanoke farmers markets making local foods more accessible
9. Virginia attorney general's office grows under Ken Cuccinelli
10. Man's drowning is 5th in Lynchburg area
Monday, July 1, 2013
Christians know God is not cruel
Re: “Rejecting fear-driven faith,” (June 19 commentary by John Lewis,):
I would like to say that God is neither impotent nor sadistic, but rather like a responsible parent who allows children to fall in order to learn to walk and learn from adversity to stand on their own two feet and become responsible, caring adults. God did not allow his own son to escape the adversities of this world in order to save us sinners. Therefore, He teaches us and guides us throughout adversities in this life to become responsible caring Christians, preparing us to be saints in the next life. And, for those who talk about Christians who don’t act like Christians, we are a work in progress.
For those of us who have experienced God’s great love there is no greater joy, and we wish never to be separated from his love. We do not believe because we are afraid of him.
LUCY PORTZER
ROANOKE
Atheist offended by commentary
R. McNeil Foster asserts that “armies of atheists have gathered and are starting their spring offensive to ensure that the name God or reference to any religion — other than their own — is not even referenced” (“When atheists pray,” June 15 commentary). He is, of course, being quite melodramatic and fails to mention the armies of theists who are out there pushing their own agenda. As far as I know, atheists have the same rights as theists when it comes to proselytizing.
He correctly states that atheists do not believe in a supreme being. He tries to paint the atheist as someone who believes he is superior to the supreme being to make atheists appear evil in the eyes of a believer. Of course, the truth of the matter is that atheists do not think in those terms at all. It is hard to feel superior to that which does not exist.
I take umbrage with the picture Foster paints of atheists. Atheists are good, moral and ethical people. Our morality and ethics are based on knowledge, not fear. If we use some of the same tactics in defending our positions as theists do defending theirs, just remember: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
RICH BRAGER
HARDY
1. 41-vehicle wreck ties up traffic Sunday on I-81 in Rockbridge County
2. Virginia Tech football roster has holes on picture day
3. Medicare penalties hit hospitals in Roanoke, New River Valleys
4. Microfestivus beer event gets downtown Roanoke hopping
5. McFarling: 2 little numbers are a big hurdle for Virginia Tech football
6. Arrest made in case of missing Nelson County teen
7. DAN CASEY: Copter cost still stirring up dust
8. Roanoke farmers markets making local foods more accessible
9. Virginia attorney general's office grows under Ken Cuccinelli
10. Man's drowning is 5th in Lynchburg area
THE ROANOKE TIMES
