Top twenty religious t shirts

Joanna writes: Holiday souvenir or groupie must-have, the slogan t-shirt is a trend that refuses to die. But in the hands of the fervently religious it's a means to evangelise to everyone they pass. Here's a list of the 20 best we've found. P.S. There are no Buddhist t-shirts in the list but Boing Boing tells us that the Dalai Lama is due to set up a celebrity t-shirt line in October so it could all change. (LIBBY ADDS - my favourite is not on the list.  It just says "Jesus is Coming. Look busy") 

Hijabman is the designer and Muslim blogger behind this bold slogan. He says his website's "a form of worship, a form of thanks to God," are his t-shirts as well?

The Muslim Baby Shop offers even the youngest believers a chance to state their faith.

The amusing "A Little Leavan" blog - which rails against but thrives on tacky Christian products - showcases this "Jesusbucks" t-shirt. You could ponder your salvation whilst stirring your latte I suppose.

Lucky Jew ("shirts for the chosen people")brings us this tee for the super hero in you

Kerusso means to "herald divine truth as a public crier; to preach the gospel" - the usual criteria for a t-shirt choice then.

Cafepress offers this classic design for Sikhs

These three come from Ilm (knowledge in Arabic) a company set up to spread a little Islam and continue the tradition of using the "t-shirt as a personal billboard".

 

 

The Jesus Is My Homeboy range has attracted a celebrity following but it promises that it isn't cashing in on a trend. It is a tribute to the time when saying "Jesus is your homeboy" saved Van Zan Frater from a gang with guns.

In parody of the above Cafepress has produced this t-shirt for the Hindu market

Totally Catholic's t-shirts were once only worn by the most pious of pilgrims who longed to live pre-Reformation (see example below).

But they have turned hip for the iPod generation with this new design.

 

 

Crazytees offers these for the fashion conscious faithful

 

And for an emblem to end all emblems T-shirt humour can do you this in a t-shirt, cap, mug, apron, mousemat or poster.

 

Comments

[Andrew Milner]

Sad, sad, sad. But good to see the return of "Faith", sandwiched appropriately between "Cartoon" and "Related Reports". Was it the five-minute argument you wanted or the full half-hour? So here's my contribution: "The bones of JC are in the Vatican".
Not convinced this is totally accurate, but never fails as a debate provoker. However, one thing is for sure, the body of JC became part of the planet, like everyone else’s. Rising from the dead followed by ascension into "Heaven" is pure fantasy. You can fool most of the people all of the time…

[riazat]

Joanna, face it, when it comes to tees Muslims do it better...

[Truthseeker]

Andrew Milner: "Rising from the dead followed by ascension into "Heaven" is pure fantasy."
You are, sir, entitled to your own opinion. However, since you are unable to factually prove your assertion, and since I am unable to factually disprove it, let's accept that we are talking here about a matter of faith and belief.
The only difference is that we each live our lives according to our different beliefs. I will continue to live, convinced (after many years of both studying, and teaching, on the subject) that Jesus of Nazareth, Whom true Christians believe was Almighty God in human flesh, "was crucified, dead, and buried (entombed). The third day (according to Jewish calculation) He rose from the dead. He ascended into heaven (returned to that other dimension that is beyond our comprehension - see no less a person than Stephen Hawking for the scientific backing for a multi-dimensional universe!), and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From there, He shall come to judge the living and the dead".
You may not believe that that latter event will occur either and, once again, you are fully entitled not to do so. However, if it does, you may find that it is too late to have "second thoughts"!!

[Kelley]

But Andrew, what if there's more?
What if you're wrong? What if the hope is there you've been searching for? I can tell you from experience that He's alive. He loves you. I'm not a radical zealot, not a right wing evangelist, not a self righteous bore, and I'm not not trying to press my feelings on you in some fire & brimstone message. I just don't want you to miss the greatest thing that could happen in your life. He did rise. And the legacy of love he left is around you everyday. He created you. Specifically you. And most of all, he did it with amazing love.

[Sacha Varma]

You missed out my favourite "Jesus loves you, everyone else thinks you're a C**T"

[Musab Bora]

My favourite T-Shirt, only produced once, said on the front 'Muslims do it five times a day'

And on the back said
'Pray'

[bill]

I always liked:

"Easter's off, they've found the body"

I guess you won't publish that one.

[jim]

Jesus saves, but Pele scores off the rebound

[Joanne]

my favourite only seen on a card but should be on a tee shirt: "Jesus is coming .....quick, look busy"
The God I know has a sense of humour

[Ralinda]

The most poignant t-shirt I've seen was worn by a Rwandan child in a refugee camp in Goma, Zaire. It said "Jesus is coming and he is pissed."

[Seamus]

Nerd blasphemy "Jesus saves, and makes incremental back ups"

[sweetalkinguy]

As we are straying into the realms of graffiti on posters, this is my favourite, which I saw on Lime Street station in the late 60s:

What shall we do when Christ cometh?

under which somebody had written "Move St. John to inside left".

[Ryan]

Top twenty religious t shirts according to?

Cheesy Christian shirts, we are better than that.....and He is sooooo much bigger than that!

www.rockkit.co.uk

[Geoffrey Dent]

True story: One day after the London tube bombings, a man travelled the underground in a makeshift t-shirt reading: "Don't freak, I'm a Sikh!"

[Vlad the Impala]

I just made this up "Jesus lubs you long time" or Dream ticket : AH + OBL..

[Bob Kincaid]

Bravo, Andrew! Let's hear for some all too rate common sense and rational expression.

Prove that people rot in the ground when they're dead? Sure! Go to any cemetery.

Accept "faith" as proof? Not hardly. Anyone is welcome to believe childish hogwash, but it is not incumbent upon reasonable people to pretend that the people believing the insane stuff are entitled to some sort of mollycoddling or special immunity from criticism.

Moreover, persisting in the died-and-rose-again business proves the fallacy of organized xtianity. It's not about how he died, but about how he LIVED. Most xtians still don't grasp that concept.

[Andrew Milner]

These sanctimonious Bible bashers usually end with, "I will pray for you", so I must be getting under their skin. Holier-than-thou, pompous, self-righteous, hypocritical, gullible; but there's still something about them I can't stand. They think they have all the answers. Well not in this case: You are victims of most massive deception in history. Jesus' birth was more to do with the handsome Roman soldier billeted across the street than any Holy Ghost intervention. So when your unmarried teenage daughter falls pregnant what do you do? Marry her off as quickly as possible, in this case to an older man. And what do you do when the heads of your movement are executed one after the other? Spin some fiction that one of them "rose from the dead". Have to say the "ascension into heaven" was a stroke of pure genius. Did you know the Muslims claim we are all Sons of God? But I wouldn’t recommend putting this on your resume.

[Eric J]

Gosh Bob, thanks so much for setting us straight on this. I sure am glad there are folks like you out there patrolling the net, keeping us safe from people of faith and their crazy talk. I hope you feel like you really accomplished something today.

[adrian]

Why dont you study the Bible to prove how right you are by mocking faith? May i suggest you start with the book of John, in the new testament, and read a chapter a day for a month.. but before you start , call out to God ( even if you dont believe He exists and demand that He give you confirmation that all of the Jesus thing is a hoax.
You would at least have assurance of what you condemn is just nonsense.

After all, dont you want to at least make sure that God did "not" so love that world that He gave his one and only son that whoever believed in him shall not perish but have eternal life?

Hey, its your life.. i'd be doing a little research if it was me.. just a suggestion..

[Gareth Morgan]

It seems that Andrew Milner's principle problem is actually not with Christians but conservative evangelicals who take a literalist view of the bible. What he fails to understand is that there are many Christians who recognise that Son of God was a pre-existing phrase in biblical times that included everyone but was used by Gospel writers to try to suggest that Jesus was both as other humans but something more (and almost certainly never intended to suggest that he was some sort of biological son of God). The ascension of course only occurs in Luke's gospel and is a handy linking device between the end of his gospel and the book of Acts, and despite depictions in art, the idea of ascension was largely a symbolic one. Many Christians also realise that Matthew and Luke were after a deeper meaning is suggesting a virgin birth (virgin after all being based on a mistranslation by Matthew of an Old Testament text meaning young woman) and that the resurrection doesn't necessarily mean a bodily one. Perhaps you are also guilty of taking what you know of the bible at face value rather than trying to understand its complexity and what it is really driving at.

[Kim]

Most are total blasphemy.

I am shocked with how far america has fallen. Even most of the commentors are blasphemers and liars

[Guyswines]

Many years ago Private Eye did a series of different Xmas cards - the one I realy remember is Joseph coming out & saying "It's a girl"
Enjoying these kind of remarks doesn't mean one doesn't believe.

[Stephen Einbinder]

Gareth Morgan, your ignorance of the Holy Scriptures is not suprising, since Yehoshua (Jesus) in Hebrew, acredits himself the title of Son of God numerous times John 14 for example. Also in reference to Isaiah 7:14 the virgin birth the term Heb. Betulah is in fact young maiden, which would apply to a betrothed young woman of marriagable age. Also this would require under strict Torah observance being unwed before unless widowed and a ¨VIRGIN¨.......
If you don´t want to sound hopelessly ignorant, you owe it to yourself to study yourself approved rightly dividing the word of truth, showing yourself to ´¨NOT BE ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL¨ Think about it thats why Joseph at first wanted to put her away thinking she had broke the sacred law, and lost her purity. Also remember a ´¨Bastard child¨ is forbidden to enter in the congregation, or the temple, but Yehoshua (Jesus) Luke 4:16 who stood up to read the Holy Scriptures was certainly not forbidden, he was openly made aware of Garth............

[Omar]

You missed out the t-shirts from IslamicDesignHouse.com - they aren't as catchy I know, but look more stylish.

[Mrs.Josephine Hyde-Hartley]

The best T-shirt I ever saw said
"PRAY HARD"

[Adrian Evitts]

Nice one, Gareth Morgan!

My suggestion for a tee-shirt:

Think it possible that you may be mistaken.

[Chris]

Absolute hogwash.

The straining, bending-over-backwards attempts to modernise what is wholly a stone-age mentality really brings home how utterly ridiculous religion is.

Why not abandon the t-shirts AND religion. You're all praying to the magic sock puppet in the sky.

There's nothing there, and you all know it.

As Chris Hitchens wonderfully put it: "...the devotions of today are only the echoing repetitions of yesterday, sometimes ratcheted up to screaming point so as to ward off the terrible emptiness."

These t-shirts smack of that sentiment.

[Felix Turner]

In answer to Chris here is a fact. Religion is the oldest mark of human culture. It has been part of every single society in human existence. So I find it extremely strange that some people call for religion to abolished from the face of the Earth. How can you want to abolish a tradition that has been with man since the beginning of time. How can you say that to the billions who have nothing but there faith in God to get them through the dark lonely days that those people sadly have to get through. Atheism is gaining popularity in the West today because people there have such easy lives and seem to have no need to believe in God. But life is not so fair to billions of Earth's people who have nothing to get them through the cruelty and sadness of life but their religion and faith in God. That is why I so greatly admire the determination and never ending resolve and courage of religious people. God is Great! Long live religion for all eternity!

[Jamie]

Seen by a friend

Front of T: "I've found Jesus"

Back of T: "He was hiding behind the sofa again."

[phil western]

Religion is a terrible fiction. People say it can't be disproved. This is not the case, everytime something in the bible is proved ridiculous, those Christians intelligent enough not to be literal creationists hide behind metaphor. How far can a metaphor go? God is love e.t.c... Why don't you have faith in the fact that if there is a loving creator, he will be nothing like a poorly written book depicts him (the bible), and he will probably be too busy to hold a grudge. I am not dignifying those T-shirts with a response, apart from saying that...

[Christine P.]

I can't help but notice that comments posted by believers (of any faith) are
calm and positive, while comments posted by non believers are filled with animosity and a desperate need to
prove others wrong.

[PuPPeT]

I was at a Christian gig once and the bass guitarist's shirt said "I'm a non-practicing atheist" - He said it was available in short supply on the ineternet but unfortuantly I haven't been able to find one!!

[Gareth Morgan]

Thank you to Stephen Einbinder for his response though I'm afraid I must take issue with it.

Firstly, you seem to be adopting a very literalist approach to the bible which is precisely the type of understanding of the bible I was arguing against in my original post.

Yehoshua (the Hebrew of Jesus) actually means "Yahweh rescues" and was a very popular name in 1st century Palestine, so I don't think you can read much into the name in particular. Yes, there are many references to Jesus's Son of God-ship within most of the gospels but as I mentioned previously you really have to understand the theology of each gospel, the context, the audience to understand what the writer is getting at.

You also need to understand the significant confusion over the exact meaning of the Hebrew terms "almah" and "betulah" in different biblical contexts before making the type of comments you have above in respect to the young woman/virgin issue. For example betulah in Joel 1:8 actually is in relation to a widow! Most serious biblical scholars recognise that Matthew's gospel has mis-interpreted Isaiah 7:14 for theological purpose.

I have no problem with you adopting a literalist approach to the bible if that is what is important to your faith, but don't accuse others of "ignorance" because they view scriptures in the light of history, context, literary style, theological intent etc. It only adds fuel to the fire of those who would have everyone believe that all people of faith are fundamentalists.

[Phil]

Just to throw a spanner into the works. The first human wouldn't have had a belly button, maybe the immaculate conception was GOD impregnating the first woman, although the bible says Eve corrupted Adam, women rape men right? Which came first the chicken or the egg, mum or bub? The chicken obviously. We all start as girls in the womb is one explanation I've heard as to why men have nipples. And on GOD and atheists, some people just don't want to believe in GOD because it's not convenient. Generally I find non-believers really self-righteous and defensive. The people I have met who don't believe in GOD usually do believe in HELL. Non-believers are such because they are yet to surrender their importance. When they're good eough to believe they will.

[Liss]

Just remember...

God doesn't believe in atheists, but He loves them anyway!

[George Sign]

Jesus Loves You but you'll burn in Hell forever if you don't do what he tells you to do. That's love?

[Frank Upton]

Writing "A young woman shall give birth" would be so banal that surely nobody would bother? It would be too "Dog bites man".

[Gareth Morgan]

Sadly George some would have you believe that's how it works which - as you say - is hardly very full of love but I think there are many others who have a slightly less simplistic faith.

[Vinoth]

To George Sign,

Sinners are destined for hell coz God being a righteous one has to do justice.

Providing an escape route through Jesus Christ - that's love for you.

[Zach]

I suggest if you really want to look in depth into it go into the book "A Case for Christ". It goes about a journalist actually setting out to disprove Christianity, and in the end in the mans research he actually ends up finding out something he didn't expect, that there is more evidence for us than against us, and that it would take more faith not to believe in a God than to actually believe in one. Eh, just a suggestion, and if you're that smart of a person I'm sure you'll be able to outdo his research, Right?

[Gareth Morgan]

Zach: I suggest if you really want to look in depth into it go into the book "A Case for Christ".

This is one of many books I would wholeheartedly recommend that anyone interested in an "in depth" and well argued critique of Christian doctrine does NOT read.

The lack of robustness of its thinking and theology rival Alpha materials in their dreadful generalisation and over-simplification and presentation of Christianity as though there is only one way of thinking about things. AWFUL

[David Brook]

I like "Jesus was a Palestinian" - delicious irony! LOL. My favourite is "I'm A Jew!" on the front of the Tee, and "Gesundheit!" on the back.

[Felix Turner]

I saw a t-shirt that showed the rising number of atheists in the UK and then said 'The Zombie Apocalypse is here!'

[e skelton]

When at University in the early 1980sI asked an American Evangelical Christian student : "Am I correct in believing that if Christian men rape, torture and murder an atheist woman, then repent and beg Jesus for forgiveness, she will still go to hell and they will still go to heaven?" You can guess his answer. Could it be that, in first century BC Palestine, Satan came to live amongst us in human form?

[Gareth Morgan]

All it proves E Skelton is that you talked to an evangelical Christian with a rather warped and dogmatic view of their faith.

Sadly, you probably haven't met the only one with such a view.

[Tim Anderson]

A lot of things cannot be explained in life. However I think generally most people would agree; love and peace are what we want out of life. The bible it tells you how to life properly and is not about what is right or wrong. It is not about having free choice. You do have free choice, however if you were to follow the bible you will see that a lot of it makes sense and leads to a life of love and peace and comfort in real day situations. It tells you in about people who generally had far worse “bad day’s” than you or I could possibly have. I have had prayers answered and I don’t look at people in the world or the church for an answer to things but to GOD. If people are so bothered by having a faith what are they doing in the religious section of the paper? It is not about old fashioned robes and incense, cold dead churches. It is about a believing in God and until someone believes in something they will always feel an empty void inside which they will always be trying to fill, even with angry rants at believers. I can say I know what it is like to have filled the void with what I know to be right and it feels great.

[Trevor Hayes]

Please, no more pointless-papal-pap. (for 'papal' feel to substitute mohammed, bhudha ghanesh; or if you are a southsea islander - prince Philip) The world is slowly waking up from its stupifyfing god-delusions. With a little luck in years to come we will be looking at these T shirts in a museum alongside totems from the ancient egyptian 'gods. What a waste of good cotton.

[Antonia Ralph]

bunch of jesus freaks - get a life!

[Fed up]

They are T-shirts.
Everyone has a right to their own opinion.
Grow up and find something better to do with your time than exchanging insults under the nice little safety zone your computer and anonymity provide.
We'll call it the NEW religious movement of "shut the f@#$ up".

[Vos]

I wear a T-shirt "If you believe the meek will inherit the Earth you're just where they want you" at Cafepress atheist future and I may be starting a blog to report on reactions. Religion is the ultimate circular argument - Russell pointed out that the religious want to argue a point, but when you have them in a corner and there is no rational answer, they scream "you must have faith!" Incidentally, before the latest books on the subject, two of the best were at my bedside table: The Case Against God and Bertrand Russell's Best, the latter acting as a tonic after a hard day among the gullible. People love to say "follow the money" but money doesn't always come in the form of currency - I wish they would ask themselves "why was I taught what I was taught?" and "who benefits from it?" We are indoctrinated as defenseless children, socialized in the local religious beliefs to render us tame and fertilize us as future cannon fodder. Religion belongs to humankind's infancy, offering explanations before the advance of science and serving as a crutch. Here's the flaw in Pascal's wager, that you may as well believe, since it may get you something, why not? I was taught christianity and wore a cross around my neck 'til the age of 12 or so, when I started reading and thinking for myself, so I was taught that this god is all-knowing (remember that bit?) so if he's all knowing, he would know when any pathetic little human is faking it for him! If I were in his position, I could be insulted and smite the uppity twit. You're little worm, you're going to play ME? Also, people like to say, when bad things happen "he's testing us" well, if he's all-knowing, knows the future, he would know how any "test" would pan out, so why test us? The whole package is so obviously man-created in order for the elders to control the tribe, it's laughable, and on even cursory examination, unravels like a cheap sweater. The loophole that was closed in order to bar suicides from heaven reveals the con - can't have the serfs offing themselves to achieve paradise, we would end up having to shovel our own #@%*!

[Julia]

I have one that says

"Jesus saves. Everyone else takes damage."

(D&D joke)

[Travis]

I'm speechless. But, there are a ton of grammatical errors in most of your comments. They totally disprove all of your ideas. Just a thought.

[Andy Pandy]

Lets all be friends. Life is better when we are kind to eachother. No need to judge and critcise, it doesn't help anyone. Love love lovel love love love love love love x
x
xxxxxxxxx
x
x
x
x
x

[james albert]

i love your idea where can i buy some mate??
james

[expat Brit]

To Andrew Milner: Do you actually have any life at all outside of posting comments on every article in the Times online? Really, I think you need to get out more.

[Michael Buckley]

As the great Douglas Adams put it so perfectly..."Is it not enough to observe the beauty of the garden without believing there are fairies living at the bottom of it?"

[Graeme Phillips]

I'm pleased to see the Christian community launching an attack heavily laden with irony on many of the things that are wrong with today's culture. I hope the Starbucks parody will catch the eye of some smug self-assured yuppie sipping a latte and nibbling some tofu and ultimately lead him/her to salvation.

[Vitriol]

The answer to Chris, devotee of Hitchens? Try decipher the ludicrous "answer to that which is posed without evidence" posited in Christopher Hitchens' shallow little book. Be serious, Chris - quote Dawkins if you really must have a new Messiah, don't suck up Hitchens' diarrhoea.

[T. J.]

"Jesus Saves, but Moses Invests."

[Stephanie]

That sock puppet in the sky as someone called God, is the one who created all of the people on here coming against him... so have fun laughing at us for standing strong in our faith and beliefs as Christians - because you wont be laughing when you find out in the end how wrong you really were.

[Russ]

My personal 2 cents on the "is Jesus risen or rotting" debate here.
Some things dis-believers may not have considered:
1. 10 people went to horrible tortuous deaths and 1 to a prison island, for proclaiming they had seen Jesus risen from the dead. They were His closest disciples. All they had to do to get out of punishment, deny Jesus' resurection. Ask a psychologist if this would happen for something they ALL KNEW to be a lie. BTW, we are talking 11 people who RAN AWAY when Jesus was arrested. Why the sudden courage? They couldn't have stolen the body. 10 fishermen would have been no match for the roman guard posted at the tomb.
2. If the Pharisees had the body, or access to it, the quickest way to stop the new sect of Jews was to produce the body. They could not. They resorted to stoning followers of Christ to death.
3. The romans wouldn't have taken the body, they had no dog in that fight. They could care less about the whole matter. If they had any thing to do with it at all, Pilot would have had it turned over to the Sanhedron to keep peace in the area.

So my question is: If the body was here on earth, WHERE WAS IT? The disciples could not have had it, the Parisees did not have it, and the romans didn't have it, SO WHERE WAS IT?

[Candace O'Shea]

All of these comments blaspheming faith—especially the Christian faith—are from people who would rather believe that we evolved from some mud and pond scum rather than believe the more believable fact that we are created by a loving and just (yes I said just as in justice) God. If they accept that there is a God then they have to also accept that yes, they could - should go to Hell. What they fail to realize in their crippled mind is that not believing in Hell doesn’t make it go away. Neither does not believing in God make Him go away.

Notice how vehemently they protest that God exists. Why? What does it matter what other people think if we all are just going to live for a while then die and rot and that is the end? Why are they evangelizing their faith? Christians evangelize because they love others and they want them to know the love of Jesus and be able to spend in eternity in Heaven instead of Hell. But what motivates atheist to evangelize their faith of evolution and eternal rot? Unfortunately for them and fortunately for the saints life doesn’t just end in rot. We are IMMORTAL! Even the atheists!

Sure the body will rot it is just made up of dust and water. But the soul is so much more. God made the soul to be with Him eternally. But, of course, you would want people who love you to be with you eternally, not people who don’t even believe you even hate you. You make the choice of where you go Folks! Not God. He only loves you and made the final and great sacrifice for you. He took on Him the condemnation of every sin of man, yours and mine and He carried them to Hell. It is up to you whether you accept the forgiveness He died for or take back the condemnation that is rightly yours.

We look on the cross and the beatings that He went through and think, ‘how awful!’ but that was nothing for Jesus, His real suffering came from the condemnation that was on Him for your sins and mine. Realize that the smallest sin (maybe a little lie) is abominable to God like putrid vomit in a dung pile. How much worse sins like murder, rape child molestation, etc. would seem to Him. And He was immersed in that filth! Your filth, my filth, the filth of the world! Is it any wonder that He will finally reject those who rejected Him?

It’s not about doing what Jesus says to do, because if you love Him you will do those things. It is about accepting Him and loving Him. So yes, if a man was to rape a woman and later earnestly repent earnestly to God while the woman continued to reject Him the man would go to Heaven and the woman to Hell. (A true repentant will if possible make amends.)That is why Jesus died, to remove the sins from the repentant as far as the east is from the west.

It was already asked once, but I will ask again. What if I am right and you are wrong? If you are right I have nothing to lose, but if I am right you have everything to lose. Keep seeking the truth…if you find it and act on it, you will be saved. And don’t look to humans for the truth only guidance, look to God.

And, don’t judge God or Christians by the action of Christians. People are human, they make mistakes, Christians can be in various stages of sanctification, still learning, it is not right or fair to judge God by his children (assuming they are his children.) Just because one calls him/herself a Christian doesn’t mean they are truly a saint of God.

“A Case for Christ” mentioned above is a great place to start seeking the truth outside of the Bible. The Bible is the preeminent source. Lee Strobel- www.leestrobel.com -was an atheist too, like you he vehemently apposed the notion of God and particularly Jesus.

[Peter]

To Stephanie: You assume God is obsessed with you believing in him. As Richard Dawkins said, why is it assumed that the one good thing we have to do to please God, if he exists, is BELIEVE in him? Surely that make him out to be very jealous and self obsessed? Is he not more interested in us living fulfilled, loving, happy lifes?

And to Tim Anderson, is God really the only thing worth 'filling the void' with, the only thing worth believing in? What about art, science, relationships, a passion for nature?

[Peter]

To Stephanie and Phil, is God so jealous and so vein that the one thing he wants us to do is believe in him? I hope not, for what a horrible God he would be. Is it not so unbelievably wrong if I lead a wonderful, good life without believing in God and still get sent straight to Hell? For what?

To Tim Anderson, is God really the only worthwhile belief to 'fill the void.' What about love, the arts, relationships, music, science, nature, people? Indeed things that definitely manifest themselves here on Earth.

[Candace O'Shea]

Peter, Who or what do you think God is? is he just some pie in the sky diety full of love and nothing more? Well, if you do, you are dead wrong! He is our Creator, He created everything. He made the rules. He is GOD! He has every right to expect you to believe in Him and to love Him. If you believe in Him and Love Him, you will please Him. Sure much of what you mentioned art, science (assuming it is actually the study of seeking the truth, not blind obedience to an unproven theory,) relationships, a passion for nature, even a good laugh are wonderful. God gave us those gifts, they are part of life, but we are called to be set apart from the world.

If you live a wonderful good life all the while rejecting Jesus Christ, then you didn't live a wonderful good life, you lived a lie. Because if you are not for Christ, you are for satan. Believe it or not.

It's not about what you do, it's about recognizing your creator, about recognizing his gift of salvation! It has to be a gift, it cannot be earned. To get a gift, you must receive it. You do that with only two simple acts. Believe on the Lord your God, Jesus Christ and repent of your sins. That's it. If you are earnest the rest will follow. Now you might think you are good and don't sin and so have nothing to repent, think again. There is no righteous man, no not one. The only way we can become righteous is through the filter of the blood of Jesus. God bless and seek the truth!

[Peter]

Candace O'Shea,

How am I for Satan if I live an indisputably moral life whilst not making the step to believing in God? How wrong is that? I actually find it very insulting. There is so much to discuss in your response but I’d like concentrate on this one thing because I feel very strongly about it.

You say that without the 'filter of Christ’s blood', I cannot know right. Ok, hear me out on this:

I'm sure you'd agree that doing as much as one could to protect the Earth from the harmful effects of global warming was a particularly ethical thing to do. Well say I am the kind of person who does just so. I do all I can to protect our beautiful Earth. An Earth we are incredibly lucky to experience and more importantly for you, something that you believe God created.

Now I have not been filtered through the blood of Jesus I assure you: I am not religious in any way and I don’t believe in God. But say God does actually exist and I am wrong. I die having done wonderful, ethical things for the environment, indeed for God’s creation. And yet because I never believed in God he still sends me to Hell. Is that righteous?

Some other things that you might want to think about:

- Of science you say, ‘‘assuming it is actually the study of seeking the truth, not blind obedience to an unproven theory.’’ ...What does faith mean to you?

- By saying God ‘‘created everything’’ you imply he created every man, and I assume in his own image? Righteousness is a big part of God’s image, is it not? So how can there be ‘‘no righteous man, no not one’’ if this is so? Together your statements imply either that he created everything but man, or that he is not righteous himself...

[Rob]

Man, today's Christian shirts crack me up! Could there be a worse way too evangelize our faith for Jesus?

Whats even more amazing is the fact people actually buy and wear them...i don't understand why.

There are far too few well designed, intelligent, subtle Christian shirts out there in my opinion.

[Candace O'Shea]

Dear Peter,

You wrote: You say that without the 'filter of Christ’s blood', I cannot know right.
I actually wrote: The only way we can become righteous is through the filter of the blood of Jesus.
The key word is righteous, I did not say you ‘cannot know right’, you absolutely can know right and do it proficiently but that doesn’t make you righteous.

It sounds to me like you do good things proficiently. But your big failure, the wrong that undoes all of your right in the eternal scope of things is your rejection of God, particularly Christ.

Now what I mean by being filtered through the blood of Christ is that God the Father looks on we who are born again through that filter. To God we are righteous and if we accidentally or weakly sin, we can be forgiven. He expects us to improve and to turn away from sin, as an earthly father would expect his children to obey him. But if we are His we are forgiven for the asking, may not even require our asking.

So, if you do all of this wonderful work for the earth and future generations, then you die not believing in God by your beliefs then you just rot in the ground. By my beliefs you go to eternity in Hell forever separated from God. Yes that is righteous. Read at least the fourth paragraph down on my letter that came just before yours on May 3rd. You wouldn’t have seen it at the time you wrote your May 3rd comments. It explains why God is righteous and just in sending unbelievers to Hell.

As for science, we are talking about science not faith in that point. Science is supposed to be finding facts and truths in worldly oe cosmic matters. Things like gravity, the name given to the obvious fact that without special equipment we are pretty much stuck to the ground--a fact. Evolution on the other hand is not a fact it is a theory that has become a religion--faith. Anything in the scientific realm that does not have a strong basis in fact should be labeled a theory not a fact.

“In its broadest sense, science (from the Latin scientia, meaning "knowledge") refers to any systematic knowledge or practice. In its more usual restricted sense, science refers to a system of acquiring knowledge based on scientific method, as well as to the organized body of knowledge gained through such research.” --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science

“Faith is a deep belief or trust in a particular idea but based not on evidence or proof for that idea. Formal usage of the word "faith" is largely reserved for concepts of religion, where it almost universally refers to a trusting belief in a transcendent reality (therefore spirituality and spiritual immortality), or else in a Supreme Being and their role as a guide for people moving into an experience of such reality.” --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith

Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. – That is not to say that Christians do not have evidence. There is much more evidence for creationism or intelligent design than evolution, in fact much of the so called evidence for evolution has been quite solidly refuted, yet it is held on to by those who are afraid to believe in God (again, see my earlier letters.) There is more evidence of the historical facts of the Bible than other secular historical facts and in Jesus’ death and even His resurrection, the proof goes on and on. But for a person to find out these things, they must seek the truth. Reading and studying the pros and the cons weighing the evidence on both sides as Lee Strobel did. You can use research someone else has done, but check it out for validity.

Finally, how can we not be righteous if created by a righteous God? There are a few elements involved in that. First of all we were created perfect and given free will—Adam and Eve. The angels of Heaven were created similarly and so one, Lucifer (means light,) was so beautiful, he let it go to his head and decided he could be as great as God. So he beguiled Eve with lies and exaggerations that sounded like truth. She in turn tempted Adam who was easily tempted, I might add. So much for our righteous character, from then on sin had entered the world and satan had become the prince of the earth. He continues to beguile and lie to us in myriads of ways that look beautiful on the surface, they sound right, feel right. --There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.--Proverbs 16:25 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:14.

You don’t have to take my word for any of this, do your own “scientific” research keeping an open mind. Say something like this earnestly to the God you don’t believe in, ‘If you are God, if you really exist show me.’ I pray that your eyes are opened and your heart filled with His love. And, dear Peter, be careful, if you do this, to not be misled by satan into unsound doctrine. Test everything.

[Em Williams]

I used to not believe.
But now I do.
It made a big difference to me.
Wake up from your own Matrix delusion, Andrew!

[Peter]

Candace,

Yes I did read your fourth paragraph that you wrote on May 3rd. In it you talk about unbelievers specifically as sinners, not as people who lead moral lives. I'll take your response seriously when you answer my question properly.

With regards to evidence: Exactly what evidence do you have for the Bible stories, intelligent design etc? If you had it then surely you’d tell me about it? For example you might want to say, ''...We know this because...'' etc. Evidence does not necessarily have to be physical proof in your possession. That would be absurd. You can cite evidence from theorists that have had their theories proven by competitive peer review.
What exactly was that evidence of evolution? And by whom was it refuted? I’d love to know.

It does seem a LITTLE hypocritical (but it seems that is what you Christians are by default) to preach your Biblical fairy tales to me that you believe so blindly, and then have the audacity to advice me to test everything. I mean come on.

[Flatroofer]

Peter,Why are you getting upset with a belief you think does not exist. If it does not exist why fight it? Do you honestly feel threatened by Christians? Do you think they will ruin the UK? Will a Christian threaten you if you don't accept his beliefs? or smile and still love you and accept your own beliefs?

[Candace O'Shea]

Thank you FlatRoofer, kind of like I said above, well I said why do athiest evangelize their brand of faith to others, as if it were good news that we would just rot in the ground when we die.

Peter, I did reply to your messsage but it contained a lot of links and has to be reviewed. more stringently before being posted. I think it will get on once they see the reason for the links. Meanwhile this will probably get on sooner.

The answer to FlatRoofers last question to you,in case you are wondering, is we will smile and still love you. We may try to convince, but we don't try to force, not if we understand the faith we are touting.

[Benn]

My heckles are raised when theists claim "you can't disprove God, therefore my belief is as valid as your disbelief". I can't disprove a great many unprovable beliefs. This doesn't give creditability to these ideas in of itself. An idea or dare I say it "theory" has an approximate value or creditability according to how plausible it is is light of our existing knowledge of the world around us, given what we can see, feel, fear and so. Yes there is likely to be a great deal more "out there" than we can contemplate based on our existing understanding of the universe. But that does not support the "truths" of the religious texts, or the existence of some supernatural being reading my mind and jotting down all my transgressions. These are constructs of human psyche, it's seems as plain as day. I'd recommend we all try a bit harder to be brave and try and be secure in the knowledge we can have very happy lives working for the good of our family, our communities and our fragile earth. and God (if he's paying attention) will congratulate you for it.