Godless Heathens

Bit of Publicity for RYGDB

Bit of Publicity for RYGDB

by Arc on Mon Mar 10, 2008 3:42 pm

Hi!

I just got finished challenging Dominik Diamond on talk 107 radio to read the bible, cover to cover, and I'd do it along with him.

He said he might, if he could find the time. I sincerely hope he does, and I intend to follow up with him and see if he'll accept a challenge to read the book his faith is based on, cover to cover, in order.

He describes himself as a committed Catholic and while discussing the Pope's new deadly sins, he suggested that Jesus was basically "about healing the sick", pointing up the irony of the Catholic church coming into conflict with a branch of medicine dedicated to relieving the suffering of millions. I felt I needed to call in and voice my disagreement.

I'd agree that it seems ironic that the church, who's charitable aims are meant to help the sick and poor, opposes the means to end a great deal of modern suffering. I would not agree, however, that Jesus was about healing the sick. His demonstrations of healing (if you'll suspend disbelief and allow for argument's sake that they occurred) were about showing his credentials. They were about convincing the masses, not actually restoring health for it's own sake.

I asked Dominik why God would not simply heal people or eradicate disease if he wanted to help the sick, and Dominik answered that suffering was a result of man's free will, and that if God simply healed people it would make us all "slaves to religion".

The show can be found here but I was sad to find there's no listen again feature for ordinary shows (just selected ones):
http://godlessheathens.org.uk/community/posting.php?mode=newtopic&f=17

Arc
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by Arc on Mon Mar 10, 2008 4:09 pm

The show is finished, so I sent the studio an invite to respond. Here's hoping!

Hello,
you very kindly let me have a few minutes talking to Dominik and Marisa about the Pope's new deadly sins.
I've listened to them since their previous station, but this was the first time I wanted to call in.
I asked him on air if he was willing to consider a little challenge, of reading the bible cover to cover, in order.
He did say he'd consider it, so I'm following up to see if he'd be willing to go through with the challenge, week by week.
That might make me sound a little pushy, but I am going on the old premise of "don't ask, don't get". Most people can find a lot of reasons not to pick up the book, and from previous shows I get the impression Dominik likes a challenge now and again, so I felt I should push my luck.

I'm an ex-Christian, and a member of atheist organisation that wants to start a bible reading challenge called "Read Your Goddamn Bible" (short and to the point!) and we'd be honoured to have Dominik join in, reading the book that lays out the tenants of his faith.

This isn't a challenge for me to disprove his faith, or demand proof of God or anything like that, just an honest attempt to get a full impression of the book at the heart of Christianity. A number of atheists are already signed up and willing to take the challenge, so hopefully we'll all be a little wiser and better read by the end of it. Marisa is equally welcome if she's up for it!

I appreciate it is an investment of time, but if a committed Catholic can't spare an hour a week to read what is often referred to as God's word, then I'm sure you'll agree it doesn't bode well for anyone who's interested in avoiding an eternity of pointy pitch-forks Smile
If you want to get any more details, please contact me.

Thanks for taking the time to read. If you would be kind enough to reply to this mail indicating whether he's up for the challenge or not, that would be much appreciated. I'll pass him the website address!


Very Happy

Arc
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by TheoJones on Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:49 pm

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

That is absolutely brilliant news - and hopefully he will have the courage to actually do it. For someone who is quite so public about his faith, you would think he could make the time to read the book which that faith is based on!

if not, it's certainly worth mentioning on the GH blog - it's about time we started running update stories anyway.

TheoJones
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by Rowan on Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:18 pm

Fan-bloody-tastic.
Any response?

Hell, even if they have pretended they never heard from you, its all about raising the concept that maybe people who say they believe the bible should maybe actually read it. If we can mention it whenever appropriate that can only be a good thing.
"If you need religion to solve your problems, that's fine ... I use Google." - Simon Amstell.

Rowan
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Read Your Damn Bible - Discussion