Smuggy Bear

I found record of a debate between Sam Harris and Rick Warren which was written up in Newsweek early last year. It appears to have been somewhat informal and conversational with a general topic of "who's right, christian or atheist?".

Sam Harris is the atheist, an author and neuroscientist. Rick Warren is the Christian pastor of a megachurch.

I don't know whether Harris was ever a Christian, but it appears from the write-up on this debate that while he may have "won" since he seems to be "right," he did not successfully read Warren throughout the conversation.

As I read this, I feel like I can hear Warren's thoughts before the words even come out of his mouth. I suppose it is because some of these things are just so fresh for me, the novice non-believer. I know the objections...and I sense the absolutely effortless knee-jerk smugness in Warren's every word. So frustrating. I wish I had been there or at least that Harris had someone at his side who could have pointed out Warren's angles.

Maybe that's arrogant of me to think that my personal experience could have assisted someone who is intellectually superior to me like Harris.

Here is the link to Newsweek for you:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/35784

Protestantism and Catholicism

It occurred to me that an obvious question or two for me would be:
a) Do I now lump Catholicism and Protestantism together as just general forms of Christianity?, and
b) Do I wish I hadn't taken the trouble to leave Protestantism for Catholicism a few years ago?

The answer to both is no.

I left Protestantism primarily because there is no way to make any sense of it as an institution. There was no authoritative foundation in any sense. And when I left, I said to myself and to my wife quite plainly that if I ever left the Catholic Church, I would never return to Protestantism. My only choice if leaving Catholicism was and is to not be a Christian.

The Catholic Church has a foundation which can be literally traced through history to Jesus and His followers. Catholicism has an explanation for the development of doctrine and authority from the actual historical point of Christ. Protestantism in all its forms has an explanation which involves a great deal of hemming and hawing when it comes to its origin being centered around the rejection of legitimate authority (by Christian standards) in the 1500's.

I am still pleased with my decision to leave Protestantism. I still intend never to return. I will always have a deep level of respect for the Catholic tradition, regardless of the outcome of my present ponderings.