Guys like Barker are a dime a dozen. Cute little comments like “If God asked you to kill me…” aren’t much of an argument. Remember, you are listening to a man who obviously believes he owes his existence to two bugs fornicating in a mud puddle a few million years ago. That should tell you something.

Which is way more extreme than a man being born from a virgin, but is actually God himself, and is the only man to ever come back from the dead. Nothing more believable than talking snakes, talking burning bushes, and the same story that was circulating the Mediterranean region for a thousand years before “Jesus” came along.

And love that story about the debate. When I was about 7 or so and read that horrible story, I was terrified — to say the least.

Keep in mind my holy roller mother was a bit extreme to put it mildly. The mother in Stephen King’s Carrie reminds me of her. She actually use to run around the house screaming “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” Though, to my knowledge, she never came after any of us with a knife — just shoes.

So when I read that Buybull story, I of course asked rather fearfully asked her that exact same question and got the same lame answer. I was not reassured let me tell you. Unlike Dan’s debater, she wouldn’t answer beyond that no matter how many times I asked.

I had a very scary childhood.

Me being me, I approached even this week-end skeptically, being as adverse to any “atheist preaching” that might occur as I would be to the other kind.

I was totally won over by the end of the day Saturday. Barker’s mien is gracious, humorous, self-deprecating, and humane. He let the guest speakers shine, and played the consummate host, even tho, as I discovered later, he had a bad cold at the time.

I’d have a copy of “godless” if they hadn’t sold out long before I got to the book table. So I’ll have to order it.

Meanwhile, I am ineffably grateful that there are people like Dan (and Annie Laurie Gaylor) in the world!

(BTW–he’s a delightfully entertaining musician, as well!)

Where would you put Dan Barker on that list?

Right behind Annie Laurie Gaylor, obviously.

Where would you put Dan Barker on that list?

Purple Says:
October 14th, 2008 at 6:36 am

During cross-examination, I asked [Christian philosopher Peter] Payne, “If God told you to kill me, would you do it?” He was (thankfully) hesitant to answer, and said something about being certain God would never ask him to do such a thing. I repeated the question , stressing the first word: “If God told you to kill me, would you do it?” He was still reluctant to respond, but finally admitted that if he were certain God were telling him to do it, he would “have to consider it”…

I have actually asked several close Christian friends the exact same question… and they all answered without hesitation, “Yes”. And that freaked me out.

Dan Lafferty once said to a sheriff’s deputy:

If God asked me to, I’d kill you right now.

Those who don’t know who Dan Lafferty is, should read Jon Krakuer’s great book, Under The Banner of Heaven .

‘God’ commanded Ron and Dan Lafferty to murder their sister-in-law, Brenda, and her 15-month old baby. Brenda, you see, was trying to persuade her husband (Alan Lafferty) and the other wives of the Lafferty brothers to scale back the more extreme religious practices of the Lafferty brothers. Brenda was beaten and strangled with a vacuum cord, and Erica’s throat was cut, almost to the point of decapitation.

I have actually asked several close Christian friends the exact same question… and they all answered without hesitation, “Yes”. And that freaked me out.

I think this gives us an enhanced understanding of the Nazis’ rationalization, “I was only following orders”, and what it tells us (a great deal, I think) about human nature.

Christianity sees itself as the cure, but I see it as the most egregious manifestation of the brokenness of which humanity needs desperately to be healed, but of which it probably never will be.

During cross-examination, I asked [Christian philosopher Peter] Payne, “If God told you to kill me, would you do it?” He was (thankfully) hesitant to answer, and said something about being certain God would never ask him to do such a thing. I repeated the question , stressing the first word: “If God told you to kill me, would you do it?” He was still reluctant to respond, but finally admitted that if he were certain God were telling him to do it, he would “have to consider it”…

I have actually asked several close Christian friends the exact same question… and they all answered without hesitation, “Yes”. And that freaked me out.