Here are the stats for the millions killed under atheistic-Communist regimes:
--65 million in the People's Republic of China
--20 million in the Soviet Union
--2 million in Cambodia
--2 million in North Korea
--1.7 million in Africa
--1.5 million in Afghanistan
--1 million in the Communist states of Eastern Europe
--1 million in Vietnam
--150,000 in Latin America
--10,000 deaths "resulting from actions of the international Communist movement and Communist parties not in power."
To learn more about the millions and millions killed under atheistic-Communist regimes:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Book_of_Communism
(This, of course, does not even include Hitler's godless regime.)
I never thought there would be a poem criticizing the new atheism.
ReplyDeleteDear Sister Helena / brothers and sisters in Christ.
ReplyDeleteUntil a few years ago, I was a cradle Catholic. I am now committed Catholic. Anyway, i'v been reading quite a few books, recently, to help me grow in my Catholic faith, overall, as well as try and become a better Christian - including how to become a better evangelist. I've, recently, been discussing religion with a lot of atheists, here, in the UK. Often the challenges i encounter are in the nature of doubting Thomas. Others can, however, be quite aggressive. Without prayer and understanding (and loving) one's Christian faith, some atheists can seriously damage your faith (and peace of mind). With prayer and understanding (and loving) ones's Christian faith - the reverse happens (some atheists will start to question their own atheism and think about theism, more positively, whilst, at the same time, your faith deepens). No doubt, some / lots of readers are well aware of this, already (?). Above all trust in God, and always remember to be the face of Christ when "discussing" religion with atheists and / or people who don't share our faith (apologies if you find all this obvious, but we all - including me - need to be reminded of this, constantly).
Anyway here are some books and tips that have helped me enormously in general.
Perhaps you agree / disagree with the recommendations (?). Have other important books you would add to list (?)
Whatever, hope you find the list useful. And God bless.
Ed, Winchester, UK
Life of Christ – Fulton Sheen. Although slightly over-the-top,1950′s style of writing, the substance of Sheen's writing here is brilliant.
Prayer – The Hermit by David Torkington and The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. With prayer, of course, lighting up our whole faith.
The Mass – The Lamb’s Supper by Scott Hahn. Radically enriched my experience of the Mass.
Mary – Hail, Holy Queen by Scott Hahn. Great book on Mary.
Catholicism for Dummies – written by two Roman Catholic priests (a sort of intro to the Catholic Catechism). And, of course, the Catholic Catechism itself.
GK Chesterton, Ronald Knox, CS Lewis – So many great books by these 20th century Christian apologists, don’t know where to start. Ronald Knox less well-known, perhaps, but in the same league as the other two, i think.
Father Robert Barron and his Word on Fire website. Father Robert Barron is one of the best current Catholic / Christian apologists I know. His website provides a great general resource, too, for Catholic / Christian apologetics.
Dr John Lennox – Professor of Mathematics, University of Oxford – great on Christianity and science
William Lane Craig – great Christian apologist in general, in particular, in debating atheists
From Atheist to Catholic – Jennifer Fulwiler’s website
Francis of Assisi, Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross – If you’re going to discuss three Catholic saints, these are the three, perhaps, most attractive to non-Catholics and non-Christians (as well as Catholics, perhaps?) at least from the last millennium.
Confessions – St Augustine
The Secret Room – Corrie Ten Boom – classic story of Christian witnessing through action (/ bravery) during WW2
Bonhoeffer – The Cost of Discipleship
Dostoyevsky – Crime and Punishment, The Brothers Karamazov, and the Idiot
Dear Cradle-to-Committed Catholic, (I feel like "Dear Abby"--she's an advice columnist across the pond)
ReplyDeleteWow! You are quite well-read already! I would also recommend "Mere Christianity" by your countryman, Clive Staples (I know you know of whom I speak ;]-- a small book that has converted MANY atheists.
"Atheist Delusions" -- a newer book that one of our nunnies swears by--points out how the culture thinks that man/human nature left to itself is benign and charitable while secular society is really running on the leftover fumes of Christianity! And your other fellow countryman is prolly right: without God, life is short, nasty, brutish, poor and what-all-else. (Hobbes)
Scott Hahn and Benjamin Wiker wrote this excellent easy-to-read book in answer to Dawkins: "Answering the New Atheism"
Benjamin Wiker has some other fantastic books like "10 Books That Screwed Up the World and 5 Others That Didn't Help" :] He also has books on science and Darwin and stuff.
God luck!
God is alive.
ReplyDeleteThank you @Sister for your list of books (btw "Dear" over here in UK is fairly neutral - we say it in correspondence to bank manager, best friend, boss, parish priest, anyone including people we don't know - although "Dear" being used less perhaps than before - sorry if it came over a bit weird!)
ReplyDelete@Margie - "God is alive"
Over a year ago the Pope visited the UK. There were loads of anti Catholic and anti-theistic articles in the UK media just before the visit.
And what actually happened when the Pope visited the UK? Hundreds of thousands of Catholics turned out on the streets and gave the Pope a huge welcome. Our Protestant brethren gave him a big welcome, as well. As didl lotd of public figures and ordinary people in general. To see the Pope in the streets of London and Hyde Park and so on was magic (in the CS Lweis sense of the word). The opposition to the Pope on the streets was minimal. The visit was a resounding success. No to complacency but at the same time this was evidence that there is still a real hunger for God in the early 21st century - including in apparently atheistic countries such as the UK. And this should give us hope. And that we must focus on evangelization as much as ever!
God bless
God is dead, but in the literal sense heaven is in ruins and the race of angels is now extinct. Hell's gates are now open it is only a matter of time before everything changes. Plus what you said in this post is an exaggerated number wise but you must think of how many are dead because of religion over the last 2000 years.
ReplyDeleteDo you even know what god did with all the souls he collected over the last few thousand years (those souls were never reborn as they should of been which is the natural order of things.
In the end god was like a lot of tyrants, using people to further his own goals but in this case he was using your souls.
Why do you think Lucifer is know as the morning star or the light bringer, he was cast down because he tried to save your souls.