My Homiletics Challenge

[morningstar2651]

In your opinion, should every church have an on-site scientist to verify the sermon first before it is preached, and to make corrections as necessary where applicable?

No.

Should scientists have an on-site theologian to verify a discovery's conformance to church doctrines and make corrections as necessary before publishing scientific discoveries?

No.

People don't read the Bible for its explanation of gravitation or biology.

People don't read physics textbooks for their explanations of altruism or ethics.

Don't ask a biology teacher to teach your children about God. They aren't an expert.
Don't ask a sunday school teacher to teach your children about evolution. They aren't an expert.

 

[digitalgoth]

No.

Should scientists have an on-site theologian to verify a discovery's conformance to church doctrines and make corrections as necessary before publishing scientific discoveries?

No.

People don't read the Bible for its explanation of gravitation or biology.

People don't read physics textbooks for their explanations of altruism or ethics.

Don't ask a biology teacher to teach your children about God. They aren't an expert.
Don't ask a sunday school teacher to teach your children about evolution. They aren't an expert.

That'll never fly. If people weren't allowed to pretend they were experts in things they know nothing about, many religions would end up with rows of pews looking at an empty pulpit.

 

[Split Rock]

Then why do you say, "no"?

Its not our job to tell pastors what to teach their congregations in their churches. My opinion is that they should stay out of teaching science.

 

[Split Rock]

Not in this thread.

I'm literally putting scientists before pastors and priests in this one.

I would have thought you guys would have been all for this.

Why? So you can point out how we want the "iron boot of scientism" on the throat of the local pastor?

 

[digitalgoth]

Its not our job to tell pastors what to teach their congregations in their churches. My opinion is that they should stay out of teaching science.

Many times it is the job of politicians to tell pastors what to teach their congregations. And political science is a, well, science.

Perhaps politicians should not be in the business of telling pastors what to preach either.

 

[bhsmte]

Many times it is the job of politicians to tell pastors what to teach their congregations. And political science is a, well, science.

Perhaps politicians should not be in the business of telling pastors what to preach either.

Do you have examples of this?

 

[digitalgoth]

Why? So you can point out how we want the "iron boot of scientism" on the throat of the local pastor?

Maybe religious people assume scientists want to be in churches since some religious people want to be in classrooms.

Believe it or not, I can't think of anyone educated or "science" oriented that I've ever met that thought of doing anything in a church to interfere with religion.

We've invited all manner of people into our church to give talks and presentations, including scientists, and I didn't get the feeling that they had concerns about trying to dictate what we taught, or would have wanted to even if offered, or wanted to use science to dispel "inaccuracies" in the text.

 

[AV1611VET]

No, there's no need for on-site scientists.

Hmmm

On the other hand, a competent pastor should take advantage of available resources, including scientists, to avoid saying incorrect and stupid things.

So a pastor that preaches that God created the earth and eight other planets in this solar system is "incompetent"?

A good pastor will find out where his (or her) sermons might intrude on scientific or historical matters and will learn as much background as needed -- in the same way he will learn the linguistic and cultural background of a text to understand what it meant and how it should be translated.

Good pastors use Google, don't they?

Remember this pastors, evangelists and missionaries: SURF BEFORE YOU SERMONIZE!

 

[AV1611VET]

And the point of that would be... ?

Goodbye.

 

[bhsmte]

Looks like its time to close the thread down AV.

 

[AV1611VET]

Within the walls of your church, preach whatever you like, knock yourself out.

After all, it is you who states; "science can take a hike", so I would assume you're church should be a sanctuary from scientific evidence.

This isn't about my church exclusively.

I'm making a suggestion that I haven't ever seen anyone else make; and surprisingly, it's getting some flack.

By the way, I have noticed your posts have gone down hill even more than typical, congrats on that.

Keep me posted.

I don't want to hit rock bottom!

 

[AV1611VET]

You're assuming a pastor cares about being correct.

I'd look at these responses, if I were you.

It appears you guys couldn't care less either.

 

[sfs]

Hmmm

Let's harmonize . . . Hummmm.

So a pastor that preaches that God created the earth and eight other planets in this solar system is "incompetent"?

You aren't going to start in on your Pluto nonsense again, are you?

Good pastors use Google, don't they?

I expect so. I certainly expect them to use books.

 

[bhsmte]

This isn't about my church exclusively.

I'm making a suggestion that I haven't ever seen anyone else make; and surprisingly, it's getting some flack.

Keep me posted.

I don't want to hit rock bottom!

Any theological belief, should be allowed to preach whatever they like, within their churches and I mean any church or in their home.

 

[AV1611VET]

They prefer to talk Christianity and to avoid saying anything scientifically wrong. I'm talking about the pastors in my own church.

My pastor, I think, is the same way.

Very seldom does he say something scientific, and even then it's just a small remark.

It's funny, but he believes that, if evolution were true, there should be some walking around with one regular arm, and one ape arm.

 

[AV1611VET]

No.

These answers seriously surprise me.

 

[AV1611VET]

Its not our job to tell pastors what to teach their congregations in their churches. My opinion is that they should stay out of teaching science.

I'm not talking about teaching.

I'm talking about preaching.

While I agree that scientists should keep their hands out of the sermon; I'm one that won't hesitate to go to my pastor later and mention something he said that was scientifically incorrect, and he will thank me.

 

[AV1611VET]

Why? So you can point out how we want the "iron boot of scientism" on the throat of the local pastor?

Iron furnace, Rocky ... it's iron furnace.

A metaphor for Egypt, which is a metaphor for the world.

Deuteronomy 4:20 But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.

 

[bhsmte]

My pastor, I think, is the same way.

Very seldom does he say something scientific, and even then it's just a small remark.

It's funny, but he believes that, if evolution were true, there should be some walking around with one regular arm, and one ape arm.

I don't think your pastors sweet spot would be teaching science.

 

[bhsmte]

I'm not talking about teaching.

I'm talking about preaching.

While I agree that scientists should keep their hands out of the sermon; I'm one that won't hesitate to go to my pastor later and mention something he said that was scientifically incorrect, and he will thank me.

In your opinion, when a pastor is preaching, he isn't trying to teach his congregation?