As far as faith without evidence. This is stealing a definition that isn't extolled in the Bible. Read some of Proverbs it talks heavily of wisdom and knowledge. 1 peter 3:15 tells us (Christians) to have a reason for the hope that is in us. Now I'll grant you that today to many Christians check their brains at the church door, but they also leave their faith at church (that is a big problem).
Glad to see someone correct that popular myth about the meaning of faith. (Even some of the Christians on these threads appear to accept that no-evidence-for-faith definition.)
And people forget that Jesus himself said that the church would be filled with LOTS of pretenders and deceived ones who only go through the motions. They THINK they are a follower of Christ. Yet, the words ring out that in the last judgment: "Did I not cast out demons in your name?" and the response in that judgment is, "Depart from me! I never knew you."
The Parable of the Sower states that many "play along" for a while but are not genuine Christ-followers. The genuine reproduce after their own kind, bearing fruit a hundred-fold. So said Jesus.
So it is no wonder that we have the "noise" of so many crazy people on Internet threads posting gibberish nonsense about what they THINK the Bible says---when they are simply spouting their favorite traditions and imaginations. If they are truly Christ-followers, they will illustrate what it means to be Christ-like. (Being an idiotic is NOT being like Christ. Foolishness is not a fruit of the Spirit. When the Apostle Paul wrote of being a fool for Christ, he was not talking about foolish rants. He referred to the apparent foolishness of the cross of Christ as the very core message of the Gospel.)
I have great sympathy for the non-Christian trying to sort out what it means to be a Christ-follower amidst the craziness of a wide variety of Christ pretenders. But anything of high value attracts counterfeits. So it has always been. It sounds cliched, but it is a timeless maxim.
The modern meme of the clueless Christian --- made famous in no small measure by young earth creationist ministry leaders and their pseudo-science antics [and their prison sentences, such as Kent Hovind and wife] --- has little to do with the teachings of Christ and a lot to do with cultish fools spreading nonsense and getting lots of attention for it. (Has not Ken Ham's Creation Museum become an entertaining media-favorite as it exposed all evangelical Christians and even the Bible in general to mockery? Ignorance coupled with arrogance makes an irresistible target.)
No, it was not so long ago that Christianity was known for championing education and science, not pseudo-science folly. Anti-intellectualism within American Christianity can easily be traced to various movements of the late 1800's. The "creation science" fad and folly is easily explained within that backdrop. It is a sad commentary on what happens when Christians get sidetracked by their own ignorance. The crazy world of the YEC ministry entrepreneurs and their growing industry should not be confused with the teachings of Christ nor the Bible in general.
