June 1, 2007, 4:59 pm
"Atheists Denounce God On YouTube"
Evangelical Christians have long been known as a group willing and eager to share their faith with others but in recent months, atheists around the world have borrowed that type of evangelism and are taking their message that there isn't a God, to the internet.
The call went out on YouTube in December.
A film-maker in Chicago called on all atheists to an altar, of sorts, on YouTube.
In turn, people around the world have taken the 'blasphemy challenge', videotaping themselves denouncing God.
The denials disturb youth minister JP Vandalsem.
He said, “I think I’m always discouraged when there are people that have been so hurt by the church.”
The issue is evident in many of the videos including one, from a former pastor denouncing God in front of the church where he once preached.
“My name is Jim and I deny the existence of the Holy Spirit and I'm not afraid,” he said.
There are about 1,300 such videos on YouTube
Nashville area pastors said the story is a lot bigger than just the videos.
They said it is just one example of a change in attitude among atheists in America.
Atheists no longer satisfied in their own disbelief, but who want to preach and convertothers.
Pastor Robert Morgan of the Donelson Fellowship doesn't have a problem with atheists proclaiming their disbelief, but said the problem comes when people who do believe in God are treated as secondary citizens.
He said, “There's a great deal of Christian bashing, I don't argue with that. People have a right to bash Christians but when it comes to discriminating in our society, that's happening too and that is not right.”
Atheist Josh Hardy said the YouTube videos are merely like an altar-call for non-believers, something atheists didn't have the opportunity or the courage to do just ten years ago.
He said,“There probably is a lot of agitation, maybe they're just ticked off and want to bug some people because we get bugged a lot ourselves.”
Christians will find the videos disturbing, such as one from a 12-year-old, but many Christian teenagers aren't ignoring them.
Some are recording their own videos to counter the 'blasphemy challenge'.
For more on this story and to comment, visit
www.faithandethics.com .
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