what we believe is central to our existence

What we know is natural. What we do not know or understand is the supernatural, because we do not know it. It therefore requires faith to be believed. There are those who want the super natural to be believable but if it were believable it would be natural, not supernatural and require no belief at all. Belief is the central activity of our lives in the concrete world leading to the abstract world of the spirit. What we believe is spiritual and is the prime activity of our existence.

atheism in the church

Some believe nothing happened at all. This would be an atheism. Some others believe that it may have happened but now it does not matter anymore. This would have to be dangerously close to another variety of christian atheism which accepts God but denies His power in their lives. This is convenient for those with little faith. This is also quite convenient for the accuser of the brethren who wants to marginalize God in someone's life so that no person can benefit from that power. One author called it the Quenching of the Spirit. It is shocking how far the church can get from the teachings of Christ who is no longer for today and therefore in their eyes no longer the same today yesterday and forever as it says in the Bible. It all depends whether you live in the world of specifics or of generalities. Specifics require faith in the speaker, generalities require whatever one wants to hear. It has to be one or the other, to jump categories is a commonly known fallacy in logic.

more water in the wine

There are those who say miracles are not for today. Translated it means they believe Christ died on the cross to save their sins and by his stripes heal their bodies, but it is no longer for today. Once the crack in the door is edged open for one thing then next the hinges. Sort of those magic acts where now you see it now you don't that atheism tries to play on christians. Some call it doubt, some call it the devil.

watering down the wine

There are more atheists in many churches than in any humanist convention. The way the Bible reads and the way Christians read the Bible are often two different and very opposing things. This according to a non-churchgoer who, like many atheists, are not so opposed to a concept of God as they are to churches. As the more well known quote goes, I am not against churches so long as they do not get in the way God's work.