by Jonathan Shelton, University Junior at Lenoir Rhyne University and member of Ratio Christi, attended the recent atheist Reason Rally in Washington DC
The Reason Rally was a big experience for me. It was my first mission trip. The people I engaged with were fairly well read and many had developed hostility towards the Gospel. I was humbled when I did not always have the best answer (or an answer at all) or when I failed to maneuver conversations with wisdom and grace. I also found the balance of using scripture and extra-biblical apologetic arguments a tough line to walk in the heat of a conversation, but ultimately I trust in God's sovereignty over our errors and His Spirit's sanctifying power to give me greater discernment for evangelism in the future.
I agree with a statement of a friend who also attended the Reason Rally, “The leaders of this [atheist] movement are definitely framing it as a political movement. If it were a religious movement (of a sort), then one could hope there is genuine interest in pursuit of truth. If it is political, however, then the interests of the leaders and the various interest groups are going to crowd out any search for truth.”
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. . . ~Paul
Tom Gilson, co-leader of True Reason, is interviewed in this episode of Stand to Reason Radio with Greg Koukl about the recent atheist 'Reason Rally' in Washington DC. Tony Gallegos, a Ratio Christi leader and attendee at the rally, also calls in to the radio show and discusses the Ratio Christi students' presence at the rally.
A Christian response team (True Reason) to the atheist/secularist Reason Rally next weekend in Washington DC is requesting financial assistance for this important initiative. Read an explanation by Rob Lundberg of the funding request here.
We have just received a $1,000 matching grant for the Reason Rally / True Reason response. A donor will match every dollar we raise for the ministry outreach up to $1,000. Please help us get the word out. This is a vital mission. Donate here.
It appears as if the Reason Rally organizers are setting in place their very own--live, in person, full color--straw man fallacy. They have invited the Westboro Baptists to their Washington D.C. "Reason Rally."
Let's review a little history surrounding the Reason Rally.
So is it now OK for groups of us to come visit you in your places of worship and do the same thing? Atheists have studiously avoided this in the past but you seem to want to up the ante.” ~Email to TrueReason.org
Yes. Please do. We invite atheists to our churches. In response to strong demand, True Reason is planning the first annual Atheists at Church Day. Ratio Christi is one of the organizations supporting TrueReason.org, which is coordinating a response to the secular “Reason Rally” in Washington D.C. Atheists in the blogosphere are contending that Christians should not attend the rally. We have taken the feedback from atheists quite seriously. They have suggested that if we plan to attend their The Reason Rally, then we should expect atheists to attend our churches. Since we still plan to attend The Reason Rally, we want to take the appropriate step of making sure that we warmly welcome atheists to attend our churches to open up a reasoned discourse. At most churches, atheists are welcome every week. However, we wanted to offer a special invitation to make sure they know they are welcome.
J. Warner Wallace talks about Ratio Christi on the "Please Convince Me" podcast. Tuesday February 14, 2012. Start Listening at 1:08 (hour 1, minute 8). On original site here or listen below.
LGBT groups at Ohio University are protesting Dr. Frank Turek's lecture on February 28th. Dr. Turek is speaking on "I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist," but the groups are upset because the Student Appropriates Committee (SAC) is funding someone who has written against gay marriage even though it is not the topic of this lecture. The New Political, the Ohio University online student publication, wrote about the controversy in an article "SAC Funds Controversial Christian Speaker with Anti-Gay Marriage Views." The full response from the Ratio Christi student president to inquiries from The New Political said:
K-LOVE Christian Radio Featured Story February 25th & 26th
"Christian College Groups Rally to Defend Faith" by Jennifer James
"As college Christians see more faith challenges, a fast-growing new group is working to explain why so many put their trust in the Bible and Christ." Listed here
