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I think all of her examples are either poorly misunderstood or are the usual growing pains of trying to figure out oneself. Some ideas of self and pursuits are shallow. It seems that Christianity is the first philosophy that stuck for better or worse. However, she foudn the conservative, judgemental one. I do not think that this is healthier. I hope everyone mentioned in this book gets the help they need.

What's amusing about this chapter is I don't think he answered his own question well if at all. Metaxas switches between definitions of faith. He does define it like the Bible does. However, after that does not get back around to how he thinks it reltates to science.

Misunderstanding transition. It is social when they're not adults yet. Has no understanding of ethical non monogamy. Consent seems to not be something considered. She claims you're never at risk of losing ourselves in Chirst. It's a double standard. You can lose yourself in the cult of self love but can't for religion? I don't think she ever had a sense of her baseline self. It's always determined by something else

This chapter is just three arguments from authority. I do not trust that you've represented them properly. Even if you did, you did not even lay out what you think these men would say in response to the new atheists. You just made snide comments. Make some claims and back them up.

So if you can't keep up with the societal expectaions, turn to Jesus? I am sad you were unable to find your footing after a breakful. You and Cecely need therapy and not from a priest. A bad version of self love and insisting you are not enough can both lead to bad outcomes.

I am sorry you went through that. An ED is notsomething to be taking lightly. It sounds like you did not have any foundation beyond your faith and fell for the lousy beauty standards. I think many beauty standards are terrible. However, turning to a restrictive faith also isn't usually a good answer.

There is only one thing that all atheists agree on. Whether or not there is a god or gods. I do think it was poor phraming from Hitch when it came to some regimes. He issue was with authritarianism, which the church can and has acted in authoritarian ways. To lay so many of the deaths of the 20th century at the feet of atheists demonstrates a poor understanding of history, politics, and religion.

Back on topic. He addresses the 4 horsemen. Kinda. He mostly focuses on Hitch. I don't think you read his book, especially if you listed M. Teressa with Dr King. While I have my issues with the four, their critics of the more extreme forms of religion need to be addressed. If every religeous person was kind and helped people without judgement, this would be a different conversation. Maybe address their points?

Why do so many bonding rituals have to harm people? Trauma bonding should not be generated for the sake of it

Committing to something bigger is not necessarily about religion. You're also not taking multiple variables into consideration. You can have high self worth or love but look around and be unhappy about the state of the world.

I don't think that this chapter proves a proper location for Sodom. There is a fault line near modern Isreal. You're gonna need more than volcanic activity

There is no difference between historical and observational science. This chapter demonstrates a poor understanding of history and religion as a whole. The Bible is the claim. Christianity and Western religion is noticeably different than eastern or non Abrahamic varieties. Poorly understanding and explaining science will fool some but not all

More dubious history

one citation... more pourly sourced alleged history. How much of this book us just preaching? That just reinforces the believers and does not engage others