“The UK is entering its first atheist age”

Queen’s University Belfast

(Queen’s University Belfast-Report)

The ‘Belfast Newsletter’ carries an article headed:

UK has more atheists than people who believe in God, says new report from Queen’s University Belfast”

This is the fruit of the falsehoods of ecumenism, liberal theology and the spread of such by the infiltration of Christian churches and organisations by the devil and his agents, particularly over the last 100+ years.

“‭Ye‭ are‭‭ of‭ ‭your‭ father‭ the devil‭, and‭ the lusts‭ of your‭ father‭ ye will‭‭ do‭‭. He‭ was‭‭ a murderer‭ from‭ the beginning‭, and‭ abode‭‭‭ not‭ in‭ the truth‭, because‭ there is‭‭ no‭ truth‭ in‭ him‭. When‭ he speaketh‭‭ a lie‭, he speaketh‭‭ of‭ his own‭: for‭ he is‭‭ a liar‭, and‭ the father‭ of it‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ John 8:44.

“‭And‭ I saw‭‭ an angel‭ come down‭‭ from‭ heaven‭, having‭‭ the key‭ of the bottomless pit‭ and‭ a great‭ chain‭ in‭ his‭ hand‭.‭ ‭And‭ he laid hold on‭‭ the dragon‭, that old‭ serpent‭, which‭ is‭‭ the Devil‭, and‭ Satan‭, and‭ bound‭‭ him‭ a thousand‭ years‭,‭ ‭And‭ cast‭‭ him‭ into‭ the bottomless pit‭, and‭ shut‭‭ him‭ up‭‭, and‭ set a seal‭‭ upon‭ him‭, that‭‭ he should deceive‭‭ the nations‭ no‭ more‭, till‭ the thousand‭ years‭ should be fulfilled‭‭: and‭ after‭ that‭ he‭ must‭‭ be loosed‭‭ a little‭ season‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Revelation 20:1-3.

It is also the outworking of the events that God, in His Word, has foretold would happen!

“‭For‭ many‭ shall come‭‭ in‭ my‭ name‭, saying‭‭, I‭ am‭‭ Christ‭; and‭ shall deceive‭‭ many‭.‭ ‭And‭ ye shall‭‭ hear‭‭ of wars‭ and‭ rumours‭ of wars‭: see‭‭ that ye be‭‭ not‭ troubled‭‭: for‭ all‭ ‭these things‭ must‭‭ come to pass‭‭, but‭ the end‭ is‭‭ not yet‭.‭ ‭For‭ nation‭ shall rise‭‭ against‭ nation‭, and‭ kingdom‭ against‭ kingdom‭: and‭ there shall be‭‭ famines‭, and‭ pestilences‭, and‭ earthquakes‭, in divers‭ places‭.‭ ‭All‭‭ these‭ ‭are‭ the beginning‭ of sorrows‭.‭ ‭Then‭ shall they deliver‭‭ you‭ up‭‭ to‭ be afflicted‭, and‭ shall kill‭‭ you‭: and‭ ye shall be‭‭ hated‭‭ of‭ all‭ nations‭ for‭ my‭ name’s sake‭.‭ ‭And‭ then‭ shall many‭ be offended‭‭, and‭ shall betray‭‭ one another‭, and‭ shall hate‭‭ one another‭.‭ ‭And‭ many‭ false prophets‭ shall rise‭‭, and‭ shall deceive‭‭ many‭.‭ ‭And‭ because‭ iniquity‭ shall abound‭‭, the love‭ of many‭ shall wax cold‭‭.‭ ‭But‭ he that shall endure‭‭ unto‭ the end‭, the same‭ shall be saved‭‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Matthew 24:5-13.

“‭But‭ I fear‭‭, lest‭ by any means‭, as‭ the serpent‭ beguiled‭‭ Eve‭ through‭ his‭ subtilty‭, so‭ your‭ minds‭ should be corrupted‭‭ from‭ the simplicity‭ that is in‭ Christ‭.‭ . . . ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬For‭ such‭ ‭are‭ false apostles‭, deceitful‭ workers‭, transforming themselves‭‭ into‭ the apostles‭ of Christ‭.‭ ‭And‭ no‭ marvel‭; for‭ Satan‭ himself‭ is transformed‭‭ into‭ an angel‭ of light‭.‭ ‭Therefore‭ ‭it is‭ no‭ great thing‭ if‭‭ his‭ ministers‭ also‭ be transformed‭‭ as‭ the ministers‭ of righteousness‭; whose‭ end‭ shall be‭‭ according‭ to their‭ works‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ ‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭2 Corinthians 11:3, 13-15.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“‭Let‭‭ no‭ man‭ deceive‭‭ you‭ by‭ any‭ means‭: for‭ ‭that day shall not come‭, except‭ there come‭‭ a falling away‭ first‭, and‭ that man‭ of sin‭ be revealed‭‭, the son‭ of perdition‭;‭ ‭who‭ opposeth‭‭ and‭ exalteth‭‭ himself above‭ all‭ that is called‭‭ God‭, or‭ that is worshipped‭; so‭ that he‭ as‭ God‭ sitteth‭‭ in‭ the temple‭ of God‭, shewing‭‭ himself‭ that‭ he is‭‭ God‭.‭ ‭Remember ye‭‭ not‭, that‭, when I was‭‭ yet‭ with‭ you‭, I told‭‭ you‭ these things‭?‭ . . . ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬And‭ then‭ shall‭‭ that Wicked‭ be revealed‭‭, whom‭ the Lord‭ shall consume‭‭ with the spirit‭ of his‭ mouth‭, and‭ shall destroy‭‭ with the brightness‭ of his‭ coming‭:‭ ‭even him‭, whose‭ coming‭ is‭‭ after‭ the working‭ of Satan‭ with‭ all‭ power‭ and‭ signs‭ and‭ lying‭ wonders‭,‭ ‭and‭ with‭ all‭ deceivableness‭ of unrighteousness‭ in‭ them that perish‭‭; because‭‭ they received‭‭ not‭ the love‭ of the truth‭, that‭ they‭ might be saved‭‭.‭ ‭And‭ for this‭ cause‭ God‭ shall send‭‭ them‭ strong‭ delusion‭, that‭ they‭ should believe‭‭ a lie‭:‭ ‭That‭ they all‭ might be damned‭‭ who‭ believed‭‭ not‭ the truth‭, but‭ had pleasure‭‭ in‭ unrighteousness‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ 2 Thessalonians 2:3-5; 8-12.

“‭Now‭ the Spirit‭ speaketh‭‭ expressly‭, that‭ in‭ the latter‭ times‭ some‭ shall depart from‭‭ the faith‭, giving heed‭‭ to seducing‭ spirits‭, and‭ doctrines‭ of devils‭;‭ ‭Speaking lies‭ in‭ hypocrisy‭; having‭‭ their‭ conscience‭ seared with a hot iron‭‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ 1 Timothy 4:1-2.

“‭This‭ know‭‭ also‭, that‭ in‭ the last‭ days‭ perilous‭ times‭ shall come‭‭.‭ ‭For‭ men‭ shall be‭‭ lovers of their own selves‭, covetous‭, boasters‭, proud‭, blasphemers‭, disobedient‭ to parents‭, unthankful‭, unholy‭,‭ ‭Without natural affection‭, trucebreakers‭, false accusers‭, incontinent‭, fierce‭, despisers of those that are good‭,‭ ‭traitors‭, heady‭, highminded‭‭, lovers of pleasures‭ more‭ than‭ lovers of God‭;‭ ‭Having‭‭ a form‭ of godliness‭, but‭ denying‭‭ the power‭ thereof‭: from‭ such‭ turn away‭‭.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ . . ‭Yea‭, and‭ all‭ that will‭‭ live‭‭ godly‭ in‭ Christ‭ Jesus‭ shall suffer persecution‭‭.‭ ‭But‭ evil‭ men‭ and‭ seducers‭ shall wax‭‭ worse and worse‭‭, deceiving‭‭, and‭ being deceived‭‭.‭ ‭But‭ continue‭‭ thou‭ in‭ the things which‭ thou hast learned‭‭ and‭ hast been assured of‭‭, knowing‭‭ of‭ whom‭ thou hast learned‭‭ ‭them‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 12-14.

“‭But‭ there were‭‭ false prophets‭ also‭ among‭ the people‭, even‭ as‭ there shall be‭‭ false teachers‭ among‭ you‭, who‭ privily shall bring in‭‭ damnable‭ heresies‭, even‭ denying‭‭ the Lord‭ that bought‭‭ them‭, and bring‭‭ upon themselves‭ swift‭ destruction‭.‭ ‭And‭ many‭ shall follow‭‭ their‭ pernicious ways‭; by reason of‭ whom‭ the way‭ of truth‭ shall be evil spoken of‭‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ 2 Peter 2:1-2.

“‭This‭ second‭ epistle‭, beloved‭, I‭‭ now‭ write‭‭ unto you‭; in‭ ‭both‭ which‭ I stir up‭‭ your‭ pure‭ minds‭ by way‭ of remembrance‭:‭ ‭That ye may be mindful‭‭ of the words‭ which were spoken before‭‭ by‭ the holy‭ prophets‭, and‭ of the commandment‭ of us‭ the apostles‭ of the Lord‭ and‭ Saviour‭:‭ ‭Knowing‭‭ this‭ first‭, that‭ there shall come‭‭ in‭ the last‭ days‭ scoffers‭, walking‭‭ after‭ their‭ own‭ lusts‭,‭ ‭And‭ saying‭‭, Where‭ is‭‭ the promise‭ of his‭ coming‭? for‭ since‭‭ the fathers‭ fell asleep‭‭, all things‭ continue‭‭‭ as ‭they were‭ from‭ the beginning‭ of the creation‭.‭ ‭For‭ this‭ they‭ willingly‭‭ are ignorant of‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ . . . ‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭, ‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ 2 Peter 3:1-5

“‭Beloved‭, when I gave‭‭ all‭ diligence‭ to write‭‭ unto you‭ of‭ the common‭ salvation‭, it was‭‭ needful‭ for me‭‭ to write‭‭ unto you‭, and exhort‭‭ ‭you‭ that ye should earnestly contend‭‭ for the faith‭ which was once‭ delivered‭‭ unto the saints‭.‭ ‭For‭ there are certain‭ men‭ crept in unawares‭‭, who‭ were before‭‭ of old‭ ordained‭‭ to‭ this‭ condemnation‭, ungodly men‭, turning‭‭ the grace‭ of our‭ God‭ into‭ lasciviousness‭, and‭ denying‭‭ the only‭ Lord‭ God‭, and‭ our‭ Lord‭ Jesus‭ Christ‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Jude 1:3-4.

Such a majority does not destroy the TRUTH of God’s existence!

‭See‭‭ now that I, ‭even‭ I, ‭am‭ he, and ‭there is‭ no god‭ with me: I kill‭‭, and I make alive‭‭; I wound‭‭, and I heal‭‭: neither ‭is there any‭ that can deliver‭‭ out of my hand‭.‭ ‭For I lift up‭‭ my hand‭ to heaven‭, and say‭‭, I live‭ for ever‭.‭ ‭If I whet‭‭ my glittering‭ sword‭, and mine hand‭ take hold‭‭ on judgment‭; I will render‭‭ vengeance‭ to mine enemies‭, and will reward‭‭ them that hate‭‭ me.‭ ‭I will make mine arrows‭ drunk‭‭ with blood‭, and my sword‭ shall devour‭‭ flesh‭; ‭and that‭ with the blood‭ of the slain‭ and of the captives‭, from the beginning‭ of revenges‭ upon the enemy‭‭.‭ ‭Rejoice‭‭, O ye nations‭, ‭with‭ his people‭: for he will avenge‭‭ the blood‭ of his servants‭, and will render‭‭ vengeance‭ to his adversaries‭, and will be merciful‭‭ unto his land‭, ‭and‭ to his people‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Deuteronomy 32:39-43.

“‭Of old‭ hast thou laid the foundation‭‭ of the earth‭: and the heavens‭ ‭are‭ the work‭ of thy hands‭.‭ ‭They shall perish‭‭, but thou shalt endure‭‭: yea, all of them shall wax old‭‭ like a garment‭; as a vesture‭ shalt thou change‭‭ them, and they shall be changed‭‭:‭ ‭But thou ‭art‭ the same, and thy years‭ shall have no end‭‭.‭ ‭The children‭ of thy servants‭ shall continue‭‭, and their seed‭ shall be established‭‭ before‭ thee,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Psalm 102:25-28.

The majority in this world have ever been wrong about matters spiritual and eternal. Calvary is the proof of that!

“‭Who hath believed‭‭ our report‭? and to whom is the arm‭ of the LORD‭ revealed‭‭?‭ ‭For he shall grow up‭‭ before‭ him as a tender plant‭, and as a root‭ out of a dry‭ ground‭: he hath no form‭ nor comeliness‭; and when we shall see‭‭ him, ‭there is‭ no beauty‭ that we should desire‭‭ him.‭ ‭He is despised‭‭ and rejected‭ of men‭; a man‭ of sorrows‭, and acquainted‭‭ with grief‭: and we hid as it were‭‭ ‭our‭ faces‭ from him; he was despised‭‭, and we esteemed‭‭ him not.‭ ‭Surely‭ he hath borne‭‭ our griefs‭, and carried‭‭ our sorrows‭: yet we did esteem‭‭ him stricken‭‭, smitten‭‭ of God‭, and afflicted‭‭.‭ ‭But he ‭was‭ wounded‭‭ for our transgressions‭, ‭he was‭ bruised‭‭ for our iniquities‭: the chastisement‭ of our peace‭ ‭was‭ upon him; and with his stripes‭ we are healed‭‭.‭ ‭All we like sheep‭ have gone astray‭‭; we have turned‭‭ every one‭ to his own way‭; and the LORD‭ hath laid‭‭ on him the iniquity‭ of us all.‭ ‭He was oppressed‭‭, and he was afflicted‭‭, yet he opened‭‭ not his mouth‭: he is brought‭‭ as a lamb‭ to the slaughter‭, and as a sheep‭ before‭ her shearers‭‭ is dumb‭‭, so he openeth‭‭ not his mouth‭.‭ ‭He was taken‭‭ from prison‭ and from judgment‭: and who shall declare‭‭ his generation‭? for he was cut off‭‭ out of the land‭ of the living‭: for the transgression‭ of my people‭ was he stricken‭.‭ ‭And he made‭‭ his grave‭ with the wicked‭, and with the rich‭ in his death‭; because he had done‭‭ no violence‭, neither ‭was any‭ deceit‭ in his mouth‭.‭ ‭Yet it pleased‭‭ the LORD‭ to bruise‭‭ him; he hath put ‭him‭ to grief‭‭: when thou shalt make‭‭ his soul‭ an offering for sin‭, he shall see‭‭ ‭his‭ seed‭, he shall prolong‭‭ ‭his‭ days‭, and the pleasure‭ of the LORD‭ shall prosper‭‭ in his hand‭.‭ ‭He shall see‭‭ of the travail‭ of his soul‭, ‭and‭ shall be satisfied‭‭: by his knowledge‭ shall my righteous‭ servant‭ justify‭‭ many‭; for he shall bear‭‭ their iniquities‭.‭ ‭Therefore will I divide‭‭ him ‭a portion‭ with the great‭, and he shall divide‭‭ the spoil‭ with the strong‭; because he hath poured out‭‭ his soul‭ unto death‭: and he was numbered‭‭ with the transgressors‭‭; and he bare‭‭ the sin‭ of many‭, and made intercession‭‭ for the transgressors‭‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Isaiah 53:1-12.

“‭But‭ Pilate‭ answered‭‭ them‭, saying‭‭, Will ye‭‭ that I release‭‭ unto you‭ the King‭ of the Jews‭?‭ ‭For‭ he knew‭‭ that‭ the chief priests‭ had delivered‭‭ him‭ for‭ envy‭.‭ ‭But‭ the chief priests‭ moved‭‭ the people‭, that‭ he should rather‭ release‭‭ Barabbas‭ unto them‭.‭ ‭And‭ Pilate‭ answered‭‭ and said‭‭ again‭ unto them‭, What‭ will ye‭‭ then‭ that I shall do‭‭ ‭unto him‭ whom‭ ye call‭‭ the King‭ of the Jews‭?‭ ‭And‭ they cried out‭‭ again‭, Crucify‭‭ him‭.‭ ‭Then‭ Pilate‭ said‭‭ unto them‭, Why‭, what‭ evil‭ hath he done‭‭? And‭ they cried out‭‭ the more exceedingly‭, Crucify‭‭ him‭.‭ ‭And‭ ‭so‭ Pilate‭, willing‭‭ to content‭‭‭ the people‭, released‭‭ Barabbas‭ unto them‭, and‭ delivered‭‭ Jesus‭, when he had scourged‭‭ ‭him‭, to‭ be crucified‭‭.‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Mark 15:9-15.

“‭Ye men‭ of Israel‭, hear‭‭ these‭ words‭; Jesus‭ of Nazareth‭, a man‭ approved‭‭ of‭ God‭ among‭ you‭ by miracles‭ and‭ wonders‭ and‭ signs‭, which‭ God‭ did‭‭ by‭ him‭ in‭ the midst‭ of you‭, as‭ ye yourselves‭ also‭ know‭‭:‭ ‭Him‭, being delivered‭ by the determinate‭‭ counsel‭ and‭ foreknowledge‭ of God‭, ye have taken‭‭, and by‭ wicked‭ hands‭ have crucified‭‭ and slain‭‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Acts 2:22-23.

We daily have the truth of Christ’s Word demonstrated before our eyes!

“‭Enter ye in‭‭ at‭ the strait‭ gate‭: for‭ wide‭ ‭is‭ the gate‭, and‭ broad‭ ‭is‭ the way‭, that leadeth‭‭ to‭ destruction‭, and‭ many‭ there be‭‭ which‭ go in‭‭ thereat‭‭:‭ ‭because‭ strait‭ ‭is‭ the gate‭, and‭ narrow‭‭ ‭is‭ the way‭, which‭ leadeth‭‭ unto‭ life‭, and‭ few‭ there be‭‭ that find‭‭ it‭.‭ ‭Beware‭‭‭ of‭ false prophets‭, which‭ come‭‭ to‭ you‭ in‭ sheep’s‭ clothing‭, but‭ inwardly‭ they are‭‭ ravening‭ wolves‭.‭ ‭Ye shall know‭‭ them‭ by‭ their‭ fruits‭‭. Do men gather‭‭ grapes‭ of‭ thorns‭, or‭ figs‭ of‭ thistles‭?‭ ‭Even so‭ every‭ good‭ tree‭ bringeth forth‭‭ good‭ fruit‭; but‭ a corrupt‭ tree‭ bringeth forth‭‭ evil‭ fruit‭.‭ ‭A good‭ tree‭ cannot‭‭‭ bring forth‭‭ evil‭ fruit‭, neither‭ ‭can‭ a corrupt‭ tree‭ bring forth‭‭ good‭ fruit‭.‭ ‭Every‭ tree‭ that bringeth‭‭ not‭ forth‭‭ good‭ fruit‭ is hewn down‭‭, and‭ cast‭‭ into‭ the fire‭.‭ ‭Wherefore‭ by‭ their‭ fruits‭ ye shall know‭‭ them‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Matthew 7:13-20.

God’s answer to such atheistic folly!

“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” Psalm 8:3-9.

“‭‭‭‭‭‭The heavens‭ declare‭‭ the glory‭ of God‭; and the firmament‭ sheweth his‭‭ handywork‭‭.‭ ‭Day‭ unto day‭ uttereth‭‭ speech‭, and night‭ unto night‭ sheweth‭‭ knowledge‭.‭ ‭There is‭ no speech‭ nor language‭, ‭where‭ their voice‭ is not heard‭‭.‭ ‭Their line‭ is gone out‭‭ through all the earth‭, and their words‭ to the end‭ of the world‭. In them hath he set‭‭ a tabernacle‭ for the sun‭,‭ ‭which ‭is‭ as a bridegroom‭ coming out‭‭ of his chamber‭, ‭and‭ rejoiceth‭‭ as a strong man‭ to run‭‭ a race‭.‭ ‭His going forth‭ ‭is‭ from the end‭ of the heaven‭, and his circuit‭ unto the ends‭ of it: and there is nothing hid‭‭ from the heat‭ thereof,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Psalm 19:1-6.

“‭To whom then will ye liken‭‭ me, or shall I be equal‭‭? saith‭‭ the Holy One‭.‭ ‭Lift up‭‭ your eyes‭ on high‭, and behold‭‭ who hath created‭‭ these ‭things‭, that bringeth out‭‭ their host‭ by number‭: he calleth‭‭ them all by names‭ by the greatness‭ of his might‭, for that ‭he is‭ strong‭ in power‭; not one‭ faileth‭‭.‭ ‭Why sayest‭‭ thou, O Jacob‭, and speakest‭‭, O Israel‭, My way‭ is hid‭‭ from the LORD‭, and my judgment‭ is passed over‭‭ from my God‭?‭ ‭Hast thou not known‭‭? hast thou not heard‭‭, ‭that‭ the everlasting‭ God‭, the LORD‭, the Creator‭‭ of the ends‭ of the earth‭, fainteth‭‭ not, neither is weary‭‭? ‭there is‭ no searching‭ of his understanding‭.‭ ‭He giveth‭‭ power‭ to the faint‭; and to ‭them that have‭ no might‭ he increaseth‭‭ strength‭.‭ ‭Even the youths‭ shall faint‭‭ and be weary‭‭, and the young men‭ shall utterly‭‭ fall‭‭:‭ ‭But they that wait‭‭ upon the LORD‭ shall renew‭‭ ‭their‭ strength‭; they shall mount up‭‭ with wings‭ as eagles‭; they shall run‭‭, and not be weary‭‭; ‭and‭ they shall walk‭‭, and not faint‭‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Isaiah 40:25-31,

“‭For thus saith‭‭ the LORD‭ that created‭‭ the heavens‭; God‭ himself that formed‭‭ the earth‭ and made‭‭ it; he hath established‭‭ it, he created‭‭ it not in vain‭, he formed‭‭ it to be inhabited‭‭: I ‭am‭ the LORD‭; and ‭there is‭ none else,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Isaiah 45:18.

“‭Lift up‭‭ your eyes‭ to the heavens‭, and look‭‭ upon the earth‭ beneath: for the heavens‭ shall vanish away‭‭ like smoke‭, and the earth‭ shall wax old‭‭ like a garment‭, and they that dwell‭‭ therein shall die‭‭ in like‭ manner‭: but my salvation‭ shall be for ever‭, and my righteousness‭ shall not be abolished‭‭.‭ ‭Hearken‭‭ unto me, ye that know‭‭ righteousness‭, the people‭ in whose heart‭ ‭is‭ my law‭; fear‭‭ ye not the reproach‭ of men‭, neither be ye afraid‭‭ of their revilings‭.‭ ‭For the moth‭ shall eat them up‭‭ like a garment‭, and the worm‭ shall eat‭‭ them like wool‭: but my righteousness‭ shall be for ever‭, and my salvation‭ from generation‭ to generation‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Isaiah 51:6-8.

One final consideration:

The Christian should think of the atheist with compassion because of their eternal destination and, in truth, such were we before the Lord awakened us by His Holy Spirit.

“‭For‭ by grace‭ are ye‭‭ saved‭‭ through‭ faith‭; and‭ that‭ not‭ of‭ yourselves‭: ‭it is‭ the gift‭ of God‭:‭ ‭not‭ of‭ works‭, lest‭ any man‭ should boast‭‭.‭ ‭For‭ we are‭‭ his‭ workmanship‭, created‭‭ in‭ Christ‭ Jesus‭ unto‭ good‭ works‭, which‭ God‭ hath before ordained‭‭ that‭ we should walk‭‭ in‭ them‭.‭ ‭Wherefore‭ remember‭‭, that‭ ye‭ ‭being‭ in time past‭ Gentiles‭ in‭ the flesh‭, who‭ are called‭‭ Uncircumcision‭ by‭ that which‭ is called‭‭ the Circumcision‭ in‭ the flesh‭ made by hands‭;‭ ‭that‭ at‭ that‭ time‭ ye were‭‭ without‭ Christ‭, being aliens‭‭ from the commonwealth‭ of Israel‭, and‭ strangers‭ from the covenants‭ of promise‭, having‭‭ no‭ hope‭, and‭ without God‭ in‭ the world‭:‭ ‭but‭ now‭ in‭ Christ‭ Jesus‭ ye‭ who‭ sometimes‭ were‭‭ far off‭ are made‭‭ nigh‭ by‭ the blood‭ of Christ‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Ephesians 2:8-13.

“‭But‭ the fearful‭, and‭ unbelieving‭, and‭ the abominable‭‭, and‭ murderers‭, and‭ whoremongers‭, and‭ sorcerers‭, and‭ idolaters‭, and‭ all‭ liars‭, shall have their‭ part‭ in‭ the lake‭ which‭ burneth‭‭ with fire‭ and‭ brimstone‭: which is‭‭ the second‭ death‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Revelation 21:8, AV)

 

Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
3rd October 2024

 


A letter from Dr Edward Cooke of Queen’s University, Belfast, to members of the Stormont Assembly.

Dr Cooke is a Doctor of Philosophy, School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics.

Dear Sir / Madam

Previously, I wrote to all NI unionist MLAs to point out how my original and amended PhD submissions on the Orange Order were rejected by academics within QUB. I would ask Orange and unionist leaders to note the contents of QUB Professor Lanman’s recent report on religious beliefs within the UK.

In both PHD submissions I argued that the Orange Order were strongly theist based and had a strong Reformation and evangelising culture foundation that other academics had historically failed to research.

One of the examiners who failed the PhD thesis, was Dr Johnathan Lanman (QUB), now Professor Lanman (QUB School of HAPP (anthropology)). Professor Lanman who also rejected my evidenced arguments that QUB and the NI university sector has historically and systemically discriminated against NI unionist and Christian academics and their discourses.

NI Unionist politicians (for different reasons) have taken a hands-off approach to holding QUB and UU to account, however, in the interim, academia actively promotes secular, anti-theological paradigms without any balancing mechanisms. The Ulster Scots Research Institute – promoted by the NDNA Deal in 2020 has never materialised. Whilst Prof Lanman’s report argues that faith is determined by parental influences, it is without surprise that the report does not also address the overwhelming influence of the education and schools sectors including the university sector (and the academics within) with the promotion of secularism and atheism. It is still a source of concern to myself that QUB appointed an academic who knew nothing of Orange parading culture and Orange faith and who was leading an atheist research project to examine my faith based Orange PhD thesis. The need for an academic research institute and publishing house to promote the central tenets of NI unionist culture (and faith) is urgently needed given the contents of Dr Lanman’s Report

Please find enclosed below a copy of today’s Belfast Telegraph article on the Explaining (or should I say ‘Promoting’) Atheism Report.

UK now has more atheists than those who believe in God, report by QUB finds