Here's another true story that shows a positive side of religion.
I don't say it shows the beauty of religion - I think the word 'beauty' does a poor job of accurately describing religion - but there's no question that many people have changed their lives for the better as a result of religion.
I was present when the minister of our church stood up in front of the congregation and told this story.
Here it is in his own words, as best I can remember it.
A small boy grew up in a violent family. His father was a drunk and a womaniser who habitually subjected his wife and children to abuse and physical violence.
His mother finally turned to alcohol herself as a way of dealing with the abuse and beatings.
One by one, the children of the family started spending more and more time on the streets, mixing with the wrong crowd and getting into petty crime....anything was better than being at home and getting yelled at and beaten by their father.
By this time the boy reached his teenage years he was spending most of his time as a street kid, rarely going home to his family. He'd been in a number of scrapes with the police and was well on his way to becoming a junkie and alcoholic.
He was aware that his life was spiralling out of control but he felt powerless to change it. At the age of nineteen he was suicidal and on the verge of killing himself to end the pain and misery of his life. Only a lack of courage to actually 'do it', held him back.
In a desperate bid for help before it was too late, he wandered into a Salvation Army hall and poured out his heart to one of the Salvo men.
He visited the Salvos frequently after that. They steered him back on the right path, taught him that he was a person of worth and potential, got him an electrical apprenticeship.
After qualifying as an electrician, he expressed his desire to join the ministry.
That young boy is now a grown man with a wife and family, and is a fully ordained minister of the Uniting Church. He stands before you today....that man is me.
Well, there were quite a few wet eyes in the congregation after he told that story, believe me. This particular minister was one of the most likeable and decent people you'd ever meet...it was very difficult to associate him with the image of a street kid who was into drugs and booze and petty crime.
I spoke to him at some length after the service, and he told me that if he hadn't found Christianity there is no doubt whatsoever that he would have killed himself or have been killed or ended up in jail.
I don't say it shows the beauty of religion - I think the word 'beauty' does a poor job of accurately describing religion - but there's no question that many people have changed their lives for the better as a result of religion.
I was present when the minister of our church stood up in front of the congregation and told this story.
Here it is in his own words, as best I can remember it.
A small boy grew up in a violent family. His father was a drunk and a womaniser who habitually subjected his wife and children to abuse and physical violence.
His mother finally turned to alcohol herself as a way of dealing with the abuse and beatings.
One by one, the children of the family started spending more and more time on the streets, mixing with the wrong crowd and getting into petty crime....anything was better than being at home and getting yelled at and beaten by their father.
By this time the boy reached his teenage years he was spending most of his time as a street kid, rarely going home to his family. He'd been in a number of scrapes with the police and was well on his way to becoming a junkie and alcoholic.
He was aware that his life was spiralling out of control but he felt powerless to change it. At the age of nineteen he was suicidal and on the verge of killing himself to end the pain and misery of his life. Only a lack of courage to actually 'do it', held him back.
In a desperate bid for help before it was too late, he wandered into a Salvation Army hall and poured out his heart to one of the Salvo men.
He visited the Salvos frequently after that. They steered him back on the right path, taught him that he was a person of worth and potential, got him an electrical apprenticeship.
After qualifying as an electrician, he expressed his desire to join the ministry.
That young boy is now a grown man with a wife and family, and is a fully ordained minister of the Uniting Church. He stands before you today....that man is me.
Well, there were quite a few wet eyes in the congregation after he told that story, believe me. This particular minister was one of the most likeable and decent people you'd ever meet...it was very difficult to associate him with the image of a street kid who was into drugs and booze and petty crime.
I spoke to him at some length after the service, and he told me that if he hadn't found Christianity there is no doubt whatsoever that he would have killed himself or have been killed or ended up in jail.