TED Community » Shawn Hart

More About Me

I'm passionate about

The Bible and the answers that I find in it. I am also passionate of sharing the news of Christ with the world.

An idea worth spreading

I believe people confuse Religion with Christianity. There are a lot of things about religion that I believe have become corrupted and twisted in our society today. Christianity is a belief that "GOD" sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins so that we have hope of the right to live in heaven when our life on earth is done. But in order for this to happen, we have to live a life worthy of the calling. This life is one embedded in principles of love and compassion for God as well as for our neighbor. Religious practices have corrupted what God truly asked from His people. Christianity is not about hate. It is not about abusiveness, critisism, or condemnation. Only God is the Judge of who gets to make it to Heaven. Our job as Christians is to show the Love of Christ through our lives. Anything that is taught other than that is religion, but it is not Christianity.

Talk to me about

Anything. I welcome questions, comments, and even debate, provided it is done with respect. I offer the same consideration in my responses.

People don't know that I'm good at

Chess. Love to play though I'm pretty rusty right now...haven't really played in a number of years.

My TED Story

Still working on my Ted story. Just learned about this site today.

Comments

• TEDCred score: +0.60 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

• A comment on Theme: Is There a God?

  Jun 3 2011: You know, I have four teenagers. I can send one of my boys in to look for my keys and he will come back empty handed...he really has no vested interest in the keys. But then I tell another teen that if they go find my keys I'll give them a dollar. 20 seconds later the keys are in my hand. The desire people have to find something determines how hard they are willing to look for it. Many people have been hurt or maybe just taught wrong, and therefore establish this negative view of God and His promises...and thus stop looking for Him. Where as others choose to find hope in the promises God has made, and therefore seek Him daily.
  
  Finding God is about the desire to have that added to our lives. It doesn't matter how well I know my Bible, or how great of a Preacher I am; if someone does not want to see God...then they probably won't. I have this amazing skill that really annoys my wife sometimes...I can watch television and completely zone out the rest of the world: no teens screaming at each other, no dogs barking, no wife talking...just shut it all out. Not until she finally stands directly in front of me do I snap back to reality.
  
  The point being...sooner or later the world is going to have to stop blocking God out before it is too late. Because believe me, by the time my wife chooses to stand in front of the television...well, its already too late, I'm already in trouble.
  
  And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
  Jeremiah 29:13 (NKJV)

• A reply on Conversation: If these guys (and others) are right and religion is delaying human progress, how do we move forward?

  May 7 2011: Wow...I actually like the way you broke that up. And believe it or not, I fairly happy with placing myself in the almost fanatical...not necessarily wacko group. My heart belongs to God and Jesus...proud to proclaim it to everyone...and I do mean everyone I meet.
  
  with that said...I have to agree with you on the disagree and respect clause of things. I am passionate about my religious beliefs, and as a result...very committed. And just like anyone else, if you tell me I am wrong about something, you better have both barrels loaded and tons of ammo to prove it. I'm stubborn and pigheaded...especially in regards to Christ. And just like billions of other people in the world...I hate being wrong. But I also hate being alone. So I share my views with like minded individuals...and then I share them with people that aren't like minded. It is a debate. I try to do it with love and respect, but to be honest...If i think they are wrong...I am hoping to convince them of that fact.
  
  People tell me they think I am wrong all the time in this world. Unfortunately, Christianity is not near as popular as it used to be. It doesn't offend me so much, but it does get me worked up. But I do believe there can still be a certain respect held between two people that differ. Resorting to insults or character attacks is a coward attack though. I think when we run out of evidence, we turn to cheap attacks. Surely we can show a little more diplomacy than that.

• A reply on Conversation: If these guys (and others) are right and religion is delaying human progress, how do we move forward?

  May 7 2011: Vasil, your rational for this argument can be taken both ways. As a Christian, I truly with all my heart, believe that without a relationship with Jesus Christ, there is an eternal punishment waiting. I also believe that with Jesus Christ there is an incredible reward waiting. So the question for me is...how does a man that is supposed to be about love and compassion, not share this important news with everyone around me? You see...I can't not share it.
  
  But I agree with the fact that there are extremist in any group. Unfortunately, there are factions of "Christianity" in this world that has corrupted the message of Love that Christ brought to this world. They have tainted it with hate and condemnation to the point that they have accepted this "better than thou" attitude. I believe Christianity to me is about adopting a life of servanthood to those around me...yes, even my enemies. My telling someone about heaven and Jesus are not ways of rubbing it in their face, but rather sharing them the great news of those that come to Jesus. If I believed you were about to be hit by a bus, how wrong would I be if I didn't warn you about it. Now if you get mad at me for warning you and choose to stay in the road anyway...well, I guess that's your problem if you get hit.
  
  Too many groups feel as though they have to force Christ or God on the world. Shame on them. God wants willing worship. If you don't want to hear it...Okay.
  
  With that said though...You can't get upset with someone sharing the message of Jesus Christ with you if they truly feel like they are trying to bless you with what they know. But I do see the problem in the world with the forceful nature of how Christianity seems to be portrayed today. It has become offensive and sinful the mean hateful attitudes that are projected all in the name of Christ.

• A reply on Conversation: If these guys (and others) are right and religion is delaying human progress, how do we move forward?

  May 7 2011: I will fight my religious zealot side for a moment and just say this: The problem with removing the principles of religion and creation from the picture is this...Religion instills in us a reason to protect humanity. Because if all I do is live out my life on earth and then it is over, then what is the point of being good in the first place. Let's just have the best life you can have while you got time. Steal, kill, rape, pillage....do whatever it takes for personal gain until you are out of time. Religion doesn't just offer incentive, but also consequences.
  
  Now the religious side I suppressed...LOL...Religion for me has instilled in me the very fabric of giving and love toward not just mankind, but also everything that is around me. Instead of looking at the "Laws of Obedience", I feel the joy of loving and sharing encouraged by lessons from Jesus Christ. It is from this instilled understanding that I become a valuable part of society instead of a menace. Without a true reason for living, then all that is left would be selfish ambition

• A reply on Conversation: What is a soul?

  May 7 2011: God provided animals for food for mankind. Their role was never to dominate the earth or rule in any form or fashion. They were food...that is all. The soul was given to man as an eternal gift. The downside is that we can embrace that gift or throw it away.
  
  As for trees and animals...Sorry Avatar Movie...but only mankind gets it.

• A reply on Conversation: What is a soul?

  May 7 2011: Biblically speaking, we are told that our mortal bodies can not pass into the heavenly realm, and yet that earthly spirit still keeps us connected to a Heavenly God. So I view thinks in an not tangible realm on both the heaven and the hell aspect of things. Judgment renders where are souls will spend eternity, not our earthly shells.The physical body will deteriorate whereas souls are eternal.
  
  When God breathed in life to our us, He was giving us our true soul...the life in us that will not die.

• A reply on Conversation: If these guys (and others) are right and religion is delaying human progress, how do we move forward?

  Apr 27 2011: I did not say that God pampered us with bonbons and champagne...I said that our country prospered. You look at how far we advanced socially around the world. We went from a nothing country with hardly enough guns to defend itself to the ONLY true superpower in the world in less than 200 years. We overcame nearly every obstacle before us. We landed on the moon and have now stretched beyond. And then just as we usually do...We took the God we served and spit in His face. We took all the credit for ourselves and denied that even existed. The freedom we found "UNDER GOD" became a freedom to do whatever we wanted regardless of the consequences. And now look at us. Our government can't even get along on the budget. Hundreds of men and women elected to serve the desires of a nation, and they can't do it. You want to know why...because we all used to want the same thing, and now we all just want to protect ourselves. We could care less about "the other guy". United States of America...I don't think so...we aren't even close to being United about anything. Our mothers are killing their children; our children are killing each other; our prisons are full, our borders are hostile, and our bank accounts has been overdrawn for too many years to count. By all accounts, we are the very depiction of a disfunctional family on the verge of emotional collapse. All the prozac in the galaxy couldn't help this nation. And the one God that could help us...well...we just don't think He is important any more.
  
  But that is okay. Spit in God's face. Live however you want to live...do whatever you want to do. Believe as much as you want that there are no consequences. But for the time being, I'm not going to worry about warning you about Hell or anything like that...but I will ask you this one question...
  
  How's your Chinese. Because what God giveth...God always has the power to take away.
  
  (NOT SARCASM...OBVIOUSLY)
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  A reply on Talk: Julia Sweeney: Letting go of God

  Apr 27 2011: Faith is Faith. Whether you believe there is a God or you believe there is not a god. Either way it comes from our personal life experiences and the studies and beliefs we hold. As a Christian I would like to tell you how much I regret the attitude that Christians have started taking to "force" Christianity on anyone. The fact is...it is a gift. The greatest gift I have ever had in my life. It has given stability, hope, and joy to my life in a way that mortal words will never be able to express. I know that everyone that has truly met me can see these effects strongly at work in my life.
  
  The bible tells Christians that the world should be able to identify us by our love for one another...not because we yell and scream on the street corners; not because we shout prophesies of Hell on the television and radio; not because I put hateful comments on my blogs; but because of the love that I show for those around us.
  
  I heard a comment on television the other day that really disturbed me...it associated Christian values and beliefs as those of hate or predjudice. It hurt...not because it was said, but because that is what we have turned it in to. So in all fairness...I apologize on behalf of the nature of Christianity. How are you supposed to see how great Christ is, if we have failed to show His love in our lives.
  
  So if you are an athiest, agnostic, pagan, or any other group that does not want to accept Jesus Christ...well, okay. I do want to make one last comment to what Ricky Chavez said.." If you don't believe something to be true, saying it doesn't make it so"...this is such a true statement. But I view it the other way...I see every rock, blade of grass, and tree as evidence of God. Just because the Godless world thinks I'm stupid for this doesn't change a thing. I see the evidence in God all around me. Even if I wanted to...I could never deny this fact.

• A comment on Conversation: What is a soul?

  Apr 27 2011: I am a Christian, so the idea of the soul is very significant for me. But with that said, it has also been a concept that I am still a little perplexed by its full understanding. However, allow me to share my opinion just the same. Some may also refer to it is as your spirit, chi, etc. It is the core of who we are. Not our earthly fleshly being, but rather our true nature. It is that inner voice that constantly reminds me who I am. It is the "reality" of the situation as it were. For example...I can call myself a Christian all I want, but if inside all I really do is hate, lust, and anger...well, I am faced with a harsh reality.
  
  I always liked the concept of the little angel on one shoulder and the little devil on the other constantly fighting for control. Our soul is constantly fighting for Identity. We want to know who we are and what we stand for. But the fact that the soul is not flesh and blood, it means that it is not limited to the earthly realm of death. As a Christian, I believe that this earthly vessel I am walking around in is only temporary, but the soul is eternal. It longs to share in the riches and blessings of Heaven when I am a rewarded for a living a life worthy of the calling. But if eternal Heaven is possible, then eternal Hell is as well. So therefore...the soul is trainable and teachable. It can be molded to become the men or women we wish for them to be. It absorbs our true desires from the worlds and either tames them or releases them to be free in teh world.
  
  It is not our bodies that leave this world, but our souls. They are the eternal gift from God. It is the soul we are to be worried about keeping faithful and pure. This body will wither, die, and decay, but my soul will go on to something better than what is now.
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  A comment on Conversation: Who is God?

  Apr 27 2011: It is easier maybe to tell what God is NOT...
  
  God is not an emotion - He is Emotion
  God is not an attitude - He is Love
  God is not a figment of my imagination - He is the Great I AM - Who was, and is, and Is to come
  God is not a diety - He is THE Diety - The Holy Father in Heaven that sent His Son to take the form of flesh so that He could make a bridge between Himself and mankind - and asked that Son to become a living Sacrifice for us.
  God is not hate - but He is a God of vengence - Obedience is expected
  God is not a Dictator - He gave us free will to do as we please (Though we have greatly abused that priviledge) - But because of this "Free Will Factor" - God also had to create consequences - He did exactly what we do in order to maintain law and order in our societies...It is the cost of disobedience. If this seems harsh...well, too bad. You see, if I want to go kill someone right now, then the law could sentence me to life in prison without parole. I could die in prison. If there is no God, and there is no afterlife...sheesh, then that sure seems harsh....right? Of course not. We are just glad to get those people off the street. But if God says "Obey Me or ELSE..." well, then people call Him a terrible awful diety...and they refuse to follow a God like that. Free Will....but that doesn't mean the consequences go away...whether we deny they are real or not. I don't have to believe I will get bitten if I jump in a pit of vipers...but that doesn't mean I am right.
  
  But mostly...what God is...even though it sounds strange after all the rest - GOD IS LOVE - He created us to see us blossom. He is the Father that wanted to see great things come from HIS children...and how do we repay Him? We spit on His blessings and throw Him out with the garbage. What a terrible shame we have become so ungrateful.