Appalachian Trl. an 'amazing opportunity' for witness - BP News

[WhiteBlaze]

Appalachian Trl. an 'amazing opportunity' for witness BP News But if that person is an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker, you'll have to walk several hundred miles. "It's not until about mile 500 that they start to listen," ...

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[Cookerhiker]

I read the article and noted that Jonathan Carter was mentioned as one of the "Chaplains" in 2005. I met him during my section hike of Maine - in fact, we spent several nights together and summited the same day. His trail name was Vapor and he's on TrailJournals.

[DrRichardCranium]

He recalled a sudden evening thunderstorm that drove him, Suzy and a group of fellow hikers into the closest trail shelter for protection against a cold, stinging rain.

"Since the next shelter was 10 miles away and none of us wanted to brave the cold rain to get there, we stopped and shared the same shelter for the night. This gave us an opportunity to strike up some spiritual conversation," he said. "This was a divine appointment."

Great. A captive audience.

[Jester2000]

"In addition to the obvious physical and mental challenges, other hazards include severe weather, Lyme disease, steep grades, limited water and poison ivy. . ."

. . .not to mention proselytizers.

[Rockhound]

I heard somewhere along the A.T. you are walking atop some of the oldest rocks on the planet. I guess that would make them about 6000 year old.

[Mags]

I heard somewhere along the A.T. you are walking atop some of the oldest rocks on the planet. I guess that would make them about 6000 year old.

On a hike a few years back, I saw this USFS sign saying that the valley below was formed 60 million years ago....

A hiker apparently disagreed and made the sign "Biblically Correct"

[modiyooch]

I heard somewhere along the A.T. you are walking atop some of the oldest rocks on the planet. I guess that would make them about 6000 year old.

As far as a timeline, rocks can be 6 million yrs old when created. Man was not created as a baby. His body was aged on day one of his creation.

[Rockhound]

As far as a timeline, rocks can be 6 million yrs old when created. Man was not created as a baby. His body was aged on day one of his creation.

LOL. So the earth is 6000 years old, created by God by using 60 million year old rocks. Um does anybody else see a flaw in this logic?

[modiyooch]

LOL. So the earth is 6000 years old, created by God by using 60 million year old rocks. Um does anybody else see a flaw in this logic?

God doesn't have to conform to man's limitations. He can place stars in the sky in process, and not at the birth of a star.

[10-K]

LOL. So the earth is 6000 years old, created by God by using 60 million year old rocks. Um does anybody else see a flaw in this logic?

It makes sense in a left-handed kind of way.

I *think* it's saying that rocks have a 60 million year gestational period and were actually "born" 6 thousand years ago.

[modiyooch]

It makes sense in a left-handed kind of way.

I *think* it's saying that rocks have a 60 million year gestational period and were actually "born" 6 thousand years ago.

When Adam was created, was he 1 day old, or 30 years? His body analysis says years.

[JAK]

As far as a timeline, rocks can be 6 million yrs old when created. Man was not created as a baby. His body was aged on day one of his creation.

True, but for that matter, the entire universe may have been created just 5 minutes ago, with all our memories intact, more or less. It is an interesting thought. But so is creation unfolding as it has, and is, over 4.5 billion years, and counting. Must take great patience to be such a creator, especially when you have the power to just start over, at any instant.

[DrRichardCranium]

It is actually only a minority of Christians who believe in "Young Earth Creationism" . Many mainstream Protestants as well as Catholics have no problem with the theory of evolution or other scientific explanations of the physical world.

After all, what is so offensive about the idea that God, in his wisdom, created a system that works?

[Cookerhiker]

It is actually only a minority of Christians who believe in "Young Earth Creationism" . Many mainstream Protestants as well as Catholics have no problem with the theory of evolution or other scientific explanations of the physical world.

After all, what is so offensive about the idea that God, in his wisdom, created a system that works?

Right on - not all Christians are fundamentalists.

[JAK]

It is actually only a minority of Christians who believe in "Young Earth Creationism" . Many mainstream Protestants as well as Catholics have no problem with the theory of evolution or other scientific explanations of the physical world.

After all, what is so offensive about the idea that God, in his wisdom, created a system that works?

Well said. There will always be grey areas of faith concerning what is literal and what is metaphorical.

As an interesting anecdote, the Church scholars did not argue against Columbus that the Earth was Flat. The Church scolars simply maintained that the earth was larger in diameter than Columbus contended it was. As it turned out, the Church scholars were correct, in there reassertion of the calculations of the ancient Greek scholars from centuries before. Columbus was just bending the truth in order to get some funding for his project. As it turned out, he got his funding, and rediscovered America.

The idea that the Church scholars thought the earth was flat wasn't concocted until the 19th century, as part of the whole science vs religious faith business. Dogma vs free thinking is an old game though, as is the myth of infalibility of authority, but these games are certainly not limited to matters of religion, and they are quite separate from spiritual faith and free thinking.

People should be better able to juggle two thoughts and walk at the same time. We would all be much better off.

[Rockhound]

I heard there was some guy near Springer that needed saving recently. Maybe they should have gone there.

[Mountain Wildman]

Sounds about right

[Rockhound]

Let me just say my peace and I'll be done. Why hikers? Why do they choose to bother people on their vacation? People have every right to believe whatever they want. When that "whatever" tells you to go out aggressively pushing your beliefs on others when it is unsolicited and unwanted is wrong. Those people seeking God or a more spiritual path will find it. Few if any will be convinced in talking snakes by some roadside vendor trying to sell God. If you want to do trail magic do trail magic. If you don't then don't. Just don't come with an agenda. With that said, I have seen trail magic done by religious groups in a manner that was not pushy or overbearing. Simply dogs and sodas or what have you with pocket bibles at the end of the table if anyone cared to take one. If a hiker did have questions I'm sure there was someone willing to talk with them. The showers at the Baptist church at trail days much the same. If I do happen to come across this type of magic I'll say something like, "I'm not looking to get saved today. I hope that's OK." By the reaction you can tell if you should partake or not. They will always say it's perfectly fine of course. The key is in the smile. Look closely. Is it a genuine smile coming from a good person who just has different beliefs than you or is it one of those fake timeshare salesman type smiles you see indicating this person is out trying to convince anybody who will listen to adopt his same belief system. I believe what I believe and others are free to do the same. Personally I would have to side with many of our founding fathers.
"Lighthouses are more useful than churches" Ben Franklin
"This would be the best of all possible worlds if there were no religion in it" John Adams
"Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man" Thomas Jefferson

[10-K]

I love quotes taken out of context.

This is a paraphrase:

"This would be the best of all possible worlds if there were no religion in it" John Adams

of this:

Twenty times, in the course of my late reading, have I been on the point of breaking out, 'this would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it!!!!' But in this exclamation, I should have been as fanatical as Bryant or Cleverly. Without religion, this world would be something not fit to be mentioned in public company—I mean hell.


This is a paraphrase:

"Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man" Thomas Jefferson

of this:

"...those who live by mystery & charlatanerie, fearing you would render them useless by simplifying the Christian philosophy, the most sublime & benevolent, but most perverted system that ever shone on man, endeavored to crush your well earnt, & well deserved fame." - Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Priestley, Washington, 21 March 1801

[JAK]

Well said.

I am somewhat ambivalent when it comes to missionary work on hiking trails.

On one hand, people should be given their privacy, and it seems rather contemptuous to presume that we can compete with nature when sending a message from the Almighty.

On the other hand, some of these hiking trails, like the AT in particular, are somewhat more like the pilgrimages in Europe than a true wilderness hike. You meet alot of people, just like in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Some of them will be preachers or witnesses. Some of them will be very good at it, and some, not so good.

It's all part of the hazards and experience of the trail.