10 Myths Many Religious People Hold About Atheists, Debunked

I have had a bit of time to think of what I wrote in response to you yesterday, which was too long and confusing but at least true. Anyway what I call the, lets call it the continuing Crusade, or CC for short, if you wish, is the fulfillment of a section of prophesy, and recognition of the sectional fulfillment your question is kind of like asking if history is immoral. However to answer your question I would say aspects of CC are immoral and unchristian.

Of course I realize the correlation, but its hardly a good comparison. The reason I say that relates to what I said in my last reply to you. That is ; Christians are or should be bound by the teachings of the Bible and Jesus. While I love my Islamic brothers and sisters I feel that Islam directly because of current events exhibits more violence than Christianity. I would agree that the desire to expand is a component of both religions.

Yes I meant to get back to that section of my reply but Bogie was barking and trying to pee on my ankle so by the time I got back having pushed the save button the 20 min limit expired and I hoped I could explain later, like now ha ha. The reason I said ‘it should be obvious’ is the teachings of the bible vs. the Koran. I often make the mistake of assuming everyone is versed in moderately advanced theology and other religious subjects. I simply feel, maybe wrongly on both a scholarly and a popular level, that when comparing both books that the lessons of the bible are not as prone to violence as the teachings of the Koran. BTW, I use the customary spelling of the Koran but would change it if its offensive to our Muslim members.

The ‘against Islam’ quip should be explained as well. Despite the scholarly arguments and oftentimes not much so, again I feel that Islam is more prone to violence in its drive to expand. I feel there can be no real peace in the world when Christianity with followers in the billions and Islam with a nearly equal or larger following exists primarily when we consider the convert or die* theology of Islam.

* Convert or die has recently been a hotbed of debate. Personally I feel it exists in the teachings of many clerics and as a overview of the Koran, despite my wish for the teachings to reach an opposite non violent conclusion.

Yes (shudder, as images of Ahmadinejad flash through my mind)**. I agree in part (again) that the two religions are similar but of course no where near exact. This goes deeper into comparative theology and results from Islam being a later creation than Christianity. Personally (I am not alone by any measure) I feel that Islam borrowed heavily from Christianity which may have borrowed from still earlier religions. Many point to this borrowing as evidence that the religions are not based on truisms. However I feel it highly reinforces the validity of these religions. Why? Because they are the retelling of an earlier truth, the truth of all truths, that a creator exists! However it may call into question our ability to correctly intemperate ancient evidences to create a near perfect religion. Having said that I feel Christianity represents the nearest rendition of Gods will and description. You see what it all boils down to is when I mention the CC I am simply confirming fulfilled, fulfilling as we speak and to be fulfilled prophesy. I am not condemning history but rather highlighting it using not a yellow marker but theology and pure fact. I do not condone war and violence however when they come I am proud of our soldiers and the overview of our nations role in history, because IMO they mirror Gods will, well until recently. Curiously the USA may not be mentioned in Prophesy, and that bodes darkly for our nation, but that is material for another thread eh? .

That is the prophetic power of history and the supreme knowledge of the limits of an elderly bassets bladder capacity and his willingness to use pee a threat to get his morning mile walk. Eh?

Notes;

** The twelver's Islams equivalent to Christians prediction of Armageddon, the trouble is that Islam is prepared to jump stat it on purpose as per the Koran?

(excerpt) Iran's apocalyptic vision -
www.examiner.com/conservative-in-atlanta/iran-s-apocalyptic-vision
Oct 7, 2011 – Much of Iran's leadership, including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, belongs to a sect of Shia Islam called the “Twelvers.” The Twelvers ..

Rev A

 

I have been ill and in generally bad health for over a year, however this last week > ten days has been worse than most due to a bug (causing infection) in my blood that is proving difficult to find. But as Gomez used to say on the black and white Adams Family* after he received his psychiatric meds; I feel much better now!

Anyway; Did I miss anyone's pertinent on topic questions over last week? If so and ya all want an answer please direct me to the post # ? Thanks.

Notes;

* From a online blog about retro TV; "As for John Astin. He's done alot of characters. Not only Gomez Addams. He also played the Riddler for a lil while on the Batman TV show. But I think my all time favorite Astin Character was when he played Buddy on Night Court. "But I feel much better now. " That was a reoccurring punchline to a running gag. Buddy was Judge Harry Stones Father. He was also a former mental patient that would visit Harry at court house. The running gag was Buddy would tell one of the other characters about something he had done in his past that was really crazy. The story always ended with the punchline "But I feel much better now " to remind them that he's a FORMER mental patient. I still toss that one out every once in a while. Nobody ever gets it. But I still use it any way."

Rev A

 

Just a few points:

1) The "New Atheism" is the creation of the media bosses who wish to demonize certain religious groups to justify their mistreatment and murder.

2) Atheists have been extremely intolerant of homosexuals - and I don't mean just opposing homosexual marriage.

quote: Following the 1959 revolution, Cuba's communist government embarked upon a pervasive effort to rid the nation of homosexuality, which was seen as a product of a capitalist society. Through the 1960s and 1970s this campaign included the frequent imprisonment of lesbians and gays (particularly effeminate males) without charge or trial, and confinement to forced labor camps. This period was dramatically documented by the 1980s documentary "Improper Conduct", Reinaldo Arenas in his 1992 autobiography, Before Night Falls, as well as his fiction, most notably The Color of Summer and Farewell to the Sea.

LINK

3) Many Buddhists are theists who believe in an afterlife.

4) Atheists, of course, may kill in the name of atheism. Atheists feel belief in God is misguided. Atheist fundamentalists feel religious people are backward, dangerous, even insane. They too often feel called to attack and kill those they consider human refuse.

5) Atheists cling to their dogma despite scientific evidence to the contrary.

The Biologos Forum

 

You seem to be hell bent (no pun intended) at putting me in the same box as ultra militant atheists. How many times do I have to tell you that not all atheists are the same?

The rest of your post I either couldn't understand or it had little or nothing to do with what I actually said.

 

You have made the exact same arguements that every other atheist on this forum has made, from calling Buddhists atheists (they are not), to being agnostic atheist, to having but not having doctrine. In fact, you say nothing different than the lot of them.

You, as do all the atheists making the exact same case, seem hell bent on claiming it is someone else doing it?

So, explain it. How are you committed multiculturalists if you hate other religions?

How are you honorable war heros on one hand and yet chastizing religion as the cause of the wars that give you such honor? I am curious.

 

1. I am not a "committed multiculturalist".

2. Where have I chastised religion as being the cause of all wars?

3. Where have I said that I hate religions?

 

#1 - that is what I have been saying about atheism for several posts.

#2 - you stepped into a debate where several of your atheist peers were saying just that - then began making the exact same arguements that they make.

#3 - Are you not thinking we made up the concept of hell just to torture you?

 

I thought I was being pretty darn fair in here lol. Then I hear you saying that ALL the Atheists in here were saying all the same things?

You sir, are wound up and making false claims.

I served in war and I never claimed that it made me any sort of hero. I was against the wars we were fighting and so therefore when it came time to re-enlist I chose to opt out and live the civilian life. I left decent money on the table to do so.

I have said on a few different occassions in here that I support people having religion in their life as long as it makes them happy/brings them peace.

I said that religion was A cause of the wars, but not the entire cause. Social and Economic conditions also lead to these wars.

I dont know how much more fair my views could be, considering I dont believe in God and I DO believe that much about religion is harmful in our world. However I also think that religion is as powerful as the person who is preaching it. IN the wrong hands it is bad, for some priests, pastors, imams, rabbis etc etc they help people and bring joy.

 

I suggest you read the OP. It was one of your atheist pals making the claim that atheists were committed multiculturalists, actually quite nice people ... and yet, that did not prevent several of them from taking THAT thesis statement and supporting it required SEVERAL atheists to claim that religious people were the cause of war? Why is that EXACT same arguement posted on several of the more prominent websites of atheism?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8544531.stm

http://www.positiveatheism.org/tocapred.htm

Must be someone else?

Now, you are YET ANOTHER atheist claiming that you have a standard that does not tolerate these things from atheism ... so where is your rejection of these things?

Right. It is found through comparison to ... some other atheist ... YOU would never do this?

Who do you think makes these arguements? What marks you as different? The fact that you swaggered into an arguement where poeple WERE very clearly making those arguements and said, "BUT NOT ME YOU MORON!!!!"

Are we supposed to pat you on the back for ... slamming the people standing up to what you apparently reject? For questioning the motives and intent of those saying, "We are not the cause of war, and when you participate in the same wars as we do - you ar enot granted honor and we are not granted dishonor based solely on our religion (though our conduct in those wars will most certain bestow upon us either honor or dishonor.).

And, of course, you end with a claim of our God being a myth? Blind apparently to all the charities that come from Christian sources, blind to the counseling, outreach, services, and guidance. And among that guidance? Not toleranting egergious lies and deliberate obfuscation in our midst.

I would say that is some benefit, and, just like all your atheist peers, you are deliberately blind to it ... but clearly YOU are different?

When you sign up to be Christian there are somethings that come with that decision. The same goes for atheism

 

No doubt Christian charities do a LOT of good work. I agree with that statement. I actually sponsor a child through the Christian Childrens Fund because I think its a great idea for a charity.

Now with that said, also understand that there are Christians out there who ATTEMPT to do good around the world but they just make things worse. Im talking the anti science types who try to pray away diseases, and spend all their money on religious literature instead of trying to bring medicine in.

You are quick to point out our flaws with Atheism.....You should take a look at Christianities flaws as well. Morality depends on the person, not the faith they choose. I am a good person, I dont believe in God. Yet if I saw you having a heart attack in a church parking lot I would gladly rush to your aid.

Would some of the more fundamentalist Christians out there come to mine if they knew I was an Atheist??

 

Well, at least hey are out their trying. And the thing is, you don't ever really fail until you stop trying.

I have taken a look at Christianities flaws. I have acknowledged the Crusades, I acknowledge Islamic extremism even as I defend main stream Islam, I acknowledge the effects of the settlers on Israeli politics even as I defend Isarel itself, I acknowledge abusive practices like the Westboro Baptist Church, denying the sacrament to pro-choice politicans, etc.

None of that equates to us being the cause of war. None of the invalidates the principles of the Bible and Jesus's teachings. There is not a damb thing wrong with the standard.

Atheism is, like a said, a religion like no other I have seen, and atheists, despite the fact that there is no solid scientific methodology upon which to based conclusively that there is no God, do not call it faith or religion. Take a look:

http://www.atheists.org/religion

http://www.catholic.org/

http://www.islamicity.com/

http://www.firstprotestant.com/

http://lds.org/?lang=eng

You can look at just about any mainstream church (I listed the largest) and have to dig deep to find anything specifically anti-atheistic. I mean when the Pope warned against the pernicious atheism taking root in Britain you guys screamed foul. Yet the daily religious diatribes from atheism continue apace?

And then there is reality. My home town flooded this past summer. When I went back there were all kinds of religious groups out there helping. How many of them bothered to inquire about someone's faith before they handed out a bottle or water or a plate of food? Zero.

I examine what the problem is, and the problem is not the Christian faith, it is those who seek to undermine it through slander and ill intent.

 

Yes, and it had nothing to do with what we were discussing.

Examples, please.

No, and what does that have to do with whether I supposedly "hate" religions or not? (I don't, that's just dishonest slander.)

 

QUOTE REMOVED BY TOMTEAPACK BECAUSE POST WAS TOO LONG

For the most part everything in the quote this post refers to was either wrong or incorrect.

We are NOT equals. Under our laws we have equal rights. Your being a theist means you refuse rational thought for your basic beliefs. I embrace facts and rationality for the foundation of my faith. This means there is no way we can be equal.


1. Atheism has no doctrine, this is a FACT. Atheists are NOT atheism. Each individual atheist has his own belief, some do indeed have a doctrine and some such as myself take bits and pieces of what we consider to be the best of the world and make it our own. I believe that in general American laws are the best and I accept them. I believe that most western morals, no matter where they originate from are pretty good and I accept them for my own. I believe that killing in some circumstances is good. I believe that sex is good, I believe that stealing is in most cases a bad thing. I believe that lying is more often bad than good. So, while I do NOT have a doctrine, I do have values and ones I consider to be far better than the outdated ones found in any religious doctrine.
As far as lying goes, I tend to avoid it, but I do lie when it is the best option, such as to my wife when she asks if she looks a bit overweight. (I love her, heavy, light or perfect{which she always is}).
I have been married twice, both died early. In 26 years of marriage I NEVER committed adultery. In fact, I refused easy chances at adultery more than a few times. For me, my word in a legal contract is binding. If I had wanted to have an affair, I would have gone to my wife and talked it out with her.
I do not know how to reply to what you think SEXUAL IMMORALITY is, since I have no idea what sexual immorality is.


2. On Sundays I do anything I want to do, just as I do on the other days of the week. Being disabled and retired, all the days of the week are the same, all holidays.


3.I do NOT seek wisdom, if I am lucky, then wisdom may arise from my decisions. I do often seek assistance and information, and when I do, I seek it from those knowledgeable in the areas I am interested in.


4. I set no place aside for contemplation (thought) I think all the time and everywhere. I seek insight in all places and at all times. It is amazing how often I wake up in the middle of the night and say, hey, wow, now I understand why they did that in that movie!

5.I do not pray, and am not sure why anyone would, it seems to be absolute nonsense to me. I fast between every meal. I have no need to seek opportunities for charity, I have a strong belief that the MAKE A WISH foundation is the only charity in the world for me. I participate in it often and have taken several kids fishing (when I was still able to get around). I have contributed money, time and lots of enthusiasm to them. I have promoted them to others and found more than a dozen people willing to contribute there skills and time to help the children. I have no idea what you mean by mentor-ship, so cannot reply to that. I belong to NO fellowship, and never have, unless you call sports teams in school a fellowship. I have steadfastly refused to join the NRA, the DAV, or any political or social group. I am not a group person.


6.I do not tithe, lol, why would I?

7. I do not sin. Sin is the act of disobeying a god. Since no god or gods exist, it is not possible for me to sin.
I do not fear hell, for hell does not exist. I do not get upset when someone tells me I am going to hell. I do get upset at intentional ignorance, which abounds in many theists.


8. I am not familiar with the Chris Hitchens you repeatedly mention, but I am familiar with the horrid theist known as Mother Theresa. She was a despicable person whose acts collected billions of dollars for the catholic church and then helped spend a few million of those on the needy. She was a despicable person who forced women into accepting the catholic nonsense about NOT using contraception in order to gain assistance (fact, fully documented by MANY she supposedly helped). Sorry, forcing religion on people in need of help is NOT a valid reason to call someone decent.

9.Sorry, but when one branch of the christian church fights another who cares. OH, and we have no valid evidence to support that your so-called prophet (I am guessing you are speaking of JESUS) actually existed, let alone how or why he died.


10. LOL, it is NOT bad to tell someone they are going to hell, it is simply stupid. Even by some religions it is wrong (judge not, lest ye be judged). And for a great part, many atheists know far more of your religion or of any religion, than do those in the religion. I personally have read the bible, cover to cover (skipping the begats and begots) more than a couple of times. I currently have and use 23 (for reference) different bible versions. I also own and use over a hundred other biblical reference works. I have the Qur'an in three English versions. I have in addition to those about 200 books that are the major works of other religions. Why should I or anyone like me ask you what you believe hell is?


10. Atheists are humans but when they choose to do good, it is because they have decided, without fear of an imaginary god or hell, that good is the thing to do, unlike many theists. So, for that one reason Atheists are better people than Theists. Oh, and when atheists do good, such as Bill Gates giving 50 billion dollars to charity, the Christians NEVER mention it. But let an atheist do something bad, such as Stalin, Christians NEVER stop ranting about it.

11. As for the rest of the rant, you are mistaken. Atheists have standards, they all do, each and every one of them. Those standards are NOT universally defined by some religious doctrine written hundreds and thousands of years ago by ignorant superstitious primitives. Those standards are selected by people in modern times, with the modern understanding of mankind. Or, since not all atheists are intelligent, lol, they are just randomly walked into. But they are NOT the standards of ignorant superstitious primitive people.

To end, please feel free to rant, but try to keep the rants a bit more factual.

 

#1 - I am not going to go back and requote posters who are repeatedly pestering teh Christians on this forum about being violent, particularly after I did so and posted, repeatedly, examples of main stream atheist websites doing exactly the same thing.

The fact that you are AGAIN asking for examples of what is occuring belies you ... objective approach to the situation. It also bolsters EXACTLY what I have been saying, that atheists seem to simply dismiss whatever they do not wish to acknowledge.

That is how we get an OP that praises and extolls the honor of atheists in fox holes that warps without a second thought into bashing of Christians as wantonly violent Crusaders.

Of course, that predisposes that this is even happening ... should you chose the acknowledge it.

#2 You say that you do not hate religions? In this context, when confronted with the reality of what atheists are doing, but you need examples of - again, we'll see if that hold true over the long haul.

Because every single atheist I have seen state this, has subsequently been found in threads supporting overt Jesus Mythers, overt bashers, cries of Christian criminals etc.

You claim, but time will deliever the final verdict. I'll be watching. So will all the other Christians who grow increasingly weary of the atheist diatribes and invective launched against us, and when we turn around to confornt it ... why no one at is doing it. Its quite amazing.

 

Your god has no place in public places. None.

 

Do you? Because it sound more like you like to blather about facts and how rational you are, but I see no facts being presented that support the definitive conclusion that there is no God.

What I know is that the evidence is inconclusive in terms of science alone. And that is a fact.

The FACT is that you, and every other parsimonious atheist use faith to reach your conclusion just as we do. Fact.

PROVE me otherwise. Lets see this scientific test that removes any possibility of God. Good luck.

So atheists have no standards other than what they deign to acknowledge? Isn't that EXACTLY what I was saying?

Tell me what is wrong with my doctrine - because it begins with the ten commandments.

Now, what do you call the previous two bashes of my faith? Because they seem ... dishonest to me.

So, it is right because it is a contract? Not because it is a terribly painful and hurtful thing to inflict on someone you supposed love? Not because it invalidates your honor? Not because it places sex above honor in your life?

Its just a contract? Devoid of affection and commitment to the woman you love?

Gotcha.

Clearly us Christians have had this outdated concept wrong for thousands of years.

How selfless?

Then you are a fool. I am sorry, but those who do not seek wisdom, who just hope that their decisions are the right decisions are blind fools.

Tell me, what drives you to vote? To invest? To form friendships? To participate in organizations? To lead others when entrusted with leadership? How to judge war? Foreign policy is not with wisdom but while specifically rejecting it?

Do you reject wisdom because you are atheist, or because the concept of wisdom, revered the world over, is just not scientific anough for you? Nor are honor, commitment, love, affection, etc. found in science books.

Really? Every one who has ever studied for an exam gets this concept, you however, have no reason to remove the clutter of the modern world and spend time and effort focusing on a problem?

Are you just disagreeing for disagreements sake? Just taking the opposite of any standard listed without thinking it through? Because that is the impression I am getting.

You 'fast' between meals? You clearly do not understand the concept of fasting.

I am glad that you leave politics to others who seek solution to our countries problems, perferring to sit back and complain instead? I can see why you find wisdom a burden.

Additionally, the charities I give to are doctors without borders, the Central Asia Institute, and several international development funds that spur economic activitiy and give mircogrants to facilitate employment and generate business in poverty stricken countries. Are these charity choices flawed?

Because if you belong to an organization that helps other people, offers counseling, hands out disaster aid, offers fellowship, guidance, and other forms of assistance, those services have these things called costs. If you wish to ensure that these benefots continue, are available to ALL who have the need - then you have no problem giving money to the organization to see these benefots continue to flow.

Quite nefarious and outdated isn't it?

Bull(*)(*)(*)(*).

You are most definitely not Jesus. Statments like the one above reveal why so many people think atheist is just self woship. It is nothing more than the inability to acknowledge the things that you HAVE done wrong - we ALL sin.

So, to the atheists that are wondering about unrepentant sin and its wages? What sin? What standards? You are perfect? There is a cost to that conclusion.

Well, that is a lie.

Chris Hitchens is the first atheist moron to take a pot shot at Mother THeresa.

I am glad you are sighting the readily available financial disclosures of the Catholic Church to bolster what is essentially a deliberate smear of a reverred person.

But you don;t lie? Indeed you are perfect? So perfect you need to knock someone down who was clearly a better person than almost all of us.

Wonderful atheism you have there. Jealousy is apparently a MUCH better concept then our ancient principles.

 

Oh, the historical profession roundly disagrees with in near unanimity.

http://www.bede.org.uk/price1.htm

Perhaps you should get some FACTS and conduct a little unboased research before yo offer up trite like that? Just a thought, it is what you claimed as a standard? Violated less than a hour after professing the standard.

Such is modern atheism.

Agh, so in the 23 different versions of the Bible, I guess you missed the part where God is very clearly a judger? And yes, if you judge others, it means be prepared to be judged by the same standard.

So, if I blast someone for cheating on their spouse, and then cheated on my wife ... what makes that wrong is not the fact that someone denounced adultry.

Really, this is not difficult, and comes through quite clearly in any of the 23 versions of the Bible ... provided you read at least one before summarily rejecting it.

Agh yes, we fully acknowledge Bill Gates and his AND HIS WIFES efforts, indeed many, secular and non-secular charities are partnered with the Bill Gates Foundation. Its just that these guys have that Biblical role figured out, that love drives it - not the need to thump ones chest and tell everyone how wonderful you are.

BTW - there are some very bad humans out there. I know, I fight them. They too made a choice.

But I am glad that you figured out that you think we do what is right merely because we fear being punished? Doesn;t work logically does it? You do NOT do wrong out of fear of punishment. We do what is right because it is pleasing to our God, and because ... it is wise and deeply fulfillilng - just as God promised.

Not according to #1 they do not. You cannot both have standards and be unable to list them.

And anyone who professes to believe in the Jesus Myth? That alone marks them us extraordinarily unintelligent in my book - such concepts fly in the face of all the FACTS that people who claim to care about FACTS can imagine.

Atheism is not driven by FACTS, it is driven by emotion.

Seriously? I guess the standard for a fact is whatever pops into your head?

Atheism is self worship. Fact.

 

So tell me atheists, which part of that long winded self congratulatory atheism description did you not agree with?

But you have no doctrine or standards? Yet you all sound errily alike?

http://www.atheists.org/atheism

 

He does according to the US constitution.

Feel free to pout about the fact that people have a right to free speech and protected religious freedoms - in public.

But you guys don't hate religion? Just wish that the US Constitution was amended so you can ban religion?

Well, why not study a little history and seen how previous attempts to do that have turned out?

And you think WE cause war? Daft.

 

Again you are generalizing. I dont want God banned from public places or from our currency or anything like that. I just dont care about it. Other countries still have statues of their outdated Gods and things like that displayed in front of prominent buildings and instead of worrying about it, it is just beautiful, historic artifact.

Your problem is that you generalize. You try to put all Atheists into the same boat. Dont get me wrong, I agree with MOST of what the other Atheists in here have to say, but not all of it. I have no issues with Religion, I just spent a very long time studying it and after that study I chose not to believe in it.

But I have continually said that there are different types of Christians out there. And just as that is true, so is it true that there are all different types of non believers.

That would be like me saying that Catholic Priests that rape little boys are indicative of all men of the cloth. Would that be fair??

 

I was not responding to YOU. I was responding to an atheist, who is not alone, you PUBLICALLY EXPRESSED his opinion that our faith has no place in the public realm.

Am I not allowed to rebut that statement because it offends you? Must you chastize the Christian, again, for standing up to that behavior?

Or does your standard of tolerance and equal access drive you to ignore the atheist actually making that statement?

And atheists ARE saying that we should abolish the Catholic Church, using RICO no less, because of the sex abuse scandal.

http://www.politicalforum.com/relig...tura-go-after-catholic-church-using-rico.html

Funny, you have no words of chastizement for your atheist friends you are doing something that you specifically call unfair.

Again, what exactly are your standards?

 

I believe I have chastized other Atheists in here for being too militant.

I also said I supported your right to have your religious documents in public places. So I was showing YOU support.

I know you werent directly referring to me, but you generalize too much.

Jesse Ventura is an entertaining guy.....But just because Jesse Ventura says something doesnt mean all Atheists share his sentiment. Bin Laden thinks im an Infidel, that doesnt mean all Muslims agree with him. Ive seen some hard line Evangelical preachers on TV saying some horrible things about Gays, and yet I know not all Evangelicals want gays burning in the fires of Hell.

Ill say it again....I want your religion to bring you happiness and joy. I dont want to take Jesus out of Christmas. I dont want to take God out of the pledge of allegiance.

The only time I oppose any of you is when you try to pass moralistic laws. i.e. banning gay marriage, telling me what I can or cant put into my own body, banning certain activities on Sundays etc etc. Essentially I oppose any law that makes absolutely no sense except for something in a religious text says it is bad so we must ban it. I oppose Sha'ari law. I oppose Christian laws where there is no victim.

Besides that.....pray all you want, read the bible all you want (I still read it), worship Jesus, tell his story, go to church etc etc etc. AND I HOPE IT BRINGS YOU PEACE AND JOY!!!

 

If God assigns rights, why would they be anything but arbitrary?

Man is self-creating. It is self-evident that each individual is a self-owners because no individual can shape the thoughts or control the actions of another individual, therefore, any use of force to punish another for his thoughts or make him act in a way that is against his will is a violation of his self-ownership. No God is needed. In fact, God just gets in the way by arbitrarily deciding that some have more rights than others and playing favorites.

 

According to the Constitution there may be religion not set up by government.
You can have all the free speech you want. When religious morons reach my door I instantly call the police and have them carted away and press charges for trespassing. You know in the end they have to pay.

Did I say you cause war? Hmmmm I look back and I did not say that.

I don't hate religion. It's the religious people that should be put in an institution for schizophrenia.

 

It kinda ruffles my fur too when anyone, atheist, christian, martian does not own their argument (especially when being beat down in a debate or being severely spanked in said debate). You are spot on in your assessments. Many atheists, not all, those that claim they do not have to defend their paradigm are by definition, or maybe a better way to put it is that many atheists are by default are deniers.

Rev A