Because you are an atheist. Let me simplify for you. What would Christianity look like if its spokesmen were not seminary trained priests and ministers? (And even then we draw our fair share of charlatans). Imagine if there were no synoptic gospels or accepted epistles upon which to base a conclusion? Even innocent this creates problems, where atheists can be insisting upon fundamentally opposing claims to same answer - like, "Yep, no evidence to conclude there is no God. So?" vs. "No evidence is needed (and there isn't any about God anyways mind you), but we merely do not believe in God ... so?" Now what do people who believe that there really is a God, who believe that the wisdom of Bible is correct, and whose sole goal is to undermine it? What do they write? Why are they headed toward atheism? And the reason is because atheism is vulnerable to expoitation. Again, if a Satanist is not an atheist (and think there is general agreement on that one) they why ar ethey doing things as atheists? What does that mean for atheists? Probably about the same thing as having am atheist as priest does for us.
In general, people who accept beforehand that the Bible is the word of God are the least trustworthy regarding their opinion of it. The simple idea that is usually attached to such a situation is "conflict of interest." If you think the Bible is the word of God, the likelihood that your interpretations of it will paint its content in a favorable manner are markedly increased. Conflict of interest... But you even have this base covered, don't you? You have pre-defined anyone who casts doubt on the ability of Bible-thumpers to impartially interpret the Bible as charlatans. Way to go! Your style of argument disallows the possibility of dissent even if dissent is warranted.
Generally speaking, those who wish to just disagree with anything a Christian says because they are angry at God, will find a reason to do so. Most people, see it for what it is. If someone starts out as an atheist? Explores multiple religion, and THEN chooses Christianity ... they probably didn;t start out thinking the Bible was the word of God .... beforehand. Is there soem reason you insist on telling people what they believe? How they think? How they arrive at their conclusions? And why you are so much better than everyone? Perhaps you have a far larger problem with Satan then we do - and just don't want to admit it? And teh opposite? And you are finding fault with what exactly? Jesus? Haven't w discussed the propensity of atheists to skip over Jesus and his message ... and here you do it, while claiming that it makes you a smart guy to avoid it entirely, have no specified problem with it, but are smart because you reject it anyway. Doubt? Is that what you think you are doing? Most people call your post a rationalized angry diatribe bereft of teh very logical arguementation you claim you care about. And your style finds fault with everything but yourself. Amazing. Now, is it Satanism or atheism that is so preversely self centered?
I am not sure I understand your point of view. Our Founding Fathers did an excellent job at the convention with our federal Constitution and included all the temporal, secular, and civil morals we should require. Why should anyone confide in the sincerity of alleged persons of morals, if their own God cannot trust them? Atheists may have their own ethical shortcomings, but being unfaithful to a god isn't one of them.
None of that has absolutely anything to do with Satanists claiming they are atheists and stealing the agenda of atheism as their own. When groups like the neo-Nazi church claim they are Christians, they are widely denouced for it. It is fraudulant, and it undermines the reality of Christianity. What make syou think the wholesale importantion of Satanic principles is an less devestating to atheism (which you do not even denounce and apparently have no qualms about) than other groups who claim the mantel of something valuable? If you value atheism, you should want to protect it. Unfortunately, you don't seem to have a problem with .... just the disbelief in God becoming the active, nihilistic hatred of religion at the behest of those driven, whether you believe or not - they do, by demonic influences to undermine God? Do you want your atheism associated with demonic ritual and excesses? Well, they are coming into your groups - not ours - and what are you doing about it? "We haven't failed a God we don't believe in?" And this is supposed to be a defense against those who are in your midst who do believe in God and view yoru dissent as an opportunity to achieve their agenda how?
I am not sure how you reached the conclusion you did; how can devout religionists of a church of Satan claim to be atheists, without some abomination of hypocrisy to their own religion?
Shouldn't anyone claiming religious based morals be willing to submit to an inquisition of such morals in order to run on a religious moral platform, for any office of public trust under the United States?
You'll have to ask a Satanists. They are the one claiming it, not me. Perhaps you should confront them the next time they are found in your ... organizations? Perhaps as an atheist, you could take a strong stand AGAINST them and ensure atheist organizations do as well. Just a thought.
Why not have religious morals tests for public office, for any candidate claiming religious morals instead of the temporal and secular morals ordained and established for us by our Founding Fathers in our own supreme law of the land and federal Constitution? Maybe we can petition a Pope for a contingent of subject matter specialists to help out.
Even Satanists should have the opportunity to be holy and moral, according to their religious beliefs, simply for the greater glory of their immortal souls. Should atheists need to worry about not being moral enough, if they do not rely on morals, but on ethics?
#1 - that violates the constitution. #2 - that has absolutely nothing to do with Satanists fumbling into your groups to spew nihilistic nonsense to pollute atheism into Satanism. HOw the hell would a religious test for political office prevent that from happening in atheist organization. In short, you have no answer, so you have reverted to just bashing religion.
Maybe you should look at what they consider to be holy and moral. There is a reason they are rejected the world over. Except apparently by atheists. (Which they claim they are anyway).
Why would any true person of morals object to an inquisition of their moral rectitude? I can understand why an abomination of hypocrisy may object. Why should Satanism mean anything to an atheist? It is only persons of alleged religious morality that seem to have the most problem with Satanism, instead of simply having greater faith.
Another stubborn atheist I see. Why do you continue to ask the same question and then ignore the answers you get? If Satanists, who call themselves atheists (to great offense to you), are sneaking into atheist forums and organizations and filling atheism with nihilistic flotsam that has a bearing in demonic influenced anti-God actions .... Do you want atheism to be synonymous with Satanism? Because that is where it is headed. All it will take is the unmasking of one prominent atheist as a closet Satanist - and atheism is forever tarnished. And they are there. Its only a matter of time. So, smart atheists would get in front of this and widely and loudly denounce Satanism. Instead you invite it in. Its in the Bible slick, we reap what we sew.
You are welcome to actually answer this question instead of resorting to a non sequitur (which is usually considered a fallacy or form of sin against philosophy); Why would any true person of morals object to an inquisition of their moral rectitude? I can understand why an abomination of hypocrisy may object. Your view of Satanism is your own. In my opinion, it only means I may need to work on my critical reasoning skills more and have a better argument. After all, who is Saint Pete going to believe more, a true witness bearer with a good argument or an abomination of hypocrisy acting like a grasshopper in winter.
No, my view of Satanism comes from reviewing their material and having talked with former Satanists. The fact that they define themselves as atheists is a fact, it is has been listed and referrenced through sites like religioustolerance.org repeatedly. The fact that you are now lashing out in an accusatory manner in direct contradiction to the facts? Well, that is exactly why atheism is so vulnerable to hooligans like Satanists - who call themsleves atheists. You don;t like that? Neither do I. But, unlike you and many other atheists, I refuse to simply dismiss eality with a giant, angry hand wave by calling everything I don't like a fallacy. You tell us why Satanists calling themselves atheists makes YOU so angry? And what are YOU going to do about it? Beat up Christians ... Again, atheists continue to assure me that they are educated people, somehow quoting sources from Satanism is about moral rectitude and fallacy? Its actually a constitution issue involving Saint Pete and grashoppers? Look a lot more like an anger management issue than an education issue to me.
In my experience, persons of religion are only as credible as their faith and their acts. Alleged Satanists bearing false witness to their god(s) is just as annoying as alleged Christians bearing false witness to their God.
Well, atheism is a faith, what's it doing besides crapping on other people? They are not bearing false witness. They are attempting to undermine God at all costs. Their father is the father of lies. THey have no compunction about lying in order to undermine God. On the contrary to your claim, their activities bear ful faith and allegiance to their master. Why do atheists claim to be the masters of all religions, and yet remain so devoid of understanding on so many different religions?
A nice little relevant interlude... [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cku497rURF8"]‪The Hail Satan Network sketch from Mr. Show‬‏ - YouTube[/ame] (requires a sense of humor to enjoy -- safe for work, but some of you probably won't like it)
No. Politicians also enjoy the First Amendment. They can say whatever they want to get elected. It is us, the great unwashed, who need to be smart enough to figure out which of them is completely full of (*)(*)(*)(*) and which of them are only slightly full of (*)(*)(*)(*). Sadly, few of us are that well-informed, or motivated, or frankly, intelligent, which certainly explains the two-party system. Just pull the lever for the cartoon character which makes you feel the best inside and go back to watching the Real Pregnant Housewives of the Jersey Shore Survive Hillbilly Handfishin'. We get the government we deserve.
From my perspective, people of religion are worse to other religionists than most atheists are to other religionists. How do you account for that form of "moral" failure among religionists when compared to atheists? How is what you claim of atheists any different from from alleged persons of faith resorting to the abomination of hypocrisy to advance their agenda? In my opinion, no atheist can undermine God, only religionists claiming to have faith in God can do that by engaging in the abomination of hypocrisy to the God that insisted on a religious Commandment against false witness bearing and that form of hypocrisy. I haven't met any atheists claiming mastery over any religion.
Politicians are always welcome to follow our supreme law of the land. We have a First Amendment as well and do not need purely religious morals enacted as laws, as a form of legislating religious forms of morality instead of the temporal and secular morality ordained and established for us by our Founding Fathers in our own federal Constitution.
That has been a platform issue for a number of years already.. they simply have not been able to work out all the details so that all the people will be willing to go along with their programming. It is called the ecumenical council of churches. http://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/global-bodies-and-mission-communions/wcc.html#c23067
This is you talking to yourself. It is totally fair for me to ask for you to demonstrate the existence of this God if I have no experience of it. Appeal to the Bible is not sufficient because I would then ask you why you trust the Bible with reference to this claim of existence.
