Showing Interest

[midniterider]

A couple that is friends with a family member of mine just lost their 5 year old son last week. His parents are strong Christians, his mother was asking WHY?!!!! What hope does atheism offer them?

 

Is hope going to bring the kid back to life? No. And I'd say atheism offers relief from fear and guilt imposed by xianity.

 

While I was a Christian I've lost uncles, aunts and grandparents. Now I am an atheist and it just so happens that the clock is ticking with more losses in my future. I don't look forward to it but I think accepting death for what it really is will be healthier than repressing the loss through delusion.

 

Well, yes. Thumb acts like losing a loved one is the end of the line for the survivors as well. Give me a break. Gosh how do Atheists and other non-xians manage to enjoy life without hope provided by a diety? Maybe we dont sit around thinking about stupid shit like that and just live and enjoy life! When your life is full of fear because it is based on the continual mandatory appeasement of some non-existent authority figure then I suppose you would need to worry about 'hope' frequently. But I dont. I generate my own contentment.

 

How would you have handled this, Mr. easy life?: http://gma.yahoo.com...ews-health.html

 

 

I don't know how I'd handle an extreme case like this. I guess it depends on how I'm involved in it. I do know that after 2 decades of answering 9-1-1 and talking to suicidal people and those who have come home to find their loved ones dead on the floor with a bullet in their head or swinging by the neck that it has a permanent negative effect on you. Does being comforted by a diety help you in this case? Maybe. Maybe not. How do you handle knowing that Catholic priests rape altar boys? How do you handle knowing that Christian televangelists fleece the gullible for their life savings? How do you handle knowing that god allows things like the holocaust to occur?

[JayL]

I don't know how I'd handle an extreme case like this. I guess it depends on how I'm involved in it. I do know that after 2 decades of answering 9-1-1 and talking to suicidal people and those who have come home to find their loved ones dead on the floor with a bullet in their head or swinging by the neck that it has a permanent negative effect on you. Does being comforted by a diety help you in this case? Maybe. Maybe not. How do you handle knowing that Catholic priests rape altar boys? How do you handle knowing that Christian televangelists fleece the gullible for their life savings? How do you handle knowing that god allows things like the holocaust to occur?

 

 

 

I dare you to watch the Passion of Christ and try your best to remain an atheist!

[Astreja]

I dare you to watch the Passion of Christ and try your best to remain an atheist!

 

(Springy G sighs heavily and pulls out Her rune bag and Her sword Astrejureldingblót)

 

This has gone far enough. It's weregild time!

 

Mannaz, Uruz, Berkana.

 

May you, Jay, suffer financial losses exactly equal to the psychiatry bills of every person, past, present and future, who has had to seek medical attention for PTSD as a result of watching Passion of the Christ.

[JayL]

I dare you to watch the Passion of Christ and try your best to remain an atheist!

 

(Springy G sighs heavily and pulls out Her rune bag and Her sword Astrejureldingblót)

 

This has gone far enough. It's weregild time!

 

Mannaz, Uruz, Berkana.

 

May you, Jay, suffer financial losses exactly equal to the psychiatry bills of every person, past, present and future, who has had to seek medical attention for PTSD as a result of watching Passion of the Christ.

 

 

 

I break that slimy curse in Jesus' Holy Name !!!! No weapons formed against me shall prosper.

[LoneTarus]

It's not a curse but you are too brainwashed to see that. Words have no real power to them even if you tack the words "in jesus name" on the end.

 

You are basically practicing witchcraft when you say things like that. and even worse you are playing god expecting him to jump at your every beck and call.

 

I think christians like you have a very small god indeed that they have to resort to defensive prayer and magic spells over some words typed on a screen. Doesn't you god know everything and have everything planned out? does he not have your back unless you pray hard enough. That's pathetic and not really a big indicator of an all powerful god.

[Xerces]

I don't know how I'd handle an extreme case like this. I guess it depends on how I'm involved in it. I do know that after 2 decades of answering 9-1-1 and talking to suicidal people and those who have come home to find their loved ones dead on the floor with a bullet in their head or swinging by the neck that it has a permanent negative effect on you. Does being comforted by a diety help you in this case? Maybe. Maybe not. How do you handle knowing that Catholic priests rape altar boys? How do you handle knowing that Christian televangelists fleece the gullible for their life savings? How do you handle knowing that god allows things like the holocaust to occur?

 

 

 

I dare you to watch the Passion of Christ and try your best to remain an atheist!

 

[Ouroboros]

I dare you to watch the Passion of Christ and try your best to remain an atheist!

One of the dumbest things I've seen in a long time. PoC is a sick movie that glorifies sadism and violence. Way too much focus on the torture. Only people who love snuff movies can like that one.

[midniterider]

I don't know how I'd handle an extreme case like this. I guess it depends on how I'm involved in it. I do know that after 2 decades of answering 9-1-1 and talking to suicidal people and those who have come home to find their loved ones dead on the floor with a bullet in their head or swinging by the neck that it has a permanent negative effect on you. Does being comforted by a diety help you in this case? Maybe. Maybe not. How do you handle knowing that Catholic priests rape altar boys? How do you handle knowing that Christian televangelists fleece the gullible for their life savings? How do you handle knowing that god allows things like the holocaust to occur?

 

 

 

I dare you to watch the Passion of Christ and try your best to remain an atheist!

 

I dare you to think for yourself.

I dare you to be in charge of yourself.

I dare you to ignore people who say you are worthless without god.

 

Btw, I'm a pagan, not an atheist. Though I do admire the atheists ability to logically destroy xianity.

[midniterider]

I dare you to watch the Passion of Christ and try your best to remain an atheist!

 

(Springy G sighs heavily and pulls out Her rune bag and Her sword Astrejureldingblót)

 

This has gone far enough. It's weregild time!

 

Mannaz, Uruz, Berkana.

 

May you, Jay, suffer financial losses exactly equal to the psychiatry bills of every person, past, present and future, who has had to seek medical attention for PTSD as a result of watching Passion of the Christ.

 

 

 

I break that slimy curse in Jesus' Holy Name !!!! No weapons formed against me shall prosper.

 

You're still in bondage.

I dare you to watch the Passion of Christ and try your best to remain an atheist!

 

(Springy G sighs heavily and pulls out Her rune bag and Her sword Astrejureldingblót)

 

This has gone far enough. It's weregild time!

 

Mannaz, Uruz, Berkana.

 

May you, Jay, suffer financial losses exactly equal to the psychiatry bills of every person, past, present and future, who has had to seek medical attention for PTSD as a result of watching Passion of the Christ.

 

Ever consider reading the lords prayer backwards or in a mocking fashion? Like in a Donald Duck voice? woohoo!

[midniterider]

It's not a curse but you are too brainwashed to see that. Words have no real power to them even if you tack the words "in jesus name" on the end.

 

You are basically practicing witchcraft when you say things like that. and even worse you are playing god expecting him to jump at your every beck and call.

 

I think christians like you have a very small god indeed that they have to resort to defensive prayer and magic spells over some words typed on a screen. Doesn't you god know everything and have everything planned out? does he not have your back unless you pray hard enough. That's pathetic and not really a big indicator of an all powerful god.

 

Asking a pagan goddess to do something for you = witchcraft

Asking jebus to do something for you = prayer

wtf? lol.

 

I think it depends on what words you use whether or not they have power. For example if I say "I'm gonna puke!" and use the appropriate gag noises and gestures, I can banish people for a good 5 foot radius... :-) If I yell "Fuck Romney!" at the local GOP headquarters I might get some attention. Or if I stand up during a church service and say , "Praise Satan!" ..... ok, sorry. I'm outta control. :-)

 

I think JayL might try rebuking the IRS in the name of Jesus and see what happens. Next time I get pulled over by the cops for speeding I am going to say , "Get thee behind me, officer of evil!" I rebuke your speeding ticket in the name of Jesus! Yeah, baby. I'm sure that'll work. I rebuke your handcuffs! I rebuke this smelly jail cell! I deny your charges of obstructing and resisting!

[LoneTarus]

It's not a curse but you are too brainwashed to see that. Words have no real power to them even if you tack the words "in jesus name" on the end.

 

You are basically practicing witchcraft when you say things like that. and even worse you are playing god expecting him to jump at your every beck and call.

 

I think christians like you have a very small god indeed that they have to resort to defensive prayer and magic spells over some words typed on a screen. Doesn't you god know everything and have everything planned out? does he not have your back unless you pray hard enough. That's pathetic and not really a big indicator of an all powerful god.

 

Asking a pagan goddess to do something for you = witchcraft

Asking jebus to do something for you = prayer

wtf? lol.

 

I think it depends on what words you use whether or not they have power. For example if I say "I'm gonna puke!" and use the appropriate gag noises and gestures, I can banish people for a good 5 foot radius... :-) If I yell "Fuck Romney!" at the local GOP headquarters I might get some attention. Or if I stand up during a church service and say , "Praise Satan!" ..... ok, sorry. I'm outta control. :-)

 

I think JayL might try rebuking the IRS in the name of Jesus and see what happens. Next time I get pulled over by the cops for speeding I am going to say , "Get thee behind me, officer of evil!" I rebuke your speeding ticket in the name of Jesus! Yeah, baby. I'm sure that'll work. I rebuke your handcuffs! I rebuke this smelly jail cell! I deny your charges of obstructing and resisting!

 

Something like this maybe?

 

I don't know if I embedded it correctly or not so here's the original youtube link.

[agnosticator]

I dare you to watch the Passion of Christ and try your best to remain an atheist!

 

http://www.ex-christian.net/topic/25632-question-for-christians-about-biblical-inerrancy/page__pid__755092__st__1980#entry755092

[agnosticator]

I break that slimy curse in Jesus' Holy Name !!!! No weapons formed against me shall prosper.

 

I bet the Ouroboros BanHammer^tm would make you shit your shorts!

[Astreja]

I break that slimy curse in Jesus' Holy Name !!!! No weapons formed against me shall prosper.

 

Heeheeheeheehee! Sounds like somebody has a bad case of mens rea.

 

'S'matter, Jay? You actually acknowledging publicly that yes, PotC does cause psychological damage and that yes, you're actually at risk of personal bankruptcy because:

• People have actually had to seek out therapists for PTSD after watching that Mel Gibson blood-fest, and/or
  
• Springy G actually does get what She wants at least 51% of the time, and/or
  
• You 're not 100% sure of Biblegod's ability to best Me in a godfight?
  

Regardless, your gut reaction to My seiðr caused you to 'out' your fear of My woo-woo in spectacularly amusing fashion.

[bdp]

jay - you're a dick. Just sayin.'

[midniterider]

It's not a curse but you are too brainwashed to see that. Words have no real power to them even if you tack the words "in jesus name" on the end.

 

You are basically practicing witchcraft when you say things like that. and even worse you are playing god expecting him to jump at your every beck and call.

 

I think christians like you have a very small god indeed that they have to resort to defensive prayer and magic spells over some words typed on a screen. Doesn't you god know everything and have everything planned out? does he not have your back unless you pray hard enough. That's pathetic and not really a big indicator of an all powerful god.

 

Asking a pagan goddess to do something for you = witchcraft

Asking jebus to do something for you = prayer

wtf? lol.

 

I think it depends on what words you use whether or not they have power. For example if I say "I'm gonna puke!" and use the appropriate gag noises and gestures, I can banish people for a good 5 foot radius... :-) If I yell "Fuck Romney!" at the local GOP headquarters I might get some attention. Or if I stand up during a church service and say , "Praise Satan!" ..... ok, sorry. I'm outta control. :-)

 

I think JayL might try rebuking the IRS in the name of Jesus and see what happens. Next time I get pulled over by the cops for speeding I am going to say , "Get thee behind me, officer of evil!" I rebuke your speeding ticket in the name of Jesus! Yeah, baby. I'm sure that'll work. I rebuke your handcuffs! I rebuke this smelly jail cell! I deny your charges of obstructing and resisting!

 

Something like this maybe?

 

I don't know if I embedded it correctly or not so here's the original youtube link.

 

Hey, apparently it worked. lol. For a few minutes anyway. YAHWEHHHHHHHHHHHHHH JENNNNNNNNNNNNKINS!

[midniterider]

I break that slimy curse in Jesus' Holy Name !!!! No weapons formed against me shall prosper.

 

I bet the Ouroboros BanHammer^tm would make you shit your shorts!

 

I ban you in the name of Larry, Moe and Curly! :-)

 

I'm waiting for the double dog dare. Can I watch Religulous instead?

[JayL]

I break that slimy curse in Jesus' Holy Name !!!! No weapons formed against me shall prosper.

 

Heeheeheeheehee! Sounds like somebody has a bad case of mens rea.

 

'S'matter, Jay? You actually acknowledging publicly that yes, PotC does cause psychological damage and that yes, you're actually at risk of personal bankruptcy because:

• People have actually had to seek out therapists for PTSD after watching that Mel Gibson blood-fest, and/or
  
• Springy G actually does get what She wants at least 51% of the time, and/or
  
• You 're not 100% sure of Biblegod's ability to best Me in a godfight?
  

Regardless, your gut reaction to My seiðr caused you to 'out' your fear of My woo-woo in spectacularly amusing fashion.

 

 

 

Well... you never know. You may have some special bunny power....

[Astreja]

Well... you never know. You may have some special bunny power....

 

Let's see...

• Correctly predicted on the old IIDB bulletin board in January 2006 that Slobodan Milosevic would die in his prison cell, about 2 months in advance of the event.
  
• Regularly make "wish lists" that eventually do come true, and I wish for some rather unusual things. (For the record, I got the Max Headroom boxed set, too, making it 7/7 for that particular wish list.)
  
• And I possess the ability to herd cats, for real. I call 'em by name, and they actually come. That's just plain weird...
  

You may be right, Jay; you may be right. However, I continue to remain agnostic of My own divinity.

[Guest Valk0010]

Well... you never know. You may have some special bunny power....

 

Let's see...

• Correctly predicted on the old IIDB bulletin board in January 2006 that Slobodan Milosevic would die in his prison cell, about 2 months in advance of the event.
  
• Regularly make "wish lists" that eventually do come true, and I wish for some rather unusual things. (For the record, I got the Max Headroom boxed set, too, making it 7/7 for that particular wish list.)
  
• And I possess the ability to herd cats, for real. I call 'em by name, and they actually come. That's just plain weird...
  

You may be right, Jay; you may be right. However, I continue to remain agnostic of My own divinity.

I think this post right here, will be in the running and probably win for one of the most funniest things I have ever read on this site.

[Thumbelina]

I ask this respectfully but if religious preaching makes you react that way then why are you in the den where preaching is permitted? *ooooooooooooo, ghost noise* I am not at your front door, I'm in your home (via the computer) bwahahahaha.<-- That's a joke

 

(Springy G thinks about Thumbelina's question)

 

(Turns in for the night and ponders the question a bit more on Her morning coffee break at work)

 

(Mulls over it one more time while eating lunch)

 

(E-mails comments home to Herself for one final edit and think)

 

I think I'm motivated by the same sentiment that prompts Me to call 911 when I hear a scream or a gunshot somewhere down the back alley. Something is wrong with the world, the adrenaline is pumping, and I need to *do something* rather than sit there and pretend it'll all go away.

 

 

 

 

I think we have the same motivation within our particular beliefs. I know mere humans cannot solve all the woes on this planet though.

 

 

 

I read your posts, Thumbelina, and what I see is someone wasting her life on an ancient myth and pretending that there's a god who loves her, but at the same time I don't get the impression of someone who's using her life to its full potential. It's as if you've deliberately infantilized yourself so that DaddyGod will bounce you on his knee and kiss the boo-boos all better.

 

 

I did waste some of my life on secular living and I WISH I was raised in church. I KNOW God loves me and did not realize how much until a few years ago.

 

 

 

 

We've grown beyond that -- Far beyond that -- and it's insulting and enraging to have you dismiss our experiences as inauthentic.

 

 

 

 

I was/am not dismissing your experiences. I see such huge misunderstandings of biblical texts so I discuss it with those who are WILLING to discuss it (the ones who are not just trying to rend me i.e.)

 

 

 

It's even worse that you purport to model a successful life when you present such mediocrity. You don't seem to have nearly as much "life in abundance" as we acquired when we stopped waiting for GODot, rolled up our sleeves and took responsibility for creating our own happiness.

 

 

I see a lot of secular miserable people who have to drink, take drugs and medicate themselves in order to get "happiness". People are addicted to porn and smut on the tele. Relationships are crumbling because people are embracing carpe diem. My relatives lives as well as other peoples lives have been in danger for a couple of years now, each time some of them get a reprieve from senseless violence they start up with the revelings. Trying to be affirmed by men is stressful. God gives me joy. I had the secular life and something was missing and that something was God.

 

 

I think that mythological BS must be publicly challenged, for the benefit and even the survival of future generations.

 

Even if My blood pressure spikes or I pull a biceps muscle, or I bruise or cut My own palm with an untrimmed fingernail when clenching My fist in frustration while reading a particularly idiotic post from yet another dismissive believer who claims to have The Truth.

 

That's why.

 

 

Yes, I realize that a lot of the atheists on the net give those reasons for going against religion and the bible. However, in truly free societies people are generally happy when their basic temporal needs are met and when they are free to embrace spirituality or not embrace it. Freedom and tolerance is the key.

 

We should be able to disagree with each other without being disagreeable, not so?

[Thumbelina]

A couple that is friends with a family member of mine just lost their 5 year old son last week. His parents are strong Christians, his mother was asking WHY?!!!! What hope does atheism offer them?

 

Is hope going to bring the kid back to life? No. And I'd say atheism offers relief from fear and guilt imposed by xianity.

 

While I was a Christian I've lost uncles, aunts and grandparents. Now I am an atheist and it just so happens that the clock is ticking with more losses in my future. I don't look forward to it but I think accepting death for what it really is will be healthier than repressing the loss through delusion.

 

Well, yes. Thumb acts like losing a loved one is the end of the line for the survivors as well. Give me a break. Gosh how do Atheists and other non-xians manage to enjoy life without hope provided by a diety? Maybe we dont sit around thinking about stupid shit like that and just live and enjoy life! When your life is full of fear because it is based on the continual mandatory appeasement of some non-existent authority figure then I suppose you would need to worry about 'hope' frequently. But I dont. I generate my own contentment.

 

How would you have handled this, Mr. easy life?: http://gma.yahoo.com...ews-health.html

 

 

I don't know how I'd handle an extreme case like this. I guess it depends on how I'm involved in it. I do know that after 2 decades of answering 9-1-1 and talking to suicidal people and those who have come home to find their loved ones dead on the floor with a bullet in their head or swinging by the neck that it has a permanent negative effect on you.

 

 

You are desensitized? j/k

 

 

Does being comforted by a diety help you in this case? Maybe. Maybe not.

 

 

God does give comfort.

 

 

How do you handle knowing that Catholic priests rape altar boys? How do you handle knowing that Christian televangelists fleece the gullible for their life savings?

 

 

It makes me long for a better world. Only an all powerful God can shift that paradigm, if we focus on the misery we will go insane or be densenitized.

 

 

How do you handle knowing that god allows things like the holocaust to occur?

 

 

He has a permissive will. It was not His expressed will. Most people on this earth are rejecting God and the devil is basically reigning. Elie Wiesel was in the holocaust, he WITNESSED it! He did not give up on God. The slaves did not give up on God, I just learned that the hymn Amazing Grace was played to negro spiritual tunes.

Have you never considered that by living a life apart from God's design it produces men like Hitler? Hitler did not have a [edit] good relationship with his father (rules without relationship is not coducive to forming good moral characters). A year or two ago I read an article which showed a correlation between sadists and the like and their coming from broken homes, I wish I had that article now. Atheism, TRUE atheism offers hedonism or sadism, Hugh Hefner or Hitler in varying degrees.

Now, I do not want to be misunderstood, N.B. I said true atheism, I am aware that there are many atheists who want a noble reason for existing and want good for their fellow man; I've seen some on this website. Atheism offers NO hope, my 18 year old friend died from cancer, her mother had died from cancer when she was little. Her grandmother lost two of them and then her grandmother got shot in the leg last year; the lady in the apartment above her was playing with a gun and it went off. When my friend was dying she was comforting the people who were crying for her. She got that quality from her grandmother, her grandmother is still praising God amidst her trials. When we were at the graveside I told her grandmother that when Jesus returns He will call her granddaughter from the grave. I grew up around a lot of irreligious people and the consequence of hedonism tends to be ever increasing violence; so many homicides, so many people known to my relatives were murdered. I pray for them and I would be a basket case if I did not have God. I don't drink or smoke or take drugs and God gives me solace. Spirituality is a good thing: http://www.webmd.com...ple-live-longer

[midniterider]

A couple that is friends with a family member of mine just lost their 5 year old son last week. His parents are strong Christians, his mother was asking WHY?!!!! What hope does atheism offer them?

 

Is hope going to bring the kid back to life? No. And I'd say atheism offers relief from fear and guilt imposed by xianity.

 

While I was a Christian I've lost uncles, aunts and grandparents. Now I am an atheist and it just so happens that the clock is ticking with more losses in my future. I don't look forward to it but I think accepting death for what it really is will be healthier than repressing the loss through delusion.

 

Well, yes. Thumb acts like losing a loved one is the end of the line for the survivors as well. Give me a break. Gosh how do Atheists and other non-xians manage to enjoy life without hope provided by a diety? Maybe we dont sit around thinking about stupid shit like that and just live and enjoy life! When your life is full of fear because it is based on the continual mandatory appeasement of some non-existent authority figure then I suppose you would need to worry about 'hope' frequently. But I dont. I generate my own contentment.

 

How would you have handled this, Mr. easy life?: http://gma.yahoo.com...ews-health.html

 

 

I don't know how I'd handle an extreme case like this. I guess it depends on how I'm involved in it. I do know that after 2 decades of answering 9-1-1 and talking to suicidal people and those who have come home to find their loved ones dead on the floor with a bullet in their head or swinging by the neck that it has a permanent negative effect on you.

 

 

You are desensitized? j/k

 

 

Does being comforted by a diety help you in this case? Maybe. Maybe not.

 

 

God does give comfort.

 

 

How do you handle knowing that Catholic priests rape altar boys? How do you handle knowing that Christian televangelists fleece the gullible for their life savings?

 

 

It makes me long for a better world. Only an all powerful God can shift that paradigm, if we focus on the misery we will go insane or be densenitized.

 

 

How do you handle knowing that god allows things like the holocaust to occur?

 

 

He has a permissive will. It was not His expressed will. Most people on this earth are rejecting God and the devil is basically reigning. Elie Wiesel was in the holocaust, he WITNESSED it! He did not give up on God. The slaves did not give up on God, I just learned that the hymn Amazing Grace was played to negro spiritual tunes.

Have you never considered that by living a life apart from God's design it produces men like Hitler? Hitler did not have a [edit] good relationship with his father (rules without relationship is not coducive to forming good moral characters). A year or two ago I read an article which showed a correlation between sadists and the like and their coming from broken homes, I wish I had that article now. Atheism, TRUE atheism offers hedonism or sadism, Hugh Hefner or Hitler in varying degrees.

Now, I do not want to be misunderstood, N.B. I said true atheism, I am aware that there are many atheists who want a noble reason for existing and want good for their fellow man; I've seen some on this website. Atheism offers NO hope, my 18 year old friend died from cancer, her mother had died from cancer when she was little. Her grandmother lost two of them and then her grandmother got shot in the leg last year; the lady in the apartment above her was playing with a gun and it went off. When my friend was dying she was comforting the people who were crying for her. She got that quality from her grandmother, her grandmother is still praising God amidst her trials. When we were at the graveside I told her grandmother that when Jesus returns He will call her granddaughter from the grave. I grew up around a lot of irreligious people and the consequence of hedonism tends to be ever increasing violence; so many homicides, so many people known to my relatives were murdered. I pray for them and I would be a basket case if I did not have God. I don't drink or smoke or take drugs and God gives me solace. Spirituality is a good thing: http://www.webmd.com...ple-live-longer

 

Thank you for your thoughtful post. I really think there is no accounting for what brings someone to Christianity or Atheisim or Agnosticism, though. I have read similar stories on Ex-c such as the one you wrote above which has lead someone else to conclude there is no god or not one that cares. A lot of people here are or were basket cases because they HAD god. There are no absolute truths. Absolutely none! j/k.

 

You don't drink or smoke or take drugs....( in Yoda's voice) and that is why you fail . j/k. lol. Have a good one.

[Astreja]

I think we have the same motivation within our particular beliefs. I know mere humans cannot solve all the woes on this planet though.

 

Well, the gods don't appear to be doing much better. Considering that they're working strictly with the physical world and don't possess superpowers, humans are actually doing a fairly good job of fixing things.

I did waste some of my life on secular living and I WISH I was raised in church. I KNOW God loves me and did not realize how much until a few years ago.

 

IMO, Thumbelina, you sincerely believe you "know" but I don't see any way for you to prove to us that you do actually know such a thing. Private communications between you and your alleged god are simply of no use to us and we can't just take your word for it.

I was/am not dismissing your experiences. I see such huge misunderstandings of biblical texts...

 

It remains to be seen who's misunderstanding the texts. I don't think that your understanding is superior to ours.

Trying to be affirmed by men is stressful. God gives me joy. I had the secular life and something was missing and that something was God.

 

I don't feel any major need to be affirmed by humans, and your god has not seen fit to reveal itself to Me. (And no, I'm not going to bother asking. If it actually exists and it wants to talk to Me it'll have to be the one to make the first move.)

Yes, I realize that a lot of the atheists on the net give those reasons for going against religion and the bible. However, in truly free societies people are generally happy when their basic temporal needs are met and when they are free to embrace spirituality or not embrace it. Freedom and tolerance is the key.

 

Unfortunately for your argument, Thumbelina, we don't live in little bubbles where we can just ignore everyone else's problems and be happy 100% of the time. Empathy does not permit Me to be complacent when I know that others are *not* experiencing "freedom and tolerance." In My personal life, everything that pertains strictly to Me is fine. When I look out into the world, however, things are not fine at all and a lot of the problems are being caused by the intrusion of religion into civil society.

 

I'll become more tolerant of religion when:

• No children anywhere are lying awake in their beds at night, crying because they're afraid they or someone they love is going to hell;
  
• No GLBT people anywhere are being bullied on religious grounds;
  
• No woman anywhere is being guilt-tripped into staying in an abusive marriage because her religion frowns on divorce;
  
• No one anywhere is in danger of being disowned or fired because of belief or lack of belief.
  

We should be able to disagree with each other without being disagreeable, not so?

 

I'm prepared to be respectful if you are, Thumbelina, but I do hope you realize that we're discussing topics that bring up strong emotions and that Ex-C exists to help us deal with those emotions. There *will* be turbulence on this flight.

[Thumbelina]

A couple that is friends with a family member of mine just lost their 5 year old son last week. His parents are strong Christians, his mother was asking WHY?!!!! What hope does atheism offer them?

 

Is hope going to bring the kid back to life? No. And I'd say atheism offers relief from fear and guilt imposed by xianity.

 

While I was a Christian I've lost uncles, aunts and grandparents. Now I am an atheist and it just so happens that the clock is ticking with more losses in my future. I don't look forward to it but I think accepting death for what it really is will be healthier than repressing the loss through delusion.

 

Well, yes. Thumb acts like losing a loved one is the end of the line for the survivors as well. Give me a break. Gosh how do Atheists and other non-xians manage to enjoy life without hope provided by a diety? Maybe we dont sit around thinking about stupid shit like that and just live and enjoy life! When your life is full of fear because it is based on the continual mandatory appeasement of some non-existent authority figure then I suppose you would need to worry about 'hope' frequently. But I dont. I generate my own contentment.

 

How would you have handled this, Mr. easy life?: http://gma.yahoo.com...ews-health.html

 

 

I don't know how I'd handle an extreme case like this. I guess it depends on how I'm involved in it. I do know that after 2 decades of answering 9-1-1 and talking to suicidal people and those who have come home to find their loved ones dead on the floor with a bullet in their head or swinging by the neck that it has a permanent negative effect on you.

 

 

You are desensitized? j/k

 

 

Does being comforted by a diety help you in this case? Maybe. Maybe not.

 

 

God does give comfort.

 

 

How do you handle knowing that Catholic priests rape altar boys? How do you handle knowing that Christian televangelists fleece the gullible for their life savings?

 

 

It makes me long for a better world. Only an all powerful God can shift that paradigm, if we focus on the misery we will go insane or be densenitized.

 

 

How do you handle knowing that god allows things like the holocaust to occur?

 

 

He has a permissive will. It was not His expressed will. Most people on this earth are rejecting God and the devil is basically reigning. Elie Wiesel was in the holocaust, he WITNESSED it! He did not give up on God. The slaves did not give up on God, I just learned that the hymn Amazing Grace was played to negro spiritual tunes.

Have you never considered that by living a life apart from God's design it produces men like Hitler? Hitler did not have a [edit] good relationship with his father (rules without relationship is not coducive to forming good moral characters). A year or two ago I read an article which showed a correlation between sadists and the like and their coming from broken homes, I wish I had that article now. Atheism, TRUE atheism offers hedonism or sadism, Hugh Hefner or Hitler in varying degrees.

Now, I do not want to be misunderstood, N.B. I said true atheism, I am aware that there are many atheists who want a noble reason for existing and want good for their fellow man; I've seen some on this website. Atheism offers NO hope, my 18 year old friend died from cancer, her mother had died from cancer when she was little. Her grandmother lost two of them and then her grandmother got shot in the leg last year; the lady in the apartment above her was playing with a gun and it went off. When my friend was dying she was comforting the people who were crying for her. She got that quality from her grandmother, her grandmother is still praising God amidst her trials. When we were at the graveside I told her grandmother that when Jesus returns He will call her granddaughter from the grave. I grew up around a lot of irreligious people and the consequence of hedonism tends to be ever increasing violence; so many homicides, so many people known to my relatives were murdered. I pray for them and I would be a basket case if I did not have God. I don't drink or smoke or take drugs and God gives me solace. Spirituality is a good thing: http://www.webmd.com...ple-live-longer

 

Thank you for your thoughtful post. I really think there is no accounting for what brings someone to Christianity or Atheisim or Agnosticism, though. I have read similar stories on Ex-c such as the one you wrote above which has lead someone else to conclude there is no god or not one that cares. A lot of people here are or were basket cases because they HAD god. There are no absolute truths. Absolutely none! j/k.

 

You don't drink or smoke or take drugs....( in Yoda's voice) and that is why you fail . j/k. lol. Have a good one.

 

 

It all boils down to choice. As the bible says one needs to build their house upon the rock so when the storms of life come ones house will not fall flat. What I see on this website is that a lot of people did not have that personal experience with God though many did try to have it. I believe the reason why they did not find it is because the god they were presented with was not a kind and loving daddy that the bible describes and what many other people experience.

 

...

Jesus' love is the best and safest high that one could get. *not kidding*