So, who is going to church today?

[Majes]

It depends on what your classification of an atheist is. For many religious people they see it as rejecting any of the current day religious myths. Strictly adhering to the word, it's the viewpoint that there is no intelligence behind the observable universe.

The former is rational and supported by a ton of evidence, the latter is not. It's possible there was an intelligence that created the universe our planet is in, but there is no evidence supporting that, it's just a possibility. There is no possibility Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Thor, Zeus, Ra or any of the other deities posited over the time of human civilization are real. These have all been debunked and amount to folklore.

Choosing to believe one of the myths is a choice to ignore the evidence because the myths provide something more valuable to the individual than accepting the reality does.

As long as the religious strictly apply their beliefs to themselves and on no one else, I could care less what people believe. We all lie to ourselves about one thing or another anyways.

Can you link me the Christianity, Judaism, or Islam debunking? I'd like to see those.

 

[Grooveriding]

Can you link me the Christianity, Judaism, or Islam debunking? I'd like to see those.

I'm not debating the validity of religion, which is what your post seems to be after. It is no different than debating if Harry Potter or LOTR is real. Same basis of argument; 'Here I have a book of stories and some gut feels'.

If you're serious go to your local library. Take out books or find papers on evolutionary biology, genetics, astrophysics, geology, organic chemistry, etc. See if that information supports the stories from those faiths that are supposed to account for creation. Avoid falling into the trap of trying to label the creationist fables as analogies to continue believing. If you're fortunate enough to be close to a museum with a good collection of fossils, check that out as well (avoid the ark exhibit). If successful, welcome to reality.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I go sometimes with my wife but I am not a believer. Didn't today.
I am friends with some of the people there so it is like seeing friends. I doze off often during the service.

It's like reading a bedtime story, next time bring a blanket and pillow with you

 

[Majes]

I'm not debating the validity of religion, which is what your post seems to be after. It is no different than debating if Harry Potter or LOTR is real. Same basis of argument; 'Here I have a book of stories and some gut feels'.

If you're serious go to your local library. Take out books or find papers on evolutionary biology, genetics, astrophysics, geology, organic chemistry, etc. See if that information supports the stories from those faiths that are supposed to account for creation. Avoid falling into the trap of trying to label the creationist fables as analogies to continue believing. If you're fortunate enough to be close to a museum with a good collection of fossils, check that out as well (avoid the ark exhibit). If successful, welcome to reality.

I've never had any issues with evolution debunking creation stories... But I'm also not one who thinks the earth is 4-6k years old...

 

[Yakk]

One has to distinguish between the liturgy which is nonsense and a church's community work, which is often original and generally helpful to the neighbourhood.

Yup, churches generally do good at creating a sense of community. Too many places nowadays don't have a sense of community anymore. People isolated from most things with only things like FB as a communications tool.

 

[Thebobo]

Yup, churches generally do good at creating a sense of community. Too many places nowadays don't have a sense of community anymore. People isolated from most things with only things like FB as a communications tool.

So?

 

[Yakk]

So?

Perfect example, there you go.

 

[nakedfrog]

I never said I've never pushed my ideas, as a Christian it is a job to try to get people to understand the truth. And I will admit perhaps I have been guilty of pushing too hard. God only wants us to plant a seed, you can't force a belief. Every belief system does this to some degree, some harder than others. But what I'm saying is that lot of Atheists are guilty of the same thing too, and push just as hard. They will belittle people because of their beliefs and refuse to accept others as they are if they are believers of faith. Not all of them, though.

Here's some examples of historic art or other Christian related stuff that had to be removed because of Atheist extremism, if I can call it that. They'll use the laws of separation of state and church in their favour to get their way:

http://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/30/nyregion/mural-of-christ-must-be-removed.html
If that mural would have been of a fictional character it probably would have stayed. But oh no we can't have Jesus in schools!

http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/11/13/moore.tencommandments/
(this seems to happen a lot, all sorts of articles from various courthouses). Something called the 10 commandments seems rather fitting for a court house, bet if they used something similar that came from a movie or something it would get to stay. But people are offended because it comes from the Bible.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/vachapels.asp
The title is wrong as shown (it's not Obama that ordered it) but the fact remains that they had to hide it because of regulations. If it was tarot card symbols or zodiac signs or something like that, would it have to be removed? Probably not.

http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/7190472208.html
Another painting removed

I don't save the links every time something like this comes up so I can't find all of them, but every now and then an article comes out about instances of stuff like this ordered to be removed, just because it comes from the Bible.

It just seems odd to me that people can be so offended by art or displays that, to them, are fictional.

So, no evidence of murals painted over or statues destroyed?

And, specifically regarding the VA chapels, did you even READ the damn page?
"Those procedures require chapels at VA facilities be maintained as 'religiously neutral' whenever they are not being used by chaplains for services associated with a particular faith"
I have no idea why you went with "tarot cards or zodiac signs", maybe you're not familiar enough with other religions to know what symbols they might have. But I'm not aware of any specific religious significance/affiliation of either tarot cards or zodiac signs.

 

[Aikouka]

But you decided to not accept her love and community because...it's easier being cynical.

Psst... she dumped me for not being religious... not the other way around, but of course, thanks for attempting to vilify the "enemy" by making light of someone's failed romantic entanglements. 😡

I agree, that's why I think agnostic is the way to go. Possibly believe in a higher god but are just unsure of it. Atheist's are 100% sure nothing godly exists therefore they are sure no god exists. You just can't be sure IMO.

"Pray away the gay" didn't work on you? 😎

Is that why she was so frustrated? 😛

 

[Thebobo]

Its the Fukcing labels just stop labeling folks!

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Psst... she dumped me for not being religious... not the other way around, but of course, thanks for attempting to vilify the "enemy" by making light of someone's failed romantic entanglements. 😡

Is that why she was so frustrated? 😛

Wow. So easy if people neatly slot into the 4 categories that you understand. Which one of those covers "All current religions are bullshit because anyone with a brain can see which fairy tales they're based on. If god exists it's up to him to prove that he does and so far he hasn't. So I'll just keep on believing he's a myth until he gets gets off his lazy incompetent ass and does something useful."

 

[Aikouka]

Which one of those covers "All current religions are bullshit because anyone with a brain can see which fairy tales they're based on. If god exists it's up to him to prove that he does and so far he hasn't.

Based on what you said, I'd say gnostic atheist.

Anyway, the whole point is that "agnostic" and "gnostic" are a philosophy describing the strength of one's belief/stance. So, if you say that you're "agnostic", it doesn't really mean anything because what exactly are you agnostic about?

 

[IronWing]

Its the Fukcing labels just stop labeling folks!

^ Kumquat

 

[BigDH01]

I never said I've never pushed my ideas, as a Christian it is a job to try to get people to understand the truth. And I will admit perhaps I have been guilty of pushing too hard. God only wants us to plant a seed, you can't force a belief. Every belief system does this to some degree, some harder than others. But what I'm saying is that lot of Atheists are guilty of the same thing too, and push just as hard. They will belittle people because of their beliefs and refuse to accept others as they are if they are believers of faith. Not all of them, though.

Here's some examples of historic art or other Christian related stuff that had to be removed because of Atheist extremism, if I can call it that. They'll use the laws of separation of state and church in their favour to get their way:

Asking that the constitution be enforced is not extremism.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/11/13/moore.tencommandments/
(this seems to happen a lot, all sorts of articles from various courthouses). Something called the 10 commandments seems rather fitting for a court house, bet if they used something similar that came from a movie or something it would get to stay. But people are offended because it comes from the Bible.

I will gladly pay to put the ten commandments on a Courthouse wall with the caveat that they have to be the real ten commandments: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+34&version=NIV.

It just seems odd to me that people can be so offended by art or displays that, to them, are fictional.

Because I'm guaranteed freedom from the encroachment of your fiction. If I had to worry about the Church of Batman trying to legislate rules and impose upon me ideals derived from the animated series, I would act the same.

 

[lxskllr]

I will gladly pay to put the ten commandments on a Courthouse wall with the caveat that they have to be the real ten commandments: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+34&version=NIV.

10 Then the Lord said: “I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the Lord, will do for you. 11 Obey what I command you today. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 12 Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you. 13 Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles.[a] 14 Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

-Lord
+Trump

Sound familiar? :^D

 

[Ajay]

Hmm, did you go to church today turns into:
"My belief system is superior to yours you moreon".
10s shocked!

 

[Ruptga]

Asking that the constitution be enforced is not extremism.



I will gladly pay to put the ten commandments on a Courthouse wall with the caveat that they have to be the real ten commandments: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+34&version=NIV.



Because I'm guaranteed freedom from the encroachment of your fiction. If I had to worry about the Church of Batman trying to legislate rules and impose upon me ideals derived from the animated series, I would act the same.

You monster! Batman is the shit, and the animated series is clearly the best one. I never cared for the art style shift that eventually happened, but that merely smudged its luster - it's still gold.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

It just seems odd to me that people can be so offended by art or displays that, to them, are fictional.

Really? If courthouses and public buildings displayed messages of intelligence over fairy tales, listed the atrocities in the bible and the other atrocities committed by Christianity on Earth and ended with "Hail the FSM!! Support the only divine being that isn't a mass-murdering piece of shit" you and your fellow wannabelievers would be screaming your lungs out about it.