Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Debunking Christianity: Things I Like About No Longer Being a Christian
This is a pretty cool post. While some of it is a bit hollow the general point gets across. The most important thing is how we cannot rely on the next life so we need to make the most of this one. Please read, you will enjoy Debunking Christianity: Things I Like About No Longer Being a Christian by Theresa Frasch
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
On the complications of moral absolutes (Why can't we just get along?)
The Idea of moral absolutes is one that is inherently dangerous and complicated. It would seem that in order to believe in some sort of moral code would be beneficial on the surface and would suggest some sort of higher order, or meaning. Moral absolutes do not take into account circumstances that generally accompany a situation. Even Christians, while claiming to follow the “absolute and inerrant” doctrines of the bible, tend to bend the rules that it puts forth in order to allow it to have an application to modern day life.
Christians feel that they have the only platform for the ability to be wrong or right. This belief makes their position difficult to argue. Fortunately for me, I am not seeking an argument, so my work here today should be quite easy.
The bible says “Thou shalt not kill.” (Exodus 20:13) This is a plain and simple rule. Not much room for interpretation here. Put simply, those four words mean, don’t kill. It doesn’t specify who, or what. It simply says don’t kill. As a Christian and as a believer in the bible you should follow this rule to the letter. Unfortunately without some tweaking this rule will make survival difficult for you in the real world. Not being able to kill immediately diminishes your food source. All meats are immediately out of the question, as are eggs. Eggs after all are unborn chickens, the equivalent of an unborn baby to humans. That insect or rodent infestation you have in your home is now unsolvable, unless you are willing to capture every single one of the vermin and transport them to another location. Then there is the topic of self defense. If I am lying in bed and hear someone break into my house do I have the right to protect myself and my wife from the perpetrator. What if he wants to rape my wife? Am I supposed to passively watch, or can I kill him? Well you can better believe that I would kill him. Christians though should not.
Of course Christians don’t live this law to the letter. I would have to believe that even with the most intense belief in the inerrancy of the bible that a Christian would kill someone who was raping his wife without even thinking twice about it. The Christian argument to the argument that I just presented would be one of context. Christians love to put arguments into a matter of context because this allows them to make different interpretations of the more vague scriptures in order for ideals to be presented that the original passage may not have necessarily intended. They would say something like “well what God meant was not to kill people unprovoked” or “God gave us dominion over the animals so animals do not apply to the killing rule.” (Genesis 1:26) The first argument here is an argument from interpretation. It means that the person interpreting what the passage is saying is assuming the position of someone who is holy or has a direct pipeline to speak to God about his intentions. The passage clearly says not to kill. There is no room for interpretation. The second argument uses another scripture in order to change the meaning of the first. This is a style that is used by Christians repeatedly. Although it may make a point, the contradiction does much more damage than the point it is defending since it proves that the bible is not inerrant. If the bible is the inerrant word of God then there can be no contradictions, yet it seems to be full of them. (See blog “intelligent design, not so intelligent.”) This is the reason why Christians have to always be on the defensive in arguments.
The real problem though comes through in the mentality of those who try to refute Christianity. These are typically atheist and agnostics that take it upon themselves to attack those who possess religious views concerning the world and the way things are. In many ways these people are doing more harm than the Christians. Yes it is true that faith tends to slow or halt scientific progress but it also subdues some of the scarier elements of human nature. Atheist love to attack the doctrines that led wars and mass genocides to be carried out in the name of Jesus. To my understanding of the life of Jesus though, this is not something that he would have condoned. Atheist love to attack the fallen Christian leaders such as Jim Baker, Jimmy Swaggart, and most recently Ted Haggard. Why wouldn’t they do this? Even an atheist of the most mediocre intelligence can appear to be an intellectual giant when challenging the majority of Christians in philosophical debate. The problem arises when trying to tie these evils together with a particular religious belief structure. Just as many atrocities have been carried out in the name of Islam, Buddha, Allah and even non-theistic types as have been in the name of Jesus. These atrocities are not directly a result of a religious condition, but rather of the human condition. Human leaders will use whatever popular belief system its population is currently the most influenced by in order to further their agenda. Thus the atrocities get tied to the religion at hand.
The point here is that living in a free country means it will have its advantages as well as its disadvantages. While you will be allowed to follow any belief structure you want, you will not be able to infringe on the belief structure of anyone else. You can be Christian and you can try to get you value system placed in the government, but you need to remember that all other religions and anti religious people have the same right. This nation was not founded on religion; mind you this nation was founded by people. (All men are created equal….to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men…..Declaration of independence) Our forefathers, coming from England, knew the dangers of having the church and the state working together, this is the very reason why they entered the following into the Constitution of the United States of America “Congress shall make NO law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” This not only protects Non-believers from the potential life threatening beliefs of believers but it also protects the church from becoming corrupted by the government. So you can fight for the church to be more involved in the political process and you can fight for religious ideals to be taught in the public school system, you have that right. Just remember you are fighting a lost cause because in this country, if it is a part of the government, then it is not a part of the religious institution.
Please I am begging you please stop fighting about religious beliefs. Christians, you should be content enough in your beliefs that you don’t have to go around pressuring everyone to join you. If you genuinely believe in Jesus then that should be enough. Offer to share if you would like but when someone says that they are not interested; make that the end of it. Secularists, we all know that you think the Christians are stupid for following their belief systems, but put your egos down and let them have their belief systems. Fight to keep those beliefs out of the political process, but other than that, leave them alone. Don’t accuse them of having mental disorders; don’t say that they need to be locked up. The great thing about his country is that we can all live in unity regardless of race, sex or religion. I don’t have to agree with you to be your friend. Furthermore my beliefs do not require that you believe in them too.
Christians feel that they have the only platform for the ability to be wrong or right. This belief makes their position difficult to argue. Fortunately for me, I am not seeking an argument, so my work here today should be quite easy.
The bible says “Thou shalt not kill.” (Exodus 20:13) This is a plain and simple rule. Not much room for interpretation here. Put simply, those four words mean, don’t kill. It doesn’t specify who, or what. It simply says don’t kill. As a Christian and as a believer in the bible you should follow this rule to the letter. Unfortunately without some tweaking this rule will make survival difficult for you in the real world. Not being able to kill immediately diminishes your food source. All meats are immediately out of the question, as are eggs. Eggs after all are unborn chickens, the equivalent of an unborn baby to humans. That insect or rodent infestation you have in your home is now unsolvable, unless you are willing to capture every single one of the vermin and transport them to another location. Then there is the topic of self defense. If I am lying in bed and hear someone break into my house do I have the right to protect myself and my wife from the perpetrator. What if he wants to rape my wife? Am I supposed to passively watch, or can I kill him? Well you can better believe that I would kill him. Christians though should not.
Of course Christians don’t live this law to the letter. I would have to believe that even with the most intense belief in the inerrancy of the bible that a Christian would kill someone who was raping his wife without even thinking twice about it. The Christian argument to the argument that I just presented would be one of context. Christians love to put arguments into a matter of context because this allows them to make different interpretations of the more vague scriptures in order for ideals to be presented that the original passage may not have necessarily intended. They would say something like “well what God meant was not to kill people unprovoked” or “God gave us dominion over the animals so animals do not apply to the killing rule.” (Genesis 1:26) The first argument here is an argument from interpretation. It means that the person interpreting what the passage is saying is assuming the position of someone who is holy or has a direct pipeline to speak to God about his intentions. The passage clearly says not to kill. There is no room for interpretation. The second argument uses another scripture in order to change the meaning of the first. This is a style that is used by Christians repeatedly. Although it may make a point, the contradiction does much more damage than the point it is defending since it proves that the bible is not inerrant. If the bible is the inerrant word of God then there can be no contradictions, yet it seems to be full of them. (See blog “intelligent design, not so intelligent.”) This is the reason why Christians have to always be on the defensive in arguments.
The real problem though comes through in the mentality of those who try to refute Christianity. These are typically atheist and agnostics that take it upon themselves to attack those who possess religious views concerning the world and the way things are. In many ways these people are doing more harm than the Christians. Yes it is true that faith tends to slow or halt scientific progress but it also subdues some of the scarier elements of human nature. Atheist love to attack the doctrines that led wars and mass genocides to be carried out in the name of Jesus. To my understanding of the life of Jesus though, this is not something that he would have condoned. Atheist love to attack the fallen Christian leaders such as Jim Baker, Jimmy Swaggart, and most recently Ted Haggard. Why wouldn’t they do this? Even an atheist of the most mediocre intelligence can appear to be an intellectual giant when challenging the majority of Christians in philosophical debate. The problem arises when trying to tie these evils together with a particular religious belief structure. Just as many atrocities have been carried out in the name of Islam, Buddha, Allah and even non-theistic types as have been in the name of Jesus. These atrocities are not directly a result of a religious condition, but rather of the human condition. Human leaders will use whatever popular belief system its population is currently the most influenced by in order to further their agenda. Thus the atrocities get tied to the religion at hand.
The point here is that living in a free country means it will have its advantages as well as its disadvantages. While you will be allowed to follow any belief structure you want, you will not be able to infringe on the belief structure of anyone else. You can be Christian and you can try to get you value system placed in the government, but you need to remember that all other religions and anti religious people have the same right. This nation was not founded on religion; mind you this nation was founded by people. (All men are created equal….to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men…..Declaration of independence) Our forefathers, coming from England, knew the dangers of having the church and the state working together, this is the very reason why they entered the following into the Constitution of the United States of America “Congress shall make NO law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” This not only protects Non-believers from the potential life threatening beliefs of believers but it also protects the church from becoming corrupted by the government. So you can fight for the church to be more involved in the political process and you can fight for religious ideals to be taught in the public school system, you have that right. Just remember you are fighting a lost cause because in this country, if it is a part of the government, then it is not a part of the religious institution.
Please I am begging you please stop fighting about religious beliefs. Christians, you should be content enough in your beliefs that you don’t have to go around pressuring everyone to join you. If you genuinely believe in Jesus then that should be enough. Offer to share if you would like but when someone says that they are not interested; make that the end of it. Secularists, we all know that you think the Christians are stupid for following their belief systems, but put your egos down and let them have their belief systems. Fight to keep those beliefs out of the political process, but other than that, leave them alone. Don’t accuse them of having mental disorders; don’t say that they need to be locked up. The great thing about his country is that we can all live in unity regardless of race, sex or religion. I don’t have to agree with you to be your friend. Furthermore my beliefs do not require that you believe in them too.
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
What is dangerous about Christians (Why I write this blog)
I love a good fight. I don’t mean throwing punches; I always get my ass beat when it comes to that. I mean a good verbal smack down. Often I am able to argue either side of an argument with such intense conviction that I can win converts over to an ideology that I don’t even particularly agree with. This is something that I have excelled at since I was very young. As a matter of fact I recall being told when I was young that I had a gift for this. Everyone either thought that I was going to end up being a preacher or a lawyer. When I believed in God I was so intense about it that I won over massive amounts of converts to the faith. I remember one time, when I was young, having about 12 kids piled into the back of a pickup truck to go to church. I brought so much fresh blood into the chapel that I was often recognized publicly by the pastor for my outreach efforts.
One of the main things about being a Christian, is that somewhere deep down inside you realize how insane your belief system really is. For example if you were taken to court and accused of a murder that you did not commit would you want the jury to decide your fate based on evidence or based on their faith? How about your paycheck? Do you confirm that you received the right amount through the pay stub or through a prayer? Yet when it comes to a life long commitment to a belief or a church people seem to be willing to accept anything that is sold to them without any type of verification. I recall seeing a press meeting with president G.W. Bush were a reporter asked him if he thought that the happenings in Iraq were the fulfillment of biblical predictions that were leading up to the apocalypse. Bush was genuinely flustered attempting to come up with an argument. On one hand he had to respond in such a way that would not alienate his Christian supporters. On the other hand he had to respond with an argument that made him still appear to me sane!
Because Christians realize the profound idiocy of their belief system on a subconscious level, they live with the feeling that they must win converts. It’s a simple psychological phenomenon that we have seen become prevalent in suicide cults. One person possesses an intense belief that can in no way be verified through empirical evidence so they must get as many other people to believe in it as possible in order to make themselves feel better about their belief system. The more people that believe in it the more it will grow and the less people will question the belief system. When mass amounts of people agree with a particular belief system it tends to verify that belief for all of the others.
It was of course upon the realization of this that I realized that I did not truly and fully accept my new belief system. That is a belief system that is void of any type of superior being or deity. The evidence of this was that I was still out trying to win converts. I was still trying to pull people into my world view in order to validate my own belief structure. I had a growing hatred for the Christian faith and a declining respect for the majority of organized religions in existence. It was difficult for me to have any respect for a person with such a belief system because all I could think about was how much of an idiot they must be in order to accept the things that they accept.
The Christian faith while probably one of the least sound and most contradictory of all faiths, (as evidenced by the mass amounts of dissension and multiple different congregations) actually possesses many uplifting and beneficial qualities. Many churches use their money to feed the homeless or buy toys for under-privileged children. Many send missionaries to other countries for humanitarian efforts and support programs to make individual communities stronger. I understand that a priest molesting children, murdering an attendee to gain their inheritance, or having sex with a gay prostitute, is much more likely to make the news than a church feeding the hungry. But we need to keep it in context. The only time that the church truly becomes deadly to the advancement of society is when they try to get entangled in the political system. Our forefathers knew this well and made provisions to keep the church out of the government. Of course the church is starting to fight this.
Churches do have all of the perks in our society. It really bothers me when religious institutions and religious people talk about how much they are persecuted. They are clearly protected in this country. They have everything from freedom of speech to tax exempt status. I have my own beliefs, why can’t I turn them into an institution for tax exempt status? But you don’t hear me complaining.
The point of my story is that this new found understanding, that I do not have to win converts to agnosticism in order to validate my belief system, has not only solidified the meaning of my position but it has posed the question why do I write this blog. This blog after all is a critique of religion and religious people after all. If I am truly content in my belief structure then there is no need to critique or debate with others who dissent. Then I realized that it is not the debate that needs to go away, it is simply the tone that needs to change. Christians are victims of a mass programming of society. People are raised with fears and guilt that is often very difficult to shake. They are taught from a young age that this is the way that things are. Freethinkers are looked down upon and called outcast. Scientist are said to be blasphemers. Any advancement is seen as a threat to the very core of the religious institution. It is important to speak out against these Christians that are doing exactly what I am ceasing to do. Those that want to push their agenda on the world, influence political policy, and ingrain themselves in the political fabric of our country. Religion as Jesus taught it should be happy with itself. Those that want it should go find it for themselves. But an effort to bring in converts is only useful for the validation of beliefs and for the increase of revenue to the religious institutions. It is that type of behavior that is dangerous, it is that type of behavior that must be spoken out against and if all that I have in my power to do, is to blog about it…………then that, is why I blog.
One of the main things about being a Christian, is that somewhere deep down inside you realize how insane your belief system really is. For example if you were taken to court and accused of a murder that you did not commit would you want the jury to decide your fate based on evidence or based on their faith? How about your paycheck? Do you confirm that you received the right amount through the pay stub or through a prayer? Yet when it comes to a life long commitment to a belief or a church people seem to be willing to accept anything that is sold to them without any type of verification. I recall seeing a press meeting with president G.W. Bush were a reporter asked him if he thought that the happenings in Iraq were the fulfillment of biblical predictions that were leading up to the apocalypse. Bush was genuinely flustered attempting to come up with an argument. On one hand he had to respond in such a way that would not alienate his Christian supporters. On the other hand he had to respond with an argument that made him still appear to me sane!
Because Christians realize the profound idiocy of their belief system on a subconscious level, they live with the feeling that they must win converts. It’s a simple psychological phenomenon that we have seen become prevalent in suicide cults. One person possesses an intense belief that can in no way be verified through empirical evidence so they must get as many other people to believe in it as possible in order to make themselves feel better about their belief system. The more people that believe in it the more it will grow and the less people will question the belief system. When mass amounts of people agree with a particular belief system it tends to verify that belief for all of the others.
It was of course upon the realization of this that I realized that I did not truly and fully accept my new belief system. That is a belief system that is void of any type of superior being or deity. The evidence of this was that I was still out trying to win converts. I was still trying to pull people into my world view in order to validate my own belief structure. I had a growing hatred for the Christian faith and a declining respect for the majority of organized religions in existence. It was difficult for me to have any respect for a person with such a belief system because all I could think about was how much of an idiot they must be in order to accept the things that they accept.
The Christian faith while probably one of the least sound and most contradictory of all faiths, (as evidenced by the mass amounts of dissension and multiple different congregations) actually possesses many uplifting and beneficial qualities. Many churches use their money to feed the homeless or buy toys for under-privileged children. Many send missionaries to other countries for humanitarian efforts and support programs to make individual communities stronger. I understand that a priest molesting children, murdering an attendee to gain their inheritance, or having sex with a gay prostitute, is much more likely to make the news than a church feeding the hungry. But we need to keep it in context. The only time that the church truly becomes deadly to the advancement of society is when they try to get entangled in the political system. Our forefathers knew this well and made provisions to keep the church out of the government. Of course the church is starting to fight this.
Churches do have all of the perks in our society. It really bothers me when religious institutions and religious people talk about how much they are persecuted. They are clearly protected in this country. They have everything from freedom of speech to tax exempt status. I have my own beliefs, why can’t I turn them into an institution for tax exempt status? But you don’t hear me complaining.
The point of my story is that this new found understanding, that I do not have to win converts to agnosticism in order to validate my belief system, has not only solidified the meaning of my position but it has posed the question why do I write this blog. This blog after all is a critique of religion and religious people after all. If I am truly content in my belief structure then there is no need to critique or debate with others who dissent. Then I realized that it is not the debate that needs to go away, it is simply the tone that needs to change. Christians are victims of a mass programming of society. People are raised with fears and guilt that is often very difficult to shake. They are taught from a young age that this is the way that things are. Freethinkers are looked down upon and called outcast. Scientist are said to be blasphemers. Any advancement is seen as a threat to the very core of the religious institution. It is important to speak out against these Christians that are doing exactly what I am ceasing to do. Those that want to push their agenda on the world, influence political policy, and ingrain themselves in the political fabric of our country. Religion as Jesus taught it should be happy with itself. Those that want it should go find it for themselves. But an effort to bring in converts is only useful for the validation of beliefs and for the increase of revenue to the religious institutions. It is that type of behavior that is dangerous, it is that type of behavior that must be spoken out against and if all that I have in my power to do, is to blog about it…………then that, is why I blog.
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
Frank Walton gets schooled
The following is a conversation that took place between Frank Walton and myself. Frank Walton is a so called "Extreme Christian." He tries to put Christianity into a scientific form and back up the bible with "facts" in order to get his point across. His motto is "We put non-Christians on the defensive. Through reading this correspondence you can clearly see for yourself that Frank's arguments are all rooted in a fundamental mis-interpretation of the bible. Not that the bible is a viable source! He is known for resorting to name calling, ignoring the argument and changing the subject when he is backed into a corner and hard pressed. Anything in parenthesis is the following blog is my commentary that was added after the fact
(This was my initial comment to Frank which he deleted because it did not praise him strongly enough)
Frank
Your website is great. I have not been this entertained in a long time. I was wondering a couple of things. You said that atheist have no grounds for appreciating art and as a result they have "the worst taste in music." How do you know this? Is that from a study? I also saw a post from atheist bacon eating Jew. He wanted to debate with you. I thought that would be interesting to read. Did that debate ever happen? Thanks for the entertainment.
(Frank deletes my comment and removes me from his friends list)
(Frank responds)
Hey silence, yeah I took him on. He's not exactly a sophisticated guy, but he posted some comments in my blog before. I'm glad you found our webpage to be humorous. Personally, I find yours more amusing. (Interesting, he must know all of my feelings!)
(My response)
Yea, you tend to only allow people on your friends list who agree with you. I can understand how being close minded would be important for you, considering your set of beliefs. I love reading forums where Atheist and Christians argue, considering that they are both equally ridiculous. I am curious how you know that you found my website more amusing, or how you know that atheist have bad taste in music. What is your barometer for knowing? Did god tell you? You make a lot of claims but I can't find anywhere where you back them up. I am open minded. If a Christian presented a good argument to me then I could be persuaded. But most Christians, when faced with adversity seem to back down or shun those that are questioning them. Interesting to see that you are no different. Anyways I wish the best to you. Peace
(Now Frank starts to get agitated and he starts his usual dance)
Hey Silence, Well, if you actually read my profile and saw the blog there have been atheists who have posted in them. (Since when did I mention his blogs?) If you were open minded enough you would have at least tried reading them. (Open minded, I am asking for you to explain your arguments. I am ready to listen. How much more open minded does it get?)Thanks for nothing, Frank
(Here I point out that he has not responded and then I throw in a little dig just to get him fired up! By the way calling someone on their actions compared to their religion is always a great way to get under their skin!)
Again you respond to nothing, and that attitude!!! Very Christian of you. Love Humanity
(Frank responds)
Hi Silence, Well, I responded to your accusation that I don't allow people who differ with me to comment. (He did???) I know you hate it when I find out lies about you, but dude, you have to accept how full of it you are. (Now he says I am lying. About what I can't figure out!) Yes, I do have an attitude. And it is very Christian. (Is it Christian to have an attitude? I thought Jesus said to turn the other cheek?) That's probably the most truthful thing you ever said so far! (Again with the lying!)Thanks for something this time, Frank
(I respond)
And you have nothing else! It is obvious that anyone who disagrees with you gets shut out by you! Your 19 years old! So this type of behavior makes sense. Some pastor somewhere probably instilled the fear of God into you and you felt a "calling" to instill it into everyone else. (The church grows through fear don't they?) You also just repeat every accusation or argument that is sent to you back at the person that sent it. I have noticed in your blogs that one of your main techniques is calling names ie "baldy, fat, stupid, full of it" (He does this in spite of the fact that he list rules on his blog site that forbid profanity and name calling!) Is this how Jesus handled these situations? What good are you doing for your cause?!?! Stop calling names and convince me that God is good and that he loves me! (Clearly open minded, I am ready to receive the word of God. Why won't he speak it to me?)Not a Christian but I care more than one!
(Now Frank is getting really pissed)
Hi Silence,
Good to hear from you as always. Well, since you can't concede your lie, in fact, you keep repeating it (Again, what lie? He has this scenario in his head that doesn't exist), I don't see the use of trying to show how much God loves you. (No use in trying to show me how much God loves me!!! Isn't that a Christians job?!?!?) Obviously, you haven't been honest. (Here we go with the lying again!) And by not conceding to that it shows that you really aren't open to the love of God. (Not open to the love of God because of a lie? Didn't God send Jesus to the earth for the sinners? If this is not a circular arguement, then I don't know what is!)Thanks for nothing again. Your pal,
(O.K. now I had to get serious with him because he is starting to veer way off course)
Frank
Let me get this straight, the lie is that I said that 1. Only Christians are allowed to post comments on your site when you say that Atheist have posted as well and 2. If I have said this lie and not conceded to the lie then I am not worthy of Christ's salvation! Well below is a post of every comment on your page ......and guess what, not one of them is from an atheist. They are all Christians that are praising you. There is no lie to concede to. According to the bible we are all worthy of Christ salvation. Did you write your own version? Can I see it? (Because if he did write his own version of the bible it might be an interesting read!) Cause I use the King James version. I just want to make sure I am on the same page. You seem to be making up rules! Christian comments 17 Atheist comments 0 What lie? Why can't my soul be saved?
(Here I proceeded to cut and paste all of the comments on his page. They are all comments from Christian supporters praising him for his great web page! If you would like to see them, there is a link at the bottom of this blog.)
(Oh boy, here comes Frank again!!!)
Hi Silence, I didn't say that not conceding to the lie makes you unworthy of Christ's salvation. (O.K. fair enough, let's not be so literal!) Hmm, it seems that you can't help but lie all the time. (The lying again?) But NOW you did concede that you did lie about saying only Christians are allowed to comment in my blog. (I did? Where? What the hell is he talking about? Can anyone find where I conceded this please?) Thank you. (Your welcome I guess?) However, NOBODY is worthy of Christ's salvation anyway. (Wait a minute, just a few sentences ago he says that he never said this, but now he does???) Not even me. It's only by God's mercy and grace that I'm saved. Had you read the Bible or studied Christianity you'd know that. (Wow! He actually knows something from the bible, I am impressed!)Thanks again for a little more than something, (My response)
Frank
Conceded what lie? Where? Are you even reading my letters? Do you not even know what's on your own page? There is not one comment on your page from a non-Christian. I even sent you a cut and paste. Dude seriously? What is wrong with you? Here is your quote "Well, since you can't concede your lie in fact, you keep repeating it, I don't see the use of trying to show how much God loves you." How is this saying that I am not worthy? My understanding is that god has put it on his followers to spread the word to everyone, not to those who YOU pick and choose. It really seems that everything that you are accusing me of are things that you yourself are guilty of. Once again, convince me. you have said nothing. Stop making things up and stick to the point. Why does god love me? Why should I follow him? Show some proof! My ears are open, stop insulting and start convincing! This is your big chance to save a soul! Think about your responses, otherwise you are simply wasting my time! Remember you worship Christ! Act like him!
I totally understand what you do now. Your whole motto is putting non-Christians on the defensive. You do this by not answering any questions and by throwing circular questions at those who you are debating. Most atheist are not sophisticated enough to realize this and as a result it becomes easy to destroy them. You do a good job at it. You actually remind me a lot of myself. I used to be a self righteous Christian just like you. I used to play guitar in a very popular Christian rock band, who you have likely even heard of. I was raised in church and I understand the hypocrisy of religion. You avoid the hard questions because to answer them would ruin your own arguments. You call names and twist peoples words. This whole thread started because you deleted a comment from me in which I disagreed with you. Then you claimed that there are many non-Christians with comments on your page! When I proved that there were none you changed the subject again. Further more you have avoided several questions. You simply ignore them because responding to them would show that you really have no ground to stand on. Here are the questions you have avoided 1. How do you know that you found my website more amusing than mine? Do you know how I felt and you felt more? 2. Where is your proof that atheist have bad taste in music? Is that from a study? 3. Why would you delete my comment when it does not break any of your rules? 4. How does supposedly not conceding to a lie not make me open to the "love of God?" Why won't you concede that there are only Christians posting comments on your page when it is abundantly clear? 5. This is my favorite one. In the same letter, you say "I didn't say that not conceding to the lie makes you unworthy of Christ's salvation" and then a few sentences later you say "However, NOBODY is worthy of Christ's salvation anyway." So which is it Frank. Why can't you answer a question? Why can't you even write a letter without contradicting yourself? You are truly so much more entertaining than any other Christian that I have ever spoken with. Thanks for all the laughs!!!
(After this letter Frank goes silent. I have to say I don't blame him. Every time this guy puts his fingers on the keyboard he makes his case worse and he makes Christians look even more idiotic. If you want to check out Franks site for yourself please do. It is some of the most hilarious writing you might ever see. It truly demonstrates the idiocy of the large majority of people who follow the Christian faith. Hope you enjoyed this!) Franks page -> http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=132047792
(This was my initial comment to Frank which he deleted because it did not praise him strongly enough)
Frank
Your website is great. I have not been this entertained in a long time. I was wondering a couple of things. You said that atheist have no grounds for appreciating art and as a result they have "the worst taste in music." How do you know this? Is that from a study? I also saw a post from atheist bacon eating Jew. He wanted to debate with you. I thought that would be interesting to read. Did that debate ever happen? Thanks for the entertainment.
(Frank deletes my comment and removes me from his friends list)
(Frank responds)
Hey silence, yeah I took him on. He's not exactly a sophisticated guy, but he posted some comments in my blog before. I'm glad you found our webpage to be humorous. Personally, I find yours more amusing. (Interesting, he must know all of my feelings!)
(My response)
Yea, you tend to only allow people on your friends list who agree with you. I can understand how being close minded would be important for you, considering your set of beliefs. I love reading forums where Atheist and Christians argue, considering that they are both equally ridiculous. I am curious how you know that you found my website more amusing, or how you know that atheist have bad taste in music. What is your barometer for knowing? Did god tell you? You make a lot of claims but I can't find anywhere where you back them up. I am open minded. If a Christian presented a good argument to me then I could be persuaded. But most Christians, when faced with adversity seem to back down or shun those that are questioning them. Interesting to see that you are no different. Anyways I wish the best to you. Peace
(Now Frank starts to get agitated and he starts his usual dance)
Hey Silence, Well, if you actually read my profile and saw the blog there have been atheists who have posted in them. (Since when did I mention his blogs?) If you were open minded enough you would have at least tried reading them. (Open minded, I am asking for you to explain your arguments. I am ready to listen. How much more open minded does it get?)Thanks for nothing, Frank
(Here I point out that he has not responded and then I throw in a little dig just to get him fired up! By the way calling someone on their actions compared to their religion is always a great way to get under their skin!)
Again you respond to nothing, and that attitude!!! Very Christian of you. Love Humanity
(Frank responds)
Hi Silence, Well, I responded to your accusation that I don't allow people who differ with me to comment. (He did???) I know you hate it when I find out lies about you, but dude, you have to accept how full of it you are. (Now he says I am lying. About what I can't figure out!) Yes, I do have an attitude. And it is very Christian. (Is it Christian to have an attitude? I thought Jesus said to turn the other cheek?) That's probably the most truthful thing you ever said so far! (Again with the lying!)Thanks for something this time, Frank
(I respond)
And you have nothing else! It is obvious that anyone who disagrees with you gets shut out by you! Your 19 years old! So this type of behavior makes sense. Some pastor somewhere probably instilled the fear of God into you and you felt a "calling" to instill it into everyone else. (The church grows through fear don't they?) You also just repeat every accusation or argument that is sent to you back at the person that sent it. I have noticed in your blogs that one of your main techniques is calling names ie "baldy, fat, stupid, full of it" (He does this in spite of the fact that he list rules on his blog site that forbid profanity and name calling!) Is this how Jesus handled these situations? What good are you doing for your cause?!?! Stop calling names and convince me that God is good and that he loves me! (Clearly open minded, I am ready to receive the word of God. Why won't he speak it to me?)Not a Christian but I care more than one!
(Now Frank is getting really pissed)
Hi Silence,
Good to hear from you as always. Well, since you can't concede your lie, in fact, you keep repeating it (Again, what lie? He has this scenario in his head that doesn't exist), I don't see the use of trying to show how much God loves you. (No use in trying to show me how much God loves me!!! Isn't that a Christians job?!?!?) Obviously, you haven't been honest. (Here we go with the lying again!) And by not conceding to that it shows that you really aren't open to the love of God. (Not open to the love of God because of a lie? Didn't God send Jesus to the earth for the sinners? If this is not a circular arguement, then I don't know what is!)Thanks for nothing again. Your pal,
(O.K. now I had to get serious with him because he is starting to veer way off course)
Frank
Let me get this straight, the lie is that I said that 1. Only Christians are allowed to post comments on your site when you say that Atheist have posted as well and 2. If I have said this lie and not conceded to the lie then I am not worthy of Christ's salvation! Well below is a post of every comment on your page ......and guess what, not one of them is from an atheist. They are all Christians that are praising you. There is no lie to concede to. According to the bible we are all worthy of Christ salvation. Did you write your own version? Can I see it? (Because if he did write his own version of the bible it might be an interesting read!) Cause I use the King James version. I just want to make sure I am on the same page. You seem to be making up rules! Christian comments 17 Atheist comments 0 What lie? Why can't my soul be saved?
(Here I proceeded to cut and paste all of the comments on his page. They are all comments from Christian supporters praising him for his great web page! If you would like to see them, there is a link at the bottom of this blog.)
(Oh boy, here comes Frank again!!!)
Hi Silence, I didn't say that not conceding to the lie makes you unworthy of Christ's salvation. (O.K. fair enough, let's not be so literal!) Hmm, it seems that you can't help but lie all the time. (The lying again?) But NOW you did concede that you did lie about saying only Christians are allowed to comment in my blog. (I did? Where? What the hell is he talking about? Can anyone find where I conceded this please?) Thank you. (Your welcome I guess?) However, NOBODY is worthy of Christ's salvation anyway. (Wait a minute, just a few sentences ago he says that he never said this, but now he does???) Not even me. It's only by God's mercy and grace that I'm saved. Had you read the Bible or studied Christianity you'd know that. (Wow! He actually knows something from the bible, I am impressed!)Thanks again for a little more than something, (My response)
Frank
Conceded what lie? Where? Are you even reading my letters? Do you not even know what's on your own page? There is not one comment on your page from a non-Christian. I even sent you a cut and paste. Dude seriously? What is wrong with you? Here is your quote "Well, since you can't concede your lie in fact, you keep repeating it, I don't see the use of trying to show how much God loves you." How is this saying that I am not worthy? My understanding is that god has put it on his followers to spread the word to everyone, not to those who YOU pick and choose. It really seems that everything that you are accusing me of are things that you yourself are guilty of. Once again, convince me. you have said nothing. Stop making things up and stick to the point. Why does god love me? Why should I follow him? Show some proof! My ears are open, stop insulting and start convincing! This is your big chance to save a soul! Think about your responses, otherwise you are simply wasting my time! Remember you worship Christ! Act like him!
I totally understand what you do now. Your whole motto is putting non-Christians on the defensive. You do this by not answering any questions and by throwing circular questions at those who you are debating. Most atheist are not sophisticated enough to realize this and as a result it becomes easy to destroy them. You do a good job at it. You actually remind me a lot of myself. I used to be a self righteous Christian just like you. I used to play guitar in a very popular Christian rock band, who you have likely even heard of. I was raised in church and I understand the hypocrisy of religion. You avoid the hard questions because to answer them would ruin your own arguments. You call names and twist peoples words. This whole thread started because you deleted a comment from me in which I disagreed with you. Then you claimed that there are many non-Christians with comments on your page! When I proved that there were none you changed the subject again. Further more you have avoided several questions. You simply ignore them because responding to them would show that you really have no ground to stand on. Here are the questions you have avoided 1. How do you know that you found my website more amusing than mine? Do you know how I felt and you felt more? 2. Where is your proof that atheist have bad taste in music? Is that from a study? 3. Why would you delete my comment when it does not break any of your rules? 4. How does supposedly not conceding to a lie not make me open to the "love of God?" Why won't you concede that there are only Christians posting comments on your page when it is abundantly clear? 5. This is my favorite one. In the same letter, you say "I didn't say that not conceding to the lie makes you unworthy of Christ's salvation" and then a few sentences later you say "However, NOBODY is worthy of Christ's salvation anyway." So which is it Frank. Why can't you answer a question? Why can't you even write a letter without contradicting yourself? You are truly so much more entertaining than any other Christian that I have ever spoken with. Thanks for all the laughs!!!
(After this letter Frank goes silent. I have to say I don't blame him. Every time this guy puts his fingers on the keyboard he makes his case worse and he makes Christians look even more idiotic. If you want to check out Franks site for yourself please do. It is some of the most hilarious writing you might ever see. It truly demonstrates the idiocy of the large majority of people who follow the Christian faith. Hope you enjoyed this!) Franks page -> http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=132047792
Intelligent design, not so intelligent
Did God create humans or animals first?
Genesis 2:18-19 Humans were created before the other animals.
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
Genesis 1:25-27Humans were created after the other animals.
And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let us make man in our image.... So God created man in his own image.
How many languages were in existence before the tower of Babel
One
Genesis 11:1
And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
Genesis 11:6-9
And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all onelanguage.... Go to, let us go down, and there confound theirlanguage, that they may not understand one another's speech.... Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth
Or many
Genesis 10:5
By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands, every one after his tongue.
Genesis 10:20
These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues.
Genesis 10:31
These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues
Who sinned first, man or woman?
Man
Romans 5:12
By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin.
Woman
1 Timothy 2:14
And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
Is God all powerful?
Yes
Genesis 18:14
Is any thing too hard for the LORD?
Job 42:1-2
Then Job answered the LORD, and said, I know that thou canst do every thing....
Jeremiah 32:17
Ah Lord God! ... there is nothing too hard for thee.
Jeremiah 32:27
Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for the Lord?;
Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27
With God all things are possible.
Luke 18:27
The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
No
Judges 1:19
And the Lord was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.
Mark 6:5
And he could there do no mighty work.
Hebrews 6:18
It was impossible for God to lie.
Does God author confusion?
Yes
Genesis 11:7-9
Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech..... Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth:
1 Corinthians 1:27
God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.
No
1 Corinthians 14:33
For God is not the author of confusion....
Is the Devil free to roam and tempt us?
No
2 Peter 2:4
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.
Jude 6
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day
Yes
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
Does everyone have to die?
No
Hebrews 11:5
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him.
Genesis 5:24
And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Yes
Romans 5:12
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men.
Hebrews 9:27
And as it is appointed unto men once to die.
When will the world end?
Before the gospel is preached to all the cities of Israel
Matthew 10:23
Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
After the Gospel is preached to all the Nations of earth
Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Was Jesus the first person to rise from the dead?
Yes
Acts 26:23
That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead.
No
1 Samuel 28:11, 14
Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel .... And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel.
1 Kings 17:22
And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
2 Kings 4:32-35
And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD. And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times.
2 Kings 13:21
And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.
Matthew 9:23-25
And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
Luke 7:12-15
Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
Luke 9:30
And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias.
John 11:43
And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
Did God give us free will
Yes
Dt.30:19
I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life.
Joshua 24:15
Choose you this day whom ye will serve.... But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
No
Rom.8:29-30
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate.... Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Rom.9:11-22
For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth. .... For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? ... Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction.
Can Women be church leaders?
Yes
Acts 18:26
"Priscilla ... expounded unto him the way of God."
Romans 16:1
"I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church."
No
1 Corinthians 14:34-35
"Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church."
Did Jesus come to bring peace to the earth?
Yes
Luke 2:14
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.
Acts 10:36
The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ.
No
Matthew 10:34
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Luke 12:51
Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
How can so many take this book so seriously?
How can a book with so many contradictions be considered as a text to teach school children about the creation of the world? Someone please explain, what is happening in this country!!!
Genesis 2:18-19 Humans were created before the other animals.
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
Genesis 1:25-27Humans were created after the other animals.
And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let us make man in our image.... So God created man in his own image.
How many languages were in existence before the tower of Babel
One
Genesis 11:1
And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
Genesis 11:6-9
And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all onelanguage.... Go to, let us go down, and there confound theirlanguage, that they may not understand one another's speech.... Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth
Or many
Genesis 10:5
By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands, every one after his tongue.
Genesis 10:20
These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues.
Genesis 10:31
These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues
Who sinned first, man or woman?
Man
Romans 5:12
By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin.
Woman
1 Timothy 2:14
And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
Is God all powerful?
Yes
Genesis 18:14
Is any thing too hard for the LORD?
Job 42:1-2
Then Job answered the LORD, and said, I know that thou canst do every thing....
Jeremiah 32:17
Ah Lord God! ... there is nothing too hard for thee.
Jeremiah 32:27
Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for the Lord?;
Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27
With God all things are possible.
Luke 18:27
The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
No
Judges 1:19
And the Lord was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.
Mark 6:5
And he could there do no mighty work.
Hebrews 6:18
It was impossible for God to lie.
Does God author confusion?
Yes
Genesis 11:7-9
Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech..... Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth:
1 Corinthians 1:27
God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.
No
1 Corinthians 14:33
For God is not the author of confusion....
Is the Devil free to roam and tempt us?
No
2 Peter 2:4
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.
Jude 6
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day
Yes
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
Does everyone have to die?
No
Hebrews 11:5
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him.
Genesis 5:24
And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Yes
Romans 5:12
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men.
Hebrews 9:27
And as it is appointed unto men once to die.
When will the world end?
Before the gospel is preached to all the cities of Israel
Matthew 10:23
Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
After the Gospel is preached to all the Nations of earth
Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Was Jesus the first person to rise from the dead?
Yes
Acts 26:23
That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead.
No
1 Samuel 28:11, 14
Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel .... And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel.
1 Kings 17:22
And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
2 Kings 4:32-35
And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD. And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times.
2 Kings 13:21
And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.
Matthew 9:23-25
And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
Luke 7:12-15
Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
Luke 9:30
And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias.
John 11:43
And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
Did God give us free will
Yes
Dt.30:19
I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life.
Joshua 24:15
Choose you this day whom ye will serve.... But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
No
Rom.8:29-30
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate.... Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Rom.9:11-22
For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth. .... For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? ... Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction.
Can Women be church leaders?
Yes
Acts 18:26
"Priscilla ... expounded unto him the way of God."
Romans 16:1
"I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church."
No
1 Corinthians 14:34-35
"Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church."
Did Jesus come to bring peace to the earth?
Yes
Luke 2:14
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.
Acts 10:36
The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ.
No
Matthew 10:34
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Luke 12:51
Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
How can so many take this book so seriously?
How can a book with so many contradictions be considered as a text to teach school children about the creation of the world? Someone please explain, what is happening in this country!!!
I'll take "There is no God" for $500 please
It seems to me that one of the key arguments for the existence of God by Christians, Baptist and Calvinist in particular, involves a method of debate commonly referred to as double-speak. Not surprisingly this method is used incredibly well by the Bush administration. Basically how it works is that you create a statement which you assume to be true and then you argue from that vantage point. Then when anyone tries to argue against a point you are making you point back to your original made up statement and show how your argument is supported by it. When people see the two statements tied together in such a way, they tend to think of the statements as supporting each other. In the lay persons mind tying these ideas together in such a way makes them irrefutable.
Let me explain with a better example. I have an old friend Chris, with whom I used to play guitar for in his Christian rock band. Chris in incredibly intelligent and for many years I looked up to him as a hero, especially in my Christian years. What I have realized lately though is that his arguments for the existence of God all hinge on a made up premise, and it is quite a solid one. The premise is that without the existence of God or "a higher power" there can be no right or wrong. This sounds like a simple premise but it is deadly if accepted as true. Here is the reason.
If you buy into this premise you cannot argue the existence of God, or rather the lack of existence from an atheistic standpoint. As an atheist you would be arguing that God does not exist. Chris's argument say's that there can be no right or wrong, no good or evil without God. Therefore if you say God does not exist then you can't be right because there is no right or wrong. Therefore God must exist because that is the only way that either of you can possess the ability to be right or wrong. Therefore the only right answer is that god must exist!
This style of argumentation runs rampant in the Christian community and unfortunately it is incredibly effective. Another one that is very common is the betting man's call for salvation. This is a Christian argument for accepting Christ into your life, or what Christians like to refer to as "Being Saved." Basically you have two bets according to this argument. You can either accept Christ into you life or you can choose not to. Now, if you accept him and you are right you go to heaven, but if you accept him and your wrong you just die and go in the ground like everyone else. A positive and a neutral outcome is produced for acceptance. If you don't accept him and you are wrong you go to hell. If you don't accept him and you are right then you go in the ground. A negative and a neutral outcome are produced by not accepting him. Clearly the better bet is on acceptance. So on and on we go.
The notion that right and wrong cannot exist without the existence of God is one that needs to be put to rest. It is a statement that is entirely without justification. Right and wrong are inventions of man just as God is. The problem is that the way that we think about right and wrong were originally forged by religious institutions through the use of memes. A meme is an idea. These ideas can be thought of by one person and disappear or they can become more and more popular until they appear in mass consciousness and are accepted by entire generations. What causes the success of a meme is when it is successful for a society. For example lets take a meme that most human societies have adopted…..Not killing your own.
As men started to evolve, become less solitary and began living in groups they soon discovered that there where many advantages to living in these groups. One of these huge advantages is the fact that there is safety in numbers. One of the disadvantages to living in groups is that the competition for resources could become so heated that one could be killed in the dispute. It could be truly fatal for the group as a whole if the group started killing each other. So eventually it becomes a punishable offense to kill someone in your own group. When the success of the group was furthered as a result of this meme it becomes ingrained in the culture of the group as if it was always the way. Killing has now become wrong. In modern day societies these rules are handed down in a much similar way. The difference now is that religious organizations hand down these rules. They have enough followers that blindly believe that God is speaking through the religious organizations that when these ideas are delivered and are successful then they are perceived as being handed down directly from God.
Memes are a way of setting up standards of right and wrong in order for a society to be able to survive. Many people through the belief of a higher power accept these ideas as divine and are thus ruled by these ideas. In modern life most people accept these belief structures with the belief that they are passed down from God himself and they don't understand the direct societal implications and necessities of these ideas. Hinduism for example was effectively used in order to keep native peoples that were conquered by the Iranians (Aryans) in check in 1500 B.C. The system was a caste system. The Iranians were born with any privilege that they wanted to have over their native slaves. If a native so much as looked at an Iranian wrong in public he could be killed on the spot. Even though the native indigenous people out numbered and could have easily overthrown their Iranian oppressors, Hinduism taught them to accept their lot in life. They would never rise up because they were promised better things in the life to come. This set of beliefs allowed the Iranians to establish one of the most successful societies of their day.
In the time of Karl Marx we saw a back lash against such a belief. Marx who is famous for coining the phrase "religion is the opiate for the masses" saw that people where going through hell in this life because they believed that if they took it in stride that they would get a better life after they died. Marx led a social movement that strived to get people to rise up and live this life to the fullest and not to wait for the next life. He was the champion of making your situation better now. Karl Marx started a whole new meme rolling. It was taken into mass consciousness. Then a new set of right and wrong was created, not by God but by us, by what we deemed to be right or wrong and enforced as such.
Now I am no longer a Christian, but I would definitely not consider myself and Atheist. I think that both schools of thought are equally ridiculous. Both make assumptions about things that we cannot possibly know. Both require a leap of faith for their most basic tenants to be accepted. If one is right and the other is wrong, how could we know? But to answer that argument with doublespeak is to avoid the argument altogether. In my letters to Chris my arguments have either been ignored or answered with something along the lines of this "Well you could be right, you could be wrong, am I right or wrong to think that?" Well that is very clever but it answers nothing. I will answer you though. It is a matter of context. In one society under one set of memes, you may be right, in another you may be wrong. At your church with all of the people that agree with you, you are right. At the Hindi temple you are wrong. In some places some actions are considered wrong and in others the same actions can be considered right. I will not ever put anyone down for grasping a set of ideas that make them or their group better people as a result, but I will not stand idly by while outrageous Christian philosophies are pushed on our public education system in an effort to brainwash another generation into funding our religious infrastructure so that we can create more hateful exclusionist to haunt free thinking generations to come. So all of you Christians out there, just tell me one thing since you apparently have the only vantage point for deciding it. Am I right?
Let me explain with a better example. I have an old friend Chris, with whom I used to play guitar for in his Christian rock band. Chris in incredibly intelligent and for many years I looked up to him as a hero, especially in my Christian years. What I have realized lately though is that his arguments for the existence of God all hinge on a made up premise, and it is quite a solid one. The premise is that without the existence of God or "a higher power" there can be no right or wrong. This sounds like a simple premise but it is deadly if accepted as true. Here is the reason.
If you buy into this premise you cannot argue the existence of God, or rather the lack of existence from an atheistic standpoint. As an atheist you would be arguing that God does not exist. Chris's argument say's that there can be no right or wrong, no good or evil without God. Therefore if you say God does not exist then you can't be right because there is no right or wrong. Therefore God must exist because that is the only way that either of you can possess the ability to be right or wrong. Therefore the only right answer is that god must exist!
This style of argumentation runs rampant in the Christian community and unfortunately it is incredibly effective. Another one that is very common is the betting man's call for salvation. This is a Christian argument for accepting Christ into your life, or what Christians like to refer to as "Being Saved." Basically you have two bets according to this argument. You can either accept Christ into you life or you can choose not to. Now, if you accept him and you are right you go to heaven, but if you accept him and your wrong you just die and go in the ground like everyone else. A positive and a neutral outcome is produced for acceptance. If you don't accept him and you are wrong you go to hell. If you don't accept him and you are right then you go in the ground. A negative and a neutral outcome are produced by not accepting him. Clearly the better bet is on acceptance. So on and on we go.
The notion that right and wrong cannot exist without the existence of God is one that needs to be put to rest. It is a statement that is entirely without justification. Right and wrong are inventions of man just as God is. The problem is that the way that we think about right and wrong were originally forged by religious institutions through the use of memes. A meme is an idea. These ideas can be thought of by one person and disappear or they can become more and more popular until they appear in mass consciousness and are accepted by entire generations. What causes the success of a meme is when it is successful for a society. For example lets take a meme that most human societies have adopted…..Not killing your own.
As men started to evolve, become less solitary and began living in groups they soon discovered that there where many advantages to living in these groups. One of these huge advantages is the fact that there is safety in numbers. One of the disadvantages to living in groups is that the competition for resources could become so heated that one could be killed in the dispute. It could be truly fatal for the group as a whole if the group started killing each other. So eventually it becomes a punishable offense to kill someone in your own group. When the success of the group was furthered as a result of this meme it becomes ingrained in the culture of the group as if it was always the way. Killing has now become wrong. In modern day societies these rules are handed down in a much similar way. The difference now is that religious organizations hand down these rules. They have enough followers that blindly believe that God is speaking through the religious organizations that when these ideas are delivered and are successful then they are perceived as being handed down directly from God.
Memes are a way of setting up standards of right and wrong in order for a society to be able to survive. Many people through the belief of a higher power accept these ideas as divine and are thus ruled by these ideas. In modern life most people accept these belief structures with the belief that they are passed down from God himself and they don't understand the direct societal implications and necessities of these ideas. Hinduism for example was effectively used in order to keep native peoples that were conquered by the Iranians (Aryans) in check in 1500 B.C. The system was a caste system. The Iranians were born with any privilege that they wanted to have over their native slaves. If a native so much as looked at an Iranian wrong in public he could be killed on the spot. Even though the native indigenous people out numbered and could have easily overthrown their Iranian oppressors, Hinduism taught them to accept their lot in life. They would never rise up because they were promised better things in the life to come. This set of beliefs allowed the Iranians to establish one of the most successful societies of their day.
In the time of Karl Marx we saw a back lash against such a belief. Marx who is famous for coining the phrase "religion is the opiate for the masses" saw that people where going through hell in this life because they believed that if they took it in stride that they would get a better life after they died. Marx led a social movement that strived to get people to rise up and live this life to the fullest and not to wait for the next life. He was the champion of making your situation better now. Karl Marx started a whole new meme rolling. It was taken into mass consciousness. Then a new set of right and wrong was created, not by God but by us, by what we deemed to be right or wrong and enforced as such.
Now I am no longer a Christian, but I would definitely not consider myself and Atheist. I think that both schools of thought are equally ridiculous. Both make assumptions about things that we cannot possibly know. Both require a leap of faith for their most basic tenants to be accepted. If one is right and the other is wrong, how could we know? But to answer that argument with doublespeak is to avoid the argument altogether. In my letters to Chris my arguments have either been ignored or answered with something along the lines of this "Well you could be right, you could be wrong, am I right or wrong to think that?" Well that is very clever but it answers nothing. I will answer you though. It is a matter of context. In one society under one set of memes, you may be right, in another you may be wrong. At your church with all of the people that agree with you, you are right. At the Hindi temple you are wrong. In some places some actions are considered wrong and in others the same actions can be considered right. I will not ever put anyone down for grasping a set of ideas that make them or their group better people as a result, but I will not stand idly by while outrageous Christian philosophies are pushed on our public education system in an effort to brainwash another generation into funding our religious infrastructure so that we can create more hateful exclusionist to haunt free thinking generations to come. So all of you Christians out there, just tell me one thing since you apparently have the only vantage point for deciding it. Am I right?
Gay sex, it's not just for Catholics anymore
When I woke up yesterday morning, it seemed like it might be a normal day. I came down stairs, had some breakfast, made a cup of coffee and sat down to read www.cnn.com like I always do. The leading story put the biggest smile on my face. Rev. Ted Haggard, (AKA the Jimmy Swaggart of 2006) has been ousted not only for purchasing meth but also for having sex with the gay male prostitute that he was purchasing his drugs from. Of course Haggard is saying that he never used the meth, that he threw it away, and that he never had sex with the gay male prostitute, but that he only recieved a backrub from him! This is the most hilarious story I have ever heard.
For those of you who don't know Rev. Ted Haggard not only leads the evangelical New Life Church with a congregation of more than 14,000 people in Coloradp Springs, but he also consults the White House. Of course upon hearing that Haggard is a homosexual the White House is attempting to downplay his role in the phone conversations. Bush wants us to believe he was only allowed to "listen in" and that he didn't offer much input. Ha!!!
The best thing about this story is that Rev. Haggard is one of the loudest voices of opposition to "Amendment i" on this years Colorado ballot which would allow gays to have all of the same benifits of marriage that heterosexuals have. Rev. Haggard is another one of those snooty Christians, turning thier nose up at all of the "sinners" while they lead secret lives and collect paychecks from the trusting congregation that in turn believes that a man like this might show them the way to get into heaven. Interesting how when it is put like that is sounds no different than those brainwashed Islamic militants who think that if they blow themselves up in a shopping mall that they will get 30 virgins in "heaven."
So I just wanted to say thank you to Rev. Ted Haggard. Thank you for being a hypocrite, thank you for letting us know that being gay is not that bad, thank you for letting us know that doing drugs is no big deal, after all if this "Man of God" can do this stuff why can't anyone else? Interestingly enough interviewed members of Ted's congregation said that they would welcome him back, even though he has stepped down from the church. Hmmmm, I figure he will probably be the only homosexual allowed into the church then, and perhaps into heaven?
One last thank you to Rev. Ted Haggard. Thank you for being a methamphetamine using, homosexual, George Bush Supporting, conservative, Republican moron, that waited until four days before the election to get caught buying drugs and fucking dudes. Thank you for taking the focus off of Kerry's misinterpreted remarks, thank you for giving the Dems a better chance of taking over the legislative branch, and most importantly thank you for proving what I have been saying all along. Christianity is nothing more than a ruse, a system set into place to take financial and emotional advantage of those that are to weak to live life without the belief of a higher purpose. Rev. Ted Haggard you are one less Christian nut job that can take advantage of the "masses."
P.S.
Shame on you Dr. James Dr. James Dobson for supporting this man through this. I guess focus on the family's anti gay stance doesn't apply if its a close friend of yours. I hope your empire falls next!
For those of you who don't know Rev. Ted Haggard not only leads the evangelical New Life Church with a congregation of more than 14,000 people in Coloradp Springs, but he also consults the White House. Of course upon hearing that Haggard is a homosexual the White House is attempting to downplay his role in the phone conversations. Bush wants us to believe he was only allowed to "listen in" and that he didn't offer much input. Ha!!!
The best thing about this story is that Rev. Haggard is one of the loudest voices of opposition to "Amendment i" on this years Colorado ballot which would allow gays to have all of the same benifits of marriage that heterosexuals have. Rev. Haggard is another one of those snooty Christians, turning thier nose up at all of the "sinners" while they lead secret lives and collect paychecks from the trusting congregation that in turn believes that a man like this might show them the way to get into heaven. Interesting how when it is put like that is sounds no different than those brainwashed Islamic militants who think that if they blow themselves up in a shopping mall that they will get 30 virgins in "heaven."
So I just wanted to say thank you to Rev. Ted Haggard. Thank you for being a hypocrite, thank you for letting us know that being gay is not that bad, thank you for letting us know that doing drugs is no big deal, after all if this "Man of God" can do this stuff why can't anyone else? Interestingly enough interviewed members of Ted's congregation said that they would welcome him back, even though he has stepped down from the church. Hmmmm, I figure he will probably be the only homosexual allowed into the church then, and perhaps into heaven?
One last thank you to Rev. Ted Haggard. Thank you for being a methamphetamine using, homosexual, George Bush Supporting, conservative, Republican moron, that waited until four days before the election to get caught buying drugs and fucking dudes. Thank you for taking the focus off of Kerry's misinterpreted remarks, thank you for giving the Dems a better chance of taking over the legislative branch, and most importantly thank you for proving what I have been saying all along. Christianity is nothing more than a ruse, a system set into place to take financial and emotional advantage of those that are to weak to live life without the belief of a higher purpose. Rev. Ted Haggard you are one less Christian nut job that can take advantage of the "masses."
P.S.
Shame on you Dr. James Dr. James Dobson for supporting this man through this. I guess focus on the family's anti gay stance doesn't apply if its a close friend of yours. I hope your empire falls next!
One or two things about Christians
One thing that I have noticed about Christians is that when they are engaged in any type of intelligent debate that challenges their beliefs they simply ignore the facts and silence the message of the opposing viewpoint. They seem to be so insecure in their beliefs that they cannot have them even slightly shaken or else the very core of their existence seems to crumble right before their eyes.
Another thing that I have noticed about Christians is that they tend to be immensely controlling. Even in the midst of their complaints about persecution they still seem to be in power in every aspect of our lives. At least when the black man complains about past grievances they are complaining about something that still effects them to this day. Christians complain about past grievances even they have currently seized power in the United States. I mean, with the exception of Kennedy, name one American president that has not claimed to be a Christian. No why you can't? Because there are none! How is it that Christians are still being affected by the past when they are currently controlling the future. How is it that Christians are allowed to stop such scientific endeavors, like stem cell research, that could cure paralysis extend our lives, and make us healthier, while at the same time supporting the deployment of our men to a country overseas, to have them die, when we have no business in being there in the first place.
Another thing that I have noticed about Christians is that they unrepentantly hurt and injure others and are only sorry when they are caught. That's right folks, can you believe it? Mr. Drunk fuck, the one, the only the drunk driving asshole, not only attends a non-denominational church in Monument Colorado, but is extremely involved in his faith, and has a wife that even volunteers the majority of her time at the church. Wow, not only do we have over nine million Christian caused deaths due to the crusades alone(wikipedia.com), but we continue to have these scum of society out wreaking havoc on good people that can actually live their lives on a moral code without the threat of an old man with a lightning bolt in the sky looking in on you.
Christians love to whine about the separation of church and state. They love to say that this clause was meant to keep the state out of the church but not the church out of the state. What a bunch of hypocrites, and not to mention, idiots. The whole reason that the forefathers of our country wanted to separate the church and the state was because they had lived in a country where the church and the state were not separate, and had seen first hand the type of damage the church causes when they are given the power of a political stage. Although our Forefathers were Christians at least they were smart Christians!
Why is it that we continue to put up with these Christians? Why is it that we allow them to ban homosexual marriage, to dictate the drugs we can and cannot put into our bodies, to cast us into an inferior class of society if we are the wrong race, creed or religion. I would like to one day see a world free of religion, where people could be free to interact with each other just as human beings, and toss aside all of the pretense of having to do so because it is what "God" wants you to do. With that I leave you with the lyrics of one of the most brilliant men of the last century!
Imagine, by John Lennon
Imagine there's no Heaven It's easy if you try No hell below us Above us only sky Imagine all the people Living for today Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace You may say that I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will be as one Imagine no possessions I wonder if you can No need for greed or hunger A brotherhood of man Imagine all the people Sharing all the world You may say that I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will live as one
Another thing that I have noticed about Christians is that they tend to be immensely controlling. Even in the midst of their complaints about persecution they still seem to be in power in every aspect of our lives. At least when the black man complains about past grievances they are complaining about something that still effects them to this day. Christians complain about past grievances even they have currently seized power in the United States. I mean, with the exception of Kennedy, name one American president that has not claimed to be a Christian. No why you can't? Because there are none! How is it that Christians are still being affected by the past when they are currently controlling the future. How is it that Christians are allowed to stop such scientific endeavors, like stem cell research, that could cure paralysis extend our lives, and make us healthier, while at the same time supporting the deployment of our men to a country overseas, to have them die, when we have no business in being there in the first place.
Another thing that I have noticed about Christians is that they unrepentantly hurt and injure others and are only sorry when they are caught. That's right folks, can you believe it? Mr. Drunk fuck, the one, the only the drunk driving asshole, not only attends a non-denominational church in Monument Colorado, but is extremely involved in his faith, and has a wife that even volunteers the majority of her time at the church. Wow, not only do we have over nine million Christian caused deaths due to the crusades alone(wikipedia.com), but we continue to have these scum of society out wreaking havoc on good people that can actually live their lives on a moral code without the threat of an old man with a lightning bolt in the sky looking in on you.
Christians love to whine about the separation of church and state. They love to say that this clause was meant to keep the state out of the church but not the church out of the state. What a bunch of hypocrites, and not to mention, idiots. The whole reason that the forefathers of our country wanted to separate the church and the state was because they had lived in a country where the church and the state were not separate, and had seen first hand the type of damage the church causes when they are given the power of a political stage. Although our Forefathers were Christians at least they were smart Christians!
Why is it that we continue to put up with these Christians? Why is it that we allow them to ban homosexual marriage, to dictate the drugs we can and cannot put into our bodies, to cast us into an inferior class of society if we are the wrong race, creed or religion. I would like to one day see a world free of religion, where people could be free to interact with each other just as human beings, and toss aside all of the pretense of having to do so because it is what "God" wants you to do. With that I leave you with the lyrics of one of the most brilliant men of the last century!
Imagine, by John Lennon
Imagine there's no Heaven It's easy if you try No hell below us Above us only sky Imagine all the people Living for today Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace You may say that I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will be as one Imagine no possessions I wonder if you can No need for greed or hunger A brotherhood of man Imagine all the people Sharing all the world You may say that I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will live as one
Why God wont go away
So I know that many of you who knew me back in my crazy christian days are pleasantly suprised and happy with the new anti-christian me. ("Please allow myself to introduce..........myself") I am more focused and logical now that I do not blindly accept the ridiculous stories that are presented in the fairy tale called the bible. I mean seriously, this is a book that is supposed to be the divine word of a supreme being called "God", but it has been rewriten and retranslated over and over again throughout the ages. How can you honestly believe that this book is the uncut, divine word of god when humans have had thier hands meddling in it for thousands of years? Do you think that these humans were infallible back then, or that they did not have thier own agenda to insert into these writings.
The alteration of one single word could change the entire meaning of a thought. Even if a word was not changed, the meaning is still subject to the interpretation of the churches, mind you the thousands of different denominations of churches, who all have thier own agenda. The only thing that the different sects of churches do have in common is that they all want your money. They are all non- profit organizations that are run solely for the purpose of making money! Then they like to take thier message and force it down as many throats as they possibly can. They like to do outreaches and make up little plays to do on street corners. They like to tell you how satan has infiltrated your life and how you have to accept Jesus to be free. They like to pick and choose at thier favorite parts of the bible and pretend that the parts that they don't like don't exist. They like to say that they love everyone when in fact they are the most discriminating bunch of idiots in the world.
In the past three months, while going through one of the most tramatic crisis of my entire life I have personally experienced three different "christians" who have ostracized me because of my intense disbelief and renouncing of my faith. Isn't this transitional period the time that they should be embracing me and showing me the "Love of Christ?" None of my wife's old christian friends speak to her now that she has renounced her faith as well. What gives? Why are homosexuals, prostitutes, beggers, and social outcast frowned upon by the church. Aren't these the very people that Jesus would be hanging out with if he were on the earth today? From my understanding he hung out with the "low lifes" of society when he was alive and on this earth.
Organized religion is nothing but organized discrimination. Unfortunatly it is a neccesary evil. There are many in this world that can only be a "good person" with the threat of eternal damnation hanging over their head for wrong doing. I am sure that there are many many people in this world that have been stopped from doing terrible acts because they felt that "God" was watching them. If this is the case then I am happy that the restraints of religion have shown to be useful for something. Marx said that religion was the opiate for the masses. This is true! It is something that the weak and the poor can fall against in order to not have to rely on thier own strength, intelligence or intuition. It is a crutch, a drug, an escape from a reality that seems to wash over them like a wave. It is something that will haunt civilization for the rest of time, and it is something that will get under my skin for as long as I live.
I recently tried to reconcile an old friendship that had fallen apart long ago. It was a friend who I "led to Jesus" back in the day when I did that sort of thing. He claimed that me denouncing god was the reason for my recent accident! What about all of the faithful followers who go through the same thing as I have or worse. Why is god punishing them. They would say it is satan that got to them. Well why would god let satan do that, isn't he all powerful? The truth is that christians will continue to bend world events to mean whatever thier agenda needs them to mean at the time. It is a source of power that the "righteous" can hold in order to look down upon and have contempt for those that they deem to be sinners. As long as this source of power exist in human society and can be used to make money and seperate people from each other, god will not go away!
The alteration of one single word could change the entire meaning of a thought. Even if a word was not changed, the meaning is still subject to the interpretation of the churches, mind you the thousands of different denominations of churches, who all have thier own agenda. The only thing that the different sects of churches do have in common is that they all want your money. They are all non- profit organizations that are run solely for the purpose of making money! Then they like to take thier message and force it down as many throats as they possibly can. They like to do outreaches and make up little plays to do on street corners. They like to tell you how satan has infiltrated your life and how you have to accept Jesus to be free. They like to pick and choose at thier favorite parts of the bible and pretend that the parts that they don't like don't exist. They like to say that they love everyone when in fact they are the most discriminating bunch of idiots in the world.
In the past three months, while going through one of the most tramatic crisis of my entire life I have personally experienced three different "christians" who have ostracized me because of my intense disbelief and renouncing of my faith. Isn't this transitional period the time that they should be embracing me and showing me the "Love of Christ?" None of my wife's old christian friends speak to her now that she has renounced her faith as well. What gives? Why are homosexuals, prostitutes, beggers, and social outcast frowned upon by the church. Aren't these the very people that Jesus would be hanging out with if he were on the earth today? From my understanding he hung out with the "low lifes" of society when he was alive and on this earth.
Organized religion is nothing but organized discrimination. Unfortunatly it is a neccesary evil. There are many in this world that can only be a "good person" with the threat of eternal damnation hanging over their head for wrong doing. I am sure that there are many many people in this world that have been stopped from doing terrible acts because they felt that "God" was watching them. If this is the case then I am happy that the restraints of religion have shown to be useful for something. Marx said that religion was the opiate for the masses. This is true! It is something that the weak and the poor can fall against in order to not have to rely on thier own strength, intelligence or intuition. It is a crutch, a drug, an escape from a reality that seems to wash over them like a wave. It is something that will haunt civilization for the rest of time, and it is something that will get under my skin for as long as I live.
I recently tried to reconcile an old friendship that had fallen apart long ago. It was a friend who I "led to Jesus" back in the day when I did that sort of thing. He claimed that me denouncing god was the reason for my recent accident! What about all of the faithful followers who go through the same thing as I have or worse. Why is god punishing them. They would say it is satan that got to them. Well why would god let satan do that, isn't he all powerful? The truth is that christians will continue to bend world events to mean whatever thier agenda needs them to mean at the time. It is a source of power that the "righteous" can hold in order to look down upon and have contempt for those that they deem to be sinners. As long as this source of power exist in human society and can be used to make money and seperate people from each other, god will not go away!
