To My Reasonable? Christian Readers

I have been hosting a conversation on my blog between an atheist (Eric) and a loyal christian reader (Dave) recently that brings the forefront again just how warped the thinking of a seemingly liberal or reasonable christian can be . If you would like to read the entire conversation between Dave and Eric, the comments in the post can be found here. BTW, I have no problem with stepping out of conversations in my own blog when someone else is making my point better than I could. Thanks Eric.

The most disturbing thing in Dave's reply is this comment regarding the biblical references to the obvious cruelty and murderous nature of the christian god:

"In each case where God or Jesus pass judgment on the wicked (my emphasis), they are warned of punishment. While the SAB may consider this cruel, I believe it's only because they assume God's judgments to be unfair. Any system of order that attempts to maintain goodness and punish evil is going to have...punishments. Whether or not that is cruel is relative."

So the clarify what Dave is saying, the wicked women and children murdered at god's command in the bible were warned by God and the fact that they didn't flee, repent, commit suicide etc. (which they wouldn't be allowed to do by their wicked husbands) justifies them being murdered. Is this correct? So what about the wicked virgin girls, Dave, who were spared so they could be raped by your god's holy warriors? They deserved this? When god murders, burns, rapes and destroys it is 'fair' punishment? For what? Not heeding his 'warnings'?

If you (christians) are going to post on this site under the guise of being a reasonable and decent human beings, then I would warn you that you are going to be held to your own words and thoughts regarding god and morality and anything that you post about here. Dave's reply demonstrates how a seemingly normal and decent human being under the influence of religious dogma can justify the most horrible and unspeakable and unjust acts.

Dave's reply also demonstrates the negative effect that religious dogma has on the morality of a human being. While Dave may well be a kind and loving human being (I don't really know him), he feels compelled to defend torture, murder, rape and brutality that is ordered or committed by his god. What compels a human being to defend these things with such a ridiculous argument (god warned them) rather than to simply say that those things are horrible and he does not defend them? Such is the mind and morality of a believer.


atheism
christianity
morality

We Share Your Pain

For that 38% of citizens (white christian males) in the U.S. who still cling to some fantasy that this man has any intelligence at all, please read his statements to Russian leader Putin concerning the wonderful 'democracy' that we have created in Iraq.

Here is a hint: You don't have freedom of religion when a man has to run for his life after converting from Islam to Christianity. This happened in one of our new mideast 'democracies'. Here is another hint: The people who wanted to punish this man for his religious views were religious conservatives. Sound familiar?


Tagged as:
bush,religion,conservative,islam,christianity

Broadcast Idiots

Can the level of questioning from the media go any lower? Listen the the question that is put to the cast of The DaVinci Code and the great answer from Sir Ian.

I Have Never Been More Proud To Be Godless

With the arrival of the latest hate-filled book by conservative icon/psycho, Ann Coulter, I have to breathe a great sigh of joy at holding beliefs that are so diametrically opposite to her ideas. I am Godless and proud, as I should be. If you are Godless, then you should give yourself a huge pat on the back.

It is amusing that she so desperately tries to label liberals as Godless - as if that were a bad thing! Of course the vast majority of liberals are not atheists and we all know that. However, her book and her insane rants will hopefully continue to aid the huge surge in non-belief that is currently underway in this country. It should certainly make anyone with any morality at all question support of the conservative agenda and the mind-numbing insanity that is religious belief and faith.

I am constantly amazed at the insanity that is spewed by the religous right wing nuts in this country, though I suppose I should not be. One only needs to look at the heroes of the American religious right to realize that a good and decent person should stand for opposite values than those that they espouse. Of course the so called liberal Christians will try to distance themselves - as apparently almost everyone is doing - from the mental case that is Ms Coulter, but her views are actually pretty well rooted in Christian doctrine and the history of countries that are run by Christianity (as she wishes our country to be.)

"Liberal Christians" constantly have to distance themselves from the religous leaders and cheerleaders of this country. Perhaps it is time that you 'liberal Christians' stopped running and started thinking. Jerry Falwell does not misquote the bible. Ann Coulter's anger and hatred of others should be expected from someone who really believes what the bible teaches. The idea that the bible teaches tolerance or understanding is simply a lie. It is a lie. Ann is right. Jerry is right. You liberal Christians are wrong. Quit trying to rewrite your holy book to suit modern ideas of decency, civility and reason. Quit running from the 'truth' that your holy book teaches. Realize that a peaceful, tolerant and hopeful future is not possible in the world of true believers and faith. Come to reason!

For the record, let me state quite clearly that if you could possibly support a person as deluded and hateful as Ann Coulter, then you are, in my opinion, a very sick person. If you are embarrassed or appalled by her, then consider pissing her off by becoming Godless like 17% of your fellow citizens.

Tagged as:coulter,godless,atheist

Does This Make Me Evil?

This post over at Morning Martini inspired me to share this story from my past life.

From 1980 to 1995, I managed a high cash flow business for a large (Fortune 500) company. We hired off duty policemen as security who came complete with their big police cars with bright lights and sirens - the works. Each night the cop in his big cop car would follow me, in my Toyota, to the bank to make drops of money. We passed one red light on the way to the bank. If I were ever stopped at the red light, I would wait for any cross traffic to pass (the cross street was a low traffic residential street), and then gun my car right through the red light, leaving a bit of rubber if possible. There was always other traffic stopped at the light with the cop and I.

Of course, the cop on my payroll was sitting right behind me in his big cop car. He would just have to sit there until the light changed while all the other drivers wondered if he had died or was asleep. I can only imagine what other motorist at the light must have thought. All the officers could do was shake their heads when they caught up to me at the bank and beg me to quit doing that. I never quit doing it.

Tagged as:humor,evil,atheist

More of My Great Christian Neighbors

If you happened to watch the network news magazines this past weekend, you may have seen a story about my little town here in Georgia. Dateline NBC ( I think? ) did a follow up story to a bizarre love triangle murder in Rome, GA which featured members of the Hollywood Baptist Church. I am familiar with this church because it has the reputation as being one of the most ultra-conservative of the already ultra-conservative Baptist churches in my area.

This first link below is the story in the local paper of the murder which took place one year ago and how the church is dealing with it. (more like denying it)

Church Murder One Year Later (fluff piece)


This is another story from the local paper concerning another local Baptist church that was forced out of the local Baptist association and the comments which the pastor of the love-triangle/murder church made. If you don't want to read the whole article, I will quote his comments below the link.

Comments in local paper from Pastor of Hollywood Baptist Church

Concerning the ousted church having a man and wife pastor team, David Harper, the Hollywood Baptist Church pastor says,

"People are changing what they believe, and why would we expect any less from our integrity. This could lead us down a slippery slope. ... We could end up seeing the Nudist Baptist Church or the Homosexual Baptist Church."

Wow, if you let the wife of the pastor be the associate pastor, then logically you are going to have NUDIST Baptist Churches and HOMOSEXUAL Baptist Churches. What a loon! Maybe you should stop worrying about nudist and homosexuals and start worrying about your church members murdering each other?

One final note, this pastor at Hollywood Baptist is on the board at a local college, Shorter College. You need not be surprised that this college had an outdoor prayer vigil outside their school when Clinton was elected and it's President is one of the biggest contributors to the anti-gay, Bush administration in our town.

Yes, this is where your favorite atheist lives. Ahhhh, the joy of it.

Tagged as:faith,christianity,atheist,atheism,Rome GA,Hollywood, Baptist