Rick Sumner

What, you think I stopped, Fidel Anarcho?

P.S. You may have noticed that I shamelessly plagiarized your "Ku Klux Coulter" line

Weltall

Riiiight...

Mr. Neutron

Sorry, Toto, I don't think you're Spong-worthy. You're not patient enough to absorb his wisdom, or soak up his insights.

boneyard bill

Peter Kirby writes:

But what are the benefits of your average church if its not to get rid of my sins and get me right with god and see to it that I get into heaven?

Celsus

Ok, fun's over. This thread has too much of a sense of humour, so off to GRD. (Also, it doesn't fit in BC&H)

Joel

Aravnah Ornan

You beat me to it. Here are the other supposed benefits that I see and my responses thereto:

1. A church gives you the opportunity to socialize with like-minded people. Actually, a social club is better for that, and you don't have to play church.

2. A church gives you the opportunity to help others. You'd be far better off volunteering at a real social-services organization, and again, you don't have to play church.

3. You do it because it's what's done. I know people who let that principle influence their behavior, but I'm not one of them.

gregor

Benefit # 4:

It pacifies your wife or mom.

Rational BAC

You don't really have to go to any church to be a Christian.

Supposed to pray in a closet you know.

Of course there is that part about "when 2 or more gather-----" ---------but that just means to me between 2 and 5 people. 10 people would be way overkill.

Go to church if you enjoy the ceremony---I do. But it is not necessary at all.

--------------------------------------------

And I don't see any point in spending $24.95 for a book where Spong tells me what I already know.

Biff the unclean

Spong reminds me of a character in one of those old movies who is aboard a dirigible that is loosing gas. They run around like madmen tossing everything over the side that they can in a vain attempt to stay airborne.
He has come to the same conclusions that the majority of Atheists here reached from studying Christianity. But rather than take that last step he is still emotionally (and financially) tied to Christianity.

Lighten the load quick!!! Toss those Fundamentalists and Roman Catholics overboard!!! Jettison the Old Testament. Save only enough of the New Testament to stand on and deep six the rest. We have to stay up, man! Throw out the substance and keep only the airy metaphors.

It's pathetic looking at the retired bishop. He is fully aware that his religion doesn't work but he clings to it anyway.
Twenty five dollars is still twenty five dollars after all. If he can't sell a working religion he can at least get a few bucks selling the parts for scrap.

Amos

Well some of them bundle their brushwood to soar through midheaven but when they crash they usually end up at the foot of the cross where they still smolder in the aftermath of their journey.