GeoTheo

It would be fine with me, Starboy, If I woke up one day and there were no references to God on public documents and on the walls of public institutions. But as it stands, many of these things are Historical. So I see no reason to deface them.
FWIW, I think Public prayers are bogus. They are usually watered down and politically correct. They are virtually meaningless. As far as congress opening session with a prayer, from what I understand, They invite people from diverse religions to give it. There is no institutional religion in the US.
That is the reason Christianity is alive and well here. If We had a a State Church as in most countries in Europe do Christianity would be as dead here as it is there. I heard Scotland is over half atheist.
So If you are really as venomously against Christianity as you say you should be for institutionalized national religion. That seems to be the best way to kill it.

hinduwoman

Because it is an attack.
Atheism denies there is any God. Religion presumes there is a God that interferes in human affairs and who can be moved by prayers. Ergo, atheism is a attack on every religion.

Starboy

My my, we have a thin skin. I call Christians to task for their many abuses, lies and frauds and I am declared to be "venomously against Christianity". GeoTheo if you want to be a Christian have at it. But from where I sit it doesn't appear to be possible to be both a good Christian and a good citizen at the same time. Your posts only confirm this.

Starboy

7thangel

Maybe there's something you should see in the mirror.

You said, you consider them idiots. And yet, you said some are highly intelligent people.


:notworthy :notworthy :notworthy

Amaranth

Actually, blondegoddess said that her friends THINK she considers them to be idiots, since she is an atheist. Read this again until it makes sense:

Emphasis mine, to make the point more obvious.

GeoTheo

Starboy,
That makes absolutely no sense. And I am not saying you appear to be venemously against Christianity because that offends me. That is just what comes through in your posts.
What is a "good" citizen?
What is a "good" Christian?

wade-w

Starboy, GeoTheo... Keep[ your conversation civil!

Starboy

Well, good citizen is easy, one who respects the laws of this land and supports this country, its federal democracy and the freedoms as provided in the constitution, standard civics class stuff. Now "good" Christian I have to admit is confusing, since so much of it depends on which Christian you ask. GeoTheo, for the record I like to think of myself as a good citizen. As such I respect the constitution and our freedoms as laid out in the constitution. I will fight to the death to defend your rights even if you choose to be a Christian. I will also fight to make sure that our government represents all of us, both believers and non-believers. I am not sure many Christians would do the same for atheists based on the posts most Christians make on this site present company included. In order for this democracy to work we must all support our rights. Religious sentiments in our government must go. If you were a good citizen as well as whatever kind of a Christian you consider yourself you would understand this.

Starboy

Colander of Truth

I'll make a bet that if you re-read the OP, you'll see that BG said: "They think that just because I disagree with their belief systems and consider them to be based on myth, I consider them to be idiots."

Now maybe that isn't the best sentence construction since it allowed you to draw the wrong conclusion. Note that the sentence in its entirety refers to what "they" think.

Colander of Truth

I am reading a book by David(?) Viscott about emotions, and he has an interesting take. The whole of it all is a defense mechanism based on fear of death and loss. The loss of a loved one can have a huge impact if the bereaved remains in shock, distraught, and paralyzed by grief. Indeed, he gives an account of a patient frozen by a 30 year grief over the death of a fiancee. A suitable defense would be bliss instead of death, the promise of a future together once again, etc. Indeed, if one mounts an attack on a known defense mechanism, be prepared.