openeyes

I do have to wonder just a bit why Gemma keeps posting on this board, especially with reasoning like this:I get the feeling that you are trying to convert us, because you were "reconverted." Speaking for myself, my feelings have only gotten stronger since I first considered a godless world over 25 year ago. I find that to be common among the many atheists I know in "real" life. I have a sense that in 25 years, you'll be a lot less zealous, though probably still a believer. I have a cousin who joined a cloistered order many years ago. She lasted several years, but has been out a long time. Still religious. Her life is "sort of" working. Nothing inspirational by any means.

Yellum Notnef

You seem a little hostile tonight.
Take a nap and try answering my question again later when you`re not feeling so defensive or ignore them all together and let someone else answer them.

I won`t name names but there are people here who seem to be much more bothered by your religious beliefs than I am and they (often rudely) take you to task about it everyday. I don`t notice you being quite so snippy with them.
Is it that I don`t fill my posts with empty smilies?

Amie

Not hostile, don't need a nap and I did answer your question. Some people take it seriously. I really see nothing wrong with that. I admire people with strong faith, I admire people with no faith. I still don't understand why you are so annoyed with something that you don't believe in to begin with. But I see that you have no interest in explaining it at all so thats okay.

Fenton I have no idea what you are talking about. I have not noticed me being "taken to task about it everyday".
Get rid of that Chip.

beyelzu

there is a very good reason to be annoyed by christianity. it is evil. it has retarded mankinds development for 2 thousand years. it teaches that people should renounce self. that particualr judeochristian concept has become so ingrained in our culture that even atheists refer to selfishness as a bad thing. no christian can ever be truly selfish. because often they dont understand what drives them, they are just too filled with inane thoughts about wwwjd. they are too steeped in the religious bullshit that teaches people that they should give alms the poor. there is no virtue in need. homeless people made life decisions that got them there, but by applying christian ideals, i should go out and help the homeless just because they are homeless. christianity opposed the printing press, the heliocentric model of the universe, and excommunicated galileo. now they are anti cloning, are we surprised. i dont hate christianity, but i do feel sad sometimes that it infects so many people.

Amie

I disagree since that is not always the case.
I tend to want to help people who are in difficult situations in life. I don't see christianity as evil.

Gemma Therese

Most homeless adults in our country suffer from severe mental illness, and their families could not afford to medicate them.

It is really very sad.

Gemma Therese

openeyes

Amie asked Fenton:Amie, Maybe because you're a member of the "majority" you don't realize how often people take these "personal beliefs" and assume that everyone feels that way and try to force participation. Take for example public schools. They're suppose to be secular, correct? Then why do so many require the Pledge, including the words "under god", have prayers at athletic banquets (always xian), try to promote a religious Baccalaureate ceremony, sing religious songs at the concerts, and so on? Those of us who are trying to raise children (and doing a pretty good job if I do say so myself) to see that a godless life is a rational life, get pretty frustrated fighting this bias toward religion so often.


If someone's personal belief is that life begins at conception and feels laws must be made to prohibit or restrict abortions, I'm affected by it. I might not need an abortion, but I'm affected by the young woman at work with the spotty attendance record because of single-parent day care issues even with her state support, who might've wanted one, but because of the hassle put it off until it was too late.

I'm affected by my tax dollars going to unproven "faith-based" intiatives.

I'm affected by children being told that evolution "is just a theory" and not necessarily useful in explaining the world any more than let's say the "creation" story.

I could go on...

If everyone would keep their religious beliefs personal, and not assume they can have others participate outside of their religious communities, that would be fine. It just doesn't happen that way so often.

We just can't be happy because some of you theists consider yourself friendly and open-minded to the thought of decent people being atheist. It's not enough to undo all the damage done by others.

beyelzu

denial of self is evil. and that is the problem with christianity. i am aware that many homeless people are simple schizophrenics. however, a common myth in american culture is that homeless can happen to anyone. in reality, in less you are an orphan and have no friends, you actually have to lose your job and not get another one for quite a while before you end up on the street.

but lets get back to that denial of self. altruism is crap. the idea that the wants and needs or others are more important than your own wants and needs, when applie out basically means that everyone is worthless. selfishness is a virtue. caring about oneself is important. and a life of service is meaningless. bill gates is a better human being than mother theresa. obviously, her wants and needs dont matter at all, she spent her life in servitude.

seebs

Agreed that there's a problem there, but I think in the long run the only way to fix the problem is for the tolerant people on both sides to cooperate, and get other people to start being tolerant. Intolerance breeds intolerance.

Amie

I am against religion in public schools. I don't think thats the place for it. I understand what you are saying and I can imagine that would get frustrating.
Well I am sorry you feel that way. I hope you do find happiness.