Capitol Hill Blue Forums Life and Moral Issues Religion and Philosophy More Atheists Shout It From the Rooftops

I agree with Emma and Mellow too.

Pertaining to remarks from PIA and numan, we feel the way we allow ourselves to feel.
I wish more people would beyond the emotional when choosing an elected official.

I think it's a good thing that atheists are coming out. I don't see any indication that they are being hostile and hopefully they won't start.
It would be a breath of fresh air if the followers in this country (those allowing themselves to get carried away by these fanatics) had more options.
I hope atheism can gain public respectability.

Speaking of highway signs though remind of our god road leading into Atlanta.
He sees you and he's coming to get you and shite like that. ON the back of one was an ad for a lingerie store.

Checkers, at my daughter's wedding, I must have been asked at least 4 times what religion I was! I knew there would be a lot of fundamentalists there so I was determined to not lose my cool. I told each one something different.

olyve, I like to say I'm a Whirling Dervish.

lol, Emma, you've no idea how badly I wanted to say something goofy but Amy would have been mortified. there was already enough potential tension just trying to get everybody to act saintly enough to pull it off. you know?
I was still smoking at the time as were a number of other people. Oh the sneaking around!

Don't get me wrong though, it was a beautiful wedding in the Campus Chapel on north campus.

Oh my, Chex. I want to nail him to the wall and I don't even know him.

You should not assume that rhetoric represents the way someone feels.

I would not waste feeling on a subject this trivial.

I just enjoy treating religious types the way they so often treat people who disagree with them. [Let's see how they like it!]

It is often an interesting psychological study to see their reactions.

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--In my defense I can honestly say that his daughter got a very nice wedding video. I didn't rush through it, I didn't scrimp on creativity, and I didn't slap it together as if it was something I hated doing.
I knew before I started that he was quite the evangelical type and that he was simply doing what they're supposed to do, go around trying to save everyone or perfect their walk with Christ, so to speak.

But for the most part I figured he was a nice guy, and I enjoyed teaching him some shooting tips, and turning him on to some goodies that I didn't need anymore (like an older copy of Sony Vegas edit software which I didn't need anymore because I upgraded radically several steps up the ladder)

So I guess I was just totally nonplussed when, after busting ass on his daughter's video, and putting up with her constant phone calls and her mean spirited remarks about the guy who "isn't really my father" (nice - real nice considering her real Dad didn't even make it to the wedding)....well, I guess it just chapped my shorts hearing him tell me that I should "try to be more Christian".

Uggghhh...unbelievable.

I am sure he's sitting at home right now, praying for me because he probably figures I am just a total Godless aetheist or something.

I've been treated better by aetheists for the most part!

While I'm very comfortable in my own non-specific beliefs and can claim truthfully that I am a life long member of a church, for the most part I have no use for Christians. When asked I usually claim to be Pastafarian. Once you are able to accept the FSM as the Creator of the Universe, it makes all the rest easier to deal with. The Hill, the Tree, and The Midget In The Pirate Suit.
It's all the gospel you really need.

A little Story about Beliefs and a Boy Named Moses

About twenty years ago I did counseling in a chemical dependency treatment program for kids whose ages ranged from 12 to 18. In the treatment setting it’s not uncommon for kids to be confused about his or her personal beliefs about anything, much less religion.

There were a number of kids who would display some religious icon around his or her living space. These kids shared a bedroom area large enough for four. The center always maintained about 10 or 12 kids.

One day something unusual happened. A young fifteen year old boy named “Moses” was admitted to the treatment center. What was different about Moses was that he was a 3rd generation Priest. So far so good, huh?

As it turns out, Moses was a Satanic Priest! Quite an ironic name for a Satanic Priest…right? Now, that does make Moses just a wee bit different that the rest of the kids.

Suddenly there were fears and complaints voiced by the other kids. The major complaint was that Moses, like many of the other kids, placed his religious icons on the table next to his bed. They just couldn’t bear to see such hideous things.

Not only did the kids get all upset, but the staff just came unglued. How dare young Moses placing his religious icons out for all to see. Staff asked Moses to remove his religious ornaments.

Then Moses became extremely upset and defiant. He said that he was placing a curse on all who were responsible for the removal of his religious items. That really created an outbreak of fear among the kids and was completely disrupting the entire treatment process.

I objected, and pretty damn loudly, about the removal of Moses’ religious icons… and all the way to the Director of the treatment program. Why was Moses being denied the same rights as the other kids to openly express his religious beliefs?

The Director, a devoted Christian, took several days to make a consideration and finally agreed that Moses would be allowed to place his religious symbols and ornaments next to his bed. I was elated about the decision, but not without consequences. The kids and the staff were totally pissed at me.

Then, I brought together all of the kids and asked them to please respect Moses’ right to his religion. But, then I asked them all to participate in an experiment.

I said to all, “Moses has stated that he’s placed a curse on all who were responsible for having his religious ornaments removed.” I would like for those who have a faith other than Moses to put together a ‘prayer’ group(s) to pray for something especially for Moses, but not related to Moses’ curse. The prayer(s) needs to be written and put into a sealed envelope.

Then, after two weeks we would reassemble and see what the outcomes were from both the curse and the prayer.

The result of the “curse and prayers” was nothing more or less than I completely expected. NOTHING…nada, kaput was the outcome for all sides. Neither the curse produced the outcome that Moses wanted. The prayer package was opened and the prayer wish didn’t at all occur.

After that time the kids were no longer feeling threatened by Moses…and Moses…he just began to blend in with the rest of the kids and his treatment plan.

So the moral of the story is……..whatever you want it to be.

As an atheist I have often found myself being called something lower than a satanic priest...by those who profess to be members of religions that teach love, tolerance, and forgiveness.

Since I live in the country...I'd get on my roof top and shout out, but I'd scare my deer and other wildlife that frequently stops by...I think just for my pleasure.

"Jee-wizz",Jeff!- with "all-those-high-tech-gizmo-gadget-whatchamacallits"- You "DON'T" DO "miracles"?

You misspelled atheists, but I'll pray for you... oh wait...

Chances are very high that your neighbor is NOT praying for you, unless he has an audience. It's all about showing everyone else how religious he is - not secret, personal stuff. If pressed, I'm sure he would say he had prayed for you, but I'm willing to bet the reality is that it never extended beyond "my neighbor, who filmed my daughter's wedding, won't make the changes I wanted". That's it. No prayers, no getting better. They are right, you are wrong. I think you just need to accept that to evangelicals, you are the same as atheists. It's really no big deal. They don't have a ticket to heaven either. Some people who can't obtain control in reality, seek it elsewhere.