what are your thoughts on the Bible as a historical document(s)?
forget about Jesus Christ is/as God, but do you believe that there was a man names Jesus Christ, and perhaps inspired people "way back when?" |
NP - this is what troubles me about religious people...That without a supreme being, they become nihilists. Atheists can believe that life has meaning because it feels like it has meaning. We have an interest in our own lives. We don't want you to end those lives. Not because of what's going to happen for all eternity, but because we care about our lives now. And, I will add, that the mouse and the bug also have an interest in their own lives. I think you shouldn't kill them willy nilly, either. |
I don't believe in g_d, but you've made me a believer in Godwin's law http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law |
Is this also true about politics? Or just religion? I actually do the opposite, I expose myself to all types of people and challenge myself to accept people even when I don't agree with their ideology. I am very surprised how much I can like and respect somebody who has a belief system way different than myself. |
How is you listening to "god is fake mumbo jumbo" different from atheists having "in god we trust" on our gov't issued currency, "under god" in the pledge of allegiance I had to recite every school morning for a decade, having a national prayer breakfast, and countless other religious things that have made it into our culture? |
Sure, as long as you're cool with another kid doing a Satanic prayer or whatever. Sauce for the goose, etc. |
You're talking in circles. First you say you have a right not to hear "god is false mumbo jumbo", then you say you have a right to say "god exists mumbo jumbo" whenever you want and I can just deal. You're kind of stupid. Which maybe exists why you believe in god. |
*explains |
OP again, I did that when I was younger. Now as I age, I just settle in with people like me. It is not really the same with politics, but extreme conservatives and extreme liberals make me uncomfortable too. My kids have all kinds of friends. |
OP again. I never said that people do not have the right to pray. I never said that I do not want people to pray. I have listened to people pray. Not for long, but I have listened. |
(Not the OP) You are allowed to do it, and the government can't pass laws to stop you. The government is not permitted to pass laws or take actions in support of or explicitly adverse to any religion. When the government does something like prohibit prayer in public schools, the reason for that is that if teachers (who are employees of the state) were to use public school facilities to proselytize, that would be a government endorsement of religion, which is not permitted under the 1st Amendment. The same with putting up statues of the 10 Commandments on a court house lawn or a crèche on the state capitol lawn. That creates an implicit endorsement of Christianity from the government, which is not permitted under the 1st Amendment. Freedom of religion must also cover freedom from religion, because not having a religion has to also be a valid choice or the government is effectively endorsing religion in favor of non-religion. The government must treat all belief systems equally - if one religion is barred from using a public space to proselytize, then the same prohibition must apply to all religions AND atheists. If a public space is going to be used to support one religion, the public space must be available to all religions and atheists for similar purposes. If religious institutions are permitted to advertise on Metro busses, which are owned by the government, then atheists must also be permitted to advertise. The government can't deny an FCC license to a religious broadcaster because of the religious message (be it Christian, Hindu, Muslim or Mormon), nor could they deny a license to an atheist because of the message. You have every right to stand on a street corner and proselytize, if you choose to, and the government can only stop you if you are doing something that would be stopped regardless of what the person was saying (i.e., you can't stand IN the street and claim that you have a 1st Amendment right to proselytize there, because the cops would ticket you and/or arrest you regardless of your message). |
Since you don't have a soul. You should be aware that your opinion is of the same consequence as an ant fart. The ant is actually superior to you since it consumes far less resources and produces far less urine and fecal matter. |
OP, how do you explain scientific studies that show prayer helps people heal. |
Who cares what an entity without a soul thinks? All this blubbering about feelings is tiresome . Be a real atheist ! Own it! Accept your insignificance! |
On its face that does sound like a double standard, and one that was inappropriate. If you were in a public school you should be permitted to wear any religious t-shirt you choose (unless you were a teacher), and I support your right to do so. The comparison to your muslim classmate shouldn't even be relevant. |