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Atheist Mom Who Penned Viral Essay About Raising Kids ‘Without God’ Speaks Out

Jan. 31, 2013 9:32am Billy Hallowell

When Deborah Mitchell penned a story about atheism and raising her children without God, she had no idea just how much attention it would get. Coincidentally, the secular mother’s CNN essay, entitled, “Why I Raise My Children Without God,” became the most commented-on story in iReport’s history. Considering the very personal and pointed subject matter in the post, the response was intense. On Wednesday, Mitchell appeared on Current TV to speak with host John Fugelsang about the resulting furor, her decision to tout atheism and other related topics.

In her original post, Mitchell described lying to her son from an early age about the existence of God, as she wanted her child to feel safe. She told him religious stories, comparing the “elaborate tale” she built to the falsities many people tell their kids about Santa Claus. Fearing that her son would one day, after realizing that the stories were untrue, no longer trust his mother’s judgement, she made the decision to change course and raise him “without God.” Mitchell writes:

And so I thought it was only right to be honest with my children. I am a non-believer, and for years I’ve been on the fringe in my community. As a blogger, though, I’ve found that there are many other parents out there like me. We are creating the next generation of kids, and there is a wave of young agnostics, atheists, free thinkers and humanists rising up through the ranks who will, hopefully, lower our nation’s religious fever.

Deborah Mitchell Responds to Atheist Blog About Raising Kids Without God | CNN iReport

Atheist blogger Deborah Mitchell (Photo Credit: YouTube/Current TV)

Then, she went on to share the reasons why she decided to raise her children without God. Among them, Mitchell claims that: “God is a bad parent and role model,” “God is not logical,” “God is not fair” and “God does not protect the innocent.” These were only a few of the reasons she detailed (the rest can be read in her original post). Despite her overwhelmingly negative views about heavenly inclinations, Mitchell noted that she does not want religion to disappear all together:

I do not want religion to go away. I only want religion to be kept at home or in church where it belongs. It’s a personal effect, like a toothbrush or a pair of shoes. It’s not something to be used or worn by strangers. I want my children to be free not to believe and to know that our schools and our government will make decisions based on what is logical, just and fair—not on what they believe an imaginary God wants.

Naturally, people reacted strongly to her views on faith in America. As of Jan. 31, the article, which was published on Jan. 14, was viewed by more then 758,300 people, recommended by 65,000 and shared more than 7,700 times. When Fugelsang asked her about this widespread attention, the atheist mother said that she was surprised by the story’s viral nature.

“I was totally taken aback,” she said. “I was surprised that there were so many commenters and so many page views.”

But Mitchell also expressed a somber tone when it came to the comments and ongoing debate that were spawned by her anti-God commentary.

“I was a little disappointed in how mean people were — not just to me, but to each other,” she noted. “I really didn’t expect the sustained anger and — just attacks on each other. That surprised me.”

Despite penning such an open commentary about why she has intentionally raised her son without God, Mitchell made it clear that she would fully accept any religious decisions that her child inevitably makes. Rather than prevent him from being faithful, she said that the decision is up to him.

Among other subjects, Mitchell also spoke about the Boy Scouts and problems she and her family ran into when her son was asked to earn a religious badge. When the mother told the organization that the family is agnostic and doesn’t believe in a specific God, she was told that her son must believe in God to be in the Scouts.

“I’m surprised that an organization that’s so patriotic has no understanding of the constitution,” Fugelsang responded. “But Jesus never said anything against gay people either so I shouldn’t be surprised.”

Watch the dialogue, below:

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Comments (374)

NewCreationDave
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 12:14pm
She just THINKS she’s raising her son without God!
Heb 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

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Remember_Benghazi
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 12:11pm
God doesn’t believe in atheists AMIRITE?

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DebateMe
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 12:10pm
Logic and science can sometimes answer the questions who, what, where, and how. But they never answer the question of why. Why are we here? If the big bang really happened, why? And where did all that material come from in the first place? As interesting as I find science to be, it doesn’t answer the truly interesting question of why. And if you’re really as logical as you say you are, in the absence of knowing why, how can you be so sure there is no God?

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- Just4Rocks
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 12:27pm
  I would guess…Atheists do not ask “Why”…Atheists do not feel (believe) there is a “Reason”. Atheists see people just “Are” and then are controled by others in the name of religion.
  
  Report this comment
- The_Doors_Of_Perception
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 3:36pm
  Have you ever asked yourself…”Why do I need a “why”?” Primates asking why is what started this whole religion thing to begin with. Just live your life…you make it purposeful just fine on your own.
  
  Report this comment
- DebateMe
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 12:58pm
  @The_Doors_Of_Perception
  According to your own logic, why bother asking me why I ask why?
  
  Report this comment
davecorkery
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:58am
Things are definitely changing. When the blaze started, there were virtually no atheists responding. Today there are more and more people calling BS on theses so called “laws” from their imaginary god. Kudos to Glenn Beck for not censuring these posts. Maybe he’s not as dumb as I thought. Won’t be long before everyone wakes up. I raised my kids to make their own decisions, and not run to another human to hear his man made, made up stories of what some god clown wants them to do. They have both thanked me for raising them this way, as they feel awake, while religious fools are obviously asleep.

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- OniKaze
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 12:33pm
  I agree, to a point..
  
  I am agnostic… I believe in a “Creator” (It had to start somewhere… Right?) But I am not sure its a “God” or even a being that even cares a lick about us…
  
  Anything is possible, and having an open mind is the best solution.
  
  But I completely agree… Religion is an invention of Delusional Men from Hundreds of years ago when people believed that Monsters resided in the seas, and the moon was made of Cheese….
  
  I am sure that if “god” does exist, I highly doubt he gives a lick about “Religion”….
  
  Report this comment
- Just4Rocks
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 12:43pm
  Your mother did not nurse you as a baby? You must have missed something—slept through church? Do your children help others, are they Kind to others? Are your childrens’ decisions only for their own pleasures? What is your spark of enlightenment? What is it you can share to help make life better for others? Denigning God does not do much to help others, do you donate food to a food bank? Or is it only a gun you hold in your otherwise empty hands?
  
  Report this comment
ChiRho4Life
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:57am
She certainly seems to know what God is *not* about….too bad she wouldn’t take the time to learn what He *is* about. Was it logical for God to sacrifice His only Son for the forgiveness of sins that we might have eternal life? Was it fair for Him to sacrifice the Prince of Peace, He who was without sin? Did God protect His only Son from sinners who crucified Him? This lady has to ask herself one question…if she were in God’s shoes, would she have thought it logical, fair or protective to sacrifice *her* children?

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- davecorkery
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 12:03pm
  Your god story is so full of holes, I don’t know where to begin. You are merely assuming that the events actually happened. There is no evidence on any of it, period. You are just swallowing what your parents and church elders have brainwashed you with. Kids today are not believing because the story is so obviously hogwash. This is a good thing.
  
  Report this comment
- ChiRho4Life
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 12:24pm
  Actually, there is evidence of Jesus’ physical existence – read the historian Flavius Josephus, as one example. If the story of God is so full of holes, then please point them out. If you don’t know where to begin, then merely issuing broad contradictions does not suffice as an argument. You are merely assuming that the events didn’t happen – in fact, you are ignoring the testimony of eye-witnesses who were present with Jesus and at His crucifixion and resurrection. The woman in this story states what she knows about God – if she does not know God, how can she make any significant statement about Him? I will pray for you and your children that you and they come to know Jesus – may the good Lord bless and keep you.
  
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- DeavonReye
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 12:29pm
  The way Josephus’s words about Jesus were written, it has been generally agreed by religious studies departements to be a later addition from christians.
  
  “Eye witnesses in the bible” is pretty circular. Given the number of scribe errors and personal input, one can never fully know what truly happened back then [if anything at all].
  
  Report this comment
Bamagal0007
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:45am
NO Marine…people are not irrational just because they do not agree with you.

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bankerpapaw
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:42am
God will NOT be mocked.

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tradcatholicgirl
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:36am
This woman amuses me.

God is not made in the image she has projected for Him. So, therefore, He does not exist.

She sounds like my kid when he calls me “mean” because I refuse to do things the way he thinks I should do it.

“God is a bad parent.” (Mean Mommy!)

This woman is mad because The Lord of the Universe does not resemble a fairy godmother .

And apparently has never heard of the Christian concept of “free will.”

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- WhiteFang
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:51am
  Tradcatholicgirl,
  
  I agree, she lacks an education as to who God is, and knowledge of his qualities of love, justice, wisdom and power. – John 17:3
  
  Report this comment
- Just4Rocks
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 12:30pm
  Spot on Catholicgirl,,,this Luthern agrees.
  
  Report this comment
- GetRight
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 12:43pm
  And so does this Southern Baptist!
  
  Report this comment
Verceofreason
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:28am
She was created by her mother andf ather – as we all were.

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TomSawyer
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:28am
Deborah Mitchell is illogical. She said God was imaginary. She does not have the ability to determine if God exists; therefore, she jumped to conclusions. That is illogical.

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- checkingbothsides
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 4:56pm
  Conversely, you have no ability to determine if god exists, and so by believing you are jumping to conclusions. The burden of proof is on the believer, not the disbeliever.
  
  Report this comment
Duey2000
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:22am
Why do athiests think that the term “free thinkers” only apply to people who do not believe in God? Am I not FREE to believe in Him? Or am I only a free thinker if I believe in what you say?

Kinda like the pro-choice people who believe that a woman has the right to choose, as long as that choice is an abortion.

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- The_Doors_Of_Perception
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:24am
  Because your thoughts are not “free”, he knows what you are thinking before you do and what your thinking while you sleep. Free thinkers cannot commit thought crime. Your thoughts are not your own, at least if you believe in a certain brand of God. Just sayin…
  
  Report this comment
TEXASCHEESEHEAD
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:12am
She can’t have it both ways saying that religion should not go away but yet only be practiced in private. So then what does this mother think is the glue that holds our western society together? Is it that people intrinsically just know to treat one another with respect and kindness? She is living in an America that is the result of a deep rooted Christian heritage. The remnants of that heritage keep her relatively safe each day whereas in another culture she would be a second class citizen one step above a slave. Look throughout history for replete examples of the fruits of state sanctioned atheism and the genocide that ensues. Also, to the other atheist posters here who cite science as their standard for facts. I challenge you to answer this simple question. Are scientists able to give actual proof of the origins of the universe, mankind, or simpler life forms? They can’t and hide behind theories which many of you claim as factual proof. You have to have more faith to be an atheist than I do to have a savior. God bless!

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- TheGrtDcptn
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 1:49pm
  ‘Is it that people intrinsically just know to treat one another with respect and kindness?’
  
  A resounding NO…one look at society today is all that’s needed…
  
  One example…Black Friday shoppers…trampling, stabbing, macing, robbing/shooting, physical fights…One could spend ALL day on the depravity of man.
  
  Report this comment
The_Doors_Of_Perception
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:10am
Good for her. I plan on doing the same thing…

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Mudd
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:09am
She seems to be a sensible woman who wants to be free from religious persecution and respected. That’s not a lot to ask.

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linearnonlinear
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:57am
If that was a Red Shirt with Stars on the shoulders it would look like a Uniform of a country to remain Nameless.

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GetRight
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:51am
You know, so many people are angry with her but I feel sorry for her and especially her child/children. She believes she is doing right because she doesn’t understand. I am astonished at the people who just believe things they hear instead of searching for themselves. She is lost and so misguided as many are. I am still learning and I pray for God to open my mind and heart, but so many just close the door to God without searching and learning. I think that some atheists are so forceful about their beliefs because they are constantly trying to convince themselves and fight away God’s tug on their hearts. God gives us all a choice and it makes me sad for people to make that choice without even taking the time to know God. What do you have to lose? Maybe your eternal life!

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- The_Doors_Of_Perception
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:38am
  You should search some more, maybe you will find out why your post is so arrogant and offensive. But I guess I could just say…I feel the same about you…
  
  Report this comment
- DeavonReye
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 12:20pm
  You cannot “get to know” an entity who remains completely hidden/silent/quite. It isn’t “a choice” when honest and detailed research has never defined an actual “deity” being even existing. It MUST [I can't place enough emphasis on "must" here] be SO much more than “a book says something and you must believe it”.
  
  Report this comment
- DeavonReye
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 12:21pm
  quite=quiet
  
  Report this comment
- GetRight
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 10:58am
  DOORS, I did not intend to be arrogant or offensive. I apologize for that. I am simply stating my thoughts and observations. I have noticed that every time there is a story on here regarding Christianity the comment section is swarmed with atheists making multiple disparaging comments about the Bible and our beliefs. I wonder why. If you believe the Bible is a book of myths and fairy tales and God does not exist, why do you care? I mean you and other atheists on here have many comments. Why do you feel the need to spend an hour maybe two attacking the beliefs of people who, according to you, believe in fairy tales? What do you wish to accomplish? It seems to be that you are full of anger not that you want to have an actual intellectual debate. Have you asked yourself why? Do you do the same thing with Muslims, Hindus, etc? Again, I am not trying to come across as rude, I really am wondering. And so many comments on here about the Bible are just false. If you are going to hate something and take the time to attack it, you should have more knowledge. We then might take you seriously.
  
  Report this comment
J3player
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:46am
She will one day believe either here or in hell.

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- Verceofreason
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:29am
  And you know this because………….
  
  Report this comment
Free_Thought
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:35am
Why would god help? Dont womens bodies have a way of shutting that whole thing down?

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UDI
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:31am
“God is a bad parent and role model,” “God is not logical,” “God is not fair” and “God does not protect the innocent.”

I’m sorry, did I miss something here? I thought God didn’t exist. How can He be all of these things if he doesn’t exist? Judging by these statements I think it’s less of a matter of disbelief in God and more of an anger towards God.

“I want my children to be free not to believe”

And I want my children to be free to believe.

“I only want religion to be kept at home or in church where it belongs. It’s a personal effect, like a toothbrush or a pair of shoes.”

Sorry, no can do.
My faith is nothing like my toothbrush or a pair of shoes. My faith is intertwined with every fiber of my being. It goes all the way down to the very core of my soul. I can no more leave it home than I can leave my foot at home, or a hand.

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- athiest-infedel
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:42am
  Angry at god????, you just don’t get it, the god of the bible, what is taught in the bible… follow me or go to hell. your god is more stick than carrot.
  
  Report this comment
- UDI
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:59am
  You sound a little angry yourself.
  
  Report this comment
toomuchgovt
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:31am
I respect the atheist that has actually read and understands the bible. Only then can an objective opinion be made.

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- athiest-infedel
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:36am
  The bible is the fastest way to athiesem, I am amazed how many christians who have never read the entire bible.
  
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- The_Doors_Of_Perception
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:49am
  I agree. I have a devout christian friend who is also an avid reader. He reads the bible often but has never read it cover to cover. I asked him one day when we were having a conversation about the bible “How many times have you read Tom Wolfe’s The Right Stuff? He said “Three times.” All I said was “God must be a horrible writer.”
  
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Logcrafter
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:28am
Do you think they will hate her when they realize that they might go to hell if they do not belive that Jesus died for their sins? If they become religious will she disown them?

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- DeavonReye
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:36am
  Hmmmm. . . sending people to hell when they don’t “believe the story about a person spoken of in an ancient book”. A person who is silent, . . . absent, . . . and when the evidence is highly debatable and often completely absent, . . . . with a belief system that is merely ONE amongst many other beliefs that “know THEY are the true religion”, . . . etc.
  
  Report this comment
- TheGrtDcptn
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:01am
  ‘A person who is silent. . . absent. . .’
  
  Your ignorance is showing…
  
  ‘the true religion’
  
  God is NOT a religion…
  
  Matthew 13:38 ‘The field is the world…the good seed are the children of the kingdom, but the tares are the children of the wicked one.’
  
  Report this comment
- DeavonReye
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:18am
  How can I be “ignorant” with that statement? Can you show me valid/credible/compelling evidence, that I have somehow missed, that shows an audible and visible “Jesus”????
  
  Report this comment
4truth2all
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:24am
He lets you speak againts Him dosen’t He?

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athiest-infedel
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:22am
I have been attacked here many time about my views, but not ONCE has anyone ever been able to deny that god of your bible endorsed murder, rape, child rape child murder, slavery….. Go ahead and tell me you follow christ nd the new testament until someone wants the ten commandments taken down or you say how god hates gays(old testament) but we follow jesus who never sais anything about gays.
Besides, christians get so **** hurt it’s too fun to troll you guys.

And I’m also not a comunist/ obummerbot but a gun toten right wing nut…..hehehe

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- TEXASCHEESEHEAD
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:34am
  AI, let’s put into context what was written in the Old Testament about killing. Remember the parts where God told his chosen leaders to not leave any survivors of some battles? Remember what happened when they didn’t follow His orders? Recall how that remnant of the defeated enemy got a toehold in Hebrew society and proceeded to ruin it from within with their pagan culture leading to human, including children, sacrifice? God forces no one into Heaven against their will. It is not a prison. Hell is total separation from God at your own choosing. Just look at those nations who have chosen to not follow God and you will get a glimpse into how Hell will operate. Also, please tell us how you can look at the universe and say it was all an accident or a chance occurrence without solid proof? Scientific theories of creation are just grandiose labels for an educated guess so why are they given more credence than what is written in the Holy Bible?
  
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- The_Doors_Of_Perception
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:44am
  Athiest-Infidel…when you ask that question how often do you see the word “context” quickly follow? The creator of the universe writes a book and we have to put it in historical context….hahahahaha
  
  Report this comment
- The_Doors_Of_Perception
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:46am
  Texascheesehead…have you read the bible cover to cover?
  
  Report this comment
- GetRight
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 11:07am
  Not everything in the Old Testament applies to Christians. The Law of Moses was fulfilled with the coming of Christ. The Ten Commandments do apply to Jews and Christians alike. Also, the New Testament does address the sin of homosexuality several times. It is very clear. To have your opinion taken seriously, please know more about that for which you criticize.
  
  Report this comment
searching for the Truth
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:21am
God has one rule of law that He must abide by, which is Truth – when God says , ” Don’t do this or that or one will die, then it is only Truth – on the other hand, satan tells one that, ” what God tells you is a lie.” Consequently, when one is disobedient to the natural laws of God, that can’t be changed , death enters in one’s life, and satan is the angel of death. God knows the future. Therefore, all God’s directives are inclusive of that – ergo, if what one does against God’s laws doesn’t kill one now it will contribute to death later on. This is also true of Nations. Enough said !

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- searching for the Truth
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:28am
  Again, in the Hebrew language, if one letter is removed from the Word ( Truth ) , then the Word ( Truth ) becomes ” death.” What a most Wonderful Science of Logic God Is !
  
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- searching for the Truth
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:00am
  satan ( sic ) Knows the Word by heart, he satan just, can not understand the Word – ergo, the closer one moves toward (it), the more one is confused about Life. Following after death leads to confusion. When , one leads works toward repentance, then one returns to their first works of the, ” Fear of God.” The ” Fear of God,” is the beginning of Wisdom. And, Wisdom, only comes from God.
  
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- searching for the Truth
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:17am
  This very mechanism that everyone is typing on evolved about ” Truth tables.” True, false, True, false,etc., etc., etc….. Famous contemporary philosophers in the time of Jesus , followed Him around asking for answers to the Absolute.
  
  Report this comment
psquare23
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:17am
While the Constitution does not specifically mention God, it is clear from the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights…” that the Constitution was the mechanism employed to order a society that was based on the words of the Declaration. Our republic cannot truly function without a morally shaped people. Without God, there can be no genuine moral shaping. In the atheist’s world there is no compelling reason to be a moral person. I would encourage this person to spend more time thinking it through.

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- Freedomlover_US
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:04pm
  You clearly don’t know any atheists (actually you probably know a few closeted ones). Human reason determines morality, not some book written in the desert during the bronze age.
  
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- getstrong84
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:26pm
  Human reason does not deterine morality, or you better hope that it doesn’t. Hitler was governed by human reason. Hopefully there’s something higher weare subjected to beyond our own reason. You ever met a human being??? God I hope there’s something greater, and I believe there is. It’s why we have this incredible etherel thing called concious. If you think you’re good, what are you comparing yourself too? Prison inmates? You’re only good, if there is no God, then you define goodness. And hopefully we are not the Apex of all that is.
  
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- The Mouse
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:38pm
  Wow, I still can’t believe how dumb some believers are. Get a clue! “Without God, there can be no genuine moral shaping”??!!
  
  Are you truly listening to yourself? If that were the case, then believing in what “god” dictates for our lives would mean I would have to make my wife cover herself from head to toe or prevent her from going outside without male companionship or stone her for adultery. Yes, those are Islamic prescriptions based on a Koranic “god” but the Bible also is full of such prescriptions that Christians believe “god” dictates for our lives. And some things in the Bible are pretty despicable, such as advocating slavery and stoning. The OT is pretty violent too. I wouldn’t want to base my morality on an ancient book; no way! We have evolved way more than what the Bible prescribes in its pages. If we hadn’t… we’d still have blacks in chains and women silent. After all, most preachers back in slavery times felt it was “recognized and sanctioned in the scriptures of God”.
  
  Most abolitionists and suffragists were critical of religion and some maybe might have been atheist or agnostic. Had they not been critical of religion and fundamentalism, I’d be picking cotton today!
  
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- Fiznart
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 12:03am
  “FREEDOMLOVER_US – Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:04pm
  You clearly don’t know any atheists (actually you probably know a few closeted ones). Human reason determines morality, not some book written in the desert during the bronze age.” Whose “human reason” do you use? There has to be a bases for the foundation of morals. God/Ten Commandments is what the founding fathers based the Constitution on. There are many different ideas of what morality is when left to human reason only.
  
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- Raif2
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 8:50am
  Lol oh theists. Ethical philosophy exists outside of your stupid dated immoral morals.
  
  Report this comment
- AmericanDreamn
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 2:08pm
  Very true, without the bibles guiding principles and possible damnation. My life may have been a bit more colorful, but I am very certain not very moral at all. I have done my best to contain myself, failing on occasion the way it is. I can see what no limits would have meant.. Jeez
  
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- checkingbothsides
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 3:58pm
  As an atheist, I don’t believe you’ve thought this through. First of all, I believe in the golden rule, to do to others as I would have them do to me. Why? Because it works. If I’m a jerk to everyone, they’ll treat me the same way. If I hurt others, why wouldn’t others hurt me? Also, I have compassion and empathy that are a part of human nature that keep me morally grounded. Why do I need a god to keep me in line? Whatever happened to being good for goodness’ sake?
  
  It seems to me that people who claim god is necessary to keep a society morally good are either lacking in moral fiber themselves or have little faith in their fellow man.
  
  Report this comment
- birthright
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 10:48pm
  Mouse, you need to read the bible for yourself. People often justify the things they want to do by quoting it out of context. Just read it like you would read a scientific or news article. It does not encourage slavery, it acknowledges slavery.
  Athiests need to think about this: would you argue about the existance of superman? If God is just the main character in a myth, he is just a superman like figure. Would you get this upset over the existance of superman? So why even comment if he is just a super hero from comic books to you? If you are fighting the so-called Christians who are being hateful in their speech, just ignore them. The constitution prohibits the establishment of religion by the government, but not the free exercise of religion by those who choose to follow their religion. I cannot force you to believe as I believe and you cannot force me not to believe.
  
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- VoteBushIn12
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 2:57pm
  Morality is the term we give to those actions that fit well with societal norms.
  
  Where do societal norms come from? They are the only sustainable conclusion you can arrive at once you decide to form a society. Anything else is unsustainable and – just like natural selection – die out.
  
  Why do we form societies? Evolutionary advantage. There is strength in numbers and in order for those numbers to thrive peacefully among one another there must be social order.
  
  I don’t need an old book to tell me Murder is bad. That logic is ingrained in my genes because my ancestors had to behave that way in order to function in societies. Those that did not were outcast from the pack and died on their own. Those that had the correct social genes – or capacity to learn social behavior – flourished. Which is why MOST HUMANS understand morality without being explicitly taught it.
  
  Those edge cases that don’t are the exception. In the same way being born with Autism is considered a congenital disorder, so too it is argued that psychopathy has its roots in our genetic code.
  
  And that, ladies and gentleman, is why I am morally right with – or without – God.
  
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- see.pee.aye
  Posted on February 2, 2013 at 6:41pm
  Birthright says, ” If you are fighting the so-called Christians who are being hateful in their speech, just ignore them.”
  
  We can’t ignore them. Because every time we open the paper, we find another example of theocratic rule encroaching on free society, and we won’t put up with it.
  
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- qualityrkc
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 5:11pm
  Are you saying if you didn’t fear going to hell you would be doing bad things? This says alot more about you than it does atheists. Doing good out of fear of what may happen to you if you dont is not good bc in the end you are still only thinking about yourself. This idea that man is intrinsically bad, damaged, or evil is in my opinion the main problem with Christian doctorine. Wouldn’t a person who does good bc they choose to instead of being motivated to do so out of fear of eternal torture be the morally superior person?
  
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