Are Atheists Attempting to Increase Their Political Influence Around the Globe?
- Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:11pm by
Billy Hallowell
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Recognizing that politics truly is power, atheists are beginning to work their way into the electoral process.
With their primary goal centering upon fighting the continued influence of religion, these “freethinkers” (as they call themselves) are seeking to instill godlessness through their potential placement in elected positions of power and influence.
It seems as though atheists, secularists and others are frustrated over their inability to promote their views on social issues like doctor-assisted suicide and abortion, among others (this stands mainly for European atheists, though similar battles exist in America and in other nations). These are traditionally issues that Christian denominations, among others, take staunch standpoints on — standpoints that often dominate the political discourse.
It seems that Switzerland is the epicenter of what could become a global effort. In Zurich, voters will take to the polls later this month. For the first time in the nation’s history, citizens will have the opportunity to vote for a slate of non-believers. Andreas Kyriacou, 42, who is running for public office, explains why atheists and freethinkers are throwing their names onto the ballot:
“We decided we had to stand up and tell our politicians that it’s time they recognised that there are a lot of non-religious people in their electorate.
We, and probably a lot of Swiss people who have never thought about humanism or atheism, are tired of the influence the churches and religion still exert in this country.
There is a group for Bible study in our parliament, but no cross-party humanist group, though we know many of the deputies are non-believers.”
The nation hosted “Denkfest” (i.e. “Think Festival”) last month. The event, which was put on by the Swiss Freethinkers Association in Zurich, brought together philosophers, scientists and other “freethinkers.” Below, watch the blogger panel that was hosted during the get-together:
The movement and thirst for more influence isn’t limited to Switzerland. Others who believe that religion has a stronghold over the sociopolitical realm are also voicing their interest in countering faith in the public sphere. Delegates from India, Uganda, Nigeria, Argentina and Brazil went to the World Humanist Congress in Oslo, Norway, back in August to address these concerns. Reuters reports:
Like their counterparts in Europe and North America, they argue that morality is based in human nature and does not need a father-figure god to back it up with punishment in an afterlife, in which they do not believe.
“There are more godless groups in the world than ever before,” Sonja Eggerickx, a Belgian schools inspector who is president of the International Humanist and Ethical Union, told the Congress.
Below, watch the Congress’ opening:
In America, “freethinkers” are a growing breed. Atheists, as the Blaze has reported, are growing in influence in the American military and society as a whole. Various groups that oppose religion continue to battle religious institutions and organizations in the courts.
One wonders: Will a growing list of non-believers attempt to influence elections here in America as well? While Christianity is still somewhat of a litmus test here in the U.S., there’s no telling what the future holds as secularists continue to grow in both numbers and boldness.
(H/T: Reuters)
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Comments (322)
Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:48pmI say let them start in Iran.
Report Post »drphil69
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:53pmAmen! Or we could let all the Muslim Extremists know where the non-believers are!
Report Post »fidelcashflo44
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 2:04pmAnd who’s side would you be on in that battle, Dr. Phil69? Would you root for the rational or the irrational? The peaceful or the violent? Society in the Middle East is a perfect example of what happens when a religion becomes universal, and humans manipulate each other based on fears and irrational beliefs. The Middle East is a perfect example of why our world would be a better place if religion had no impact on the lives of humans. Superstition, fear, irrationality must become a thing of the past if humankind is to prosper. Religions stand in the way of that process.
So who’s side are you on?
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 2:14pmThis is what Muslims do to “people of the book”, who they are suppose to treat somewhat favorable
“Christian Girl Allegedly Raped & Beaten for Months By Men Tied to Militant Islamic Org”
What will Islamicists do to atheists?
Report Post »the hawk
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 2:16pmAre Atheists Attempting to Increase Their Political Influence Around the Globe?
Report Post »ah should they be? If your not Religious do you want religion ruling you?
If your Atheists would you want to lobby as one voting block?
Its the question that is stupid here…………not their goal ! Duh , come on blaze ! State the fact !
but to put in in the form of a question ?
Eliasim
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 2:52pmIt doesn’t matter where they start, because the world can not become all atheistic.
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 2:54pmIt’s amazing how they use Charles Darwin to try to disprove God when actually Darwinism proves God, and that is that it proves Liberty.
Report Post »NOBAMA201258
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:11pmI hope I am still around when these idiots get their ultimate come-uppance!! I have a son who happens to be an atheist I pray for him to get to know HIM before it’s too late!!!
Report Post »NOBAMA201258
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:14pmWhy do atheists celebrate Christmas?
Report Post »riverdog1
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:26pmso you guys are on the muslim side now. that does make sense, muslims worship the same god as you so yeah i see it.
Report Post »Scalzo
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:32pm@MA201258
Report Post »Seriously? Since Jesus wasn’t actually born on December 25th, why do you? I can only speak for myself, but it’s a time of sharing and love with our family and loved ones. Letting them know how much I appreciate them. You know, like Jesus would want me to do…
Black Manta
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:43pm2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the LAST DAYS scoffers, walking after their own lust, :4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming?
Report Post »Trance
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:46pmNOBAMA201258
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:14pm
Why do atheists celebrate Christmas?
—————————————————————–
I celebrate Christmas now because it was my favorite holiday when I was growing up, and I want my kids to experience it as well. And let’s face it. To kids, it’s all about getting presents on Christmas morning.
Report Post »bobemakk
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 4:06pmExcellent response, “let them start in Iran.” Atheists or extremist Muslims, makes no difference, they are the same, TRASH!
Report Post »Locked
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 4:11pmMeh. We’re not a theocratic political system, and plenty of non-believers can make morally sound decisions. I trust other candidates with faiths different than my own; I’m not going to condemn a Jew for not believing in Christ, nor a Mormon or a Muslim for adding the the Bible.
Believe whatever you want. If you‘re going to act in a way that’s contrary to my deepest beliefs, I won’t vote for you. I would rather have an atheist who doesn’t mandate government intervention than a Christian who uses big government to force Christianity on the populace.
Report Post »memyselfandi
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 4:37pmChristians celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25th because that is believed to be the date that the wise men found the child Jesus in Bethlehem and gave gifts to Him.
Free thinkers ought to study the Bible, History and science more carefully. I am a Christian because I have done that very thing.
Report Post »LibertarianForLife
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 4:44pm“We must question the story logic of having an all-knowing all-powerful God, who creates faulty Humans, and then blames them for his own mistakes.”
Report Post »the hawk
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 4:53pmAre Atheists Attempting to Increase Their Political Influence Around the Globe?
Report Post »Are Muslums Attempting to in crease their political influence around the globe ?
Are Christians attempting to increase their political influence around the globe ?
Are Communist attempting to increase their political influence around the world ?
See How Dum This Sounds When It’s put This Way ?
rangerp
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 5:13pmAtheism
The belief that there was nothing and nothing happened to nothing and then nothing magically exploded for no reason creating everything and then a bunch of everything magically rearranged itself for no reason what so ever into self-replicating bits which then turned into dinosaurs.
Report Post »Cesium
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:33pmI had a darwin sticker on my car once.. Then some christian peeled half of it off and dented the rear quarter panel.. I’m sure Jesus would have done the same thing:P
Report Post »jebclark
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:45pmspot on Brother, they should start where the need is greatest not where it is needed least, of course that will not happen because I have never met an atheist who was not a coward, I wonder if it has to do with the way I look 6 1/2 feet tall 62 inch shoulders 35inch waist huge arms and normally wearing my US ARMY 82nd AB uniform, nah it can’t be that its the gift of the Holy Spirit that resides within me that makes them so squeamish, in the absence of Darkness the Light of the Lord Prevails,
Report Post »God Bless You Brother
WeDontNeedNoSteeeenkinBadges
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 9:32pmThe enemies of Righteousness are coming out and exposing themselves. The time for The Harvest is getting ready!
24 – “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;
Report Post »25 – but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.
26 – But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.
28 – The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’
29 – But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.
30 – Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” “
LibertarianForLife
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 10:16pm“The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.”
Report Post »“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?”
Tim Law
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 12:30amWhy is it that atheists continue to try to remove GOD from our live’s when they believe in nothing. Why do they care if we believe in GOD. Most only speak about things they have never read or tried to understand. If you really want to by a free thinker get to know GOD and our LORD JESUS they will open your mind to truths that you will amaze you. GOD is alive and well, he has always been, and will always be. It does not matter that you don’t believe in him, he believes in you. Those of us that do believe in GOD will pray for you! May the eyes of the blind be opened to see the Glory of the LORD, may the ears of the deaf be made to hear the word of GOD. May their hearts be softened, so they may know the love of The Father for his children. Amen!
Report Post »thepatriotdave
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 12:46am“Are Atheists Attempting to Increase Their Political Influence Around the Globe?”
Report Post »=============================================
The answer is a resounding YES!
I would like to correct one thing… they are not called Atheists, they are Communists!
thepatriotdave
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 12:52amrangerp
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 5:13pm
“Atheism – The belief that there was nothing and nothing happened to nothing and then nothing magically exploded for no reason creating everything and then a bunch of everything magically rearranged itself for no reason what so ever into self-replicating bits which then turned into dinosaurs.”
========================================================
RANGERP,
That was very good deduction and funny as heck!
Report Post »US_SOLDIER
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 4:32am@PATRIOTDAVE
I dont push my lack of belief on anyone whatsoever. Never have and I certainly never will. That is my own personal belief. I grew up going to church but the story never made any sense to me even as a child. Yet I cant count how many times ive revealed that I am an athiest and a christian has tried to push their religion on me or tell me im going to hell like they are god and have the ability to judge my fate. I see even people here christianity in there quote and bashing muslims? First you serve the same god, and you are committing sin by your faith for passing judgement. The man upstairs doesnt like people wearing his shoes. He made that really clear in his lil book. So pretty much unless your a monk who is isolated in a monestary somewhere far away from civilization, and if you guys are right and im wrong then im goin to see almost all of you down there in the suana with me :)
Report Post »VerySeniorCitizen
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:56amWhen we are given all the RELIGIOUS TWADDLE of folks like Pastor Jeffers can any be surprised?? This ‘My God Trumps Your God’ insanity is the fastest way to get religion out of every corner of this world. Then maybe people will become brothers and sisters and care about one another.
Report Post »VerySeniorCitizen
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:59amIf Atheism is spreading around the world don‘t you think that ’the world’ actually includes the countries which practice faiths other than Christianity? By the way, I have found that MOST folks who claim Christianity have never heart of Jesus? HE WAS THE WORLD’S FIRST SOCIALIST!
Report Post »rangerp
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:08pm@US_SOLDIER
Aint America Great? You get to believe (or not believe) as you see fit.
I still pray for you?
Report Post »Dr. Sandy Kramer
Posted on October 15, 2011 at 3:46pmSociety in Nazi Germany, Communist China and Soviet Russia are perfect examples of what happens when atheism becomes universal, and humans manipulate each other based on power and materialism. The totalitarian countries of the world are perfect examples of why our world would be a better place if atheism had no impact on the lives of humans. It’s a two-way street…
Report Post »garyM
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:44pmIsaiah 5:20
Report Post »Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
rfycom
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 2:14pmTherefore I must thank God for all that I have. Like he got time to hear my petty BS all damn day long. Grown man got to ask God what to do. Grown ass man got to thank God ever five minutes. Oh thank you lord for this fine bowel movement I just had. Oh thank you Lord for this fine meal I just had. Oh crap…… Lord I just committed a sin, but it’s cool cause you forgive. All I got to do is ask. Hell I just live my life the way I want and as long as I don’t die instantly I can ask god to forgive me and I go to heaven. I safe a bunch of money of gas to church.
Eliasim
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 2:56pmYes, and woe to those who call negative positive and positive negative because their light-bulb will not function.
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:01pmAnd woe to those who connect negative to positive without a light, things will get really really hot for you.
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:04pmMoreover your system will cease to function.
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:08pmYes, for example giving people handouts is evil, but people call it good, and likewise many people call a hand-up evil, preferring a handout.
Report Post »Cat
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:44pmGuess it doesn’t matter that God created the big bang, the basic forces, the elements, the stars, the planets, the primeval goop, the microorganisms, the multi-cellular creatures, the dinosaurs, primitive man, modern man, modern man’s wonder and celebration of it all including man’s conception of time, which by the way, does not recognize God’s infinity in all dimensions.
Organized religions have embodied simple tactics ever since their inception.
Power gained through fear, control and repentance, drawing away from mankind’s wonder and celebration of it all.
Curiously, some social ideologies use the same three tactics to gain power.
Can we logically conclude the atheists must use these tactics as well to gain power?
Report Post »If they do, their approach is no different then any other organization of ideologists seeking to secure power.
Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 5:53pm@Elias IM:
Report Post »If you’re talking about an LED, you’re right. If you’re talking about an incandescent lightbulb, you’re wrong. Are we seeing how one rule (read: religion) for all doesn’t work?
jebclark
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:53pmamen Brother, have you noticed those who are for the religion of Atheism never allow comments upon their cowardly remarks and insults
Report Post »DeavonReye
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:46amIt is often those who DO think they worship “good”, yet fail to see that it is actually “bad”. What they see as “righteous” is, in reality, “evil”. They have become “yes men” to the man who they see as authority, . . . because he happens to make a good speech.
I can tell you that I spent 30 years believing something good . . . when it was either completely wrong, or incredibly ridiculous. But let me tell you something. There is NOTHING. . . . NOTHING immoral/unethical when someone decides that there is no reason to believe in someone else’s religious beliefs. I will not accept your judgement of me [who doesn't hold to a religion] SOLELY because I don’t AGREE WITH YOU!
I care about personal liberty/freedom. I will not be pushed into your [religion in question] dictitorial religious belief, . . . even AT the threats of my life if I chose not to.
What IS important to me is limited government, self reliance, strong military, protection of the ammendment rights, . . . . nothing that religion has any say in . . . anyway!! In fact, there are MANY section of the Old Testament that IS immoral/unethical, and would have never made it into the constitution. All this to say, be careful when you blindly quote some bible verse to make it seem like the unreligious are “godless animals”. I can show you far more animalistic events directly attributed to religious people of the bible. People are what they are. Potentially dangerous, religious or not. Be
breedofthe45
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 4:31pmPeople don’t be fools! Atheist use Marxism to promote their ‘Atheism’ like a Feminist use it to promote Feminism, and for those who think that by telling Muslims where the ‘no believers’ are at ‘strategy’ better look around and see that these Marxists(there is no such thing as atheists, only Marxists) already are sending the Radical Muslims like dogs on the Christians. This is class warfare period. Would you elect another Obama? Well, if an atheist run the show guess who is gonna be in charged of your Government? The Marxists again cause no atheist will respect you whatsoever if you don’t embrace Science, and Marxism according to these Atheists is Political Science, Social Justice. Lets not be fool again by these Socialists, If you are a Christian you will be eradicated under Marxist law, hell! ain’t we already being eradicated by the so called Separation Of Christianity(only) and State? I will not vote for no Marxist again, is over! Ain’t playing their games anymore, Socialism is a cancer and no matter how many atheist will say that they are no Socialist. ALL ATHEISTS EMBRACE ACADEMIA AND ACADEMIA IS RUN BY MARXISTS period, this is not a debate, this is the truth and the truth like that Evil Creationist Imperialist Bigot Intolerant Racist Beck[ words used by the amaizing atheist at youtube] says “HAS NO AGENDA” Go to youtube and listen to any atheist outlet and listen to any Van Jones Marxist outlet and tell me what is the difference? NONE! Wake up!
Report Post »DVPFLA
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:42pmI have to admire these brave athiests. I think they should take their message to Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Egypt etc and lets check back with them in a year or so.
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 2:13pmYeah let them do a market study there first.
Report Post »jebclark
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:59pmAMEN TO THAT !! I have noticed the atheists who are posting here all have chosen not to receive replies
Report Post »This_Individual
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:42pmTotalitarianists are. A belief that there is no God does not necessarily mean that you are bent on imposing your idology on others. So I would say that the question is a baited one.
Report Post »rfycom
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 2:03pmAmen brother
Report Post »Scalzo
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:36pmI’m not quite getting how pointing out how bad countries ruled by fanatical religious governments is an insult to the athiest cause.
Report Post »garyM
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:40pmThere is nothing that will stir the devil‘s slaves up any worse than posting or speaking God’s Word. When they surrender to God (Jesus) and become a deciple of truth and love, they will love his Word. Until then, they only speak what they devil gives them!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:40pmAnyone wants to see what happens when these groups gain power and decide to banish any and all manner of religous services; just look to the history of the French Revolution and what came about in the three and a half years afterwards.
Report Post »Howyinthehills
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:30amAtheists, like Christians and Muslims come in many flavors. Are there no Atheists, Christians, Jews and Muslims in Jail. Atheism itself is divided politically, collectivist on one side and individualist on the other. Tom Paine’s birthday was celebrated by 17th century socialists, not because he was an individualist but because his beliefs lined up more with the collectivist side. Ayn Rand was an individualist atheist. The mass murder of the Inquisition was visited by Christians on those they just suspected of disloyalty to the church. Tamerlane, who I think was irreligious, also was a mass murderer. Judge a man by his actions not his professed creed. Cromwell, a narrowly religious man, tried to start a representative government, but did not do a superfine job of it. Our founding fathers were better informed and less intolerant and did a much better job. They had seen in their own back yard the dangers of religious orthodoxy.
Report Post »NC1
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:39pmAtheist are freethinkers. Hmm they don‘t believe in God so they don’t think about Him and what he wants of us. That leaves them to think about themselves, their pride and their egos. Oh great, just what this world needs.
Report Post »fidelcashflo44
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:57pmAre you numb in the brain? Explain to me how one’s decision-making abilities are enhanced by the fear of retribution from an all-powerful fairy tale being? That is absurd.
Free-thinkers are not concerned with an afterlife that does not exist. They are concerned with the present life, the ONLY life, and how we can make it better. We aren’t distracted by superstition. We want the human race to advance, and one obstacle to that advancement is the pollution of our minds with superstition and religion.
Report Post »rfycom
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 2:04pmRight on Fidel
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:02pmAbsent religion and conscience, if I were only worried about how to make this life better here and now, believe me… yours would not matter to me nor would anyone else’s. Not a good way to achieve utopia if everyone were that way. BTW… it will be that way someday after the Christians are gone. I wish ya luck then if your still here.
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:07pmfidel
Report Post »Hey man you may think atheism is awesome, and that is your business. We both know you cannot exist in an [only the strong survive] society, which will be the result of your godless desires. If you leave god out of our society, there is no responsibility for ones actions. If and when the economy collapses [with your protestors help] you will not find law abiding civilians or any kind of freedom among atheism or anarchy. The fear of the final judgement keeps people in check and keeps you SAFE as a result. IMO
11
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:08pmStudies have shown that Atheists are typically the most knowledgeable about religion in general. I believe Jews were a close second and the majority of Christian faiths were near the bottom. The Atheist “free-thinkers” do the research and decide for themselves what they want to believe.
Report Post »fidelcashflo44
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:08pmMeyvn, are you saying the only thing keeping you from harming others in order to improve yourself is a belief in a powerful overseer that knows what you are going to do anyway? Do you see how that makes you an imbecile?
Report Post »schmite123oh
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:26pm@fidel, if this is the only life why do you care if it is better? Whenever you get into a situation where its me or the other guy i’m pretty sure you would save your own skin. You need to ask yourself two questions regarding Jesus. When he was crucified did he rise from the dead? And why would 12 disciples sacrafice their lives preaching this event with absolutely nothing to gain, would men really die for what they know is a lie? Mind you the only reason they were killed was because they would not stop talking about The resurrection, thats all they had to do, just stop talking about it. If anyone can prove Christ did not rise from the dead Christianity would be finished. Examine the evidence. If you are a “free thinker” you would go to the source– BIBLE, there is nothing there that man would inheritantly resist, the BIBLE speaks to our natural being that we were never meant to experience Death. Anyways, if the BIBLE is too intimidating for ya you can always purchase Evidence that demands a verdict, Josh McDowell, this book can provide the evidence needed to maybe get you to consider the Good Word. Anyways, Tell me what you dislike about Jesus? Lets go there before you comment on the acts of the followers, what say you about Jesus? 3 choices, he was the worlds greatest deceiver (genius in the regard), he is insane(he said he was the son of God), or he was telling the Truth (which was his response constantly). May the Lord Bless those who seek him.
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:27pmIt doesn’t make me or anyone else an imbecile. It does help to keep one from purely acting on Id and instinct, using their Ego instead, a synthesis of the Id and Super-Ego. The Super-ego only exists in ones mind because of the law, God, and forces that make one accountable. Sin is to man as rot is to apple. It’s just the way it is. God or no God.
Report Post »NC1
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:35pmWhat is the human race supposed to advance towards if it‘s not to work to be closer to God and if we don’t obey the laws wrote upon our hearts and consciences? How can we accomplish good if we throw the laws of God aside? An athiest knows its wrong to lie, wrong to steal, wrong to commit murder. Those examples of God’s law are in the hearts and consciences of every human being and they know they should be obeying them and not just thinking about them. The human mind is the enemy of God as it will try to rationalize and reason why it is OK to not obey the laws on your heart, to make it easier for a person to do what they know they’re not supposed to do. You may think man can make laws to prevent evil, but man can also pervert those man-made laws to work to their advantage which will eventually oppress others. Think freely upon that and if you’ve ever lied, cheated, stole, etc. and then think about if you can be good if you’ve done those things. I have and I wouldn’t consider myself a good person after doing so. If a person is not good and doesn‘t seek guidance on how to be so then they’ll never be able to govern themselves and will relinquish those rights of freedom to tyranny. As our forefathers stated our constitution was made for a moral people. Our country wouldn’t be free without God. Think freely upon that without a knee jerk answer.
Report Post »Bad_Ashe
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:47pm@11 – Which magical atheist knowledge survey is this? Breadth of knowledge does not equate to depth of knowledge.
In the latest Pew Forum survey that atheists made a big deal about last year, those who identified as atheist still only answered 65% of the answers correctly (only 5 more questions on average than those generally identifying as Christian). However, when you look at those who claim “no religion”(a category atheists often do in a desperate attempt to prop up their demographical %), they scored worse than those generally identifying as Christians.
When limiting the categories to “Western religions”, Jews and Mormons scored better than atheists, and Mormons and Evangelical Christians blew away atheists by scoring 86% and 73% on questions relating to the Bible. So what does this tell use about the average atheist? They have slightly better general knowledge of various religions, but little in-depth knowledge of any one religion, Christianity in particular.
This should come as no surprise, as logic infers that someone who subscribes to no religion is more likely to be familiar with the general tenets of various religions than any one adherent is to be familiar with others faiths. In other words, stop typing out your rear end.
Cheers!
Report Post »Bad_Ashe
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:51pm@FIDELCASHFLO44 – How do you know what is “good” for life on Earth? How do you define “good”? Don’t you have to first define good to understand how to make life better? How do you decide what is better, and for who?
Additionally, since we’re all evolved meat-sacks, and since Earth will eventually be destroyed by the death of the sun, and even if we colonize other planets, someday every living being is going to be eradicated in the heat death of the universe anyway, why are you so concerned with making things better?
I look forward to your answers!
Report Post »scarebear83
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 4:00pmPsalm 14:1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” If people want a society free of religion all they have to do is look at US history. In the 1700‘s and 1800’s people looked out for one another, helped each other out in time of need etc. Now as we move closer to today we see more people absorbed with themselves, (what‘s mine is mine and what’s yours I’m trying to make mine through government help) sex before marriage kids shacking up at younger ages, abortions, drug use running rampant, I mean just look at the people at Occupy Wall St, I would say there are probably half of them who are atheists while the other half either believe in a god (not the God of the Bible) or some type of spirituality (Paganism Buddhism etc). If this is the kind of society atheists want please count me out.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 4:17pm@Bad_Ashe
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/enlightened-living/201010/atheistsagnostics-more-knowledgeable-about-religion
“Of the 32 questions posed, Americans (N=3412), on average, answered about 16 questions correctly. Atheists and Agnostics tended to answer 20.9 questions correctly, while Jews and Mormons averaged 20.5 and 20.3 correct answers, respectively. As a whole, Protestants answered an average of 16 questions correctly, with Catholics averaged 14.7 correct answers. This distribution held true even after controlling for various education levels; however, there was an indication that higher education level, in general, did influence overall performance, regardless of denomination.”
I remember taking it and getting a 27/32 (not for the poll, I did it after). The toughest questions were the ones on Judaism for me.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 4:19pm@Bad_Ashe (again)
“So what does this tell use about the average atheist? They have slightly better general knowledge of various religions, but little in-depth knowledge of any one religion, Christianity in particular.”
By that statement you can also say that Christians who their own religion but have terribly little knowledge of any other.
Report Post »Bad_Ashe
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 6:55pmRegrets to all if this turns out to be a duplicate post.
@Locked – You should read posts more carefully before you start responding. My stats originated from the same Pew Forum survey that you cited via Psychology Today. The problem comes when those analyzing the data conclude that atheists “know more” about religion than adherents, and therefore are automatically better informed on the subject.
It’s not without some note than this narrow analysis is coming mostly from atheists themselves.
Breadth of knowledge is different than depth of knowledge, and as we drill down into the results of the Pew survey, atheists show very little depth of religious knowledge, particularly when it comes to Christianity.
As for your comment that “By that statement you can also say that Christians who their own religion but have terribly little knowledge of any other”, you are once again betrayed by the fact that you didn’t carefully read my post. I stated:
Report Post »Bad_Ashe
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:07pm@Locked (Cont)
As for your comment that “By that statement you can also say that Christians who their own religion but have terribly little knowledge of any other”, you are once again betrayed by the fact that you didn’t carefully read my post. I stated:
“This should come as no surprise, as logic infers that someone who subscribes to no religion is more likely to be familiar with the general tenets of various religions than any one adherent is to be familiar with others faiths.”
So while I obviously don’t disagree with you, generally identified Christians (roughly 80% of America) aren’t out there making erroneous statements that they have greater religious knowledge than others, and are therefore standing on higher intellectual footing.
Cheers!
Report Post »kentuckypatriot
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:38pmIMO, if an Atheist ran for public office, if he or she was qualified, I don‘t think I’d have a problem with it, as long as they had common sense, were for limited govt., and didn’t preach their crap on me. If they could truly seperate their beliefs ( or non beliefs as in this case ) from their job and I trusted them, I would perhaps support them. However, trusting a politician is not the norm these days, so I guess I just talked myself out of supporting an Atheist for political office LOL
Report Post »This_Individual
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:39pmWhat you just described is exactly what we need in our capitol. The whole argument over the existance of a omnicient or omnipotent being can be discussed and argued over ’till our hair falls out.
Report Post »What the real issue here is totalitarianism. They use race, sexuality, religiion, and those who do not require a diety in their lives, to achieve their goal of divisiveness and control. Some of us are being diverted from this by falling into their divisive tactics (which includes forcing the argument of an existance of a diety, or dieties in my case, to hide their very real intentions). Your thought is enlightened in the fact that the true meaning of our constitution contains within it the gift of individual freedom. Whether it is divine or not, can be debated. But relinquishing our individual freedom of thought and expression to the oppression of a collective society cannot be allowed to surface.
Drives Like Jehu
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 4:53pmAs long as these atheists are not trying to get political influence in order to undermine my political rights and freedoms as a Christian, then fine; otherwise, they are the enemy’s handmaidens and are to be defeated.
Report Post »ilovepotatoes
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:51pmI ditto that post, except i would insert the word christian for athiest. Double standard anyone?
Report Post »garyM
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:38pmJohn 8:44
Report Post »Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
fidelcashflo44
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:41pmWow that is a very interesting quote from a 2000 year old plagiarized fiction book. Tahnks for contributing.
Report Post »joe1234
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:36pm“Wow that is a very interesting quote from a 2000 year old plagiarized fiction book. Tahnks for contributing.”
that racist atheist fairy tale known as evolution is only about 150 years old…
Report Post »schmite123oh
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:41pmWhats fictional? Atheists Biblical scholars acknowledge Jesus was a living Man. So there is one truth. There was a City called Jerusalem, still is today, Another Truth we can verify. Pontious Pilate lived, found letters written by Him. Another confirmed truth. Whats fictional? That God can walk on Water? I would hope so, because I dont think of a God as a Limited God. That God is Just? God is Truth? God is Good? God is Righteous?
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers,h what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,a not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
You would dismiss a God like this? Read it! YOu will not regret it, The Lord is God of the Living not the dead. May the Lord
Report Post »Cesium
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:20pmJoe1234 should just write a script to one key for: “racist atheist fairy tale”
I have seen plenty of racist remarks from christian blazers. … Joe1234 never there to
condemn it, only posting in objection to evolution like it’s some conspiracy for racists. So by his logic over 90% of living molec/zoo biologists on the planet who know evolution as fact are racists and just wicked immoral people. Including evangelicial christian and NIH director Francis Collins. Joe totally dismisses evolution evidence that does exist and actually does support the hypothesis. Yet the evidence for the supernatural is ZERO. It still remains a hypothesis…A good hypothesis but that’s how it remains, a hypothesis. No bible proves anything about what a supernatural creator would be like anyway. It just proves the judeo-islamo-christian god is big stubborn jealous baby who plays favorites and does devilish things like “harden hearts.”
“as a Christian because I believe that God had a plan to create creatures with whom he could have fellowship, in whom he could inspire [the] moral law, in whom he could infuse the soul, and who he would give free will as a gift for us to make decisions about our own behavior, a gift which we oftentimes utilize to do the wrong thing. I believe God used the mechanism of evolution to achieve that goal.” -Francis Collins NIH
Report Post »ilovepotatoes
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:07pmAlthough the Bible is very thorough it is based a long time ago and I just don’t know how much of it is taken out of context from everything else that was going on at the time. I can‘t believe in something I can’t see. I wish one of the commandments was thou shall not question thy neighbor’s FAITH
Report Post »ilovepotatoes
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:13pmeveryone here knows that athiests aren’t just protesting hippie liberals, right? Vote for Newt, boi!
Report Post »SimpleTruths
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:36pmI sure hope so, this god thing is way overrated.
Report Post »Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:35pmReligious groups hold congresses and conferences every month somewhere in America, but “Oh no!” Atheists want to hold one in Switzerland? It’s an epidemic of godlessness!
BTW, it’s not proper to define the movement as “seeking to instill godlessness”. We are not defined by what we are against. We are defined by what we are for. That’s where the monikers Humanist, Secularist, Free Thinker, and Rationalist come from. We’re not against belief in god. We’re for belief in humanity, the whole world, the right to freedom of thought, and rationality, all of which are objective goods in society.
And before anyone says, “But Atheism is the LACK of belief in god!” Uh… no. Atheism is the AFFIRMATIVE belief that there is no god. It’s not defined by the lack of a god. It’s defined by the existence of the belief.
And not all Humanists/Secularists/Rationalists/Free Thinkers are, in fact Atheists. Many are Agnostics, or just uncommitted with respect to religion.
I fear that the majority of the rabidly anti-Atheist Blazers want to return to the age of American life when Atheists were barred from being witnesses in court trials, or from even bringing complaints before courts of law, since they were obviously all liars and could not be trusted to swear an oath to tell the truth on the Bible.
Report Post »hi
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:53pmLove the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and with all of your MIND. Christians are the greatest of all thinkers. We established the (used to be )
Report Post »great universities such as Harvard and Yale.
Can you define “life” for me? The greatest minds cannot produce it. So, what is it?
Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 2:05pmOn a mildly tangential issue that other Blazers have brought up in this thread, yes, it is possible to be “good without god”. God is not the font from which all ethics, morals, and goodness flows. One does not need a magical sky daddy threatening a punishment after death to behave in an objectively good manner. Good for yourself and good for the whole of humanity.
The philosophy of Ayn Rand, which she dubbed Objectivism has as its prime value life. Life is the value from which all other values stem. What is the value of a beautiful sunset on a planet with a Nitrogen-blue sky and white clouds of water vapour if there is no intelligent, living being there to witness it? What value does a mountain of gold have if there is no intelligent, living being there to assign it that value?
As a direct corollary, the wanton destruction of innocent life is to be opposed. This is the root by which I came to my own, personal conviction that abortion is wrong. I didn’t need Jeremiah I 1:5 to TELL ME that life in utero is still life and that that life is to be valued.
I do not murder people, not because god had to TELL ME not to, but because if I did, other people would descend upon me and remove not only whatever advantage I may have obtained by that murder, but remove from me far, far more than that. Ditto with stealing and rape and destruction of property. The law of man is superior to the law of god because it doesn’t have to wait until death to exact its punishments.
Report Post »DrFrost
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 2:13pm“I fear that the majority of the rabidly anti-Atheist Blazers want to return to the age of American life when Atheists were barred from being witnesses in court trials, or from even bringing complaints before courts of law, since they were obviously all liars and could not be trusted to swear an oath to tell the truth on the Bible.” – LPHP
Straw man fallacy. A religious person could say something very similar:
“I fear that the majority of the rabidly godless Blazers want to return to the age of Nero when christians were tortured and killed!”
It would be similarly false.
Report Post »AlansTigg
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 2:52pmI fear that the majority of the rabidly anti-Atheist Blazers want to return to the age of American life when Atheists were barred from being witnesses in court trials, or from even bringing complaints before courts of law, since they were obviously all liars and could not be trusted to swear an oath to tell the truth on the Bible.
hmmm never heard of anti-antheist before…it’s kinda like a double negative ~ and let’s hope your fear is unfounded, I’d be truly shocked to discover there was a marjority of people who felt that way
Report Post »joe1234
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:41pm“I do not murder people, not because god had to TELL ME not to, but because if I did, other people would descend upon me and remove not only whatever advantage I may have obtained by that murder”
but of course once atheists get power…anything goes….
Report Post »DrFrost
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 4:04pm“I do not murder people, not because god had to TELL ME not to, but because if I did, other people would descend upon me and remove not only whatever advantage I may have obtained by that murder, but remove from me far, far more than that. Ditto with stealing and rape and destruction of property.” – LPHP
Painful consequences are one reason not to do it, though you aren’t guaranteed to be caught. I think a better reason not to do it is because it is morally wrong.
I remember a CSI episode where they caught a man who had murdered two people. He was know for his meticulous planning and never getting caught, but the crack CSI team managed to nail him anyway. When they brought him in he looked at Grissom and asked “Where did I go wrong?” wanting to know where he had failed to cover his tracks. Grissom looked at him in shock and replied: “You killed two people.”
“The law of man is superior to the law of god because it doesn’t have to wait until death to exact its punishments.” – LPHP
Are you saying you believe there is a God or not?
If you don’t believe there is a God (which you suggest but never state explicitly) then the law of man is superior because man exists and God doesn’t and it has nothing to do with death or the arrival time of punishments.
If you believe that there is a God (at least in the Christian and Jewish sense) then His law is superior for many reasons, not the least of which is the potential severity of the punishment: men c
Report Post »Locked
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 4:35pm@Drfrost
“I think a better reason not to do it is because it is morally wrong.”
Or empathy. Really, there are plenty of reasons to control your behavior. One of the most basic (that most children learn) is fear of punishment, whether it be prison like the poster was saying or damnation like some Christians may preach. The highest stages are ones such as a sense of how such actions would affect society, or aspiring to a goal or virtue.
Some people never get out of the starting stages; others quickly leave them. All of them have the same result: they modify behavior. And none of them necessarily require a religious background.
Report Post »Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 5:19pmBut which Lord God is … MINE? Is my Lord God Vishnu? Maybe Shiva? Buddha? The ancestors of my own familial lineage? The problem with demanding that I believe in god, is that there are so many gods in which to believe. How can you prove to me that the one you believe in is the right one when the people who believe in a completely different god claim to be able to prove that THEIR god is the right one to worship?
Oxygen: 64%
Carbon: 18%
Hydrogen: 10%
Nitrogen: 3%
Calcium: 1.5%
Phosphorus: 1.2%
Chlorine: 0.7%
Potassium: 0.2%
Sulfur: 0.2%
Sodium: 0.1%
Magnesium: 0.05%
Iron: 3 g in men, 2.3 g in women
Cobalt, Copper, Zinc, Iodine: < 0.05% each
Selenium, Fluorine: < 0.01% each
And trace amounts of over a dozen other elements.
That's what you get if you distilled an adult human being down to its constituent atoms. Life is not a thing. Life is a process. Life is not something that is. Life is something that happens. There is a word for the study of things that happen.
It's not "religion".
Report Post »Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 5:29pm@ Dr Frost:
Uh… The ban on Atheists in court actually happened in THIS country, and it wasn’t millennia ago. Nero was millennia ago and not only in another country, it was in another continent, in another culture.
Have I been oblique? I don’t think I have. I think IAT I actually stated flat out “I am a devout Atheist.”
And this devout Atheist can speak of god’s laws in the same way I can muse about the laws of the wizarding world of Harry Potter. They’re both fun to contemplate the ramifications of (The right to keep and bear wands, for instance.) and both equally fictional.
Report Post »Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 5:36pm@ Locked:
Well, yes, if you eventually develope through the Id and Ego stages you reach the Super Ego stage of Freud’s psycho-social developement, you arrive at the Golden Rule and empathy, but I was trying to keep it simple, in deference to those who aren’t capable of anything not written in a holy book.
Largely, I comport myself according to the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” And it’s corollary, the Silver Rule, “Do unto others as they have done unto you.” Those who have arrested developement at the Ego stage need that external pressure of the threat of punishment, whether man‘s laws or god’s laws, in order to be capable of governing their own behaviour. I do not murder, because I do not want to be murdered. I do not rape, because I do not want to be raped. I do not steal the property of others, because I do not want my property stolen from me.
My point stands. This objective standard of morality, ethics, and goodness is a wholly human one. It does not rely on god, religion, or a holy book to lay down such a standard of behaviour.
Report Post »Ceefour
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:34pmAre these terrible weasels anti christian or just anti religion…any religion? These rejects just don’t make sense. You can be sure they won’t try to impress their idiotic ideas on the sons of islam because they know what would happen to them…these idiots don’t what to die for their beliefs (non beliefs) No I think these cloacas are way left of center and just mwant to cause trouble
Report Post »nuttyvet
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:35pmSo wait – if you believe in evolution you are an athiest? Interesting…
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:33pmIf every Atom can die (given HalfLifes)… the Universe will end… and there is No God… then, there are No Morals, No reasons to do good deeds, and No reason not to take out the Atheists… for all is just an accidental dream!
Report Post »SimpleTruths
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:40pmYou discredited yourself in the first 5 words – your understanding of physics, the basis of the rest of your blather, is non-existent.
Report Post »HMNSC
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:16pmSo, you need a “reason” to do good? Seems the atheists have a leg up on you. They do good because they want to.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 4:03pmA Finite Universe (limited), set in Time (Limited), requires a Beginning, which requires an End, and an Atom Half Life is measurement of Decay in the process of Ending… unless you buy into Hawkins Physics, where you can go back in time! Yes, I need a reason to do good, I am a Viet Nam Vet.
Report Post »HMNSC
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 4:50pmSo without ever lasting happiness or rewards in heaven you have no reason to do good? You’d just go ape %^%$ crazy and rape and pillage. You need an almighty power in the sky to tell you this is not OK? I don’t get it. I am pretty close to being the most moral person I know. I don’t restrain myself from immoral deeds because I am afraid of punishment. I don’t help my neighbor for rewards in heaven. I try and help my fellow man out of pure decency.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:12pmThe species that controls a Planet, and kills other species for food, is Predatorial. My eyes are set to focus forward, so I can Hunt; I am a Predator, and I know it!
Report Post »evilhatemonger
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:30pmIf they really want to prove something, I say they take their message to some less liberal bastions of free thought, such as Iran & Saudi Arabia. I’d be interested in seeing how that turns out for them.
Report Post »fidelcashflo44
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:37pmHow about you take your Christian mission there, instead? We’re not the ones trying to convert people. We don’t have a fairy tale dogma to adhere to. The reason atheism is most prominent in the West is because atheism goes hand in hand with an educated society. The more rational and educated the members of a society, the higher the likelihood of anti-superstition.
Report Post »satotbs
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:38pmDead on. OOPS. No pun intended.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:53pm@fidelcashflo44
Report Post »“atheism goes hand in hand with an educated society”
—————————————————————
So you don’t think the founding fathers were educated?
atechgeek
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:57pm@fidelcashflo44 : Just a question … when the World becomes an Islamic State and you have a choice, convert to Islam or die … which will you choose ?
Report Post »fidelcashflo44
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 2:16pmatechgeek, I will proudly fight against any totalitarian regime that forces me to choose between converting to any superstitious nonsense or death.
evilhatemonger, the only thing I ask people to convert to is rationality, common sense, and reality. I ask them to convert from superstition and non-science.
Report Post »11
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:26pm@Annonymous:
Report Post »“So you don’t think the founding fathers were educated?”
Compared to today, no they were not. Thanks to advances in technology, the average High School dropout collects more information in their teens than our founding fathers did in their lifetime.
That aside, one could easily make the argument that several of the founding fathers were in fact Atheist anyway. But that’s for another discussion.
schmite123oh
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:52pm@11 you talk as if all information is useful information…I beg to differ.
Report Post »riverdog1
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 4:10pmfidel, where did you come from? very well written posts, thank you. to the rest of you who just post parts of scriptures, doesn’t help your cause.
Report Post »11
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 4:36pm@SCHMITE123OH
Report Post »It was not my intention to imply anything of the sort. I do think though that the modern teenager is better informed about general religion than people of our founding fathers’ generation were and therefore more able to make an informed decision about their own beliefs.
fidelcashflo44
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:30pm“Atheism” doesn’t have an agenda. As an atheist, I don’t wake up every morning wondering how I can abort more babies and terminate people on life support. That is patently absurd and the insinuation by the author of this article further shows how journalisitically challenged The Blaze reporters truly are.
Report Post »AlansTigg
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:39pmhave you noticed what such groups are out there fighting? Just because you are not concerned with the activities of believers does not mean there are not a lot of people claiming to speak for you who are extremely concerned. You can state that they don’t speak for you, but when they are the vocal portion, that is what the rest of us see/hear/experience. You can‘t say they don’t have an agenda…only that you don’t
Report Post »Delete the Elite
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 2:01pmAgreed. Articles like this do NOTHING besides keep the masses divided and infighting. The funny thing about faith, it is what YOU beleive , and if your faith is strong, nobody can ‘change your mind’. Not atheist or Muslims practicing sharia law. It is propaganda to keep you scared and make you cling to their ‘political club’. Once they have enough of you on board, you will find out what their REAL agenda really is, and it won’t be pretty.
Report Post »The Third Archon
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 2:04pmAlso–abortions are awesome, and should be free and on demand.
Report Post »AlansTigg
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:29pmpersonally I think doctor assisted suicide should be legal, it’s your life after all
Report Post »Lloyd Drako
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:29pm“Are Atheists Attempting to Increase Their Political Influence Around the Globe?”
Let’s hope so! And let’s hope they direct a lot of attention to the Islamic world, which needs to dial the Godliness way down.
Report Post »The Third Archon
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:25pm“Are Atheists Attempting to Assert Political Influence Around the Globe?”
Report Post »Umm…were they not before?
Are Christians NOT attempting to do the same thing? (and before you answer, Germany and a number of other countries have a major party called the Christian Democrats, CDU in Germany–how many Atheist Democrat parties are there?)
Is there something wrong with religious people having political opinions? (I know we don’t want to bring religious opinions INTO politics, but the religious and areligious should have a voice right? I mean, it seems wrong to take away the right to vote from Christians, who are by and large a decent people, just because they believe in an imaginary friend in the sky).
garyM
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:35pmPsalm 14:1
Report Post »The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
The Third Archon
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:21pmThat doesn’t answer any of my questions, but thanks.
Also, that’s very circular reasoning, which is to say, that citing the bible only helps you IF you’re RIGHT (that is, if the Bible is, indeed, the word of God, and not a collection of random writings by various humans), which is what you are trying to prove.
You can’t assume what you are trying to prove in an argument–that should be obvious, but I guess I’ve got to explain Logic 101 when talking to theists.
Report Post »joe1234
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:38pm““Are Atheists Attempting to Assert Political Influence Around the Globe?”
Umm…were they not before?
”
yeah they have before…and its worked out SO well….the gulags, the killing fields, etc…
Report Post »The Third Archon
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:56pm@Joe
You misunderstand my point–I was not saying that atheists HAVEN’T sought political power in the past, but quite the opposite, that they have…not unlike EVERY OTHER GROUP EVER. The “criticism” that atheists are suddenly seeking power now is both 1) temporally inaccurate, and 2) non-unique to atheists
Also, you cite examples of atheists killing people–that doesn’t prove that ATHEISM requires the killing of people, or that it is a CAUSE of killing people, just that there are sometimes correlations between the two.
But two can play at that game–ever hear of the Lord’s Resistance Army? How about he Crusades? No group that has existed for any length of time is entirely clean of bloodshed by people claiming to be members of the same, that doesn‘t mean that that group’s belief system must necessarily advocate murder–there’s a higher burden of proof for a claim like that than just “oh look, some people who claim to be part of the group were murders.”
If we were to accept your line of reasoning, it would mean Christianity necessarily encourages murder because of the Lord’s Resistance Army, the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, and various executions for “Idolatry” (i.e. non-belief in Christianity) which have occurred as recently and proximately as in colonial New England. And would indict basically every ideology for the wrongdoing of their ‘adherents.’
And that’s obviously patently ridiculous.
Report Post »joe1234
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:38pm“But two can play at that game–ever hear of the Lord’s Resistance Army? How about he Crusades? ”
oh Thank God for the crusades…without them we’d all be muslim.
“ATHEISM requires the killing of people, or that it is a CAUSE of killing people, just that there are sometimes correlations between the two”
well if you can tell me of a time historically when the two didn’t go together, I would appreciate it.
“Lord’s Resistance Army, the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, and various executions for “Idolatry” (i.e. non-belief in Christianity) which have occurred as recently and proximately as in colonial New England. And would indict basically every ideology for the wrongdoing of their ‘adherents.’”
I don‘t know who the Lord’s resistance army is, sorry…as far as the dreaded inquisition…it killed what a couple of hundred people over a couple of centuries?
compared to atheism’s bloody toll….not ridiculous at all…
Report Post »raderby
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:23pmduh……just getting this? Satan is pitchforking his foot soldiers.
Report Post »ishka4me
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:30pmIn the North east we see actual hatred of Christians and Jews by the left, but what is funny is they are open to Yoga, Hinduism, Budhism, very open to Wicca and Paganism. Not kidding you, the same soccer moms here in pta meetings trying to erase Christmas are practicing witches .Things are so messed up.
Report Post »fidelcashflo44
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:33pmThis just in: Atheists don’t believe in Satan either. We also don’t believe in unicorns or Zeus. You see how this works?
EVERY SINGLE SUPERNATURAL BEING IS MAN-MADE AND HAS NO CONNECTION OR BASIS IN REALITY.
Report Post »The Third Archon
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:22pm@fidelcashflo44
Don’t forget flying spaghetti monsters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »joe1234
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:37pm“EVERY SINGLE SUPERNATURAL BEING IS MAN-MADE AND HAS NO CONNECTION OR BASIS IN REALITY.”
does that include your racist god darwin?
Report Post »schmite123oh
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:53pm@ fidel What do you think of Jesus? Was he made up by mans imagination?
Report Post »Lotus4115
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 4:40pmDuh!! no such thing as Satan.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:21pmWhen the White House is occupied by one, I think it’s a pretty safe bet that they HAVE increased their political influence around the globe.
Report Post »Lloyd Drako
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:30pmI thought O was a Muslim, which is hardly atheist!
Report Post »gmoneytx
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:18pm“free thinkers” wow, and to think, I have not had a free thought before because I believe in God…who’d a thunk, or not thunk…wow I’m confused, ahhh that was the intention all along!…What?
Report Post »Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:39pmIf you are free (from all external coercion on account of it) to believe in god, then why can I not be free (from all external coercion on account of it) to believe in no god?
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:44pmYeah they call themselves Free Thinkers because they don’t have the burden of wondering what the consequences of their immoral behavior is going to be when they die. They are free to think about sodomy, theft, rape, incest, murder, etc. You know all those things that our God tells us religious types not to do through the Bible.
Report Post »11
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:40pm@BLACKHAWK1
Report Post »So the only reason you don’t do awful things is fear of retribution in the afterlife? Personally, I don’t do awful things because, well, they are awful and I don’t want to do them nor do I want others to do them to me. Have you ever noticed “bad guys” (gang members, thugs, etc.) tend to have an inordinate amount or religious tattoos & paraphernalia. I don’t think the fear of god is what keeps people from being evil. It starts with the individual and goes on down the line to family, friends, neighbors, etc. That is where a moral compass should come from.
Meyvn
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:45pmYou are all free to believe in no God, at least for now. So what’s the issue?
Report Post »Better Dead Than Red
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 4:52pmBlackhawk,
With all due respect, I’m pretty sure the Bible has many stories that contradict your post. God commanded the Israelites to murder other tribes and civilizations- as well as called for slavery, genocide and the all time kicker (for me): child sacrifice.
Report Post »Better Dead Than Red
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 4:54pmIf you want a great guide book on good morals, I would not start with the Bible.
Report Post »Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 6:37pm@ Blackhawk 1:
Report Post »I surmise that you spend far, far, FAR more of your precious time on this Earth thinking about those things than I ever do. And be honest, does your god tell you not to THINK about those things, or not to DO those things? Really, which one is proscribed?
garyM
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:17pm1 Timothy 4:1
Report Post »Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
garyM
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:16pm2 Peter 3:3
Report Post »Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
Blackman Standing Tall71
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:15pmNo one should be suprised about the growing number of atheists.People should realize that our world is not going to get better.It’s only going to get worse.
Report Post »ACLUHater
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:22pmDo these losers try this crap in the Muslim world???
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:48pmWe will end up like Sodom and Gomorrah if left up to them. Maybe they want the reset button hit on themselves again.
Report Post »riverdog1
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 4:23pmto all the posts that ask that athiest should try this in a muslim world, no it would not be to bright to do so in a religius state, you know, the one you want here in the US.
Report Post »jebclark
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:30pmits getting worse as the atheists and Muslims increase in numbers, I see a correlation do you ?
Report Post »garyM
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:15pm2 Timothy 4:3
Report Post »For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
jebclark
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:26pmThank You for posting those words of truth from OUR LORDS WORD
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