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  • Modern Times; Christian Behavior

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    I have been writing a blog for several years. I have written them thinking that there were some basic commonalities between the differing groups of Christians. Well, there are some, many in fact, but some of my assumptions were wrong.

    One of the assumptions I was mistaken about is that all Christians absolutely loathe non-believers, especially those carrying the label atheist. Yes, there are some out there who remind me at every opportunity that I am on the rollercoaster to hell, but they are a very small minority. They just seem large in number because they are so vocal. I suppose this is the case in any group.

    There are so many varying degrees of belief. Some Christians are very liberal, some very much fundamentalist. In between are a myriad of variations. There are literalists, and then there are those who look upon some scripture as metaphor, preferring a more modern “interpretation”. There are also some who ignore offensive scripture and accentuate the positive. There are some who look upon Jesus as God personified, others think him merely an outstanding prophet. There are those that loathe organized religion preferring instead a private belief.

    Although Christians still make the claim that God is unchanging, and biblical scripture exists to back them up,  beliefs evidently do. According to the cultural mores, dos and do nots, of a particular society, accommodations are made. What a Christian thinks moral in one society is different than what a Christian thinks in another. Also, the norms existing now differ greatly  from the norms of morality practiced by early Christians.

    There are individual Christians who believe that morality is as unchangeable as their God, and do not tolerate differences in cultures, as pertains to morality. Happily they seem in the minority.

    Where Atheists are concerned I have found numerous Christians who exercise a modern “live and let live” attitude. Yes, there are some who wish we would all crawl back under the rock we came out from under, but others have adopted a stance which provokes a feeling within me that hope exists mankind will not destroy itself in a cataclysmic self-made disaster. These new Christians seem in the majority as well. That bodes well for us all. When an atheist can do more than just run for office, but actually attain it, then I will know there is hope.

  • What Are Your Thoughts

    So much press of late has been about Mid-Ohio Atheists billboards. People would almost have to be sitting at home dead not to have heard of them by now. All the outcry from the public that these billboards were in bad taste, and in bad taste because they were scheduled at the holiday season.

    I would like advice on how we, of Mid-Ohio atheists can improve our image in this area. No… no suggestions that we go away, disband; we are here to stay. I want suggestions on how we can get our message out in a way that is not offensive to the public at large. (Those who feel our mere existence is offensive, need not reply)

    We want to let those like-minded people in the area, near and far, know we are here for them. That would be our target.

    I realize the goal of fundamentalist religion is to convert everyone on earth to their way of thinking, so my plea is not directed toward them. I am asking those who believe that everyone has a right to believe or disbelieve what ever they want, to make suggestions.

    Thank you.

  • lalalalalala, I Can’t Hear You!

     

    3 monkeys a

     

    Why do irrational ideas endure?

    I once was told that one surefire method of escaping jury duty, should one desire to, is to say something like this:

    “I know that so and so, and I know he’s guilty, and once I make up my mind, nothing anyone says can change it.”

    People can be stubborn, resolute, unwilling to look at contradictory information, even when such information is offered without a biased slant. Such a person, even when proven wrong with logic and reasoning continues to hold  totally inaccurate viewpoints. Inflexible, unmoving, with information filtered to support held views, and contradictory information discarded.

    Closed-minded, never considering anything new. Comfortable with the perspective presently held, unable, unwilling, to explore new frontiers, new ideas. Holding prejudiced opinions, practicing bigotry, hatred, and arrogance.

    Not only does this describe someone “set in their ways”, it is indicative of someone who does not even realize just how uncompromising they have become. When confronted they offer repetitive reasons for their tightly held convictions, then their criticism is presented in an attack upon those who question.  Like parrots, their diatribe is repeated to infinity. These people charge instead that it is you that is inflexible, unmoving, and prejudiced. If only you would open your mind, they exhort, you would see the error of your ways, and find yourself in agreement with them.

    What these people really want is for you to open your mind so wide that your brain will fall out, for you don’t need that, to find agreement with them. You don’t need to think, you don’t need facts, or evidence, just listen with your heart. They and what they believe is all you need to know.

    No thank you. Instead I will think for myself. I don’t need the rigidity of tightly held, unshakable belief in anything. I want to know everything that I can possibly learn in the brief span of time on this Earth. I want to experience every  little piece of new knowledge, celebrate each new discovery, and see just how far this creature, this animal, born from primitive beginnings will progress. No, I won’t see what becomes of the human experience, as I have often stated, our lifespan is way too short, but even after I am gone, it is my wish that humankind reaches ever higher and glorious achievements. I hope ignorance falls by the wayside, and that knowledge replaces it. I hope that people will become more caring about their fellow human, and instead of believing suffering is good for the soul, alleviate it.

  • Despised and Hated for Being Truthful

    Atheists are the most distrusted of all of America’s minorities. When inquiries are made as to why this is so the response is usually that since God is the source of all morality, and since atheists do not believe in God, atheists have no morals.

    Morals existed before religions. Morals governing behavior were absolutely essential in the social groups humans formed to enhance their survival in prehistoric times. Morals existed in civilizations before Biblical times in the form of laws governing commerce, criminal behavior, and disputes among the peoples. The Bible and Christianity are relative latecomers and  plagiarized from the earlier sources.

    Atheists, agnostics, humanists, and others give funds to charities like the Red Cross and the United Way. They volunteer in public service roles. Most of the time these works are carried out without identifying their non-belief, and why should they, as all humans should care about the condition of their fellow human.

    The religious give to their church, and these funds are well defined. There is no mistaking the source of their generosity, especially when the bowl of soup comes with a sermon. The point being that the amount the religious give to charities is well accounted for, whereas the non-believer, giving to secular charities, is not so well differentiated.

    In summary, the religious in this nation do not own morality. Their religious belief, their Bible, their god, is not the singular source of morality. Atheists, like theists, come from disparate origins and each has differing morals depending upon the particular societal group from which he/she came.

    I suspect part of the reason for the mistrust is reason. Atheists, agnostics, and humanists deal in factual evidence. When the religious are exposed to factual evidence which contradicts their faith,  there is a backlash. The truth, it seems, hurts.

  • The Fundamental Problem

    A battle is being waged for the minds of Americans. The battle is between religious fundamentalism and reason. The fate of the United States is not the only concern at stake, the future of the world is being decided.

    There are two types of Christianity…(actually there are hundreds of differing cults)  fundamentalists, adhering to a literal meaning of the bible, and the other group going with interpretations, not believing in literal derivations, but instead relying on metaphorical, non-literal meanings.

    Of most concern are the fundamentalists. The greatest problem being with those who, even in the face of overwhelming factual evidence to the contrary continue to believe the information in a 2000 plus year old book in preference to science and reason. I am particularly singling out those who :

    1. Believe that the Earth is 6000 to 10000 years old. (And that therefore, dinosaurs and people walked side by side)

    2. Believe that anyone can spend several days inside a fish and then come out alive.

    3. Believe that anyone can feed a crowd on a couple of fish.

    4. Believe that anyone can walk on water that is not frozen.

    5. Believe anyone can be killed and then come back to life 3 days later.

    6. Believe in total Biblical inerrancy. (Despite the numerous errors and contradictions)

    7. Believe that Jesus was God become man.

    8. Believe that a virgin can give birth. (Unless you are a lizard of some type.)

    Of least danger are those who merely hold to many of the teachings that are attributed to Jesus, and consider him a prophet. In between these and the fundamentalists are varying degrees of belief. Some a danger some not so very much. Any system which can cause someone to believe in the unbelievable, without evidence, without proof,  is capable of manipulating that someone to undertake the unspeakable.

    Fundamentalists revel in their ignorance. Of course, they don’t consider believing something totally on faith without evidence as ignorance. Ignorance, meaning without knowledge, whether willfully or innocently thus, rather than stupidity as some seem to think. These people carry this ignorance around, flaunt it, as if it were a holy virtue to believe without knowledge. This is understandable, as truth, knowledge, facts, and evidence, are anathema to fundamentalism. You surely wouldn’t want to be little Timmy and be found with a book on evolution, in a fundamentalist family. It would be like being found with a pornography magazine in a normal family.

    As in all learning, the earlier you learn, the more you retain, as well as the more stock you place in what you learn. Children are like vacuum cleaners where knowledge is concerned. Due to evolutionary pressures they are very trusting of authority, parents. Fundamentalists, and other religionists know this, and are eager, almost desperate, to indoctrinate their children before such time as the children might acquire the ability to determine the validity of said doctrine.

    This is exactly why I, and many others, oppose the early indoctrination of children by religion. Children should not be exposed to religious doctrine until such time as they have the wherewithal to make an educated decision whether to believe it. This is why the public schools need to remain secular, rather than sectarian. This is why so many people of faith are so determined to return prayer and Bible study to schools, so as to reinforce faith.

    This is why it is paramount that the Separation of Church and State remain absolute.

  • What Kind of World

    What kind of a world would we have if a fundamental Theocracy were erected in the United States? Supposing that a fundamentalist Theocrat were elected as president and a majority of fundamentalist Theocrats were elected to both House and Senate what would we become in the United States. (There are now 50 or more in the House and Senate that do not accept the principle of Separation of Church and State)

    First of all, I would imagine, they would act to rid us of that pesky document, the Constitution. The Bill of Rights would soon follow it onto the dung heap. A new constitution would be written which reflects God’s law. As a result, the presidency would become a hollow position, holding no real power beyond enacting the dictates of the Church, whatever church that president is a subservient.

    The first to be realized, of course, is the fall of the concept of free speech, at least any speech that might be critical of religion. (Even now any speech critical of religion is frowned upon by the majority, silenced where possible) Any one who dare speak any words that can so much as be taken as a criticism of biblical law would face formidable fines, possibly imprisonment. ( Islamic peoples have already attempted to pass motions on this in the United Nations)

    Science, the search for knowledge, could probably continue, under close scrutiny. Anything that would contradict biblical doctrine, like evolution, would have to be abandoned;  text books for schools will be written to reflect this policy. (Texas is doing so now)   Those educators that opposed such, and continued to teach such topics would either be out of a job or imprisoned. America would continue it’s decline in technological supremacy and the economy would follow suit. The only field of study, the only technological advances, would be in the area of weaponry, war. Medical advances, research, will no longer be present. Who needs them when the only medicine accepted is prayer?

    Weaponry needed for the advancement of Christianity in those countries that resist it will flourish. New ways will be found to vanquish the enemies of America. If it seems that other entities opposing the will of God are close to shutting down America, the final answer, a bomb of unimaginable power, will be ready at America’s command, to bring on final annihilation, the end of life on Earth.

    Church attendance will be mandatory. Those who cannot prove affiliation with a Christian church will be restricted in employment and other areas. Perhaps some way to establish Christian alliance will be found necessary. Maybe a mark of the wrist or forehead. Many would balk at this, saying it was “the mark of the beast”, so maybe instead a chip implanted in the wrist, so a simple swipe over a detection device will be sufficient. Those who do not possess the mark will be limited in employment,education, and choice in buying or trading.

    In my opinion the “mark of the Beast” will not come from an “evil” society, but will have it’s source in religion. The beast will not be the mythical Satan, but the Church. (or as surmised below, the Mosque)

    Christianity isn’t the only religion in the world, we could end up under an Islamic regime. It is not inconceivable that with the passage of time the numbers of Muslim adherence could out number any other. Life under such a regime would be similar to the life described above. Punishments would no doubt be much harsher, with “death” to the infidel being the order of the day.

  • Christianity is Anti-human

     

    Matthew 10:35-37

    “For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

    And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

    He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”

    Not exactly family oriented, Jesus made it clear that father and mother, son and daughter, were to be abandoned and despised.

    Matthew 8:21-22
    And another of his disciples said unto him, “Suffer me first to go and bury my father.” But Jesus said unto him, “Follow me and let the dead bury their dead.”

    Not only did he urge any who would follow to abandon family, even if they died, you were expected to ignore it.

    And certainly those who would visit the followers, or Jesus himself, from the family should not expect a warm welcome:

    Matthew 12:46-50
    While he yet talked to the people, behold his mother and brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, “Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with you.” But he answered and said, “Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand towards his disciples, and said, “Behold, my mother and my brethren! For whoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

    And there’s more anti-family statements:

    Matthew 19:29 (NIV)
    “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”

    Luke 9:61,62
    Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good bye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

    Luke 14:26
    “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters — yes, even his own life — he cannot be my disciple.”

    The family is not all that popular for that true Christian, a follower of Christ that has been called to serve.

    That is not all that is suggested that followers should consider:

     

    Matthew 19:12
    “For there are eunuchs, that were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are eunuchs, that were made eunuchs by men: and there are eunuchs, that made themselves eunuchs [castrated themselves] for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.”

    Is this Jesus’ concept of family planning? Leaves something to be desired.

    Free speech? Forget it:

    Mark 3:28-29
    “I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.”

    So, you can commit the most horrendous crimes, including murder and genocide, and be forgiven, but speak against one part of the Trinity, and you’ve had it buster!

    Women suffer greatly in this patriarchal oriented religion:

    1 Timothy 2:11-15
    “A woman should learn [from men] in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.”

    Keep thy place woman lest God smite thee!

    Humans’ are denigrated throughout the Bible. Human intelligence, and skills, even taking pride, are frowned upon.

    Psalm 118:8
    It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.

    Jeremiah 17:5 (IV)
    This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD.

    Jeremiah 10:14,15
    The whole human race is foolish and has no knowledge! The craftsmen are disgraced by the idols they make, for their carefully shaped works are a fraud. These idols have no breath or power. Idols are worthless; they are ridiculous lies! On the day of reckoning they will all be destroyed.

    1 Corinthians 1:18-19 (NIV)
    For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

    What the fundies usually say is if you don’t believe, you can’t understand. This is used as an excuse when you have them on the ropes and they can’t come up with good sound arguments to counter yours. “You haven’t interpreted it properly” they cry. Interpretation is in the mind of the interpreter, this is why so many Christians have been prompted to commit hideous moral crimes by someone who has learned to manipulate them.

    Disabled? Forget it:

    Deuteronomy 23:1 (KJV)
    He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD.

    This seems to contradict what Jesus said about becoming a eunuch, but there are numerous contradictions throughout the Bible, and that is not what this blog is about.

    Slavery was presented throughout the Old Testament in a casual way, indicating it was an accepted practice. Even Jesus spoke of it:

    Matthew 24:45-51 (NASB)
    “Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’ and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

    Children do not fare well in the Bible:

    Genesis 22:2 (NIV)
    Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”

    At the last moment God announced he was just joking, and had commanded him to kill his son as a test of his loyalty.

    Genesis 38:7
    But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the LORD’s sight; so the LORD put him to death.

    Proverbs 20:30
    Blows and wounds cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being.

    Exodus 20:5
    “… for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.”

    Exodus 20:29,30 (NIV)
    “You must give me the firstborn of your sons. Do the same with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but give them to me on the eighth day.”

    What the, are we talking sacrifice here? Human sacrifice?

    Deuteronomy 21:18-21
    If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of the town. They shall say to the elders, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a profligate and a drunkard.’ Then all the men of his town shall stone him to death...

    Gee, I can see all the Bible thumpers rushing to find quotes that contradict these, love to hear them. Contradictions prove that the Bible is flawed.

    Deuteronomy 2:34
    And we took all [Sihon’s] cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left none to remain.

    And the most famous one of all:

    2 Kings 2:23-24
    From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. “Go on up, you baldhead!” they said. “Go on up, you baldhead!” He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths    .

    All for just for stating the obvious.

    Want more, go here.

  • GOP Presidential Hopefuls Seek to Instill Christian Nation

         One name keeps coming up when “Christian Nation” is spoken in reference to todays GOP presidential hopefuls. That Name is David Barton. David Barton believes that the founding fathers established this nation as a Christian Nation and has twisted history in an effort to prove it. 

         Newt Gingrich, Michele Bachmann, and Mike Huckabee all point to David Barton, describing him as the greatest historian of our time. David Barton claims that the founding fathers meant for America to be a Christian Nation and that our government should return to biblical principles.

         Mike Huckabee at the Rediscover God In America conference, stated that every American should be forced to learn from David Barton, at gunpoint, if necessary.

         Additional information on David Barton can be found here: slavery, here, and here.

         While no references to Herman Cain have been found in relation to David Barton in my search he has stated that everything should be based on biblical principles.

         David Barton promotes a “Christian Nation”, at least 3 of the presidential candidates for the GOP point to him as their historian of choice, exclaiming that he is the greatest historian of our time. This is adequate as proof that the GOP candidates desire to establish this country as a “Christian Nation”. In reality this means that these candidates would not serve the people, but instead, will serve what they see as a higher authority. In essence, the Christian religion, read church, will be in charge of national and international policy.

  • The End of Freedom of Speech, Religion

         There are many Americans that would like to convert the United States into a Christian Nation. Many falsely claim that it was established as a Christian Nation to begin with and has changed.

         Those who founded this nation from the beginning clearly meant it to be a secular state, totally neutral in religious matters. From the lack of the mention of a God in the Constitution, to the famous letter which is often quoted “As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Musselmen; and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.” This treaty was signed in 1796. Note that it says states plural, all inclusive.

         “Thomas Jefferson made an interpretation of the 1st Amendment to his January 1st, 1802 letter to the Committee of the Danbury Baptist Association calling it a “wall of separation between church and State.” Madison had also written that “Strongly guarded. . . is the separation between religion and government in the Constitution of the United States.” There existed little controversy about this interpretation from our Founding Fathers.”

         From the beginning the Constitution has been attacked by theists who were dead set against the government being neutral in religious affairs. This battle continues today with politicians vying to be the most religious. Individuals like Herman Cain, Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum, and Newt Gingrich, advocate mixing government with religion, using Biblical law, rather than man’s law.

         There are many who state that the restrictions on government in respect to religion only apply to the federal government. This would allow each state to establish it’s own state religion. Logically speaking, this would violate the guarantee of freedom of religion and speech for anyone who did not accept the precepts of the prevailing religion. Also, there would be no guarantee that only Christianity would establish such a state, but by gaining a majority in time, an Islamic state could be established as well. If the states could establish their own religious law applicable to those residing there how could the Federal government guarantee the right of Freedom of religion and speech for the individual?

         The pre-eminence of Federal law over State law is now well established. More so after the Civil War than before. For the United States to simply become a collection of a non-cohesive group of individual states would mean an end to Freedom of speech, freedom of religion.

         I have written on this topic before, but recent events make it necessary again. Both in the news and in exchanges I have had online, certain people of a certain religious persuasion seem intent on eliminating the concept of “Separation of Church and State” , and instituting a sectarian government.

  • The Stolen Holiday

    Pre-Christian peoples suffered greatly when the sun took it’s southern trek each year, they had to live on stored food and whatever they could find during that time of the year. Not understanding why the sun took it’s yearly trip they feared that it might never return and that they would be relegated to eternal darkness. The actual Solstice occurs yearly around the 22nd of December, the people, however, could not really see that a return of the sun was occurring until about the 25th. A yearly celebration of it’s return was timed for this day.

    Christianity, a relative newcomer to the scene, desiring to convert pagan peoples, adopted the day of the Solstice Celebration for their own holiday around the 4th century, as a celebration of Jesus’ birth. Before the 4th century Christianity did not even celebrate the birth of Jesus, as such celebrations, as the birth of an individual, was considered pagan. The fact that there was absolutely not a shred of evidence for Jesus’ birth occurring at this time was immaterial to them, just as the fact that there is no evidence for the existence of a historical Jesus is immaterial to Christians of today.

    Much of today’s Christian Celebration is of Pagan origin. The use of holly, mistletoe, Yule logs, wassail bowls, and the decorating of a tree are all of Pagan origin. The Roman holiday celebration called the Saturnalia, where an exchange of gifts occurred as well as visiting with friends,  was also assimilated into the Christian celebration.

    Why should peoples of today continue the Christian deception? Why not celebrate the earlier non-god celebration? At least the Solstice really occurs; the Sun does go on a yearly trip south, then a trip back as a result of the Earth’s tilt. Such celebrations will increasingly be less rare as many atheists and freethinkers have begun to observe them.

    Many Christians today are unaware of the origins of their celebrations, not just of Christmas, but also of other stolen holidays, such as Easter and Valentines day. I presume that since present day knowledge of this deception is still available that early Christians were simply unable to destroy or cover-up the evidence sufficiently, though there is much evidence that they did try.