I'm confused about this religous message...

[Skeezix]

The atheists posted a sign at the state capitol that reads, in part: "Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."

 

To counter this message, Pastor Ken Hutcherson of Redmond's Antioch Bible Church, plans to unveil his own sign that says, in part: "There is one God... Atheism is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."

 

I'm confused as to how one could consider atheism a superstition. Isn't atheism essentially lack of faith in God?

 

Seattle Times News Story

[tvashtarkatena]

I wouldn't look to evangelicals for an original or intellectually coherent message.

[Skeezix]

Well, I'm an animist myself, creed-wise.

[KaskadskyjKozak]

The atheists posted a sign at the state capitol that reads, in part: "Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."

 

The message is offensive and ridiculous. All they would have to do to make it reasonable would be to slightly reword it. Say:

 

"Religion is but myth and superstition and you can live a fulfilling life without it."

 

 

[kevbone]

 

The message is offensive .

 

That is the point.

[tvashtarkatena]

One person's offensive is another's truth. That's free speech for ya. It's a great country.

 

Anyway, the sign was stolen and delivered to Ichabod Crane, a country/western radio host, who will likely employ it for his own purposes.

 

It's just another harbinger of the End Times.

[minx]

that sucks. friggin hypocrites. why shouldn't my non views be represented as well?

[kevbone]

that sucks. friggin hypocrites. why shouldn't my non views be represented as well?

 

 

What the hell is a non view?

[tvashtarkatena]

Evangelical religions rely completely on restricting and filtering information, just like any other cult. Once information is properly stamped with the Mark of the Beast by the asset holders of the cult, the sheep won't go there.

 

As the new happiness study shows, we are, after all, herd animals.

Edited December 5, 2008 by tvashtarkatena

[tvashtarkatena]

that sucks. friggin hypocrites. why shouldn't my non views be represented as well?

 

 

What the hell is a non view?

 

My house.

[selkirk]

I wouldn't look to evangelicals for an original or intellectually coherent message.

 

 

friggin bible thumpers!

 

 

not the devout atheists are a whole lot better.

Both religions are completely based on fundamentally unsupportable assumptions.

 

 

[tvashtarkatena]

I wouldn't look to evangelicals for an original or intellectually coherent message.

 

 

friggin bible thumpers!

 

 

not the devout atheists are a whole lot better.

Both religions are completely based on fundamentally unsupportable assumptions.

 

 

I get this a lot, but I'm not sure I understand it. For one thing, I don't know the difference between a 'devout' atheist and an atheist. It's digital: you either are one or you're not, in the same way you either believe in Santa Claus or you don't. You may be ranting, raving atheist. You may be a quiet, unassuming, respectful atheist. But you cannot be a 'devout' atheist. You can only 'devoutly' follow a practice, and atheism is simply the absence of religious practice, not a practice in itself. There's no such thing as 'devoutly' not believing in something, although you can be sure, in your own mind, that you do not believe in something. See previous Santa Claus example. For me, there is absolutely not a shred of difference between belief in either one. In fact, I've experienced more evidence of Santa Claus than God...all those presents from Santa, etc.

[tvashtarkatena]

Sure, Mary thought her boy was the Son of God, but what Jewish mother doesn't?

[RuMR]

i devoutly believe bible thumpers are pretty much whacked in the head...

[tvashtarkatena]

I was watching the evangelicals on the tube last night, and, apparently, the End Times are near and the destruction of the family by gays and liberals is at fault. Jebus is acomin' with a Mighty Sword, and it's all our fault.

 

No political agenda there, no sir.

[tvashtarkatena]

You may have noticed that the hair salon industry in the Deep South is one of the few not requesting a bail out.

[selkirk]

Agreed, the devout bit doesn't mean much.

 

I still don't think there is any more proof that there is no God, than there is proof that God exists.

 

Everyone is looking at the same set of facts, but it all boils down to how they are interpreted.

 

Of course you could probably argue that the simple act of belief in God by anyone at anytime would fulfill the definition of "exist".

 

 

[tvashtarkatena]

The televangelicals are already famous for their hair, but this one woman looked like she was sporting a giant head for Carnival. Is there some class in 'increasing visual head size' at Bible College? I've seen full grown buffalo with smaller noggins.

[selkirk]

probably smaller hind quarters as well.

[kevbone]

i devoutly believe bible thumpers are pretty much whacked in the head...

 

I sooooooooo agree.

[tvashtarkatena]

Agreed, the devout bit doesn't mean much.

 

I still don't think there is any more proof that there is no God, than there is proof that God exists.

 

Everyone is looking at the same set of facts, but it all boils down to how they are interpreted.

 

Of course you could probably argue that the simple act of belief in God by anyone at anytime would fulfill the definition of "exist".

 

 

Scientifically, the existence of things must be supported by evidence, within the confines of the human created definition of what that thing is. This is a fundamentally different and unequal process, logically speaking, from 'proving' something DOESN'T exist, which is actually impossible, as the set of things that DON'T exist can infinitely spring from the imagination as fast as you can generate them. That's the point of the FSM.

 

Since there is not a shred of physical evidence that there is a god which does not require the pre-condition of believing in god to interpret it as such (Look at the mountains! Who made THEM, HMMM??? etc etc), I would argue that it's more likely that God is just another form of FSM that, for historical, cultural, and political reasons, got some long term traction.

 

I also believe that the human brain is pre-disposed, from an evolutionary standpoint, to believe in myth, because such myths helped to create order and survivability early in our natural selection. Kind of ironic, considering the creationism debate. In that sense, we're all whacked in the head. Some of us train ourselves, or are trained by others, not to feed the myth center of the brain too much candy.

 

 

Edited December 6, 2008 by tvashtarkatena

[tvashtarkatena]

THat leaves more room for massive amounts of hallucinogens.

[selkirk]

Damnit, your no fun! Your not nearly dogmatic or hidebound enough to torment

 

 

[Skeezix]

I tend to like other culture's religions better than my own. Take shamanism, as practiced by the NW Coast Indian groups. I like that better than Christianity. I like the masks and rattles. I like the crazy hairdos, the faith healing, the spells. I like the trance-like states, chants, and incantations.

 

What's not to like?

 

Christianity, on the other hand... Too many uptight Republicans there for my taste.

[olyclimber]

well if we're talking about convenience, Mormonism strikes me as pretty swell. you get to have lots of wifes and all. i could do with out the rest of it though.