Atheists Unite - Page 7

sexobon · 05-14-2011, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

... Of course since the Bible was probably written, and certainly compiled/edited long after Jesus was dead, I have to take it on faith(no pun) that it really describes what Jesus was about. ...

... I think for anybody to be absolutely sure there is, or is not, a God, is pretty silly.

You pick and choose what you will accept on faith. You belong to a church alright, the church of ME, which is why:

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

I'm not saying there aren't people doing that better than I do, who describe themselves as atheists, agnostics, or some religion.

footfootfoot · 05-14-2011, 08:38 PM

Monster, have you kissed Hank's ass? because...

Quote:

"If you kiss Hank's ass, He'll give you a million dollars; and if you don't, He'll kick the shit out of you."

monster · 05-14-2011, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhianne

Like atheists who give christmas presents?

har.. EVERYONE here gives "christmas" presents as far as I can tell. jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Atheists....

sexobon · 05-14-2011, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhianne

Like atheists who give christmas presents?

Atheists have the right to voluntarily celebrate Christmas as everyone else of any religion in the USA, the separation of Church and State notwithstanding, as a matter of national historical precedence which has been determined to NOT be a violation of that separation. That's why the US Supreme Court decided that the words "IN GOD WE TRUST" could remain on our currency. Sometimes heraldry trumps political correctness.

footfootfoot · 05-14-2011, 09:32 PM

Christmas was stolen from my ancestors a couple of thousand years ago. It has absolutely nothing to do with Baby J.

Sundae · 05-15-2011, 03:17 AM

I celebrate the Christian festivities because they are part of my culture.
I send Christmas cards without a religious message to people I care about. I send Easter cards without a Christian message to my family because it is expected and respectful.

I go to Bonfire Night celebrations too, that's not to say I celebrate the torture of Guy Fawkes or condone the suppression of the Catholic faith in England. 1606 is too long ago to worry about, I like fireworks!

But I didn't get married in a church.
If I had children I would not have had them baptised.
And if I have to attend a church ceremony (for family reasons) I do not take the Eucharist, or go up for a blessing.

I celebrate Christian festivals the same way I celebrate Diwali and Eid.
Good wishes to those who believe, now bring out the good food.

And finally... I think my opinion of people not knowing the Bible has been misinterpreted. In England, it is very rare to come across people who quote it chapter and verse. Even the Evangelicals don't tend to bring it into every day conversation. I was not saying that the better you know the Bible the better Christian you are. I was saying that not being able to recall a single Bible story (oh wait, the Nativity? No, that was a play wasn't it?) or teaching of Jesus, makes me suspect self-labelled Christians.

If I call myself a forklift truck driver, just because my Dad was, it doesn't make it so.

Sundae · 05-15-2011, 07:42 AM

I've just realised I am a liar.
The cards I sent last year had a Christian theme, with the Star of Bethlemhem and a stable with a manger. I made them at school (which is a faith school) and bought mine because I couldn't resist the idea of my own printed Christmas card.

Mea maxima culpa.

footfootfoot · 05-15-2011, 07:52 AM

So you really are a forklift driver or your dad wasn't really a forklift driver? I'm confused.

DanaC · 05-15-2011, 08:11 AM

Hey I love Christmas. I love giving presents and eating Christmas dinner. I love the sound of Christmas carols. I love the sherry for sure.

I love the general Christmassy atmosphere. Wanna know why? Because like most people I know, I was raised in a broadly Christian country, attending broadly Christian schools and with a broad acceptance of the little baby Jebus. My initial love of history no doubt stems as much from watching biblical tales on TV at Easter as it did from any other source.

The trappings of Christmas are an instant connection to childhood magic.

Like Santa Claus and the fairy on the top of the Christmas tree.

I don't believe in ghosts either, but that doesn't mean I wasn't thrilled by The Grudge. Don't believe in witches and vampires but I fucking love True Blood.

footfootfoot · 05-15-2011, 08:45 AM

What are you implying? That the baby Jesus is a vampire? Eat his body, drink his blood is a metaphor, I hope.

ps check your pm

wolf · 05-15-2011, 10:33 AM

I am the religious right. Just not the religion you were expecting.

Big Sarge · 05-15-2011, 12:04 PM

ya'll are a bunch of heathens!!

wolf · 05-15-2011, 01:12 PM

I am a heathen. Elspode is a pagan. We are both iconoclasts.

Does that help to clarify?

wolf · 05-15-2011, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaC

... and the fairy on the top of the Christmas tree ...

How do you Brits find room for Graham Norton on the top of your tree? We 'Merkins have enough trouble making room for Kate Jackson, and she's rather small to begin with ...

Rhianne · 05-15-2011, 01:49 PM

You got my point though I hope.

Just as it's okay for assorted non-believers to follow religious traditions and rituals as they wish (I know I do) and still call themselves atheists, then it's just as fine for muslims, christians or whatever to ignore part of their religion and still call themselves muslims and christians.

View Poll Results: Atheist or Not?
Atheist	15	44.12%
Not Atheist	19	55.88%
Voters: 34. You may not vote on this poll

05-14-2011, 09:32 PM	#95
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	Christmas was stolen from my ancestors a couple of thousand years ago. It has absolutely nothing to do with Baby J. __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

05-15-2011, 03:17 AM	#96
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I celebrate the Christian festivities because they are part of my culture. I send Christmas cards without a religious message to people I care about. I send Easter cards without a Christian message to my family because it is expected and respectful. I go to Bonfire Night celebrations too, that's not to say I celebrate the torture of Guy Fawkes or condone the suppression of the Catholic faith in England. 1606 is too long ago to worry about, I like fireworks! But I didn't get married in a church. If I had children I would not have had them baptised. And if I have to attend a church ceremony (for family reasons) I do not take the Eucharist, or go up for a blessing. I celebrate Christian festivals the same way I celebrate Diwali and Eid. Good wishes to those who believe, now bring out the good food. And finally... I think my opinion of people not knowing the Bible has been misinterpreted. In England, it is very rare to come across people who quote it chapter and verse. Even the Evangelicals don't tend to bring it into every day conversation. I was not saying that the better you know the Bible the better Christian you are. I was saying that not being able to recall a single Bible story (oh wait, the Nativity? No, that was a play wasn't it?) or teaching of Jesus, makes me suspect self-labelled Christians. If I call myself a forklift truck driver, just because my Dad was, it doesn't make it so. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

05-15-2011, 07:42 AM	#97
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I've just realised I am a liar. The cards I sent last year had a Christian theme, with the Star of Bethlemhem and a stable with a manger. I made them at school (which is a faith school) and bought mine because I couldn't resist the idea of my own printed Christmas card. Mea maxima culpa. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

05-15-2011, 07:52 AM	#98
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	So you really are a forklift driver or your dad wasn't really a forklift driver? I'm confused. __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

05-15-2011, 08:45 AM	#100
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	What are you implying? That the baby Jesus is a vampire? Eat his body, drink his blood is a metaphor, I hope. ps check your pm __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

05-15-2011, 10:33 AM	#101
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I am the religious right. Just not the religion you were expecting. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

05-15-2011, 12:04 PM	#102
Big Sarge Werepandas - lurking in your shadows Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: In the Deep South Posts: 3,408	ya'll are a bunch of heathens!! __________________ Give a man a match, & he'll be warm for 20 seconds. But toss that man a white phosphorus grenade and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.

05-15-2011, 01:12 PM	#103
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I am a heathen. Elspode is a pagan. We are both iconoclasts. Does that help to clarify? __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

05-15-2011, 01:49 PM	#105
Rhianne Nearly done. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Teetering on the edge. Posts: 1,134	You got my point though I hope. Just as it's okay for assorted non-believers to follow religious traditions and rituals as they wish (I know I do) and still call themselves atheists, then it's just as fine for muslims, christians or whatever to ignore part of their religion and still call themselves muslims and christians.

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