Ex-con "Chuck" Colson: "There are no atheists!"

[Bluebear]

I don't believe his little anecdote ever happened, but whatever.


===

On a cross-country flight some years ago, we hit severe turbulence. The gentleman in the seat next to me who had been insisting vehemently that he was an atheist shouted out loud, “God help us.”

Yes, even atheists pray because the image of God is implanted in us. Independent studies have showed that we yearn to know God. It’s the way we’re wired. So to be an atheist takes a stubborn refusal to acknowledge that which deep down we all know to be true.

I have, in fact, never met an atheist. When a person professes to be one, I ask him to offer me the proof that God does not exist. I’ve never had anyone successfully respond to that question. Most retreat and say they’re really agnostics. I then ask them if they have examined every religion exhaustively. Their answer is usually no. I explain they cannot be agnostics unless they are sure that God can’t be known.

There are no atheists. There are simply people whose pride overwhelms their innate knowledge.

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/charles_w_chuck_colson/2008/07/there_are_no_atheists.html

[wtmusic]

1. OK Chuck, show me proof that God exists.

Damn, that dog just bit its owner!

[RedCappedBandit]

2. You can't disprove santa claus' existence either

Guess he must be real :eyes:

[Sebastian Doyle]

5. Well of course he is!

Sarah Palin can see his toy factory from her house!

[RedCappedBandit]

12. LOL

[Solly Mack]

3. lolol

[AndrewP]

4. What a fucking idiot

YAY! Another "you can't disprove it" argument.

I also can't disprove that my dog doesn't watch TV when I'm at work during the day.

[DearAbby]

6. I have been known to yell "OH GOD" during sex

doesn't mean I believe in one. Just an expression, like saying Jesus Christ, Judas Priest...Are we that much of a threat to these people's faith, because we don't believe?

I don't care if you believe, just allow me to be in peace.

[Bluebear]

9. >I don't care if you believe, just allow me to be in peace.

AMEN! I mean, agreed, I mean....oh whatever lol!

[DearAbby]

17. I thought you were replying about

old people having sex....major ew factor...and yes, we do! Everywhere! ALL THE TIME!!

::giggles:::

[madmom]

20. LOL.. that's the first thing I thought of also.

[LisaLynne]

7. Eh, the old, tired, untrue "No atheists in the foxhole" argument.

Sad and pathetic. I don't know why people of supposedly strong faith are so threatened by those who do not believe as they do. I don't see why it matters to them.

[stopbush]

18. I often wonder who filled the foxholes of the godless commies during the Cold War.

I always assumed it was atheists.

[mondo joe]

28. And I alwways thought there were no Christians in foxholes. If you think Jesus is taking

care of you and has a big plan, why hide in the foxhole? Why not stand right out there and let Him protect you or not, per His plan.

We atheists need the foxholes!

[donco6]

8. I went through chemo for lymphoma a few years back.

Didn't pray to God once during my diagnosis or treatment. Coming from a fundie background, I conciously decided that I didn't want to make that appeal.

So, the old "there are no atheists in the foxhole" theory is garbage.

[wtmusic]

11. So far so good?

Guess "God" wasn't too hard on you for dissing "Him", but your pragmatism was rewarded handsomely.

:fistbump:

[donco6]

14. Clear for 7 years now.

:hi:

[vixengrl]

10. Whaddaya know? You can't prove a negative,

and people who are startled will often blurt out oaths they are conditioned to hearing. Not that I'd take Colson's word there was such a seatmate, but still.

[boobooday]

13. It reminds me of a caller I heard on Mike Malloy a long time ago

She was talking about religious fundamentalists and she said "Thank God I'm an Atheist."

:rofl:

[SalmonChantedEvening]

15. When you stop profiteering from prisons Chuck

We'll talk about religion.

Until then...

[stopbush]

16. Deep down, Chuck believes in Zeus and Horus, a couple of the REAL gods.

Chuck may be an asshole, but he's a perfect asshole.

If you ever have a few days on your hands, visit the "On Faith" forum at the WaPo website. Chuck is a contributor there. He gets his illogical and irrational ass handed to him on a daily basis.

[GodlessBiker]

19. LOL! What a fool.

[gollygee]

21. Saying "God help us" doesn't prove squat

If you're raised in this culture, you have probably picked up some idioms, regardless of your belief or lack thereof. Like "God help us", which means "I hope something good happens." Or "bless you" when someone sneezes. Or "Thank God!" when something good happens, which just means "I'm really glad things turned out how they did."

[PDJane]

22. I can't prove or disprove the existence of God.

However, it seems to me that the existence of God isn't the right question. The question is, can the existence of a pervasive myth be of any rational use to me in the world as it is.....

[Warren DeMontague]

23. I agree. The offhand use of an colloquial expression clearly proves belief, by Jove.

Chuck Colson is an asshat. Why anyone listens to that fucking Felon is beyond me.

[jmowreader]

24. Chuck, while I can't prove or disprove the existence of God...

I CAN prove you are one of the most evil men alive.

[TlalocW]

25. I've known several

Mainly in college - Chinese exchange students. When you explain the concept of a guy who turns water into wine, gets nailed to a cross, dies, and rises 3 days later, their eyes get wider and wider as they look at you, wondering if you're kidding.

TlalocW

[VoodooGuru]

26. I can't remember whose joke it was, but...

...I remember a comedian saying that Chuck Colson found Jesus only because Jesus didn't see him first. If he had, he'd have ducked out of sight to avoid him.

[sarcasmo]

27. Kiss my Atheist ASS.

[Edweird]

29. I am an atheist (Satanist, actually) and the "no atheists in foxholes" is bullshit.

I've faced certain (at that moment, anyway) death and I didn't call out to 'god'. I simply went 'Shit!' and became aware that I KNEW the manner in which I would expire. (Obviously I avoided fatality, but not by much)

[NMMNG]

30. He's so full of crap

He pulled that yarn out of his backside.

1. I was on a plane from Boston to Baltimore once. More than half of the flight was heavy turbulence. I didn't pray or even think about "god". I kept reading my book as I normally do. It's not like talking to my hands or the sky was going to do anything.
2. The burden of proof is on the one making the affirmative claim. In this case it's the theist--the one who is saying "god exists". Atheists merely say "I don't believe you" so what do they have to prove? After all, would you go into court and tell the defendant he had to prove him/herself innocent? Hardly. The burden of proof is on the prosecution as they're the ones making an affirmative claim; "that person did XYZ".

Maybe someone should ask Chuck Colson to prove the Flying Spaghetti Monster doesn't exist. If he can't, then he must obviously believe in Him. :sarcasm: