Good news: God is Great, and he Loves you...

[sampsonblk]

...just the way you are right now. There is nothing special you need to do to gain the love of God. He already knows you, and He already has a place for you in His house.

Today is a great day to remember why its important to be forgiving of others. We all make mistakes. Every last one of us. In fact, if we were all made to pay for all of our mistakes, we'd be in eternal bankruptcy, wouldn't we? (I know I would!)

So let's forgive others as best we can. Isn't that how we want to be treated?

/sermon

[angstlessk]

1. I remember catechism too...thank god I am no longer catholic!

thank you father (i forgot his name) telling me my cat will not be in heaven but jesus would be there..hell I loved my cat...I never met jesus!!!

[emilyg]

4. Thank God I am Catholic. Happy Easter.

[angstlessk]

6. happy hopping bunny day to you too!

[krabigirl]

44. Happy Ostara to you as well.

[onager]

2. Wow! We never heard that before!

:sarcasm:

From your local DU Fundamentalist Atheist.

Who would also note that EVERY day is a great day to be kind and forgive others. Not just Zombie Messiah Day.

[tomreedtoon]

3. I can't buy atheism, but...

...I also can't buy the idea of a just and loving God. The older I get, the more it seems that God is like the Keith Ledger version of The Joker. He will hurt and kill you on a whim. He will appear to reward you with something, then stab you through the heart and leave you dying in the street.

There is a purpose in the universe. It's just not a purpose you would like.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

8. It depends on hwo you look at it,

don't you think? I don't think God has much interest in the day to day stuff that goes on here. It seems to me when we honor God by treating one another the way we like to be treated,the world is a nicer place.
I think He pretty much stays out of the fray, preferring that we handle things at the local level.........

[Arugula Latte]

9. That's the essential problem with monotheism.

This so-called "loving" god is also a tremendous, murderous asshole.

They've got nothing to explain the dichotomy except the old chestnuts: "he moves in mysterious ways," "ours is not to question," "god has a plan," and "don't worry -- the afterlife will be great!"

It's all caca.

[Pastiche423]

22. ...

:applause: :applause:

[Zhade]

42. A steaming pile of caca, at that.

NT!

[NeedleCast]

32. Cant buy atheism? That's a strange comment

Especially since, unlike every religion on the planet, atheism isn't trying to sell you anything.

[Zhade]

40. Atheism is the lack of belief in gods - there's nothing to "buy". It exists all around you.

Every believer is atheist with regards to the religions they DON'T believe in, the only difference is that we atheists lack belief in one more purported god than they do.

There is no demonstrable purpose to the universe. Given your understandably negative view, that should be a relief to you!

[roguevalley]

69. I don't blame God for what happens here. The natural events that happen are

nature. Nature is dispassionate and never does what it does with malice. Live in an earthquake zone, live with earthquakes. As for the things that people do, that is the choice of people. This bank thing is the choice of people. God had not part in it. God did not allow or disallow the Holocaust, Iraq or any other manmade catastrophe. We did. We. Did. God loves us in spite of it. I don't expect God to intervene. WE are supposed to intervene. When we don't it isn't God's fault. Its ours. I have NEVER understood since I was a little kid how what we do is God's fault. We have our list of what we should do from the ethics of our religions and belief systems: Love each other, take care of each other and forgive each other. God taught the world that is what matters. When there are fuck ups, God isn't there causing or not causing it to happen. We are. Its our fault. We just have to live up to the simple truths that God expects us to apply. Too often we don't.

[SammyWinstonJack]

13. .

:thumbsup:

[Zhade]

39. Yeah, this is just another day. No need to please nonexistent gods.

The OP is a nice sentiment, but mythology isn't necessary to forgive and treat others well.

[Arugula Latte]

5. Wow, that god sure has a funny way of showing "his" great love.

Slaughtering innocents in war, afflicting fatal illnesses upon children, sending famines down upon the land ...

What a deity. (Apparently, he's male, too, according to your use of He. Of course a deity couldn't be female, noooooo.)

I know you were trying to be helpful, but, wow. This reinforces my great happiness that I don't buy this mythology.

[The Straight Story]

12. damn, I thought you were talking about democrats for a minute there

Lots of power, supposed to be good - no health care, we are in wars. We keep denying gays rights so we can keep our powder dry, bail out big corporations and make that a huge priority while health care is pushed down the pike, etc and so on.


I think we expect more of a god because we think they have powers they don't. But that discussion is for another place/time.

[MzShellG]

24. Why do you assume God is doing those things?

The devil is a liar. God does test our faith but death is not the end but only the beginning of our eternal life. How can you doubt God when life can be created by none other than Him?

[Zhade]

45. "The devil" is a lie, as are your other beliefs. No evidence whatsoever to support them.

The only thing that we know for a fact ever created ANYTHING is science's natural laws.

[MzShellG]

90. The creation of life.

Ofcourse there us a scientific explanation for things and God gave us the intelligence to figure that out. No other species was blessed with that intelligence because we were made in the image of God.
Why is it that man cannot create human life, but can only reproduce as God intended in the beginning? No one can truly answer that, scientifically.

[ZombieHorde]

91. "Why is it that man cannot create human life"

We can create human life outside of sex. We can create clones and we cam make "test tube babies".

[MzShellG]

115. Those are still forms of recreation....

Given that they are not man made substances. God made us from the dust of the earth. All we can do is use His elements to produce another life.

[ZombieHorde]

117. "Given that they are not man made substances."

People are man and woman made substances.

God made us from the dust of the earth.

I was present when my kids were conceived and I did not notice any supernatural creatures hanging around, though I do admit to being distracted. In addition, my wife and I are still a young couple, our eggs and semen should not yet be referred to as "dust".

All we can do is use His elements to produce another life.

Are you suggesting my penis is "His element"? I will enjoy sharing this information with my wife!

[LaurenG]

118. OK - this made me laugh out loud

"Are you suggesting my penis is "His element"? I will enjoy sharing this information with my wife! "

[MzShellG]

120. Yes it is.

God intended for you to share it with your wife. He created the 1st man and woman and enabled us to be fruitful and multiply, as with all other living things in the universe and beyond. Humans did not create sex or reproduction. Didnt you get the memo?

[sampsonblk]

30. If God had a complaint department, I am sure He would be swamped

I have a few things that I am concerned about also. Its only natural, I guess.

[Lorien]

58. That is the great question, isn't it? Why would a loving omnipotent God want

us to suffer? How could a loving God allow, say, the Holocaust to happen? What about earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes? Is the "devil" more powerful than God? If God could change Pharaoh's heart, then why doesn't he change the hearts of all the cruel, hateful, greedy, selfish and bigoted people everywhere? Why is Dick Cheney fat and happy after causing so much death and suffering, while good people everywhere suffer and starve? Those are just some of the questions that agnostics and atheists honestly want to have answered.

[Sal316]

64. He doesn't WANT us to suffer....

But having free will, God loves us enough to let us live with the decisions we make, but still finds a way to make them work for his purpose.

You see, the people that usually ask this question don't want God to prevent us from making these choices, they only want Him to clean up the mess we make.

[cosmik debris]

74. Babies have free will, babies make bad decisions

Therefore babies suffer and your god "still finds a way to make them work for his purpose."

If there really was a god like you describe, I wouldn't want him around my children.

[Sal316]

93. Your argument would hold water....

....if I had said everyone's suffering is because of bad decisions they personally made.

Let me ask you this... in all of history, has nothing good ever come out of what, at the time, was viewed as needless and pointless suffering?

[cosmik debris]

95. So the suffering of babies is different?

Do they suffer for any particular reason or is it just for your god's entertainment?

[Arugula Latte]

80. Why do you think such a being capable of doing so exists?

It's all so ridiculous, the pretzels people twist themselves into to justify the actions or inactions of this imaginary, invisible man (depicted as a man of course -- what B.S.!)

[Sal316]

92. I'm not entirely sure what you're asking?

...and I'm being serious here.

Are you asking do I think God is responsible for suffering and why?

[roguevalley]

71. I don't believe in the devil but I believe in people's capacity to do evil. God says

to love one another. God lets us work out our lives and I don't blame him for not stepping in. We have all we need to do good and good happens a lot. We also have all we need to be Dick Cheney. We choose our world.

[roguevalley]

70. Last time I looked, PEOPLE were slaughtering innocents, etc. People use God as

their excuse but I don't recall hearing God tell anyone to kill anyone. I do recall that God expects us to love one another. You have confused assholes who think they speak for God at the point of a gun with God, who is best described by Jesus and other truly good people.

[Arugula Latte]

81. "I do recall that God expects us to love on another."

Really -- Because a book written by people 2,000 years ago says so?

I don't believe in imaginary, invisible beings.

[Evoman]

85. Uh...I don't think people ever caused Earthquakes and Tsunami's.

[struggle4progress]

87. I had thought you realized earthquakes and tsunamis had natural explanations

But now it seems you want to assign blame to an agent you regard as imaginary. This is confusing.

[Why Syzygy]

89. If something is judged

as "immoral", God gets the blame. Everyone knows everything natural and scientific does no harm!

I think Exxon had something to do with a Tsunami. Humanity wants to abuse the earth, and then blame the maker when things go awry.

[Evoman]

104. I'm arguing within the theology of the OP.

Of course I'm not assigning blame to god for Earthquakes, since I don't believe in god.

How am I being confusing?

[struggle4progress]

114. The OP is about love and forgiveness, in response to which you apparently want

to discuss earthquakes and tsunamis. But love and forgiveness are topics in the subject of human relations, whereas earthquakes and tsunamis are natural phenomena

:shrug:

[Evoman]

119. Let me see if I can get you up to speed.

First post: god loves you, forgive others.

Next post: God sure has a funny way of showing his love.

Third post: People are the cause of world's misery, not god.

My post: pointing out that a lot of the misery is not caused by people, but by natural phenomena (which are controlled by god, if you believe in that bullshit).


After that, you and I started our inane discussion that has nothing to do with anything.

[Iggo]

7. You thought this thread would turn out differently?

Yeah, 'cause otherwise this is pure flamebait.

[sampsonblk]

27. This is still DU

We don't always agree.

Fortunately, we are all free to believe what we want to believe. I kinda like that.

[Iggo]

56. I'm just saying you knew where this was going, is all.

[eShirl]

10. Good news: The Easter Bunny is Fluffy, and he Loves you...

blah blah blah

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

21. lol! I passed a local church the other day and there was a sign

Jesus loves you and the Easter Bunny wants to get you fat.

It gave me a good laugh, but not enough to want to be a Christian. Never was and never will be one.

[The_Commonist]

11. I thank God every day...

...that I was born an athiest!

Happy Ēostre!

[itsrobert]

14. The Great Pumpkin is Great and he loves you

n/t

[SmileyRose]

15. With respect.

I am grateful that though my life has some pretty huge trials in it, thanks to the benefit of being born in a country with a half decent sense of women's rights, I have the luxury of contemplating a God who loves me. I am also aware that telling a woman in some other place, who has been legally raped, mutilated, and left to watch her children die of starvation, that God is great and he loves her can ring rather hollow.

I have no control over whether I end up in eternal bankruptcy or not. I honestly do not care enough to think about it. What I do think about it the fact I drive through neighborhoods on the way to work every single day where kids are living in filth. Where homeless people are gracing more and more street corners around me. Where nobody seems to be able to stop a "democracy" from legalizing rape. I am generally not far above the poverty level in the US, income wise. But I am aware I enjoy an enormous privilege in my stable upbringing full of possibilities. I see that as having a responsibility to pull other people up if I can, when I can, as often as I can.

I'll let eternity take care of itself.

[angstlessk]

16. hell, I can go to church every easter for 40 years..I sleep in one easter..and I am going to hell

automatically..no dispensation..better to be a priest who bongs young boys than miss easter services...the catholic church is stupid!

[Oregone]

17. Does God love pirates too?

How about the slutty feminized version of Dora? Im outraged?

[sampsonblk]

26. Yes - nt

[Zhade]

46. And you know this how? Oh, right - you presume the thoughts of a being not proven to exist.

Sigh.

[Hanse]

18. The flying spaghetti monster extends his noodley appendage.

He was boiled for your sins.

All you need to do is open your stomach and let him into your life.

Ramen.

[SidDithers]

19. Meh...nt

Sid

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

20. Good news: Cthulhu loves you...

...with teriyaki sauce.

/Lovecraft

[Zhade]

47. LOL!

Nice.

[uppityperson]

23. Happy Asthoreth Day to you too! She loves you and the grass is starting to grow again!

It is Spring. Time of rebirth and regeneration.

[cobalt1999]

25. Even better news, there is no God and there is no threat of eternal hellfire.

Whew!

[A HERETIC I AM]

28. Bollocks.

[datasuspect]

29. Hail Satan

[Bill McBlueState]

31. For this to be meaningful to as many people as possible,

you have to first make the case that the particular god you're writing about exists. Then we can start talking about that god's opinion of everyone.

[Zhade]

48. "Then we can start making up that god's opinion of everyone."

Fixed your typo. : p

[sampsonblk]

62. No, I don't

What I said is a simple thing that anyone can take or leave. Annyone who disagrees is (obviously) welcome to post differing views. That's what's great about DU.

[RayOfHope]

33. And I can stil be forgiving and caring without being a Christian. Easter is just another day

one that the Christians co-opted, btw.

[havocmom]

36. Christians who only do the caring/forgiving bit when reminded by stolen holidays, ain't, period.

and furthermore:

[RayOfHope]

38. +1. Hate when people ask me if I'm going to church on easter/christmas.

I don't go any other day, why the hell would I go then? Going to church those 2 days of the year isn't going to change anything. You are absolutely correct. I try to do the right thing everyday, regardless of the holiday.

[WeDidIt]

34. I ain't buyin' what you're sellin'

Sorry, there is no independently verifiable evidence that any one of the over 4000 gods that have been alleged to exist does, in fact, exist.

In the absence of such evidence, there is no compelling reason to buy into what the religionists sell.

[Zhade]

50. KICK FO TROOF

Indeed, my friend.

[SidDithers]

123. Spiderman, Green Lantern, Aquaman and Superman are all fiction...

but Batman? He's real!!

Sid

[stuntcat]

35. I wish God loved the other animals too :(

Not just "His Image"
I wish he loved the animals we're mass-extincting.
I wish he loved the planet we're raping.
I wish he loved us enough to help us save the planet for the future of all the babies we keep squirting out.

[Zhade]

37. That reminds me -- happy Eostre, pagans!

NT!

[krabigirl]

41. :)

[Dervill Crow]

59. Thank you. Blessed be! nt

[krabigirl]

43. ugh

[BlooInBloo]

49. Bullshit fucking preaching about mythical cults shouldn't be allowed on DU.

You're welcome to believe what you want. Babbling that bullshit to everyone else isn't right.

[Zhade]

51. Meh, it helps us tell the delusional from the rational.

NT!

[roguevalley]

72. then ignore.

[Bluebear]

52. Ecch. I would have thought a No Solicitation sign wasn't needed in GD. nt

[Warren DeMontague]

53. "You are perfect... just the way you are!"

Thanks, Rev. Baltar.

By the way, while I can appreciate (sort of) the sentiment of this thread, a similar thread by non-believers saying "There is no God, he's a figment of your imagination" would invariably engender all kinds of flappy-armed cries of "bigotry" by some of DU's religious folks.

Sorry, but "God doesn't exist and is a figment of your imagination" is NO MORE a "bigoted" statement than "God exists (and is great) and loves you just the way you are".

Want one, you need to be capable of putting up with the other.

[BlooInBloo]

55. Indeed, a similar-but-opposite thread was locked as flamebait. Not so this thread. Hypocrites.

Fucking piece of shit downtrodden christians my ass.

[havocmom]

63. Figure the Xians* who HAVE to annoy everyone are just doing it to piss people off

so they can THEN claim to be persecuted 'just like Jesus'. It is easier than actually behaving 'just like Jesus'.
;)


* yes, XIANS. Real Christians do their praying in private (like the master taught) and walk the walk, not talk & talk.

[Warren DeMontague]

54. By the way-- the eggs symbolize fertility, and the bunnies symbolize enthusiastic fucking.

Just FYI.

[Dervill Crow]

60. Practice for Beltane . . . it's coming up, so to speak. nt

[Fire1]

57. Happy Easter, Everyone!

:hi:

[Dervill Crow]

61. Easter is my favorite Christian holiday. nt

[TechBear_Seattle]

86. Any festival that deifies chocolate is A-OK in my book

The magical bunnies that lay colored, hard-boiled eggs is a bit difficult to swallow, though.

[Sal316]

65. Perhaps we should whizz all over the atheists holiday.....

.....but last I checked the calendar, there isn't a Happy Assmunch Day, so I guess they're safe.

And people here wonder why the prevailing opinion is that Democrats are anti-Religious. Plenty of evidence in this thread alone to feed that perception.

[onager]

66. Aww, what a nice vintage whine!

Here, have some music with that...

:nopity:

And people here wonder why the prevailing opinion is that Democrats are anti-Religious. Plenty of evidence in this thread alone to feed that perception.

More accurate to say DU is an inclusive community of people with very diverse religious beliefs, including no beliefs, who often enjoy vigorous discussion about religion.

People who have a problem with that...e.g., those who throw tantrums whenever the non-Xians stand up for themselves...might be happier discussing religion in one of the many Xian echo chambers available on the internet. e.g, Rapture Ready.

[Sal316]

100. Like I said before....

....there is a difference between "standing up for themselves" and things like:

"Zombie Messiah Day"

"god is also a tremendous, murderous asshole"

"Bullshit fucking preaching about mythical cults shouldn't be allowed on DU."

"Meh, it helps us tell the delusional from the rational."


If you can't see that, then, well... there ya go.

[onager]

116. Those are opinions.

But I'm sure the world would be a much better place if we all thought exactly like you. And your buddy Pat Robertson.

I'm trying to come up with a better insult than "assmunch," but unfortunately I don't have a time machine so I can go back to Third Grade and do the proper research.

Thanks for once again proving one of my pet theories, though: making the large assumption that Jesus Christ existed--if he were only 1/100 as obnoxious as many of his followers, I'm not a bit surprised the Romans tacked him up.

[Silent3]

67. You know, you never did get back to me...

...about that whole absolute truth thing, and why I should accept that you words are simply recitations of true facts regarding the absolute truth, not mere declarations or beliefs, but statements of That Which IS.

Then again, all I understand apparently is "weak-ass arguments", so perhaps I'll never be capable (until Saved by Grace, maybe?) of appreciating your direct pipeline to TRVTH.

[Sal316]

97. I can name that tune in 5 notes.

If there were no such thing as absolute truth, then why care what 19 guys with boxcutters did on 9/11/01? They were just "doing what is right for them" and who are YOU to judge?

If there were no such thing as absolute truth, then why care about Bush's invasion of Iraq? He was just doing what was right and just (to him), and who are YOU to judge?

If there were no such thing as absolute truth, then why care what Hitler did in the 1930's and 1940's? He was just doing what was right and just for him and who are YOU to judge?

If there were no such thing as absolute truth, then why care what corporate America does to the working class? They are just doing what is right for them and who are YOU to judge?

Why ever care about anything, since there is no truth and everything is relative, right?

....or do you deem YOUR truth absolute?

[Silent3]

103. Are you really that incapable of distinguishing these two concepts?

1) The existence of an absolute truth.
2) The knowledge of what that absolute truth is.

Those are two different things. I'm not denying the first one. I'm just not automatically granting that everything YOU claim about that absolute truth does in fact accurately describe it.

When I tried to get you to address that distinction, you ignored me. When I reminded you to get back to addressing that distinction, you conveniently glossed right over it in favor of a canned diatribe that evades or ignores the distinction.

Care to have a go at it again? Or ignore this post until you can later pretend that a different issue is on the table?

[Sal316]

107. Point 2 is still germane to the discussion.

Simply because you've now taken two contrary positions on whether or not there is absolute truth.

In your original position you stated "Do I believe there's anything such as absolute/universal truth? I wouldn't say I "believe" that there is, but I do accept that concept as a useful construct to escape solipsism and a necessary assumption of communication."

Yet in this thread you state "1) The existence of an absolute truth. 2) The knowledge of what that absolute truth is. Those are two different things. I'm not denying the first one."

So either you do or you don't... choose one, please.

You also said "There's a big difference between accepting the idea of absolute universal truth, however, and knowing for sure whether you or anyone else is in possession of a piece of it."

Which is all well and good, but if it can never be certain that anyone possesses a piece of it, then how can you, a skeptic, accept the concept you could possibly never have evidence to prove? It's an awfully convenient position, to say the concept of absolute truth is a useful construct, but you don't believe there is really such a thing. It's one that always allows you a way out.

...and now your big finish "Why should my acceptance of the concept of universal truth lead to acceptance, with no demands for evidence or reason, of the particular details you claim about that truth?"

The acceptance of a concept of truth is not the same thing as acceptance of truth.

Which brings us back to the post you're currently wriggling your way out of.

Let's, for a second, make the claim that taking another life is never justified is absolute truth.

You, being the natural skeptic, would want to weigh the evidence, pro and con, before accepting it as truth. Fair enough.

Now, on the "pro" side, you have people like me, who believe that there is no justification for taking another life. Period.

On the "con" side, you have people who believe that there ARE times when killing another person is justified and, in some cases, is noble and just. The holocaust, the crusades, 9/11, Pol Pot, McVeigh, etc., all of these people used reason to justify their taking another life.

Now, seeing that there are two positions, with people on one side who believe just as emphatically as those on the other, the only conclusion a true skeptic could come to is to reject both sides claim of truth.

Hence, why would you ever get upset about anything since there is always another side to the story?

Either there is truth or there isn't.

[Silent3]

113. Since "absolute truth" is a big subject in its own right...

...I've decided to reply to the post you've made in this thread, a thread which is about Easter and what someone said about Easter after all, in a new thread about absolute truth.

[sampsonblk]

68. Let's remember the example of Abe Lincoln...

who spoke the same as some of our fellow posters at one time. But when his crisis arrived, he saw things differently. Thank God for old Doubting Abe. That long period of doubting God, and making fun of religion is what eventually made his faith stronger, in my opinion.

/sermon again.

[Sal316]

98. Good example, sampson.

Faith is often made stronger through periods of doubt.

[TechBear_Seattle]

77. "Happy Assmunch Day"? I'm (not at all) surprised your post still here

The correct answer was "Thoughtful Reasoning Day," not that you would ever observe such a festival. Instead, you are unable to even come up with a clever insult, and must resort to childish name-calling. How very theist of you.

[Sal316]

99. Wow... did you miss the day they taught irony?

I went through my "there is no God" period in my 20's. I can honestly say because of that, my faith is not only stronger, but fuller and 'thoughtfully reasoned'.

Yes, I am a theist.... and?

[Goblinmonger]

78. So the OP can be posted and that is fine with you,

but any comments to the contrary come from "assmunches"? And it's the atheists that are the problem....right...

[Sal316]

96. Yes, it can be posted.

I just wonder why whenever some who believes posts something in R/T, atheists (some, not all) here feel the need to come in and whizz in the proverbial cheerios?

There's a difference between comments to the contrary and being contrary.

Think of it this way.

Comments to the contrary is like disagreeing with some policies/positions, but still working together to find a common ground.

Being contrary is like the GOP in Congress today, "Whatever it is, I'm against it!" - G. Marx

[Goblinmonger]

101. One post

to say atheists are like Republicans. Nicely done. I thought it would take longer than that.

I feel like I've said this a thousand time, but R/T is NOT an echo chamber. If you don't want comments to the contrary or people being contrary, then post it to a group. Posting it in here makes it open for discussion for all. Everyone should know this, yet they post things like the OP and then cry when opinions to the contrary are posted.

[Sal316]

102. I don't expect it to be an "echo chamber"...

...nice strawman, though.

If you can't see that the behavior of actively trashing and contradicting what believers say, no matter what form it takes, is the same, then you're blinded by your own arrogance.

Now, correct me if I'm wrong and I'll admit it if I am, but I don't think I've seen things non-believers have posted (aside from the zombie messiah or Jesus bunny stuff, because that's just being an ass) as virulently attacked as when believers post. If you have evidence to the contrary, then present it and if I'm wrong, I'll humbly admit it.

[Goblinmonger]

105. Don't know how long you've been following R/T

but it is very cyclical. Right now we have a lot of threads not started by atheists. That happens for a while. Right now we seem to be in the "why are atheists even on here" cycle though it isn't as vocal as it has been in the past. Yet. It will come around and you will see more OPs started by atheists and then you will see the reactions to that.

[Sal316]

106. I will keep my eyes open.

Deal?

[Goblinmonger]

109. Deal.

I understand that for many, not necessarily you, this forum is the first time people have had their religious views challenged. Really challenged, not just a "crisis of faith." And for many that can be scary and very off putting. But I think if we are both honest with each other, the vast majority of what is said on DU is not bigotry or persecution or even rude. I, personally, enjoy the "fight." A good indepth discussion interests me.

[Occam Bandage]

82. I don't think it's fair to say atheists are assmunches.

I agree that maybe 80% of atheists are assmunches. I say this because maybe 90% of all humans are assmunches, and atheists are people like anyone else, only without a certain breed of crazy assmunch that only goes for religion.

[Sal316]

94. Ok, fair 'nuff....

Each group has their own particular flavor of "crazy assmunch"... there aren't any exceptions to that rule.

[cosmik debris]

73. Astrology, tarot cards, fortune telling, and palm reading also have

entertaining stories behind them.

But, alas, there is no validity at all in them.

Get back to me when you have something more realistic than reading tea leaves.

:crazy:

[Strong Atheist]

75. You know, if you had just said "Happy Easter", you might have gotten less flame,

but all that guilt trip BS is one of the MANY negative things about religion that I could do without entirely...

[TechBear_Seattle]

76. You are completely wrong

It was Fire Island, a pitcher of margaritas, a warm breeze off the ocean.... that's not love, that's just one of those summer things.

And anyway, he never calls or writes, and my emails keep coming back as "undeliverable." Hardly what I would call "love."

[Goblinmonger]

79. Guess what?

It's the day after Easter and this atheist is still a forgiving and loving person. Are you telling me that Christians aren't today? Back to the same "assmunchery" for them?

Just thought I'd see how the use of the term assmunch aimed at Christians would be received since none of the Christians rose to the defense of the atheists being called the same.

[Sandrine for you]

83. What are you talking about ?

Who is God and where is his house ?

[Meshuga]

84. We all make mistakes, that's for sure

But, for example, why should we forgive someone who is not sorry for doing us wrong?

I am not very good at holding grudges but I am not into forgiving for the sake of forgiving either. There are logical steps in the process of forgiveness that need to be followed IMO. People should forgive as they see it fit but I wonder if there is a social pressure for you to forgive others (since the thinking is that "God does it") or you would be considered a shmuck for not forgiving?

[piratefish08]

88. "I'll take you just the way you are" - Billy Joel

There is nothing special you need to do to gain the love of Billy.

Though it helps to be young, blonde and very hot.

[sakabatou]

108. I'd post something by George Carlin

But I'm unsure if it's appropriate here.

[edhopper]

110. God does not love me

He used to, but became increasingly annoyed at little things I did, like leaving the cap off the toothpaste and drinking the milk from the carton. He finally had it with me asking him to pull my finger when I was about to fart.
He told me he loved me once but it was gone and walked out the door. I haven't seen him since.

[cosmik debris]

111. But does he pay child support?

Or did he just abandon his children to suffer and starve?

[dcsmart]

112. if you actually met god and god told you that, great...but i doubt that and until people actually do...

statements like that are completely ridiculous

[Name removed]

121. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Deep13]

122. I'm not going to assume I have to forgive malice.

I don't think it is a virtue to be hurt and then to expect no justice. Besides, I cannot forgive those few who have really hurt me without any attempt to make it right. What I mean is, even if it is a good idea, emotionally I have not done so. At most I can only pretend I forgive them.

I also reject the idea that we are all inherently sinners and in constant need of forgiveness. Ordinary human emotions and interactions are not sinful and ordinary manners can deal with any accidentally bumped elbows we may run into. We make mistakes, of course, but that is not the same as needing forgiveness for sin.

For the record, there is no god and if there is, he certainly is not great.

[The Shape]

124. God listens...

[Silent3]

125. Delete!

(Thought the previous link had a bad image link, but now it comes up okay.)

[elshiva]

126. To what?

[Manifestor_of_Light]

127. God hasn't spoken to me, sorry.

He just never answers the phone when I pray.....don't know why he doesn't speak to me and the clouds don't open up and .......

In fact, he/she/it/they has never shown me whether he/she/it/they exist or not.