An Atheist's Take on Christian Prayer.

Correction, the Catholic Church used to. They're pretty much the Pharisees of our day. Their actions have gone against everything Jesus stands for.

 

It never ceases to amaze me that some self-proclaimed atheist seem so obsessed with religion. I don't get it. Disinterest would seem to be more logical.

 

It never ceases to amaze me that some people seem to not understand that a lack of belief in gods is what makes someone an atheist, and nothing else.

I lack belief in faeries, witches, and hobbits, too, does that mean I should not find any of those things fun to hear and talk about?

 

i'd consider myself an athiest, or agnostic, or whatever you'd like to call me.

i don't care if you pray, and i don't care who you pray to, as long as you don't try to involve me and it doesn't affect me or anyone else in a negative way.

if something gives someone hope, even if i think it's stupid, why does it matter?

it's like calling a child a stupid asshole because sleeping with a certain toy brings them comfort.

 

Because religion is a dangerous catalyst and more important slows progress.

 

The Soviet Union government delayed progress and they forbade their citizens to believe in God.

Just as an example.

People delay progress, and they use any tool at their disposal to do it - be it political, religious, etc.

 

Sure can, and religion has proven itself a bad one.

 

Well, Catholic church was christianity back in the day. If there wasn't a catholic church there wouldn't have been a reformation and protestant christianity after it. I think if you call yourself a christian you should accept your religion has it's black pages. Not sure if you're not doing that but it kinda seems like you dismiss the Catholic church as the root of (western) christianity. Also, protestants weren't by definition 'good' or enlightened christians neither of course.

 

It has proven to be quite diverse. You just prefer to focus on the bad aspects.

 

Someone who demonstrates the propensity to persecute could more accurately be described as a bully.

You mean fun to ridicule. Evangelical atheist means anti-theist in practice, doesn't it?

 

once again the word atheism is dragged through the mud...

its gettin real depressing.

maybe we need a new word for reasonable atheists. Dawkins suggested "bright" but that always struck me as needlessly antagonistic.

 

Yeah, but I don't hear you talking about anything else! But onto your next point - what else, besides a "lack of belief in gods, faeries, witches and hobbits" defines you as an atheist? Or a person for that matter? It's clear to me that you are intolerant of such silly superstitions, but that can't be your entire gig in life. Is it? I've heard you talk about little else but disbelief on these boards - and frankly it makes you seem like a person with a very narrow and clearly defined agenda. You sound a helluva lot like some of the Christian fundamentalists I've encountered throughout my life.

 

I'm sorry, did you have a point?

 

Relax. I think evangelical is the dirty word in this instance.

 

Yes. And you're apparently missing it.

 

Go ahead make one whenever you're ready.

 

I feel the same way about pushy judgemental "Christians." Its funny how people (non dumbasses) have in common no matter what their beliefs are. When we all realize this we will be doing a lot better

 

aye, i take the point, there's bad on both sides, just always seems a shame to me, atheism has so much untapped potential to be a positive force, yet some seem committed to trying to invest it with all of the worst aspects of organised religion.

like evangelism.

 

.....fighting fire with fire? Fighting (term used both loosely and literally) over others beliefs is completely counter productive. I just want to live life and do my own thing. And I want the same thing for everyone else. Whatever your thing might be. We can all learn from each other even if we completely disagree about anything or everything. When you dismiss people because of their personal choices in life, you are missing out on a lot of potentially great things. If we lived in a world that evangelists strive for (everyone thinks the same thing) life would be boring as shit. Enjoy what the world has to offer and don't condescend other cultures because they don't think the way you think.

And there is my rant for the day.

 

You can choose to be annoyed. It's a free country. But doesn't it give the annoyers the upper hand?