I dated a girl from an atheist background who had more & BETTER morals than MOST " Christians ". Lack of empathy- You pretty much described one of my cousins.....
I remember driving through the Poconos in Pennsylvania after hurricane Katrina. I was listening to Christian radio, because it was the only station I could get in the woods. The preacher said Christians must not help the victims of Katrina, because it was God's punishment for all the gays in New Orleans. Helping them would be a sin and go against God's will. So sick.
These conmen preachers don’t want to send any of their collections or personal labor to anyone in actual need that can’t help them somehow. They also want to hoard their idiot congregations monetary assistance to themselves.
I do not have to fear a god in order to do what I know to be right. Religion is nothing more than another form of oppression and control. Having been raised a Roman Catholic, I found it terribly offensive and could not wait until I could make my own choices. It is brainwashing at its finest and I believe it is also a form of child abuse. All the voodoo teachings of that church haunts me to this day. I have great resentment.
I never put my children through any religious rituals. Both are amazing individuals who respect all life and do this without fear of some almighty being who expects to be worshiped on “the Lord’s day”. But what a money maker this god of their’s is. Just as Joel Olsteen and the latest Pope!!
Maybe they should remember one of the teachings I heard in grade school about the camel and the eye of a needle. Then again, they aren’t worried because they know that there is no god so they are all enjoying themselves at the expense of the foolish believers.
I don't discuss religion unless it's academic / related.
For a non - religious person, I study Buddhism / Daoism even though my take is that Daoism is a philosophy rather than a religion. So is Zen / other Buddhist schools.
Christianity should've remained a philosophy. That way, MAYBE they couldn't have oppressed Native Americans, Africans & Pacific Islanders.
While in Cambodia a couple of weeks ago I visited the Killing Fields ordered by Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. 3,000,000 men, women and children murdered.
I learned that Pol Pot had previously spent many years as a Buddhist Monk.
I watched the movie CARRIE last night. This is a textbook example of how religion in the WRONG HANDS can f--k up a life.
My previously - mentioned redneck cousin has precious little concept of critical thinking. She picks political candidates based on their faith, a non - issue or else it should be.
Wholly anecdotal and very personal, but when I gave up religion about 20 years ago I suddenly found it so much easier to be ethical and empathic. In fact the whole process very much resembled the hymn when "my chains fell off, my heart was free". I rather liked the parallel
👆This all day long. I realize the only reason I stayed a Christian as long as I did was strictly out of fear. I went from being Catholic to Methodist to Congregational to United Church of Christ.
In the UCC the fear of damnation became almost nonexistent and I realized then that I didn’t need any of it—except my ppl. I stayed w UCC for quite a while after openly expressing my Atheism. They loved me just the same.
I know a Canadian Evangelical who's more openminded, accepting, etc., than MOST U.S.. Evangelicals. Especially the schmucks who made a golden idol out of trash - heap Trump.
I have NO KINDER word for them than " schmucks ". Maybe PUTZES.
I'm speculating here: Religion usurps and claims morality for itself, morality that has deeper, more fundamental and diverse roots connected at bottom with the recognition that other people are like ourselves. We in fact judge religion in terms of how well it supports and mirrors deeper, universal intuitions about human welfare and happiness.
Of course we are every decision we make is on us we can claim to “be just following orders” and if something is immoral we can call it out with out having to run it by our invisible friends. Every theist I have ever talked morality with has asked some variation of “how can you be moral if no one is watching you waiting to punish you for being immoral?” The answer is for the same reason I don’t murder people the second I think no one can see me, I know it’s wrong.
" Christians " back a Rethuglican candidate with less leadership ability than a piece of cattle - dung, narcissistic to the max, COMPLETELY DIVORCED FROM REALITY, THEN they wonder why they're derided, belittled, marginalized, treated like half - wits & treated like they shouldn't be allowed to handle anything sharper than an egg - white. Which is also their favorite SKIN COLOR.
My cousin's husband often tries to sound like an Evangelical minister. Big, booming rich voice, firm handshake, shaking one's hand regardless of whether it's an invasion of personal space. When he's coming, I look for my earplugs. & he's the more " HUMAN " of the 2 of them !
Some people take personal responsibility for the moral choices the have to make, others try to juggle stories from the fossil relics of ancient magic books.
You don’t need religion to have morals. If you can’t determine right from wrong you lack empathy, not religion.
I dated a girl from an atheist background who had more & BETTER morals than MOST " Christians ". Lack of empathy- You pretty much described one of my cousins.....
I remember driving through the Poconos in Pennsylvania after hurricane Katrina. I was listening to Christian radio, because it was the only station I could get in the woods. The preacher said Christians must not help the victims of Katrina, because it was God's punishment for all the gays in New Orleans. Helping them would be a sin and go against God's will. So sick.
No surprise 😮
These maniacs need to be pumped full of LAXATIVE then sent on a 30 - mile hike with no Bathroom breaks. & shock collars to keep them in line.
The only reason I went to church as a kid was because of fear of dishonoring Dad. Long boring story.
These conmen preachers don’t want to send any of their collections or personal labor to anyone in actual need that can’t help them somehow. They also want to hoard their idiot congregations monetary assistance to themselves.
I’m an atheist- all conflict originates from religion. People thinking that their God is the ONE - it defies logic.
I do not have to fear a god in order to do what I know to be right. Religion is nothing more than another form of oppression and control. Having been raised a Roman Catholic, I found it terribly offensive and could not wait until I could make my own choices. It is brainwashing at its finest and I believe it is also a form of child abuse. All the voodoo teachings of that church haunts me to this day. I have great resentment.
I never put my children through any religious rituals. Both are amazing individuals who respect all life and do this without fear of some almighty being who expects to be worshiped on “the Lord’s day”. But what a money maker this god of their’s is. Just as Joel Olsteen and the latest Pope!!
Maybe they should remember one of the teachings I heard in grade school about the camel and the eye of a needle. Then again, they aren’t worried because they know that there is no god so they are all enjoying themselves at the expense of the foolish believers.
I don't discuss religion unless it's academic / related.
For a non - religious person, I study Buddhism / Daoism even though my take is that Daoism is a philosophy rather than a religion. So is Zen / other Buddhist schools.
Christianity should've remained a philosophy. That way, MAYBE they couldn't have oppressed Native Americans, Africans & Pacific Islanders.
While in Cambodia a couple of weeks ago I visited the Killing Fields ordered by Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. 3,000,000 men, women and children murdered.
I learned that Pol Pot had previously spent many years as a Buddhist Monk.
Religion is evil.
I watched the movie CARRIE last night. This is a textbook example of how religion in the WRONG HANDS can f--k up a life.
My previously - mentioned redneck cousin has precious little concept of critical thinking. She picks political candidates based on their faith, a non - issue or else it should be.
Wholly anecdotal and very personal, but when I gave up religion about 20 years ago I suddenly found it so much easier to be ethical and empathic. In fact the whole process very much resembled the hymn when "my chains fell off, my heart was free". I rather liked the parallel
When I realized I would simply die eventually I felt a great sense of relief.
👆This all day long. I realize the only reason I stayed a Christian as long as I did was strictly out of fear. I went from being Catholic to Methodist to Congregational to United Church of Christ.
In the UCC the fear of damnation became almost nonexistent and I realized then that I didn’t need any of it—except my ppl. I stayed w UCC for quite a while after openly expressing my Atheism. They loved me just the same.
I know a Canadian Evangelical who's more openminded, accepting, etc., than MOST U.S.. Evangelicals. Especially the schmucks who made a golden idol out of trash - heap Trump.
I have NO KINDER word for them than " schmucks ". Maybe PUTZES.
I'm speculating here: Religion usurps and claims morality for itself, morality that has deeper, more fundamental and diverse roots connected at bottom with the recognition that other people are like ourselves. We in fact judge religion in terms of how well it supports and mirrors deeper, universal intuitions about human welfare and happiness.
. . . and obligation, responsibility and wrongdoing.
Thank you Dashk, that's a very clear analysis. It certainly resonates with me
All people are born atheists.
There's no horrors egregious enough that religion won't justify in the name of their invisible god.
4,000 religions on the planet and all of them think ONLY THEIRS is the right one and right god.
Of course we are every decision we make is on us we can claim to “be just following orders” and if something is immoral we can call it out with out having to run it by our invisible friends. Every theist I have ever talked morality with has asked some variation of “how can you be moral if no one is watching you waiting to punish you for being immoral?” The answer is for the same reason I don’t murder people the second I think no one can see me, I know it’s wrong.
Mother Teresa was actually cruel and awful, especially toward children.
" Christians " back a Rethuglican candidate with less leadership ability than a piece of cattle - dung, narcissistic to the max, COMPLETELY DIVORCED FROM REALITY, THEN they wonder why they're derided, belittled, marginalized, treated like half - wits & treated like they shouldn't be allowed to handle anything sharper than an egg - white. Which is also their favorite SKIN COLOR.
My cousin's husband often tries to sound like an Evangelical minister. Big, booming rich voice, firm handshake, shaking one's hand regardless of whether it's an invasion of personal space. When he's coming, I look for my earplugs. & he's the more " HUMAN " of the 2 of them !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y2FuDY6Q4M&pp=ygUed2l0aCBnb2Qgb24gb3VyIHNpZGUgYm9iIGR5bGFu
Some people take personal responsibility for the moral choices the have to make, others try to juggle stories from the fossil relics of ancient magic books.