aCultureWarrior #fundie

aCultureWarrior #fundie theologyonline.com

[Part of a conversation with an atheist]

Let's pretend for a moment that you "like" women Gerald, and took your girlfriend/wife to a Christian church. Both of you get up from the pew to go do something elsewhere in the church, and she leaves her purse behind. Would you be worried that the purse or it's contents would be stolen?

Back to reality now. Let's say you take your boyfriend to a gay bar, and he leaves his purse on the table while you two go restroom hopping. Would you be worried about theft in that venue Gerald?

Gathering together in a House of God helps make people decent.

[snip]
Oh but they do exist. Communist countries and their brutal totalitarian regimes are excellent examples of atheism at work Gerald.

[snip]
I could write volumes on this topic Gerald. Where shall I start: abortion, homosexuality, pornography, recreational drug use, prostitution? Your religion has it all.

79 comments

old comment by gravematter

You're starting with the assumption that "abortion, homosexuality, pornography, recreational drug use, prostitution" are intrinsically bad things, because your religion says so. Atheists don't worry about the Bible's take on these things, and so we don't buy into your blinkered "morality". You can't shame us by mentioning things that your religion disapproves of, because to us, they're not necessarily bad things. Why is this so hard for you to understand?
I do believe that your purse is less likely to be stolen in a church, but put the church congregation in a different room and I can't imagine there'd be any difference in the likelihood of having your purse stolen there than in a gay bar, or in a straight bar, or indeed anywhere except a Thieves' convention.

old comment by Horsefeathers

"Gathering together in a House of God helps make people decent."

Which is why there has never been a Christian criminal. Amen.

Oh, wait... that's not quite right.

"Oh but they do exist. Communist countries and their brutal totalitarian regimes are excellent examples of atheism at work Gerald."

Communism is atheistic, as in the government isn't aligned with, nor does it typically support, any religion. The people are nearly always still religious, even if the government outlaws all religions. Since governments, Communist or not, cannot act without people to actually carry out orders, your argument fails as it's still by and large religious people doing the government's dirty work.

"I could write volumes on this topic Gerald. Where shall I start: abortion, homosexuality, pornography, recreational drug use, prostitution? Your religion has it all."

First of all, atheism is not a religion.

Second, I think you'll find that Christians would make up a larger percentage of all of those groups, individually and combined, than would atheists.

old comment by Philbert McAdamia

If my boy toy and I are at the Blue Oyster and go acting like good, Christian republicans in the restroom stalls, and he left his purse behind, no I wouldn't be worried at all, it isn't my purse. He might be more concerned about finding it stuffed full of Jack Chick and Tony Alamo tracts when he gets back to it, though.

------------------------------------------

@ Horsefeathers
Second, I think you'll find that Christians would make up a larger percentage of all of those groups, individually and combined, than would atheists.
and John
So why are the prisons full of Christians?

Percentage of atheists in U.S. = 2%

Percentage of atheists in U.S. prisons = .21%
(That's point 21%

old comment by The Duelist

aCultureWarrior is just another stupid jizz-yodeling cum-dumpster who references Communist regimes as examples of atheism, conveniently ignoring the massive distinction between the two; atheism is a state of disbelief in gods, no more, no less. Communism, however, is a complex ideology that makes definite claims in economics, politics, religion, and various matters of state. The two are very different. In addition, he also neglects to mention that atheistic countries like Norway, Sweden, and Japan are better-educated than America, and have much lower rates of drug abuse, abortion, teen pregnancy, and crime in general. But of course, expecting logic, honesty, and intelligence from a fundy is like expecting decency from a totalitarian dictator. It's not going to happen.

old comment by Woody

I suspect that the chances of a purse being stolen is about the same in a church as in my workplace. Any social grouping where the pressure to conform is high plays off against the humiliation of being "found out" if caught means that people behave in a manner that will appear highly moral. In a church/workplace, people know each other well and have reputations to maintain.

On the other side, you have a gay club, straight club, shopping mall etc. where strangers, including Christians, meet briefly and the consequences of being caught theiving are low; people will be less inclined to behave in such a high moral manner.

It has nothing to do with Christians being more moral or better than gays (or any other population grouping). Take a look at the religious make up of the prison population to see proof of that.

old comment by Iel

Honey, I trust no one. I'm a queer woman, and my purse never leaves my hip unless I'm in the room, and it's a small room. I'm vigilant -- Church, Prom, movie theatre, dressing room, it doesn't matter.

As for your list of things you could talk about, let me tell you a secret: I'm religious, and I have no problem with any of them. Abortion? A sometimes necessary tragedy. Homosexuality? As valid as hetero-, bi-, pan-, or asexuality. Pornography? I write some awesome porn. Recreational drug use? Dangerous, but so is skydiving, rock-climbing, or scuba-diving. Prostitution? If it were legal it could be regulated and made far safer for both clients and prostitutes.

Just because I believe that sometime back in the beginning of the universe, some Source said, "I'm lonely; I should make Others," and from that came life's beginnings and the figures we call gods and angels and demiurges, doesn't mean I cannot reason or put people's dignities above the words in a book translated from languages I cannot understand.

People like you, Culture Warrior, make human beings look bad, particularly non-atheists. I submit that you should cease.

old comment by

The House of God helps make people decent? Are you joking?

When HIV was running rampant in the 80s, the House of God was busy demonizing homosexuals and claiming that AIDS was just divine retribution, the secular CDC and WHO were the ones trying to contain the outbreak.

While the secular UN is doing an albeit pathetic job of alleviating poverty in Third World nations, the House of God is busy spreading misinformation about contraceptives. (How condoms spread HIV)

Even Communism has done more for humanity than the House of God:
- The concept of universal healthcare (Something that's still being rejected in the U.S.)
- Occupational safety standards
- Minimum working wage, child labor laws
- Food and drug safety
- Antitrust laws
In fact, all regulatory government measures that cut into profits are inherently anti-capitalist (i.e. Communist).

Abortion, homosexuality, pornography:
Yes, as an atheist I support a woman's right to choose, tolerance of others, and free speech, what of it?

Recreational drug use, prostitution:
I also support safe injection sites and protection for sex workers.

For atheists, the resolution of the Epicurean trilemma is the absence of a benevolent omnipotent deity, hence it is the duty of man to improve the lot of their fellow man. (or at least not add to their suffering)

For the House of God, the resolution of the Epicurean trilemma is that suffering is not evil since the benevolent omnipotent deity ensures that all who suffer deserves it.

old comment by WWWWolf

> Would you be worried that the purse or it's contents would be stolen?

Of course!

> Would you be worried about theft in that venue Gerald?

Naturally, yes!

> Gathering together in a House of God helps make people decent.

Er, what? How did you demonstrate that?

People who are into this whole morality thing are moral people no matter where they are. Are you saying it's never okay to steal things in a church, but it's okay to steal stuff out of church?

Seriously, though, you only need to take a look at the zillions of different scams people pull on Christians. Most of the advance fee fraud scams that are going on persist because they do Greetings In Jesus Name. You have people like Peter Popoff who specifically target desperate Christians and fast-talk them to send money.

It's just plain dangerous to assume that the "venue" makes people more moral.

old comment by LogicalAgnostic

"Gathering together in a House of God helps make people decent."

Its this mentality right here why most religious people (fundie nutcases mostly) are the way they are. They believe in their all powerful always watching deity that always has His eyes on them in order to make them "act right" and be "moral" because if they don't He will send them to a burning pit in hell for all eternity.

This really isn't being moral or good at all its just being fearful that if they don't do what their God tells them to or obey His rules and behave they will get roasted toasted on a spit. Fear of retaliation from a deity in order to behave and act right isn't being good it's just groveling begging and hoping not to be thrown in some pit for being the true scum they are inside while appearing to be holy and good on the outside.

I can honestly say I am good for goodness sake not because I fear going to a hell or being crushed or incinerated by some all powerful being.

That is true morality. Doing what is right because it's the right thing to do and sadly right and wrong can be subjective sometimes so it is best to let your heart lead you in those matters and do your best in this life as much as you can no matter what others think.

It's simply the golden rule: Do unto others as you would have done to you.

Therefor a church or bar or any setting doesn't matter. People are people and will do what they do regardless of who is there or where they are.

Some just like to be sneakier than others... like your kind CultureWarrior. With pious fake smiles plastered on and hands in their pockets whistling while horns grow on their head.

aCultureWarrior #fundie theologyonline.com

79 comments

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