Comments on: Let It All Out http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/let-it-all-out/ Atheism with Positivity Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:18:17 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: eclairevoyant http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/let-it-all-out/comment-page-1/#comment-60247 eclairevoyant Thu, 09 Aug 2007 01:16:40 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/let-it-all-out/#comment-60247 Christianity is elitist. Christians make it clear that they are the only ones destined for a trip to heaven or some glorious hereafter. They pity everyone who does not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and that includes anyone who belongs to religions and theologies that are way older than Christianity. They forget that Jesus Christ was a Jew. Christianity uses fear to keep its members coming to its places of worship and peer pressure to keep it lavishly funded. I was raised Catholic, studied Buddhism, married a Jew, and now I have my own personal spiritual guide through the universe, Ralph. Ralph has one follower, me. Ralph doesn't require tithing, prayer, or my time on any particular day of the week. Ralph doesn't scare me. Christians scare me. Christians don't hesitate telling me what they think of Atheists or Jews or Buddhists. But I don't feel comfortable telling them what I think of Christians. I have a healthy respect for the religions of family and friends, their sexual orientation, and their political views, as long as they remain civilized and tolerant. Christianity wants the world to be re-made in their image. I don't fit that image and don't want to. Christianity is elitist. Christians make it clear that they are the only ones destined for a trip to heaven or some glorious hereafter. They pity everyone who does not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and that includes anyone who belongs to religions and theologies that are way older than Christianity. They forget that Jesus Christ was a Jew. Christianity uses fear to keep its members coming to its places of worship and peer pressure to keep it lavishly funded. I was raised Catholic, studied Buddhism, married a Jew, and now I have my own personal spiritual guide through the universe, Ralph. Ralph has one follower, me. Ralph doesn’t require tithing, prayer, or my time on any particular day of the week. Ralph doesn’t scare me. Christians scare me. Christians don’t hesitate telling me what they think of Atheists or Jews or Buddhists. But I don’t feel comfortable telling them what I think of Christians. I have a healthy respect for the religions of family and friends, their sexual orientation, and their political views, as long as they remain civilized and tolerant. Christianity wants the world to be re-made in their image. I don’t fit that image and don’t want to.

]]> By: Rich http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/let-it-all-out/comment-page-1/#comment-60241 Rich Thu, 09 Aug 2007 00:52:06 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/let-it-all-out/#comment-60241 Christians. Christians.

]]> By: Friendly Atheist » Let It All Out, Part 2 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/let-it-all-out/comment-page-1/#comment-60171 Friendly Atheist » Let It All Out, Part 2 Wed, 08 Aug 2007 18:21:35 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/let-it-all-out/#comment-60171 [...] you were able to share what turned you off to [...] [...] you were able to share what turned you off to [...]

]]> By: Logos http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/let-it-all-out/comment-page-1/#comment-60169 Logos Wed, 08 Aug 2007 17:47:47 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/let-it-all-out/#comment-60169 I am not talking about the blogosphere I am talking about this site. I am not talking about the blogosphere I am talking about this site.

]]> By: olvlzl, no ism, no ist http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/let-it-all-out/comment-page-1/#comment-60163 olvlzl, no ism, no ist Wed, 08 Aug 2007 17:29:29 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/let-it-all-out/#comment-60163 Anthony, many Christian denominations marry gay men and lesbians, don't overgeneralize. I'm gay myself. Logos, how does one detect a "venomous and insulting atmosphere" being generated in the atheist blogosphere? It would be like finding a drop that someone put into the ocean. Just look at the responses yesterday at "friendly Christian". Look for my upcoming response to the latest lie Austin Cline told about something I wrote. Anthony, many Christian denominations marry gay men and lesbians, don’t overgeneralize. I’m gay myself.

Logos, how does one detect a “venomous and insulting atmosphere” being generated in the atheist blogosphere? It would be like finding a drop that someone put into the ocean. Just look at the responses yesterday at “friendly Christian”. Look for my upcoming response to the latest lie Austin Cline told about something I wrote.

]]> By: Anthony http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/let-it-all-out/comment-page-1/#comment-60160 Anthony Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:46:46 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/let-it-all-out/#comment-60160 Christians prevent me, and my people, from marrying lifelong loves and raising families together. Christians prevent me, and my people, from marrying lifelong loves and raising families together.

]]> By: Logos http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/let-it-all-out/comment-page-1/#comment-60147 Logos Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:10:18 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/let-it-all-out/#comment-60147 You are creating a venomous and insulting atmosphere here! You are creating a venomous and insulting atmosphere here!

]]> By: olvlzl, no ism, no ist http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/let-it-all-out/comment-page-1/#comment-60135 olvlzl, no ism, no ist Wed, 08 Aug 2007 13:36:39 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/let-it-all-out/#comment-60135 Logos, I thought "theists" were supposed to be the source of all evil in the world. So, how can they be nice? Besides, what did I say that wasn't nice? I'm sure you might not have liked it but what was untrue? Logos, I thought “theists” were supposed to be the source of all evil in the world. So, how can they be nice? Besides, what did I say that wasn’t nice? I’m sure you might not have liked it but what was untrue?

]]> By: Logos http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/let-it-all-out/comment-page-1/#comment-60121 Logos Wed, 08 Aug 2007 12:28:14 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/let-it-all-out/#comment-60121 <strong>olvlzl, no ism, no ist </strong> I though you Theists were supposed to value being nice! olvlzl, no ism, no ist I though you Theists were supposed to value being nice!

]]> By: Lee http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/let-it-all-out/comment-page-1/#comment-60103 Lee Wed, 08 Aug 2007 11:08:31 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/08/07/let-it-all-out/#comment-60103 Smoke and mirrors fairytales being passed off as truthful and fate-determining end-all, be-all facts thus elevating the followers of said fairytales (at least in their own minds) as the priviledged chosen above all other living beings pisses me off. Seeing oneself as chosen, with a direct line of communication with the king of the fairytale, and elevated in stature can cause one to treat others (aka 'the enemy') poorly, as we all have witnessed many times over. Now take these believers of such fairytales and give them political power and you <em>really</em> have a problem on your hands. It doesn't help that many of the arrogant believers become so engulfed in their fairytales that they are no earthly good, and that really puts a burr under my saddle. Thinking of Earth, the only home we have, as a temporary and disposable place is a dangerous mindset. Seeing yourself as dominant over this home and seeing this home as being created for your benefit, to provide for your comfort is also potentially harmful, especially if you are of the mindset that its usefulness is almost fulfilled, since the hero in your fairytale is preparing to swoop down and remove his chosen from the planet before destroying it. Smoke and mirrors fairytales being passed off as truthful and fate-determining end-all, be-all facts thus elevating the followers of said fairytales (at least in their own minds) as the priviledged chosen above all other living beings pisses me off. Seeing oneself as chosen, with a direct line of communication with the king of the fairytale, and elevated in stature can cause one to treat others (aka ‘the enemy’) poorly, as we all have witnessed many times over. Now take these believers of such fairytales and give them political power and you really have a problem on your hands.

It doesn’t help that many of the arrogant believers become so engulfed in their fairytales that they are no earthly good, and that really puts a burr under my saddle. Thinking of Earth, the only home we have, as a temporary and disposable place is a dangerous mindset. Seeing yourself as dominant over this home and seeing this home as being created for your benefit, to provide for your comfort is also potentially harmful, especially if you are of the mindset that its usefulness is almost fulfilled, since the hero in your fairytale is preparing to swoop down and remove his chosen from the planet before destroying it.

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