As an atheist who hasn't needed to visit a doctor or hospital for more than 26 years, I'm getting a kick out of, well . . . pretty much everything.

mungo: And for a talking snake.

Sorry, that's Harry Potter.

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm getting sick and tired of being called a "Christian Basher" simply because I criticize or point out flaws in how people view their religion.

It's getting to the point where it's become tedious, like "Nanny State", "Snowflake", "Crotchfruit" and other Farkisms that have been run into the ground a million times over.

Can we give it a rest? Atheists are NOT bashing Christianity. We're bashing stupidity. There might not be a difference in how many choose to operate with their religion, but it's the stupidity part we're looking at, not the Christian part.

Please, let this meme die. It's stupid.

grizzlyjohnson: mungo: And for a talking snake.

Sorry, that's Harry Potter.

And Genesis 2.

danielsangeo: grizzlyjohnson: mungo: And for a talking snake.

Sorry, that's Harry Potter.

And Genesis 23.

FTFM

/gah

danielsangeo: grizzlyjohnson: mungo: And for a talking snake.

Sorry, that's Harry Potter.

And Genesis 2.

Is that the one with Peter Gabriel, or is that Phil Collins?

/*prays for answer*

On a related note: Church Attendance Boosts Student GPAs (new window)

El_Frijole_Blanco: Anti_illuminati: You lose

Off topic, two-part question: Who the fark thinks up the mission/operation names? And can we light them on fire?

In my experience it is draft dodging ponces who think up these names

WIN.

I now return you to your regularly scheduled Jebus bashing

Well, we only do it because it's easier to bash someone that's nailed to a board. Rather than a deity with 6 arms or a godly sumo wrestler.

/i keed. i keed.

Wanted to throw something in, thought of some good ideas on the prayer tip. Everybody knows that positive thinking and meditative techniques are good for health and there are a number of different ways to go about it. Of course if varies by person, too. In science class in high school we did an experiment we found that music changes people's anxiety levels... Morbid Angel actually lowered my blood pressure (which is good) and ABBA raised it( bad).

Why waste time pretending, praying to some hokey god, hoping to get the positive benefits of a meditative state when you could just go straight to that, using the direct techniques? Buddhist monks can go out in the snow naked and 'pray' to get warm... Scientists have studied this 'tumo' technique and by specific mindfulness of their mental and physical states, the monks raise their body temperatures drastically, without invoking the aid of some invented higher power.

While Buddhism lacks the exact methodology that modern science requires for legitimacy, it is recognized universally for its integrity and powerful approach towards a rational understanding of mind and mental events. Perhaps this is the middle-ground solution.


By which I mean to say, join Buddhism or burn in farking Hell forever.

michaellasalle: On a related note: Church Attendance Boosts Student GPAs (new window)

Still, it makes you a complete moran in the long run.

it's not that i mind people praying to their god when things look bleak, what bothers me is all the doctors who work their asses off to save little jimmy and when little jimmy doesn't die it's PRAISE THE LORD! and if he does, everyone wonders what else the doctor could have done, or done differently. The human body's desire to live combined with a doctor's skill and just plain circumstance are the stuff of "miracles."

michaellasalle: On a related note: Church Attendance Boosts Student GPAs (new window)

But, not because of anything religion-related. Read the link provided.

Couple of observations:

1) People are always narcissistic and arrogant enough to believe that a deity who supposedly created and runs the entire universe cares about their petty concerns over dying a few year earlier. People, you're just not that important. Accept it.

2) Religious people often attribute good outcomes, like cures of disease, to "miracles" while ignoring the implication that God would also be behind all the bad outcomes if he actually existed and was intervening in the world in this way. If I were a doctor, I think I'd get sick of people giving the credit for my work to God instead of science and biology.

danielsangeo 2008-08-19 11:39:23 AM
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm getting sick and tired of being called a "Christian Basher" simply because I criticize or point out flaws in how people view their religion.

It's getting to the point where it's become tedious, like "Nanny State", "Snowflake", "Crotchfruit" and other Farkisms that have been run into the ground a million times over.

Can we give it a rest? Atheists are NOT bashing Christianity. We're bashing stupidity. There might not be a difference in how many choose to operate with their religion, but it's the stupidity part we're looking at, not the Christian part.

Please, let this meme die. It's stupid.

The problem there my friend, is that the whole christian part, IS the stupid part, faith without evidence, its a bit insane, infact, like many, I'd compare it to a mental illness, absolute faith in something that flys in the face of logic, well at the same time pretending its rational. Moreover all the stupid little rationalisations people make just to keep their faith, hell, we're at the point where christianity has been rationalised so much that the first half of their "course text" is completely ignored.

I don't have a problem with christians, I have a problem with stupidity. Unfortunatly, christianity is a direct consequence of stupidity and fear. 2000 years ago when we didn't know the cause of earthquakes, volcanoes, disease etc religion was an acceptable substitute for better information, but its 2008 AD now, its time to accept that no, the magical sky man and his 2 separate but the same buddies may not be responsible for natural events.

Or hey, ya know, fark it, lets all just poke berrys up our noses and praise Zeus, at least hes still throwing lightning at us every now and again.

Now before you start shouting that I'm some kind of anti-religious zealot.... I am, very cleary, some kind of anti-religious zealot. Hell, if I was apposing scientology you guys would be "all on that shiat", but I'm talking about a mainstream cult (yes cult, they indoctrinate their children, its the only way to recruit members who'll believe their horseshiat).

HOWEVER, in all fairness, I accept that anyone is free to take whatever interpretation of reality they like, if they want to believe that an "all powerful" god still took 7 days to make the earth fine. If they want to believe all our bad emotions are caused by undead alien spirits possessing our body...FINE. The problem I have, is when the stupidity, spreads to the point, where people think its okay to infect peoples brains with mass psychosis, on the provisio that "our parents believed this book so it must be true".

Defintion of psychosis

A mental state caused by psychiatric or organic illness, characterized by a loss of contact with reality and an inability to think rationally.

Oh gee wow ya think ?

Mnemia: Couple of observations:

1) People are always narcissistic and arrogant enough to believe that a deity who supposedly created and runs the entire universe cares about their petty concerns over dying a few year earlier. People, you're just not that important. Accept it.

2) Religious people often attribute good outcomes, like cures of disease, to "miracles" while ignoring the implication that God would also be behind all the bad outcomes if he actually existed and was intervening in the world in this way. If I were a doctor, I think I'd get sick of people giving the credit for my work to God instead of science and biology.

Leela: "Oh no, the monks! We forgot to let them out of the laundry room."
Fry: "Aww, do we have to? I mean, they're monks. I'm sure their God will let them out, or at least give them more shoes to eat."
Bender: "Fat chance! You can't count on God for jack. He pretty much told me so himself! We got to let them out ourselves."
God: "Heh heh heh. When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all."

/that's the kind of God I like

danielsangeo: danielsangeo: grizzlyjohnson: mungo: And for a talking snake.

Sorry, that's Harry Potter.

And Genesis 23.

FTFM

/gah

Oh, I see, you're a bible literalist. I think most people just think that's a fable. You know, metaphorical.

MayorYana: danielsangeo 2008-08-19 11:39:23 AM
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm getting sick and tired of being called a "Christian Basher" simply because I criticize or point out flaws in how people view their religion.

It's getting to the point where it's become tedious, like "Nanny State", "Snowflake", "Crotchfruit" and other Farkisms that have been run into the ground a million times over.

Can we give it a rest? Atheists are NOT bashing Christianity. We're bashing stupidity. There might not be a difference in how many choose to operate with their religion, but it's the stupidity part we're looking at, not the Christian part.

Please, let this meme die. It's stupid.

The problem there my friend, is that the whole christian part, IS the stupid part, faith without evidence, its a bit insane, infact, like many, I'd compare it to a mental illness, absolute faith in something that flys in the face of logic, well at the same time pretending its rational. Moreover all the stupid little rationalisations people make just to keep their faith, hell, we're at the point where christianity has been rationalised so much that the first half of their "course text" is completely ignored.

I don't have a problem with christians, I have a problem with stupidity. Unfortunatly, christianity is a direct consequence of stupidity and fear. 2000 years ago when we didn't know the cause of earthquakes, volcanoes, disease etc religion was an acceptable substitute for better information, but its 2008 AD now, its time to accept that no, the magical sky man and his 2 separate but the same buddies may not be responsible for natural events.

Or hey, ya know, fark it, lets all just poke berrys up our noses and praise Zeus, at least hes still throwing lightning at us every now and again.

Now before you start shouting that I'm some kind of anti-religious zealot.... I am, very cleary, some kind of anti-religious zealot. Hell, if I was apposing scientology you guys would be "all on that shiat", but I'm talking about a mainstream cult (yes cult, they indoctrinate their children, its the only way to recruit members who'll believe their horseshiat).

HOWEVER, in all fairness, I accept that anyone is free to take whatever interpretation of reality they like, if they want to believe that an "all powerful" god still took 7 days to make the earth fine. If they want to believe all our bad emotions are caused by undead alien spirits possessing our body...FINE. The problem I have, is when the stupidity, spreads to the point, where people think its okay to infect peoples brains with mass psychosis, on the provisio that "our parents believed this book so it must be true".

Defintion of psychosis

A mental state caused by psychiatric or organic illness, characterized by a loss of contact with reality and an inability to think rationally.

Oh gee wow ya think ?

Agreed. However, if they're not hurting anyone, it's none of our business. When they start using their faith/religion as a weapon or shield however...

danielsangeo

Oh yeah, I have no problem with people who are religious if their not hurting anyone. But they hurt their own children by raising them on beliefs (snarky comment /lies) that they themselves aren't even sure on.

grizzlyjohnson: danielsangeo: danielsangeo: grizzlyjohnson: mungo: And for a talking snake.

Sorry, that's Harry Potter.

And Genesis 23.

FTFM

/gah

Oh, I see, you're a bible literalist. I think most people just think that's a fable. You know, metaphorical.

Actually, I'm an atheist and belive the entire Bible to be parable of human nature. However, if there are people that think the Bible has some literal parts, my question to them is: How do you know which parts are literal and which parts are metaphorical?

Anti_illuminati: michaellasalle: On a related note: Church Attendance Boosts Student GPAs (new window)

Still, it makes you a complete moran in the long run.

I hope you don't mean me specifically, I don't go to church. I am (pick one of the following) an atheist, an agnostic, a skeptic, a freethinker, possibly a humanist. Of course, it depends on your definitions of each of these.

danielsangeo: michaellasalle: On a related note: Church Attendance Boosts Student GPAs (new window)

But, not because of anything religion-related. Read the link provided.

Yeah, sorry about that. I actually didn't read the article I posted in the link. I saw it in my RSS reader and thought it was an interesting coincidence and may be relevant to the conversation or at least useful if someone had a good headline and wanted to submit it to fark so as to start the debate all over again.

/run-on sentence FTW

danielsangeo 2008-08-19 12:01:46 PM
grizzlyjohnson: danielsangeo: danielsangeo: grizzlyjohnson: mungo: And for a talking snake.

Sorry, that's Harry Potter.

And Genesis 23.

FTFM

/gah

Oh, I see, you're a bible literalist. I think most people just think that's a fable. You know, metaphorical.

Actually, I'm an atheist and belive the entire Bible to be parable of human nature. However, if there are people that think the Bible has some literal parts, my question to them is: How do you know which parts are literal and which parts are metaphorical?


Thats easy man, you just read the tea leaves and they'll tell you?
Oh wait no, you cast bones?
Or no wait, you pray and let god guide you ?

Ya' know, when I was a little farker, I attended a catholic school for many years. In addition to that, I attended church 3-5 times a week and participated in CCD classes. The folks that taught me were mostly good people, they genuinely helped and taught us, and I believe they wanted us to learn and succeed. The effect of the religious element in this instruction was largely benign.

What I do remember clearly, is that you don't pray for something. Not something physical or tangible at any rate. In other words, you don't pray for a new Cadillac, and expect to see one appear in your driveway. In that same vein, you can't pray to change your circumstance or anyone else's. God's plan is in place and we cannot hope to understand it, much less alter it.

The things you can pray for are: Strength, resolve, acceptance, inner peace and anything else that non-christians might summon from themselves through the use of meditation.

Before I figured that out, I prayed for a long time for a dirtbike that never came.
After I figured it out, I prayed for those other intangible things, and sometimes, I experienced them. Sometimes not.
I did find out, however, that I don't need to pray to anything to access these intangible qualities anymore. They are all in me and what I really need is the peace of mind and the personal will to summon them.

danielsangeo: Agreed. However, if they're not hurting anyone, it's none of our business. When they start using their faith/religion as a weapon or shield however...

Well, let me ask you this about that: let's say it was discovered that a family member had hidden his alcoholism so well from the rest of the family that he was nearly dead. Let's say one individual took it upon himself to get this family member into rehab to try to save his life. Let's say all the religious members and friends of the family immediately went into high gear, volunteering, without being asked, to pray for this family member, reassuring me...I mean the other family members that god would intervene and save this person. The alcoholic family member fled rehab and drank himself to death.

Were the praying folks "hurting" anyone? You said it's none of our business if they're not, but I pretty much feel like it was none of THEIR business. I don't even bother asking them why their prayers don't work, they have no idea. They're just stupid and gullible, but their stupidity and gullability hurts in this particular case.

The survey question was not about GOD, it said in part "would you beleive that Divine Intervention by GOD could save your family memeber." So it presupposes to the questioner that since God exists would DI save your loved one. And as an former rabid D and D player, I believe that DI by a god would save them. But first you gots to have a GOD that gets involved which let's out present life on earth last I checked.

Impudent Domain: More than half of all atheists are shallow a-holes who like to attack other people.

Funny, but the same holds true for the "faithfull".

So, Wait, sometimes foks are buttheads? go figure.

That should read, "More than half of all polled American adults..". I refuse to believe that even with the blatant ignorance I see cropping up everywhere these days that it's gone that far to the dogs.

inelegy: As an atheist who hasn't needed to visit a doctor or hospital for more than 26 years, I'm getting a kick out of, well . . . pretty much everything.

26 healthy years followed by an eternity of suffering. Have fun with that.

I came here for HA HA guy... where's all the HA HA guy?!??!

I'm not religious. I'm generally grouchy and under a lot of stress from work. I'm also very cynical.

So why is it that I can heal a severe fracture in one weeks time while grouchy and grumpy? I have this theory...It's because my genetics include the asshole trait. I am, like my father before me and his before him, genetically inclined to be an asshole. In fact we weren't just assholes, we were violent assholes. All the way back to the ninth century. This includes raiding villages, pillaging and heavy labor followed by drunken brawls.

These traits combined over time have ensured frequent injuries resulting from idiotic behavior. Genetics of this family line as a result, while inclined toward violent asshole behavior, have also included rapid healing. So I have a suggestion to all of you...instead of reaching out to benevolence and peace for a cure, go to war with God. Cry out to the violent asshole in your heart and try to raise the cure from deep within your loathing!

Oh...hail Satan.
/obligatory

Morton_toes: Ya' know, when I was a little farker, I attended a catholic school for many years. In addition to that, I attended church 3-5 times a week and participated in CCD classes. The folks that taught me were mostly good people, they genuinely helped and taught us, and I believe they wanted us to learn and succeed. The effect of the religious element in this instruction was largely benign.

What I do remember clearly, is that you don't pray for something. Not something physical or tangible at any rate. In other words, you don't pray for a new Cadillac, and expect to see one appear in your driveway. In that same vein, you can't pray to change your circumstance or anyone else's. God's plan is in place and we cannot hope to understand it, much less alter it.

The things you can pray for are: Strength, resolve, acceptance, inner peace and anything else that non-christians might summon from themselves through the use of meditation.

Before I figured that out, I prayed for a long time for a dirtbike that never came.
After I figured it out, I prayed for those other intangible things, and sometimes, I experienced them. Sometimes not.
I did find out, however, that I don't need to pray to anything to access these intangible qualities anymore. They are all in me and what I really need is the peace of mind and the personal will to summon them.


Oh, bullshiat. Can you honestly tell me you believe that even if there is a God (which there isn't), that everything is all planned out? And that whenever something good happens, we should thank God for it, and that whenever something bad happens, well, let's just pray real hard and tell ourselves that we can't understand everything that God does, and it's all ok?






It's not complicated - don't screw over the people around you, take care of your mind/body, do some drugs every now and again for fun, and if you get sad/depressed dont pray to God, go to a doctor, get on a course of medications, and keep on keepin on until you die.

MayorYana: Actually, I'm an atheist and belive the entire Bible to be parable of human nature. However, if there are people that think the Bible has some literal parts, my question to them is: How do you know which parts are literal and which parts are metaphorical?

If you're an athiest, what does it matter? The fact is, of the world's billions of christians, only a very small portion of them are literalists, but that is, for some reason, the stick that's used to whip them all by angry athiests. They don't take the time to find out what any given religious sect actually believes, they just go by what they've seen on TV. Regardless of my stance on religion, I can't respect that kind of pop-culture bandwagonning. Amongst christians worldwide, you'll find a tiny handful that believe that the "snake" in the Garden of Eden was a literal talking snake, and yet that's the kind of thing that gets picked up as a weapon against two millenia of cultural tradition.

Why don't we spend our time bashing Norse myth? That's full of elves, dwarves, giants, and magic hammers.

duncanblackthorne

That should read, "More than half of all polled American adults..". I refuse to believe that even with the blatant ignorance I see cropping up everywhere these days that it's gone that far to the dogs.


I hate to be the one to break it to you, but that is a very optimistic number. I believe it is even worse than that.

grizzlyjohnson: danielsangeo: Agreed. However, if they're not hurting anyone, it's none of our business. When they start using their faith/religion as a weapon or shield however...

Well, let me ask you this about that: let's say it was discovered that a family member had hidden his alcoholism so well from the rest of the family that he was nearly dead. Let's say one individual took it upon himself to get this family member into rehab to try to save his life. Let's say all the religious members and friends of the family immediately went into high gear, volunteering, without being asked, to pray for this family member, reassuring me...I mean the other family members that god would intervene and save this person. The alcoholic family member fled rehab and drank himself to death.

Were the praying folks "hurting" anyone? You said it's none of our business if they're not, but I pretty much feel like it was none of THEIR business. I don't even bother asking them why their prayers don't work, they have no idea. They're just stupid and gullible, but their stupidity and gullability hurts in this particular case.

Well, there are people that are busybodies regardless of whether they're religious or not and that they feel the need to "get involved" in other people's business.

This isn't religion at fault (unless their religion TELLS them to get involved where it's not wanted; the Bible expressly condemns this, by the way), it's the busybodies that are at fault.

jerry2a: This is good news...if the fundies stop taking medications and seeing doctors there will hopefully be much fewer of them.

Unfortunately, you will soon get your wish. It will be called the Great Tribulation, and it will be a world without "fundies" messing it up for you.

You will come to learn that an atheist world is not a playground, but a living hell. It's no coincidence that the most horrific mass murderers in history (Stalin, Pol Pot, etc) were all atheists.

The amount of mocking of the one True God in this thread is sickening, but sadly typical for Fark these days. And by "True God", I specifically mean YHWH, the great I Am, the God of the Holy Bible.

And how anyone could find fault in someone praying and exercising their faith is a bad thing, I have yet to fathom. If you only point is to mock someone for believing in something, what is your reason for living, exactly?

Pride is one heck of a drug, and most of you are terribly addicted.

grizzlyjohnson: Were the praying folks "hurting" anyone? You said it's none of our business if they're not, but I pretty much feel like it was none of THEIR business. I don't even bother asking them why their prayers don't work, they have no idea. They're just stupid and gullible, but their stupidity and gullability hurts in this particular case.

The more general point is that anytime people are wasting time and energy on something fruitless they're both distracting themselves from things that would actually make a difference to the world and distorting their own worldview. Anytime people believe in nonsense, they may be led to do crazy things.

RetiredTroll: Morton_toes: Ya' know, when I was a little farker, I attended a catholic school for many years. In addition to that, I attended church 3-5 times a week and participated in CCD classes. The folks that taught me were mostly good people, they genuinely helped and taught us, and I believe they wanted us to learn and succeed. The effect of the religious element in this instruction was largely benign.

What I do remember clearly, is that you don't pray for something. Not something physical or tangible at any rate. In other words, you don't pray for a new Cadillac, and expect to see one appear in your driveway. In that same vein, you can't pray to change your circumstance or anyone else's. God's plan is in place and we cannot hope to understand it, much less alter it.

The things you can pray for are: Strength, resolve, acceptance, inner peace and anything else that non-christians might summon from themselves through the use of meditation.

Before I figured that out, I prayed for a long time for a dirtbike that never came.
After I figured it out, I prayed for those other intangible things, and sometimes, I experienced them. Sometimes not.
I did find out, however, that I don't need to pray to anything to access these intangible qualities anymore. They are all in me and what I really need is the peace of mind and the personal will to summon them.

Oh, bullshiat. Can you honestly tell me you believe that even if there is a God (which there isn't), that everything is all planned out? And that whenever something good happens, we should thank God for it, and that whenever something bad happens, well, let's just pray real hard and tell ourselves that we can't understand everything that God does, and it's all ok?

It's not complicated - don't screw over the people around you, take care of your mind/body, do some drugs every now and again for fun, and if you get sad/depressed dont pray to God, go to a doctor, get on a course of medications, and keep on keepin on until you die.

Reading comprehension dumbshiat. Go buy some.

Depends which god you invoke.

"Starting about 300 BC, the cult of Asclepios grew very popular. His healing temples were called asclepieion; pilgrims flocked to them to be healed. They slept overnight and reported their dreams to a priest the following day. He prescribed a cure, often a visit to the baths or a gymnasium."



Prayer is gay.

grizzlyjohnson: Why don't we spend our time bashing Norse myth? That's full of elves, dwarves, giants, and magic hammers.

Because Norse myth is awesome. And Christianity is boring. Anyway, I don't believe most Christians are Biblical literalists. I know that they aren't. But they still tend to follow a "God of the gaps" theory if they aren't literalists, with the size of the gaps being bigger or smaller depending on a particular person's level of ignorance.

www.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/health/31pray.html

Im sure this has been posted and ignored many times, but here you go.

Remember, God created all evil too....

Morton_toes: You might think these folks would take up a vigorous 'preventive prayer' program so as to avoid sickness altogether.

They do. Course, it works as well as any other prayer, which is to say that it only helps insofar as it convinces your mind that your body is healthy.

Mnemia: The more general point is that anytime people are wasting time and energy on something fruitless they're both distracting themselves from things that would actually make a difference to the world and distorting their own worldview.

You mean like spending time here?

TypoFlyspray: Morton_toes: You might think these folks would take up a vigorous 'preventive prayer' program so as to avoid sickness altogether.

They do. Course, it works as well as any other prayer, which is to say that it only helps insofar as it convinces your mind that your body is healthy.

Mnemia: The more general point is that anytime people are wasting time and energy on something fruitless they're both distracting themselves from things that would actually make a difference to the world and distorting their own worldview.

You mean like spending time here?

Oh, SNAP!

scuffleball: Pride is one heck of a drug, and most of you are terribly addicted.

This charge has always struck me a supreme bit of projection. Religious people claim to know all the ultimate answers to every big question of importance in the universe (origins, purpose, etc). And yet they tell the people that don't claim to have a magical explanation for everything that WE are the "prideful" ones???!

"Pride" when you say it like that seems to just be a synonym for "questioning religious claims".

danielsangeo: This isn't religion at fault (unless their religion TELLS them to get involved where it's not wanted; the Bible expressly condemns this, by the way), it's the busybodies that are at fault.

Of course it's the religion's fault. Where do you think they get the idea that prayer is a substitute for real action? Where do you think they get the idea that they can influence anything with prayer? Where do you think they get the idea that telling me that they're praying for someone is some sort of comfort?

Let's say we're religious people. We know some prayers don't get answered and some do. We know sometimes you get the opposite of what you pray for. Why does that happen. Some religions say "not enough faith" or the person praying isn't holy enough. As a religious person, how do you know that your prayer isn't pissing god off enough to give you the opposite of what you asked for because you're not holy enough?

It's not that people are busybodies, it's that they are taught by their religion that prayer does something and they spew that all over the place according to how they've been taught but they are not equipped to deal with the very serious situations. Of course people who do this are not smart enough to question their brainwashing, but I would say in this instance it's not only hurting, it's a form of assault.

nu lamb fen: ineleg

Well, at least I'll be well-rested and healthy when I get there. Beats showing up with all cancery or strokey.

I'll show up ready to work.

/bucking for a management position
//look busy when I walk in the room

TypoFlyspray: You mean like spending time here?

LOL. Yeah, Fark is a waste of time. But I reject the idea that reading Fark makes me believe fantastical stories that aren't true. I KNOW a large part of the stuff posted here is bullshiat, so if anything hanging around here makes me more skeptical of what I hear.

grizzlyjohnson: danielsangeo: This isn't religion at fault (unless their religion TELLS them to get involved where it's not wanted; the Bible expressly condemns this, by the way), it's the busybodies that are at fault.

Of course it's the religion's fault. Where do you think they get the idea that prayer is a substitute for real action? Where do you think they get the idea that they can influence anything with prayer? Where do you think they get the idea that telling me that they're praying for someone is some sort of comfort?

If they're praying instead of acting, then, yes, I totally agree with you.

danielsangeo: Agreed. However, if they're not hurting anyone, it's none of our business. When they start using their faith/religion as a weapon or shield however...

I think normalizing deception and denial of the validity and proven common utility of logic and rationality have deep effetcs on a person's world view and behaviour and is inevitably harmful to others.

scuffleball: jerry2a: This is good news...if the fundies stop taking medications and seeing doctors there will hopefully be much fewer of them.

Unfortunately, you will soon get your wish. It will be called the Great Tribulation, and it will be a world without "fundies" messing it up for you.

You will come to learn that an atheist world is not a playground, but a living hell. It's no coincidence that the most horrific mass murderers in history (Stalin, Pol Pot, etc) were all atheists.

The amount of mocking of the one True God in this thread is sickening, but sadly typical for Fark these days. And by "True God", I specifically mean YHWH, the great I Am, the God of the Holy Bible.

And how anyone could find fault in someone praying and exercising their faith is a bad thing, I have yet to fathom. If you only point is to mock someone for believing in something, what is your reason for living, exactly?

Pride is one heck of a drug, and most of you are terribly addicted.

That's pretty good. I would have guessed you were a troll, but you live in WV...so I kinda believe you are serious. Anyway, good luck with all that armageddon stuff. Been waiting a while haven't you? What do you think will be your favorite part about the coming deaths of billions?

I guess when Jesus finally does come back with his army, he will become the most horrific mass murderer in history, won't he?

Thorndyke Barnhard: danielsangeo: Agreed. However, if they're not hurting anyone, it's none of our business. When they start using their faith/religion as a weapon or shield however...

I think normalizing deception and denial of the validity and proven common utility of logic and rationality have deep effetcs on a person's world view and behaviour and is inevitably harmful to others.

Agreed, but I think you have it backwards. I think stupidity actually leads to that, not the other way around. If it wasn't for religion, they'd latch onto something else.


for example.

Morton_toes: RetiredTroll: Morton_toes: Ya' know, when I was a little farker, I attended a catholic school for many years. In addition to that, I attended church 3-5 times a week and participated in CCD classes. The folks that taught me were mostly good people, they genuinely helped and taught us, and I believe they wanted us to learn and succeed. The effect of the religious element in this instruction was largely benign.

What I do remember clearly, is that you don't pray for something. Not something physical or tangible at any rate. In other words, you don't pray for a new Cadillac, and expect to see one appear in your driveway. In that same vein, you can't pray to change your circumstance or anyone else's. God's plan is in place and we cannot hope to understand it, much less alter it.

The things you can pray for are: Strength, resolve, acceptance, inner peace and anything else that non-christians might summon from themselves through the use of meditation.

Before I figured that out, I prayed for a long time for a dirtbike that never came.
After I figured it out, I prayed for those other intangible things, and sometimes, I experienced them. Sometimes not.
I did find out, however, that I don't need to pray to anything to access these intangible qualities anymore. They are all in me and what I really need is the peace of mind and the personal will to summon them.

Oh, bullshiat. Can you honestly tell me you believe that even if there is a God (which there isn't), that everything is all planned out? And that whenever something good happens, we should thank God for it, and that whenever something bad happens, well, let's just pray real hard and tell ourselves that we can't understand everything that God does, and it's all ok?

It's not complicated - don't screw over the people around you, take care of your mind/body, do some drugs every now and again for fun, and if you get sad/depressed dont pray to God, go to a doctor, get on a course of medications, and keep on keepin on until you die.

Reading comprehension dumbshiat. Go buy some.



So how is that whole Christian tolerance and peace of mind thing working out for you? Seems like you have some anger issues. Try taking a Xanax extended release pill in the morning, it will smooth out the whole day for you and will actually have a tangible effect. Unlike that whole Church of Rome thing, which is mainly good for idolatry, genocide, and child molestation.