I just like watching a bunch of wackos yell at mountains.

HawgWild: I just like watching a bunch of wackos yell at mountains.

bigpeeler: HawgWild: I just like watching a bunch of wackos yell at mountains.

[i.imgur.com image 512x768]

By "wackos", I meant both sides, of course.

HawgWild: I just like watching a bunch of wackos yell at mountains.

What I find amusing are the ones who think the mountains talk back.

The man who put it up told KLTV he had permission put it there, but the county said otherwise.

Here's hoping he's got some kind of proof so he's got a nice big lawsuit against the poor oppressed Christians.

Atheists need a holiday.

I can't remember who said it, but it was a good point. Those people aren't atheists. They'e antitheists.

vygramul: Atheists need a holiday.

We have one, it's called Christmas.

Coelacanth: Anything that proclaims "Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men", even if it's hung off of a Wal-Mart Superstore, is a good thing.

That would be fine if the average person who put that up meant it. What they really mean is "Peace on Earth to anyone who plays by our rules and likes our version of God."

GreenAdder: I can't remember who said it, but it was a good point. Those people aren't atheists. They'e antitheists.

I prefer militant atheist, thanks.

GreenAdder: I can't remember who said it, but it was a good point. Those people aren't atheists. They'e antitheists.

They would be if they attacked all religions equally. These are, in fact, Anti-Christians. You don't see the mocking other religions, but anytime a Christian is involved, out comes the flames and mocking "Sky Fairy" rhetoric. They are impolite rude assholes with little better to do than attempt to make themselves feel better and\or smarter than their fellow man by shaitting on that persons belief system and spirituality. They can't get over the simple fact that since before this country was even founded, God played a role in American Society a major role, and because of that it's become part of our heritage and tradition, so, like an angry two year old, they throw tantrums, kicking and screaming about how it's not fair that this has happened to them.

You don't have to agree with it, you don't have to believe it, but likewise, injecting yourself into everyone's fun in such a rude manner is just pathetically immature. No wonder many people think that Atheists have lost the ability to be "good" - the loud mouths are ruining the reputation of all.

CanisNoir: GreenAdder: I can't remember who said it, but it was a good point. Those people aren't atheists. They'e antitheists.

They would be if they attacked all religions equally. These are, in fact, Anti-Christians. You don't see the mocking other religions, but anytime a Christian is involved, out comes the flames and mocking "Sky Fairy" rhetoric. They are impolite rude assholes with little better to do than attempt to make themselves feel better and\or smarter than their fellow man by shaitting on that persons belief system and spirituality. They can't get over the simple fact that since before this country was even founded, God played a role in American Society a major role, and because of that it's become part of our heritage and tradition, so, like an angry two year old, they throw tantrums, kicking and screaming about how it's not fair that this has happened to them.

You don't have to agree with it, you don't have to believe it, but likewise, injecting yourself into everyone's fun in such a rude manner is just pathetically immature. No wonder many people think that Atheists have lost the ability to be "good" - the loud mouths are ruining the reputation of all.

It's a matter of perspective. Christianity in the US insists on itself into other peoples lives. Therefore christians are the most likely to demand everyone follow their way.

In other countries, atheist would be against other religions.

All I'm saying is a "live and let live" attitude is a lot less stressful. I don't believe in Santa or the Easter Bunny either, but I don't organize a protest when they show up at the mall.

I am not a religious person, but I don't get wildly offended when I see nativity scenes. There are other things that need fixing.

GreenAdder: All I'm saying is a "live and let live" attitude is a lot less stressful. I don't believe in Santa or the Easter Bunny either, but I don't organize a protest when they show up at the mall.

To be fair, there's a bit of a difference between what a privately owned mall does with private property and what the government does on public property.

/That said, its not the type of thing I'm going to get bent out of shape over and if I was going to get bent out of shape over something the local government is doing, I'm sure I can find plenty of more important things to get upset about.

xl5150: America is a Christian nation based on Christian ideals. What's so hard to understand about that?

The fact that this is not true.

CanisNoir: You don't see the mocking other religions, but anytime a Christian is involved, out comes the flames and mocking "Sky Fairy" rhetoric.

Christians and their derivative systems routinely project their morality into laws instead of fixing actual problems. I likes ya Canis, but you know this. Loud angry atheists don't have problems with other religions because Christianity reigns supreme in American culture. Christians have powerful political tools to project their dogma onto others in ways other religions simply cannot.

Yes, loud angry atheists are problematic, but I am equally tired of Christians responding to violent Christian rhetoric with "Oh, they aren't real Christians, therefore I can't be held accountable for their homophobic, racist, misogynist, whatever creed."

CanisNoir: They would be if they attacked all religions equally. These are, in fact, Anti-Christians. You don't see the mocking other religions, but anytime a Christian is involved, out comes the flames and mocking "Sky Fairy" rhetoric.

And oddly enough, just about the only religion in America that insists on pushing itself on everyone else in the nation (and indeed, the world) is Christianity. You don't see atheists going out of their way to call out Hindus, or Buddhists, or Jews, or Zoroastrians, or Raelians or Pagans or Asatru is that the followers of these religions don't try to insert themselves into every crack and crevice of society, government and culture, telling anyone who will (or won't) listen that they're damned for failing to have the same beliefs as their adherents, or insisting that everyone must conform to their worldview and that society must embrace and follow their ideals. I assure you that atheists disbelieve just as much in the gods and supernatural phenomena of those other religions and faiths, but those faiths don't go out of their way to try and stab themselves into everybody's brains. In this country, at least, the Christians are the nails sticking up, and some folks have decided that they're sick and tired of getting scratched and scraped on them, and it's time for them to start getting hammered down until they're level with all the other nails.

GreenAdder: I can't remember who said it, but it was a good point. Those people aren't atheists. They'e antitheists.

That is a marvelous point, whoever wrote it first, "Antitheists" is a good descriptor; if it's not a word, I'm still using it like I know what I'm talking about.

I'm sorry, which Bible are we going off of today? The King Solomon Version or the I Do The Opposite of What Jesus Says In His Name Version?

CayceP: Christians and their derivative systems routinely project their morality into laws instead of fixing actual problems. I likes ya Canis, but you know this. Loud angry atheists don't have problems with other religions because Christianity reigns supreme in American culture.

Fair enough point. Hell, I think I even brought it up when I stated that Christianity in it's myriad forms has been a major factor in American Public life since before it's founding.

Yes, loud angry atheists are problematic, but I am equally tired of Christians responding to violent Christian rhetoric with "Oh, they aren't real Christians, therefore I can't be held accountable for their homophobic, racist, misogynist, whatever creed."

So you would think that those who blow up schools and buildings are representative of "all Muslims"? Same holds true for Christians, because not all Christians hold the same views.

mamoru: xl5150: America is a Christian nation based on Christian ideals. What's so hard to understand about that?

The fact that this is not true.

the whole "do not kill" thing is not in the Bible?

EnviroDude: the whole "do not kill" thing is not in the Bible?

Well, to be fair, we're *not* a Christian Nation as we're a Secular nation made up of a predominantly Christian Populous. The founding ideals were a mixture of philosophy right out of The Age of Enlightenment combined with Puritanical dogma. So it's not exactly accurate to say we're a Christian Nation founded upon Christian ideals, or at least it's incredibly simplistic.

CanisNoir: So you would think that those who blow up schools and buildings are representative of "all Muslims"? Same holds true for Christians, because not all Christians hold the same views.

Christians aren't exactly going out of their way to shout down fundamentalists who execute violent acts, either. And is isn't Muslim extremism that's on the rise in the United States. The radical--and overwhelmingly Christian--Right, however, is experiencing a resurgence. The current political rhetoric only fuels their ideology.

Both sides are not "just as bad". Fundies steep themselves in isolation and hatred, then act surprised when they encounter resistance. Until the everyday Christian distances themselves from the radical Right, instead of embracing them out of political convenience, I won't have much patience for their grievances.

EnviroDude: mamoru: xl5150: America is a Christian nation based on Christian ideals. What's so hard to understand about that?

The fact that this is not true.

the whole "do not kill" thing is not in the Bible?

If you are thinking of the 10 commandments, that part of the Bible is old testament and is not solely Christian. Nor was the Bible the first cultural icon or code or law or whatever in a human society to prohibit killing. So, your example does not support the notion of America being a Christian Nation based on Christian ideals.

Care to try again?

CanisNoir: EnviroDude: the whole "do not kill" thing is not in the Bible?

Well, to be fair, we're *not* a Christian Nation as we're a Secular nation made up of a predominantly Christian Populous. The founding ideals were a mixture of philosophy right out of The Age of Enlightenment combined with Puritanical dogma. So it's not exactly accurate to say we're a Christian Nation founded upon Christian ideals, or at least it's incredibly simplistic.

Very well put. As with most anything else, it's complicated.

CanisNoir: Wordvomitty derp

Remove anything at all to do with religion from politics or state affairs and watch how quiet Atheists will become.

Christianity is the loudest religion in the US, hence all the Atheists screaming about christianity. It's not rocket science.

CayceP: Christians aren't exactly going out of their way to shout down fundamentalists who execute violent acts, either. And is isn't Muslim extremism that's on the rise in the United States. The radical--and overwhelmingly Christian--Right, however, is experiencing a resurgence. The current political rhetoric only fuels their ideology.

Both sides are not "just as bad". Fundies steep themselves in isolation and hatred, then act surprised when they encounter resistance. Until the everyday Christian distances themselves from the radical Right, instead of embracing them out of political convenience, I won't have much patience for their grievances.

As an atheist, let me just say:

The vast majority of religious people of all faiths are decent people who mean well. The central messages of most religions hold value and provide meaning for people's lives. It's a small minority in most groups that are a problem. The real enemy is ignorance, which leads to skewed perceptions and hatred, like "family" groups complaining that middle-class Muslims living in Dearborn, MI are attempting to wage "jihad" in order to establish Sharia law.

It takes a special kind of bigoted intolerant stupidity to believe stuff like that. But they aren't a majority, they're a vocal minority.

mamoru: If you are thinking of the 10 commandments, that part of the Bible is old testament and is not solely Christian. Nor was the Bible the first cultural icon or code or law or whatever in a human society to prohibit killing. So, your example does not support the notion of America being a Christian Nation based on Christian ideals.

Care to try again?

Also, there are different versions of the 10 Commandments in different denominations, so if you post one version, you're aligning with a subset of Christian sects, not "Christianity" as a generic whole.

Any given version is not non-denominational, not that I'd expect most Christians to be aware of this fact.

CanisNoir: EnviroDude: the whole "do not kill" thing is not in the Bible?

Well, to be fair, we're *not* a Christian Nation as we're a Secular nation made up of a predominantly Christian Populous. The founding ideals were a mixture of philosophy right out of The Age of Enlightenment combined with Puritanical dogma. So it's not exactly accurate to say we're a Christian Nation founded upon Christian ideals, or at least it's incredibly simplistic.

we aren't a Christian nation - anymore. ftfy

vygramul: Atheists need a holiday.

The immaculate accidental conception.

I just wish people would shut the hell up about what they believe. It's not like anyone is going to change any one elses mind.

EnviroDude: CanisNoir: EnviroDude: the whole "do not kill" thing is not in the Bible?

Well, to be fair, we're *not* a Christian Nation as we're a Secular nation made up of a predominantly Christian Populous. The founding ideals were a mixture of philosophy right out of The Age of Enlightenment combined with Puritanical dogma. So it's not exactly accurate to say we're a Christian Nation founded upon Christian ideals, or at least it's incredibly simplistic.

we aren't a Christian nation - anymore. ftfy

Man.. you are on a roll today.

Good thing that book with words in it came around and told us not to kill people, or to steal. We never would have had a sense or property or a right to life without it.