Atheists in Caldwell County?

Religion..... mans first and by far worst attempt at understanding the world.... I look forward to the day when your current God's finally get categorized along with all the other God's known to man in history (that being myths and fables). Without a doubt that day will mark the end of "The Dark Ages". If you Christians, Jews and Muslims would actually sit down and read your holy books cover to cover without preachers and pastures feeding you bull crap lies about what the Scriptures actually say, that time just might come much sooner. As an Atheist in the south I really find it hard to believe I know so much more about the bible then 99 percent of all christians I have met.

It amazes me that after all this time man is still being controlled by this just like they were in the real dark ages. Man is still superstitious as ever and still controlled by fears of the unknown. Add in people with a higher IQ and a desire to control, give them a powerful tool like religion and you have what's happened over the past several hundred years and still today.

Religion is used to control peoples minds and their politics. It has been used by every dictator and king in history. That's what they always go to when they need to get their people in line. It has been responsible for more deaths and war than anything else. Anytime some leader wants to slaughter people all he has to do is say "God is on our side"

Religion mainly christianity and islam have killed more people than Hitler did thousands of times over yet in most places in the world Nazi stuff is banned, why isn't religion. Hitler used religion as well and Nazism became a religion so to speak. When will people realize christianity and islam are no different. We wouldn't even have an enemy in the middle east if not for religion.

pinkunicorn wrote:

Religion..... mans first and by far worst attempt at understanding the world.... I look forward to the day when your current God's finally get categorized along with all the other God's known to man in history (that being myths and fables). Without a doubt that day will mark the end of "The Dark Ages". If you Christians, Jews and Muslims would actually sit down and read your holy books cover to cover without preachers and pastures feeding you bull crap lies about what the Scriptures actually say, that time just might come much sooner. As an Atheist in the south I really find it hard to believe I know so much more about the bible then 99 percent of all christians I have met.

it is this kind of talk that makes one despise your system of belief...arrogance mixed with ignorance is not becoming. You are created in the image of God, therefore I do not hate you, but I loathe your way of thinking.

mans stupidity wrote:

It amazes me that after all this time man is still being controlled by this just like they were in the real dark ages. Man is still superstitious as ever and still controlled by fears of the unknown. Add in people with a higher IQ and a desire to control, give them a powerful tool like religion and you have what's happened over the past several hundred years and still today.
Religion is used to control peoples minds and their politics. It has been used by every dictator and king in history. That's what they always go to when they need to get their people in line. It has been responsible for more deaths and war than anything else. Anytime some leader wants to slaughter people all he has to do is say "God is on our side"
Religion mainly christianity and islam have killed more people than Hitler did thousands of times over yet in most places in the world Nazi stuff is banned, why isn't religion. Hitler used religion as well and Nazism became a religion so to speak. When will people realize christianity and islam are no different. We wouldn't even have an enemy in the middle east if not for religion.

And you, sir, do not understand the difference in religion (twisted) and a faith based on relationship in a Living God. It is time for man to wake up and speak truth to those who speak lies.

stunned wrote:

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it is this kind of talk that makes one despise your system of belief...arrogance mixed with ignorance is not becoming. You are created in the image of God, therefore I do not hate you, but I loathe your way of thinking.

Atheism is not a system of belief, it's a stance on one issue, the existence of a higher power(if you do not believe in God or God's, you're an Atheist). My comment is simply pointing out a fact that almost all Theist of all sects think there religion is true without doing any research or having knowledge of other beliefs outside there own(especially many of the Christians here in the south). As far as arrogance? Yeah maybe just a little, but ignorance... far from. I be you don't know that there are around 4,200+ known God's that man has warshiped in history...with that being said which one createdme? If you were born here in the States most likely you Christian, your answer would be God. Now think here for a minute, what if you were born in Iran or Iraq? Chances of you being anything but Islamic Muslim are slim to none and you would answer Allah, of the Koran. For you to assume that I am ignorant is really funny, you don't know me and I'll just assume you're a fundamental believer. You say you loathe the way I think? Well!! Do yourself a favor, research, look into other beliefs, and open your mind to reason, and just maybe you will see why we Atheist think and feel the way we do. If you proceed to insist the Holy Bible is accurate and true, then come at me with proof, not Bible quotes. Trust me quoting the Bible will not get you anywhere.

You contradict yourself, beginning with your first sentence. Atheists "believe" there is no God.

I agree...many believe their religion to be true but do not know why. I have looked closely at other religions and find all of them to be dead. I believe in Jesus Christ, the Living God. I have no laws or rules that I must keep to have this relationship with Him. His word, the Holy Bible, however, is used for Him to teach me and for Him to express Himself to me (I think of it as a love letter, a living word full of parables, prophesies, history, science, poems, songs, etc. that reveal things of God Himself to us). It is not a book, to me, of "Thou shalts". I do not worship the book, but I worship the giver of the book.

I have not quoted any scripture. Your statements that I did are wrong.

If you have studied the Koran and the Islam religion (which, apparently, you have not), you would know that Islam teaches God's creation of man, too.

As far as your challenge for proof, I have many. Did the sun rise for you this morning? Did your lungs function as you breathe? Did your heart beat to course blood through your body to nourish it? Life itself is proof of the Creator. Proving God's existence is easy. Can you offer me proof He does not exists? I didn't think so.

pinkunicorn wrote:

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Atheism is not a system of belief, it's a stance on one issue, the existence of a higher power(if you do not believe in God or God's, you're an Atheist). My comment is simply pointing out a fact that almost all Theist of all sects think there religion is true without doing any research or having knowledge of other beliefs outside there own(especially many of the Christians here in the south). As far as arrogance? Yeah maybe just a little, but ignorance... far from. I be you don't know that there are around 4,200+ known God's that man has warshiped in history...with that being said which one createdme? If you were born here in the States most likely you Christian, your answer would be God. Now think here for a minute, what if you were born in Iran or Iraq? Chances of you being anything but Islamic Muslim are slim to none and you would answer Allah, of the Koran. For you to assume that I am ignorant is really funny, you don't know me and I'll just assume you're a fundamental believer. You say you loathe the way I think? Well!! Do yourself a favor, research, look into other beliefs, and open your mind to reason, and just maybe you will see why we Atheist think and feel the way we do. If you proceed to insist the Holy Bible is accurate and true, then come at me with proof, not Bible quotes. Trust me quoting the Bible will not get you anywhere.

Look I don't wanna step on any toes here, but I'm sick of hearing this ridiculous notion that someone can believe that Jesus Christ is their lord and personal savior, and not be religious.

If you believe in, and worship a deity of any kind, you're religious. End of story.

Webster defines religious as: relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity.

That's what you are doing by believing in, and following the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Can I prove Jesus doesn't exist? I dunno, I guess not. But if the only reason you believe in Jesus is that I can't prove he doesn't exist (me, a guy with no doctorate, and no degree in science), then you don't have much of a reason to believe in him.

You could fill the grand canyon with the things I can't prove do not exist. I can't prove there isn't life on the moon either, but from what I gather, it seems pretty illogical to believe there is life on the moon. I can't prove my cat doesn't understand every word I say. He may understand me, but I have seen no evidence of it (aside from maybe the word "NO" which is probably him understanding the inflection in my voice more than anything).

I can't prove any of these things to NOT be true... but that doesn't mean I believe in them, and neither do you. What a silly argument.

When you say "you can't prove Jesus doesn't exist" this is what you're saying....

"You can't prove that a baby wasn't born 2000 years ago, grew up, performed miracles, was persecuted by his own people, tortured, nailed to a cross, stabbed with spear, died, and then rose from the grave 3 days later."

No I can't prove that never happened, but why the frick WOULD it have happened? People don't die and rise from the grave. It doesn't happen. Why would it have happened once 2000 years ago?

And if it did, what is the significance of it? We can't study it. We can't know anything about it, why it happened, how it happened, what it looked like. We can't even talk to anyone who was there.

The bible is a book that says a lot of things. Doesn't mean it's true. Think people, think. Religion is intellectual SLAVERY. And it's sad that most people will never break the chains.

And it's even more sad when people don't realize they're apart of it.

I think the issue of religion as defined by you is where we agree. It is when man attempts to define how it is practiced ("doing" religion as opposed to having it) that it becomes twisted legalism. I call this form of religion "dead" and, therefore, do not like the term "religion". It is too often misunderstood. Worship, as you and Webster define it is a living religion...practice (praying 3 times a day using rote prayers...you must be baptized by immersion,...whatever) is "dead". There is no live in it. We are human "beings", not human "doings". Does that make sense to you? Good point of agreement, I think.
As far as evidence, you make good points. What I believe has been proven with certainty is that the man, Jesus of Nazareth, existed. The issue for argument is whether or not He was God incarnate. He was either who He said He was, or He was a liar. His deeds, including His miracles, are part of the historical record. Point made in His favor. Prophesies made about Him (birth, death, resurrection) all support His being the Christ of the Bible. Again, point in His favor. The Bible as it explains all of humanity (man's origin and our existence on this increasingly fallen planet...including man's denial of Him as God, and growing persecution of those who believe in Him) presents a cohesive world view. Point, again, in God's favor.
Now, for a few simple statements of "religion" as God Himself speaks it to us and as He approves as worthy, let me quote scripture:
Micah 6:8 - "And what does the LORD require of you? To seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God". Simple...I can handle this. I'll fail, of course, but He is faithful and just to forgive our sins if we confess. Not bssed on performance, but on my faith in Him and His grace and mercy.
Another good verse is James 1:27 - "Religion that God our Father accepts and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world".
Surely, these are good things to all men. Wouldn't you agree?
I love the words of Mercy Me's song and will email you a link to the song (you might like it)...it describes my faith..."captivated...but no longer bound by chains". Religion, as soon as man touches it, produces chains. As God intends, religion is worship that produces joy, peace, and love.
So, I am loving ya!
Peace!

CDCeltown wrote:

Look I don't wanna step on any toes here, but I'm sick of hearing this ridiculous notion that someone can believe that Jesus Christ is their lord and personal savior, and not be religious.
If you believe in, and worship a deity of any kind, you're religious. End of story.
Webster defines religious as: relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity.
That's what you are doing by believing in, and following the teaceak the chains.
And it's even more sad when people don't realize they're apart of it.

4Him wrote:

His deeds, including His miracles, are part of the historical record.
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Pretty sure that is not true.

CDCeltown wrote:

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Pretty sure that is not true.

C. S. Lewis was right when he said, "A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic--on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg--or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was and is the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us".

Re: Jesus miracles - Even the most sceptical critics cannot deny that the historical Jesus carried out a ministry of miracle-working and exorcism. Rudolf Bultmann, one of the most sceptical scholars this century has seen, wrote back in 1926:

"Most of the miracle stories contained in the gospels are legendary or at least are dressed up with legends. But there can be no doubt that Jesus did such deeds, which were, in his and his contemporaries’ understanding, miracles, that is, deeds that were the result of supernatural, divine causality. Doubtless he healed the sick and cast out demons".

Back in Bultmann’s day the miracle stories were thought to be influenced by stories of mythological heroes and, hence, at least in part legendary. But today it is recognized that the hypothesis of mythological influence was historically incorrect. Craig Evans, a well-known Jesus scholar, says that "the older notion" that the miracle stories were the product of mythological divine man ideas "has been largely abandoned." He says, "It is no longer seriously contested" "that miracles played a role in Jesus’s ministry." The only reason left for denying that Jesus performed literal miracles is the presupposition of anti-supernaturalism, which is simply unjustified.

I have a question....First off I haven't read all the posts concerning this issue, but I need to ask something to the people out there that say they are "Atheist" First off, What do you think happens to you when you die, where do you go? Second, how do you think we were made? I am not trying to make anyone mad, it is just that I don't personally know any athiests, and was just wondering.

pinkunicorn wrote:

<quoted text>
Atheism is not a system of belief, it's a stance on one issue, the existence of a higher power(if you do not believe in God or God's, you're an Atheist). My comment is simply pointing out a fact that almost all Theist of all sects think there religion is true without doing any research or having knowledge of other beliefs outside there own(especially many of the Christians here in the south). As far as arrogance? Yeah maybe just a little, but ignorance... far from. I be you don't know that there are around 4,200+ known God's that man has warshiped in history...with that being said which one createdme? If you were born here in the States most likely you Christian, your answer would be God. Now think here for a minute, what if you were born in Iran or Iraq? Chances of you being anything but Islamic Muslim are slim to none and you would answer Allah, of the Koran. For you to assume that I am ignorant is really funny, you don't know me and I'll just assume you're a fundamental believer. You say you loathe the way I think? Well!! Do yourself a favor, research, look into other beliefs, and open your mind to reason, and just maybe you will see why we Atheist think and feel the way we do. If you proceed to insist the Holy Bible is accurate and true, then come at me with proof, not Bible quotes. Trust me quoting the Bible will not get you anywhere.

Atheism IS most definitely a belief system... a religion in and of itself. To assume it is not is COMPLETE ignorance, but more importantly, hypocrisy.

Hypocrisy + ignorance = intolerant hate.

CDCeltown wrote:

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Pretty sure that is not true.

You should really consider educating yourself. Writers, even writers who believed early Christians were misguided, wrote of Jesus, of his miracles and of his crucifixion... and WHY he was crucified.

I'm very educated, and no, no they didn't. There is absolutely not one single instance of one eyewitness account of anything relating to the one you call Jesus Christ. I'm sorry.

Also, as to atheism being a religion, if you want to call atheism a religion, go right ahead. We both know that atheism is the absence of belief in a deity, and therefore... not a religion but if you're so dead set on calling atheism a religion, I really don't care. It's a futile claim, and one that shows your inability to have any kind of rational discussion. It's pretty much the same as name calling.
Accept that not everyone is like you.

There is a whole world of possibilities out there. Your way is just one of those.

Calling atheism a religion is wrong and apparently many of you can not read a dictionary. It would be the same as calling any like minded groups of people a religion, KKK, NAACP, Vegans, PETA, certain sports team fans, etc etc. I beleive in God and doing so makes me religious by definition but I am very anti organized religion, it does nothing but cause heartache and it is more often than not used to harm other people. If that wasnt the case you people wouldnt be on here trying to bash atheists at every turn.

We all know you would rather by chasing them with pitchforks and burining them at the stake if it were not agaisnt the law. If America was like many other religion dominated nations (middle east) you could and would have people like CDC killed in the town square for being a heretic. In reality christianity is just as violent and self serving as islam.

Deists are people I can really get along with. If you choose to believe in a higher power... I'm fine with that. I mean I disagree... but I have qualms with it. It's people who think their religion is to be part of law, policies, etc... that really burn me up.

OH.. and people who make false claims like "we have eyewitness accounts of miracles done by Jesus." No we don't.

CDCeltown wrote:

Deists are people I can really get along with. If you choose to believe in a higher power... I'm fine with that. I mean I disagree... but I have qualms with it. It's people who think their religion is to be part of law, policies, etc... that really burn me up.
OH.. and people who make false claims like "we have eyewitness accounts of miracles done by Jesus." No we don't.

I agree, I have several friends that are atheist and thats fine by me. We may disagree on that but so what... we also disagree on whats the best beer, cars, sports teams and so on but it doesnt make me want to cast them into hell or some other such nonsense. Atheists are fine by me because they never bother anyone. Its the religious nuts that make me want to slap the religion out of them. Most are just self righteous hypocrites who are always looking for a reason to damn someone else or point out how their God is the right God "OMG my toast turned out prefect... God is great" Really? Like idiots praying for their sports team to win rofl.

If someone wants to be religious then fine do it just leave others alone and do not try to shape politics or laws based on your ideals. Hopefully we are going forward in evolution and at some point these idiots will one day be in the minority and rational thought will prevail. Imagine where we would be if so many brilliant minds hadnt been repressed and branded witches and heretics.

I meant to say in that other post "I disagree but I have NO qualms with it."

Yeah, the moment that you start trying to put religion into law you start going against everything the founding fathers were tying for.

I'll admit i'm a smart ass, and I talk a lot about atheism... but I'm not pushing for an atheist nation per se. I just think religion should be a private matter, and should not be a part of anything having to do with the government.

Yeah lol I knew what you were saying, I do that a lot. I am a smartass myself when it comes to that subject in particuler... I guess I have been rubbed the wrong way by those people once too many times, besides you are just responding in kind to the smartass holier than thou interweb preachers on here.

I know you and most every other atheist I know are not pushing for an atheist controlled government, you just want to left alone to believe or disbelieve what you want... kinda the idea of this nation and what our forfathers had to begin with. Religion like every thing else has it's place, in your own home or church but pretty much thats it.