Originally posted by 667joeRemember churches have to make money too. They have expenses
Yes, but with a bank, I know that their purpose is to make money, and they are not hypocrites about it. Churches, however, are wolves in sheep's clothing. Some bankers may molest children, but not under the guise of their official duties.
for the maintenace of the building, eletric bill, water bill, etc. Many
activities cost money. But if you do not want to donate any money
you don't have to. Most churches nowdays do not have enough
volunteers to take care of a nursery, music, and administrative needs.
They may want to have a bulletin prepared to send to members to
inform them of the scheduled activities of the church. If they have
a full-time minister, music director, church secretary, etc. they will
need to collect enough donations to pay them a salary. They may
also want to provide help to the needy in the community, etc. So
it is not likely to be much of a church without money to support it.
Originally posted by 667joeGenerally speaking I don't like going to such "churchy" functions because, when I'm there, They Assume I Am They. They don't even think about it. And I often wonder what would become of their plastic smiles if they somehow discovered, in a single telepathic instant, just how far removed my belief system is from theirs.
As an atheist, I generally avoid going into churches. Sometimes, though, it is unavoidable such as for weddings and funerals. Every time I go , though, I leave with an unclean feeling. This is because I think of all the lies and untruths, all of the bloodshed, the torturing of innocent (witches and unbelievers),the anti gay propaganda, child molestation, ...[text shortened]... olic), the blocking of stem cell research, etc. etc.
I am glad to get this off my chest!
Originally posted by RJHindsDon't forget their political crusades to establish a theocracy. Very important part of the budget, y'know.
Remember churches have to make money too. They have expenses
for the maintenace of the building, eletric bill, water bill, etc. Many
activities cost money. But if you do not want to donate any money
you don't have to. Most churches nowdays do not have enough
volunteers to take care of a nursery, music, and administrative needs.
They may want to have ...[text shortened]... n the community, etc. So
it is not likely to be much of a church without money to support it.
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Originally posted by RJHindsIf the chief purpose of the church is to do charity, why don't they do charity and leave religion out of it. No! Charity sounds good. It is good, but it's not the church's chief purpose. Bernie Maddoff did plenty of charity.
Remember churches have to make money too. They have expenses
for the maintenace of the building, eletric bill, water bill, etc. Many
activities cost money. But if you do not want to donate any money
you don't have to. Most churches nowdays do not have enough
volunteers to take care of a nursery, music, and administrative needs.
They may want to have ...[text shortened]... n the community, etc. So
it is not likely to be much of a church without money to support it.
Originally posted by SoothfastI had that one rubbed in my face a few months ago. I was manipulated into attending a weekend religious retreat where they were blatantly trying to program you to be christian. VERY christian. How I got through that horror filled weekend I don't know. Mainly I brought my guitar and played it as much as possible to keep my sanity and avoid the evangelicalism going on incessantly all weekend long.
Generally speaking I don't like going to such "churchy" functions because, when I'm there, They Assume I Am They. They don't even think about it. And I often wonder what would become of their plastic smiles if they somehow discovered, in a single telepathic instant, just how far removed my belief system is from theirs.
Originally posted by SoothfastYou should not be going to a church, if you go there only to find fault.
Generally speaking I don't like going to such "churchy" functions because, when I'm there, They Assume I Am They. They don't even think about it. And I often wonder what would become of their plastic smiles if they somehow discovered, in a single telepathic instant, just how far removed my belief system is from theirs.
You are being a hypocrite by going and pretending you are one of them.
If you want to attend to learn something you should annouce that you
are an atheist and the reason you are there at the very beginning so
no one is mistakened. If you really want to learn and your mind is open
to being a Christian let them know, because more than likely there will be
someone there that would be willing to help you. Otherwise, stay away.
Originally posted by RJHinds
You should not be going to a church, if you go there only to find fault.
You are being a hypocrite by going and pretending you are one of them.
If you want to attend to learn something you should annouce that you
are an atheist and the reason you are there at the very beginning so
no one is mistakened. If you really want to learn and your mind is open
...[text shortened]... an likely there will be
someone there that would be willing to help you. Otherwise, stay away.
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Originally posted by 667joeWhy is it that some people pick one little thing out of something another person
If the chief purpose of the church is to do charity, why don't they do charity and leave religion out of it. No! Charity sounds good. It is good, but it's not the church's chief purpose. Bernie Maddoff did plenty of charity.
says and makes that the whole point of the converstion and miss the original
point altogether?
Originally posted by RJHindsI'm talking about family events like a funeral or something. Not the kind of thing I can reasonably "skip," and not the kind of time to go around militantly declaring my atheism. The closer relatives will know me well enough, but then there are the distant relations, friends of friends, former colleagues of the deceased, and so on. What gave you the idea I'm waltzing into churches of my own volition hoping to "learn" something? I'd rather bend my fingernails back with a pair of pliers and a jug of bleach.
You should not be going to a church, if you go there only to find fault.
You are being a hypocrite by going and pretending you are one of them.
If you want to attend to learn something you should annouce that you
are an atheist and the reason you are there at the very beginning so
no one is mistakened. If you really want to learn and your mind is open
...[text shortened]... an likely there will be
someone there that would be willing to help you. Otherwise, stay away.
Originally posted by sonhouseGood grief. And no death metal CDs or Hustler mags to keep 'em at bay? Just you and your guitar?
I had that one rubbed in my face a few months ago. I was manipulated into attending a weekend religious retreat where they were blatantly trying to program you to be christian. VERY christian. How I got through that horror filled weekend I don't know. Mainly I brought my guitar and played it as much as possible to keep my sanity and avoid the evangelicalism going on incessantly all weekend long.
Now I'm reminded of my many, many years of being forced to go to church when I was younger, including a week-long Christian camp out in the boondocks one summer. I don't remember it being too traumatic, but I do remember I didn't crap the whole time.
Originally posted by RJHindsAtheism does not produce anything. It is not a belief system.
Charles Darwin discovered a love of killing. He wrote, "How well I remember
killing my first snipe. My excitement was so great that I had difficulty in
reloading my gun from the trembling of my hands. This taste continued
long, and I became a very good shot."
Sigmund Freud believed that a female is a failed boy and a woman, a castrated
man. He als ...[text shortened]... lemish of mankind."
Only three examples of what Atheism has produced in our society.
Nobody does anything in the name of atheism.
You cannot blame atheism for anything .. except perhaps asking people to think and question archaic superstitions.