Off My Chest

Originally posted by 667joe
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.

Originally posted by 667joe
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 RJHinds
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 Soothfast
Don't forget their political crusades to establish a theocracy. Very important part of the budget, y'know.

Originally posted by RJHinds
Do you feel in the giving mood now?

Originally posted by RJHinds
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 Soothfast
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 667joe
So far, I have not molested any children or burned any one at the stake.

Originally posted by Soothfast
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 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.

Originally posted by 667joe
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.

Originally posted by RJHinds
Why is it that some people pick one little thing out of something another person
says and makes that the whole point of the converstion and miss the original
point altogether?

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.

Originally posted by sonhouse
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.

Originally posted by RJHinds
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.