Posted on 04/01/2010 9:48:35 PM PDT by JoeProBono
RELIGIOUS leaders have used their Easter sermons and messages to condemn the rise of atheism, with Sydney Anglican Archbishop Peter Jensen describing the philosophy as an "assault on God".
A day after Sydney Catholic Archbishop Cardinal George Pell criticised non-believers, Dr Jensen said in his Good Friday sermon at Sydney's St Andrew's Cathedral that atheism was a form idolatry.
"As we can see by the sheer passion and virulence of the atheist - they seem to hate the Christian God - we are not dealing here with cool philosophy up against faith without a brain," Dr Jensen told worshippers.
"Atheism is every bit of a religious commitment as Christianity itself.
"It represents the latest version of the human assault on God, born out of resentment that we do not in fact rule the world and that God calls on us to submit our lives to him.
"It is a form of idolatry in which we worship ourselves....."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
I have always said this myself - from the ones that I have known, they were angry at God or had problems growing up going to Catholic school. Look at Madalyn Murray O’Hair, her problem was because she could not get her lover who was Catholic to divorce his wife.
I’ve always said that my atheist brother is just really mad at God. He had this “pie in the sky” view of God and religion, he thought that he was supposed to have a painless life with no sorrow. God disappointed him when he was about 20 and he hasn’t forgiven Him yet.
This is certainly true of some atheists I have known. My ex-husband claimed jokingly to have an adversarial relationship with God. He was irritated at anyone, even God, suggesting that the profligate, licentious way he conducted his life was wrong—he rejected the concept of “wrong” because it limited his ability to indulge himself. So he merely denied the existence of God. (Later, fortunately, he learned how mistaken he was.)
On the other hand I know a very gracious, gentle, joyful, wise woman who is an atheist. It’s hard to believe she’s not full of the Holy Spirit; she’s so happy and such a joy.
The atheists I know cannot believe anybody is greater than themselves.
Ever wonder why most Homosexuals not only hate God, but the very concept of God?
This Bishop provided the answer for you.
The camp should be divided into two groups, atheists and antitheists. People like Dawkins and Hitchens fall into the antitheist wing. That wing seems to be a lot larger than the atheist wing, by the way.
An atheist may be wise about some things, but their wisdom just can’t be very deep as they are missing the very foundation of all existence.
It does seem at least in our country that atheists attack Christianity specifically more than any other religion(s).
They hate religiously observant Jews too. I’m a Hindu and they hate religiously observant Hindus as well, there are just way fewer of religious Jews and Hindus.
Someone I knew very well who was a lifelong avowed atheist used to strongly criticize all devout religious believers, specifically because they believed in God. He thought anyone who believed in God was an idiot and a knave - a wrong, bad person who could be right about nothing. Unfortunately as far as I know he died unrepentent. The moral absolutes that are taught in every religion are abhorrant to such people.
No doubt about it. Not all atheists, but many who claim to be atheists are anti-God. If they believe there is not God why do they care to hate Him so much and why do they hate believers for loving Him so much.
I think alot of the rabid ones are satanists and/or of other religions who hate Jesus. This happened in the seventies, too, when the left unleashed the dogs on the country.
Perhaps I hear more anti-Christian rhetoric because we have a majority of Christians in our country.
The majority of the atheists that I've come across seem more angry at religion (pick your brand) or the people that practice religion. For some, they may feel threatened by the authority it represents. I've also come across many non-believers who are more analytical or skeptical in their way of thinking and don't hold strong opinions on the matter either way. Although I am not a believer nor am I religious, I don't hate religion or the people that practice it. I do speak out critically on the really "messed up" issues (honor killings, hate, abuse, etc) but I recognize that there is much more good in religion than bad and how can I not support that?
Having been on both sides of the fence (was raised conservative christian), I think there is great misunderstanding on both sides with equal amounts of bravado. ;)
Absolutely - most religious people in this country are Christian so Christians are the main target, and the more observant, the more they’re targeted. They war against Christmas and Easter, not Janmastami or Rama Vijaya.
Seems you and I are very much the same in this regard.
Over time I have come to realize that I am indeed an atheist. By atheist I mean the lack of acceptance of the existence of any god due to the lack of independently verifiable evidence for its existence or manifestation in reality.
This article is logically flawed. It builds a strawman by conflating atheists with people that believe in god. Before you can hate god you have to accept that god actually exists, which would mean that you are not atheist.
“The camp should be divided into two groups, atheists and antitheists. People like Dawkins and Hitchens fall into the antitheist wing. That wing seems to be a lot larger than the atheist wing, by the way.”
How do you define ‘antitheist’?
“RELIGIOUS leaders have used their Easter sermons and messages to condemn the rise of atheism, with Sydney Anglican Archbishop Peter Jensen describing the philosophy as an “assault on God”.
A day after Sydney Catholic Archbishop Cardinal George Pell criticised non-believers, Dr Jensen said in his Good Friday sermon at Sydney’s St Andrew’s Cathedral that atheism was a form idolatry.”
What concerns me most about the two religious leaders mentioned in the article is that they are highly educated individuals. They are as well acquainted with the correct definition of ‘atheist’ as anyone can be, and to conflate ‘atheist’ with ‘hater of god’ is blatant intellectual dishonesty on their part. I would expect better from them.
You seem like a sensible fella- so I must ask, how can you not see a reason for the rhyme and rhythm all around your good self?
I just believe in one fewer god than most people.
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