Rabbi Daniel Lapin: atheists are parasites

Big Bureaucracy ^ | September 4th, 2010 | Ellie Velinska

[Big Bureaucracy]

Just when I thought that I’ve heard every possible insult in the political realm this year Rabbi Daniel Lapin added his two cents. On the Glenn Beck program he said he views the atheists as parasites who without putting any energy into it benefit from America created by the faithful people.

The Rabbi is entitled of his opinion and is free to call me parasite. However, I urge his friends to help him, because he may need advice from psychiatrist.

Just two days ago a fellow who was calling people parasites strapped himself with bombs to make a point on Discovery channel. He wanted to inform the world that people are parasites.

Here with the Rabbi we have a ‘parasites’ alert. Please, if you know Mr. Lapin, check on his psychological condition before he harms himself, other people and his cause.

Insult after insult is coming from the TV talking heads.

Some idiots called me a cracker for being white, bigot for being against illegal immigration, racist for being for small government, parasite for having children and now double parasite for being atheist.

Have we run out of decency in this country? Can we stop insulting people with stereotypes? With this entire campaign for personal responsibility can we judge people individually by their deeds instead of stuffing them in groups that wave fists to each other?

I was excited watching the Restoring Honor rally. I was inspired. I thought that people can unite with the goal of being decent, honest, taking care of each other and the children and the country. How naive of me!

[Abin Sur]

Lapin believes the atheists are parasites living off America of the faithful.

All I want to know is how many people of faith share this belief. Is it a mainstream belief?

Here's a Gallup poll from 2008: "If your party nominated a generally well-qualified person for president who happened to be …, would you vote for that person?" Here is percentage who would refuse to vote for each particular category:

Catholic 4%
Black 5%
Jewish 7%
A woman 11%
Hispanic 12%
Mormon 24%
Married for the third time 30%
72 years of age 42% A homosexual 43%
An atheist 53%

So yes, it is a mainstream belief.

[SkyPilot]

Sounds like Ellie Velinska is upset because the Rabbi was a little too close to the target.

In the end, we all benefit from the gift's that directly come from God Himself.

Our very lives. Food. Water. Air. Everything.

To not acknowledge God, with any thanks or gratitude, is to live as a parasite.

When you contemplate it - God asks for very, very, very little from us.

Atheists won't even engage Him in acknowledgment of His very existence.

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish."

Psalm 1: 1-6

[Big Bureaucracy]

This is very sad because this is why they lose their children to Marxists - those are waiting with their hands open for all the doubtful.

Atheism and Marxism are not the same.
Is this what they preach in church? That atheists are parasites that live off of the faithful?

[Big Bureaucracy]

“To not acknowledge God, with any thanks or gratitude, is to live as a parasite.”

Is this what they preach in your church and what church is it?

[Abin Sur]

Atheism and Marxism are not the same.

Quite true...just look at Ayn Rand, for example.

Is this what they preach in church? That atheists are parasites that live off of the faithful?

Having been in a church only a few time in the last 30 years (and that was for weddings or funerals), I really couldn't say.

[Big Bureaucracy]

“My point is that Lapin was restating, in an inverse and highly provocative way, one of the main themes of Democracy in America.”

That atheists are parasites that live off the faithful? is that a theme of Democracy in America? Seriously?

[Big Bureaucracy]

By the way. The picture is stunning! I also like to watch the sky, but you had a great view. Here are couple of mine

[denydenydeny]

Okay. I'll try to explain this using as few syllables as possible since reading comprehension appears to be a problem for you.

One of the main currents in DIA is AdT's attempt to explain American material prosperity; even in the early nineteenth century, this aspect of American life was drawing serious attention in Europe. For Tocqueville, American wealth was in large part related to her pervasive Christian value system. Tocqueville believed that Christian ethics made it far easier for entrepreneurs to contract with strangers.

Now I think this is a fair summary of Tocqueville's opinion on the matter of American wealth. It's more or less right there in plain French, and plain English translation. I'm not making this up.

Now I'm going to explain what the words "inverse" and "highly provocative" in my previous post mean since they seem to be difficult for you.

Now Tocqueville has a great deal to say about belief and almost nothing to say about unbelief, so we can only extrapolate his thoughts on the subject. If one believes, as Tocqueville seems to, that religious belief contributes predominantly to American wealth, than it is fair to assume that for Tocqueville, atheism would not be contributory to American wealth; indeed one can argue that, by chipping away at the ethical basis for American commerce, it would even be detrimental to it.

Now what Lapin has done is to look at the Tocqueville thesis of belief, and examine it from the point of view of unbelief: Its inverse. And, Lapin asks, by implication, What Would Alexis Say...about atheism? Tocqueville, being a genteel man of the nineteenth century, would never use Lapin's term "parasites." That's why I called Lapin's use of the word "highly provocative." "Parasites" is not a term I would have used (there are enough 21st century Americans who qualify for that term as it is).

Nevertheless....it's highly provocative language that, expressed less bluntly, contains my belief, and Tocqueville's: That the unparalleled prosperity of the American experiment owes to its near-universality of Judeo-Christian belief. Those who decline to share that belief benefit from it anyway. I wouldn't call it "parasitism"; I would prefer another term from biology, commensalism..

You are welcome to argue that my belief in the Christian basis for American wealth is overstated. But then your argument is with Tocqueville, not with me. Go bother him.

In summary: I would say that Lapin's rather extreme language is arguably consistent with Tocqueville. If that horrifies you, too bad.

[SkyPilot]

Is this what they preach in your church and what church is it?

If you cannot, and will not, accept the premise that ingratitude towards God is wrong - then why do you even care if you believe there is no God?

Yes - ingratitude towards God is malice towards Him. "Parasite" would not be my first choice of words, but I agree with what the Rabbi said in that he was equating those who reap the benefits of God's blessings, but do nothing to thank God for it. None of us, not me, not anyone, can ever earn God's grace. In fact, we all deserve death and Hell. All of us.

Thankfully, Christ gave us a way out. But only one way.

My church is a Christian, bible believing church, and we believe every one of the verses cited here:

The Bible on Gratitude

I am glad you admire pictures of creation, and plants, and rainbows.

He made them, not me.

Let me ask you this: which of these do you think is more important to God?

1. That you attended Beck's rally, or any other rally

2. That you opened your heart to Him

[Big Bureaucracy]

How are the American Judeo-Christian beliefs different than European Judeo-Christian beliefs?

[Big Bureaucracy]

I am glad that your church does not teach that atheists are parasites.

I respect your beliefs and the prayers you linked to were very beautiful and positive.

[4woodenboats]

The simple fact is that we must not live by most of the commandments

No, you have choices, such as living a fruitful life, cradled in God's Love, enjoying a personal relationship with Jesus, enhancing life for those you interact with, enjoying all the blessings that comes with earnest praying for the Holy Spirit to enter your heart, or you can make excuses for shunning God and making lame mocking little noises.

One path will take you to hell, regardless how you will try to justify embracing the void.

The other path will bring stability, unending joys, eternal life, and an utter lack of confusion.

Door #1 obviously didn't work out so well, so why not try the Repent/Prayer/Worship your Creator path?

Or are you stuck on believing that you're a mistake; just a blob of random talking goo with no purpose?

What do you have to lose?

[Big Bureaucracy]

Does your church preach that atheists are parasites that live off the faithful?

[Abin Sur]

What do you have to lose?

Pascal's Wager? That old chestnut?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal%27s_wager#Criticisms
http://www.skepticwiki.org/index.php/Pascal%27s_Wager

[4woodenboats]

Does your church preach that atheists are parasites that live off the faithful?

No, we're a little too busy with our own Salvation, and helping those who want to be saved.

Granted, I could see some merit in what he's saying - IF he's saying what I think, which is You're either wit us or agin us but I don't agree with his delivery.

A different audience might appreciate his vernacular, and realize Salvation is not a spectator sport, nor is it one where someone can relieve you.

Or he could have meant something entirely different. He's a Jewish Rabbi, I'm a Baptist.

I just didn't read anything nefarious in what little I saw, and am surprised Ellie tweaked, unless she(?) has been listening to her heart (subconscious, of course) and something stirred in her.

Or it could be a tumor :~)

[SkyPilot]

I am sorry. I didn't know you were the author of that blog entry, and you were Ellie Velinska at first.

You sound like a nice person.

Remember Ellie - God loves you.

"Love never fails."

1 Corinthians 13:8

[Big Bureaucracy]

No need to apologize. We are having a civil discussion. It is important to find a way for all of us to live together and make our country a better place.

[Big Bureaucracy]

I hope I don’t have a tumor.

I am glad your church does not preach that atheists are parasites.

[4woodenboats]

I hope I don’t have a tumor.

Have you ever seen the movie Kindergarten Cop?

You'd understand the humor if you had.

[Notary Sojac]

Uriel:

You might be able to make the case that atheists are "parasites".

To what end would you use that word?

Do you think that calling us parasites is a useful tool in bringing us to God?

Or is its value lie in reinforcing the believer's sense of moral superiority??