Nothing to Hold On To: "America Alone"

Look, I'm very very perplexed by people who need religion.

This will sound like I'm being nasty to you, but it's meant in the spirit of constructive criticism: I'm very very perplexed by people who make statements they can't possibly prove or even support with evidence, and then pretend they're not a member of a faith. Case in point:

Death is exactly like the time before you were born. It's really not that compicated.

How do you know? Have you been dead? Actually, even if you had, there's no way you have a memory of "the time before you were born" and therefore, no justification in comparing it to death.

You have a belief about what will happen to you when you die. So do I. Neither one of us has been dead, so both are based on faith. Yet you say...

But, if it makes you feel better, it makes you feel better.

Well, why shouldn't I conclude that you believe you will become worm food because being an atheist makes you feel better in some way? Maybe it makes you feel intellectually superior, or you've had bad experiences with some who believe in God so you are engaging in a subconscious act of revenge. Of course, I'm not into that whole "look down on everybody who doesn't believe my way" thing, but it is true that any Christian would be justified turning your words back on you.

Your condescension toward believers is, at best, an example of the pot calling the kettle black. Surely you have to admit that?

I think there is something else being said in the article as well. One can belong to a Christian church that is pretty strong on traditional morals and values but really not have a sense of identity, a group-ness sensibility. I think personal autonomy is so ingrained that even conservative Christians are just as susceptible as more secular folks. Like it or not, that's why certain folks find Islam attractive. It is really down with this groupness thing that so many people are craving.

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