Is God dead? Atheism finds a market in U.S

Reuters ^ | 10/18/06 | Michael Conlon

[atlaw]

"Father forgive us for what we must do,
You forgive us and we'll forgive you,
We'll forgive each other 'till we both turn blue,
Then we'll whistle and go fishing in 'a Heaven."

-- John Prine

[trisham]

Please know that this man is evil. He is not just some atheist, he is advocating shutting up and getting rid completely of Christians in this country. He says we are a threat to the survival of the rest of the human race. I read his previous book, The End Of Faith, and it was the most vicious, frightening, Hitler like book I had ever read.

*************

He's certainly doing the work of the Devil.

[antiRepublicrat]

Today it's called TAXATION!!

That would be funny if it weren't true.

BTW, there is STILL 'slavery' in parts of the world.

And we rightfully condemn it.

[trisham]

I agree.

[antiRepublicrat]

Tell me why murder is wrong, but don't use God in the explanation.

Over time the people in ancient societies learned that certain actions promote stable, healthy societies, and certain actions don't. Those that do not were later given the label immoral or, when integrated into the religion for enforcement, sin. Since we're all the same species, the same themes popped up in various different disconnected societies, even pre-dating the Bible.

How else is eating pork a sin in the OT and Quran? It was a health rule in that society that got put into the religion. The health aspect is gone now that we know how to properly preserve and cook pork and why it's important, but the moral prohibition still remains for those who believe.

[antiRepublicrat]

Maybe this is implied: * 'to my satisfaction.'

Yes it is, thanks.

[antiRepublicrat]

If you believe what you've just written, you are closer to understanding than you know. You want to know what it means and you feel uneasy inside about it. it's the question that drives you.

I liked The Matrix too.

Actually, I was Christian in my earlier years. It is more an academic question for me now. A satisfactory answer, which may exist, wouldn't mean conversion (reversion?) for me.

[antiRepublicrat]

Murder is wrong. God said it was wrong.

Wait a minute. What about the murder, rape and genocide ordered by God? Oh yes, it's not immoral if God is ordering it. So it is not an absolute moral.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

Indeed. Any rational Jew who seeks an reason behind the sufferings of the Jewish people need look no further than the prophets of his own people.

God creating humans with free will is enough reason for me to be satisfied with.

[Xenophon450]

"Religious polarization is part of many world conflicts.."

And tell me sir what religion is always there....

[steve-b]

Whosoever shall say 'thou fool' shall be in danger of hell fire.

[steve-b]

Morality and all of its associated ideals are rooted entirely in the presupposition some higher power defines what is correct for human behavior.

Nonsense. Morality is derived from observation and analysis of how to keep the peace within human societies.

[rep-always]

Man, these leftists are really trying hard to take over this nation. I don't know why I keep getting amazed at the tactics of these imbeciles. I should be used to it by now. Thank God we have a powerful God and still some good people that will never let that happen.

[steve-b]

I'm pretty sure all of the pagans of old were meat eaters, too busy living to worry about whether they should be eating animals.

I'm reminded of a (probably apocryphal) anecdote about a few good ol' boys in the local Klan hearing word of a "pagan gathering" to be held in the local woods. Figuring that beating up a bunch of pansy granola-crunchers would be an amusing way to pass the time, they headed out to crash the party.

The didn't find any granola-crunchers. They did find a bunch of burly folks with axes and shotguns, who did not appreciate the interruption of their Valhallan rites....

[steve-b]

Murder is wrong. God said it was wrong.

Odd, he didn't seem to think so when he dictated the thirty-first chapter of Numbers....

[DontBelieveAugPolls]

story where there is none.

religion will always prevail over athiesm. If Christianity fails, it will be Islam that reigns supreme. There will be no post God world

[Xenophon450]

Ah but there is one thing you have left out.

People do indeed commit heinous acts upon one another. However in a wider scheme of things Satan is the King of this world. Until God returns in might, Satan will direct the events of this world into the deepest recesses of hell. Why do you think culture is taking it's downward flush? It will only get worse before it gets better. Satan will decieve multitudes, as he has already done. Many people find the idea of Satan coordinating world events to be silly, I tell you the truth, if he is the king of this world as the bible states, God has let him have this power.

[SoldierDad]

What you say is somewhat true. But, consider this; God, in letting Satan have the power he wields, also provided humans with the ability to choose between His Word and that of Satan's. We have the choice to follow God's ways or Satan's; we have the consciousness to discern evil from good and turn away from that evil. We can fault no one but ourselves if we fail to follow God's path that he has set before us. Not even Satan has the power to force us into his bidding. We must enter into it will full willingness and cooperation, or turn away from him and toward God.