Gallitzin graced by Atheist Station

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | Sunday, July 14, 2002 | Tom Gibb

[Willie Green]

GALLITZIN, Pa. --To date, there's been but one open tangle between the church-going people in this Cambria County town and the coterie of atheists prominently setting up shop here.

That would be the incident over at the former barbershop that the atheists are turning into their local meeting house.

[ikka]

A page taken from Saul Alinsky's playbook.

[mykej]

"Besides, I don't have enough time to worry about that woman's soul. I have enough trouble worrying about mine."

I sincerly wish that more people would adopt this attitude. If somebody asks you for an opinion on religon, great, tell 'em what you know. Otherwise assume that what they believe is between them and god and stay out of it.

[gcruse]

"We had a prayer request in the bulletin that they
be saved," said the Rev. Bonnie Nagle, pastor of the 90-member
congregation.

Is this a valid thing to do?  Will God save
someone against their will?  Of not, why
ask Him to do it?

[Peter Libra]

The militant atheist does have a serious hang up. All they have to do is happily disbelieve in religion and get on with their lives. No, they seem to find sadistic pleasure in deliberately trying to upset others. The others who simply like to believe and do not care about some one elses like or dislike.

That having been said, since there was mention of the arts. I have a little known book. It was published by Bobbs-Merrill Company. Inc. Indianapolis and New York. 1973. Titled. Honk If You Love Boise Hafter. author John Wallace.

For some reason the author used Gallitzin as a backdrop. Often wondered if the good folk of Gallitzin ever read it? I guess if they can shake off this hilarious wacked out book, they can shake off the misfits who grace them with their presence.

[Salman]

A page taken from Saul Alinsky's playbook.

Hardly. There's no sneaky subversion here. These atheists come clearly labelled so you can pass them by. Atheists who call themselves "Reverend" are the ones playing the Alinsky game.

[2Trievers]

Lori Polansky at the Atheist Station -- "What do we do? Well, we don't sacrifice goats in the basement" (V.W.H.C. Campbell, Post-Gazette)

[AppyPappy]

You pray they find God, not that God finds them.

[gcruse]

 
You pray they find God, not that God finds them.

Then you should be praying to them, not God.
If God makes you find him, that doesn't really count,
does it?

[AppyPappy]

Praying to them would not facilitate that union. Of course, we could badger them if you like.

[gcruse]

Praying to them would not facilitate that union

Neither will praying to God, which was my original point.

[AppyPappy]

Neither will praying to God, which was my original point.

I believe an omnipotent God could handle such a task with ease.

[gcruse]

I believe an omnipotent God could handle such a task with ease.

Convert a nonbeliever because someone else asked him to?
Then accepting Christ as your savior is only one way to
be saved.  You can have it thrust onto you by someone
else's prayer.  I wasn't taught that it worked that way.

[AppyPappy]

Prayer doesn't thrust. It's a suggestion

[gcruse]

Prayer doesn't thrust. It's a suggestion

The prayer is to God, to thrust salvation
on the atheists.  I still think that is heresy.
 If God goes around thrusting salvation
on the unwilling, then Jesus died in vain.

""We had a prayer request in the bulletin that they be saved,"
said the Rev. Bonnie Nagle, pastor of the 90-member
congregation."

[AppyPappy]

The prayer is to God, to thrust salvation on the atheists. I still think that is heresy. If God goes around thrusting salvation on the unwilling, then Jesus died in vain.

You are need to put the hyperbole away.

[gcruse]

I'll take your nonresponse as confirming my original point.

[AppyPappy]

Yes, you are right. We shouldn't bother praying for others. It's a waste of time.

[jejones]

Whoa! I'm an atheist, and I think using that shade of pink on a building is a sin. :-)

[Consort]