Here’s a clever idea from a clever student.Hemant Mehta sold his time on Ebay — $10/hour to go to church. Check out this linkhttp://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5660982226From Mr. Metha:
When the bidding went over my highest expectations of $10, I decided to donate the money raised to the Secular Student Alliance. The bidding ended at $504. The winner was Jim Henderson of a Christian group called www.off-the-map.org. His website has written a lot of material on the auction (I am now posting there myself at http://www.off-the-map.org/atheist/)… they basically spent their entire year’s marketing budget on buying me. He says he is not interested in converting me; rather, he wants me to go to a variety of churches and fill out surveys on how I perceive them– does their choir draw me in? How are the rituals? Etc.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4707354.stm
Interesting idea. And if anyone takes the time to actually read his auction perhaps they’ll learn from this 22 year old. He admits he has “atheistic beliefs”. Huh? Sounds like he admits to a form of religion.
Anyway at leat HE still has an open mind………
From visiting this site for the past 6 months, it’s amazing and sad at the same time how many on here have given up.
As I’ve said. Atheism is a very sad way to look at life..
And Dave, I doubt anyone on here would have the courage this young man has.
Hey, where are those cartoons?
Phred:
“Killer Moslem Cartoons”
It’s on the Blogroll, and has been for a while.
Might as well enjoy what I’ve got while I’ve got it. Knowing the notes that make up music doesn’t detract from the magic of the symphony.
vs.
If I don’t serve the LORD I’ll burn in a lake of fire forever! Help me!
Have you said anything more than that for the past two months? At any rate, get something intelligent to say, or go away.
Which means: Go away, as you have yet to demostrate the ability to do the former.
phreedm: “Atheism is a very sad way to look at life..”
Atheism has lots of advantages, no money wasted on funeral directors, sunday mornings we are free to do what we want, no money wasted supporting preachers, no fear of hell, the joys of understanding science, no talking to ourselves (praying), no worries about spending eternity playing the harp, etc.
Good stuff, this auction biz. Check it out; it’s interesting reading.
I think my parents would pay me to go to church but they couldn’t afford me.
phreedm” As I’ve said. Atheism is a very sad way to look at life..”
It might not offer the false hope and warm fuzzy feelings that religious belief does but it also doesn’t advocate bigotry and violence in service to your god nor does it require that one stop thinking. Religious belief to me is pathetic because it uses fear of eternal damnation to keep a person in line. Fuck that-I’ve only got one life to live and I’m not going to waste it cowering in fear at some imaginary punishment. What kind of sad life is that?
Alex.
hey, if we (all atheists) did the same thing, we could probably collect enough money from religious groups to support a lot of the activities and fight causes that we would all like to do.
gotta give the kid credit for being a good capitalist.
PS: hey phreedm. give it up. you are a bore and a laughing stock.
Atheism isn’t a sad way of looking at life. Pinning your hopes on pie in the sky is sad.
Hey Noodly
Thanks for the heads-up on our veep shooting someone.
He must be a highly trained professional, to be able to handle a weapon like that.
Stop feeding the troll
I really dig this guy’s idea. I think it’s great to get an opinion from someone with a different point of view. You get me, phreedm, jcc, goosehenry and tim for free… unless you count the cost of aggrevation. I would love for any of you to sit in a service with me, not to convert, but to simply get your input.
I actually find a lot of value in supporting my pastor and my church’s general mission. I like doing river clean ups with church, habitat for humanity and donating food to shelters on a regular basis. Not to say that you can’t do these things without church, but chances are good I wouldn’t without the organization and routine of going to church. I guess I need the routine and structure.
Last time I went to church I counted how many times I yawned, this was the only thing keeping me awake. I did like communion though it kind of broke things up a bit and you got some drink and a snack to boot. I would rather spend my time learning about the natural world.
bob-
We can still talk to ourselves, right? There’s no absolute rule on that. ^_~
anadrol-
Have you guys classified Phreedm as a troll? I didn’t know that.
spanders-
I don’t think that they could ever hear the preacher over my maniac laughing. (This is the reason that I can’t go back to my old church.) ^_^ Just kidding.
I’ll take money to go to church any time! What a great way for me to get some of my tax money back!
Indeed.
Too funny that VP of ours! What a dumb-ass!LOL
Hell yeah Dave, I’d love to get my taxes back from those greedy crooks!
I saw part of a documentery on Link TV about a famous traveling preacher named Bob that would bribe inner-city kids into coming to church by offering money and candy. I think it was part of a project that was focused on getting kids out of gangs and stuff like that. Evidentily it isnt working so well. Bob has been jumped, mugged and shot in the face by the same kids he bribes to come to church. Bob has survived by the grace of god! heehee
What will it take to prove to people that religion does absolutely nothing in stopping violence and crime and in fact is what is causing it. You cant preach fire, damnation and shame, and think that people are going to be happy and cooperative, it just doesnt happen! lol
Oops I got threads mixed up. Damnit I cant keep things straight to save my life so I am getting out of here before I start confusing others and my self. I’ll try again tomorrow.
Well trollesque anyways. His/Her comments are often off topic and are set to inflame, adding no real value to the conversation. He/Her generally hits and runs.
Looking their website I would say that the winners fo the auction are not classical bible belt conservative.
10$/hr is better than the minimum wage. Next time I’m out of work I’ll give this try. Will I have to claim it for taxes?
phreedm: “Atheism is a very sad way to look at life..”
ive got the marshmellows
It’s interesting how many of the religious seem to think that the reason we atheists are NOT religious is that we haven’t been to church or ‘heard the message. In fact most of us we’re dragged to church or synagogue as kids and had the ‘message’ shoved down our throats ad nauseum. Still for $10 an hour…….
well joelwe ive never been forced to go to church hell never been to church except for weddings and funerals i guess i am one of the lucky atheists to never had to be forced to believe in a supernatural god myth
Oh no, I woke up an atheist. I am so sad and depressed. I’m just so bummed out I can hardly express myself. Maybe I’ll try some Paxxil or some uppers and that will make me happy. Oh, no wait….I found Jesus…he was stuffed in between the sofa cushions. I can be happy again. Sorry, had to do it.
Was he covered with fuzz and cookie crumbs?
Could not care how much I was paid, I will never go to a church again.
The last time I HaD to go was a christening for my nephew. Never again.
Just being with all those superstitious folk was disquieting to say the least.
I listened, with increasing disbelief, to the crap that too many people take as gospel and thought how shallow you have to be to follow such bull. And that was the church of England.
A few years before though, I gone to the funeral of a work colleague. Did not know he was catholic. I could only stop laughing at the comic antics up front, by thinking of his widows feelings.
No, my life isn’t sad, I enjoy it as much as possible whilst my body can continue. But if others want to waste their time here, carry on. Only leave those of us who cannot believe in fiction, to use our time in much better ways than worrying about a non-entity.
udonman
you mean there is no FSM ?
I cant go on.
ops forgot about the real god i guess i will boil in the pot for all eternity
I like that this guy decided to donate the money when the bidding got high. Sounds like he is more interested in building understanding than making a buck. We need more like him.
I was thinking it might be worthwhile to do the reverse: pay theists with open minds to learn about science. But I could not think of a place an ordinary person could go to learn more about science or atheism in a social-type setting similar to what religious worship is. Probably a big part of the reason why people don’t understand our side. Reading stuff on the internet just does not do it. There has to be more interaction to bring it to a human level. Ideally, something like this blog could work, but this one seems to mostly attract theists who want to harass atheists rather than those who want to learn or discuss. The ones who are fun to read, like spanders and seeker, are all too few.