I am very pleased to announce the American Atheists Scholarship has been improved (thanks to our spectacular donors).The FOUNDER’S Scholarship has been increased to $2500, with a NEW SECOND PLACE $1000 Prize.The CHINN Scholarship (Gay/Lesbian) Scholarship remians at $1000.This means American Atheists now offers three prizes for young Atheist activists! Spread the word!
Suz
The gawds told me they don’t exist. What!? You calling the gawds liars?
Misty said: “Reading all of the blogs I am convinced that being an Atheist is being a person who obviously has no care or concern for the US or for anyone who does not have the same beliefs.”
FYI, there are numerous atheists serving in the military defending this country and the Constitution so people like you can have the right to make idiotic statements like yours above. So, do these soldiers and airmen serving so honorably “have no care or concern for the US”? Tell that to my husband’s face. He hasn’t been serving his country, OUR country, for nearly 20 years for nothing. Believe me, sister, there are many “atheists in foxholes”, so why don’t you go thank your god for that, or would you just rather put on a burqa and start learning Farsi?
Dave, how can my son apply for the scholarship?
I have some real questions for Ms. Hill.
First, why do you call him “Christ Jesus”? Just wondering, I’ve never heard that before. Usually the other way around isn’t it?
Second, what do you mean by “extra prayer”? Do you mean that you will spend more time praying or just pray harder when you pray for What?
Anyway, I was just wondering.
Dave is right, it does not help to feed the trolls. Though, I think it is important for us to defend ourselves and show believers, that we are people. In this forum, it is almost pointless to argue with them. Perhaps we should ignore them on the forum. We could get together information and web links to important information and send it to them by email as a form letter. If they do not wish to read or understand, there is not much help we can give the poor christians. I suppose we just have to let them suffer. Not really a good choice, as we have to watch them suffer, but it is better than wasting time on insults and argument.
Another good idea might be to vote on a small group of blog members, with plenty of sources that can be designated to answer questions and explain our position and rights. We should not treat it as an argument, but as teaching. Most of our christian posters are unaware of so much it is difficult to even begin to debate them. They come to the fight with their hands tied behind their back. It is unethical to attack an unarmed opponent. I would guess that Phreedom is the only troll that has even read the first amendment, though he thinks it does not exist. I guess you can lead a horse to water, but you can not make it drink. There is not much we can do about willful ignorance, we can only show the information to them.
Thanks for the patience with my rant of suggestions. It seems we should use our strength(knowledge, understanding) as wisely as possible. As the political pendulum swings back into our neighborhood we should be increasing our numbers and using reason(not emotion and anger) to ensure the security and ethics of the United States. We are unlikely to make strides with insults and ridiculous arguments with folks that have no education. It is our responsibility and duty to help, with education, understanding and yes even a smile.
pha,
Susan obviously spent time in the military. His proper name is Christ, Jesus H., but all his friends call him God Damnit.
Misty,
I am sorry that you were taught that the U.S. is a christian country. It seems you were not taught history by historians, but instead by your church.
Example:
Thomas Jefferson
?They [the clergy] believe that any portion of power confided to me, will be exerted in opposition of their schemes. And they believe rightly: for I have sworn upon the alter of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.?
or
?I have examined all the known superstitions of the word, and I do not find in our particular superstition of Christianity one redeeming feature. They are all alike founded on fables and mythology. Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned. What has been the effect of this coercion? To make one half of the world fools and the other half hypocrites; to support roguery and error all over the earth.?
or
?Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear….Do not be frightened from this inquiry by any fear of its consequences. If it end in a belief that there is no God, you will find incitements to virtue on the comfort and pleasantness you feel in its exercise and in the love of others which it will procure for you.?
Feel free to do your own research on the beliefs and thoughts of our founding fathers. Our country elects our leaders, we do not suppose that god will do it for us(as past monarchies had done). We have based our government on reason and the freedom to speak our minds and argue the facts in an ongoing search for truth and justice. We have agreed to decide for ourselves how to manage our affairs, without god holding a single government position. This fact is what made us the greatest nation and an example to the world on how to improve the lives of citizens and ensure freedom and justice. I have no idea what sect of christianity you may follow, but chances are there are other sects that you strongly disagree with. How would you feel if another sect told you what to believe? If your a protestant, would you be comfortable if catholic teachings were forced on your children? How about catholic law? Would that make you comfortable? That is why the first amendment is so important to our freedom. Think long and hard about what freedoms YOU would have to sacrifice to make this a christian country. You have the freedom to believe as you will… and so do we. That is what justice is.
Thanks for listening if you did listen at all.
Comment from: David Silverman
BINGO…Wow Dave…did I hit a nerve or something? Perhaps a truth about AA?
I don’t believe I’ve EVER heard you tell your flock “DON’T FEED THE TROLLS!”…
Your response speaks volumes…had I been wrong in my assemsment, you would have told me so…
But instead you try to silence someone’s opinion…
Let’s see…Jew school in Florida…Muslim school in NYC…and a prayer vigil at Virginia Tech…and no response from AA….???
So Dave…why is AA silent about the Virginia Tech prayer vigil…????
Perhaps you’re not nearly the atheist activist you claim to be…? Come now…please justify why you’d go after Jacksonville but not Virginia Tech?
Surely you can launch an intelligent response instead of coping out and using the lame excuse of “DON’T FEED THE TROLLS!”…
HeatheNZ,
Obviously you didn’t follow the line of discussion….
Comment from: jshanewhit
Actually I agree with you jshanewhit…
I’ve given up asking Dave to post educational topics…do a quick inventory of the threads…
Two topics are always the majority…
Slamming Christians…or defending the gay community…
I would WELCOME some intelligent topics to discuss…unfortunately there haven’t been any…
And as for the 1st Ammendment…of course it exists…I just don’t twist it’s original intent to use it as a fund rasier…
Tell me what in the following article is untrue or misprepresented…?
And if you can…please back it up with actual facts…not opinions…
http://www.radioliberty.com/nljuly06.html
Ahhh….but they’re so CUTE, those big lovey-dovey eyes, the adorable gibberish they blither….c’mon, who doesn’t just LOVE their arrested adolescence, the little pouty lips as they say, ‘but gwad WUVS me dis MUCH!’ (stretching their little arms out as far as they can), the mewling temper tantrums as they roll on the ground, pounding it w/their fists & feet, bawling because they don’t get their way…
Hmmmm….yeah, maybe it IS less than adorable. Downright unattractive, even.
A time-out, or even a hiding, would probably temper their obnoxious, arrogant dispositions.
While I have just been scrolling by Phreaky-n-dumb’s posts – his shtick is really stale – I would like to see him build his own blog. What fun we could have there!
Comment from: What
I don’t believe you could handle it…but if you insist…I will…
is it true that many schools no longer teach civics.also why don’t high schools teach what the laws are on sexual conduct we have high rates of std and unplanned pregancy.i’m not talking about how to classes just what you can and cannot do,parents rights, rights of property owner, age of consent.this would not be teaching religion and the church for example could build on this to teach in their sunday school their rules regarding sexual conduct.same for evolution let the school teach evolution and the house of worship can teach creation.public funded schools should focus on secular subjects while house of worship can focus on culture.
i can see religion taught at college level because the student should be mature enough to handle it.
thoughts anyone?
Reason…they’re too busy handcuffing the teachers and making sure everything’s PC…
I find your last statement of interest. College students should be mature enough to handle religion. Since we consider middle school children mature enough to make other “life changing” decisions on their own…why do you consider teens to be incapable of handling religion?
phreedm
i don’t consider middle school children mature enough to make life changing decisions.i think it is important for a teen to get a good grounding in his familys faith or atheism first then when they are more mature they can explore other beliefs in a more detached and openminded way.
hey guys should american public schools be reconfigured to complete instruction at say age sixteen.
Comment from: reason
I agree totally…this should also be extended to other “life changing” subjects also IMO…
reason…here’s a great example of what the public schools have become in California…
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58130
This ia all the result of the gay agenda…
Pha:
I just call him Christ Jesus because St. Paul uses that phrase a lot. I picked it up from scripture.
By extra prayer, I mean making greater sacrafices like fasting specifically for him.
Specifically asking Jesus’ mercy on his soul, including him in rosary intentions, asking Our Lady to interceed for him, asking his guardian angel to protect him.
Finally, that since he has asked God to reveal himself, that he heed the sign he has asked for.
Stuff like that.
Phreedm,
Having read the bill available at the address referenced, I fail to find any reference to “Mom and Dad” or “Husband and wife”. Perhaps you’d be good enough to point them out to me.
Of course you have actually read the bill? I mean surely you don’t actually trust WorldNetDaily to tell an unbiased story?
Suz
Let me know when your bush is burning?
Comment from: HeatheNZ
Yes I have…and I’m thrilled you’ve shown an interest in US Law…
You’ve got to understand how interpreting a law, and thereby enforcing a law, is different then when the law was written…
Take for example the Americans’s Disability Act…
http://www.cato.org/pubs/regulation/reg18n2e.html
As I like to say…”Think outside of the box”…politicians of all stripes love to fool us…
What:
Suicide is not the solution, it will cause more problems than it will solve.
My bush was burning when I was 16; now, at age 43, it’s just SMOKIN’!
LOL!
Suz
Get a grip on reality. It isn’t painful for those born to it but I could see how the transition form your delusional world to it could be.
AA should set up a recovery program for people like Suz, Imforgotten, ShrewXian and Phreeky-n-dumb.
Comment from: Susan Hill
You addressed this to What:
and I have to ask where oh where did he (or anyone else aside from you) write about suicide?
What the hell are you referring to?
What kind of hallucinogens are you taking?
666,
I was wondering the same thing. What a pitiful, confused woman!
Another comment from Susan Hill:
And she’s going to go on a diet to help What? Huh??
Hey maybe we could market a new diet plan for evangelicals – Fasting for atheists. It’s a win-win. We could make a few bucks selling snake oil to the ignorant and they could buy it.