Yesterday I went with my family to the local mall, where I noticed that a Christian group had purchased one of those temporary tables to hock their mythology. OK. That’s allowed. They can do that. They have the right. The Moslems do it, the Breast Cancer people do it, the Atheists COULD do it (but we haven’t yet), so the Christians can do it too.Then I made a mistake. I stood near their booth and listened to their pitch while my daughter got food at a nearby pretzel stand. I listened silently as the preacher scared the crap out of two unaccompanied teenage girls. All the standard stuff. Born sinners, Jesus is coming, unbelievers go to hell, lets pray together, you should be thankful God brought you to this table today.And I thought of my daughter, now 11, who will soon (a few years) want to go to the mall alone with her friends, and be subjected to this crap. She’ll be fine, I’ve inoculated her.But if she were ever pulled into that chair, with the glazed look in her eyes, being brainwashed by a cult member, I would want someone to do what I did not — intervene.Should I have interrupted? Should I have jumped in and helped to save the girls from the attempt at brainwashing? What’s the ethical thing to do here?
rna2dna,
“Atheism is what you shared with us before being brainwashed by christianity.”
Well, there’s never been a time I didn’t believe there was a God. However, this isn’t the standard for becoming a Christian.
It’s interesting to observe how you equate Christianity with brainwashing. How can you make such a comparison? If you really believe that, then you are either ignorant about what Christianity really is (as opposed to religion) or you are just taking a cheap shot.
Tiny aserted:
When did “never been a time” start for you, Tiny? Cause like, if you are a born again again again again christian, it could have been last year when you were, well, (this many) 0, maybe, I guess, right? Not trying to suggest that is the case, I’m just wondering if you can be more specific as to the beginning of that “never been” time.
Tiny Tim
No shit Sherlock! That’s what everybody has been telling you. But you still don’t get. Most of us don’t believe. Whats more you still don’t realize that it is a pointless exercise to argue about something you CAN’T DEFINE. Do you finally get it? The question “Do gawds exist?” is meaningless nonsense.
You are one of the most dense nutters to ever post here. Phewwww!
Tim
… or Rna2dna is factually correct. Funny how you left that one out. It is a prime example of the lack of sincerity with which you engage the atheists here.
Tim,
You seem to be having a lot of trouble with a very simply concept.
Correct. Which means the questions “Does God exist?” is meaningless. That is not the same as asserting that a deity does not exist.
Let me ask you this: Do snorgalumps exist?
The “usual “scientific” method”? Usual?
The “usual “scientific” method”? Usual? Where is my Tiny Tim decoder ring?
Tiny,
I wish it was interesting how you came to observe that but, it isn’t, its just your mindless drivel.
I didn’t “equate” christianity with brainwashing. One can be equated to stupidity. The other can be equated to a unethical tool.
Tiny, what is the matter with you? Something is wrong but, I don’t know your circumstances so, I can’t help much. Have you any means to seek professional help?
Tom,
Nice post. I love the way you put this…. I vote for making it a billboard for all to see
KatK,
I like that you by Tom too
Should be a required sticker on all christian books.
By “get it”, I mean there are plenty of post-generation atheists who may not even realize that’s what they are. There’s certainly nothing wrong with that. But until they understand their own position, they’re still vulnerable to having someone more savvy trick them into another mindset.
It can be no other way.
Now, What first suggested we agree to disagree and while I didn’t let it go then, I’m going to have to now. Life intervenes, this is getting old, and the blog-not-forum nature of this commentary section is making this awkward.
Wat (I don’t know)
Sorry, chump. Your ignorance of even basic principles regarding the use of logic and making a point have put you back in the clueless column.
alatham,
Apparently you suffer from the same stunning ignorance as What (I don’t know.)
Your statement: “Correct. Which means the questions “Does God exist?” is meaningless. That is not the same as asserting that a deity does not exist.”
How can you state with a straight face that the question of God’s existence (oer lack thereof) is meaningless? Just because something isn’t proveable via the scientific method doesn’t mean it isn’t possible! Come on!
You haven’t leapt to a conclusion, you took a jump into hyperspace to get there. Geez.
Tim:
The term is apatheism.
Until you can provide some realtime stats, your presuppositional presumptions are idle speculation.
Oh really? So how do you ‘prove it’? Really, you 3rd rate C.S Lewis wannabes really have nothing outside of appeals to wonder.
‘Open your mind!’ you shout. When asked why, we are given fluff w/o substance.
?If there is a God, he is a malign thug? – Twain.
Tim,
You missed my point, Tim. Congrats.
Have you defined “God” yet? If you haven’t, then I think it’s easy to see why the question is meaningless.
Again, do you believe snorgalumps exist? Perhaps more importantly, do you believe snorgalumps do not exist?
Once you understand why those two questions are meaningless, you’ll understand why “Does God exist?” is equally meaningless.
Perhaps, perhaps not. How do you propose to know this for sure?
alatham ,
You are not stupid, or ignorant. You know very well what I’m talking about, my friend.
You cannot sit there at your keyboard and pretend you know nothing of the concept of a Supreme Being!
Nice try!
Tim,
I know plenty of the concept. Which Supreme Being are we talking about? What powers does it have?
You can’t just say “The Christian God” because I’ve yet to meet two Christians who agree upon the definition of “God.”
I realize I’m late to the party here, but I have a question. Tim, in your comments you mentioned that you are a christian. Just out of curiousity, why are you a member on an American Atheist blog? I’m not saying you shouldn’t be here or anything. I’m just curious why you are here. You don’t seem to be having “doubts”. I’m just trying to understand .
As for whether or not to say anything to the guy at the booth or the teenagers….I probably wouldn’t. As teenagers, that is thier parents job (which shows how low the theists will sometimes sink). I wouldn’t want anyone talking to my children about religion. Thier parents are probably religious and would be upset and hostile to what you would have to say (”Reality? Blasphemy!!!”). We should respect that. The preacher himself, thats a little murkier, but if I did speak to him, I would wait for the girls to leave and then I would politely tell him that I think he should only speak and hand literature out to adults.