Atheists, Agnostics and Non-believers only! Why is it?

Question

Why is it that whenever you quote the bible with a verse, passage or chapter of the bible that xtians don't like...they start screaming "out of context", or "wrong interpretation", or even "that's outdated". That kind of circular logic baffles me! Have they even read that d*mn book of thiers? What a totally convenient religion.

I find xtians to be the worst possible combination of ignorance and arrogance. I'm so frustrated! Why do I care you ask? Because I live in this world too and so do my children. Because they are making their religion law. Because they are dangerous. Arrrgh!

How do you deal with this? I'm close to going postal....LOL

BRAVO!!! Once again when only "non-believers" are in the conversation the intelligence abounds and picking a best answer becomes almost impossible.

For DuckPhup - What would Locutus do?

Answer 1

There are about 40 studies, conducted over the past 80 years, that reveal a statistically significant NEGATIVE correlation between intelligence and religiosity. In plainer language, they found that the more intelligent a person is, the LESS likely he is to be religious.

If you think about it, this makes a lot of sense. Intelligence tests mainly provide an indication of reasoning ability and problem solving ability... critical thought. These are the very qualities that see through religion, and recognize it for what it is; i.e., religion cannot survive the glaring light of reason and critical thought. This was well understood by important figures in religious history. This is why the early church destroyed all the writings that were in conflict with dogma, such as Greek philosophical, medical and mathematical knowledge... all the good stuff... which led directly to the Dark Ages.

Just to illustrate the point, here's what Martin Luther, the 'father' of protestantism, had to say about it:

"Reason must be deluded, blinded, and destroyed. Faith must trample underfoot all reason, sense, and understanding, and whatever it sees must be put out of sight and ... know nothing but the word of God." ~ Martin Luther

"Reason is the greatest enemy that faith has; it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but -- more frequently than not -- struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God." ~ Martin Luther

"There is on earth among all dangers no more dangerous thing than a richly endowed and adroit reason... Reason must be deluded, blinded, and destroyed." ~ Martin Luther

"Reason should be destroyed in all Christians." ~ Martin Luther

Christianity is essentially a criminal business enterprise... in fact, it is the world's longest running and most successful Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) scam. The product they are selling is 'salvation'... and the 'pay plan' doesn't kick in until after you're dead. What a racket! FORTUNATELY, it only works on those who are gullible enough, and sufficiently lacking in critical thinking skills, to fall for it. UNfortunately, THAT accounts for about 75% of the population of the USA. (There are a lot more people who DON'T know how to think properly than there are people who DO know how to think properly.) That is why there are a lot more religious people in the USA than there are 'Free-thinkers'... including Atheists. Also, Christians are generally too dense to realize that proselytizing (spreading the 'good news') is a key element of the Christian MLM MARKETING PLAN, which was instituted after Christianity lost the political power that had previously allowed them to simply torture and kill anybody who did not comply. Now, they attempt to just pester people to death, through persistent obliviousness and obnoxiousness. If you stop to think about it, you will realize that Christians are very much like the Borg, on Star Trek Next Generation: "You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile." I would not be surprised to learn that thoughts of Christianity provided the 'creative spark' for the Borg concept.

Interestingly, statistics on supernatural beliefs count the USA on a par with backward, developing Third World nations, rather than among modern, advanced industrial powers.

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"Selling eternal life is an unbeatable business, with no customers ever asking for their money back after the goods are not delivered." ~ Victor J. Stenger

"Businesses may come and go, but religion will last forever, for in no other endeavor does the consumer blame himself for product failure."  ~ Harvard Lampoon, "Doon" (paraphrase)

Answer 2

Yup, they have read their book, just not -any- of the other versions, with the translation differences. Now then, I've found that those who read only the king James version should be looked upon with some pity, because they're usually the most vocal, and they have the most corrupted. So yes, for them, I would say all three excuses.

Personally, I deal with it by sitting down and writing out a long question, that might ramble a bit, and then post it. You'll usually find the more words you use in a question, the less likely they'll want to answer you.

Especially if its a question that they can't go to the bible and look at to preach at you.

Answer 3

Being raised by a very religious mother and having been brainwashed by religion from a very young age I have struggled to free myself from it like a person who needs to be deprogrammed.

I have a high IQ(not required but helps) and an incredible amount of life experience that has lead me to question. Not all people do, so it is virtually impossible to break free from the brainwashing.

I can honestly say that it was not until I took a philosophy class and read many arguments for religion that finally freed me from it for good.
I still suffer residual side affects from being taught religion, but I think I will survive it, IF we can keep the religious right out of politics that is.

I am not a coward by any stretch of the imagination when it comes to speaking my mind, but in the current climate I feel that saying I do not believe in god could possibly get me hurt somehow.

The good thing is that Bush is just using them and really has little intention of using their agenda, it is all lip service. I honestly think Americans do value freedom over religion in the long run, based on answers to a question someone asked about what freedoms people would be willing to give up.

Logic and reason will prevail in the end because they are stronger than mythology, I hope.

Answer 4

I know! Only that I think quoting the bible is a mistake. If you don't even begin to accept the bible as an authoritative text, and you give it as much credit as you do any other best-selling fiction, you cannot even take it seriously as proof of anything. Besides, it's a mistake, because you're fighting religion with its own elements and mechanisms, when you really don't think those elements and mechanisms are valid. Religions are better fought with elements from common sense, reality and objectively verifiable facts. I'm an unbeliever. I would never even read the bible, except for anthropological interest.

Not that I'm doing much better that way, but they cannot discuss objective facts.

Answer 5

Excellent question and points you raise. At the end of the day religion serves a purpose of money, power and control of gullible minds, and that's why religious people start their brain-washing techniques early by mental verbal saturation bombing of little children.

The Bible is trash. The Bible is the biggest load of garbage and codswallop ever written by man, and I’m sure it will go down in history as the greatest load of gobbledygook ever to inflict such traumatic mental and physical damage on humanity, but still today, some people sadly believe the Bible to be true. That’s very sad indeed. Very sad.

When people quote various passages from the Bible, for example ...

Mathew 5:29-30 God encouraged self-mutilation.
Isaiah 13:15-18 God allowed women raped and little children slaughtered.
Genesis 6:11-17 and 7:11-24 God is the greatest mass murder in history.

What happens? Religious people pop up from under every stone with the same old garbage. “That was the old Bible, or we’ve changed the meaning, or we’ve changed the context, or the quotes are out of context or or or, excuse after excuse.”

The fact is, they are Bible quotes, and the Bible is full of evil atrocities which religious people continually cover up, yet seem happy to drum into the minds of gullible little children. This is such a shameful disgrace in a civilised world.

If religious people are unable to apply commonsense and logic to develop a simple moral code to live by, then perhaps they could strip out of the Bible the evil, murders, rapes, abuse, and all traumatic references. Granted there will not be a lot left to read, but at least religious people may end up with a decent moral code to follow based on good, and not scare the living daylights out of innocent little children.

Deal with it by protecting your children from all forms of religious teaching until they are adult enough to make informed decisions for themselves.

Answer 6

I deal w/ it by trying to follow this simple, beautiful poem...

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.

Answer 7

In general, I agree with you.

However, the fact that Christians have learned to ignore large segments of the Bible is a bit consoling. It proves that religions can and do evolve. I wish more Muslims would learn to ignore the parts of the Koran where it encourages war against the infidels.

Answer 8

I have a major issue with the delusions and ignorance that results from the brainwashing that's being done via Christian, Jewish, and Islamic fundamentalism. Because I was raised fundamentalist Christian (and because I live in the U.S.), this one hits home the hardest. I know so many people who don't realize their 'faith' is arbitrary -- something that they were brainwashed with from birth and something that is now such a part of their identity and their whole worldview that any questioning of it becomes tantamount to questioning who they are. And so many don't realize that all the negative god images are just projections of what people WANTED/WANT god to be -- and they now suffer with this bipolar deity (apologies to theonion.com) who loves them one moment and seeks to cast them to hell the other. My extended family suffers a great deal from this -- believing in hell, believing that god may punish them, etc. So ... when I realize that, I tend to have compassion. On the other hand, when their dogmatic agendas seek to make our society into a christian theocracy and result in harmful things such as taking away valid scientific research into stem cells, removing a women's right to choose, and severely limiting the rights of same-sex couples (among other things), I have a very difficult time having compassion. What I try to remember is that they are not bad people -- that they're afraid and a product of their conditioning and that we're all in this mess together. And I realize that if I demonize them or kid myself that I'm the enlightened one here to combat or teach the ignorant christians, then I'm engaging in the very same dynamic of separation and specialness that is at the heart of all problems. Of course, I fail miserably in this but I do pray to get myself (ego) out of the way ...

Answer 9

in order for neo to fight in the matrix against agent smith he had to learn the rules of the matrix

christian x, y, z is homophobic but doent want to appear racist
xyz can go into leviticus 18.22 and get that homosexuality is an abomination
leviticus 25.44 says slavery is legal
exodus 21:20-21 has a rule that if you beat the slave lives you let the master go free
we could say to this person but i thought the old testement doesnt apply cause of jesus

they will whipe out romans 1 28-31 that gay sex is immorral

and the smart ones whipe out 1 corinthians 6:9 that says gays dont go to heaven

period

in christian mythology you can get out of it homophobic justification, racist justification, anti-non-your religion justification, etc.

justification for hate

there is no logic to hate

dont reason with hate

learn the rules of hate

then fight hate

the enemy of hate is love

gays are worthy of love
and worthy of rights

blacks are worthy of love and rights, even thou jesus says in matthew 15 that a canaanite woman is a dog

to anyone who is a christian you can argue that book with them all you want they will get from it the verses they need to hate

just give them love and heh,

christian heaven doesnt exist

there are christian denominations that want to marry gays
they should be able to do so under the first amendment

the amendment to ban gay marriage doesnt have enough support to pass

its a non issue

fight the battles that are needing fighting

gay marriage aint worth fighting anymore

its like when liberals fight against iraq with bush
he aint changing his mind

im not even sure why i come into this section anymore except to make friends with other non fundamentalists

and try and show everyone that an agnostic who doesnt believe in god can be a loving person and have purpose

Answer 10

Only the parts that they like, and that support their agenda are "the word of god". The rest is out of context. It is a pick and choose religion. When political views change, so does the bible, and its llloooossseee interpretation. You can make it prove, or back up anything you want.