2007-09-21 00:45:24 · 19 answers · asked by marie 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"I have examined all the known superstitions of the world, 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." ------- THOMAS JEFFERSON
"Christianity...[has become] the most perverted system that ever shone on man....Rogueries, absurdities and untruths were perpetrated upon the teachings of Jesus by a large band of dupes and imposters led by Paul, the first great corrupter of the teaching of Jesus." ------ THOMAS JEFFERSON
"In every country and in every age the PRIEST/PASTOR has been hostile to liberty; he is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own." – THOMAS JEFFERSON
"...an amendment was proposed by inserting the words, 'Jesus Christ...the holy author of our religion,' which was rejected-----'By a great majority in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and the Mohammedan, the Hindoo and the Infidel of every denomination.'" ----- From Jefferson's biography:
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"Religion and government will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together." -- James Madison
"In no instance have . . . the churches been guardians of the liberties of the people." - James Madison
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"I almost shudder at the thought of alluding to the most fatal example of the abuses of grief which the history of mankind has preserved--the Cross. Consider what calamities that engine of grief has produced!"--John Adams in a letter to Thomas Jefferson
"The divinity of Jesus is made a convenient cover for absurdity. Nowhere in the Gospels do we find a precept for Creeds, Confessions, Oaths, Doctrines, and whole carloads of other foolish trumpery that we find in Christianity." --John Adams
"The Government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion." - John Adams, Founding Father and 2nd US President.
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"The Bible is not my book nor Christianity my profession. I could never give assent to the long, complicated statements of Christian dogma."
-- Abraham Lincoln
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"If they be good workmen, they may be from Asia, Africa, or Europe; they may be Mohammedans, Jews, or Christians of any sect, or they may be Atheists." – GEORGE WASHINGTON
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Lighthouses are more helpful than churches." - BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
"The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason."-- BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, 1758
"I wish it (Christianity) were more productive of good works ... I mean real good works ... not holy day keeping, sermon-hearing ... or making long prayers, filled with flatteries and compliments despised by wise men, and much less capable of pleasing the Deity." -- BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, _Works_ Vol.VII, p.75
"If we look back into history for the character of the present sects of Christianity, we shall find few that have not in turns been persecutors and complainers of persecution. The primitive Christians thought persecution extremely wrong in Pagans, but practiced it on one another. The first Protestants of the Church of England blamed persecution on the Roman church, but preactied i on the Puritans. They found it wrong in Bishops, but fell into the practice both here (England) and in New England"-- BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, 1758
Christianity [Religion] I found to be without any tendency to inspire, promote, or confirm morality, serves principally to divide us and make us unfriendly to one another."-- BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
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2007-09-21 00:49:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 4⤋
Not at all. I think there needs to be a balance, an opposite and equal counterpoint, in all things. In this instance, there are the extremists on both ends of the spectrum (hard-core Atheists and fanatical Christians) and it helps keep the whole thing level. Without the Atheists, the fanatical Christians would run this country into the ground and make it akin to the Dark Ages.
2007-09-21 01:24:25 · answer #2 · answered by OhKatie! 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes and No. They are about the same. Atheists are cool, educated, trendy folks who might be artsy and well read and have alot to say...they might seem like regular people and most are but they are the indifferent ones who tend to influence subtley. They paint people of faith with same brush..as being deluded brainwashed idiots.
Fanatics on the other hand call mass attention to themselves and wave their arms around and point fingers and make false predictions and misindoctrinate, some even for the purpose of making money and they serve no real purpose typically cuz their energy is spent elsewhere. They paint people of faith as being deluded brainwashed hypocritical idiots.
So yeah, I guess...fanatics are worse. An atheist..I can deal with...but someone like Benny Hinn...Pthubbbth. How can such a person be worked on? Only God knows. Love in Christ, ~J~
2007-09-21 00:55:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
No we do not do more harm than the fanatics. This is a lie told to you or by you so that Atheists are frown upon.
I do not recall hearing a group of Atheists crashing planes into building on 9/11. Do yo know know who did? A group of RELIGIOUS fanatics. I'll say it again a group of RELIGIOUS fanatics.
2007-09-21 00:53:18 · answer #4 · answered by Imagine No Religion 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Of the two, I'd prefer an atheist to a fanatic any day. At least you can have a sensible conversation with an atheist. Fanatics just rant and won't listen to anyone who doesn't believe what they do so are pretty boring people. We are all different and all have our own private thoughts. Most people seem to believe in a God. They might call him by different names depending on their particular brand of religion and read books of wisdom with differing titles. (All appear to give good advice.) Atheists just don't happen to believe in a God at all whilst Agnostics aren't quite sure what to believe or whether to believe in anything at all. I think it all makes for interesting variety. Who is to judge what and who is correct? Live and let live I say. To be considerate and coexist with the people around us can only be a good thing. To try and force others to believe what you happen to believe is selfish and egotistical and leads to unhappiness. Who wants to be unhappy?
2007-09-21 01:09:54 · answer #5 · answered by chris n 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Scientists are overwhelmingly agnostic and atheist. They created technologies that allowe you to ask this question, and that will make you live longer, and more healthy.
Atheists can be as (un)ethical as anyone: it's only that they prefer to place their trust in reason and critical thinking instead of unsupported fables. They simply have one god less than you do, and no need for gods to dictate their moral code.
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> Do you think atheists do more harm to our nation than fanatics? Why?
"With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion."
--Steven Weinberg
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2007-09-21 01:20:12 · answer #6 · answered by par1138 • FCD 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. It's beyond me why anyone would think that based on something as simple as them not believing in any Deities. By far religious fanatics have caused more harm.
2007-09-21 01:50:30 · answer #7 · answered by River 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hmmm....what harm do atheists cause? 10% of the population with no political power? 1% of the prison population? The people who have fewer divorces and less depression.
Terrible people, those atheists. Not one hate crime or terrorist attack ever committed in the name of atheism.
2007-09-21 00:57:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hi, the true atheist wouldn't do more harm as he/she would not be argueing about religeon. It is simple, if atheists don't believe in god then they have nothing to argue about. How can you argue over something that you don't believe exists!!
2007-09-21 00:52:01 · answer #9 · answered by gayle d 2 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Ah, yes, the vast minority of untrusted atheists (per a recent poll) are doing so much more damage than those currently in the driver's seat.
2007-09-21 00:50:32 · answer #10 · answered by Deke 5 · 8⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't put it that way..We should focus more on how to make it better for all of us. A person who cares about others as much as him/herself, could be as good as believing there is a higher power to keep things in order.
2007-09-21 00:54:25 · answer #11 · answered by - 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋