@ossobuco,
I'm with you Osso - I thought the founding fathers' intention was to separate church and state - to ban people without professed faith seems odd. Do these laws list 'acceptable' religions? What if I'm a devil worshipper, or a Jedi? Don't many religionist call atheism a religion?
I'm even more confused when I think back to Bill O'Reilly's recent comment that 'christianity isn't a religion, it's a philosophy.'
@hingehead,
It's not a philosophy either. It's a way of life.
We are all breathlessly awaiting an account of the atheist way of life. Atheism seems to have an empty centre and thus is nothing but a long drawn out whinge.
@hingehead,
I'm tired, cooking fool, but really, this unbelievable to me.
Not re others calling atheism a religion, give me a break, but re constitutional issues.
It's not a philosophy either. It's a way of life.
That's such a crock. There are countless different Christian ways of life. Just as varied as ways of life for atheists.
@edgarblythe,
Heretics are not Christians ed.
@spendius,
Yeah, yeah. They are all heretics.
@edgarblythe,
Oh no they are not. Christianity is nothing if it is not monolithic.
@edgarblythe,
Why do you talk to Spendius instead of me?
@ossobuco,
I thought you had moved on until somebody could come in with legal information.
@ossobuco,
Sorry if I seemed to be dismissive. I rarely get right on the mark when I carry on a conversation.
@edgarblythe,
Quote:Then, nothing it is.
That's a sweeping statement ed. The heretical cults have nothing to do with Christianity. The Church of England doesn't know which way up it is.
@spendius,
A sweeping statement from you to a2k is what it is.
@hingehead,
I'm slow to look this stuff up, both being horrified and cooking, etc.
I simply do not get that a usa state can say a non believer cannot achieve office.
The atheist and a little girl.
An atheist was seated next to a little girl on an airplane and he turned to her and said, "Do you want to talk? Flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger. "The little girl, who had just started to read her book, replied to the total stranger, "What would you want to talk about?" "Oh, I don't know," said the atheist. "How about why there is no God, or no Heaven or Hell, or no life after death?" as he smiled smugly. "Okay," she said. "Those could be interesting topics but let me ask you a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff - grass. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, but a horse produces clumps. Why do you suppose that is? "The atheist, visibly surprised by the little girl's intelligence, thinks about it and says, "Hmmm, I have no idea." To which the little girl replies, "Do you really feel qualified to discuss God, Heaven and Hell, or life after death, when you don't know ****?" And then she went back to reading her book.
Easy to switch that story to the adult being a fundie trying to convert the little girl. And more realistic, seeing as how few atheists go around trying to convert everyone else.
@FBM,
I didn't take it as a dig at atheists - it was just a funny joke, like you said the topic the adult wants to talk about is completely interchangeable. It's the punch line that's funny.
'Sides, Edgar is the nicest Texan I virtually know. Gave me a Lone Star once...
@hingehead,
Hard to fault a man who gives you beer!