Atheists...

But thats the point boagie I don't claim to know and neither am I going to pretend I do - and least of all theres no way I'm going to buy some dogma off the shelf and use that to do my thinking for me. Sure I have my hunches but don't we all. All I'm saying is I leave the door open as who am I to close it.

A LITTLE MORE FOOD FOR THOUGHT


I've heard the call. I believe God wants me to run for president.
-- George W. Bush, quoted in George Magazine, September, 2000

"I would like to thank Providence and the Almighty for choosing me of all people to be allowed to wage this battle for Germany."
-- Adolf Hitler

A person who is guided by God will never be misguided by anyone.
-- Osama Bin Laden

We're being guided by God.
-- Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson

George Bush was not elected by a majority of the voters in the United States. He was appointed by God.
-- Lt. Gen. William Boykin, the defense undersecretary in charge of hunting down top terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan

Nothing [Bush] does can be challenged on moral grounds, however unethical or evil it might appear, because all of his actions are directed by God. He can twist the truth, oppress the poor, exalt the rich, despoil the earth, ignore the law--and murder children--without the slightest compunction, the briefest moment of doubt or self-reflection, because he believes, he truly believes, that God squats in his brainpan and tells him what to do.
-- Chris Floyd, CounterPunch, 7/30/03



No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered as patriots. This is one nation under God.
-- George Bush Sr., to a reporter in 1988


"A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider to be God-fearing and pious."
-- Aristotle, 343 B.C.


He [God] is using me, all the time, everywhere, to stand up for a biblical worldview in everything that I do and everywhere I am.
-- House Majority Leader Tom DeLay
Article


If this were a dictatorship, it would be a heck of a lot easier -- so long as I'm the dictator.
--George W. Bush, Dec. 19, 2000


"Why is this man in the White House? The majority of Americans did not vote for him. Why is he there? And I tell you this morning that he's in the White House because God put him there for a time such as this."
--Lt Gen William Boykin, speaking of G. W. Bush, New York Times, 17 October 2003


"He [Rumsfeld] leads in a way that the Good Lord tells him is best for our country."
-- Marine General Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff


God gave the savior to the German people. We have faith, deep and unshakeable faith, that he was sent to us by God to save Germany.
--Hermann Goering, speaking of Hitler


The Christian community has a golden opportunity to train an army of dedicated teachers who can invade the public school classrooms and use them to influence the nation for Christ.
--D. James Kennedy, Coral Ridge Ministries, 1993


The Constitution of the United States, for instance, is a marvelous document for self-government by the Christian people. But the minute you turn the document into the hands of non-Christian people and atheistic people they can use it to destroy the very foundation of our society. And that's what's been happening.
--Pat Robertson


The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians.
--Pat Robertson


I think we ought to close Halloween down. Do you want your children to dress up as witches? The Druids used to dress up like this when they were doing human sacrifice... [Your children] are acting out Satanic rituals and participating in it, and don't even realize it.
--Pat Robertson


Get the few liberals out. If you don't do it, it ain't gonna be done. You will be doing the Lord's work, and he will richly bless you for it.
--Sen. James Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, Christian Coalition's Road to Victory Conference, 2002, Washington D.C


If I do not return to the pulpit this weekend, millions of people will go to hell.
-- Jimmy Swaggart

Boagie:),

Christoper Floyd is a critic of bush's, that comment was tongue and cheek, you might want to research the background of those you quote. Here Chris Floyd Online .

Again, Hitler was privately very anti-christian and saw theology as a tool by which he could, and did , manipulate the masses.

I think i the case of Rev. Pat Robinson, all is given light in this video Pat Robertson's Age-Defying Shake.

Im not sure what your point is with those quotes, that people can twist any words to their own twisted purpose? Why limit it to religin, how about Mao Tse Tung or Stalin? Maybe Pol Pot? How about Robert Mugabe?

Now what of these quotes

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
REVEREND Martin Luther King

Have we not come to such an impasse in the modern world that we must love our enemies - or else? The chain reaction of evil - hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars - must be broken, or else we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.
Martin Luther King, Jr.10 Great Quotes from Jesus of Nazareth | Ross Kendall

Clearly the words of madmen, correct? Fairy Tales and nonsense, correct?

I am not religious, but I can't stand sophistry, and I will do my best to cut it down.
[/INDENT]

Zetetic,

This is not hate materal,This is from the mouths of believers in power themselves, It just shows how dangerous this kind of thinking can be. I suppose you do not think Islam is dangerous either, we differ in opinion, if it displeases you that is unfortunate, it is what it is.


"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag, carrying a cross."
- Sinclair Lewis

Like the present administration!! boagie



THE ATHEIST JEW: Is Youtube Really Atheist Tube?





more coming

Hitler actually got a lot of companionship with the Jews while he wanted to be a painter, and in prison. It was all in Hitler's mind, he was insane.

Religion itself doesn't offer danger; its the people who have the ambition for power and find a collective cause, like religion to come to power, and takes away coalesced virtue, which is a threat.

Islam is not dangerous, the Qu'ran has as much immorality as the bible, but its the islam extremists desiring power and using their religion as a tool for their rise.

Islam is old now, so its rise because of somebody wanting power has nothing to do with it; unless I suppose the islam extremists are tainting the Qu'ran, changing the religion entirely to advocate for their desires and position. Kind of like what King James did. lol.

Boagie:),

Doctrines are not dangerous, people are dangerous. Dangerous people make the doctrines dangerous and use their authority to evil, mad, destructive ends.

By the same token, good men and women use the same doctrines to peaceful, liberating, and constructive, unifying ends.

The fact of the matter is that there would be dangerous madmen and saints with or without religous doctrines. It is the nature of the human race to spawn these entities.

I am quite convinced by your response that you hear and see what you want to.

Holiday, that is what they are indeed doing, repressing mederate muslims and poisoning the minds of the children. Did you know that 50 years ago if you walked thorugh Iran, you would probably not see a single burqa?

In fact, were it not for U.S. intervention, the Iranian people would have far more freedom under a limited monarchy. The man who would be heir to the Iranian throne seems to me quite benevolent. Just check it out: Reza Pahlavi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Zetetic,

"Doctrines are not dangerous, people are dangerous. Dangerous people make the doctrines dangerous and use their authority to evil, mad, destructive ends."

Agreed if there were no people doctrines would harmless.

"By the same token, good men and women use the same doctrines to peaceful, liberating, and constructive, unifying ends."

That is fine as long as they keep it out of my face, politically speaking.

"The fact of the matter is that there would be dangerous madmen and saints with or without religous doctrines. It is the nature of the human race to spawn these entities."

Yes but these entities do some of the finest work with these harmless religious doctrines, you wish for people to be politically blind to the powers controlling their lives.

I am quite convinced by your response that you hear and see what you want to.

You are quite right, and I love your rose coloured glasses.

And were there no madmen, it would be true as well.

~p-->D (if there are no people, then the doctrine is harmless)

F T T If there are people, then the doctrine is stil harmless can come from that, it is not excluded.:bigsmile:



Then do not present your face.:shifty:



No, I simply wish that those powers be recognized for what they are, and they are not 'The Religious'. Atheism doesn't even have a role in this! Even many people of the christian faith think that the men you cite are crazy!

Maybe this has not been your experience, maybe ever religous or spiritual person you have ever met has been cut of this cloth. If not I hardly see the need for such hostility.

Once again, that people with ill intent and fools alike take to these doctrines does not undermine their value to those who find good in them and want to share this good with others. If someone really, truly, finds value in an idea, then they often want to share it and this is an admirable trait.

Once again, the misuse of doctrines is not limited to religious doctrines. Look at the rise to power of many communist leaders.



:devilish::brickwall:

The righteous crusade is upon me I take it, you people may silence an individual here or there, but the pots already a boil. High yourself there Thomas! Hail hail the gangs all here!!

A little white light upon the issue

YouTube - Bill Maher: 'Faith' Is Dumb!

I watch Bill Maher's show when it airs. And he makes a common, stupid mistake - using negative, and blatantly false, generalizations about faith traditions to criticize faith traditions.

Sorry folks - you can point to the instances where someone has abused a faith tradition all you like, such instances will not tarnish the faith tradition, only the selfish tyrants who misused the faith tradition.

Let's try to grow up a little, hmm? Enough with the crusade against religion. Let's try to approach religion fairly and honestly, instead of demonizing what we do not understand.

Obviously thomas, a good portion of the population falls under your displeasure, lets listen a little more, perhaps Bill Maher has had the benifit of reading your posts.



YouTube - Bill Maher & Guests Discuss Religious Fanaticism


YouTube - Bill Maher Making New Documentary Movie, "Religulous"

Well, sure, I'm an angry, anti-social dissenter. But religion doesn't bother me unless the religion is used to hurt people.



No, I'm good on the Maher. Like I said, I watch his show. But, honestly, if I want to listen to a discourse on religion, I rely on individuals educated in the field, not comedians. However, if you prefer comedians, I'd suggest George Carlin.

Excellent choice!


YouTube - George Carlin - Religion is bullshit.

That was a great performance. And I agree with what Carlin says in the skit - some boogie man in the sky; bull****. We should send money to televangelists; bull****.

But notice something - his criticisms are not leveled against all religion/spirituality in all cases. Instead, he attacks clear abuses of religion. Good show, George. We miss you.

He was great wasn't he, he will be missed. Mean while his understudy!


YouTube - Bill Maher's New Rules: Article of Faith












YouTube - Richard Dawkins With Bill Maher




The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.
But Richard, why don't you stop beating about the bush and tell us what you really think of the Biblical god?

Bertrand Russell is the thinking man's Dawkins.

The Bertrand Russell Society | Writings One of my favorites. More narrative, less preachy.

Why I Am Not A Christian, by Bertrand Russell

And one that Boagie would certainly enjoy as its focus is the religious and self contradiciton:
Am I An Atheist Or An Agnostic?

I wouldn't call Maher Carlin's understudy - Carlin was a genius. Still, I'm curious as to why we care what Maher has to say about religion.

As for Dawkins, the man talks about religion as if he was eight years old. His over generalizations are embarrassing.

Russell was a philosopher, not a scientists. But, yes, Russell managed to address religion like an adult, unlike Dawkins.

Blatant honesty has a certain charm, when acommpainied by a large intellect the darkness is often vanquished. It is a wonder the candle is not a symbol of threat. to the security of religion in general.




YouTube - :: Richard Dawkins : How to justify a genocide ::






YouTube - Q&A after Richard Dawkins reads The God Delusion Preface

Except that Dawkins isn't blatantly honest - he's blatantly biased and beyond any capacity for reasonable thought. He cannot bring himself to see the good in faith traditions. It's a shame, too.

No one can reasonably deny the abuses and terror wrought in the name of religion. Similarly, no one can reasonably deny the positive influence of religion. We should be aware of both. Mr. Dawkins misses half of the equation.

Russell even misses a great deal. But in his case, it seems to me that Russell carried on just as well without keeping some faith tradition. And that's just fine with me. Dawkins, on the other hand, makes a living spouting off tired, ill-conceived anti-religious rhetoric.