Glad to hear you do not hate “Christians.”

I accept your definition of evil as those that lie and cheat. Knowingly spreading that which is not true as truth may surely be defined as evil.

However, this country was not based on the separation of religion and state, but church and state. It is an important distinction. Church and state can and should be separated, but it is impossible to separate religion and politics. That is because how you see life inevitably affects how you think government should be run. Replacing Christianity with imposed atheism is oxymoronical, it is also against the founders declared and undeclared intentions. This is another argument for which I just don’t have time.

I’m not sure what you mean by creationism. If you mean in a literal 6,000 year creation, then no I do not believe that. If you mean in figurative time periods, then yes. Frankly, after reviewing many other religions explanation for how the Universe began, I am quite amazed how accurate the creation sequence is, yes I know there are some contradictions in light of current knowledge.

btw, I’m not sure who I was aiming at, but it was definitely aimed at those who hate on this site, which is pretty clear. I am glad if you, the moderator, are not one of them. In the end, you would only do your cause more harm than good if you did. The truth does not need hate, but it does need passion.

I do not believe there can be any argument that passion should come from the teaching that men should love one another, and that they should do to others as they would have done to themselves. That is the teaching upon which any democratic government should be based. Without virtue, there can be no freedom. That is because virtue is freedom (the opposite of vice). Self-responsibility would be another example of a prime virtue.

Whatever teachings promote virtue, promote freedom to varying degrees. The actual Latin translation is power to act; however, I am informed by an “atheist” theologian friend that poten liber and poten libre are also used in some ancient Biblical translations. The question is defining the virtues.

I have to get to work.

Thank you for clarifying your position. I would say merry Christmas if I didn’t think it would be taken badly. Peace will suffice.

xdrnit.

I have never said I do. I’ve never even implied I do. People have inferred it, but they’re wrong.

Creationism is not the same as Christianity. It is actually a minority belief system. Only a relatively small number of Christians believe in a literal creation 6000 years ago.

Second, I don’t hate all creationists. Perhaps I need to be more clear when I write. But it’s the promoters of creationism who, in many many cases, are the evil ones. The ones who lie, cheat, and politicize religion are the ones I fight against.

As far as evil: I think that breaking their own rules, becoming hypocrites, certainly q

Furthmore, I see “Christians” referred to as arrogant and sanctimonious, which I find highly ironic. Indeed, some “Christians” are, but so are some atheists. Indeed, it is the ultimate arrogance of atheists to proclaim themselves above the “religious” fray, when indeed they are a religion.

Until such time as I see definitive proof that there is no God, irrespective of whatever lack of proof that there is a God may be perceived, atheism too is based on faith, and on this site dogmatically so.

By the way, how can you definitively prove such a thing until at least you have an idea of everything there is to know? What percentage of the Universe do you think we currently comprehend? 50%? 10% 1%? How much more may we understand in another 1,000 years, 10,000 years… Scientist, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, and… everything we know is a little knowledge.

Gentlemen, it would be more honest to simply say you do not know if there is a God or not than to say definitively that there is not one.

I grew up being taught that evolution was absolute fact and furthermore that it refuted the existence of God. I never doubted evolution until the past few years. At this point, I am simply not sure of the matter. Regardless, I do not see how it is mutually exclusive of the existence of a God.

Despite all the rhetorical references to science and how you are based on it, all science is based on faith. We start with the presumption that the universe is understandable. The scientific method is based on faith, performing experiments on the known to discover the unknown. You first start with a hypothesis, which is a guess, and you do that because you have faith you may find more of the truth, the way things are.

But, in the end, or should I say beginning, where did the Universe come from? How did just the right amount of matter and antimatter come together to create the big bang?

All this being said, as an admitted Christian, I certainly struggle in understanding Him, his actions, and more so His inactions. I would understand your feelings of His inactions in light of the world’s situation.

I do not have the time to come in here and get sucked into a fight, I am sorry there will be no rebuttals. I understand the accusations that will probably be leveled. I probably should have left well enough alone, not having the gargantuan time it would take to wage such a battle, but in the end for what? I have too many practical survival items to attend to. I am sorry for this, admittedly, somewhat rude behavior.

However, I could not pass on being astonished by the level of acrimony leveled against “Christians” by “atheists.”

Fortunately for myself, I have a better perception of atheists than what I see from those so called on this site.” I have good “atheist” friends, well more of the “I don’t know type.” They simply seek the truth and they are good people. Judging from the harsh, sweeping judgments and prejudgments leveled on the site, I don’t think I could say the same for this site.

Christians are not “evil” anyway, at least I don’t see how you could honestly label them so. If there is no God, there is no such thing as “evil.” If you use the term, then it is either done knowingly, and I must say devilishly so (pun intended), or ignorantly and contradictingly.

I would suggest that before you use the term evil, that you define what you think it to be. Then, I would question why you believe that to be so.

If it is not evil to kill unborn children, why is it evil to “force” a school to teach the possibility that the Universe was created? Why do you care? There is no passion in logic and science.

Irrespective, whatever your religion, peace.

xdrnit.

“Religion is a scourge on humanity. I too know many people whom I enjoy my relationship with and whom I respect but who are religious kooks. As far as I’m concerned trying to be “nice” and “respectful” of the their religion is like saying it’s ok for people to fly airplanes into buildings full of people.”

That doesn’t sound very respectful to me.

“The big problem with religion is that it preaches intolerance.”

Then I guess you were promoting tolerance of religion in your post?

“They picket funerals and cause misery to grieving families.”

I’ve only heard of the Phelps family doing that, myself. Even other religious fundies think they’re are nuts.

“And for those religion nuts who don’t agree with the extremists in their ranks, why aren’t you doing anything to stop them???”

An atheist happens to commit a crime. What are you doing to stop them?

“Any club I belong to that I actually care about I’m definitely going to say something to anyone whose actions are harmful to my club or make us look like a bunch of nuts before the public.

Reign in your fellow nut-cases.”

So religion is a club then. What one does, the responsiblity should be shared by all. Tell all your religious buddies that they are responsible for all crimes commited by any religious nut. See what kind of response you get.

devman1:

Considering your views of any “liberal”, you are the last person to claim bigotry. Plus, you think the advocation of creationism in schools is OKAY? You think it’s okay for schools to teach kids to be dumb?