This matters why?


Deron

 

Or even "the." I'm an American, but I don't claim him!

 

Dear God,

Thank you for cock!

Gratefully yours,

Lioness

 

Dear God,

Thank you for pussy. Would you please help me get some? I would be most grateful.

Tommy

 

If those figures are true it raises one pertinent question for me.

Britain is 40% atheist but has it's head of state as also head of the state religion, bishops sit in the upper house of parliament and the Anglican religion is an established part of the establishment.

In America 90 % are believers but you've got a constitution (which isn't always upheld, mind) that strictly seperates church and state, that protects any form of belief equally, that bans use of public funds to promote any religion.

Are the different constitutional situations related to the level of belief? Does Britain not believe because it's an act of rebellion against "the state"? Do americans believe as an act of resistance against their government?

Probably not, but it makes you think, doesn't it?

Well, it does unless you're an evangelical christian.

 

I think that figure in the US is probably higher than 10%. There isn't the same level of a backlash over here if you come out and say you are agnostic or athiest. Unless you are an ethnic minority, most people will probably assume you are not religious unless otherwise stated.

Coming out as agnostic/athiest, depending on your former religion, will probably only upset a couple of family members. In some parts of the US you can be shunned by whole communities, it can even effect your job prospects. I'm willing to believe that not only are there quite a few closet non believers in the USA, there are quite a few that still sit through church.

Here in the UK, people will still put on census reports that they are part of a religion, out of habbit, or sense of community, or what they think the moral structure they follow is based on, while not actually believing in god. So i think it is safe to say, it is also probably higher than 40% here too.

 

Sadly you will find that the closet has two entrances. In many professions, such as research and education, it is the religious which are forced to hide their beliefs. It is rather sad that the prejudice exists at all, but it does exist, and it does exist both ways. Therefore I think you'll find your guesswork mostly moot as you have only calculated one side of a two sided equation.

 

That depends. Religious people have every right to go into education, and I'm sure many thousands do, and in the south it is probably a requirement or something silly. But these religious people should only be teaching the curriculum, not tying in their own beliefs with the education, not only would it be unconstitutional, but it wouldn't be fair on the kids, as they wouldn't be learning the correct material.

As for research, again religious people are fully entitled into going into research, but if you want to learn anything new, you have to apply a scientific method, if your religion skews your results, you are not learning anything new or worthwhile.

 

I feel it a matter of manners to reply, though I haven't the slightest as to what to say. You've gone off on some tangent about religious people not using the bible to teach geometry, and I have no idea how that ties itself even loosely to the discussion of equal discrimination among the sides and the need to lie about ones beliefs.

 

I think you are basing your argument on false claims, I have not heard of teaching positions being denied to people if they believe in God. I'm merely stating that to be a teacher that they should not bring their religion into the classroom, not that they should lie about what they believe in. Don't try to brush off my claims as if I am spouting nonsense, there are many instances of teachers in science classrooms, particulary biology that distort the facts, or give the facts to the students but imply that what is being taught is rubbish.

If people are having to lie, and to hide their religion, then that is a shame, and something should be done. I respect peoples right to believe what they like, and I think they should be able to do it openly, However, not when it is unconstitutional, like in a public high school.

 

It is good manners to provide facts before demanding them. Your entire position was founded upon assumptions of people afraid to offend their families and hurting their job prospects. Do you have anything beyond mere opinion to support those assumptions? I suppose if you dug hard enough you could find it, but I wont force you to do so because I think it is a common sense statement. Somehow you lose your common sense, however, when dealing with your own beliefs and you have trouble comprehending a religious person being discriminated against in the same fashion as an atheist. Why is that?

 

I accept that it could happen, Infact it probably does happen, however I find it unnecessary for people of religion to hide their beliefs. As I believe it is unlikely that schools would discriminate against people of faith in the first place.

 

Well I am glad you admit its probability, you had me worried. And I find it unnecessary that an atheist should hide his religion(no slip), but I have no doubt that in certain circles he must. I must add that I find it interesting that you focused on schools not discriminating, when, in fact, they seem to be the worst offenders, with U.S. colleges having the worst ratio of any industry in terms of liberal vs. conservative employees.

 

well ...except for the 'A' theists ...................
however .............we ... kn-w GOD is a tall shapely BLONDE Scandinavian woman.:excited:

................ that is WHY I AM here .....

 

the USA is the most religous nation in the western world

 

we're also the world's largest economy yet our students are ranked 17th. :neutral:

 

You need to pray more.

 

100% of Quebeckers (Canadian) Dont believe in God, Santa, Tooth Fairy,

 

I disagree. I was a passionate atheist for the first 28 years of my life. Until I actually took the time to read what it was that I was criticizing,the bible. In the last four years, I have considered myself a christian of my own denomination. Lets not forget that god and church are two VERY different and separate things. In no way do I support any form of organized religion.

After clearing my mind of all so called christian imagery and stereotypes, which was really what my atheism was based on, I started to read the bible to judge it on the written word not other men's interpretations of this ancient text. I realized that what Jesus was teaching through out the bible was one of my own fundamental morals. "Do on to your brother as you would have done to you." and forgive others who wrong you rather then holding a grudge. I was already christian and didn't even know it.

I am a christian. I am a sinner. Christianity is a sinner's religion. I drink, I fornicate, I use hard and soft drugs, I gamble, I use the lord's name in vain and at times I even tell lies. Although, I do not harm my brother like stealing and killing. But this is mostly due to my own morals not religious belief. However, I know that god will forgive me for my sins as I also make a point of forgiving those who sin against me. (according to Christianity)

Jesus was a sinner and a revolutionary. He was a man who turned the Jewish church, government at the time, on its head. His objective was to free the population Judea from the over repressive, fundamental, corrupt beliefs and control of the Jewish church. He was giving us the right to fall for our earthly temptations and not necessarily be punished for that as long as we also did good to others in the society and forgave those who fell for their own temptations against us.

Unfortunetly the homos which form the Evangelical and Catholic religions have actually managed to reverse Jesus' work and bring back this feeling of total control and "its my way or hell" mentality. This is exactly what Jesus fought against. To me these forms of so called Christianity are the epitome of evil. And completely and totally contradict the point that Jesus' revolution was trying to make. Since their voices are much louder and intrusive then that of the written word of the bible. Modern opinion of Christianity has been based on what these churches say Christians should be like.

In the end, Atheism is a suckers bet. Upon death, if a life long atheist was actually correct about his beliefs, he/she gets nothing in the end. Just darkness or whatever. However if that same atheist were to be wrong and the christian God turned out to be very real, he would be set for eternal damnation. On the other hand, upon death, if a Christian is actually correct about his beliefs, he will receive eternity in Paradise. (as one of god's own creation is one of my favorite sins. I can only imagine what Paradise would be be like.) However if that same christian is wrong and it turns out that god really doesn't exist. He has nothing to lose and at least he probably lead a pretty moral life and helped some people on the way.

I am a gambler, my preferred game is black jack. I would NEVER hit on a 20. And to me that is what atheism is like. Nothing to gain and everything to lose. A fools bet.

If you are an intelligent atheist who has not yet read the bible, I would urge you to pick it up and forget all of the stereotypes of organized Christianity and read it with an open and free mind. You may find that you have more in common with Jesus and his beliefs and principles then you had thought.

Anyway, That is my opinion, I know it is different, and the reason why I am proud to consider myself a christian. I would be interested in hearing from the atheists as to why you have chosen atheism.

If you have taken the time to read this post, Please feel free to comment, disagree, agree, ... etc. I am constantly changing my opinions as I get older. I would love to see the faults in what I just posted. Just don't call me a twat... please...

Paz e amor, irmaos :rose: