What tests your tolerance as an atheist? (born, America, moral)

[Laychick]

Originally Posted by BBBentley

I tend to lose it when the gawd believers, upon discovering that I am an atheist, tell me that I'm bound to spend eternity in HELL, or the LAKE of FIRE!

These words are always shouted...I guess the guy in the sky frowns on whisperers of eternal blistering threats. But the worst part is fanatical look in their eyes; all glittering and gleaming in fevered anticipation of my imagined agony...forever and ever, amen.

I guess we haven't evolved too far from those who revelled in the inquisitions.
.

Yes, I can't stand religious fanatics either. Some of them actually would treat us like we had some type of disease or something. They want to keep digging further as to why we're non-believers even when there is no point to it.

Religious fanatics...ugh

[MaggieZ]

Also what bothers me is that seemingly very smart, intelligent people, especially people who have lived a little, still cling onto that fairytale. How can reality have eluded you for so long? Unless you are so scared to face it. It's pityful when I hear someone whose mind I really respect and whose overal views I value, then come out with religious talk. How can they cower in the corner when it comes to seeing that bible for what it is?

[Boxcar Overkill]

Originally Posted by MaggieZ

Also what bothers me is that seemingly very smart, intelligent people, especially people who have lived a little, still cling onto that fairytale. How can reality have eluded you for so long? Unless you are so scared to face it. It's pityful when I hear someone whose mind I really respect and whose overal views I value, then come out with religious talk. How can they cower in the corner when it comes to seeing that bible for what it is?

Many religions, (Christianity at least) have very powerful psychological techniques that prevent people from seriously questioning it's premises. If one is taught them when they are young, it can be very difficult to shake.

They make you terrified to ask yourself the normal questions, so you can never come to the obvious conclusions.

You're to afraid to filter your thoughts through the normal mental process you use to objectively determine what is true.

[TRANSPONDER]

Easy and comfortable answers to puzzling and worrying questions is a powerful selling -point. The 'With Us or Against Us' threat is even more powerful than hellthreat. The only thing that disbelief has going for it (as an alternative) is that the religious claims so often strain credulity.

[PoppySead]

Originally Posted by MaggieZ

Also what bothers me is that seemingly very smart, intelligent people, especially people who have lived a little, still cling onto that fairytale. How can reality have eluded you for so long? Unless you are so scared to face it. It's pityful when I hear someone whose mind I really respect and whose overal views I value, then come out with religious talk. How can they cower in the corner when it comes to seeing that bible for what it is?

Oh yes, this right here! ^^^^^

Especially when it's say, the president of the United States.

I often think if the leader of this country hasn't figured that all out then we're in trouble still.

[weltschmerz]

Not a whole lot tests me. I live in a very secular milieu. We're turning churches into condos, dance clubs, museums, and the like. We used to be one of the staunchest Roman Catholic places on earth. One day, people just woke up. When the pendulum stopped swinging, it didn't stop in the middle.

MONTREAL - In the stately Notre-Dame-du-Perpétuel-Secours Church in Ville-Émard, where the faithful once raised their voices to the heavens in prayer and song, the masses these days are chanting the chorus to Elton John’s Crocodile Rock and AC/DC’s You Shook Me All Night Long.
They’re also partying at disco-themed Christmas parties, saddling up to a bar made from wood taken from the church’s confessionals, and watching tribute bands perform on a stage where the altar used to be.
The conversion from church to Théâtre Paradox, a multi-functional performance space with room for 800, is emblematic of the challenges facing a city blessed with roughly 500 places of worship — four times the number found in Paris. Many of these buildings, however, are cursed with dwindling membership and an inability to cover maintenance and heating costs, forcing them to close.
One study estimated 340 Quebec churches have been abandoned, converted or demolished in the first 10 years of this century.

Old churches seeking new vocations

[Shirina]

Originally Posted by weltschmerz

Not a whole lot tests me. I live in a very secular milieu. We're turning churches into condos, dance clubs, museums, and the like. We used to be one of the staunchest Roman Catholic places on earth. One day, people just woke up. When the pendulum stopped swinging, it didn't stop in the middle.

MONTREAL - In the stately Notre-Dame-du-Perpétuel-Secours Church in Ville-Émard, where the faithful once raised their voices to the heavens in prayer and song, the masses these days are chanting the chorus to Elton John’s Crocodile Rock and AC/DC’s You Shook Me All Night Long.
They’re also partying at disco-themed Christmas parties, saddling up to a bar made from wood taken from the church’s confessionals, and watching tribute bands perform on a stage where the altar used to be.
The conversion from church to Théâtre Paradox, a multi-functional performance space with room for 800, is emblematic of the challenges facing a city blessed with roughly 500 places of worship — four times the number found in Paris. Many of these buildings, however, are cursed with dwindling membership and an inability to cover maintenance and heating costs, forcing them to close.
One study estimated 340 Quebec churches have been abandoned, converted or demolished in the first 10 years of this century.

Old churches seeking new vocations

*wistful sigh*

[Shirina]

Oh yeah, one more thing that I really find annoying ...

When Christians talk about GOD and always write out GOD and LORD and JESUS and SAVIOR and any other word referring to their deities in all-caps.

It's like listening to an actual conversation in real-life and having the speaker suddenly SHOUT the names and titles of their deities in your face.

[midwest61021]

Originally Posted by Shirina

Oh yeah, one more thing that I really find annoying ...

When Christians talk about GOD and always write out GOD and LORD and JESUS and SAVIOR and any other word referring to their deities in all-caps.

It's like listening to an actual conversation in real-life and having the speaker suddenly SHOUT the names and titles of their deities in your face.

Ya know I think you're right, because I get yelled at or deleted when I say ATHEIST! Oh sorry, I didn't mean to shout, hee hee.

[Lilac110]

Originally Posted by Shirina

Oh yeah, one more thing that I really find annoying ...

When Christians talk about GOD and always write out GOD and LORD and JESUS and SAVIOR and any other word referring to their deities in all-caps.

It's like listening to an actual conversation in real-life and having the speaker suddenly SHOUT the names and titles of their deities in your face.

I always get an image of some constipated-looking preacher turning purple and pointing a sausage-like finger down at the masses from the pulpit when they do that.

Oy.