Is it irony? Or hypocrisy? (Isaiah, Egyptian, genesis, prophet)

[garya123]

Originally Posted by Eusebius

Excellent response jeff. I suggest if atheists don't like living in a country of Christians that they move to a country run by an atheist regime.

Yes, and those atheist regimes are responsible for more genocide then anyone can count. Good luck living there as they have killed Atheists and religious folks alike.
The Antichrist nations kill indiscriminately as did Germany under Hitler, China, Japan, Cambodia, USSR, Roman Empire and the list goes on and on.

And now in this time the Radical Islam groups want to kill both Atheists, Christians, Jews and other groups. But where the Lord and His commandments are honored their is peace in the land, the rule of law and respect for all life prevail. As Jesus said, "Let them [Atheists and Believers] grow together."

Now someone will say what about the Crusades, the Inquisition and the like? My answer to that is, I count what they did as no different then what Radical Islam is doing. They do not represent what God stands for.

[badlander]

Plus the ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia, oh wait that was Christians killing Muslins, doesn't count. And Germany was nit an atheist country nor were it's leaders.

It is a big step from someone complaining about a letter to the editor to telling her she should leave her own country to listing some awful regimes and blaming them on atheism. If she could go back in time perhaps a safe place like Northern Ireland in the 80s and 90s when folks there were good Christians. Or back to earlier times in America when killing the heathen natives or at least stealing their land was acceptable activities for Christians.

See anyone can pick and choose selective actions from one group to paint that entire group as bad 9r evil, be the Christian , Muslim or atheist. And in doing it as a way to demonize that group is bigotry which goes directly against what was originally complain about the OP.

My listing 9f the wrong doings by Christians was extremely selective, but unlike the post above mine was deliberately done to make a point.

[garya123]

Originally Posted by badlander

Plus the ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia, oh wait that was Christians killing Muslins, doesn't count. And Germany was nit an atheist country nor were it's leaders.

It is a big step from someone complaining about a letter to the editor to telling her she should leave her own country to listing some awful regimes and blaming them on atheism. If she could go back in time perhaps a safe place like Northern Ireland in the 80s and 90s when folks there were good Christians. Or back to earlier times in America when killing the heathen natives or at least stealing their land was acceptable activities for Christians.

See anyone can pick and choose selective actions from one group to paint that entire group as bad 9r evil, be the Christian , Muslim or atheist. And in doing it as a way to demonize that group is bigotry which goes directly against what was originally complain about the OP.

My listing 9f the wrong doings by Christians was extremely selective, but unlike the post above mine was deliberately done to make a point.

As I said, they don't represent God. The KKK uses Christ name in there evil doings also but I do not and neither does the Word of God recognize them as Christian. They are wolfs in sheep's clothing. As Jesus Said "You will know them by their fruit." There is a big difference between what you say you are and doing what Jesus said. Hitler was not a Christian, which means Christ like and neither were his officials.

[Willamette City]

Originally Posted by Eusebius

Excellent response jeff. I suggest if atheists don't like living in a country of Christians that they move to a country run by an atheist regime.

Sounds very forgiving and Christ-like. Bravo!

[badlander]

Originally Posted by garya123

As I said, they don't represent God. The KKK uses Christ name in there evil doings also but I do not and neither does the Word of God recognize them as Christian. They are wolfs in sheep's clothing. As Jesus Said "You will know them by their fruit." There is a big difference between what you say you are and doing what Jesus said. Hitler was not a Christian, which means Christ like and neither were his officials.

ISIS dies not represent Islam and the communist regimes do not represent atheist either. So what was your point? And why bring up these regimes? Communism was an ideology and was associated with atheism mainly by the US in an attempt to make it the opposite of each other. A lack of belief in any god does not make one a mass murderer and most countries that are low in religious belief are also low in crime. I saw no reason for your post other than to try to make Christians appear better than others and I guess if you can delete all that do wrong doings you would be right, but that is the case for all grouos.

[Matadora]

Originally Posted by badlander

ISIS dies not represent Islam and the communist regimes do not represent atheist either. So what was your point? And why bring up these regimes? Communism was an ideology and was associated with atheism mainly by the US in an attempt to make it the opposite of each other. A lack of belief in any god does not make one a mass murderer and most countries that are low in religious belief are also low in crime. I saw no reason for your post other than to try to make Christians appear better than others and I guess if you can delete all that do wrong doings you would be right, but that is the case for all grouos.

And they wonder why many see them as not being very bright when they make such statements?

[Shirina]

Originally Posted by jeffbase40

No it's hypocrisy that you talk about freedom of speech yet you are groaning that your extremely sensitive eyes (gasp) had to view religious content in a newspaper where probably the majority of readership had no problem with it.

LOL! Yep, I knew you would say that.

I suppose you missed the part where I said ... several times ... that it's a secular newspaper?

Secular?

How would you feel if I started scrawling atheist sentiments all over your religious paraphernalia, hmm, Jeff? Or are you going to sit there and say that religion is allowed to butt in everywhere?

I have no problems if someone wishes to spout off about religion in relation to an actual NEWS story since, well, it IS a newspaper, after all. You know ... a NEWSpaper.

It's not one of those pamphlets the preacher hands you at the door as you enter the church on Sunday morning.

It's a goddamn NEWSPAPER ... or are you too damn dense to understand just what newspapers are used for?

What this person wrote, and what this paper published, was just pure proselytizing and hell-threat and nothing else. NOTHING else.

That's a HUGE difference from, say, giving a religious commentary on current events.

For example: I don't go barging into the Christian forum and hassle anyone there. I don't go barging into churches. I don't go writing into religious publications demanding they publish atheist sentiments. And I sure as HELL do not write into ANYWHERE and bash people over the head with threats.

This is why I will continue to say that fundamentalist Christianity is patently disgusting, for it requires of the believer to go through life believing that perfectly good and decent, just, fair, and loving people be tortured forever simply for not bending knee to their god. It means Christians will trust, hug, befriend, kiss, love, and perhaps even marry people they think deserve to burn forever in a pit of everlasting fire.

It means fundamentalist Christians must be patently deceptive, duplicitous, and dishonest in order to maintain any civil relationship with ANYONE who isn't a Christian. In fact, that is true even for some who aren't members of their denomination. Because how can you possibly pretend to like, much less love someone you think deserves to be tortured forever?

If you can't see the immorality and inhumanity in your indefensible position, then that's too bad. But if you have any non-Christian friends, perhaps you should think about my words the next time you smile at them and deign to share your company with those you think deserve a fate worse than a Jew in the hands of the Nazis.

Bottom line is very simple: There is a time and a place for proselytizing. A secular newspaper column is NOT such a time nor is it such a place. Atheists, Muslims, Jews (not that they proselytize), nor any other religion should be doing it either. But oh yeah, I keep forgetting. People like you think Christians are above it all and don't have to play by ANY rules whether written or implied. Just do what you want because that's the nature of fascism.

Originally Posted by jeffbase40

Get real, most people in American do not believe like you. Here's some recent proof for you:

I don't give a rat's flying bung hole. Who are you, anyway, the Head Tyrant for the Tyranny of the Majority?

Oh wait, you can't be ... considering most people in America don't believe like YOU, either. Or do you forget that the rabid fundamentalism YOU espouse represents only a small minority as well? In fact, if all atheists actually came out of the proverbial closet, I'd be quite comfortable betting that there are more atheists, agnostics, and non-religious than fundamentalists ... not that it matters.

You seem to think that everything is a popularity contest like we're all just voting on the prom queen. No, sorry, but how we conduct our society and who gets to do what is just a wee bit more complicated than that, Jeff. It isn't all about numbers, and I'm pretty certain that even many Christians would be appalled that a secular newspaper published a hell-threat letter because it makes THEM look bad. I wonder how many young people decided not to go to church this Sunday because of that letter? Because THAT'S the kind of crap that is turning the youth away from religion.

Originally Posted by jeffbase40

That's a strong statement that most Americans don't appreciate atheists at all.

It's a strong statement that you and your ilk have been lying, misrepresenting, stereotyping, and denigrating atheists using your massive media resources that we simply do not have. Fascists have always had the most powerful propaganda apparatus. I guess that's because the fascist ideology would be unpleasant to everyone if the actual truth were known and scapegoating is one of the hallmarks of fascism. It's why religion has been doing it for at least ten thousand years.

There's an old saying: "What do you expect from a pig but a grunt." Well, guess what. I expect lies and hyperbole, exaggerations and scapegoating, hatred and bigotry from religious fundamentalism. It's going on right now on the Islamic side so I certainly expect it on the Christian side -- gays, atheists, feminists, the ACLU ... and it'll only be a matter of time before they join up with their political allies so that you'll both be hating on Muslims, immigrants, communists, socialists, anyone with more than a high school diploma (educated people can see through the Moderator cut: deleted), anyone with more than a 95 IQ (smart people can see through the Moderator cut: deleted), and anyone who isn't putting in 70+ hours or more at work (people with too much time can research their way through the Moderator cut: deleted).

Originally Posted by jeffbase40

People respect those who cheat on their spouses more than atheists according to this poll!

Which just goes to show you how "Christian" this country is. Never mind the fact that God ordered adulterers be put to death, right? They're far more respectable. Who cares what the Bible says about adultery!

What a joke. I'd laugh my ass off if this wasn't so ridiculous. So people respect people who thumb their noses at God's rules more than people who simply don't believe in God in the first place. LOL!

And as a Christian such a poll result makes you proud, somehow?

Originally Posted by jeffbase40

Being an evangelical Christian is also listed as one of the top characteristics desired. But in your world, everyone should do without just to appease the lone atheist who can't stand anything to do with our faith. Really sad.

For crying out loud, Jeff. All I said is that a secular newspaper shouldn't be publishing someone's hell threat. If the letter had something to do with an actual news story or current event, FINE. But a letter that was pure proselytizing without any reference to news or current events AND included a hell threat was simply INAPPROPRIATE for a secular newspaper to publish.

Why is that so damn hard for you to understand or accept? Oh right, I forgot. There are NO boundaries for you, is there? NONE. You think that your religion should be allowed to do what it wants, when it wants, where it wants, to whom it wants. Everyone ELSE should have limits. Everyone ELSE should have boundaries -- especially when atheists put up a sign or if someone calls the Bible "garbage."

Fundamentalists like you can hold rallies preaching to the world, with three presidential nominees in attendance that homosexuals should be MURDERED en masse by the government and that's fine because it's religion and religion can do whatever it wants. NOTHING is too horrible, nothing is out of bounds, nothing is too extreme, beyond the pale, too unfair, or simply wrong or immoral for religion.

Which is why people like you just keep proving my point about how dangerous fundamentalism is and why it needs to be eradicated from the face of the earth.

[Shirina]

Originally Posted by mordant

I think your point is well taken. In my experience, small town "letter to the editor" sections are usually willing to print whatever random bloviations that citizens come up with, and the craziness or irrationality isn't limited to religious ideations. I am not sure I've seen much evidence of filters on what gets printed. Many such readers expect anything they mail in to be printed, or it's some kind of conspiracy afoot. Some send in a letter on an almost weekly basis, which everyone then skips reading. Apparently people who write letters to the editor haven't discovered Facebook or internet forums or reddit yet.

So yes, the editor my have sneaked one in under the radar, but I wouldn't assume s/he has an agenda or cares or is even competent.

Unfortunately, I see A LOT of letters that are heavy on religion. I only shared this one because it was pure proselytizing and included a hell threat which was crazy even for this paper.

But trust me when I say that this kind of thing happens all the time. Last year right around Christmas time, I actually clipped no less than 47 letters to the editor that did nothing but gay bash (I actually began a scrapbook about 2 years ago with these letters and now I have hundreds). That's 47 letters in less than 60 days. People are constantly writing letters preaching, reciting Bible verses, talking about sin, and usually referencing religion in terms of same-sex marriage, the horrors of Democrat and liberal politicians, how secular nations are collapsing (of course they keep talking about Greece over and over and over but fail to mention the 30 or so secular nations that are doing better than we are), how every bad thing in the nation from financial woes to school shootings are the fault of abandoning God, how atheists have no morals (because around here, I'm sure they know lots of atheists *cough* to know that for a fact), how horrible secularized (i.e. government-run) health care is (because Christian insurance companies care about you!), Obama the Muslim is coming to take your guns, and... and ...

Let's just say that the only time I can get through an entire week without encountering at least one letter a week that isn't spraying God all over the "Letter to the Editor" section is when there's a really big local issue like when one of the elementary schools closed (of course that was the decision of a bunch of Republicans who wanted to lower property taxes ... "be careful what you wish for" and whatnot, but they'll still hate on Democrats and connect Republicans with Christianity and God the very next week, the morons).

Which is to say that this isn't a slip beneath the radar or someone in the office who thought the letter was so funny or sappy that they let it through. This crap is serious biz around here and I have to choke down vile whenever I open the paper. I'm not even sure why I torture myself by reading it at all -- and it wouldn't be so bad if there was a counterbalance, but there's not.

[Shirina]

Originally Posted by Eusebius

Excellent response jeff. I suggest if atheists don't like living in a country of Christians that they move to a country run by an atheist regime.

More fascism.

Let's forget all about diversity, the separation of church and state, and the freedom FROM religion.

Instead, let's just show people the door.

How about if YOU don't like living in a country where religion has boundaries, YOU can move to a country where it doesn't ... like somewhere controlled by ISIS.

[Shirina]

Originally Posted by garya123

Yes, and those atheist regimes are responsible for more genocide then anyone can count. Good luck living there as they have killed Atheists and religious folks alike.

Oh wonderful. Another person who has no business discussing history. Please, find something else to talk about. You simply do not have the requisite knowledge to participate in a discussion about atheist regimes and I'm personally sick and tired of trying to teach people who need such massive amounts of remedial help understanding what REALLY happened that I end up spending half the day typing out posts just so people like you can say "nuh uh" and continue clinging to ignorance.

Originally Posted by garya123

and the list goes on and on.

As does the historical ignorance.

Originally Posted by garya123

Now someone will say what about the Crusades, the Inquisition and the like? My answer to that is, I count what they did as no different then what Radical Islam is doing. They do not represent what God stands for.

I really don't care. Both sides were, and still are, fighting and dying for the right to have their primitive god concept to take its place as the dominant belief system. In my eyes, it has all the legitimacy of fighting and dying over the right to declare whether Superman can beat up Mighty Mouse.