I lived and worked in America, whilst in a business in Oklahoma a bell sounded mid morning and the entire staff got on their knees and started praying. Thinking about it now sends a shiver of revulsion down my spine, it was just like Big Brother" in 1984.
I lost my job for being cornered, and directly asked, by the owner of the company, my religious beliefs - when I hesitantly replied "Atheist", I was literally handed a Bible, told to "go find my poor lost soul", and I was let go. That would be awesome if I had some video of that. Christians are good people though.. no... really... promise.. swear to god.. lol
So sorry about your troubles. Firing you on grounds of religion (or lack of) is obviously a violation of your first amendment rights and illegal. If you have resources, you would certainly prevail if you have (or can legally gather) evidence that this was the reason for your dismissal. Settlement would include return of employment, lost wages, damages from lost wages, and pain and suffering. It might put the fear of god into the pricks as well, while helping your fellow employees that don't worship the prick's way.
Angus Davies - Well, it turned out the entire place was a bunch of the same type religious people. When I was fired, I got a few calls from coworkers later to ask what happened, I told them, and they were more afraid for what would happen to my soul, than what would happen when I couldn't pay my rent. I decided to just let it all go - I have no way of proving that. The job I'm at now is just completely racist - me and the other 3 white employees are just waiting for something to happen on its own. The audio and video we've sent to HR means nothing. Heheheh. Quite the world we live in. Just smile, shut your mouth, and do your work.
Yeah - we have a group of about 8-10 families in our little area here that are planning to move out of the country. It's THAT bad here.On top of the religious crap we deal with, we have extreme racism (from the black people) here, at work, and at home. We are all a bit embarrassed to call ourselves americans. So the plan is to not be americans for any longer than we must.
"So you expect my god to come, and save me?" No. I expect you to die! "Christianity is something you actually commit to." and if you do, you should be committed.
Thank you SuperAtheist! Finally someone who actually tries to bring on the facts. I've never even heard of atheists trying to push their beliefs on someone else.. But then again I live in Norway, which in my point of view is one of the most tolerant countries in the world. Thanks again for posting this!
The only reason we don't keep quiet is because we are losing our rights, and America is becoming a Christian nation. We are simply trying to uphold the Constitution, and this is why we speak out.
How do you just take that?! I would document, document, document, get kickass lawyer & enjoy not working the rest of my life what BS!! Had it been reversed it'd be national news
He is, but he doesn't tolerate sinful acts. Murdering babies in the womb, homosexuality, murder, stealing, lying adultery, disrespecting your parents. Bearing false witness against your neighbor....etc.
my goal is not to convert anyone but to express my opinion and bring atention to this dicrimination. atheists have been quiet for too long... the quiet is over!
As to your first point, I agree that universities educate, but they also question and research. I'm used to my professors sometimes being... well... being a little nuts. To your second point, I applaud your fairness. If you could allow such a statement, then I could allow a prayer.
When I say praying by yourself...I don't mean you have to have a nice quiet corner for you to hide in.I mean you are free to pray for yourself.You can bow your head in the middle of a classroom of people and say whatever prayer you want. What I don't want is the principal getting on the PA or a teacher calling on the whole class telling every last student to bow their head for the Lord's prayer.
I'm and intelligent person literate person, and I'm a christian! I agree many so called Christians are major bigots, but then again most people are in one way or another we all have done things that are wrong and we all fear things we do not understand! But there also those of us who have chosen to overcome our feelings and do the right thing, accept people for who they are and judge people according to their actions! I have never told a person they are going to hell and I'm a Christian!
Was there an atheist on that "atheist discrimination panel" at the end? If not it would be like 3 racist white people in the 1960s discussing racism, and concluding that there isn't any in America.
I'm not angry, but I would like to know what you think I am wrong about and what your argument/evidence is. Also, I am only slightly irritated at individuals such as yourself who don't listen or care to. That is all.
"Give me any plague, but the plague of the heart: and any wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman." (Eccles. 25:13) "Of the woman came the beginning of sin, and through her we all die." (Eccles. 25:22) "If she go not as thou wouldest have her, cut her off from thy flesh, and give her a bill of divorce, and let her go." (Eccles. 25: 26) "A shameless woman shall be counted as a dog; but she that is shamefaced will fear the Lord." (Eccles.26:25)
Didn't say everything else is wrong...it's just a huge waste of time for people to argue so others can make big money with their books/movies/documentaries,etc.etc.
@ramfan32 I never said anything about public prayer. If a christian or a jewish person, or a buddhist wants to pray in public, I could care less. Now if they want to force me to pray along with them, then that is a violation of my rights.
This is a poor example of being Christian. As Christians we should be reaching out to atheists. They only pushed them farther from God instead of befriending them and talking to them about God. If they didn't want to believe then it is their choice but at least it may change their perception about Christians and make them more open to talk about God. But it works both ways. I have an atheist friend. I have given him an open invitation to come to church with me any time. I don't push my beliefs on him but just let him know if he ever wants to talk about God or come with me to church he is welcome to. Flip side, he is very respectful of my beliefs and doesn't complain or get offended when we hang out and I pray at dinner. He respects my beliefs and I respect his, it has to work both ways which is why I hated them pulling prayer from school. I asked his opinion on the matter and he said he didn't care if people wanted to pray, its their right and their belief. I think as Christians we could get prayer back in school if we wouldn't ostracize atheists, then they probably wouldn't care if we prayed in school or not. Just my opinion
You can pray in school all you want, but the school can't set aside special time for everyone to pray. That is why it was removed, but you can still say silent prayers. Removing prayer from schools doesn't make it ILLEGAL to pray in school, it's just that the school can't decide which prayers you are going to say. Otherwise, the first hour of the day would have to goto ALL prayers, christian, muslim, etcetc
+Robert Rentel ...I'm not sure I believe her. They talk like that when atheist are around. When they're with their christian buddies...it's a whole different bigoted, hate filled story.
PROOF SUPERATHEIST IS NOT AN ATHEIST!! Odin loves you, jstunna4900. Just remember that because the same Odin that loves me, loves you. No matter what you say, the love of Odin is real. Every time you read one of my messages it's getting through to your sub conscious mind, so believe what you want. I don't care. I just like to shake you christians up. Make you think about it, also for others to read the comments so they can have a glimpse of a real super natural love of Odin and not the jesus
@christo930 Pretty much, it's hard to believe how many christians actually think being an atheist means you worship the devil, it's easy to refute something you have a misconstrewed understanding of.
What is wrong with being an atheist? I don't see anything wrong with that. I believe in Shamanism but still I'm fascinated by other peoples' belifes and religions. I think that everyone should be open minded. It's wrong to hate on someone that don't believe in what you believe. It's not like you're gonna die if someone believes in something different than you.
@ramfan32 I said we have cores over 2000 years old, and you said I was uneducated because the noahs fake boat happened 4500 years ago. 4500 > 2000, your comment makes no sense. Penguins evolved from earlier types of penguins (Spheniscinae) these earlier forms do not exist today. Probably from the Palaeeudyptinae family. What kind of dating method? I am not a scientist, look up the article on national geographic, good luck disproving scientific laws.
How long ago was this video made? I can't believe that people in the states actually treat people like they're dangerous criminals because they do not believe in the Cristian idea of God. I am glad I live in Canada.
@ramfan32 When you give a graduation speech you are, in effect, speaking on behalf of the school, and thus endorsing a religious viewpoint is improper. Grad speeches need to be preapproved in the first place anyways, so it's not like prayer is unique in that aspect. I doubt that they'd let you give a speech about pot legalization at graduation, for example. Preaching on the street corner is different from using a school sanctioned event as a tool to promote religion.
It is very hard for an atheist to open up and say whom they truly are. It leads to loneliness especially in the dating game. It is even worse when it comes to admitting this to your family. A strong sense of fear comes into play. What if your parents raised you to follow for all these years and then one day you tell them that you're a nonbeliever . Exact words will come out: "you're in a phase, you'll grow out" of it" "or get out" Anger will come out and it does ALL THE TIME
I feel sorry for the family, but a lot of atheist discriminate against Christians. I hope Atheists stay quiet cause most of them are just as guilty as other people who are religious in trying to convert people to their beliefs and way of thinking.
Thank goodness for people like this speaking up. Only when this happens can other atheists 'come out'. I am terribly sorry that they have lost everything because of it tho. WHAT A DISGRACE OF A COUNTRY U.S. IS!
the declaration of independence is a letter to the king declaring our independence. the constitution is the foundation of our government. You really need to read more.
@lookingfordagobah It was an analogy. No, I don't like people who think they are intelligent but don't have the ability to demonstrate it, and then blame their inability to articulate themselves on entire groups of people.
you should look up the definition of both Atheism and Agnosticism.also if this is somthing you actualy care about try really looking at how Atheists are treated in America. Its not hard to find that the laws have much more leniency for religions than anything else in our country.
im an atheist and i am tollerant of all religions, but when they say there being opressed i can understand and yet its us shocks me, i thought that christians were tollerant, just goes to show there are some unconsiderate christains out there
The Declaration of Independence was a list of grievances against the king. We were literally declaring our independence. The Constitution didn't even come until after the Articles of Confederation, which was a failed government system. The Constitution doesn't even mention God once. The only instances of religion are when it is declaring that religion and the state must be separate, and people have the freedom of religion.
Ramfan32 again it's nothing wrong with you praying at school.You can do so by yourself even with a small group of friends.But there's a difference between that and the whole school having to stop from their lessons bow their heads and recite the Lord's Prayer (a uniquely christian prayer) before being allowed to continue with school again.I wonder if you weren't a part of the predominate religion would you be able to understand?
I'm not religious but I'm still christian. theres a big difference in the two. you don't believe but open your mind to the belief. atheists need to stop pretending christians lose all logic when someone believes in Christ. If anything, they gain more theological knowledge and lose any fear they have..... to you thats "negative" and "wrong" so hey.. I guess one day we'll all find out whats right, eh?
The point is I shouldn't have to walk off because the school shouldn't be sponsoring it!What is so wrong with you praying before the graduation ceremony?Or you get together with your family afterward and pray.Why does it have to be right in the middle of it and why does it have to be everyone? It's this force feeding of your particular brand of delusion that I don't like.And as long as you keep putting it in everyone's face everyone should have the right to criticize it.
"I don't know" does not equal "god". Atheists are just cool with the "I don't know", and theists need something to make them feel safe, special, and not so alone in our vast universe. Science will most likely find the answers one day and may indeed reveal the existence of a spiritual aspect to our world, but it's silly to believe something which there is no proof for just because it makes you feel good. A book is not proof. Anyone can write a book.
While I personally would be willing to look the other way, it is rather marginalizing to non-christians to have an explicitly christian prayer at a graduation ceremony for all students. Having a personal prayer for yourself beforehand is fine, but using a school-sponored event to promote a certain religious viewpoint crosses the line. Besides, isn't there something in the bible about jesus instructing his followers to 'pray in your closet' or something of that nature?
@dalek14mc What makes a person Christian? There doesn't seem to be a straight answer to that question that even most Christians can agree upon. If it's only a belief in the supernatural without any proof (i.e. faith) then yes I don't think that's a particularly smart position to take, or to expect others to truly respect either. Everything else is simply tradition, and you don't need to believe in the supernatural to uphold traditions.
He he he... I support college professors in whatever their statements on religion are. The point of Universities is to question any and all beliefs. As for the prayer... would you also allow an atheistic statement to be read at graduation? Something along the lines of "Our class can move forward free from God, without the religious fears of our past... etc."?
@DarrelfromZeeland That' so intelligent, I have no word for this. You can download and read the text of the constitution that separates church and state, but will you be able to understand it ? I doubt.
very little negative in the Bible...actually, it's the other way around...atheists and their followers usually cite the noncurrent beliefs that are quoted in the Bible and forget the millions of ideas/beliefs, etc. that are highly useful and powerful.
"Really is that why it has been suggested by some evolutionist that the law of entropy might not have operated in the distant past?" NO! Idiot. How can anyone be this goddamn stupid?
So what I'm getting from that statement is you like to fill in missing facts with what you want to be true. If you at least did this with out certainty I would be able to respect the thought process. The problem comes when you state it as fact when you are most likely wrong.
@ramfan32 Of course there are no opposing views! Because opposing logical and scientific views do not exist! Scientific debate over evolution focuses on specific aspects and mechanics of it, not the concept as a whole. As for graduation, using a graduation ceremony to preech or pray would be taking advantage of a state-sponsored ceremony to promote religious views. You can pray with your family afterwards, not use EVERYONE'S graduation to satisfy YOUR religious viewpoints.
im athiest... but dont be one of them. thats quote mining SuperAthiest and is somthing Religion does. dont be one of them. one of the perks of being Athiest is that your arguments are solid. so you dont need quote mining. but good job pointing out the parallels.
It won't matter if theist are dumped into the ocean. If one survives, they will thank "God" but they will forget "God" took the lives of the others. It kinda like how Christians who quote the positive stuff stuff in the Bible, but ignore the negative.
@ramfan32 4500 = over 2000 learn how to read, and how numbers work. When did I say that dinosaurs grew wings? Penguins we have today did not simply adapt to cold, they did not exist at same time as fake noah . Penguins evolved, it is a proven fact, the same penguins here today did not exist, they are evolved forms of earlier penguins. A 3 kilometre long ice core retrieved from Antarctica contains snow fall from the last 740,000 years. This was with 100 metres left which would reveal 900,000.
you are borrowing from Richard Hawkins, and other atheist You believe what you believe and I'll believe what I believe. There is no solution to this arguement because no one really knows. Thanks for post
You don't believe in the Giant in the clouds? Where do your morals come from then? Not believing in Jack and the Beanstalk is illogical. The book clearly states that the giant exists. How can you deny that?!
Listen im agnostic, or to put it in dumber terms i dont follow man made or "organized" reglions. Atheists, just like religious people discriminate and can be victims. To say atheists are discriminated against is a stretch to put it nicely, and im talking about in America and ill only speak on America because its the country i was born in and live in. Just the same way that you may hate someone trying to convert you, others might hate you trying to explain to them why there is no god.
@ramfan32 It's very simple. Why should one religion have preference in this country over all others? Why not have a nation that can be identified as being a nation without one single religion plastered on it's money or it's pledge? If we really aren't a christian nation then we shouldn't have christian beliefs embedded into our constitution or our laws. For example christians passed laws in all states outlawing polygamy. What gives them the right to do that?
So what you are saying is that there is a possibility of Allah being the true supreme being. What about the Thor. And Horus. As far as "others" making money with books/ movies, look no further than the Bible miniseries that just came out. Seems like Religious profiteering to me. In fact, there are many Christian books about faith in a deity that make the NY times best seller list. I agree some Atheist take it too far, but so do religious folk.
It depends on what class you're in.If it's a history class and the topic at hand was the salem witch trials then no the professor has every right to point out the barbarism of that point in history.Now if you are having a math class and he goes off on a hour long rant about the pitfalls of religion then he has clearly overstepped his bounds and you should go to an admistrator.That clear it up for ya?
"i see a people united as one not divided by petty arguments." that's because dissenters have been imprisoned or killed! if the christians killed or imprison everyone in America that is NOT a christian or the right kind of christian, America would look very united! I bet the citizens of israel are very united since they are all of one religion.
Yeah i think your right, and i dont think i would fall under agnostic's definition. So its easier to say im spiritual i guess. Im curious about the laws part. I mean i understand how religions get several legal breaks that (I find) are stupid. Namely not paying taxes. Thats the big one that bothers me as churches (not all, but enough) have used funds raised in good faith for personal gains of the clergy (priests, whatever) in that church. But to me that has less to do with atheism but bad laws
@guitarchick100 Same God who destroyed countless thousands in the old tesetament, the same god who called for all those who do not worship him to be killed, the same god who banishes souls to a realm of eternal suffering for sins commited during a finite amount of time. Now that is a moral and just person if I ever heard of one.
@lookingfordagobah You got it all messed up. I said smacked out. Also, I said go drink a beer. The insults were directed at the person's lack of intelligence. He attacked me first I believe, with some stupid and typical creationist ad hom. I'm just giving it back as is deserved.
So you say...how do you know that? Did you create the earth the stars, the moon. I think not little man. Just because you and your atheists friends know some of God's laws...one of which is evolution--doesn't mean there is no Creator. Check the Bible, the U.S. Declaration--you may get a glimpse of the light
CNN should be renamed "alternate Fox News"
I lived and worked in America, whilst in a business in Oklahoma a bell sounded mid morning and the entire staff got on their knees and started praying. Thinking about it now sends a shiver of revulsion down my spine, it was just like Big Brother" in 1984.
I lost my job for being cornered, and directly asked, by the owner of the company, my religious beliefs - when I hesitantly replied "Atheist", I was literally handed a Bible, told to "go find my poor lost soul", and I was let go. That would be awesome if I had some video of that. Christians are good people though.. no... really... promise.. swear to god.. lol
So sorry about your troubles. Firing you on grounds of religion (or lack of) is obviously a violation of your first amendment rights and illegal. If you have resources, you would certainly prevail if you have (or can legally gather) evidence that this was the reason for your dismissal. Settlement would include return of employment, lost wages, damages from lost wages, and pain and suffering. It might put the fear of god into the pricks as well, while helping your fellow employees that don't worship the prick's way.
Angus Davies - Well, it turned out the entire place was a bunch of the same type religious people. When I was fired, I got a few calls from coworkers later to ask what happened, I told them, and they were more afraid for what would happen to my soul, than what would happen when I couldn't pay my rent. I decided to just let it all go - I have no way of proving that. The job I'm at now is just completely racist - me and the other 3 white employees are just waiting for something to happen on its own. The audio and video we've sent to HR means nothing. Heheheh. Quite the world we live in. Just smile, shut your mouth, and do your work.
Sorry Alex. It's not that blatent here, and likely easier to prosecute. It's a big world.
Yeah - we have a group of about 8-10 families in our little area here that are planning to move out of the country. It's THAT bad here.On top of the religious crap we deal with, we have extreme racism (from the black people) here, at work, and at home. We are all a bit embarrassed to call ourselves americans. So the plan is to not be americans for any longer than we must.
"So you expect my god to come, and save me?"
No. I expect you to die!
"Christianity is something you actually commit to."
and if you do, you should be committed.
Thank you SuperAtheist!
Finally someone who actually tries to bring on the facts. I've never even heard of atheists trying to push their beliefs on someone else.. But then again I live in Norway, which in my point of view is one of the most tolerant countries in the world. Thanks again for posting this!
The only reason we don't keep quiet is because we are losing our rights, and America is becoming a Christian nation. We are simply trying to uphold the Constitution, and this is why we speak out.
My best friend is Atheist and I'm Orthodox. It's sad to see stuff like this happen...
How do you just take that?! I would document, document, document, get kickass lawyer & enjoy not working the rest of my life what BS!! Had it been reversed it'd be national news
He is, but he doesn't tolerate sinful acts. Murdering babies in the womb, homosexuality, murder, stealing, lying adultery, disrespecting your parents. Bearing false witness against your neighbor....etc.
People aren't trying to remove god from the equation. He was never in it to begin with.
my goal is not to convert anyone but to express my opinion and bring atention to this dicrimination.
atheists have been quiet for too long... the quiet is over!
As to your first point, I agree that universities educate, but they also question and research. I'm used to my professors sometimes being... well... being a little nuts.
To your second point, I applaud your fairness. If you could allow such a statement, then I could allow a prayer.
When I say praying by yourself...I don't mean you have to have a nice quiet corner for you to hide in.I mean you are free to pray for yourself.You can bow your head in the middle of a classroom of people and say whatever prayer you want. What I don't want is the principal getting on the PA or a teacher calling on the whole class telling every last student to bow their head for the Lord's prayer.
I'm and intelligent person literate person, and I'm a christian! I agree many so called Christians are major bigots, but then again most people are in one way or another we all have done things that are wrong and we all fear things we do not understand! But there also those of us who have chosen to overcome our feelings and do the right thing, accept people for who they are and judge people according to their actions! I have never told a person they are going to hell and I'm a Christian!
Science stops being science when you throw in random shit that has no supporting evidence
Was there an atheist on that "atheist discrimination panel" at the end?
If not it would be like 3 racist white people in the 1960s discussing racism, and concluding that there isn't any in America.
I'm not angry, but I would like to know what you think I am wrong about and what your argument/evidence is. Also, I am only slightly irritated at individuals such as yourself who don't listen or care to. That is all.
the declaration of independence is not the constitution.
that's too funny!
In 100 years, after atheism becomes more prominent, this will be seen as complete ridicuousness when seen by your children and grandchildren.
Liberal is MORE than an insult !
"Give me any plague, but the plague of the heart: and any wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman." (Eccles. 25:13)
"Of the woman came the beginning of sin, and through her we all die." (Eccles. 25:22)
"If she go not as thou wouldest have her, cut her off from thy flesh, and give her a bill of divorce, and let her go." (Eccles. 25: 26)
"A shameless woman shall be counted as a dog; but she that is shamefaced will fear the Lord." (Eccles.26:25)
moderate christianity provides the foundation for American evangelic christians to be main stream!
Didn't say everything else is wrong...it's just a huge waste of time for people to argue so others can make big money with their books/movies/documentaries,etc.etc.
@ramfan32 I never said anything about public prayer. If a christian or a jewish person, or a buddhist wants to pray in public, I could care less. Now if they want to force me to pray along with them, then that is a violation of my rights.
This is a poor example of being Christian. As Christians we should be reaching out to atheists. They only pushed them farther from God instead of befriending them and talking to them about God. If they didn't want to believe then it is their choice but at least it may change their perception about Christians and make them more open to talk about God. But it works both ways. I have an atheist friend. I have given him an open invitation to come to church with me any time. I don't push my beliefs on him but just let him know if he ever wants to talk about God or come with me to church he is welcome to. Flip side, he is very respectful of my beliefs and doesn't complain or get offended when we hang out and I pray at dinner. He respects my beliefs and I respect his, it has to work both ways which is why I hated them pulling prayer from school. I asked his opinion on the matter and he said he didn't care if people wanted to pray, its their right and their belief. I think as Christians we could get prayer back in school if we wouldn't ostracize atheists, then they probably wouldn't care if we prayed in school or not. Just my opinion
If only you could convince the rest of the christians in the nation to act as you do...
You can pray in school all you want, but the school can't set aside special time for everyone to pray. That is why it was removed, but you can still say silent prayers.
Removing prayer from schools doesn't make it ILLEGAL to pray in school, it's just that the school can't decide which prayers you are going to say. Otherwise, the first hour of the day would have to goto ALL prayers, christian, muslim, etcetc
+Savannah Thompson As an atheist I would not be interested in your superstitious babble, so if you can behave I would socialise with you.
+Savannah Thompson a cristian that believes in tolerance and equality? thank you . you are a rare believer.
+Robert Rentel ...I'm not sure I believe her. They talk like that when atheist are around. When they're with their christian buddies...it's a whole different bigoted, hate filled story.
It's not like that here in Canada. We don't kick people out because they are religious or atheist. What's wrong with the USA?
PROOF SUPERATHEIST IS NOT AN ATHEIST!!
Odin loves you, jstunna4900. Just remember that because the same Odin that loves me, loves you. No matter what you say, the love of Odin is real. Every time you read one of my messages it's getting through to your sub conscious mind, so believe what you want. I don't care. I just like to shake you christians up. Make you think about it, also for others to read the comments so they can have a glimpse of a real super natural love of Odin and not the jesus
"Like Ive often said atheist really have more faith than Christians to believe something like this could happen", do you know what atheist means?
@christo930 Pretty much, it's hard to believe how many christians actually think being an atheist means you worship the devil, it's easy to refute something you have a misconstrewed understanding of.
What is wrong with being an atheist?
I don't see anything wrong with that.
I believe in Shamanism but still I'm fascinated by other peoples' belifes and religions. I think that everyone should be open minded. It's wrong to hate on someone that don't believe in what you believe. It's not like you're gonna die if someone believes in something different than you.
Nice editing. Five stars.
@ramfan32 I said we have cores over 2000 years old, and you said I was uneducated because the noahs fake boat happened 4500 years ago. 4500 > 2000, your comment makes no sense. Penguins evolved from earlier types of penguins (Spheniscinae) these earlier forms do not exist today. Probably from the Palaeeudyptinae family. What kind of dating method? I am not a scientist, look up the article on national geographic, good luck disproving scientific laws.
We shouldn't be surprised. Most third world countries are like this.
How long ago was this video made? I can't believe that people in the states actually treat people like they're dangerous criminals because they do not believe in the Cristian idea of God. I am glad I live in Canada.
@ramfan32
When you give a graduation speech you are, in effect, speaking on behalf of the school, and thus endorsing a religious viewpoint is improper. Grad speeches need to be preapproved in the first place anyways, so it's not like prayer is unique in that aspect. I doubt that they'd let you give a speech about pot legalization at graduation, for example. Preaching on the street corner is different from using a school sanctioned event as a tool to promote religion.
It is very hard for an atheist to open up and say whom they truly are. It leads to loneliness especially in the dating game. It is even worse when it comes to admitting this to your family. A strong sense of fear comes into play. What if your parents raised you to follow for all these years and then one day you tell them that you're a nonbeliever . Exact words will come out: "you're in a phase, you'll grow out" of it" "or get out" Anger will come out and it does ALL THE TIME
Why bother attempting communication at all, if you don't take definitions literally?
ID is not falsifiable and thus not a theory.
did aney one notice that none of the 3 that were debating this topic were atheists.
"no one really knows"
if you can't really know, why would you live your life as if there is a god?
I feel sorry for the family, but a lot of atheist discriminate against Christians. I hope Atheists stay quiet cause most of them are just as guilty as other people who are religious in trying to convert people to their beliefs and way of thinking.
Thank goodness for people like this speaking up. Only when this happens can other atheists 'come out'. I am terribly sorry that they have lost everything because of it tho. WHAT A DISGRACE OF A COUNTRY U.S. IS!
the declaration of independence is a letter to the king declaring our independence.
the constitution is the foundation of our government.
You really need to read more.
@lookingfordagobah
It was an analogy. No, I don't like people who think they are intelligent but don't have the ability to demonstrate it, and then blame their inability to articulate themselves on entire groups of people.
@LordEli
"God is above Debate."
which god? Isis, Ra, El, etc.?
you should look up the definition of both Atheism and Agnosticism.also if this is somthing you actualy care about try really looking at how Atheists are treated in America. Its not hard to find that the laws have much more leniency for religions than anything else in our country.
what's the most violent system in history? RELIGION, that's right re-freakin-ligion.
im an atheist and i am tollerant of all religions, but when they say there being opressed i can understand and yet its us shocks me, i thought that christians were tollerant, just goes to show there are some unconsiderate christains out there
After 8 years of Bush, it's time to reinforce separation of state and church.
The Declaration of Independence was a list of grievances against the king. We were literally declaring our independence. The Constitution didn't even come until after the Articles of Confederation, which was a failed government system. The Constitution doesn't even mention God once. The only instances of religion are when it is declaring that religion and the state must be separate, and people have the freedom of religion.
Ramfan32 again it's nothing wrong with you praying at school.You can do so by yourself even with a small group of friends.But there's a difference between that and the whole school having to stop from their lessons bow their heads and recite the Lord's Prayer (a uniquely christian prayer) before being allowed to continue with school again.I wonder if you weren't a part of the predominate religion would you be able to understand?
"In god we trust" - And how is our currency looking now?
what religions do arabs follow?
what are the percentages (guesstimate)?
I'm not religious but I'm still christian. theres a big difference in the two. you don't believe but open your mind to the belief. atheists need to stop pretending christians lose all logic when someone believes in Christ. If anything, they gain more theological knowledge and lose any fear they have..... to you thats "negative" and "wrong" so hey.. I guess one day we'll all find out whats right, eh?
The point is I shouldn't have to walk off because the school shouldn't be sponsoring it!What is so wrong with you praying before the graduation ceremony?Or you get together with your family afterward and pray.Why does it have to be right in the middle of it and why does it have to be everyone?
It's this force feeding of your particular brand of delusion that I don't like.And as long as you keep putting it in everyone's face everyone should have the right to criticize it.
"I don't know" does not equal "god". Atheists are just cool with the "I don't know", and theists need something to make them feel safe, special, and not so alone in our vast universe. Science will most likely find the answers one day and may indeed reveal the existence of a spiritual aspect to our world, but it's silly to believe something which there is no proof for just because it makes you feel good. A book is not proof. Anyone can write a book.
@madpaintbalerx She Meant 3% of Americans, but it's accualy 10-12% according to the 2010 census.
While I personally would be willing to look the other way, it is rather marginalizing to non-christians to have an explicitly christian prayer at a graduation ceremony for all students. Having a personal prayer for yourself beforehand is fine, but using a school-sponored event to promote a certain religious viewpoint crosses the line. Besides, isn't there something in the bible about jesus instructing his followers to 'pray in your closet' or something of that nature?
"Everything cant come from nothing"
then where did your god come from?
@DarrelfromZeeland
you're a true christian!
kevinpaulharper
nothing was taken out of context
II don't say I am a Christian. I am a believer in God...end of story
@dalek14mc What makes a person Christian? There doesn't seem to be a straight answer to that question that even most Christians can agree upon. If it's only a belief in the supernatural without any proof (i.e. faith) then yes I don't think that's a particularly smart position to take, or to expect others to truly respect either. Everything else is simply tradition, and you don't need to believe in the supernatural to uphold traditions.
Southern Hospitality at it's finest.
He he he... I support college professors in whatever their statements on religion are. The point of Universities is to question any and all beliefs.
As for the prayer... would you also allow an atheistic statement to be read at graduation? Something along the lines of "Our class can move forward free from God, without the religious fears of our past... etc."?
@DarrelfromZeeland That' so intelligent, I have no word for this. You can download and read the text of the constitution that separates church and state, but will you be able to understand it ? I doubt.
@SuperAtheist I love that rebuttal more every time I see it. So simple yet so beautiful. :')
very little negative in the Bible...actually, it's the other way around...atheists
and their followers usually cite the noncurrent beliefs that are quoted in the Bible and forget the millions of ideas/beliefs, etc. that are highly useful and powerful.
I agree with you-- both atheist and religiouus writers take it too far,
"Really is that why it has been suggested by some evolutionist that the law of entropy might not have operated in the distant past?"
NO! Idiot. How can anyone be this goddamn stupid?
So what I'm getting from that statement is you like to fill in missing facts with what you want to be true. If you at least did this with out certainty I would be able to respect the thought process. The problem comes when you state it as fact when you are most likely wrong.
@WeirdPanteraGrl Most of the founding fathers were actually deists, not Christians.
@ramfan32
Of course there are no opposing views! Because opposing logical and scientific views do not exist! Scientific debate over evolution focuses on specific aspects and mechanics of it, not the concept as a whole. As for graduation, using a graduation ceremony to preech or pray would be taking advantage of a state-sponsored ceremony to promote religious views. You can pray with your family afterwards, not use EVERYONE'S graduation to satisfy YOUR religious viewpoints.
im athiest... but dont be one of them. thats quote mining SuperAthiest and is somthing Religion does. dont be one of them. one of the perks of being Athiest is that your arguments are solid. so you dont need quote mining. but good job pointing out the parallels.
@icemachine79 "What makes a person Christian?"
a feeble mind and fear of punishment.
It won't matter if theist are dumped into the ocean. If one survives, they will thank "God" but they will forget "God" took the lives of the others. It kinda like how Christians who quote the positive stuff stuff in the Bible, but ignore the negative.
@ramfan32 4500 = over 2000 learn how to read, and how numbers work. When did I say that dinosaurs grew wings? Penguins we have today did not simply adapt to cold, they did not exist at same time as fake noah . Penguins evolved, it is a proven fact, the same penguins here today did not exist, they are evolved forms of earlier penguins. A 3 kilometre long ice core retrieved from Antarctica contains snow fall from the last 740,000 years. This was with 100 metres left which would reveal 900,000.
you are borrowing from Richard Hawkins, and other atheist
You believe what you believe and I'll believe what I believe. There is no solution to this arguement because no one really knows. Thanks for post
Madness?
THIS IS SPARTA
You don't believe in the Giant in the clouds? Where do your morals come from then? Not believing in Jack and the Beanstalk is illogical. The book clearly states that the giant exists. How can you deny that?!
Listen im agnostic, or to put it in dumber terms i dont follow man made or "organized" reglions. Atheists, just like religious people discriminate and can be victims. To say atheists are discriminated against is a stretch to put it nicely, and im talking about in America and ill only speak on America because its the country i was born in and live in. Just the same way that you may hate someone trying to convert you, others might hate you trying to explain to them why there is no god.
Keep fighting my friend.
@ramfan32 It's very simple. Why should one religion have preference in this country over all others? Why not have a nation that can be identified as being a nation without one single religion plastered on it's money or it's pledge?
If we really aren't a christian nation then we shouldn't have christian beliefs embedded into our constitution or our laws. For example christians passed laws in all states outlawing polygamy. What gives them the right to do that?
So what you are saying is that there is a possibility of Allah being the true supreme being. What about the Thor. And Horus. As far as "others" making money with books/ movies, look no further than the Bible miniseries that just came out. Seems like Religious profiteering to me. In fact, there are many Christian books about faith in a deity that make the NY times best seller list. I agree some Atheist take it too far, but so do religious folk.
thank you for your comment. Now that we know you're an idiot, we can just ignore everything you say from this point on.
That comment earned you a sub.
It depends on what class you're in.If it's a history class and the topic at hand was the salem witch trials then no the professor has every right to point out the barbarism of that point in history.Now if you are having a math class and he goes off on a hour long rant about the pitfalls of religion then he has clearly overstepped his bounds and you should go to an admistrator.That clear it up for ya?
"i see a people united as one not divided by petty arguments."
that's because dissenters have been imprisoned or killed!
if the christians killed or imprison everyone in America that is NOT a christian or the right kind of christian, America would look very united!
I bet the citizens of israel are very united since they are all of one religion.
Yeah i think your right, and i dont think i would fall under agnostic's definition. So its easier to say im spiritual i guess. Im curious about the laws part. I mean i understand how religions get several legal breaks that (I find) are stupid. Namely not paying taxes. Thats the big one that bothers me as churches (not all, but enough) have used funds raised in good faith for personal gains of the clergy (priests, whatever) in that church. But to me that has less to do with atheism but bad laws
@guitarchick100 Same God who destroyed countless thousands in the old tesetament, the same god who called for all those who do not worship him to be killed, the same god who banishes souls to a realm of eternal suffering for sins commited during a finite amount of time. Now that is a moral and just person if I ever heard of one.
@lookingfordagobah
You got it all messed up. I said smacked out. Also, I said go drink a beer. The insults were directed at the person's lack of intelligence.
He attacked me first I believe, with some stupid and typical creationist ad hom. I'm just giving it back as is deserved.
Good for you for being open-minded.
come up with your own remarks...stop copying my post !
I'm the 3%
Wow, I'm glad I live in Sweden when I see this.
So you say...how do you know that? Did you create the earth the stars, the moon. I think not little man. Just because you and your atheists friends know some of God's laws...one of which is evolution--doesn't mean there is no Creator. Check the Bible, the U.S. Declaration--you may get a glimpse of the light
which god?
i belive in god and i may not agree with athiests but god loves everyone
If I can't have a wand and use Levicorpus, than neither can Jesus. Laws of Physics hun ;)
@CandyMountainDave, imagine how gay atheists feel...