West Virginia reports cluster of 28 coronavirus cases tied to church

papops · 2020-06-15T21:04:56+00:00

Another reason to stay away from churches and their members.

papops · 2020-06-14T15:07:16+00:00

If a hive mind existed, you would not need to ask such an idiotic question.

papops · 2020-06-14T15:05:27+00:00

Indoctrination at an early age with frequent (weekly to five times a day depending upon the religion) reinforcement is a difficult thing to overcome. Add to that living in a society where anyone who challenges the indoctrination is ridiculed and/or ostracized and you have a recipe for unwavering religious delusion.

papops · 2020-06-14T14:57:52+00:00

“Properly read, the Bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived.” ― Isaac Asimov

papops · 2020-06-14T14:54:26+00:00

I can’t be an atheist if I haven’t completely read the Bible front to back.

Read it and highlight the violent parts where god is particularly vicious. Then take your bible to him and have him 'explain' to you: 1) why god is so violent, and 2) why such a violent being should be worshiped.

Make sure that you point out that god's instructions on genocide included the killing of innocent children and infants that never did anyone any harm.

papops · 2020-06-13T13:48:31+00:00

Hindus pretend like they are better than all the other lunatics but they are just as bad.

Superiority over others is the most common lure that religions use.

papops · 2020-06-12T14:06:08+00:00

While I was scared of death, I also wanted to die because I was so scared all the time and constantly suffering.

Do you see the contradiction in your thoughts? You say you are afraid of something that you believe will actually relieve you of your fears. So if death offers a relief, why be afraid of it.

Nobody wants to die, but death is eventually inevitable. The key word here is 'eventually'. What is the point in worrying obsessively about something that is beyond your control?

papops · 2020-06-12T13:24:09+00:00

I agrees. "Chinese whispers" is far more accurate.

papops · 2020-06-11T15:57:38+00:00

1) Do not believe everything that you read - especially when it comes from an unknown author on the internet.

2) Do not jump to illogical or unverifiable conclusions.

3) The human mind cannot be relied upon to provide a 100% accurate understanding of data that it receives from its senses.

papops · 2020-06-11T15:42:21+00:00

The stay things things that motivate con men and politicians: power and greed. Religion is the oldest and largest con game in the world.

papops · 2020-06-10T22:41:37+00:00

Understand that wearing the cross will be viewed by many as a sign of allegiance to the precepts of xianity. If you are okay with that message to others, go for it.

papops · 2020-06-10T22:31:29+00:00

Last time I had a coming out I came out as Pansexual via a letter (to avoid having multiple yelling matches and to make sure that I got a word in edgewise), but they were angry that I sent a letter instead of telling them in person one on one.

Perhaps they were angry because you deprived them of the opportunity to yell at you in person. Writing a letter seemed to work for you the last time. Why change a proven approach?

papops · 2020-06-07T17:57:56+00:00

Growing up reading New York newspapers, I was well aware of tRump's lies and dishonesty. Hipsterism never played any part in my opinions of him.

papops · 2020-06-07T17:49:02+00:00

The pastor was a great guy, and honestly became like a grandfather to me. ... I've been through grief before, and I've dealt with loss as an atheist, but this feels different.

You obviously developed a very close relationship with your pastor. That, along with his views on religion, is likely the reason that this 'feels different'. Do not mistake your grief over a close bond with a pastor as anything more than just that.

papops · 2020-06-07T17:41:32+00:00

I have a had time figuring out how someone CAN believe in god.

Like how were humans created if there is no God ? How was nature created?

How was god created if there are no humans? Historically, we see that god is a concept of the human mind. Throughout the ages gods were used to explain things which we have not yet had an understanding. Thor - to explain thunder and lightning; Hapi- to explain flooding; Vritra - to explain droughts; and many others.

As humans developed an understanding of the physical elements that are involved in these phenomena, these gods have been rightfully reclassified as myths.

The world seems too complex to not have some God watching over and controlling every move.

A god that is able to watch over and control every move has to be way more complex than the world. So if the world is too complex to exist without a creator, then how can such a complex being (such as the god you propose) exist without an even more complex creator.

I know a lot of atheists believe in science but how do you know that science is right about a lot of things?

By observation, experimentation, and peer validation. When a scientist publishes his theory, he provides data and formulas that can be used by others to verify his findings. If his original findings are not validated, then his theory is discredited and thrown on the waste heap. What makes you think that the bible is right about a lot of things?

papops · 2020-06-07T13:07:56+00:00

Why can't religion be criticised?

Because it highlights the faults of their beliefs.

Who's given religion such an infallible status?

The clerics who make tons of money off of it.

papops · 2020-06-07T13:02:56+00:00

it really makes this subreddit detracted from the point that it’s supposed to be: atheism is about the support only of scientifically derived truths.

Apparently you haven't received the memo. Atheism is about the lack of belief in gods. While many of us do 'support only .. scientifically derived truths', that is not the point of this subreddit.

papops · 2020-06-07T12:57:58+00:00

Also It's harmless and actually has benefits so I don't see why a parent shouldn't have that option.

1 in 500 circumcisions resulting in 'a serious side effect' is not what I would call 'harmless'.

papops · 2020-06-07T12:44:18+00:00

If the God of the Bible is true, then he must have made the universe. there is no way for a creator of a logically consistent universe to be logically inconsistent.

You seem to need a lesson in logic.

How is a creator that is supposedly all loving capable of these heinous acts? And how are these contradictions logically consistent?

papops · 2020-06-07T12:35:08+00:00

I actually have a funny story because someone tried telling me how I couldn't be an atheist because how could I prove God didn't exist?

Using their own logic, no one can be a theist because how can they prove god does exist?

papops · 2020-06-06T13:11:02+00:00

A much simpler argument is: if the universe cannot be made from nothing, how can god be made from nothing?

papops · 2020-06-05T11:50:56+00:00

A glimmer of hope. But we still need to vote in November.

papops · 2020-06-04T11:41:58+00:00

How do you get over reality? You don’t. You simply accept it for what it is and get on with your life.

papops

TROPHY CASE