Dont confuse Christianity with religion

[dingodan]

Jesus was a Mushroom.

FACT.

 

[seagull_in_malaysia]

Have you ever thought about your soul - can it be saved?
Or perhaps you think that when you're dead you just stay in your grave
Is God just a thought within your head or is He a part of you?
Is Christ just a name that you read in a book when you were in school?

When you think about death do you lose your breath
Or do you keep your cool?
Would you like to see the Pope on the end of a rope
Do you think he's a fool?
Well I have seen the truth, yes I've seen the light
And I've changed my ways
And I'll be prepared when you're lonely and scared
At the end of our days

Could it be you're afraid of what your friends might say
If they knew you believe in God above?
They should realize before they criticize
That God is the only way to love

Is your mind so small that you have to fall
In with the pack wherever they run
Will you still sneer when death is near
And say they may as well worship the sun?

I think it was true it was people like you that crucified Christ
I think it is sad the opinion you had was the only one voiced
Will you be so sure when your day is near, say you don't believe?
You had the chance but you turned it down, now you can't retrieve

Perhaps you'll think before you say that God is dead and gone
Open your eyes, just realize that he's the one
The only one who can save you now from all this sin and hate
Or will you still jeer at all you hear?
Yes! I think it's too late.

That's a very nice poem. Who is it by?

 

[BadFish]

Lots of angry, militant atheists seem to frequent NSC.

I challenge any of you to name just one way that Christianity damages our society in the UK?

There is obviously a lot of good it does for communities and individuals.

\
Not strictly the Uk but maybe we could wait until the end of the investigations into the cover up of child abuse in the Catholic church over here in Aus. It would appear to be rife.

 

[HASSOCKS-BHA]

I do my worshipping at the Temple of the Amex, at the altar of St Gustavo of Poyet and St Tony of Bloom.

Anything else is un-necessary and I have no wish to be preached at.

Temple of Amex, or 'Church' as my boys call it. The place where REAL miracles happen (OK, not as many as I would like mind), and REAL Gods walk amongst us mortals, unlike the fiction that goes on in your books. CMS on a Saturday afternoon or John the Baptist on a Sunday morning, a no brainer in my book so bore off and go preach elsewhere. Love you though..!!

 

[Deadly Danson]

Christianity is a religion, therefore it is a load of shit.

Spot on - what a load of supernatural, made up old bollocks.

 

[Wilko]

You're just describing society in general. Society is indeed segregated, sexist, homophobic, paedophilic and riddled with lies as we read in the news every day - these problems aren't caused or exclusive to Christianity - you're just discriminating against a certain group of people, who in general, do a lot more good for society than many atheists ever will.

It's interesting that you consider "false hope" to be a bad thing though. I think having the belief that being a good person would give you a heavenly afterlife is an amazing thing - I wish I believed it myself.

Agree with your first point to a degree. Disagree with the false hope thing though, like promising a kid a big present at Christmas when you know full well it does not exist. Once you take away the idea of heaven then you can make the most of this life by realising how short and precious it is, you can stop worrying about life after death and focus on the now.

 

[Frutos]

CMS on a Saturday afternoon or John the Baptist on a Sunday morning, a no brainer in my book

Amen.

 

[BadFish]

You're just describing society in general. Society is indeed segregated, sexist, homophobic, paedophilic and riddled with lies as we read in the news every day - these problems aren't caused or exclusive to Christianity - you're just discriminating against a certain group of people, who in general, do a lot more good for society than many atheists ever will.

It's interesting that you consider "false hope" to be a bad thing though. I think having the belief that being a good person would give you a heavenly afterlife is an amazing thing - I wish I believed it myself.

So inherent in your little challenge is the rule that all good things are done by people religion are because of it but all the bad things are done because peple are just bad and nothing to do with religion. My guess in that in your head your are going to win your argument. Well done!

 

[Gullys Cats]

If I shit in a paper bag and set it on fire, what about that....

 

[JamesAndTheGiantHead]

There are no rules here just the truth

Cheers, Morphius.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

You're just describing society in general. Society is indeed segregated, sexist, homophobic, paedophilic and riddled with lies as we read in the news every day - these problems aren't caused or exclusive to Christianity - you're just discriminating against a certain group of people, who in general, do a lot more good for society than many atheists ever will.

It's interesting that you consider "false hope" to be a bad thing though. I think having the belief that being a good person would give you a heavenly afterlife is an amazing thing - I wish I believed it myself.

What really fucks me off is that Christians brainwash their young. My parents-in-law constantly try to do this to my kids, and it really gets to me. I don't preach to my kids that God doesn't exist - I'll leave it to them to make their own minds up. But for some reason, Christians (like most religious groups) feel the need to brainwash the young with their beliefs - including anti-gay crap. It's child abuse

 

[Meade's Ball]

My local church's advertising hoarding outside says "The world will ruin your life. Find peace in the book of truth." I mean, jesus h christ, that's surely looking to bring any observer completely down, reminding that life can be a bit shit at best. And to think that to make any rid themselves of depression they ought to go and sing generally save-me-from-death or bury me peacefully songs in a very cold and rather unemotive environment, well that's just lunacy and i rather suspect against the majority of psychological recommendations made by the necessarily erudite.

 

[Superphil]

That's a very nice poem. Who is it by?

John Michael Osbourne

 

[BadFish]

In my experience those with faith are a lot more content with life than atheists, purely because they have hope - hope is a powerful thing. Equally they always have someone to support and guide them in times of need - God. Whether he exists or not isn't important, but the effect that the belief in him has on people is incredible.

I would argue that the nihilistic view that the world and life is ultimately pointless, and we should live for today and overindulge in pointless hedonism, along with the fear of death and the pressure to live our lives to the fullest, is far more damaging.

It's the simpler things in life that are the root of contentment & happiness - love, family , community, goodness, spirituality - All things that Christianity actively encourages, and society is losing.

I think you are making a big assumption that athiests don't beleive in anything. I am an athiest but would consider myself a long way from a Nihilist. Just as there are many different religious folks with many different beliefs there are many different athiests with many different beliefs.

 

[JamesAndTheGiantHead]

Charlie's gonna GET YA!

 

[Frutos]

John Michael Osbourne

I knew I recognised it from somewhere.

 

[HASSOCKS-BHA]

What really fucks me off is that Christians brainwash their young. My parents-in-law constantly try to do this to my kids, and it really gets to me. I don't preach to my kids that God doesn't exist - I'll leave it to them to make their own minds up. But for some reason, Christians (like most religious groups) feel the need to brainwash the young with their beliefs - including anti-gay crap. It's child abuse

Couldn't agree more...!!

 

[Superphil]

I knew I recognised it from somewhere.

It was allegedly Geezer Butlers song ( he's a proclaimed Catholic), though the sleeve notes credit it to OO, Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and Geezer.

 

[00snook]

What really fucks me off is that Christians brainwash their young. My parents-in-law constantly try to do this to my kids, and it really gets to me. I don't preach to my kids that God doesn't exist - I'll leave it to them to make their own minds up. But for some reason, Christians (like most religious groups) feel the need to brainwash the young with their beliefs - including anti-gay crap. It's child abuse

Nail on the head mate.

All of the major mono-theistic religions do this as it keeps their faiths going.

Kids trust what their parents tell them. "Listen to the priest\imam\rabbi kids" and then boom it's more people in authority to teach them religion.

Hey presto the ancient dogmatic load of shit lives on another generation.

 

[Meade's Ball]

In my experience those with faith are a lot more content with life than atheists, purely because they have hope - hope is a powerful thing. Equally they always have someone to support and guide them in times of need - God. Whether he exists or not isn't important, but the effect that the belief in him has on people is incredible.

I have a number of christians in my work, and by jingo they seem the most miserable bunch. Not just for seeming "square", but in their constant fear of betraying an archaic doctrine. It seems constant work and exhausting, and two of the ones i see and talk to and know a little of always seem trapped and closed off from certain elements of general smalltalk or silliness. Not all christians are the same of course and i doubt every believer goes on special holidays in Skegness as these two do annually, but there isn't a one where i work with that i would class as euphoric or content simply because they have faith. I don't think sorrow is so ridden by having the merest belief in a saviour.
I am not saying that non-believers are blithe in any sense. They're not. They just have different rituals to delete the worst thoughts in each of them.