My other blogs are linked below: steampunkbanana (funny stuff) and steampunkrainbow (my interests).
Christopher Hitchens (via halfprincesshalfgoddess)
While I can’t say that I have any sympathy for Young Earth Creationists, I can at least see why they are so desperate to hold on to their beliefs. Virtually every traditional concept behind Christianity falls apart when one considers evolution the true age of the universe.
(via skepticalavenger)
I don’t want to be a total dick and send this to my Christian friends but I really honestly can’t grip how one could read this and not question their beliefs :/ I really just don’t get it. I’ve passed the phase where I wanted to deconvert my friends, but I see things like this and I want to tear my hair out.
22nd February 2013
Reblogged From skepticalavenger
Notes: 457
Religious rationalization…
If eternity in heaven with my loved ones is false, I will be sad. I do not wish to be sad, therefore eternity in heaven with my loved ones is true.
If riches and rewards for eternity is false, I will be sad. I do not wish to be sad, therefore riches and rewards for eternity is true.
If a god watching over me is false, I will be sad. I do not wish to be sad, therefore a god watching over me is true.
If the stolen property and genocide my group did is OK, is false, I will be sad. I do not wish to be sad, therefore the stolen property and genocide my group did is OK, is true.
(Source: catbushandludicrous)
Prayer can do amazing things for believers. Let me repeat that… Prayer CAN do amazing things for BELIEVERS.
Prayer can calm people down and give people a sense of “control” in an uncontrollable situation.
Prayer can heal (as a placebo effect, of course, but placebos are often excellent ‘medicine’).
Prayer, like meditation, can help people determine what they really need and want.
Prayer, especially group prayers, can bring people closer to together.
Prayer, and knowing people are praying for you, can bring comfort and peace.
Here is what prayer CANNOT do:
Allow you to address, petition or communicate with a deity.
Pray all you want on your own. Offer prayers to other believers. Talk about your prayers if you must. But when you say only “I’ll pray for you” to a non-believer, you not only offer none of the “benefits” believers receive from prayer, you literally offer nothing. Nothing.So… what DO non-believers want/need? Here are some options for you:
1) Offer to be there - provide an ear to listen or a hand to hold or arms for a hug.
2) Basic needs - food, clothing, shelter, a care basket, donations.
3) Ask - what do you need? What can I do?
Simple as that. ~JJ
Reblogging myself as this is extremely relevant again. DEAR THEISTS: PLACEBOS DON’T WORK IF YOU KNOW THEY ARE PLACEBOS. Grr. ~JJ
(Source: teachthemhowtothink)
The “terrible price” may be up for debate, but the fact is, if you believe in god or gods, however benevolent, it makes it easier for others to believe in other, not-so-benevolent gods. I’m still struggling to find how to think about this one.
(Source: the-monster-and-the-lady)
Being an Atheist extremist that shoves down your lack of faith down others’ throat makes you exactly the same as all of those religious extremists.
And this is coming from a fellow Atheist.
Well, I’m kinda conceited, but I’m nice about it.
I mean, yeah, I’m awesome, but I make it a point not to shove my lack of faith down others’ throats.
And all of those religious extremists are out there trying to change the laws and such so you HAVE follow their religious rules, or are forced to have their kids learn nonsense like intelligent design. As atheists, all we want to happen is that the constitution be enforced…free speech, separation of church and state, etc. So really, the “exactly the same” boldface kinda falls woefully short.
But I will say that atheists should not be assholes. I’d like to think that most of the asshole atheists are kids still trying out their atheist wings, but there are plenty of adult atheist assholes, I admit.
Oh, and as an atheist, you should really learn that the A in atheist is not capitalized. It’s just a description, not an official title or religion or anything.
Peace,
~ Steve
I don’t really understand how we’re just as bad.
When was the last time you heard someone say “IF YOU BELIEVE IN GOD YOU ARE GOING TOBE TORTURED FOR ALL ETERNITY.” When was the last time an atheist offered a $100,000 reward for the death of someone who spoke ill of atheism?
Probably never. Some of us might be conceited or rude, but we’re not trying to scare hell into people, and we’re certainly don’t use murder to make a point.
I don’t understand how other atheists can’t even understand the difference between being condescending and rude, and actively trying to oppress people who hold different beliefs.
If you want to address asshole atheists, do so. But the comparison you made is completely unwarranted.
This is a double burn.
This was more or less the problem I was faced with, except I was more like 18 when I was faced with this choice. Seriously, what criteria could I use to choose a single religion out of thousands?
Chills.
Ok so what about stillborn children? How do you explain that I went to a funeral for a baby girl who was BORN DEAD? Please explain how your loving god justifies that.
starved one of their sons to death because he wouldn’t say Amen and then expected him to be resurrected.
murdered their children by relying on prayer or faith healing instead of getting them proper medical care.
jailed a blogger for supporting women’s rights.
blinded one of their own sisters because they were possessed by a hoodoo demon.
attacked an NYC deli owner because he served them the wrong type of meat.
manipulated women, through rape and shaming, to become suicide bombers.
Found a goldmine of ammo for arguments against theists, have fun guys. :]
-Victor
Just to clarify, there will be and are atheists who do shitty things. The point we are trying to make though is that they do not do these things because of their religion, or try to excuse their behavior because of their religion. The religious texts of the Abrahamic religions permit all sorts of awful things, so we can’t really be surprised when some readers take the instructions literally.
There will always be douchebags, even if religions no longer exist, and you’d be naive to think otherwise. However, what we CAN do is try and cull the number of douchebag acts that are directly linked to one’s religion. We can try to stop people from idolizing these books which are full of hate, violence, and intolerance. We will not treat the woman who killed her son “because God told her to” any different from the (hypothetical) woman who killed her son “because an invisible elephant told her to”. We will dismiss the Christian bigot’s cry that “the Bible says being gay is a sin” just as we would if someone were to hold up a comic book and announce that according to Spiderman, homosexuality is forbidden.
