Are you ready for atheist Sunday school?
posted at 12:07 pm on November 23, 2007 by Allahpundit
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I get it. Strength in numbers, better resistance to religious indoctrination through preparation, etc. Even so, the more atheists adopt the trappings of religion, the more uneasy it makes me. You call yourselves “freethinkers,” boys. Couldn’t you at least have picked a different day?
An estimated 14% of Americans profess to have no religion, and among 18-to-25-year-olds, the proportion rises to 20%, according to the Institute for Humanist Studies. The lives of these young people would be much easier, adult nonbelievers say, if they learned at an early age how to respond to the God-fearing majority in the U.S. “It’s important for kids not to look weird,” says Peter Bishop, who leads the preteen class at the Humanist center in Palo Alto. Others say the weekly instruction supports their position that it’s O.K. to not believe in God and gives them a place to reinforce the morals and values they want their children to have…
[Bri] Kneisley, 26, a graduate student at the University of Missouri, says she realized [her son] Damian needed to learn about secularism after a neighbor showed him the Bible. “Damian was quite certain this guy was right and was telling him this amazing truth that I had never shared,” says Kneisley. In most ways a traditional sleep-away camp–her son loved canoeing–Camp Quest also taught Damian critical thinking, world religions and tales of famous freethinkers (an umbrella term for atheists, agnostics and other rationalists) like the black abolitionist Frederick Douglass.
The Palo Alto Sunday family program uses music, art and discussion to encourage personal expression, intellectual curiosity and collaboration. One Sunday this fall found a dozen children up to age 6 and several parents playing percussion instruments and singing empowering anthems like I’m Unique and Unrepeatable, set to the tune of Ten Little Indians, instead of traditional Sunday-school songs like Jesus Loves Me. Rather than listen to a Bible story, the class read Stone Soup, a secular parable of a traveler who feeds a village by making a stew using one ingredient from each home.
Down the hall in the kitchen, older kids engaged in a Socratic conversation with class leader Bishop about the role persuasion plays in decision-making. He tried to get them to see that people who are coerced into renouncing their beliefs might not actually change their minds but could be acting out of self-preservation–an important lesson for young atheists who may feel pressure to say they believe in God.
Exit question: How soon before they start wearing plaid uniforms with the hood ornament of godlessness on them?
Update: “Pretty soon the only book in their library may be the Bible.”
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Evangelical Atheists adopting the trappings of religion? Who’da thunk it?
Killgore Trout on November 23, 2007 at 12:13 PM
Atheists: b-b-b-but…We’re not an icky religion!
Me: BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!! You totally are!
Bad Candy on November 23, 2007 at 12:14 PM
Once found a link to an atheist group at Berkeley that met once a week at a church.
JiangxiDad on November 23, 2007 at 12:15 PM
“Dear Father who aren’t in heaven….”
“Ok, everybody line up for crackers and wine now.”
Killgore Trout on November 23, 2007 at 12:17 PM
In all sincerity, I would be interested to know what morals and values were being taught at this weekly instruction and what they base them on.
Michael in MI on November 23, 2007 at 12:17 PM
You do not need religion to give you a strong sense of what is right and wrong. Likewise, there are plenty of people who are very religious, with no sense of right and wrong
firepilot on November 23, 2007 at 12:20 PM
Sounds very much like the totalitarian indoctrination of children that christian parents have been accused of. In a free thinking sort of way of course.
mjkazee on November 23, 2007 at 12:20 PM
Also, do atheist groups such as this have some sort of “bible” from which they base their morals and values? And do atheist groups like this have some sort of figurehead from where they get these moral and value-based teachings (like Jesus is the moral foundation of Christianity)?
And I purposely say “atheist groups” and not “atheists”, because I know there are atheists who are not part of any organized groups like this, just as there are Christians who are not part of any organized religions or churches.
Michael in MI on November 23, 2007 at 12:20 PM
Hmmm…looks like I called this months ago.
Allah, you didn’t seem to agree.
As I said back then, its not that I mind that they proselytize, its well within their rights to do so, but they just shouldn’t act like the New York Times, just be honest admit they’re doing it, and that they’re building a religious movement.
Bad Candy on November 23, 2007 at 12:21 PM
Hahaha. Lib/atheists want people besides themselves aborted to save Gaia. Their values are based on absolute love of self.
JiangxiDad on November 23, 2007 at 12:22 PM
HAHA. Good post Thanksgiving Day laugh.
Theworldisnotenough on November 23, 2007 at 12:22 PM
Probably basic Humanism with some Moonbattery mixed in. You are aware that atheists aren’t amoral?
Killgore Trout on November 23, 2007 at 12:22 PM
I feel sorry for the kids.
Maxx on November 23, 2007 at 12:23 PM
“atheist Sunday school?”
You’ve obviously never been tailgating with the evil empire.
locomotivebreath1901 on November 23, 2007 at 12:23 PM
Do they get to wear special clothing when they’re not-preaching, or just reg. Target stuff?
JiangxiDad on November 23, 2007 at 12:24 PM
Meeting on Sunday, drawing for iPhone at noon.
Wade on November 23, 2007 at 12:24 PM
Michael,
Perhaps it will be classical philosophy? Who knows? Plenty of moral constructs that do not require fear of an almighty being eating your soul. All I know is that Sunday is for football and/or recovering from Saturday night.
Me and itchy church pants don’t go well together. It doesn’t matter what kind of groupthink is being preached.
Krydor on November 23, 2007 at 12:25 PM
Note to authors: you probably don’t want to feature anyone named Damian in your anti-religion articles.
Call it a bad omen.
James on November 23, 2007 at 12:26 PM
My guess? In about 90% of them, Marxism. Most Atheists are leftists(sorry guys, its true).
Bad Candy on November 23, 2007 at 12:26 PM
Ha! You don’t get out much, do you?
Killgore Trout on November 23, 2007 at 12:28 PM
Yes, of course. But I know that atheists are all different and don’t all base their non-belief on the same things (I know some self-proclaimed atheists who believe the way they do based on bad experiences in their lives and others who just don’t like Christians and others who don’t like contraints on their lives). So I was curious as to what an organized group would be “preaching”.
Michael in MI on November 23, 2007 at 12:32 PM
Out of genuine interest, is it a basic tenet among atheist groups/atheists that Christian faith has nothing to do with “critical thinking”? Do atheist groups/atheists believe that they have the market cornered on this?
And, I only ask because I continually see things like “critical thinking” and “rationalism” and “logic” seized upon by atheist groups/atheists as something that is (almost) exclusively their domain.
Mark Noll (quoted in another HotAir post the other day), and others have argued from within Christianity that there is a trend towards “anti-intellectualism,” and I agree, and would love to see the trend reversed. However, I would still say that there is plenty of critical thinking going on.
nailinmyeye on November 23, 2007 at 12:33 PM
Most that I’ve experienced are raging leftists. Admittedly that’s been online and college, I’m in my early 20s, whaddya want? Is that not getting out much? Maybe, but thus far its left a bad impression, maybe in ten years I’ll have a different view.
I’ve run into a some here, but most I’ve seen and heard are leftist cranks.
Bad Candy on November 23, 2007 at 12:35 PM
Excellent! Now we have something to brand you all with when you’re rounded up… hee hee!
Frozen Tex on November 23, 2007 at 12:36 PM
Shhh…its bad enough the nutroots have already found out about the Halliburton camps!
Bad Candy on November 23, 2007 at 12:38 PM
The arrogant ones do. Many atheists see ridiculous things like like Creationism (which defies all logic and science)as evidence that religious people aren’t rational.
Faith often leads conclusions that defy reason.
Killgore Trout on November 23, 2007 at 12:39 PM
That’s why I asked. As I said, I know many atheists who have come to their non-belief in different ways. Some are leftist and I know one who leans right. I was just curious what this organized group was going to use as its basis in morality and values.
For most other religions, the basis is pretty easy. For Christians and Catholics and all branches thereof, it is the Bible. For Islam, it is the Koran, Hadith and Mohammad. Since this seems to be not just non-belief, but organized non-belief and preaching and teaching, I am wondering what their foundation is (other than non-belief of course) for their morals and values.
For instance, the couple atheists I know who lean right are also anti-abortion, because they see it scientifically and just in a common sense kind of way that it is wrong to just be able to terminate human life for whatever reason. They believe in the sanctity of human life, just not as a result of any belief in a God. But, most non-believers that I have met are not of this view on human life or abortion.
Just as all Christians are not “pro-life”, not all atheists are pro-abortion-on-demand.
But I just wonder what this organized non-belief will be preaching and on what they base it.
Michael in MI on November 23, 2007 at 12:40 PM
To me, this just smacks of arrogance, as the competing science isn’t exactly sound. On the other hand, It’s adherents do tend to screech just as loud.
Defense Guy on November 23, 2007 at 12:42 PM
I agree that this Atheist Sunday School is probably a moonbat venture so they’re probably preaching multiculturalism and other leftist ideologies. I wouldn’t say most atheists are leftists though. Most atheists I’ve meet have been individualists, humanists and libertarians.
I think what you might be encountering is atheists who are hiding it from you for fear of being judged.
Killgore Trout on November 23, 2007 at 12:44 PM
Crackers and wine? Judging by Hitchens mug shot, I doubt there is anymore wine left!
RMR on November 23, 2007 at 12:44 PM
Creepy.
Rose on November 23, 2007 at 12:48 PM
I have generally had the same experience. Though over the past couple years, I have met a couple atheists who were right-leaning and were very non-confrontational when it came to religion. I actually co-authored a blog with a gentleman who was an atheist for a year or so and he was very helpful in me breaking down a lot of assumptions I had about atheists. Granted, just as there is a stereotype that most religious people are irrational nuts, I think there is also a stereotype out there that most atheists are amoral, hateful, mean nuts. Prior to the last few years, I was unfortunately meeting all that fit that stereotype. And they had actually told me that they had not met any religious people who were not preaching, condecsending, holier-than-thou a-holes.
Anyway, this gentleman, Michael as it turned out, told me that he came to atheism after being raised Catholic and then losing his faith in Vietnam. While in the military he had decided to look into other religions and said he read all their texts and none of them made any sense to him, so he came to be an atheist. But he was very respectful and open when I would ask him questions about his atheism and how he came to disregard many of the beliefs which are the foundations of Catholicism (such as Jesus and the 10 Commandments, etc).
I’m also only 31, so limited life experience so far, so I don’t doubt that I will meet many believers and non-believers who don’t fit any stereotypes and will change my views even further.
Michael in MI on November 23, 2007 at 12:51 PM
Yeah, but that doesn’t make any sense, I’m cool with anyone, I’m not super religious to begin with, and I’m not real judgemental(unless they’re a leftist crank), I’m fine with any religion or none, any race, gay or straight, as long as they’re decent people, so I don’t get why they’d hide it.
Bad Candy on November 23, 2007 at 12:51 PM
I’m just taking a guess. I get some very interesting reactions when I tell people that I’m an atheist. It’s not uncommon for people to gasp. Other people get outright angry. I’m at a position in my life where it doesn’t matter to me so I’m pretty open about it but there are many times in my past when it was better to just keep my mouth shut about it.
Killgore Trout on November 23, 2007 at 12:57 PM
Sunday? I thought the best part of being an atheist was sleeping late on Sunday and watching football on the couch in the afternoon.
dedalus on November 23, 2007 at 1:01 PM
Next up - they muster the Knights Temporal.
Stephen M on November 23, 2007 at 1:10 PM
Do atheists not capitalize imaginary proper nouns?
pegasus?
JiangxiDad on November 23, 2007 at 1:11 PM
Laugh while you can monkeyboys.
Stephen M on November 23, 2007 at 1:12 PM
Michael, there’s gnosticism. Why throw out the baby with the bathwater?
JiangxiDad on November 23, 2007 at 1:14 PM
So its kinda like being conservative on a college campus? :P I probably lost .1 to .3 on my GPA for my conservative penalty tax, so I guess it makes sense that they might be experiencing ‘once bitten twice shy’ type deals, cuz you do sometimes get burned.
Bad Candy on November 23, 2007 at 1:16 PM
Do a little google search on Bri Kneisley and you’ll find she’s an activist when it comes to non-belief. Looking at her story she must be blaming someone for all of her foibles. Maybe it’s God.
roux on November 23, 2007 at 1:18 PM
In general, I think that Americans are not serious about their faith even if they call themselves religious. Americans are more likely to believe in KARMA (what goes around comes around) than in LOVING YOUR ENEMIES. And because Americans aren’t serious about their faith, when atheists see that they become bitter. Atheists, for the most part, are serious about faith, so much that they criticize it beyond all reason.
There are plenty of unserious atheists out there also, but those are the guys who just want to believe in “might makes right” and looking out for #1, probably.
Sydney Carton on November 23, 2007 at 1:23 PM
Allah, ever feel like Alan Colmes when he says “Liberals aren’t like that.”?
- The Cat
MirCat on November 23, 2007 at 1:23 PM
Seems to me the main thing the atheist authors “preach” is there is no God and worship of him is for weak minds and misguided, sometimes evil people. I would guess it would be more of the same, based on the authors who are leading this movement, even if only by their writings. I am also talking about active groups and not the everyday good people who just do not believe in God.
abinitioadinfinitum on November 23, 2007 at 1:33 PM
I always see this criticism pop up in these atheist threads. What’s wrong with love of self? Isn’t that better than all-consuming supplication to an imaginary being?
In any case, we should have atheist school on Sunday because that’s the day everyone has free. If you have it on Wednesday, no one’s doing to show up.
In any case, I do sympathize with atheist parents who can’t avoid their children being exposed to religion. If I have kids some day, I can imagine it’s going to be frustrating to constantly have to undo the cultural programming. AS if children aren’t already frustrating enough.
Enrique on November 23, 2007 at 1:42 PM
Hmmm, I seem to over-rely on “in any case” as a transition…
Enrique on November 23, 2007 at 1:43 PM
You act like we need a book to tell us what is right and wrong, which we do not. I treat others, as I want to be treated back. Are you not able to know that without someone else telling you in the guise of some spiritual all-knowing diety?
firepilot on November 23, 2007 at 1:46 PM
You’ll get hairy palms and go blind?
Bad Candy on November 23, 2007 at 1:46 PM
Bawwwwhahahahahahah LMAO
abinitioadinfinitum on November 23, 2007 at 1:47 PM
Institutionalizing Judeo-Christian morals?
That would be OK.
Where’s Christopher and his innate morals on this?
If morals are innate then we should need to worry about Sharia, should we.
Speakup on November 23, 2007 at 1:49 PM
agnostics are panty waist Atheists or cry baby Religionists or well, they just can’t decide.
Speakup on November 23, 2007 at 1:54 PM
Like this?
Luke 6:31
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
abinitioadinfinitum on November 23, 2007 at 1:54 PM
I’m sympathetic towards this atheist preparation. I don’t view it as a religion but as going to seminar–like say a seminar about retirement saving. It’s always good to learn your facts, before you face nonsense. For a short period of time, I fretted because I wasn’t drinking enough water according to some medical myth. And then I realized how do this people know how much water to drink? Later, I found out that the study about drinking water has been debunked since then. Now, I treat medical studies and their generated health tips with considerable skepticism.
thuja on November 23, 2007 at 1:57 PM
Thanks for the reply. I can see that. I might be tempted to nuance a bit more, and say that Creationism may not make sense to a scientific rationalism. I think that there is a difference between scientific rationalism, and just general rational, or critical thought. Creationism (by which I mean the statement “God created the heavens and the earth”), makes absolute rational sense within a system (worldview) that believes in an omnipotent, uncreated being. It would not be seen as rational within a scientific rationalism that decidedly removes God from the equation from the beginning. And, speaking for myself as a Christian, I am fine with being out of accord with scientific rationalism, as long as I arrive at my beliefs through critical thought, and genuine evaluation.
I guess what I’m saying is that the scientific rationalism crowd seems to (in my opinion) elevate rationalism of the scientific type from a primary place within that crowd’s own worldview, and seeks to place it as primary over all worldviews - and also to claim authority over the use of said rationalism. However, I also realize that the Christian worldview tends toward the same. Maybe both do function more similarly than either would like to admit.
eh, fwiw.
nailinmyeye on November 23, 2007 at 1:58 PM
yes, but do you really think without that bible verse, that people are not going to have any idea how to act towards others, or how they want to be treated?
firepilot on November 23, 2007 at 1:58 PM
Most of the intelligent atheists I have met (not many, that’s not an insult just my experience) are not moonbats. So I give them that credit.
I haven’t met an atheist that did not have some level of ‘faith’.
Most that belittle faith do not comprehend the difference between general faith and biblical faith.
shick on November 23, 2007 at 1:58 PM
Unfortunately, even with this Bible verse people don’t always act in this manner. The only point I was getting at is that many of the morals we practice are based on Bible teachings, even if we do not realize it. As to your question, I could only hope people would come to this understanding as a culture but history has proven that many, once they have power over you, do not always care about treating you as you would treat them.
abinitioadinfinitum on November 23, 2007 at 2:11 PM
It depends on whether you think God did it in 6 calendar days and he did it 6,000 years ago.
dedalus on November 23, 2007 at 2:11 PM
Is it only up here that the Darwinists rock the Ichthys mocking emblem on the backs of their cars?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwin_fish#Darwin_fish
RightWinged on November 23, 2007 at 2:11 PM
Oh, btw… that was in response to Allah’s comment:
RightWinged on November 23, 2007 at 2:13 PM
Not agnostics, gnostics.
JiangxiDad on November 23, 2007 at 2:13 PM
There are different streams of creationism. I was trying to be generic. Either a 6 day, young earth creationist, or one who interprets Genesis poetically and believes in an old earth, are going to seem irrational according to scientific rationalism - by the very fact that each share the inherent belief in a being who created.
nailinmyeye on November 23, 2007 at 2:16 PM
I would agree with all of that, ab., although I think would say that morals and laws existed before the bible though too
firepilot on November 23, 2007 at 2:18 PM
Micheal,
I have no idea what these guys preach, and they are preachers as far as I can ascertain. I don’t think I care too much, either.
There is a need for every human to be a part of a group. In most cases, those humans need to be led. Seeing as how freethought/Atheism now looks rather dogmatic, such a progression was inevitable.
Probably be better if they joined a book club, or did something gardening related. How they spend their time is their business, but it looks like the same type of time waster the hardcore atheists make fun of Christians for.
Krydor on November 23, 2007 at 2:20 PM
Heh, I’ve seen one…I think it was being used to hold the car together. I’m not really offended by the Darwinfish, its a bit obnoxious, you can be Christian and believe in evolution, I do, so its kinda stupid.
Bad Candy on November 23, 2007 at 2:24 PM
That would bring up a never ending discussion, so I will wish you a Happy Thanksgiving weekend and say God bless you, if you don’t mind.
abinitioadinfinitum on November 23, 2007 at 2:25 PM
One other sincere question, because I truly am curious:
If someone was in the freethought/atheist movement, and through their free exercise of thought, critical thinking, and rational searching, came to the conclusion that they believed that there is a God, and that God is revealed in the Bible - how would he or she be received by the freethought community? Would the exercise of thought be celebrated in this case? Or, is there a presupposition that one’s free exercise of critical thought cannot lead to a belief in God?
Or - does the freethought/atheist movement allow for the breaking of all intellectual shackles, including its own?
nailinmyeye on November 23, 2007 at 2:28 PM
I do agree with your statement.
abinitioadinfinitum on November 23, 2007 at 2:29 PM
They had to, even to have a society where a book could be written and preserved assumes a functioning set of laws and morals. Not to mention the large civilizations that predate the bible or grew up with little or no knowledge of what the Jewish laws were.
dedalus on November 23, 2007 at 2:30 PM
The secular paradise of the European Union shows that many athiests act selfishly. Now I’m not saying that this means that athiests are inherently selfish, just that without Christian moral teaching many feel they have no reason not to act primarily in their own best interests at the expense of others.
aengus on November 23, 2007 at 2:32 PM
Are you describing the Democratic party? LOL
abinitioadinfinitum on November 23, 2007 at 2:35 PM
I prefer Apathist Sunday School, which consists of sitting around bored all afternoon.
“What do you want to do now?”
“I don’t care. What do you want to do?”
“eh, whatever.”
“Amen.”
sulla on November 23, 2007 at 2:45 PM
Its interesting what just a couple of minor changes can wrought:
Fatal on November 23, 2007 at 2:52 PM
But as an agnostic, I will be the first to agree that Western Europe has lost some of its spine and backbone, by being less religious, and therefore thinking all religions are the same (and false) and thereby giving legitimacy to a backwards religion founded for Arabian conquest.
I wish Western Europe would be more Christian, it might keep them from being such pussies against radical Islam
firepilot on November 23, 2007 at 3:03 PM
Even at my age you won’t find many conservative atheists, because we’re in the closet - if most of my friends new my true dis-belief I’d pay a heavy price. Not necessarily with the true friends, but in the community group in general. I don’t actively hide it, but I don’t volunteer much either.
peski on November 23, 2007 at 3:11 PM
“Many atheists see ridiculous things like Creationism (which defies all logic and science). . . blah, blah, blah, . . . .”
Killgore Trout on November 23, 2007 at 12:39 PM
Someone hasn’t done much homework on Creation Science. Like that suprises me.
Vaporman87 on November 23, 2007 at 3:30 PM
Yuk! From now on I am just a self professed “Godless Heathen”. I was never a big fan of Space Camp.
ronsfi on November 23, 2007 at 3:36 PM
Atheism is a religion in itself. Its sacraments are: intellectualism, self-absorption, narcissism, conceit, and self-centeredness - and to believe in anyone else other than themselves, such as God is, to their way of thinking, beneath them.
They want their children to be ‘free-thinkers’ by encouraging personal expression, intellectual curiosity and collaboration, but suppress any knowledge of the worlds religions, a major component of all societies of the world, lest it infect them with an incurable disease.
Finally, we come to Christopher Hitchens - who is acting like Don Quijote de la Mundo - tilting at the windmills of the 80-90% of world’s population who believe in a supreme being when, in reality, he’s more like Sancho Panza, a mere observer unable to, try as he might through his writings, interviews, and speeches, effect what is going on around him.
This is egotism run amok and what atheism is all about.
pocomoco on November 23, 2007 at 4:00 PM
That’s true, it was.
Speakup on November 23, 2007 at 4:14 PM
Well, yes, I assumed that just on the basis they were atheists. However, as I quoted in my comment, they talk about morals and values as well.
That was what I was curious about. In addition to preaching that there is no God, they were also going to lay a foundation of morals and values. I wanted to know (1) what are these morals and values and (2) what are they basing them on.
Michael in MI on November 23, 2007 at 4:50 PM
Yeah, I wasn’t asking as a means to then say “AHA! You are moonbats and this is what all atheists want to do!” after finding out. It was merely a general curiousity as to what this specific atheist group was going to preach about morals and values and what their moral and value system was.
Michael in MI on November 23, 2007 at 4:58 PM
In my conversation with my friend who was an atheist who leaned right on most social issues and the war effort, I asked him about the 10 Commandments. His explanation was that they were used to try to bring some rule of law back then. And then to give them heavier weight, Moses told the people that they were handed down by God. But he believed they were just a way for man to enact a rule of law over a people who were getting out of hand.
Michael in MI on November 23, 2007 at 5:03 PM
Because there isnt always lot of science in creation science, especially the 6000 year old young earthers, and the ones who claimed dinosaurs and people walked side by side (See huxter Carl Baugh for that one).
firepilot on November 23, 2007 at 5:17 PM
The chicken came first and incubated an egg. Sounds pretty scientific to MEEEE. ;D
Rugged Individual on November 23, 2007 at 6:26 PM
If the Damian in that article loses his faith, he will no longer have the right to use my name. I was here first!
Damian G. on November 23, 2007 at 6:54 PM
“Why no, we’re not a religious cult. We just have a monopoly on the truth and believe that our truth conquers all.”
“HAIL DAWKINS!”
Seriously atheist dudes, just break out the robes already.
BKennedy on November 23, 2007 at 11:59 PM
Plainly put, once you take on the trappings of religion, your atheism ceases to be atheism and is merely just another “alternate” religion.
I’ve always been uncomfortable with the Hitchens and Newdows of the atheist set, I’ve not-so-secretly wished that both would shut the hell up about their faux brand of agnosticism, this is just further confirmation that their using their non-belief as just another god-construct with “anti-” stuck on the front of it for show.
You can’t preach and be an atheist. You can’t prostelylze and be an atheist. PERIOD!
–Jason (an atheist)
Jason Coleman on November 24, 2007 at 1:23 AM
I look forward to being able to argue that the Establishment clause bans atheism in public schools and other government buildings.
Rip Ford on November 24, 2007 at 8:10 AM
See - this just reaffirms my belief in God and the Christian principle that we are made to worship. Atheists worshiping “nothing” is still “worship.”
In the end it’s not whether or not you worship - it’s what you worship.
Jesus was right! :-D
thareb on November 24, 2007 at 8:57 AM
If someone was in the freethought/atheist movement, and through their free exercise of thought, critical thinking, and rational searching, came to the conclusion that they believed that there is a God, and that God is revealed in the Bible - how would he or she be received by the freethought community?
Much the way a person who left Christianity for Islam would be treated by the Christian community he left. To use an example, I rail about the stupidity of AGW on my blog, and at the same time accept Evolution as the best explanation for why we are what we are. I had one fellow leave a comment regarding how I could be so irrational about one (AGW) and so correct about the other. I used the same principles of critical thinking to reach both conclusions, but I had stepped away from the dogma of freethought.
The freethought movement is essentially a church. You can think whatever you want, as long as it conforms.
Krydor on November 24, 2007 at 11:37 AM
“…empowering anthems like I’m Unique and Unrepeatable..” - and destined
for worm dirt with no hope of a future beyond this fleeting life. “Empowering.”
The Zoo Keeper on November 24, 2007 at 11:47 AM