Religious people equate athiests to rapists

[BikerDude]

I've always found it very telling that they will say "if there is on God then what's to stop a person from going out and raping and murdering and stealing".
For a person to be perplexed about that they must want to rape and murder and rob and simply don't because of there special imaginary friend.

And how random it is that the first thing that springs to there mind is rape.
Freaking nut jobs.
Nothing changes.

Coaches and preachers all turning out to be drug addled child molesters.
Latest one is a cop. Former sheriff of the year.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/01/us/former-colorado-sheriff-accused-of-trying-to-trade-drugs-for-sex.html

[Reverend Al]

I've always found it very telling that they will say "if there is on God then what's to stop a person from going out and raping and murdering and stealing".

The counter to that is to ask, "If there is a God, why does he/she allow people to rape, murder, and steal?"  Of course, these questions could also apply to the subjects of war, hunger, poverty, illness, or what-have-you.  Regardless, the answer to these questions neither proves nor disproves the existence of God (or Gods, in deference to Meekon5's beliefs) so debating them is rather pointless.

[Hominid]

To frame the notion of god's existence - and purpose of being - around our sensibilities is narrow-minded, whether you're atheist or christian. That's the philosophical mistake both sides make when engaging in such debate; we unnecessarily polarize our interpretations of reality. The much bigger picture of our existence should cause us to ask such questions as "Where does meaning come from?" instead of asking... "What is the most important value system?", which is ego-centric...

There ARE no polarities. Only love and tolerance. Tolerance to wait for the other dude to grow up and stop hating.

But, that's like, my opinion man...

[milnie]

I've always found it very telling that they will say "if there is on God then what's to stop a person from going out and raping and murdering and stealing".
For a person to be perplexed about that they must want to rape and murder and rob and simply don't because of there special imaginary friend.

And how random it is that the first thing that springs to there mind is rape.
Freaking nut jobs.
Nothing changes.

Coaches and preachers all turning out to be drug addled child molesters.
Latest one is a cop. Former sheriff of the year.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/01/us/former-colorado-sheriff-accused-of-trying-to-trade-drugs-for-sex.html

Looks like someone has been watching "bad lieutenant" too often

[sosenroshi]

Well for many years I trod the path of what can best be described as investigation into 'God'.Initially through cultural reasons I looked into Christianity, Islam and then Baha'i faith. I eventually attended a Buddhist centre and was taught by a Tibetan Buddhist monk. Finally I received Dharma transmission from a Soto Zen Monk. What did I find-a lot of hog wash and hypocrisy people seeking power using the all powerfull God as a weapon and a threat. Even in the Buddhist tradition particularly Tibetan there were threats of bas karma or negative spirit entities.

Where am I now-I teach Zen Buddhism but in a very light way and have found meditation a useful adjunct to my day as well as Yoga. Born again Christianity I regard with anathema it justifies wars and all manner of exclusive practices. Frankly I have many friends who would be dammed by the born agains but who are the best people I know with great compassion, understanding and a non judgemental attitude.

[Hominid]

sosenroshi dude - welcome to our little beach partay... pull up a rug and grab an oat soda!

God is used as a beating stick because so many people are so damn vulnerable to it... it reaches deep into our psyche because of the  archetypes deep in our cellular memories. It's a fascinating subject to study and observe because of it.  You'll find some cool dudes here like to chat about this shit.

[cookiemeat]

I've always found it very telling that they will say "if there is on God then what's to stop a person from going out and raping and murdering and stealing".
For a person to be perplexed about that they must want to rape and murder and rob and simply don't because of there special imaginary friend.

And how random it is that the first thing that springs to there mind is rape.
Freaking nut jobs.
Nothing changes.

Coaches and preachers all turning out to be drug addled child molesters.
Latest one is a cop. Former sheriff of the year.
nytimes.com/2011/12/01/us/former-colorado-sheriff-accused-of-trying-to-trade-drugs-for-sex.html

The guy tried to trade some meth for gay sex? How does that harm anyone? I don't see why he should be arrested for that. Free choice is free choice and I though america was the land of the free. Many people booze up others for sex but the gays do like meth why punish them for their choices? Help educate that it is addictive and a poor choice but to make someones lifestyle or morality a crime does not seem very respectful.  if he was drugging up little kiddies to sodomize them that would be pretty mean but it sounds like all involved where adults.

[Caesar dude]

Well for many years I trod the path of what can best be described as investigation into 'God'.Initially through cultural reasons I looked into Christianity, Islam and then Baha'i faith. I eventually attended a Buddhist centre and was taught by a Tibetan Buddhist monk. Finally I received Dharma transmission from a Soto Zen Monk. What did I find-a lot of hog wash and hypocrisy people seeking power using the all powerfull God as a weapon and a threat. Even in the Buddhist tradition particularly Tibetan there were threats of bas karma or negative spirit entities.

Where am I now-I teach Zen Buddhism but in a very light way and have found meditation a useful adjunct to my day as well as Yoga. Born again Christianity I regard with anathema it justifies wars and all manner of exclusive practices. Frankly I have many friends who would be dammed by the born agains but who are the best people I know with great compassion, understanding and a non judgemental attitude.

That is a damned fine post sosenroshi!

Welcome dude and peace.

[DigitalBuddha]

Well for many years I trod the path of what can best be described as investigation into 'God'.Initially through cultural reasons I looked into Christianity, Islam and then Baha'i faith. I eventually attended a Buddhist centre and was taught by a Tibetan Buddhist monk. Finally I received Dharma transmission from a Soto Zen Monk. What did I find-a lot of hog wash and hypocrisy people seeking power using the all powerfull God as a weapon and a threat. Even in the Buddhist tradition particularly Tibetan there were threats of bas karma or negative spirit entities.

Where am I now-I teach Zen Buddhism but in a very light way and have found meditation a useful adjunct to my day as well as Yoga. Born again Christianity I regard with anathema it justifies wars and all manner of exclusive practices. Frankly I have many friends who would be dammed by the born agains but who are the best people I know with great compassion, understanding and a non judgemental attitude.

sosenroshi and cookiemeat dudes; Welcome to the bowling alley, mangs! Good to have you in our beach community, pull up a rug, bar's over there!

[BikerDude]

I've always found it very telling that they will say "if there is on God then what's to stop a person from going out and raping and murdering and stealing".
For a person to be perplexed about that they must want to rape and murder and rob and simply don't because of there special imaginary friend.

And how random it is that the first thing that springs to there mind is rape.
Freaking nut jobs.
Nothing changes.

Coaches and preachers all turning out to be drug addled child molesters.
Latest one is a cop. Former sheriff of the year.
nytimes.com/2011/12/01/us/former-colorado-sheriff-accused-of-trying-to-trade-drugs-for-sex.html

The guy tried to trade some meth for gay sex? How does that harm anyone? I don't see why he should be arrested for that. Free choice is free choice and I though america was the land of the free. Many people booze up others for sex but the gays do like meth why punish them for their choices? Help educate that it is addictive and a poor choice but to make someones lifestyle or morality a crime does not seem very respectful.  if he was drugging up little kiddies to sodomize them that would be pretty mean but it sounds like all involved where adults.

After spending a career putting people in jail for meth.
This was a thread about Religion and how they equate atheists to rapists.
I believe that is an indication of repression and guilt around their sexuality.
I'd level the same charge against the typical false machismo that you tend to find in the police and military on occasion.
I always relish the irony when one of there own turns out to be a drug addled closeted homosexual.

[AspiringDude]

What is interesting in my humble opinion is the fact that the whole atheism thing is starting to echo Nietzsche's famous quote about fighting monsters...
For the proponents of rationalism they are really beginning to get their own crusade going.

I personally am, besides being a Dudeist, happily agnostic. I have no idea whether there's a god or not.
And guess what...I am happy not knowing! I don't need to know for sure...because the question itself is impossible, it's a problem our brains cannot solve. Period.

[DigitalBuddha]

What is interesting in my humble opinion is the fact that the whole atheism thing is starting to echo Nietzsche's famous quote about fighting monsters...
For the proponents of rationalism they are really beginning to get their own crusade going.

I personally am, besides being a Dudeist, happily agnostic. I have no idea whether there's a god or not.
And guess what...I am happy not knowing! I don't need to know for sure...because the question itself is impossible, it's a problem our brains cannot solve. Period.

Hey AspiringDude, welcome to our beach community. Good to have you here. We're all looking for our rug, join in, mang!

[AspiringDude]

Thankies.

[BikerDude]

What is interesting in my humble opinion is the fact that the whole atheism thing is starting to echo Nietzsche's famous quote about fighting monsters...
For the proponents of rationalism they are really beginning to get their own crusade going.

I personally am, besides being a Dudeist, happily agnostic. I have no idea whether there's a god or not.
And guess what...I am happy not knowing! I don't need to know for sure...because the question itself is impossible, it's a problem our brains cannot solve. Period.

Yes there is a move afoot to no longer simply bow your head rather than speak out against religion. It's high time that the religious stopped automatically getting the high ground where any criticism is seen as intolerance.

I used to be agnostic but when I looked at that position rationally I realized that I simply had to at least lean toward disbelief.
There is a long long history on the part of believers of being dead wrong. Attributing things to Gods that we now can explain. When I look at my own agnostic attitude and add to it a long history of lunacy superstition and ignorance on the part of the real believers I have to "do the math". The proponents of belief have consistently blown it so I have no reason to respect the arguements.

This insistence on tying morality to an irrational belief is just further fuel.
It always leaves me stunned when people make that sort of statement.
"If there no God then what's to stop people from ".... etc etc.
If that needs to be explained then I'm sorry they are paraquat.

I've posted this before but it bears repeat postings.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-869630813464694890#

[Rev. RJ Dudemiester]

without wanting to disagree with any of the opinions stated here, i want to point out something interesting-

in western culture, we are used to thinking of "God" in only one way.
there are many ways to conceive of the divine mystery that is called God... For example in Buddhism (which is, technically NOT a religion) the Atman is not worshiped or believed in as "God", but rather the Atman is known as the entity of consciousness that is at the center of every human mind, the power that is manifesting the entire universe. 

considering that our Church has some fundamental things in common with all religions, such as the dichotomy of mystic vs dogmatic impulses (in our churches case i would argue that the mystic impulse is the contemplation of how to Abide; and the dogmatic impulse is the the Lobowskiist fixation on speaking like and constantly quoting characters from the movie.

These two impulses are in-fact mutually arising dichotomies that exist in all religions. When balanced with each other, these two impulses can work in harmony to provide catharsis and enlightenment among the congregation. it is when the two are separated, that rigidity and corruption will creep into any religion. 

But i digress... as i have lost my train of thought...