I think a testimony to the tolerance of Evangelicals or most any Christian sect, would be if an atheist did go to church, when invited to as in the scenario in the OP, and as is often the case in many churches the pastor asks if anyone would like to give their testimony. Usually near the end of the service, to see how inspired the faithful having just heard the sermon.
If the atheist got up and then testified to the whole congregation; Hello I'm ________ and I'm an atheist. I came here to see if listening to this service would change that.

(August 9, 2011 at 2:57 am)MilesTailsPrower Wrote: I'm arguing with some people, after their threats of violence they want me to go to church to see what happens. Should I really waste 2 hours of my time to prove something wrong? Well Sae did eat a raw fish eye...?

I went to church last sunday. It was a quaint and very old congregational church in Benicia, CA. I went to support a dear friend of mine who is finishing her last year of seminary and is entering into the care of this church. Last sunday was her first sermon. Decent sermon less the jesus/god and other religious bull.

Anyhow, I felt nothing in the church.....I was not moved in any way from my current position.

(August 9, 2011 at 2:57 am)MilesTailsPrower Wrote: I'm arguing with some people, after their threats of violence they want me to go to church to see what happens. Should I really waste 2 hours of my time to prove something wrong? Well Sae did eat a raw fish eye...?

Threats of violence? Welcome to my world of Wicca.

What would you prove? That you can walk into a church? That you can put yourself at the mercy amongst their cohorts if they threatened you with violence? That there would be no conversion experience if you did not wish one? Unless you have something to prove to yourself there doesn't seem to be much reason for that.

I live too close to a church, right across the street from my house. Even in a village of 142 people I get threats (because my car with its pro-Wicca bumper stickers [such as 'Goddess Bless America' and 'Freedom of religion means all religions and no religion'] is always parked right across the street from it). I don't need to go into a church to see what would happen to me.

(I don't think they are mad about the Mensa one - I don't think they know what Mensa is.)

James

---

(August 9, 2011 at 1:12 pm)LastPoet Wrote: I even read scripture in my nephew's baptism, by my sister request, noticed nothing different except for my friends were admired because I did it, to witch I responded "I am an atheist, not a demon or vampire lol", although I stressed my opinion to my sister about baptism before.

To which witch did you respond?
There were witches at the baptism? Kewl. Definitely an open-minded baptism.
James

(August 9, 2011 at 2:57 am)MilesTailsPrower Wrote: I'm arguing with some people, after their threats of violence they want me to go to church to see what happens. Should I really waste 2 hours of my time to prove something wrong? Well Sae did eat a raw fish eye...?

That was to mock someone, darling... not to prove something wrong.

It's pointless to go to church to prove it wouldn't change anything about me... because it would:

It would make me more irritated with the practitioners.

---

(August 9, 2011 at 3:06 am)FaithNoMore Wrote: I will never step into church again if I don't have to. I have already proven that going every Sunday until I was 15 didn't have any effect on me.

I would rather eat a fish eye.

That's what you'd say now... ever chewed a fish eye? Has the consistency of goddamn rubber.

Taste isn't exactly delicious either.

And to set the record straight here: It was a raw fish eye. Cooked changes everything.

(August 10, 2011 at 11:56 pm)Aerzia Saerules Arktuos Wrote: That's what you'd say now... ever chewed a fish eye? Has the consistency of goddamn rubber.

Taste isn't exactly delicious either.

And to set the record straight here: It was a raw fish eye. Cooked changes everything.

Sounds terrible, but it can't be any worse than going to church.

(August 11, 2011 at 12:05 am)FaithNoMore Wrote: Sounds terrible, but it can't be any worse than going to church.

Depends... decent song service or no?

(August 11, 2011 at 12:25 am)Aerzia Saerules Arktuos Wrote:

(August 11, 2011 at 12:05 am)FaithNoMore Wrote: Sounds terrible, but it can't be any worse than going to church.

Depends... decent song service or no?

To give church the benefit of the doubt, we'll say decent song service. Even so, I think I'd still rather eat a raw fish eye. I really hate church.

Nah... with a decent song service there's alright music and human electricity in the room... without is where I'd agree.

(August 11, 2011 at 12:05 am)FaithNoMore Wrote:

(August 10, 2011 at 11:56 pm)Aerzia Saerules Arktuos Wrote: That's what you'd say now... ever chewed a fish eye? Has the consistency of goddamn rubber.

Taste isn't exactly delicious either.

And to set the record straight here: It was a raw fish eye. Cooked changes everything.

Sounds terrible, but it can't be any worse than going to church.

I actually like fish eye! Cooked or baked tho...best part is people faces hock:

---

I would love to go to one of those black cristian churches from the south, with music and ladies wearing hats, looks like fun. Never saw those speaking in tongues/ exorcism stuff either... there is this african-brazilian religion that have some kick ass drums that I´d love to go too. I'd be throwing my hands in the air, singing/praying the whole shenanigans too. I figure If I'm there I might as well enjoy it with the crowd. I'm not afraid for 1 sec that it will ever change me into a believer, if it ever does I'll go straight to a neurologist for a check up.

(August 10, 2011 at 8:06 am)Ziggystardust Wrote:

(August 9, 2011 at 4:34 am)leo-rcc Wrote: I went to a protestant church once for the wedding of my nephew, and I was bored to tears (though the congregation holding their hands in the air bit was interesting, what is up with that?).

Some Protestant churches are charismatic and/or pentecostal, in that they believe in gifts being given out to people like speaking in tongues, prophecy and healing. The worship style in charismatic churches often involves loud music and very emotional worshipping (which includes holding of hands, not to mention clapping hands as a form of praise).

---

(August 9, 2011 at 2:57 am)MilesTailsPrower Wrote: I'm arguing with some people, after their threats of violence they want me to go to church to see what happens. Should I really waste 2 hours of my time to prove something wrong? Well Sae did eat a raw fish eye...?

Why are you wasting your valuable time associating with these people may I ask?

Bestfriend asked this: How could God leave so many ananswered questions? It just leads to doubt. Which makes us sin. Why are we held accountable for sinning if we are driven to it?

Then a bunch of people started ranting with shit about "God loves you and forgives you". That's how. I was thinking that it could be a intelligent discussion over it, but when the fact is that God isn't real it always comes down to Faith, or the oh so mighty BIBLE. I didn't have the heart to tell them that they were brain dead dumbfucks that can't even come up with a rational argument. They wanted me to come to church, but I'm not wasting 2 hours listening to a bunch of adults worshiping a picture and a book. I don't like book clubs.