The backbreaker

[athrock]

Wow... you really have a listening problem, don't you? I told you to stop trying to project motivations onto me in order to satisfy your bizarre idea (no doubt imparted to you by leaders/mentors within your religious social circles) that atheists think the way we do because we're emotionally traumatized.

So bizarre. I have a "listening problem"? Not all atheists are "emotionally traumatized"...did I say that? Nope. I'm just "listening" to what you say and how you say it. 

Rocket, seriously, have you ever heard Christians ranting against the FSM the way some atheists rant about God? Nope. Because Christians couldn't care less about what is an obvious fantasy. However, many atheists (and your writings lean in this direction) frequently rail against the "pschopathic" "sky-daddy" worshiped by "bronze-age goat-herders", etc. Seriously, do you not hear how pathetic that sounds? I mean, you "brights" sure are worked up into a lather over something that you claim is all make-believe.

No, the fact is that you know God is not the Easter Bunny...you just don't like the fact that He has rules that you don't want to follow. It's an emotional response...not an intellectuals one.

Secondly, my mother has a PhD, is a professor at LSU, and is one of the most well-read persons I know, except on subjects of science and any historical facts that might potentially contradict the Biblical Literalism that is the hallmark of her fundamentalist faith. The reason I left my faith actually was because of her grudge against the Catholic church for her perceived crimes against True Christianity™, which ironically sound just like yours.

We have something in common. My father-in-law had a PhD, was a graduate of LSU, and he was a research scientist as well as a faithful Catholic.

But the real question for me would be: What are these "crimes against True Christianity" that she "perceived"? (Oh, and I note the trademark symbol; you simply can't NOT vent your anger and disdain when you post, can you? And you want me to believe that you are dispassionately objective about the facts of Christianity?)

When I was still a Christian, I was trained in apologetics...with a particular bent toward understanding the claims of Catholics, and how to refute them.

Then we have more in common. When I was a Protestant, I became aware of the historical evidence for Catholicism, and I have spent decades studying the arguments that Protestants use against Catholicism. I believe we are well-suited for some spirited (if not spirit-filled) discussions.

I became an atheist after my realization about the church's mistakes about science led me to apply the same scrutiny to the Protestants, and then to other religions. I continued studying throughout the decade or so that followed my departure from that home, and to some degree continue to do so, though I care a lot less about your cult now than I did when being a member of it (and finding my freedom from it) was still fresh.

Were you ever a member of my "cult"? Apparently not. I'm not sure when your mom bolted from the Catholic Church taking you with her, but I'd be more than happy to assist you in finding a better understanding of Catholicism's response to science. We may even share some of the same opinions of true, Young-Earth fundamentalists, btw.

I don't do what I do because I'm angry, or resentful. I do it to protect HER feelings, and to not be a jerk of a son. After realizing that I couldn't talk to her about the problems of her position without her getting emotionally invested and hurt/offended, I stopped talking with her about it... it's along the lines of trying to tell a football fan that his team/club sucks by pointing at statistics. They just don't want to hear it, and it's not worth the argument if you care about the person.

I understand. My mom and I disagree strongly on several subjects, so while I am happy to discuss anything with anyone, I know she would rather not hear about some things from me, so I let it go. See? We have this in common, too!

Finally, I'm not the one with the emotional blind spot. You see your god through rose-colored glasses, after years of conditioning (the repetitive nature of Catholic masses should be a red flag to you that it's a brainwashing technique), but if you were evaluating the actions of Lord Shiva in the Bahagavad Gita, say, it would be clear as day to you. The difference between us is that I see no difference between Adonai (Lord) Yahweh and Lord Shiva.

Ah, well, you have a valid point there. I do see differences between Yahweh and Shiva though there may be some similarities, also.

As for the "repetitive nature of Catholic masses", Jesus said, "Do this [observe the Lord's Supper] is remembrance of me." So, we do it.  Were we supposed to stop at some point?