I went back to church, but I just DON'T believe...

[theVOID]

I'm going to create a universe of two near-perfect people, then knowing that a talking snake will trump them i'm going to create it, let it tempt them and them blame them for it while putting a curse on their progeny, then I'm going to wait a while then flood them, then get a virgin pregnant so she can give birth to me in human form, then I'll die and tell them that if they don't believe that I died for them and love me for it I'm going to roast them forever but all i'm going to leave them is one book full of contradictions that millions of people will interpret differently and kill each other over it.

After all this I'm going to convince these idiots that I'm omni-benevolent, and they'll believe it! Hahahaha! - YHWH, The Cosmic Asshole.

[Justtristo]

Well, these are some of the major problems that I have with at least Christian theology:

1. The idea that disease and disasters occur on this earth because of sin. Now, I'm not going to deny that we as humans can negatively impact our environment-the recent BP oil spill proves otherwise. But, this idea that there are diseases and disasters because (and I'm just using one example) gay people have sex, is as ridiculous to me as the ideas put forth by astrologers that the alignment of the stars plays a role in people's lives. I simply do not see the evidence in either case.

Oh indeed it is ridiculous, however if you read the bible closely enough things like death, disease, natural disasters, etc are according to the bible the direct result of sin entering the world after the fall (read Romans 8:19-22). I spoke to a Christian girl a while back about the Earthquakes in Haiti and she believed that. hock:

2. The idea and concept of hell. I simply do not believe that those who believe differently then I do are going to spend eternity suffering for that. Now, Christian theologians have different ideas as to what hell is like-some say that you burn alive, some say that god is present, some say that hell is simply the absence of god's presence. But it doesn't make any difference, because, even if it's just a nasty waiting room, as C.S. Lewis described in his book "The Great Divorce", it is still eternal torture-not a million years, not a billion years, not a trillion years-it lasts forever. I was with a church group who visited a mosque, and we met a young lady there who went on some college trip around the globe and said that she choose Islam because she thought that it made sense to her and was the religion that she thought fit her best, and she was very happy about that-but according to church doctrine, if she doesn't repent and receive christ, she's going to hell!! That's outrageous to me!

Outrageous to you and me yes, however Yahweh is a sadistic prick who will send a saint of a man like Fred Hollows to hell for being an atheist and a murderer like Jeffrey Dahmer to heaven because he accepted his son as Lord before he died.

[LWP17]

I have gone to church 3 times in the last 3 years. Each time I had found flaws in the sermon after I had studied what was taught. Now I'm wondering why I hadn't done this thing sooner.

[Statler Waldorf]

I'm going to create a universe of two near-perfect people, then knowing that a talking snake will trump them i'm going to create it, let it tempt them and them blame them for it while putting a curse on their progeny, then I'm going to wait a while then flood them, then get a virgin pregnant so she can give birth to me in human form, then I'll die and tell them that if they don't believe that I died for them and love me for it I'm going to roast them forever but all i'm going to leave them is one book full of contradictions that millions of people will interpret differently and kill each other over it.

After all this I'm going to convince these idiots that I'm omni-benevolent, and they'll believe it! Hahahaha! - YHWH, The Cosmic Asshole.

Saying that is what Christianity is about is like saying this is what evolution is all about. Total strawman and you should know better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OO7NJwwryI

[KichigaiNeko]

I am thinking the argument is about the preacher of the sermon?? After all xtianity is made by man.....is it not??

[theVOID]

Saying that is what Christianity is about is like saying this is what evolution is all about. Total strawman and you should know better.

It's not a bad summary, I got all the important plot points in there.

Oh, you know that video is making fun of YECs right?

[Valkyrie]

Yeah, it's been almost a month since I've posted on here, and in that time, I went to a different church. But I just can't believe in souls, a god, demons, heaven, hell, or anything else like that.

As to why I went back, I was raised by my parents (and this is by no means a slam on them) to be dependent. So, when I had a horrible day at work, I felt like that was "god" calling me back to himself. I REALLY need to break this emotional dependence on a non-existent deity, but I honestly don't know how. Any resources would help.

Guy P. Harrison's book about why people believe in a god helps, and I'm off to buy a copy of Atheist Universe, by Mills. I read the intro that he wrote on Amazon.com, and am VERY impressed!

I think that almost any emotional dependence can be replaced. When people quit smoking, they sometimes eat more. When we quit television, we replace it with books, exercise or music.

The key, I think, is to replace it with something less damaging and more productive. We made God in our own image, which means that anything good that comes from God actually originated within ourselves.

The next time you feel like depending on God . . . let someone depend on you instead. Call a friend who is going through a rough time, volunteer at an animal shelter or get online and offer comfort to someone. By doing this, you will realize the God within yourself and help make your tiny corner of the world a little better.

Best of luck!

---

Try this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FG6iNe_3...re=related

[Statler Waldorf]

Saying that is what Christianity is about is like saying this is what evolution is all about. Total strawman and you should know better.

It's not a bad summary, I got all the important plot points in there.

Oh, you know that video is making fun of YECs right?

Well then I am afraid that shows your limited understanding of Christian Theology. I would encourage you to get some of the greatest works on the subject.

Nope, it's actually making fun of Atheists. Both of the two episodes were. It was Parker and Stone's response to Penn Jillette's criticism of them for believing in a "higher power". So they made a two part episode to show how stupid they think Atheism is, which Parker even says is the "silliest of all the religions." So nice try Void. Probably one reason Dawkins is portrayed as such a moron in the episodes.

[Minimalist]

In two brief minutes Bill Maher consolidates all the flaming stupidity of xtianity.

Too bad believers cannot see how ridiculous they appear.

[Justtristo]

Well then I am afraid that shows your limited understanding of Christian Theology. I would encourage you to get some of the greatest works on the subject.

May I ask what sort of works would you recommend The Void to read?

Anyway the creators of South Park are wrong, atheism is not a religion or belief system, it is rather a lack of a belief in god/s, which is aptly summed up by a Oxford English dictionary definition of Atheism

disbelief in the existence of God or gods

Where as the definitions of religion are

the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power , especially a personal God or gods:ideas about the relationship between science and religion
or
a particular system of faith and worship:the world's great religions
or
a pursuit or interest followed with great devotion:consumerism is the new religion