How many of you former xtians when leaving the church after listening to a sermon, shook the preacher's hand & said, "I liked your delivery but the sermon was crap." The point being that no one calls them out. I'm guilty too! Everytime that I see a priest in the garb, I want to shout out in the face & say what moral hypocrites you are. Falwell is only the latest in a long procession of fraudulent, fake & fony hucksters.
Haven't done that. But one time I was paul bearer at a funeral. I could not stop laughing at his fish hat. He then went on to sell Christianity. He said that someone didn't go back to church because no one invited him. His sales pitch and the hat... I was snickering the entire time! I could not help it! BTW the funeral was for my moms aunt. WHO I NEVER MET. Never knew she existed...
When I was a kid, there with my family, sermons were about how to be a good Xian in daily life,full of good ideas, setting good examples, using jeebus' best ideas in daily life,
Of course, the minister was a degree'd person from a Real university, and it was the 50's, when people devoutly believed in separation of church & state!
I went to my first wife's church a few times so the idiot minister would agree to marry us there. I queried him on his sermons a few times after the service, he didn't seem to like it very much so my future wife took to having us leave by the side door. He married us and then had a horrific car accident that left him paralyzed on one side, I guess we'll just have to chock that up to God's Will working in strange and mysterious ways. The guy was a pompous ass but you do what you think you need to do when you are in your 20's and in love.
My mom came to visit for a few days last month. She ended up leaving on Sunday morning, but she didn't want to miss her church service, and she really wanted to do church with me. (She knows I haven't been in a long time, and she's worried.) I sang along to that godawful, vile noise they claim is worship. I read all the Bible verses and didn't mock. But it was utter garbage. I don't remember what the sermon was about, but I distinctly remember “vapid” being an adjective in my mind. Mom got so much out of it. Even when I was a Christian, I had the same reaction (privately) to hearing my former roommate preach (he's a pastor). Like, I could've run laps around him with my legs tied over my head, in terms of Bible knowledge.
How many of you would get verbally or physically abused by family members if they saw that happen or it was reported to them through the church that it happened? If you would not face such ramifications you are not in a position to judge those of us that have not called them out as martyrs for atheism/agnosticism. I'd say you are a bigger coward if you do not face those ramifications than I ever would be.
The church I was actually baptized in as a child is where my best friend and his wife now go. Their pastor approached me before their wedding and laid out how I was mistreated by his predecessor and that it "would be an honor to have a founding member return to the fold" I simply smirked and said "its all bullshit man. Dont press me further. I'd hate to ruin their wedding."
I was a child raised in the church, questioning the minister like that would be like going off on an uncle or something.
It's better to just go find something else for your entire life to be about.
I did.
I was a JW elder and went to an assembly where they told us we had to accept everything that came down from the top. I had never accepted everything. I went home and wrote my letter of resignation of holding office. Soon after they got rid of me completely. Similar, as all religions are hypocritical.
I have no memories of ever being in a church until just recently... And it wasn't for any sermons...
And so.......?
@Atheist3 and so... My bfs parents requested if they could have my daughter baptised.. I said yes...
@Cutiebeauty Now that is truly interesting. Is your bf religious? Was it just a case of piecing off yer in-laws? I understand, tradition, tradition. Keep the peace. There is a time for every season.
@Atheist3 he's Catholic but in name only.. His parents are religious but they know I'm atheist.. It's not an issue...
@Cutiebeauty earlier tonight I read a story about a Jesuit priest of 3 years who found a recording of his baptism… and the priest used the wrong magic words when baptizing him, so it's not legit. Ergo, he's not a real Christian, and most of the rites he performed for 3 years aren't valid. I hope at your daughter's baptism, the priest made the same mistake.
@Cutiebeauty I'm sure I've been baptized more than once in my lifetime. Same thing with my daughters. Due to recent times fear it appears they are back to Jebus and just got baptized again. A little water does not hurt anything but I am forever out of that lifestyle.
I have a severe allergy to bullshit: the only church service I ever went to was once on board a ship.
"As an atheist, I wince every time someone mentions god, especially when singing old hymns," I told the Unitarian minister as I was leaving the Sunday service. She said they are changing hymns to omit the word "God."
She meant song lyrics projected onto a screen during services. I thanked her.
"As an atheist, I chose rational thought, not magical beliefs," I said. This upset her.
"They are not magical beliefs!" she exclaimed. Here comes an argument.
Sigh.
What a clever woman you are. Every time that I come back on this site, you keep me hanging on.
@Atheist3 Yes, that's @LiterateHiker for you: charming, witty and erudite.
@anglophone & horny, no?
@Atheist3 You must ask her yourself.
Awww....shucks! Thanks for your compliment. I appreciate you.
Thank you. Reminds me of "You Keep Me Hanging On" by the Supremes.
Now I have an ear worm. Time to dance.
"Set me free, why don't cha, baby. Get out my life, why don't cha, baby. 'Cause you don't really love me. You just keep me hangin' on. You don't really need me..."
@Atheist3 you were doing well until that horny quip. If you wouldn't ask that question of someone complimenting a man, why do you think it is okay to ask about literatehiker? It seems like it is you projecting your lust on to her. Shame.
I'm not trying to get in any fist fights. Most religious people say and think stupid shit, like an eye for an eye.
Many agnostics and atheists on this site believe in "an eye for an eye." Look how much a defense of capital punishment is put forward hear. I'm a humanist as well as an atheist so I don't believe in such shit.
I never listened to the Rabbi’s sermon so I didn’t know if it was crap.
Oy veh!
Probably was.