I have great respect for agnostics and atheists. My dad was a thoughtful and devout agnostic. Their rights are fundamental to my rights. But I have never understood this childish urge to piss on any reference to church you encounter, like a dog with a telephone pole.
Comments
Not yucking anybody’s faith but I get some of those responses. If your life is traumatized by a place you were promised as safe, the anger can be for life. Trust was shattered for so many innocent kids.
I think that's what the OP means: if the topic of church comes up, we can choose to be silent, or better yet, to leave the convo.
https://bsky.app/profile/ttpphd.bsky.social/post/3ldtzzfjmts25
Taking kids to church? Nope.
Depending on the churches and property, it can be a particular strain. The one church in my town owns 1/8th of the land. Not a dime is paid in property tax, but the village is required to provide all city services.
Steeped in xtian hegemony, certain that all religions are practiced identically, and that all atheists are Very Smart.
Wait until you guys hear about Jewish atheists. Which is 100% a thing, and very common.
https://www.thecut.com/article/the-evangelical-obsession-with-corporal-punishment.html
https://archive.ph/qFF5J
BUT I’m hesitant to take this approach. The lessons are valuable even if the congregation won’t listen
To me agnosticism is just "I don't know or I'm not sure".
Most atheists I've known on the other hand are very sure. Their lack of belief is every bit as central to their identity as belief is to a theist.
I just try not to be an asshole about.
I'm spiritual but not religious. And I think churches are beautiful. And understand other's devotion
This dude needs therapy for their hangups
I hope you gave them the ol' "bless your heart"
(Caveat: most)
First time in a church as an adult I appreciated the support my friend's family received after his brother's suicide.
And my friend had his sunglasses stolen during the service. 🙏🤷♂️
“Trouble no one about their religion;
Respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours.”
The experience solidified to me that the Church doesn't actually care about anyone, even a family with young children trying to get inside from the freezing cold.
What's so rational about acting like that, I'd like to know? Never got an answer to that one!🙄
Grew up a devout Anglican; now an atheist.
Don’t discount the fear (and a little disgust).
PS: Sarcasm
You can believe anything but there will be a problem if you start using it to justify real actions in the real world against others, especially when they are none of your business.
They do do a lot of stuff I appreciate and approve of, but a huge, huge portion of it is genuinely 'haha let's piss off Christians'. Look, if there's a legal stupidity, by all means, open season.
But a lot of it is just unholier than thou.
Religions deserve all the piss. Mankind's worst invention.
I mostly enjoy seeing churches of great historical significance. Or as a way to climb a tower and see the city in which they're placed.
I mean, I can accept that some people cheer for Philadelphia sports teams, even though I don't understand why, and statistically it seems unlikely that they're ALL bad people...
It depends on the Church. Which depends on the preacher.
But you can say that about any religion, not just Christianity.
I was constantly told absolutely _terrible_ things by good churchin’ folk, even when I was a small child. After a while it makes one want to lash out.
To the miseducation of children who in tax-exempt institutions
Are taught to externalize blame
And to feel ashamed
And to judge things as plain right or wrong.
But I quite like the songs"
https://youtu.be/x1rw1fx170s?si=Ovo-QCiTbROgipMw
to heaven on earth because NOBODY KNOWS what's next.
You can’t stop there!
You have to do like…philosophy and science after that. To answer the big questions, when you remove the answer of a creator. The solution of creation.
Sorry, but it does. Not that you need to be here for a “reason.” But to not even question how or why? Couldn’t do it.
Just dealt with a patient this morning who tried to tell me about the "good news" in clinic, how about no?
I also find it disrespectful when I'm with family and they try to coerce me into holding hands for prayer.
we can use science and reason to create just laws. if religious people call them moral that is fine. justice as best we can do is all that matters
So tired of stupid little binaries.
I’m an atheist, and as aware of the harms done in the name of faith as anyone. I see no value in attacking those whose religious practice isn’t interfering with others.
I have an axe to grind with tax-free status, or political interference, that’s a reasonable disagreement.
...
wait
Elon Musk has started claiming "cultural Christianity" as another facet of white supremacy he can weaponize, but his transphobia is secular.
Anti gay anti trans anti female autonomy movements are explicitly religious. That’s the difference.
I agree
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UN29iQ0zJ4
Whatever makes people happy, as long as no-one is hurt is fine by me.
And the whole separation from state is worthy of emptying an entire cities' sewer tank of piss on a church that preaches politics at the pulpit.
Thinking about church for some atheists is probably like veterans thinking about war, or in your case, thinking about Michael Avenatti.
and are just returning the favor
Churches over here tend to be beautiful historical buildings, sometimes 600+ years old.
You're basically getting a free history tour entering one.
"i don't believe in your sky daddy" "my religion doesn't have a sky daddy at all" "shut up dirty god-believer I'm gonna go eat too many mushrooms and jerk off to Richard Dawkins" "cool I'm gonna listen to George Harrison sing my sweet lord and make some lives easier today"
If you think it’s fantasy I’m sorry the people who tried to teach you about literature failed, little fella.
They don't have the same hatred for temples and mosques (and see the xenophobia of that move).
Churches have been horrifically abusive to millions of people. There's no denying it.
The people saying "I wouldn't take a kid to a [insert religious building of your choice here]" are not all victims of spiritual or further abuse by the church.
Those who are are fully justified.
The history of abuse experienced by Indigenous, queer, and many other people absolutely justifies their loathing.
if your religious beliefs are based in false things, then that's bad.
I mean, I knew you were sharp but I didn't know you were an asshole, too
Justice isn't on the periodic table.
Hope, Love, Truth, Reality: All beliefs.
Your ability to perceive anything is predicated solely on the impulses inside your brain, which could not only be faulty but
And everything you rely on every day is all up there.
Abolish religion? You might as well pray to wake up in a world where people don't exist. It's more likely to get you what you're asking for.
Merry Christmas.
Chicken or egg?
One true way-ism is pernicious, the religious dont have a monopoly on that.
It needn't be so. In ancient times, the three Abrahamic traditions were mutually accepting.)
Faith or lack thereof is such a personal thing... I wish people would keep it that way.
(Cont)
When atheists apply this distaste to religious minorities, however, it tends to blend with bigotry; that's dangerous.
"I hate all religions" quickly becomes "You Jews are greedy and two-faced" in a way that never seems to happen for Christians.
Ken:
Poster #1 “You’re horrible. I mock you and your ancestors. How dare you mention this subject?”
Ken: “don’t be a jerk”
Posters 2 - 1000 “poster #1 is right. How dare you take umbrage at being insulted?”
Merry Christmas, Ken.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/7/3/1677547/-Evangelicals-Attraction-to-Trump-is-Deep-and-No-Mystery
Grew up both Catholic & Episcopalian & my mom was an intellectual agnostic who believed all religions had a piece of the truth. Your worship is fine with me, as long as it doesn’t involve dehumanizing others.
Also they have pretty songs and gold covered ceilings so…
I do not belittle the faith of others — just please don’t ask me to live by the rules of your faith.
Seriously, why?
I assume it's coming from a place of wanting to punish churches. Which I'm not cool with the idea of taxation being punishment, and also, I hope, you can see how that's not a good basis for policymaking. 1/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2019/06/04/wealthy-televangelist-explains-his-fleet-private-jets-its-biblical-thing/
Other states are different, of course. 2/
(It's also worth noting that most churches already pay taxes. 2/
But also, you understand that taxing churches will provide little, if any, additional federal revenue? Like, mostly their revenue is donations. 3/
No reason for any organization which uses pay-to-play in any form to receive preferential tax status.
Did u see the mega church extravaganzas? Obscene
But it’s definitely a marker.
Belief isn’t the issue…believing that you know what’s best and someone else should be punished if they don’t believe.
“Love is the doctrine of this church.
The quest for truth is it sacrament
And service is its prayer.
To dwell together in peace
To seek knowledge in freedom
To serve humankind in fellowship
Thus do we covenant.”
2/?
We believe that religion isn’t about what you believe. Religion is about how you live: the ethics and values that guide your life. 3/?
https://www.keranews.org/health-wellness/2024-04-26/dallas-abortion-pregnancy-resource-center
As an agnostic, I find the atheists trying to sway others to atheism sound the same as the Jehovah's Witnesses at my door.
Terry Pratchett had a good take.
They still have the "I'm better than you" mentality mixed with the lack of education or understanding of theology they were raised with; they have just gone from one crazy extreme to another.
I don't blame someone who's being abused for being abused. I think abuse is bad.
I don't blame the brainwashed for being brainwashed. I think brainwashing is bad.
I hope it's a wonderful Christmas at Popehat Towers.
And if you ever criticize him for it or fail to praise his dedication, you're treated as the intolerant asshole.
Would there be some harm in a system in which your prosecutor brother simply asked people to place faith in him over evidence?
What if he was a nice guy who genuinely believed what he told jurors and thought trust in him was good for everyone?
Basing actions (and laws and financial allocation) on false belief systems is always harmful and once you see it, you can't look at it as if it's benign.
Whether it's religion, flat Earthism or being anti-vax, replacing skepticism with faith is inherently harmful.
That’s why MAGA “Christians” cannot shut up. In the back of their wee brains there’s a nagging worry that this isn’t quite what Jesus had in mind.
I’m Jewish but I know that.
But they also don’t stop at their own religion
The current resurgence into public performative piety is not helping.
basically one shouldn't just pray to God that someone will help the needy, if you see need you should be the one to help
But devout agnosticism? How does *that* work?
First: Religion. Americans need to go back to church, synagogue and mosque. People who worship have hope and take responsibility.
Atheists have little hope.
It tends to be people raised Catholic or Evangelical who are the angriest atheists.
I don't like the money used to build the architecture usually from people who had little to spare.
Sometimes, it then housed and helped those in the community.
It depends on the time, the state, and the church.
Bonus church picture from yesterday
Because religion and theism are delusional, a power grab which is historically and currently murderously abusive.
Supporting the "right" to believe something that isn't there with no evidence undermines science and civilisation.
The oxygen for "christian nationalists" for one
How is theism a power grab? Does that include polytheism? Does it exclude non-theist religions? Animism?
Rights, money, countries, corporations -- do these things exist more than gods?
Corporations absolutely not, my opinions on those are almost as harsh as on theist fuckwits!!!
Did you know the UN definition on child abuse has an exemption clause for religion otherwise it would be covered.
Only the pastafarians are sane but then they state categorically that their deity is fiction.
Do you own a colander?
Anywho, good luck with your new atheism, which is totally not a replacement for religion.
Reason will prevail!
It’s the absence of a belief that is not based on evidence.
Not really fair to all of Christianity, but to be fair a lot of the worst Christians try very hard to be the tip of the spear through the hearts and minds of unbelievers
It’s only real tenants are hating each letter of LGBTQ and fealty to the Republican Party.
Jesus wouldn’t step foot in most of these hypocrisy riddled Christian churches.
https://bsky.app/profile/beingliberal.bsky.social/post/3ldzwafvhss2i
I just don’t see a complete stranger tangentially mentioning church as being like selling drugs.
Religion is social control.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GY0g8Aed11I
Enjoy the joy, please. Then look below for their mission in life.
Just foul, your whole stupidity
Enough of this bullshit
Just like the church has done for centuries
The proof is here, darling
And to bring it forward to see you all rally around Trump pretty much says everything I’ve been saying
X1000000
No, I’m not joking
That's the best case scenario, otherwise it's just a dick with a keyboard.
All the people that died fighting over your stupidity 
All money you collect from the unsuspecting
Pay tax and that tax will help the same people much
Also It helps to balance the arrogance of religion
better
Even animals in the wild have been witnessed rescuing other animals
We have a moral compass built-in
Religion of every stripe always steps in and claims that that’s their creation
Another reason to fucking dump on that stupidity
Hurt people
shoulder shrugging genuflection at another almighty faultless force - “the law”
It supports a longtime axiom of mine: religion (or lack of) does not change who you are. If you’re decent, you’ll be a decent Christian or atheist.
Or a reaction to traumas from religious schooling.
The steady flow of news stories about abuse and fraud don't help, of course, but my reflex is to look deeper than the news.
coming from Tax Free industries.
There's also a very strong dislike amongst anyone working a tipped job.
If you deliver 200$ worth of pizza to a church, you'll get a 0 dollar tip, and an invitation to a sermon.
Any organization that invites people to turn off their brain and do as they are told is... inherently problematic.
I'm talking about day to day, individuals.
Especially here in America where you have pastors calling politicians Satan from the literal pulpit.
While remaining tax free.
Things like this don't help either.
I mean any organization that encourages people not to think, but to follow some external orthodoxy,
Christians are bad about it, but so are Scientologists, and Flat Earthers.
Am I right?
Also, those proselytizing for atheism are just as annoying as those who proselytize for a religion.
To quote Dan Savage, “If kids got raped by clowns as often as they get raped by priests it would be against the law to take your kids to the circus.”
“If kids got raped by clowns as often as they get raped by priests it would be against the law to take your kids to the circus.”
Some reasons are good, and some are really bad.
It’s jaw dropping stupid. It’s grown adults saying they’re invisible unicorn friend is really really. It deserves ridicule.