Archive for February, 2009

The Waste Of Precious Time

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , , , , , on February 19, 2009 by RJ Evans

People who subscribe to religious views typically talk of an afterlife, a world they look forward to.  They also try to convince others, and themselves, that the here and now, this life, is a training ground of sorts for this other world.  Yet, they fear death.  But, then they claim that the world after is far superior to this one.  They tout the advantages of living in eternity, but won’t check out voluntarily, unless of course, they are extreme islamic fanatics, or some other religious faith that embraces suicide for greater rewards in the afterlife.  This leads me to a logical question.  If the afterlife is so great, what the fuck are you waiting for…  a hand written invitation?  Oh, you already have a handwritten invitation!  It’s called the bible!

Christian belief is full of paradoxes, leaving one to wonder if the idea of this sham is to get everyone to off themselves so the elite clergy can maintain power and horde all the cash.  I think it is.  As in the game of chess, there’s only one person at the controls of one side of the game, their soldiers expendable until it’s too late to recover, or until victory is at hand.  Unfortunately, the chess pieces have no say.  They are, much like christians, canon fodder for those that move them.  In the christian world of  “free will” everyone is supposed to have the ability to decide for themselves.  In contrast, they also must follow the “word” if they are to succeed in seeing the afterlife.  So, the clergy keeps them coming back.  They need the cash.  How do they do it?  Hmmm…prey on the natural desire for self-preservation, but the selling point needs to be something tempting, and well camouflaged…AH!  FREE WILL! But, there’s a very big problem with the “free will” thing.  If a god is all knowing, all seeing, all powerful, knows what you’re going to do before you do it, then “free will” thing is a sack of shit.  How can you have “free will” if the “creator” already knows what you are going to do?  This entity supposedly created you, and now says “Do what you want, but I already know what you are going to do”?  Please!  Spare me!  But the christians buy it, hook, line and sinker!

Anyway, the whole idea of an afterlife is a great way to get people to do what you want.  Convince them that there’s another life after this, scare them sufficiently into believing that if they don’t do as they’re told, the afterlife they’re going to inherit is a horrible, physical, and mental torment, and then make up a bunch of rules to fit your particular agenda, then tell them it’s all backed up by a supernatural being that does everything except print money, have sex, take a shit, and sleep.  What a way to get anything you want, and at the price of everyone else wasting away their precious time!

Yes, precious time it is.  My friend, of a post I deleted earlier regarding ‘Resolve’ claimed that if this is the only life, and there’s nothing after it, it would “suck”.  How?  How could that suck?  How many people really want to live forever?  More importantly, do you think that all the things you enjoy in this life are going to magically follow you to the next?  You’re not going to be chasing tornado’s in heaven!  You’re not going to be photographing beautiful landscapes with your new 1 billion mega pixel camera!  You aren’t going to be enjoying a drive through the Smokey Hills, or having a picnic under bright blue skies with cute puffy cumulus clouds!  All the trappings, the good and the great, of the here and now, even under the most magical conditions, would be superfluous,  absolutely useless, and illogical in some sort of “spirit” world.  So, what then?  What do you do when you get to “heaven”?  Sit around on your ass, or knees, praying at the feet of a cantankerous being (if it even had feet), singing songs of praise, while wrapped in a white robe (mercy, don’t get a case of the shits or dribbles)?  The fact is that the idea of an afterlife in a christian’s mind is fraught with error. It’s an impression based on all they know in the here and now!  They have no way of knowing what it would really be like, even if it did exist!  They can only draw from what they know in the here and now.  This creates the uncertainty, and the fear.  The uncertainty keeps them going back to church and deeply entrenched in belief.  The fear is of death.  The fear keeps them alive,  bitching, moaning, and complaining about people not living up to their unrealistic, fake, utterly useless, self-righteous standards.

Take my advise my christian friends.  You are wasting precious time.  You really only have two options.  Believe in the fictional skydaddy and an afterlife, or believe in the reality of the here and now.  If you REALLY believe in your religious convictions, do us all a favor and hasten your departure. Hey!  If it’s that much better in heaven, get to it!  The fewer mouths to be fed, the fewer people talking on their cell phones while driving, the fewer bullshit “family values” laws and religious based interference issues we have to deal with, the better.  Hey, if it’s so fucking wonderful in heaven, why wait for the bus when you can take a supersonic flight there right now.  Ah, don’t worry about death.  It’s pretty quick if you do it the right way.  In the meantime, I’m looking forward to not having to deal with your self-righteous banter.  I’m also looking forward to enjoying my finite, precious time in the here and now.  I don’t remember anything before I was born, and I won’t remember anything after I’m dead.  Because, there will be no “I” or “Me” to remember.

Addendum:

I’ve been asked a few times since I posted this,  “But, what about sin?  It’s a sin to kill yourself!”  You sin all the time! And, you’re skydaddy has already forgiven you!  So, don’t try and use this lame excuse!  In any event, the only scriptures that address suicide are the three below.  I can’t find anything that says its a SIN.  Nice try, but as usual, the bullshit continues.

Hey! Suicide is a good thing, according to the bible, if it also results in the death of your enemy.

Judges 16:29-30

“And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life. “

And, hey!  Jebus did it, why not the rest of the idiots?

John 10:17-18

“Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.”

At the end of the world god decides that anyone who tries to commit suicide won’t be able to.  He wants the pleasure of tormenting them!  But, there’s a problem with this.  Why not torment them after they’ve checked out on their own?  You know…a face to face, head to head, kiss my holy fucking ass kinda thing?  Doesn’t make any sense.  But then again, nothing about religion is logical.

Revelation 9:6

“And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.”

2 Comments »

Blasphemy Poll!

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , , , , , , on February 16, 2009 by RJ Evans

Vote for how you would like blasphemy dealt with!  How much do you hate Atheism?  What are you willing to do to stop scourge like me?

2 Comments »

Evangelism (The Religious Drug Cartel)

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , , , , on February 15, 2009 by RJ Evans

Karl Marx said, “Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.”

Even though Marx was a less than desirable leader, and an opressor himself, he made a valid point with regard to religion.  It is with this statement in mind that I introduce you to the idea that if religion is the opiate, then Evangelism is the Religious Drug Cartel behind the lies, deceit, and total disregard for human safety.

From Wikipedia:

Evangelism is the Christian practice of proselytisation. The intention of most evangelism is to convert those who do not follow the Christian God to Christianity for the purpose of effecting eternal salvation. Evangelism is done in obedience to the Great Commission, a command from Jesus to his disciples to proselytise, according to accounts in the New Testament.

Evangelism.  The marketing of the christian god, jesus, and all things holy.  Or, how about all things addictive, destructive and detrimental to human health and well being.   Let me draw some frightening parallels for you between Evangelism and the Drug Dealer.

1- The Drug Dealer has a product.  Drugs.  Crack, Cocaine, Heroin.  All in all, these drugs can have a very adverse effect on ones health and well being.  No matter the dosage, the individuals reactions to the drug will vary from person to person.

1a- Evangelism has a product.  God, jesus, the bible.  All in all these things can have a very adverse effect on ones health and well being.  No matter the dosage, the individuals reactions to them will vary from person to person.

2- The Drug Dealer wants you to try his product.  In some cases, he’s more than willing to let you sample some for free.

2a- Evangelism wants you to try its product.  In some cases, it is more than willing to let you sample some for free.

3- The Drug Dealer is out to make cash.  The more he can sell, the more money he makes.

3a- Evangelism is out to make cash.  The more they can sell you, the more money they make.

4- The Drug Dealer doesn’t care if you get hooked.   He wants you to.

4a- Evangelism doesn’t care if you get hooked.  It wants you to.

5-The Drug Dealer does everything he can to convince you that his product is the best.

5a- Evangelism does everything it can to convince you that its version of god is the right one.

6-The Drug Dealer works outside the law.

6a- Evangelism works outside the law in an attempt to usurp the 1st Amendment to the Constitution.

7-The Drug Dealer claims no responsibilty for anything his buyers might do as a result of their addiction.

7a- Evangelism claims no responsibility for anything its buyers might do as a result of their addiction.  It calls it “free will”

8- The Drug Dealer says that people should have a choice as to whether or not they do drugs.

8a- Evangelism says that people should have a choice as to whether or not they do god.  As long as it’s Evangelism’s way.

9- The Drug Dealer preys on innocent people who have problems in their life and are looking for an escape.

9a- Evangelism preys on innocent people who have problems in their life and are looking for an escape.

10-  The Drug Dealer loves kids.

10a- Evangelism loves kids.

Can you think of anymore examples?

The Christian Persecution Complex (CPC)

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , , , , , , on February 15, 2009 by RJ Evans

The christian persecution complex, or CPC, is very common in America.  It is driven by the need to dominate the political and social landscape.  Born of a fundamentalist christian worldview, it strives to claim discrimination against christian’s in all form and manner.   Regardless of the “moderation” of any one particular denomination, the idea of christian persecution is drilled into the heads of the faithful from day one.  Fundamentalist mentality leaches into the god groundwater, slowly contaminating the “moderate” viewpoint, and sucking them into all the drama surrounding today’s persecution rhetoric, like the “War on Christmas”, “Prayer In Schools” and “Christian Nation”. You’d think that we were once again feeding christian’s to lions.   The fact is that America does not persecute christian’s.  To the contrary.  The christian’s are the ones who persecute anyone that doesn’t agree with them, and their doctrine of subservience to a mythological entity.

I just don’t see this christian persecution.  To me this is pure idiocy. Hundreds of thousands of churches dot the landscape of every city and town in America.  Every imaginable signature of christian belief posits itself in one form or another on the American landscape.  America is as religious as Iran.  It’s christian religiosity permeates the airwaves of radio and television, malls, to mom and pop bookstores.  From bumper stickers to cross laden people, street corners, the side of the highway, the indelible mark of mythology is hard to avoid.  And yet, the christian claims persecution.  Really?  Where?

As Atheists, the symbols of this religious zealotry are all too often shoved in our faces, forced upon us by a society of zealots whose only purpose is to convert the non-believer, or in some rare cases, destroy them.  From claims that America is a “Christian Nation” to the “War on Christmas” the christian flock is taking aim at their own ignorance.  Whether “moderate” or “fundamentalist”, the message is clear.  “Accept our way, or be forced to” in varying degrees.  What’s amazing is that, from one denomination to the next, the unification that surrounds these mantras of persecution fluctuate very little.  But, when engaged in conversation about the contributions of fundamentalism to the rhetoric regarding these subjects, the “moderate” believer disavows the tactics, but agrees with the principles.  OR, chooses to use the “that’s not christianity” defense.  You have to love the lame idea of  “right brand” of christian belief.   Either way, their lack of attention and ignorance is appalling.

Arguing that one denomination is the “right one” is futile and laughable.  The mere idea that one particular denomination is the only way to worship a mythological being destroys the idea of the being itself!  Of course, that is why there is no such thing as a god to begin with!  If one religious viewpoint/interpretation/opinion is the right one, how is one to know which one to participate in?

But, I digress.  Religion needs to be persecuted to survive.  It thrives on the idea.  To be persecuted gives power to sway, bully and redirect.  The more fear that can be instilled in the flock, the better.  Keep everyone in the dark, avoid knowledge, reason and logic, and employ fear mongering tactics.  The easiest way to convince someone that they need a god is to play on their fears.  It also works to keep them right where the religious zealots want them.  As long as the pews are full, and the political environment offers plenty of pull, fear will be the weapon, and persecution will be the message.  Not surprising, religion has always used these tactics, especially in times of dwindling membership and participation.

The entire idea, though,  of religious persecution in America is laughable, at least when it comes to christian persecution.  Try being Atheist, Agnostic, or Muslim.  Then, ask yourself who is really persecuted.  When christian’s of any stripe claim that a secular America is dangerous, and a majority (80-90%) claim to be christian, who’s the real enemy of christianity?  How can a majority, in a so-called “Christian Nation”, be trumped by a secular minority?  And, what about christians strength of faith?  Are they not strong enough in their faith to resist the temptations of secular America?  More importantly, with prisons brimming with prisoners,  in a majority “Christian Nation”, how can the morals of  minority secular America be put on trial for America’s ills?  My answer?  Apparently,  the “Christian Nation” isn’t as righteous as it thinks it is, and they need a scapegoat.  The enemy isn’t secular America, and there is no such thing as Christian Persecution.  Persecution is the construct of christian zealotry.  It is a means to an end for a bankrupt religious dogma.

PRAY! PRAY HARDER!

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , on February 15, 2009 by RJ Evans

I have had so many people tell me they are praying for me.  It’s nauseating.  But, I have to ask, ‘Are you really praying hard enough?’  I mean, let’s look at this simple and inaffective way to get the skydaddy to give in to your demands.

First of all, prayer allows for only one of three answers.  “Yes”, “No”, and “Wait”

Here’s a great video that explains this very well…

My christian friends, you aren’t praying hard enough for my salvation.  I’m still Atheist.  And, I’m willing to wager $100 that there’s no amount of prayer, or coersion, that will change me.  “Yes, No, Wait”?  If you wait too long, I’ll probably be dead.

The fact is that no amount of prayer will give result, outside of what you THINK the answer should be.  Therefore, prayer is as useless as a piece of shit lying in the sun.  It bakes, stinks, decomposes, and fertilizes an already delirious mind.

Hate Mail Is Welcome!

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , , , , on February 15, 2009 by RJ Evans

Feel free to send your loving (vitriol) christian thoughts to me! I always need a good laugh! If you want to pray for me, I’ll gladly NOT pray for you.

americanheathen@sbcglobal.net

Pathetic Apologetics (Make it fit)

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , , , , on February 15, 2009 by RJ Evans

A friend of mine recently submitted a comment to ‘Resolve’ blasting it for being typical Atheist broadbrush condemnation of the christian religion. He would be right.  He also used the tired, and ‘well worn to the cords’ excuse of  (and I’ll paraphrase) “I’m not a fanatical fundamentalist” as a defense.  I deleted the comment in moderation.  Why?  Well, I’ll be more than happy to paint the picture.  Let me start by saying that ‘Resolve’ is absolute fact.  The christian MUST resolve that their christian skydaddy has condemned the non-believer, regardless of their kind, loving, compassionate, and caring intentions, to hell.  Period, the end.  Additionally, the believer has neglected to acknowledge that their holy book also states that they should convert, or avoid the non-believer.  My friends comments are the same illogical defense used by apologists of the christian religion since the enlightenment.  It’s based on the individual’s interpretation of their bible, which in turn is based upon their knowledge, or lack thereof, of this holy book.  Add in a dose of  ‘make it fit my lifestyle’ and a dash of self-righteousness, and you have a pale argument set on a wet, soggy plate.

Let me explain, clearly, the intention behind ‘Resolve’.  First, it is fact.  A christian MUST ‘Resolve’ that their skydaddy has condemned the non-believer.  Whatever the biblical interpretation of the believer may be, the bible is explicit.  You either believe the bible is the word of god, or you don’t. Here are just some of the quotes from the pages of this crap novel…

Jeremiah 10

10:25 “Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.”

Psalm 2

2:8 “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.”

2:9 “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

2 Chronicals 15

( I like this one…god gives the believers peace through murder of non-believers)

15:13 “That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.”
15:14 And they sware unto the LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.

15:15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.

Hey, that’s just a small sample from the old testament!  Here’s some from the new testament!

Revelation

21:7 “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”

21:8 “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Matthew

7:19 “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”

7:20 “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

7:21 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

10:34 “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”

10:37 “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”

10:38 “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”

12:30 “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.”

12:31 “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.”

12:32 “And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”

13:47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:”

13:48 “Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.”

13:49 “So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,”

13:50 “And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

And my all time favorite…

Mark 16

16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

These are but a small few of the wonderfully neglected scriptures that paint the bible’s intolerance and hatred of those who do not ascribe to it.  And, these dribbles of pathetic prose underscore the “pick and choose” mentality of christianity.

The second point I’ll gladly make is that I hold ZERO respect for ANY religion, regardless of whether or not someone I consider a friend believes in it.  Religion deserves no respect, no special treatment or break.  The PERSON earns my respect.  My friend has earned my respect.  But, the respect I have for him is not based on his beliefs.  I respect him for who he is.  Now, he may argue that because of his beliefs, he is a better person, and therefore I should respect his belief because it makes him who he is.  No.  I argue that he would be just as good a person WITHOUT christianity.  For anyone to argue that their moral behavior, premised by belief in a mythological entity, is superior to non-belief is folly.  Yet, this mentality underscores the christian view.  Christians of ANY denomination (and there are over 33,800 versions) demand automatic respect for their brand of christianity sans all others.  Christianity, of ANY apologetic stripe, is just as dangerous as fundamentalist christianity.  It is a warped and sick world view, born of ancient ignorance and despotism, wrapped up in the apologetics of a desperate, everchanging, always evolving, hypocritical cry for help, as it struggles to stay alive in the face of a mountian of scientific evidence piling up against it.

Religion will never inspire my respect.  Via the Constitution of the United States, it WILL inspire my protection.  But, only in as far as I BELIEVE in the principles set forth in a document written by man for man.  Freedom does not require respect for religious beliefs.  Only respect for the right to practice that belief, or no belief at all.
As for ‘Resolve’…

My pontification in ‘Resolve’ elicited the response I would expect from my friends who believe in a skydaddy.  It has done as intended.  Believers MUST ‘Resolve’ the written words (ALL of them) of their bible with the facts, the mounds of evidence, that is piling up against their beliefs.  Truly, how can they believe, give credence, worship, an entity that seeks to destroy good people who don’t believe?  For simply lack of belief, your skydaddy is nothing more than a murdering, self centered, egotistical zealot who demands capitulation for entertainment.  ‘Resolve’ that, and then tell me of how much your god loves.

Atheist broad brush?  Yes.  Because it is fact, not fiction.

P.S. The deletion of my friend’s comment was intentional.  While I respect him as a friend and a person,  I will not give my printed page to unreasoned, illogical thought.  When the christian church gives me access to their congregations, in their church, I’ll gladly reconsider.  Until then, give me a logical, reasoned argument, and I’ll gladly give space to continue the debate.

–Here’s a little video about the bible-


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