Hey, Heath Ledger Died.

[Miss]

I'd dare say that it's the most pious people who carry the most doubts about God's ways and means.

What about people who don't talk about their religion at all because they think it should be private?

Sorry folks, I'm an atheist.  And I don't really discuss the fact that I am an atheist, mostly because people hear that word, and assume I'm completely valueless and all of my opinions are null and void. Something like less than 5% of people in the US describe themselves as not believing in any kind of god.

Though it doesn't play a role in my lack of belief in a god, I've been severely judged for it by all kinds of people. Most of which try to use my illness as a reason I should believe. I've been told (many times), 'No wonder you're sick. You need to pray.'

I want to make it clear that I'm not judging religion in it's entirety, by any means. I know religious people and I get along with them. Our friendship is based on things besides our spiritual beliefs.

I also know that religion or a lack of religion doesn't necessarily determine who a person is.

[mike a]

I'm sorry you've been judged that way, Swiss.  Just to confirm, I have no problem with anyone's faith or lack thereof - I know plenty of atheists and agnostics, and usually fall into the latter category myself.  I guess I was thinking more of those whose atheistic arguments are based on false premises and presume believers to be stupid, delusional and anti-modernity.  I don't believe you (or the majority of atheists!) fall into that category.

[Gilly]

A good percentage of devout Christians wish that non-Christians would ignore the crazy ones. Unfortunately, the Christian leaders in place are borderline crazy Christians that don't denounce them. But, you need to know that they are being denounced by pastors and followers who don't have as big of a voice. It's sad to me that crazy Christians have led to crazy Atheists and there's a whole lot of people in the middle asking what happened.

[erika]

Honestly, how can you ignore them? And why should you? They're dangerous. I don't tend to like to ignore danger....

[Miss]

Honestly, how can you ignore them? And why should you? They're dangerous. I don't tend to like to ignore danger....

Yeah it's difficult to ignore them when they're involved in politics.

[TL]

It's sad to me that crazy Christians have led to crazy Atheists

Hm.  You know... sometimes people get to where they're going on their own.
The religious shouldn't necessarily credit themselves with having had "religion gone crazy" create atheism, or "crazy atheists," as a simple reaction that, all other things being equal, wouldn't have happened otherwise.  Unlike Sherri Sheppard, surely we all know that varying opinions on whether or not there is a god or gods have existed as long as humanity, which is longer than our modern religions.
Again - not passing any judgement here - just sayin'...

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

Yeah, I meant no insult to atheism generally.  Even when I agree with Christopher Hitchens, I hate him, especially for drunkenly vomiting all over the indoor/outdoor carpeting in my hate pit and not chipping in for the cleaning.

[Gilly]

Honestly, how can you ignore them? And why should you? They're dangerous. I don't tend to like to ignore danger....

Oh I know. I just wish they'd disappear.

I don't think there are that many "crazy" Christians in office. If a crazy Christian is somebody who is socially conservative then yeah there are tons. I don't think that makes them crazy though since a large percentage of the country have the same ideals. They just aren't the same ideals that you and I have. That's not crazy, that's democracy. You can't shove progressive thought down someone's throat just like you can't pound Christianity down someone's throat. But, neither side is crazy.

[Miss]

But, neither side is crazy.

Or maybe both sides are crazy. haha

[dave from knoxville]

Swissmiss is right. Funny thing about belief systems? No one's is right.

[TL]

Swissmiss is right. Funny thing about belief systems? No one's is right.

Does that mean that this bottle of whiskey here, is NOT gonna get me drunk?  'Cause that's pretty much all I believe in right now...

[John Junk]

I think KicktheBobo needs to come in here and start making fun of everybody.

[Sarah]

Swissmiss is right. Funny thing about belief systems? No one's is right.

I'm right:  I believe I don't know.

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

And yet you do know, Sarah.  A mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in Lubec!

[dania]

Protesting anyone's funeral should be made illegal.  It's somewhere around 1.5 steps below gravedigging on the offensive and/or shocking scale if you ask me.  I even got mad when people protested Jerry Falwell's funeral.  The person is dead.  What are they protesting?  I can only imagine a conversation between someone from Westboro Baptist Church and, say, someone they work with going something like this:
"So, you have big plans for this coming weekend?"
"Oh, just going to a protest."
"What are you protesting?"
"Someone that died"
".....Eh heh.."