NoGodBlog.com

i'm confused...

are you saying that this is something current that xtians keep regurgitating in letters to followers? when did the good dr. say these things?

the original date of the complaints at the fcc goes back to 1975.

so what's up exactly?

Hey, this from the website that phreddy provided!
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/m/madelynmurrayohair.htm
"Summary of eRumor:
Email warnings say that famed Atheist Madalyn Murray O'Hair has petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take religious music and programs off radio and television. A petition number is mentioned, RM-2493, and people are encouraged to call or write the FCC to protest the petition and urge the FCC to reject it.

The Truth:
No such petition has ever been presented to the FCC by Madalyn Murray O'Hair or her organization of American atheists. In fact, this eRumor is more than 20 years old and has produced more mail response to the FCC than anything in its history."
This is a rare Kodak moment:
Thanks, phreddy!

I guess if there's nothing to feel martyred over, it's back to the good-old-bad-old days to relive a rock of ages hoax.

I think that maybe this proves the existence of life after death.

remy....or resurrection! Hahaha!

As long as we're banning things, I say we make it illegal to eat fish on Fridays.

Oh wait. Am I missing something?

Dave "My Mother always says "If you can't say something nice, say nothing at all".

Well, my mum always says "If you can't say something nice, come sit with me and let's chat!"

(she doesn't really say that of course...)

This urban legend has been around a long time and is used to whip up hystrionics in an easily excitable group i.e xians.

Here is a link to the busting of this xian lie from Snopes, the popular urban legends website:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/fcc.asp

Ren
"As long as we're banning things,..."

Well, I DEMAND we ban the absorption of fat from chocolates!
Not the eating of chocolates, mind you, just absorption of fat into our systems from them.

We have the power to do that, right? Isn't it in the secret handbook? It's long overdue.

I love Snopes. The nice thing is that there is usually some verification or outside source or something like that linked at the bottom of the page. I have linked to it more than once in reply to my family's religious forwards. You can refute the forward's claims without directly insulting the sender.

Aah, xtian martyr complex at work is a beautiful thing, ain't it? Let's pray for a million signatures! Let's be passive and peaceful and come through in the end against those devil-worshiping atheists! Gotta love the bandwagon approach.

Anyway... when will people understand, prayer has NOT been taken out of schools or offices?! You can pray all day long if you like, and more than likely, nobody will give a damn!

If your prayer has to be said over a loudspeaker or broadcast over radio waves for God to hear it, maybe he's just not listening hard enough.

"Here's a common hoax (lie) letter sent out to all those who don't bother to check their references. Everything in the letter is a lie."

Well, that’s what christians get off on the most right? Lies and stupidity is what they live for! I have yet to find a christian that has actually done some legit research into the history of their religion besides some BS rag they picked up at their local god store. They love lies. It’s what makes their pathetic little worlds turn. Without it they would have to think for themselves. Gawd forbid! :)

Saladin, I am christian and I have read a good number of Elaine Pagels books (including Gnostic Gospels, The Origin of Satan), I read "The Clash of the Fundamentalisms" by Tariq Ali, "When Jesus Became God", "Misquoting Jesus" and a number of others. I'm not sure that every christian falls into one category. To say that lies and stupidity is what they live for is a gross oversimplification of who you are dealing with. I know that it's good to blow off steam at times, but it's important to better understand people who think differently than you do. I come here to better understand the sensitivities of atheists as I have a good number of atheist friends. I also really enjoy George Lakoff and I think you might get a fuller description of christians and the differences in ideas and thought processes in "Whose Freedom". I thought it was a very good description that made sense to me.

Hi Spanders!

Spanders

You seem like a good person and you responded to me in a very calm and collected way. So I intend to give you the same amount of respect you gave me, and if it seems otherwise than I apologize in advance.

Well, if you really read those things then I commend you for it. I was a christian for over 20 years of my life and was WELL rooted in my church (missionary trips, youth leader, the works. I even founded my own ministry) and all and I mean ALL of the christians I knew never read more than the bible and the occasional Max Lucado book, myself included.

So with that said, my entire experience with christianity was one of ignorance, intolerance and stupidity. I mean, its just everywhere! When I look back and I think of the person that I was and who I associated with I literally feel like puking. Since denouncing everything I've read practically the whole religion section of my local library, and every time I stumble upon a new historical fact about christianity I'm both happy and sad at the same time. Happy at what I know, and sad at what I was.

Anyway Spanders, thanks again for your civil response. If I may I just want to ask you one question and I hope you don’t take it the wrong way. If you have done all of the reading and research that you say you have, don’t you find it hard to still follow the church? I mean, when I read things like the gnostic gospels and the Nag Hammadi library it only confirms to me that christianity is based on lies. I look forward to hearing your response.

Darwinluvsu

Where have you gone, Dearie?
Come back!

Hello Zac!
I've read quite a bit and my reaction was to veer left. Like you, I was steeped in a very conservative church background, but very blue collar and down to earth people. I went to 12 years of private christian school and 12 years of catachism going through the Apostle's Creed, Nicene Creed, Athanasius Creed, Heidelberg Catechism, Canons Of Dordt and so on. I actually took away a lot of information. I was probably more serious about it than most and I was a bible study leader for a time. I don't have any pivotal points that were a clear point of change. For me, it seems more of a progression of thought.

I read books that challenge the validity of all I've been taught and all I've learned. To make a long and uninteresting story short, I essentially cling to the idea that there is a god and that jesus is god's son. I now go to a UCC church, which is one step to the right of a UU church. I find people who find a place of questioning and asking tough questions of one's faith. I am a biblical errantist and don't believe in the literal truth of every part of the bible and understand it was written by people with agendas and bias. These are not ideas to force on another person. No objective absolute fact. Perhaps it's something I need or something I want to be true, but it is something that despite how many doubts pile up, I still believe it to be true. I maintain that there is a common thread of myth and religion that rings true for me. I just wrapped up Joseph Campbell's "The Hero with a Thousand Faces", which is fascinating. I don't have a good answer for you. There are others who might throw all sorts of apologetics at you, but I'm not one of those people.

I'm more interested in what you think was a pivotal moment for you. Do you think it was a gradual experience or a series of events? I'm only curious as I find people's stories fascinating. Also, don't be too hard on yourself. I look back on some of the stupid things I've done, but I chalk some of that up to youth, inexperience as well as learned ideas. I'm ashamed to think of some of the things I've said to people over the years. I've been there too as I'm sure just about everyone here has been (perhaps not the religious part, but the stupid youth part at least).

oh, the greeting was for Zac and the rest was a response to Saladin.

karen, maybe Darwinluvsu has been busy saving the christians?

I've been wondering where she is too.

Is it not possible that Darwinluvsu is a real person with real things to do that doesn't have the time to read a blog every single day? No... no it's not. She needs to come back. I miss her deep -- and often deliciously sarcastic -- comments.

Maybe when we receive this we could reply back to them something like this:

"I am pleased that your Christian concern for facts prompted you to send me this and I sincerely hope you forwarded it to many other people so when you die you will go to hell for lying."

and the one liners. I occasionally try to imitate darwinluvsu in that regard.

On topic, yes, that's the same old resurrected chain letter. You can't actually find it by searching for "Athiests" as the search engine insists on lower case. That and the spelling has to be right. So use "atheists" or 2493 to find it at fcc.gov

In fact the Focus on the Family site - www.family.org - that Dobson runs also has a disclaimer that they are not to blame either. According to them, his name was a late addition in its reincarnated lives.

They do credit the propagators as being well-intentioned but beyond that are adamant that it is all false.

Certainly it is just another rumour that expands as it passes from one ear to the next, but surely the person who added that Dobson was requesting action was truly Lying for Jesus.

In fact I think this is not the first go round on this blog for this subject.

This thing has outlived Madalyn and I have to wonder if it will outlast us all. There are suckers for Christianity being born every minute and that's all it takes.

Self-deception breeds.

spanders, my anger at the christians does not include you. If christians weren't trying to force their world view onto others I wouldn't have a problem with them either. From what others on this blog have expressed I can't think of any that don't like reading your thoughts and several have expressed respect for you.

One thing that really angers me is the christian's lack of acknowledgement that there are just too many people on the planet, humans are having a serious impact on the species and environment of planet earth, that makes me very angry. Not at any one of them individually but, at the christians as a whole. They are basing their world view on a book that was written long ago when human population was not a problem.

christians also think that all problems are caused by non-christians and that all people need to be made christian.

I am not gay but it angers me that christians won't just leave them alone. There may very well be some genetics involved with same sex attraction but, to me the point is, it is their life. I have never had a gay person come to my home and tell me that I was not a good person because I wasn't gay. Many christians have told me I wasn't a good person simply because I didn't believe in their brand. christians have even told me that an atheist was the worst thing that a person could be. When I have protested that surely a murderer was worse than a law abiding atheist, the christians have said NO a murderer is better.

spanders, you are the only christian that I have ever seen publicly tell another christian that people have a right to choose how to live their lives. So I often wonder if I should address my anger at christians as, christians except spanders. The problem with that is most christians are like bush who thinks that the set of all people is the set of people that agree with him. So if I state all christians except spanders, the christians are going to think I can be persuaded to include them in the exception too. That is not going to happen, christians have become to dangerous and destructive.

The christian way of life simply can not be sustained by our planet. If a person isn't VERY wealthy the quality of their lives will be very much degraded within this century. That degradation may be due to temperature change, scarcity of resources, failing flora and fauna, or religious wars. Global warming is only one of numerous human caused triggers.

I cannot respect a group of people that are waiting, praying, or actively working for, the conditions of planet earth to get bad enough that their god idea will come and save them.

The world population of humans is by far the biggest problem for sustainable life on planet earth. The group of humans that call themselves christians are actively working to increase that problem. I am unable to respect that.

Atheists do not promote lies.

Remember what Bush said about "weapons of mass destruction"???

He claims to be an xtian too.

I miss darwinluvsu too.

rna2dna, I think that was a very nice post of yours and had a great deal of truth in it. I know some very decent and thoughtful christians and believers who don't tell me or others what to do either. I think there are good believer folks but who are too few and far in between. Procreation is a problem and in more than one respect as you so correctly put it. I'm not sure what strategy should be used to get the truth out about a singal "word" that is so powerful and too well financed anymore. Sometimes people out here want to help improve the situation but feel that they are somehow either too inadequate or that their input won't help change anything. That problem somehow must be addressed and overcome if there is to be any real progress.

I love where this discussion is going but lets not forget the whole point of this thread. The very fact that xians are willing to lie or spread lies in the name of a higher power sort of removes their personal accountability from the equation. There is almost no way to counter that.

My hope is that in my lifetime, I will see the numbers (xians vice atheists) begin to balance out.

Comment from: idzeeboo

..lets not forget the whole point of this thread. The very fact that xians are willing to lie or spread lies in the name of a higher power

Amazing. Talk about weak minds...?
The thread starts with an email spam...and then hopes the troops will follow in lock step to apply it to ALL christians...

And as the previous post proves...it worked...

**** OFF TOPIC ****

President at the National Prayer Breakfast...

I wonder how many tax dollars were spent today...why isn't THIS practice challenged by AA?

Easy...the feds have deeper pockets then schools districts or cities...

phreedm

Amazing? Talk about missing the point.

I guess I wasn't mean enough? I'll try to be more negative next time.

Since supernaturalism has never been demonstrated as being anything other than a product of the human imagination, it should come as no suprise that supernaturalists, a class of people including every single monotheist in the world, would resort to imaginary tales to spread their delusions.

It should come as no suprise that "hoax" e-mails like this continue to proliferate. Likewise, no suprise that people are taken in by them.

Supernaturalists, Christians being in the forefront among them, believe the darndest things.

On the other hand, atheists (in general) are notorious fact-checkers, placing belief on hold until the story at hand can be verified.

Spanders,

Sorry for the delay, I just came back from the library with some of the books that you mentioned hehe (ironically, when I went to find Tariq Ali I found a book called “the book of Saladin” so of course I had to get it lol Its not about the atheist scholar for whom I named myself on here of course but it should still be interesting).

As far as my personal story goes, it is a mix of gradual experiences and pivotal moments and really too long to type. It basically started with my two biggest questions/complaints about christianity, hell and predestination. With both I just couldn’t believe that god would choose some and not others to “enter his kingdom”. For me, it was ultimately the hell question that made me one day just say “I’m not a christian any more”. Like I said in another post (was it you that responded to me?), christians cant believe in one thing of the bible and not others, especially on an issue like THAT.

Anyway, to kind of relate this to the topic, every christian that I ever personally knew never did a lick of actual research on their religion. They were happy enough not knowing anything and living a lie. Basically, just following the leader.


On another note, I can’t wait to start on those books. I didn’t get all of them because I had already read about half of them and didn’t even know it hehe

President at the National Prayer Breakfast...

I wonder how many tax dollars were spent today...why isn't THIS practice challenged by AA?

Easy...the feds have deeper pockets then schools districts or cities...

are you trying to imply that we "pick on the little guy?" or something? if so, you're not going to convince an organization representing around 10% of the population that they're a "big bad bully"

to put it quite frankly, yes... the feds have too much money, and too many lawyers, not to mention the fact that it would be political suicide for anyone involved in or directly effected by the "prayer breakfast" or the opening prayer of congressional sessions to complain about it. (thats if they even pay for those with tax dollars, I would be willing to bet that people volunteer, making it that much harder to oppose) American Atheists is simply ill equiped and ill situated to put up a fuss about something like that, much as many of us would like to.

Karen and all the other darlings who have missed me:

I went on a dance cruise to the Bahamas and wouldn't you know it? The almighty lard saw it fit to strike me with the flu on my second day at sea so I spent most of my time in my cabin with a fever! Arrrgggg!!! This is between me and gawd now and it's very personal!

BTW, I'm surprised Reason didn't offer one of his explanations for my disappearance (i.e. I joined the Russian army or married Hugo Chavez).

Thanks for your concern, guys, and I love you too!


"Global consciousness: catch the wave!"

Reed:

FYI, is there anything else to life than this blog and dancing? :-)




"Harm none. Do what ye will."

darwinluvsu
So sorry the flu botched up your cruise. That sucks. Hope you're feeling better now. Glad to have you back!

I have also been fighting a flu and am only now feeling better. Sorry your holiday got screwed up!

hominid, thanks for your kind words.

Comment from: spanders

I essentially cling to the idea that there is a god and that jesus is god's son....

I am a biblical errantist and don't believe in the literal truth of every part of the bible and understand it was written by people with agendas and bias.

Exactly how can you be a biblical errantist and yet believe Jesus was God's Son...?

simple, I pick and choose. Do you believe the entire bible is literally true? The earth was created in 6 literal days? The nephilim existed before and after the flood? That we need to be physically circumsized (according to James) or spiritually circumsized (according to Paul)? Just curious.

circumsized = circumcised
why, oh why is my spelling so bad?

This kind of hoax is more political than religious. Unfortunately, that distinction is a little blurred in the US.

To believe the bible is literal, you would have to believe god had a massive personality change between the old/new testament. Also, you would have to believe those dinosaur bones where buried by god as a practical joke.

Welcome back darwinluvsu : )

Please get well soon!

Sunbeam

maddogstu:

Also, you would have to believe those dinosaur bones where buried by god as a practical joke.

Oh, haven't heard yet? De debbil did dat.

To believe the bible is literal, you would have to believe god had a massive personality change between the old/new testament

Personality change, same bloodlust.

Spanders:

Haven't you heard that one of the side effects of circumcision is bad spelling? :-)





"As above so below."

Hello, just wanted to say thanks for the info. I am one of those "all the things you said above Christian people", who did indeed take a second this am to check out the email that we are referring to. I did want to know the truth. I am so sad after reading this blog, because I do believe in God and His one and only Son who died for our sins that we may have eternal life and be with Him forever and I believe in Hell and I believe that those who have not accept Christ as their Savior will go to Hell. Not of His choosing, but of our own free will. So do what you will with this, but I do thank you that I was able to find the truth.

Ummm pak!

The last one to post here was on FEB. 2, 2007. No one is going to read it. But thank you for your input.

It's too bad about God's son. What a tragedy; to lose one's only son; just awful. I mean a parent would then have to live without their child for the rest of their life; imagine the pain. Where did He (the son) go exactly?

By the way, If He died for My sin does that mean I can sin all I want? Sweet.