Comments on: I Don’t See Any State/Church Violation…

By: Cathy

Cathy — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 04:02:54 +0000

Face it the “I found religion” line goes over well with parole boards, I’ll bet that’s why ninty percent of people in prison “convert”. Oh, and infideljoe, many people, including the philosopher ludwig feuerbach, become atheists in problematic times or times of suffering, because they look around and realize that Jesus (or whoever) has yet to show up and help. The old problem of evil hits pretty hard when you are the victim of the evil.

By: cipher

cipher — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:21:14 +0000

And, J.S., I meant to add that I’m so sorry.

By: cipher

cipher — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:12:11 +0000

“If he wants to go to hell, it’s his choice. He’s a grown man.”

That single sentence, more than any other, encapsulates the reasons that I am not a Christian.

By: Maria

Maria — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:10:15 +0000

The more “in control” people are of their lives, the more they turn to religions that are more mystical than concrete (beliefs in some sort of energy of the universe, or basically just awe and respect for life and the planet), and eventually towards something like secular humanism.

this is true. I have found it to be quite true in my own life as well.

By: J.S.Brown

J.S.Brown — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:48:57 +0000

QrazyQat, she said to them, “If he wants to go to hell, it’s his choice. He’s a grown man.”

By: Julia

Julia — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:18:23 +0000

The best explanation I ever heard of why different people follow different religions was based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Look at human history, geography, socioeconomic divisions — at times and in places where humans feel more helpless and/or are more helpless, they turn to religions that give them answers and tell them everything happens for a reason, or that things will be better in some afterlife. It’s fulfilling a basic need. The more “in control” people are of their lives, the more they turn to religions that are more mystical than concrete (beliefs in some sort of energy of the universe, or basically just awe and respect for life and the planet), and eventually towards something like secular humanism.

This news makes me sad, but not upset. I don’t think that atheism would give these people what they are looking for right now. I don’t like that they’re being marketed to, because they’re in the strictest sense a captive audience, and something about it seems coercive because of that. But I don’t think it really is.

By: infideljoe

infideljoe — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:35:46 +0000

I have a friend who was a wiccan. That was until he ended up in prison and now he is a hardcore christian. I don’t blame him, when you’re in that type of place I don’t think atheism offers much comfort for you. If it’s a placebo that helps him get through his time in prison, so be it. When no one really cares about you in that place and some would like to hurt you, then I guess an imaginary friend who loves you probably offers you some peace of mind.

By: MikeClawson

MikeClawson — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:51:08 +0000

I guess you feel queasy b/c it’s religion. Honestly, I don’t care, b/c it’s voluntary, and voluntary stuff isn’t my issue. Some people are just going to choose it, and that’s just the way it is. Freedom of choice is important, whether we agree with the personal choice or not.

Well said Maria.

By: Maria

Maria — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:36:08 +0000

I guess you feel queasy b/c it’s religion. Honestly, I don’t care, b/c it’s voluntary, and voluntary stuff isn’t my issue. Some people are just going to choose it, and that’s just the way it is. Freedom of choice is important, whether we agree with the personal choice or not.

By: QrazyQat

QrazyQat — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 22:39:54 +0000

You be sure to tell your mom how much you appreciate her standing up to a bunch of criminals telling her they’re morally superior to her son. Oh, she didn’t, did she? Ouch.