# Another Example of Atheists Destroying Christian's Rights **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 30, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-example-of-atheists-destroying-christians-rights/623555 "2012-05-30T16:52:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-example-of-atheists-destroying-christians-rights/623555/161 "2012-05-31T03:36:54Z")
> [@GEEPERS](#): > > LOL prayer is a terrible tradition? Yes, let’s all subscribe to your godless way of thinking that offers zero hope for the hurting. Do tell, what does an atheist say to their sick friend dying of cancer? “sucks to be you, dude?” Do tell, if your appendix suddenly burst, and there was only one other person around, which would you rather it be: an atheist who will take you to a hospital, or a Christian who will pray for you? ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-example-of-atheists-destroying-christians-rights/623555/162 "2012-05-31T03:37:46Z")
> [@GEEPERS](#): > > Oh but it’s quite ok for my taxes to go and support a school that offers no moral creed and teaches atheistic ideology that God does not exist? You’re being ridiculous. Any moral creed that includes “our heavenly Father” can be taught without religious references. In an increasingly diverse society we need to find a common language of universal principles. Nobody is preventing students from practicing thier religion > [@](#): > > So is the president being unconstitutional or not? I think any individual should be able to express thier personal beliefs in public as long as they are willing to accept the consequences. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-example-of-atheists-destroying-christians-rights/623555/163 "2012-05-31T03:38:37Z")
> [@GEEPERS](#): > > Do tell, what does an atheist say to their sick friend dying of cancer? “sucks to be you, dude?” Probably the exact same thing we should be saying in the same situation; “I’m here if you need anything.” Then do things to make it easier. Faith without works is dead, being alone. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-example-of-atheists-destroying-christians-rights/623555/164 "2012-05-31T03:39:48Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > Do tell, if your appendix suddenly burst, and there was only one other person around, which would you rather it be: an atheist who will take you to a hospital, or a Christian who will pray for you? **GEEPERS** firmly believes in “divine healing”, actually. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-example-of-atheists-destroying-christians-rights/623555/165 "2012-05-31T03:43:41Z")
> [@Ann\_Onimous](#): > > The teaching of religion belongs in the home and in the church, not in a public school system. WWJD? “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” ---
**Author:** ![GEEPERS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c89c15/32.png) [@GEEPERS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GEEPERS)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-example-of-atheists-destroying-christians-rights/623555/166 "2012-05-31T03:49:09Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > No, he shouldn’t; “ceremonial deism” is garbage. > > Having an effective moral compass _requires_ that religion be rejected or ignored. You can’t behave morally very successfully when you are basing your decisions on fantasies. And religion is [connected with social dysfunction](http://www.skeptic.com/reading_room/religious-belief-and-societal-health/), not the lack of religion. This idea that a lack of religion leads to immoral behavior is simply made up by the believers. Problem is who are you to say that your idea of morality is any more right than the next person? Maybe another atheist believes that man’s motivation in life should be to obtain as much pleasure as possible. We all end up as worm food in the end anyways. > [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > As if the Christianity you love so much doesn’t spend most of its time promoting hatred and contempt towards others. You are delusional. No true Christian is out there promoting hatred. The only examples you can dig up are the fringe extremists like Westboro. > [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Nonsense. It’s Christians issuing the threats, acting in a way typical of the kind of Christians who want to shove their religion down the throat of everyone else. And plenty of preachers push this kind of behavior and worse. > > Yes. It’s a fraud and it’s destructive. People pray rather than doing anything useful, and both they and others suffer for it. You have no proof that these people are Christians. Are they showing fruits of the spirit? Hate, anger, violence are fruits of the devil. Besides, anyone can claim to be a Christian. There are pastors out there like Michael Bernard Beckwith who combine new age teachings and many paths to God way of thinking. This certainly doesn’t align with the Bible’s teachings. Another false Christ. ---
**Author:** ![GEEPERS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c89c15/32.png) [@GEEPERS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GEEPERS)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-example-of-atheists-destroying-christians-rights/623555/167 "2012-05-31T03:51:58Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > Do tell, if your appendix suddenly burst, and there was only one other person around, which would you rather it be: an atheist who will take you to a hospital, or a Christian who will pray for you? A Christian brother or sister would both pray for me and take me to the hospital. Unfortunately atheists can only put their faith in modern medicine which frequently fails the patient. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-example-of-atheists-destroying-christians-rights/623555/168 "2012-05-31T03:53:56Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > And why is it, exactly, that GEEPERS can’t address let alone properly answer this? > In his other threads, GEEPERS spends most of his time questioning the integrity of all his critics. Now, however, he claims that the exact same thing is both clearly and uniquely Christian and clearly non-religious, depending on whether or not it suits his purposes. What’s his argument really all about? Ha ha! Mere logic cannot penetrate his shields. He will not even see this comment, let alone deign to answer it. ---
**Author:** ![Cumberdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Cumberdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumberdale)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-example-of-atheists-destroying-christians-rights/623555/169 "2012-05-31T03:56:10Z")
> [@GEEPERS](#): > > Oh but it’s quite ok for my taxes to go and support a school that offers no moral creed and teaches atheistic ideology that God does not exist? Leave the moral code to the parents, churches and Sunday school. And just because Big Happy Sky Daddy is not mentioned in school does not mean that an _Evil Atheistic Ideology_ is being taught in its place. And why do you feel it is ok for my taxes to go to support primitive superstitions of an ancient, ignorant people that has no relevance to modern life? ---
**Author:** ![GEEPERS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c89c15/32.png) [@GEEPERS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GEEPERS)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-example-of-atheists-destroying-christians-rights/623555/170 "2012-05-31T03:56:13Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Yes. It’s a fraud and it’s destructive. People pray rather than doing anything useful, and both they and others suffer for it. At the very least, prayer relaxes and decreases anxiety. That fact alone proves you wrong. ---
**Author:** ![florez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9e5f3/32.png) [@florez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/florez)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-example-of-atheists-destroying-christians-rights/623555/171 "2012-05-31T03:56:26Z")
> [@GEEPERS](#): > > LOL prayer is a terrible tradition? Yes, let’s all subscribe to your godless way of thinking that offers zero hope for the hurting. Do tell, what does an atheist say to their sick friend dying of cancer? “sucks to be you, dude?” GEEPERS, I did not see anyone state that prayer is a terrible tradition, if it makes you feel good to pray then by all means do it. You are making all kinds of negative judgements against people that do not agree with you on this issue. You do not exclusively know what might offer hope to the hurting. I have seen many a Christian be unhappy about some horrible thing, and not find any more comfort or hope from their faith then say people of other faiths do. Atheists are fellow human beings, and show compassion, and care about their friends who are suffering. Why not get to know some Atheists before you imagine what they might say to a friend sick with cancer. You have a one dimensional idea about Atheists, that is probably based on not knowing any, and judging them harshly out of ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-example-of-atheists-destroying-christians-rights/623555/172 "2012-05-31T03:56:51Z")
> [@GEEPERS](#): > > You are delusional. No true Christian is out there promoting hatred. The only examples you can dig up are the fringe extremists like Westboro. > > You have no proof that these people are Christians. Are they showing fruits of the spirit? Hate, anger, violence are fruits of the devil. Besides, anyone can claim to be a Christian. There are pastors out there like Michael Bernard Beckwith who combine new age teachings and many paths to God way of thinking. This certainly doesn’t align with the Bible’s teachings. Another false Christ. Yet they claim to be Christian, they identify with a Christian church or denomination and they claim to speak Christian beliefs. What are we supposed to think? Their words influence hundreds of thousands more. How do we know you’re Christian? This girl has been threatened with violence by self-proclaimed Christians yet you’ve been silent. These people represent your religion yet you fail to distance yourself from their hatred. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-example-of-atheists-destroying-christians-rights/623555/173 "2012-05-31T03:57:32Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > You do realize you’re engaging in textbook No True Scotsman fallacy here, right ? Since he does it again later, apparently not. > [@GEEPERS](#): > > I am more concerned about a future godless generation with no moral compass. It’s no wonder that teen suicide rates have skyrocketed and bullying is become a major problem in schools. There is simply a lack of respect and compassion for one’s neighbor out there that is growing and growing. If you truly believe that no one can have a moral compass without Christianity/religion, I’m not sure what else we can say. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-example-of-atheists-destroying-christians-rights/623555/174 "2012-05-31T03:58:30Z")
Didn’t Jesus say something about not being a boisterous asshole about religion? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-example-of-atheists-destroying-christians-rights/623555/175 "2012-05-31T03:58:53Z")
> [@GEEPERS](#): > > At the very least, prayer relaxes and decreases anxiety. That fact alone proves you wrong. Until you’re told your sickness or anxiety is from Satan and it’s your fault or a punishment. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-example-of-atheists-destroying-christians-rights/623555/176 "2012-05-31T03:59:53Z")
> [@GEEPERS](#): > > At the very least, prayer relaxes and decreases anxiety. That fact alone proves you wrong. You are the least relaxed, and the most anxious person in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-example-of-atheists-destroying-christians-rights/623555/177 "2012-05-31T04:00:37Z")
[Quote=GEEPERS] At the very least, prayer relaxes and decreases anxiety. That fact alone proves you wrong. [/Quote] [No.](http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/health/31pray.html?pagewanted=all) > [@](#): > > Prayers offered by strangers had no effect on the recovery of people who were undergoing heart surgery, a large and long-awaited study has found. > > And patients who knew they were being prayed for had a higher rate of post-operative complications like abnormal heart rhythms, perhaps because of the expectations the prayers created, the researchers suggested. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-example-of-atheists-destroying-christians-rights/623555/178 "2012-05-31T04:01:37Z")
> [@GEEPERS](#): > > A Christian brother or sister would both pray for me and take me to the hospital. Unfortunately atheists can only put their faith in modern medicine which frequently fails the patient. Do you think medicine or prayer is more likely to heal someone? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-example-of-atheists-destroying-christians-rights/623555/179 "2012-05-31T04:07:40Z")
> [@GEEPERS](#): > > At the very least, prayer relaxes and decreases anxiety. That fact alone proves you wrong. No it doesn’t. It’s better to solve the problem that is making you anxious than is to pray to an imaginary god and not solve the problem. > [@GEEPERS](#): > > Problem is who are you to say that your idea of morality is any more right than the next person? All sorts of standards; it’s more logical, it’s more based on reality, it has better results, and so on. There are many better standards than “my Bronze Age demon-god says so”. > [@GEEPERS](#): > > You are delusional. No true Christian is out there promoting hatred. The only examples you can dig up are the fringe extremists like Westboro. _Mainstream Christianity_ is about hatred; just look at the anti-same sex marriage initiatives that have passed. And given the history of Christianity, I’d say that no true Christian would show mercy, compassion or tolerance; any Christian who tries to act decently is trying to twist a fundamentally evil religion into something good. And it doesn’t work very well; Christianity is a religion optimized for brutality, aggression and ruthlessness; not kindness and tolerance. Christianity got to its present position by its followers being willing to wade through blood to the hips, not because it’s nice. > [@GEEPERS](#): > > You have no proof that these people are Christians. Are they showing fruits of the spirit? Hate, anger, violence are fruits of the devil. Besides, anyone can claim to be a Christian. Anyone who claims to be Christian is a Christian. There’s no standard. And history demonstrates that hatred and brutality are exactly what is to be expected from the kinds of Christians who want to shove their religion is everyone’s face like this. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-example-of-atheists-destroying-christians-rights/623555/180 "2012-05-31T04:08:00Z")
> [@GEEPERS](#): > > Problem is who are you to say that your idea of morality is any more right than the next person? Well, you certainly seem to think you are somebody who can say that, what with asserting that atheists can’t have any morality at all and Christianity being better. > [@](#): > > You are delusional. No true Christian is out there promoting hatred. I hope that they at the very least wear kilts. [QUOTE=Mosier] Didn’t Jesus say something about not being a boisterous asshole about religion? [/QUOTE] Well, he did, in no uncertain terms and without any ambiguity ; but when he did what he \*really \*meant was… 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-example-of-atheists-destroying-christians-rights/623555.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-example-of-atheists-destroying-christians-rights/623555.md?page=10)