Christian threats of Hell

Christians regularly impugn the characters of atheists without ever considering the implications of their own tactics

Whenever a Christian threatens you with Hell, no matter how smugly they do so it pays to consider just what they’re telling you about themselves. I don’t just mean the shameful delight they take in the prospect of another person’s suffering, that’s clear to anyone. I mean the implication of their choice of threat.

What does it tell you, tell the world about them when they suppose that threats of Hell will be enough to make you bow down before their imaginary God?

Christians regularly impugn the characters of atheists without ever considering the implications of their own tactics. When a Christian threatens you with Hell, what are they really telling you?

Punishing raped women

In what context could stoning a raped woman to death ever be justified?

In the Bible, Jesus tells us that God’s law shall never pass away until Heaven and earth are no more (Luke 16:17/Matthew 5:18). The Old Testament book of Deuteronomy literally translates as ‘the law repeated’. This law, the law of the old testament as written in the Hebrew bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) is the only law that Jesus, a Jew would, could have been talking about. And so it is to Deuteronomy that we turn when asking how to deal with rape victims.

Discussion with Luke, an American Christian

Luke and I don’t see eye to eye on very much but we do show that it’s possible to discuss and argue, passionately at times and still remain cordial and genial at the end.

This is a discussion/debate with Luke Villareal, an American Christian. We had a few technical problems resulting in fairly poor video quality on my end and no image at all from Luke. However that beats our first attempt during which we couldn’t get anything to record at all.

The rule was that we both get to record it and we both can publish it online as we see fit but without any edits. There is one small edit in the original where I cut out about a minute of ‘dead air’ whilst I attended to my dog. Other than that the video is completely unedited.

Luke and I don’t see eye to eye on very much but we do show that it’s possible to discuss and argue, passionately at times and still remain cordial and genial at the end. Let us know in the comments what you thought of the points raised and especially let us know if either Luke or I managed to change your mind about anything.

The word of God (or not)2: God gave us reason for a reason

God wants us to use our brains – the brains that He gave us

A friend of mine seems to think that I’m channelling the words of God. I don’t.

I don’t believe God is real but I’m going with it anyway because I promised her that I would. Here’s the second pronouncement for what it’s worth.

God wants us to use our brains – the brains that He gave us. He wants scientists to continue to uncover the mechanism of His creation and He wants the religious to stop pretending it’s not true.

Escatological follies

So many Armageddons past,
So many days that weren’t the last,
For you the end can’t come too fast.

My death is just the price you’ll pay,
So gladly to be on your way,
And if I’m damned – well, that’s OK!

I’ve written a little poem for all those Christians who love to gloat about their salvation and my alleged damnation. It only lasts two minutes. Have a listen and tell me what you think in the comments.

Original sin: Does it make sense to you?

Two people who I never knew did something that I didn’t do, so I deserve to burn in Hell!

I can be forgiven for what I didn’t do, because some other people crucified a bloke who didn’t do it too!

I didn’t do it! I’m not guilty of it!