Religion – Page 5 – The God free guide

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 theology of warfare

How do Christians justify their commitment to kill people because some politician tells them to?

I regularly come across either serving or veteran military personnel in these atheist v theist groups who also identify as Christian. As a rule such people express pride in their military credentials and some even seem to assume that they deserve special consideration or respect as a result. This has always confused me.

How can a Christian join an organisation in which they will be expected to kill (or support the killing of) other people simply because a politician decides it’s a good idea? As we all know, military interventions are not always motivated by noble intentions.

I don’t suggest that military service isn’t courageous, even heroic and I fully understand that it genuinely can be necessary (although it often is not). It’s the decision to ‘join up’ that I find confusing.

How is a commitment to take the lives of unknown others at some future date for as yet unknown reasons, ordered by currently unknown politicians with equally unknown motivations in any way consistent with Christian values?

How do Christians justify their commitment to kill people because some politician (whose motives may be very reprehensible) tells them to?

Stop lying about atheists!

Christians seem not to share that dislike of dishonesty and dictatorial arrogance

I have no problem with religious believers. Religion is their right. I’ve defended that right many times and no doubt will do so again. I do have a problem with control freaks and liars. Unfortunately many Christians seem not to share that dislike of dishonesty and dictatorial arrogance – in fact they empower and even embody it!

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.

A transparent trans-parent

I’m so tired of uninformed, unfeeling and above all uncaring Christians having a go at Trans people.

I’m so tired of uninformed, unfeeling and above all uncaring Christians having a go at Trans people. It’s what Christianity always does – they can’t demonstrate the reality of the deity they claim to believe in; they can’t make any reasonable arguments for its existence and they can’t persuade anyone of its truth without resorting to lies, distortions and ad hominem attacks.

It used to be ‘fornicators’ they attacked until people started being more open about their sex lives. It used to be gay men and latterly women until reasonable people realised that other peoples’ sex lives are none of their business. It used to be those who need an abortion until, apart from in the states, people began to accept that wider social and economic issues take precedence and now it’s trans people.

The church always needs someone to hate – a visible but not too strong minority to be the bogeyman. Unfortunately for Christians though the world moves on – secular morality develops and outgrows the nonsense of Christianity as the church hops desperately from target to target trying to keep up.

The burden of proof

I would say my diary demands faith in place of inquiry

“… And if I said God wrote my diary

I’d anticipate inquiry…”

A short poem about the burden of proof

Christian hypocrisy

You cherry-pick your Holy book,
Ignore the homeless beggar as you look
The other way
Complaining every day
About the taxes that you have to pay.

When you have to lie to make your point, your point isn’t worth making!

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.