Respecting the beliefs of others

...the organisation has often met with official disapproval supported by suspicions that far from being a legitimate religion the “church” amounts to little more that an irreverent mockery of established faiths and churches...

When did scrutinizing ideas and actions become irreverent mockery? It's obvious the author spent no time whatsoever researching the rich and wondrous history of our faith before embarking on this article. When he writes about that other religion, Catholicism, that seems to be pretty popular in Poland, I wonder if he still puts the word church in quotation marks.

If I wasn't a debt slave I would totaly join something like that.

Removing god from our public schools didn't cause more violence. It probably helped prevent violence.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/exploringourmatrix/2013/02/shootings-schools-vs-churches.html

Thomas Jefferson on separation of church and state, illuminated through a treaty which is constitutionally binding:

As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries

The Treaty of Tripoli

Religion has no legitimate hold on the USA.

More religious idiocy!
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/04/01/us-muslim-caller-tells-tv-host-gay-americans-should-be-beheaded/

Jabba's palace is anti-islamic.
http://freethinker.co.uk/2013/04/01/lego-forced-to-withdraw-star-wars-toy-set-regarded-as-offensive-to-muslims/

Yep, they tossed it in the 40's due to it's similarity to the Nazi salute; which isn't a suprising thing (or shouldn't be) as it was written by a socialist...

This is somewhat of a pet peeve of mine--the Nazi's were facists (ie far RIGHT), whereas communists/socialists are far LEFT. Very different idealogies, in theory. http://www.diffen.com/difference/Communism_vs_Fascism

stxem I guess when it comes to indoctrinating people either side is not much different.

Pat Robertson Blames Ivy League Schools For Lack Of Miracles In America

It may have been April 1st yesterday, but televangelist Pat Robertson wasn’t kidding when he told a viewer that Americans aren’t experiencing God’s miracles because they are too “sophisticated.”

If Americans wish to experience more miracle, Robertson concluded, they must reject their miracle-negating sophistication in favor of the more credulous African way of life.

Has he seen what a mess Africa is?

Heh, here is a good article about what life is like in Africa:

Police arrest goat accused of armed robbery

Vigilantes seized the black and white goat, saying it was an armed robber who had used black magic to transform himself into an animal to escape after trying to steal a Mazda 323.

Better article:

When lack of education kicks in: Nigerian police arrest a goat for being a ‘shape-shifting armed robber’

Here is a message from another msg board that illustrates why:

Shhh, Pat, you're going to ruin for the rest of the theist elite that are so very dependent on peoples belief in god... I mean what's going to happen if people finally figure out that people like you are actually only in this because of the money and the power?

If only people were a little bit stupider and not so willing to learn. If only they were content to be ignorant. That would be so much easier for you.

North Carolina May Declare Official State Religion Under New Bill

Republican North Carolina state legislators have proposed allowing an official state religion in a measure that would declare the state exempt from the Constitution and court rulings.

The bill, filed Monday by two GOP lawmakers from Rowan County and backed by nine other Republicans, says each state "is sovereign" and courts cannot block a state "from making laws respecting an establishment of religion." The legislation was filed in response to a lawsuit to stop county commissioners in Rowan County from opening meetings with a Christian prayer, wral.com reported.

Hahahahahaha good luck with that!

So what you are pointing out is that religions best friend is ignorance. The most religious countries in the world are the least educated. That is no secret. Same in the US, education negates religion.

Anyone who doubts the intention of separating Chuch from State should read about these two people:

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Paine

So what you are pointing out is that religions best friend is ignorance. The most religious countries in the world are the least educated. That is no secret. Same in the US, education negates religion.

1 Corinthians 2:5 :

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Proverbs 3:5 (CEB). KJV uses "understanding" instead of "intelligence", which makes it less controversial :

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; don’t rely on your own intelligence.

Religion can be a great thing. If it weren't for people messing it up. I don't personally believe, grew up in the church and saw how much hate it spews. Even thought they say they don't hate. Hate the sin not the sinner. HA! Never seems to work out that way does it.
More like hate the religious not the religion. >=]

Not sure how I missed this, sounds like a great holiday.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/04/03/topless-jihad-day-femen-war-islam-warning-tits-deadlier-amina-tyler-stones_n_3006735.html

Oh so now you want religion.

Oh so now you want religion.

How does supporting a holiday where women bare their breasts to fight Islam indicate that I want religion?

Rotorhead,
Everybody knows you're an in the closet Baptist.

Michele Presnell, North Carolina Lawmaker, Links Islamic Prayer To Terrorism:

In an email exchange obtained by the Raleigh newspaper, Presnell was asked by a constituent if she would support an Islamic prayer being said before a state legislative meeting.

"No, I do not condone terrorism," Presnell responded, according to the report. "We just need to start taking a stand on our religious freedom or it will be whisked away from us."

Michele Presnell, North Carolina Lawmaker, Links Islamic Prayer To Terrorism:

In an email exchange obtained by the Raleigh newspaper, Presnell was asked by a constituent if she would support an Islamic prayer being said before a state legislative meeting.

"No, I do not condone terrorism," Presnell responded, according to the report. "We just need to start taking a stand on our religious freedom or it will be whisked away from us."

that's one hell of a political gaffe

"During many ages there were witches. The Bible said so. The Bible commanded that they should not be allowed to live. Therefore the Church, after doing it's duty in a lazy and indolent way for eight hundred years, gathered up its halters, thumbscrews and firebrands, and set about its holy work in earnest.She worked hard at it night and day during nine centuries, and imprisoned, tortured, hanged and burned whole hordes and armies of witches, and washed the Christian world clean of their fouled blood. Then it was discovered that there was no such thing as witches, and never had been. One does not know whether to laugh or to cry."

from Bible Teaching & Religious Practice, by Mark Twain

conversation I had tonight.

"I don't care for violence and think we should all be good and help each other"

"that's a good Christian answer"

"I'm not religious"

"Oh, you believe in atheism?"

"I just don't believe in anything"

Wow, I can't believe that I just read this whole thread in one sitting. I find the debate interesting and it seems to have quickly devolved from the original topic. As a Christian all I can add to the conversation is an apology to anyone who has been berated by Christian ideology or feel like it's been forced down their throat. I feel like there has been almost 2000 years of misrepresentations of the Christian faith and it has hurt a lot of people. The funny thing is that believers never even called themselves Christian but it was a derogatory label ascribed to the movement by Romans.

If followers of Christ would live as He instructed and as the early church in Acts than people wouldn't have an issue with the church. If we were as focused on serving the needs of the poor, orphans, and widows of this world as we are on religious debate we might find that the debate would disappear. Now I will say that as followers of Christ we are called to present the Gospel message to the world through relationships but it stops there. People will make up their own minds and we are called to respect they're decision. The Bible gives specific guidance as to how we should share our faith. Jesus taught in Matthew 10:14 "14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet."

I wish followers of Christ would get on with the business of serving those in need and learn when to "shake off the dust" and move on from argument. If we lived as Christ has called us to than even the Atheist or unbelieving would still respect the life that we've chosen to live and see the benefit to society.

The only thing I want everyone to consider is that we can't educate ourselves or build enough wealth to remove our sinful nature. Even the most sophisticated and wealthy countries throughout time have struggled with the effects of sin on the community. Even with intelligence we still hold ourselves above other people, and commit the most horrific crimes against our brothers and sisters. Greed, lust, and power are prevalent among the poor, wealthy, educated, uneducated, Democrats, Republicans,Tea Partiers, Christians, Hindu's, Buddhist, Atheist, etc. So no matter what you believe or choose not to believe we will all be victims of the sins of our brothers and sisters on earth.

I don't believe in "sin". Sin implies that we are breaking the laws given to us by "god". I do not believe that there is a god so I cannot accept the concept of sin. Our morality is man made. This is obvious from our rejection of the 10 commandments in favor of man made laws.

When you say that you believe in Jesus, to me you might as well be saying that you believe in the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus. And when Christians tell me that I am going to hell, I reply, please brer christian don't throw me into the briar patch!

However deeds do make a difference. I always respect people who do good for their fellow man without expecting anything in return. I have no respect for people who proselytize along with their good deeds, that is too big a price to pay for help.