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Received 10/19/2011 from peteherbalifed03
comments: I dugg some of you post as I thought   they were  very beneficial   very beneficial
 
Received 06/19/2011 from Frank Ranelli
website: http://www.opednews.com/articles/Theistic-Bigotry-The-Real-by-Frank-Ranelli-110617-781.html
Subject: Theistic Bigotry: The Reality of Denying Fantasy

comments: Dianna, Thank you immensely for the generous exultation of praise concerning my latest article, "Theistic Bigotry: The Reality of Denying Fantasy." In Reason, Frank J. Ranelli, Independent scholar of religious studies
 


 

Received 06/05/2011 from Rich Civil
Subject: Atheist political leanings.
Comments: You mentioned in a recent posting that most atheists are liberals. A few weeks ago I attended a screening of a film called "The Nature of existence" where the director, Roger Nygard spoke and took questions. At one point he made a negative comment about our previous President. The vast majority laughed, with one lonely person booing.
 

 

Received 05/069/2011 from: Laura
Subject: Great site!
Comments: I can't believe I have not found this before! I homeschooled two children and are now working on the final two. We are not religious homeschoolers either and have found it rather difficult here in Florida but not impossible. We have a small homeschooling group with people who feel the same way and that helps a great deal.

I have to admit, I was stunned by the comments here. You created a site about secular homeschooling and people could not resist coming to tell you how wrong your beliefs are! I try very hard to respect everyone's personal religious beliefs and it is so sad that so many good 'Christian's' can't do the same. What a better world this would be if folks really worried more about their own souls than others!

Congrats though on your success as a homeschooling parent. I will be spending some time here going through all your ideas.
 
Actually, I must defend the other comments. The main part of this site isn't about secular homeschooling; it's about atheism. And I've written some pretty antagonistic things in my blog. So I can understand why some people comment the way they do.
 


 

Received 04/24/2011 From: FleemaBairm
Comments: One day in much good company I was asked by a person of quality, whether I had seen any of their Struldbrugs, or Immortals. I said I had not, and desired he would explain to me what he meant by such an appellation applied to a mortal creature. He told me, that sometimes, though very rarely, a child happened to be born in a family with a red circular spot in the forehead, directly over the left eyebrow, which was an infallible mark that it should never die. The spot, as he described it, was about the compass of a silver threepence, but in the course of time grew larger, and changed its color; for at twelve years old it became green, so continued till twenty-five, then turned to a deep blue; at forty-five it grew coal black, and as large as an English shilling, but never admitted any further alteration. He said these births were so rare, that he did not believe there could be above eleven hundred struldbrugs of both sexes in the whole kingdom, of which he computed about fifty in the metropolis, and among the rest a young girl born about three years ago. That these productions were not peculiar to any family, but a mere effect of chance; and the children of the struldbrugs themselves were equally mortal with the rest of the people.
 
LOL. Okay, I just had to post this one. It's spam. But it's pretty cool spam. It is, in fact, brilliant spam.
See Struldbrugs.
There was a website accompanying the comment, but I don't post spam. Even the website was part of the brilliant spam. I'm just so impressed.

 


 

Received 04/13/2011 from: Jeff Knows
website: www.atheistsocial.com
Subject: Have you heard of the new atheist book?
Comments:
How are you doing? Appreciate your reports for Examiner.com. Maybe your readers might be interested in knowing that there is a new book out called: Atheists love God. It's a funny & thought-provoking book about atheists, love and God.

Here is a 50% off coupon code to download any of the many ebook versions at Smashwords.com. EA47Z
It's only $2.50 until May 5, 2011.

It is also available at Amazon.com for $8.99 as a paperback and a Kindle ebook for $4.99.
FOR MORE DETAILS GO TO:
http://www.spoiopublishing.com/atheists-love-god.html

 
I am so sorry I didn't get this posted in time for the coupon. <head smack> I've just been so busy and addlebrained lately.
 


 

Received 04/11/2011 from: AndyFletcheru
Subject: AndyFletcheru

Comments: Hi - I am definitely delighted to discove this. cool job!
 


 

Received 02/22/2011 from: John Everyman
Comments: Hi, it's me again. I just have a small note this time. I noticed you were saying, "They better step up their game or I'm outta here!", but don't you mean, "They had better step up their game or I'm outta here!"?
 
Perhaps. That's a really tough one you've got going there yourself. Typically, I like my punctuation inside the quotation marks. But how would you really achieve that? It would end up like this:

I noticed you were saying, "They better step up their game or I'm outta here!," but don't you mean, "They had better step up their game or I'm outta here!?"

I'm not at all fond of the "!," and the "!?" I think the proper wording would have been thus:

I noticed you were saying, "They better step up their game or I'm outta here!" But don't you mean, "They had better step up their game or I'm outta here?"

And you didn't say anything about my use of "outta."
 


 

Received 02/20/2011 from: Had2Know
Website: http://www.had2know.com
Subject: Secular Home School Resources

Comments: Hey, we just wanted to let you know that we enjoy your website and we included a link to Atheist View on our secular home school resources page.  You can see the page and your link here. Keep up the good work!

http://www.had2know.com/education/secular-homeschooling-resources.html
 
Nice! Thank you so much. I will add a link to your site on my secular homeschooling page...if I haven't done that already. :) Who knows?
 


 

Received 01/12/2011 from: hamilton
Subject: my views

comments: after many years of being a Christian mainly in my child hood and on in to early adult hood I could never grasp the part of it that is to have "blind faith" in a God that I can't see or even have any proof of that exsiste and i struggled with this for years and recently i have decide that i don't believe in a god i just be leaved in a lot of the morals and rules sorta-spec that being raised Christan i was brout up to believe i personally don't have a grudge towards any body who is religious in any way I've just decide for myself that rather then follow something blindly i would rather just do my thing instead of put my energy in to something that i have no real proof of and i went to this site to read some true atheist view on religion and help further some of my views on the whole thing

 
Well, now, I wouldn't say that I have the "true" atheist view on anything. I just have my atheist view on everything. But I'm glad if you got something from reading my ramblings.

[Yes, I am fully aware that I am being a snot by not putting [sic]'s all over freethinkers' comments but riddling the Christian comments with them. But it's my comments page and I can do what I want. But seriously, hamilton, dude (or dudette), it was hard not to. I'm a total grammar Nazi most of the time. Maybe Facebook is mellowing me out...]
 


 

Received 12/14/2010 from: anonymous
Subject: Wow
Comments: Reading some of your posts, I really think you need to take some serious steps to address your anger issues.  Conversing with people who's opinions differ from yours can be frustrating, we all know that, but you seriously overreact.  On some of your posts, you go far in your efforts to deeply insult people on your blog.  It makes it hard to take you seriously as a rational "authority" if you're so quick to resort to flaming and personal attacks behind the safe confines of your little space here.  People don't respect catty, malicious gossipers.  Which is exactly what you appear to be here, at best.
 
LOL. Seriously. There may be some metaphorical head smacking going on, but I'm not angry. Why are you reading it that way? It's just words on the screen. Are you, maybe, imbuing it with more passion than is really there? I'm actually pretty easy going. Maybe it's because I exercise regularly, or eat a lot of chocolate. I don't scream at people while I'm driving--I never scream at people at all, actually. I don't care if people say "Merry Christmas" or "God Bless You." I smile a lot. So, thanks for the worry. But I'm fine. It's just a blog, you know. :)

I'm not sure why you consider me a "rational authority." I may be an authority on rationalism. But that doesn't mean I am a person without strong emotion, or a person who does not express strong emotion. Being a rationalist doesn't mean I'm always rational or logical. It doesn't make me any less human. It just means I apply a strict set of standards to the manner in which I understand my world.

I'm not sure, either, why you consider my space here "safe." I'm not anonymous, like you are.

As to the rest of your insults. Thanks for your input.
 


 

Received 12/03/2010 from John Everyman
comment: God is at a constant war with Satan, and as with every war there are casualties, such as the murdered children. But while Satan is winning some battles like killing innocent children, God wins some too, like making soup chunky.
God relies on prayer to survive, and the more prayer he gets, the more powerful he becomes, thus aiding his battle against Satan. Now Christians aren't going to pray if they get screwed out of good soup by God are they?
 
Brilliant!


 

Received 11/14/2010 from Jason Clark
Subject: What is agnosticism....really?
comments: The term Atheist, was used by the French, well before the term Theist. They didn't need the term Theist, a believer was a Catholic Christian. So I'm not sure how modern Atheists have come to believe that one can attach an a- prefix to a word that doesn't exist.

You can, however, attach an -ist (believer) suffix, to a word that does exist, Atheos (no God). French Christians created the word to label people they claimed believed there was no God. That was the original and most common definition, even during Huxley's day. That is why he felt the need to define himself as an Agnostic.

He did NOT state that freethinkers were gnostic. He stated... "I had neither art nor part with any of these denominations, EXCEPT THE LAST" (freethinker). He then stated the "MOST of those good people" had achieved some kind of "gnosis", and lumped himself in with Hume and Kant.

Modern Atheists keep lying about, and distorting, what Huxley actually said. They have been steadily usurping the definition of Agnosticism, since Huxley laid it out. That is, basically, suspend belief, unless there is proof. The term covered all non-Atheist (believes there is no God) non-believers (don't believe in God). It covered everything from babies (who have no knowledge, to form a belief), to anyone who had been swayed to belief, due to lack of knowledge (evidence).

If it was such a lame position, then Atheists wouldn't have redefined the word Atheist. Modern, weak Atheism, is just Agnosticism. If someone called me "stupid", I wouldn't spend decades, trying to redefine the word "stupid" to my liking, I would say no, I'm "smart". Christians created the word Atheist, and gave it a definition. Huxley provided the word Agnostic, and gave it a definition. Then along came some non-believers decided they wanted "Atheist" to mean "Agnostic".

Why weak Atheists want to have half a dozen convoluted definitions, to describe themselves, and Agnostics, instead of just two, I have no clue. I repeat...it is IMPOSSIBLE to attach an a- prefix, to a word that didn't exist. Atheists are Athe(os)-ists (BELIEVERS).

 
My response:
That's all very interesting, if not a little confusing. The biggest problem with your argument is that the suffix "ist" doesn't mean believer. Atheos pointed to those who didn't believe in "their" god, not necessarily someone who didn't believe in ANY god. Pagans were called atheists, after all. As were early Christians at some time, if I recall.

I think I understand your meaning about the word theist not existing at the time the word atheist was coined. But the word atheos existed long before the French said "atheist" (if you are correct) and it meant "without god." To try to say that it means and must mean "people who BELIEVE there is no god" is just as silly today as it would have been then.

In other words, theos existed. It had to have existed for the Greeks to put an "a" in front of it. It meant god, if not "belief in god" as theism does today. (In a very simplified form, anyway.) If they invented the word "theos" just to invent the word "atheos" what's the difference? (But I will try to investigate all of that some more when I care about it again.)

You accuse atheists of lying and distorting Huxley's agnosticism and forcing new meaning into a word that means simply "without god(s)" and yet you create a definition for a suffix to contort the definition of atheism.

And who really cares? Language evolves. It always has and it always will.

I've talked with a few agnostics who can't even say whether they believe in a god or not. Agnosticism to them is some kind of philosophy that allows them to be "smarter" than everyone else, contort meaning, and banter on about not being able to disbelieve in something that doesn't exist. We're all arguing amongst ourselves. You don't like it, that's fine. But you're battling ghosts. (And so am I, but it's fun sometimes.)

It's a label. That's all. It's not that serious. But I'm glad I ruffled some feathers. It gets us all talking and mad at each other and then, to distance ourselves further from the people we're arguing with, we create new and sillier labels to argue about.

 

Received 11/12/2010 from Danice
Subject: On Christianity
Comments: I came across this website, while looking up Zumba. My heart goes out to you guys, really. I am a Christian, a real one. I was not always one and have made many mistakes in my life. Deciding to accept Jesus Christ into my life was the best decision that I've ever made. I don't doubt my beliefs, neither do I judge you all for what you believe. I sat and prayed and asked the Lord what I should write,should I write a sermon, should I talk about Heaven and Hell, or should I just be critical. No. I'll just say, Jesus loves you.
Have a wonderful day!
 
My response: I imagine all Christians think they're real ones. What sort of person would claim to be a fake one? No doubt we've all made mistakes in life. I'm glad for you, that you're happy and all, and that your belief in a mythological entity helps you with that.

I guess my only real question would be this. If you do not judge me for being an atheist, why would you even consider writing me a sermon, or telling me about heaven and hell, or being critical? That really doesn't make much sense. And if you don't judge me for my atheism, why does your heart go "out" to me? Really? Be honest. You judge the frickin' hell out of me, don't you? Of course you do.

Jesus is a figment of your imagination. He does not love anyone. If he lived at all, he's dead now.

But I do think I understand your meaning. You want me to be happy. Thanks, I'm pretty happy! And you want me to know that your imaginary helpmate loves me. Thanks, but if he really existed, he'd come tell me that himself. (And I find all that a little creepy, you know.) So, all in all. Thanks for writing.

And Zumba ON!
 

The Atheist Christmas Coloring Book
comments: Atheist View, please take a look at my fun project, The Atheist Christmas Coloring Book.  My family (with three pre-teen kids) are atheist, but we enjoy a rational Christmas.  I made this coloring book for my girls, and for rational kids everywhere who celebrate Christmas.
The coloring book is in PDF form at the page below.  Share! Enjoy!
 
http://www.mindposts.com/uncategorized/celebrate-a-rational-holiday-with-the-atheist-christmas-coloring-book 
 
Regards,
Rick Marazzani
 

That's adorable!
 
Received on 11/03/2010 from: Savannah Axtell
Subject: friendly discussion
Comments: So at the tail end of you little, ummm dissagreement (nicly put) you admit to the posibility that there might be a god. (if you think im wrong read you letter again) So that leads me to confusion, are you an atheist or agnostic?
 
My response:
I'm an atheist. Atheism is lack of belief in deity. I have no belief in deity. I do not believe any deities exist. Is it possible? Maybe. But, judging by the evidence, it's extremely unlikely--so unlikely that I'm almost certain there isn't one. And if there was one, just believing there is one still wouldn't make any sense at all.
Agnosticism is meaningless. The term agnostic was coined by a guy who didn't know what he was talking about. See my essay "The Passion of the Rational Mind" for further explanation. A person could be an agnostic and an atheist. But I don't use the word--because it's stupid.

And yeah...I disagree a lot. I'm quite...disagreeable. :)
 

Received on 10/19/2010 from Savannah (see Savannah's previous comment below)
Subject: friendly responce
comments: First off thank you with the spelling help lol, I'm not too wonderful at it :) also thank you "writing" back I enjoy open conversations, and I like hearing what you have to say and what your opinions are. Also, I just wanted you to know that I'm NOT trying to "convert" you I'm just throwing ideas out there just to better understand how different people view them. [It makes life interesting.]
anyway, something that REALLY stuck out to me about your response was you kept referring to (what I assume) is why you don't believe in God; and that was the evil in life, yes?
I agree that the evil in life is not desirable and most of the time we think "why does this happen?" I for sure now I have. However, let me through another idea out there for you :)
Would you know what was good or right if there was no wrong and evil? If you say yes, then how? Truly think about it, I mean there would be no rules to tell us, there is no god to let us know, in fact we would be neutral, drones maybe? There would be games (can't have rule because there's no right way to play a game, and no wrong way to play) there would be no spelling or speaking because who is to tell us how to correctly make the sounds to speak and comprehend one another. We wouldn't know how to eat, when to pee [except when we just can't hold it anymore] no clothes, a lot less people in the world because we wouldn't know if we were supposed to be with the opposite sex. Geez it blows my mind just to think of it all and that's prob. not even scratching the surface.

That's just one comment about what you said there were two other things in your note that I would like to comment on, but I will save that for later ;)
Anyway I really enjoy have this conversation with you; I hope you do as well. Well tata for now!

 
My response:

Savannah,

I did not "keep referring" to evil in life. In fact, I don't think I referred to evil in the world one single time in my response to you. What I referred to was the Bible. And the reason I referred to some bad things God does in the Bible, was because you posed for me a scenario in which someone accuses my father of doing awful things. And then you equated your father with God. So, I simply pointed out that your "father" (God) actually really did do some awful things--they're right there in "his" book.

So, no. I didn't keep referring to evil in life. And no, that isn't why I don't believe in God. Evil in the world is not a reason to not believe in gods in general; but it would certainly be a good reason to not believe in an all-loving, all-good, all-powerful god. So, the problem of evil is a good argument. But it's not why I don't believe in your god.

Now, as to your comments on evil---huh? Are you seriously equating correcting a child as it learns to speak (that's called teaching) with allowing a child to be beaten, raped, and murdered (there's your evil!)? Holy cow! And you seem to be saying that someone needs to tell you to be with the opposite sex! WOW! And your mind is totally BLOWN by all that! And you think that we were born with the ability to hold in our pee or something? There is something seriously wrong with your thinking.

Are you for real? Do I really have to answer this? Is this my son pulling my leg? It HAS to be! Nah, if I'm correct about who you are, you are fairly young, and not really a "new" Christian at all.

Now, Jason McCoy (below) will be mad at me because I'm not being nice to you. But...seriously. Oh, okay, fine.

Savannah, have you ever seen that cute commercial on tv where all the animals are frolicking together by the lake? Isn't that just the cutest thing? Can you imagine that? I can. I can imagine a world where people are happy and content and nobody shows up, takes out a dagger, and starts slaughtering everybody. I can imagine a world where parents gently guide their children and don't pick them up by the feet and dunk them into the toilet so hard and so fast that they drown before the concussion can kill them...all because they soiled their pants.

I can imagine a loving god overseeing his happy children and making sure they don't line any of them up against the mass grave they just forced them to dig and then gun them down...or worse, push them in and bury them alive.

I can also understand that humans are emotional, psychological, biological beings. So I get why there is "evil" in the world. I get that there could possibly be a god who for whatever reason does not intervene. But that god is NOT all-loving. Or he is not all-powerful. Take your pick.
 

Received on 10/12/2010 from Savannah
Subject: Friendly discussion
comments: "Your kind of people doing stuff like this also has a lot to do with it: Angry protesters descend on mosque [this was a link to a news story]. Just looking at the picture of that man praying is silly enough; but the hatred they spew in the name of this loving god of theirs is downright bizarre. Who wouldn't speak out against that kind of insanity?"
This is what you said to Rod.
I am a Chirstian a new believer since 2/14/10 (fresh meat if you will), and i am doing a paper on art and how it expresses Gods beauty and power in life.
anyway back to what you stated above. Let me ask you a question: imagine that you are sitting in class one day (i dont know if you still go to school but leys pretend you're in college); and some meanie says that your father, the man who raised you and loved on you you whole life, was murderer, a cheat, evil, a lier, and every other thing vilely imagineable. Would you not, his loving daughter, defent him with all the passtion and rage you could muster?
For us, this is what unbelivers do to our Heavenly Father; whether you believe in Him or not, we do. And we have felt His love, and seen His hand in our lives that an outsider of a person (i do mean person) could never feel. For us He is that loving Father whom i discribed, the one who has always been there for us.
This, my dear, is why we defend Him with passion, because we are full of passion for Him.

 

Hi Savannah,
Thanks for writing.

You quoted my response to Rob's question: "Why do atheists spend so much time talking about God?" And yet, you are using that response to begin a discussion on why Christians defend God. I do not see a connection. In my words to Rob, I note angry protesters descending on a mosque (via a news story). What does that have to do with defending your god? A man praying; spewing hatred in his name? None of those are acts of defending the character of God.

I was telling Rob why I find many Christians and most of Christianity repulsive and why I speak out as a nonbeliever.

As to your question: If someone (a "meanie"?) accused my father of atrocities, my reaction would depend on their demeanor. If they were frothing at the mouth, I would run, because clearly they're insane or on drugs. If they were somewhat calm, I'd probably laugh at them. Because, you see, my father exists. He lives a short drive away and I can go visit with him and talk to him and he really talks back! Not only that, but I could go to the courthouse and find an arrest record, if there was one, or police reports. I could find out if my father was really a murderer. As to him being a cheat or a liar, I would simply ask the person to explain. Then I could ask my father. And I could decide for myself who was right. My father exists. He's real.

And here's the kicker: so's your old man! (You might be too young for that joke.)

Your father is real too. He's the man who had sex with your mother; his sperm and her egg together became you. And if I said awful things about him, I expect you'd want some proof. You would defend him where you know I'm wrong, or just laugh at me. And you might grant that I'm right about some of his behavior; because let's be honest, people can make mistakes.

But this god you're talking about is not real. And he's certainly not your father. He didn't diddle your ma. He didn't contribute any sperm. He didn't raise you. He was totally MIA. You have not felt his love or seen his hand in your life. You only believe you have. When you see something good, you attribute it to this imaginary person. I have no idea why you need to do this, but there must be a reason.

The problem is that there is a book that talks about this god of yours and in it, he does do some really awful things. And yet, this god is supposed to be all-loving and all-powerful. If you defend him against his call to slaughter the little boys of the Midianites (whom he'd already told his people to wage war against), and the old women and the cripples--everyone but the young women who got to be luv slaves, you are just being irrational about his true nature.

I get that you are passionate about what you believe. But to support genocide (even if it's only a story), or even the denying of rights to others, based on this belief in a god whose own book reveals him to be a "meanie," is something you will always have trouble defending to atheists.

If the Christian God were really all the things people say he is, he wouldn't need defending. For one thing, he'd be right here, visible, defending himself. But he's not. Because he is not. He doesn't exist, except in the minds and imaginations of believers and as a character in books.

 

Received on 08/08/2010 (sorry for the delay) from: Rob
Subject: Atheists vs. God
comments: Why do athiests spend so much time talking about God? It thought they didn't believe in him, so why bother? Is there a coherent atheist view? Do you know that Richard Dawkins believes there is nothing outside the universe and yet he also says the universe hasn't always existed. How can that be?
 
Thank you for letting me add a comment. I am a firm believer in free speech. Cheers.
 
Hello Rob,

Well, first of all, it's atheists, not athiests. "Est" is one of those superlative suffixes; it's like you're saying we're more athi, or something. We're the best at being athi? It doesn't make any sense. You are a theist, because you engage in theism. The "i" goes with the ism. So, we are not theists, and therefore are atheists. See, we get the ist and ism too.

Anyway, enough for the spelling lesson. I do not know why atheists do what they do. I only know why I do what I do. I talk about this god thing a lot because virtually everywhere I go people are telling me it exists and wants me to love it; and some of them say that because I don't believe it exists and love it back, there's something very wrong with me. So, I talk about it a lot to try to show that people like that are crazy.

Your kind of people doing stuff like this also has a lot to do with it: Angry protesters descend on mosque. Just looking at the picture of that man praying is silly enough; but the hatred they spew in the name of this loving god of theirs is downright bizarre. Who wouldn't speak out against that kind of insanity?

It's likely that Dawkins considers the idea of an infinite series of compressions and bursts, which would mean that this particular universe did not always exist. But I don't know what Dawkins thinks. But I will tell you this, it's semantics. Universe MEANS ALL THERE IS. So, of course there can be nothing outside it.

Is there a coherent atheist view? Of course there is. But you have to actually listen to it. Here's the most coherent atheist view there is: Nobody knows if there is a god or not. Not me, not you, nobody. NOBODY knows. To BELIEVE is to delude yourself. I choose to disengage from deluding myself and seek answers through the scientific method which relies on facts, evidence, and testable, confirmable results.

Thanks for your comment.

Received on 07/18/2010 from: Ejimerson
Subject: Your essay
comments: As I write this I can t help but wonder why.  I read your essay,  The Passion of the Rational Mind  and it is apparent I may as well be talking to a adamant Christian, in that they are frequently ready to argue to the end on their views, regardless of the points you present.  Perhaps I m writing this just to say thank you, as your views on Atheism support the thesis of an essay I myself am writing, but I doubt it since I cannot resist pointing out the fundamental flaw I find in your essay.  It is more likely I m just bored of writing that essay, and this provides me a moment of reprise before I continue my search for supporting material.
Your logic used to support your opinions in this essay are quite well articulated. I have no doubt you are an intelligent individual, and I have no intention of trying to insult that intelligence, but it remains that there is a serious problem with what you have wrote.  You have, at great length, wrote a paper arguing semantics to support your position.  You claim that the abuse of the definition of words is the major fallback point of a theist, and seem to imply this cheapens their views on the supernatural.  The problem I have here, as you may have already guessed, is that your essay is intended to do exactly the same thing.
As you yourself pointed out, the definition of words can be confusing, they include several meanings and sometimes even seem to conflict themselves.  But really this is irrelevant.  Language is used as a way to communicate with other people, not a way to create a circular argument like the one you have described in your essay over whether or not you  believe  in anything.  My point, in case you still question it, is that a word is only as good as the way it is commonly used.  You could certainly explain why your  belief  that you can cross the road is vastly different than their  belief  in god, but the fact is you do believe you can cross the road,  you do believe the sun will rise tomorrow, and they do believe in God.  Unfortunately, you do knot know that you can cross the road safely, or that the sun will rise tomorrow, as such things are impossible to know.  I understand there is a slew of evidence to support your beliefs, while there is virtually non to support theirs, but a belief you still hold.
Rather than arguing about whether or not you meet the criteria of the definition of the word belief you should be spending your time explaining to these individuals why it is actually completely irrelevant.  You base your beliefs on factual information, they base theirs on speculation, easy enough to me.  Instead you have resorted to the very methods you seem to lament, and tried to twist meanings of words like belief thought and faith to support your arguments.  
It is unfortunate but you, who considers themselves such a free thinker, have trapped yourself into the exact sort of closed thinking the  theist  you are supposed to be talking to in your paper uses to argue with you.  I feel you should probably reexamine your methods for making your point, as you are ultimately supporting the very thing your paper seems to be attempting to discredit.
It is doubtful to me that I will return to this website anytime soon, but still find myself interested in any response you might have to this comment.  I wrote my email in the field above my post.  If you wish to reply directly to me feel free to use that, otherwise have a good life my friend.

 
My response:
Hi,

So, basically you're saying that, in your opinion, I twisted the meanings of the words "believe" and "belief," something that I accuse theists of doing. And after I went to all that trouble discussing the definitions and usage and everything.

The whole point, if I recall, of arguing the semantics was my desire to offer a particular view of "belief" in an effort to help people understand where I'm coming from.

And your response is to just say, no, sorry, you DO believe stuff, whether you say you do or do not. Okay, you do not accept that there is a distinct difference between "believing" I can cross the road safely (why bother looking both ways?) and understanding how the world works and using facts and my brain, and being confident in my abilities. (But what of that one time I err and get hit? What of my "belief" then? Ooops.) And then in the same sentence (?) you equate that with believing IN god. I guess you didn't get my point at all.

Belief isn't just confidence. You can use the words interchangeably if you want; I certainly never said anyone had to use the words they way I say is best. But I choose to refrain from using belief, BECAUSE it confuses the argument with theists. I did not intend to "twist" the meanings to make myself win the argument, just to make it clear that where I find confidence and trust (also known in many circles as belief), the ideas, emotions, and logic associated with those words is not at all the same as belief in a god or santa or elves.

Granted, I wrote that essay a long time ago. I recall being snotty about it and goading the theists a bit. But I do not recall saying anything that would contradict what I said in the last paragraph. If I'm mistaken, please feel free to point it out.

If you're still bored with your article, I would like some help in understanding what you found so wrong with my thinking. So, if possible:
Could you please outline the circular argument I made?
Can you please explain in what way I have "trapped [my]self into the exact sort of closed thinking the theist [I am] supposed to be talking to in [my] paper uses to argue with [me]." (The words trapped and closed thinking being the main points that need explaining.)

**Further response not included in the email:
I wonder about people who say things like, I don't know why I'm bothering talking to you; it's clear you're just a closed-minded "whatever." And then, to tell me maybe you're writing to thank me, but no, actually you're not. And then say you're writing just because you're bored. And finally the obligatory: I won't bother reading your site anymore, but please respond to me anyway.

Gee thanks. (Did I ever put that unbelievable conversation I had with some wacko from facebook on this site....? I need to find out. Talk about bizarre. She started the "conversation" by telling me exactly how I would respond to her abuse. It was mind-bogglingly crazy. And all because she had some preconceived notions of Libertarians. And she was an atheist! You'd think she'd know what it's like to be judged by a label! God I hate stupid people.)

Anyway, was your attitude meant to set the tone of your email? The tone being: I deign to speak to you about your serious lack of brains. <breathe on nails, brush nails on coat>

[Note that EJimerson and I continued to correspond and came to an understanding.]
 


 

Received 07/18/2010 from Jason McCoy
Subject: why?
comments: I read your response to the questions at the top of the page and i cant help but feel like it's a bit aggressive. you respond as though you took them quite personally, and i wonder how such benign questions, could elicit such an inflamed response from a truly self assured, self proclaimed atheist. I, like you, am irreligious. I, being the fortunate recipient of a genuine secular upbringing,  never believed in the divinity of Jesus Christ or the existence of God. Having the firm belief in a Godless universe, the questions posed seem as threatening as the suggestion of a divine teapot orbiting Saturn. clearly not enough to stir an insult regarding the questioners use of "y".
 
My response:
Well, I thought I explained why in my response. I was "frustrated" and I found the questions to be "stupid." Of course I took it personally. The questions were asked of me personally. I took them accusatorily as well, as that's generally how they're applied when I get them in person. The all caps JESUS LOVES U! was the first clue.

To be self-proclaimed is nothing. It just means I use a particular label. I often wonder why people use words like "self-proclaimed" and "self-avowed" when they talk about atheists, as if to be an atheist is something that few people should actually admit to. How often do we hear about self-proclaimed Christians? Or self-proclaimed Jews? Never. But self-proclaimed atheists, self-proclaimed Satanists, self-proclaimed vampires. It's as if the speaker is saying we aren't "really" atheists, because...come on; we just call ourselves atheists.

As to being self-assured, when did I ever say I was self-assured? Now, I suppose I'm certainly confident in atheism. I'm a rationalist, after all. But as a human? I don't know. I suffer most of the foibles of humanity everyone else does: envy, fear, anger, sadness. I get frustrated and hurt just like everyone else. I'm no "self-proclaimed" saint.

I don't have any "beliefs" regarding the universe. But if more than half the population genuinely believed there was a teapot orbiting Saturn and expected me to believe it too, and if I didn't, they thought something was wrong with me, and they continually asked me stupid questions about it, I'd get angry once in a while and snip at them.

I don't think you've read my site very long; if you did, you'd know that I get snippy.

As to the use of "y"...please. Some of us have grammatical standards. Some of us might be a tad self-righteous about grammar and spelling. Some of us, I dare say, are self-proclaimed grammarians! I didn't say anything about the subject: HIIIIIII. What the hell is that? And I didn't even mention the all-caps until you commented. So, I think was quite lenient.
 


 

Received 06/30/2010:
Subject: HIIIII  
comments: REMEMBER JESUS LOVES U!  
Got a few questions...
y r u so against God?
y do u hate His teachings?
Are His teaching bad?
have u ever believed in Jesus Christ?
If u have then y did u stop?
Did something bad in ur life happen and u blamed it on God?
And finally what is the point of this site?
 
PLZZ respond.. if u don't then i'll think u can't answer the questions
 
I'm a christian and
 
My response:
Jeeze it's frustrating to get such stupid comments. This is pretty much why I stopped talking to Christians in the first place. I'm really amazed at the comment that, if I don't respond, this person will think I can't answer these questions. But look at the questions he/she asked! It's not like they're hard or even take any research. <sigh> Maybe they're twelve or something.

Okay, first, I'm against god because the character of god in the bible is despicable and because when people believe in god they become stupid and ask really stupid questions of people who don't believe what they believe. I hate his bad teachings, like slaughtering entire tribes of people, except for the virgin girls, of course; or murdering a guy who only tried to steady the ark; or sending bears to maul young people to death for teasing some bald guy; or saying you should kill your family members if they don't believe what you do. And I really despise the whole Christian scenario in which this bi-polar, vengeful god creates mankind, tempts him into sinning, and then punishes him by sending him to an eternity of torment. How disgusting is that?

Yes, many of his teachings are bad. Yes, I have believed in Jesus. If you want to know why I stopped, buy my book and read it. But the short answer is this: I started THINKING.

No, nothing bad happened in my life to make me mad at your god.

The point of this site is self-expression, education, and enlightenment. Now, I have some questions for you:

What's your point in writing to me? And why don't you use full words? Do you know how to spell why, and are, and you?
Why don't you have enough intestinal fortitude to start thinking about what sort of evil creature you've been worshiping and why?

 

Received 06/15/2010 from: E.E. Laine
Subject: Praise God for Tattered Dreams
comments: Peace to you,
My heart and mind probably would have remained closed to Jesus Christ, too, if not for the massive stroke I had when 33. With Our Savior leading the way, God prompted me to write Praise God for Tattered Dreams. This memoir describes the role God plays in my ongoing recovery, and how He guides my post-stroke priorities.  
Praise God for Tattered Dreams can be purchased online at www.lulu.com.  
If you'd like a complimentary copy, please email me at laine2e@yahoo.com.
Blessings to you and yours,
E.E. Laine
My response:
I'd love to get a look at your brain scan, paying particular attention to the right temporal lobe...
As to the mind being closed to Jesus...one has to wonder just what it takes. For you, a massive stroke! Holy cow. What is Jesus' problem, anyway? Why do you have to believe in him before you believe in him? Or worse, why do you have to suffer brain damage before he is real to you? It doesn't make sense--or, maybe it does.

 

Received 05/16/2010 from: Lindsey at http://www.bringingvoiceofreason.blogspot.com/
Subject: "see you at the pole"
Comments: I came across your site today, and my husband and I just can't read enough!!  It is so refreshing to read your views that I totally agree with, and you articulate it so well.  I have a blog as well, and thought you might find something I wrote last year, interesting.  It is as follows:
 
I did some research on the web to see if anyone was talking about this See You at the Poll rally, but I could not find a single site that had issue with this. So, maybe it s just me, but I feel a little offended. For those of you who are not familiar, See You at the Poll (SYATP) started in the early 90 s in a small town in Texas. Every third Wednesday in September across America, students, teachers, and parents gather around the flag poll of their school to pray for the new school year ahead. I remember attending SYATP as a jr. high and high school student, and maybe it was just my own experience and a different time, but it was very innocent. We would gather at the poll and pray to God not Jesus, Allah, or Buddha, but just a general termed God. Although this was more of Christian organized gathering, it seemed to be open to any, and all, walks of faith or non-faiths. It wasn t exclusive. It was a time you felt joined together with your peers and your leaders to share in the same spirit of love and harmony as you prayed/hoped for a peaceful year.
 
However, today it doesn t seem to be quite so sincere or innocent. Right Wing Politics and Christianity have become so intertwined, that you definitely feel the hidden agenda behind SYATP. It almost feels like more of a demonstration. I received a long e-mail from the PTO president at my son s school, inviting all Christian parents and students to attend SYATP this Wednesday to display  radical obedience  to Jesus.
 
 Are we desiring to see a mighty move of God on our children's schools? Are we pursuing God passionately? Are we serious about radical obedience? Are we determined to get rid of anything and everything that dishonors God and ready to challenge our friends to do the same?  Quote from the e-mail
 
This just feels like a right wing fundamentalist movement of finding a voice in numbers, weeding out those that don t believe the same, and to one day redefine public school. We already know that right wing fundamentalists want to establish prayer and (Christian) religious education in our public schools. This SYATP feels more and more like movement of bullies making a statement that  you must believe as I do, or you re simply not worthy and your voice doesn t count  all the while standing on tax payer property, holding hands in a circle around our nation s flag (in a display to intimidate all of those that do not think/believe the same) and to make others feel that America only belongs to the Christians. Coming across this scene as an  outsider  could make anybody feel as though their country were taken hostage. This would not be condoned by any other religious organization and definitely not by non-believers .do you see the double standard? What ever happened to  Do unto others as you would have done unto you ?
 
Received 05/19/2010 from Lindsey
Subject: Your thoughts on Christianity as America's foundation
Comment: I would love to read your thoughts and such to the fundamentalist saying that America was founded on Christianity!  You do such a great job of explaining things with your wealth of knowledge!


 

Received 04/02/2010 from: David
Subject: glad your still here
comments: When I finally realized I was full blown atheist a few years ago, Atheist View was the first book I read and I loved every word.  I have since lent it to a friend with the understanding that she pass it on to another indvidual in need of enlightening.  I appreciate all you do for you express yourself so much better than I.  
Received 04/02/2010 from: David
Subject: a V8 slap to my forehead
comments: I feel like a dope!  I did read your book and I can't believe I totally blew the title in my first comment.  It's been a while sinced I read it, and now that I'm in my mid 40's I find the CRS disease getting worse! (Can't Remember Shit). Please forgive my mistake, and keep up the good work! 
My response (via email):
David,
Thanks for the wonderful compliment!
I suffer from CRS too. I thought my mom made that disease up. :) In person, I say "thingie" a lot because I can't remember any words. My family has managed to learn my thingie language.


 

Received 03/16/2010 from: Sara
Subject: Thanks!
comments: Hi there,
I just wanted to say thanks for listing homeschooling websites and such that aren't steeped in ultra-religious sentiments.  My husband and I went to the homeschooling conference last year in Orlando for the 1st time (we live in Winter Park) to start seeing what our options were and I was surprised at the large # of christian based homeschooling vendors.  It's nice to know that there are other parents out there who just want to teach their children to the best of their ability the subjects of math, science (wonder how this worked out since religion and science always seem to be at each others throats), spelling, language, etc. without Jesus or God needing to be a part of the picture.
 

 

My continuing dialogue with nj
Received from: nj 03/11/2010

comments:
"You haven't answered the question at all. WHY? Why would a god who loves his/her creation put CURSES on children for something someone ELSE did? That's disgusting. And if you were HEALED, NJ, why won't your god heal babies dying of cancer? Why won't he save little girls from being abducted, raped, and murdered? Why YOU?"
 
Ok, here is the thing. God sets up laws from the very beginning. From the start of the bible in Gen. Now going by that here is an example for you: If you speed and get caught the law states you will be fined. So just beause i dont belive in that law does it not exist? will i not get punished for it? most likely the cop is going to say "to bad nj your still getting a ticket even though you do not belive in the laws" That is how God works. He is the creator, He set up laws. the punishments are different but clear. for speeding, you get a ticket. for breaking God's laws different punishments come. I asked for healing, realised Jesus died for our sins, eniquitys, and to lead us. JESUS IS our exapmle. He DID lead by example.

My response:
Why would a loving, father-figure, god who cares about his creation allow little children to be raped and murdered? Why does he allow little children to die slow, agonizing deaths from cancer?

Your answer is that he made a law? What do little children do to break a law for which the punishment is torture, murder, and agonizing, painful death?

What kind of a god do you worship, nj?

Yes, I get a ticket if I speed. I don't get beaten, raped, and murdered!

Received from: nj 03/11/2010

comments:
Your wrote: "As to your more important comment, I do not fight hard to prove something does not exist. And I do not have to prove gods don't exist. I'm just expressing myself, my frustration with religion, with stupidity, and with sloppy writing skills. I don't really care what you or anyone else believes, as long as you don't try to tell me and other people that it's factual, or even sensible.  
There's nothing at all wrong with fighting for reason, clarity, logic, truth, and honesty. Nothing wrong with that at all.   
As to the second part of your comment: It matters because there are really stupid people in the world trying to control the freedoms of people who don't believe what they believe. There are Muslims murdering women because they don't live by a ridiculous religious code. There are people in government thwarting the rights of freethinkers and attempting to impose a Christian theocracy on us.  
Those things are worth ranting about, and fighting against.
"
 
 
Here is MY view. you CANT PROVE that it did not happen, yet all the places, and most of the people INCLUDING Jesus can be proved by looking at roman history that historians perserved. So by YOUR words, "I don't really care what you or anyone else believes, as long as you don't try to tell me and other people that it's factual, or even sensible." you should not be telling people that there is no god. Because you can not prove it, it is not factual or sensible. IF it is sensible, then why in the heck do i some how pray to nothing and get healed? why do i pray to God (if he did not exist) and a miricale happen. Just the other day i did not know how my rent was getting paid, i was a few days over due, and i cried out to God. His word said in Matthew, HE will provide or needs. I challenged God, and he provided! My rent was paid in full! Another mirical, my daughter was told she was going to have a terrible sickness for at least 6 months WITH treatment. It was causing her not to breath right. and she was a little baby of 5 months at the time. My husband and i prayed and prayed, our friends prayed and annointed her for GOD. In THREE days she was healed with out any medication. She no longer had the sickness. That can be proven with 2 different doctors. (because one reexamined her not believing she was healed) Now if there was not a God why did those things happen? God says seeks and you will find. When you seek him you will find him.
 
Deuteronomy 4:29 (New International Version)
29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.
 
Luke 12:28
28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. ( this one says seek him and all other things will be given to you. rent was needed and we asked God, he provided)

My response:
1. There is no evidence of the existence of Jesus. None. Zip. Nada. EVERYONE (including the people in the Bible) who wrote about Jesus, wrote about him AFTER he supposedly DIED. Not one single historian or writer who lived DURING JESUS' time wrote anything about him. There is no evidence of his existence. You need to educate yourself on this matter.

2. The Civil War happened. Atlanta exists. Slavery existed. Robert E. Lee and Sherman existed. But that doesn't mean that Scarlet O'Hara existed and married Rhett Butler and lived in a mansion in Atlanta.

3. I do not have to prove to you that Scarlet O'Hara is NOT real. You would have to prove to me that she did indeed exist and everything in the book, Gone with the Wind is fact, not fiction, if you were gullible enough to believe such a thing.

4. Millions of people pray every day for their loved ones to be healed. And their loved ones DIE. You don't think the families of the children abducted, raped and murdered were praying to you god to bring them home safe???
So, if yours didn't die, and if your rent got paid, it's a coincidence. If prayer really worked (like it says it does in the Bible) it would work for EVERYBODY EVERY TIME.

5. You just keep NOT worrying about it, then. Stop going to work. Why bother? God will provide the money for your rent and the health care for your children. And don't bother taking them to the doctor, either. God will diagnose and heal them.

6. And if the rent does not get paid and your child gets sicker and sicker, well, then, you can say, "sometimes the answer is no."

Please think a little more. I don't have time or patience to argue with nonsense.

 

Received from: nj
Subject: come on, seriously?????

comments: "Those of us with hearts would have some serious questions for the big guy, too. Why do you let little children suffer and die? Why do you let your fans condemn anyone who doesn't act the way they think they should? Do you really hate homosexuality? If so, why are humans and other animals even capable of it? Are you really seriously trying to tell us that there's this OTHER god called Satan who is SO powerful he could corrupt your beloved creation and you just let it happen?"
 
Ok to start with, it is called generational curses. IF YOU want to know more about the our religion and God then the one you claim does not exist then please start researching! Dig deep! Maybe then you will find the answers to your questions. If it calls for to much work for you to go out of you way to prove that God does not exist then i guess you really dont mean it. Other wise what effort are you doing other then spouting questions that can be answered in our religion? 
 
The children were effected by a generational curse. (something i suffered from but was healed.) In our Bible, Jesus saw a blind man from birth and his followers asked what he or his parents do that caused him to be blind. When Jesus said niether they did not understand. So why children suffer it is because generational curses can be placed on the family up to 7 generations down, also blessings can be placed on the family for the generations. (mine happened to be anger, skin sores, sexual immorality, and lying.) When you do such things then your children see them and it is passed even futher since they have commited the crime. 
 
"Why do you let your fans condemn anyone who doesn't act the way they think they should? Do you really hate homosexuality? If so, why are humans and other animals even capable of it?" 
 
It is called human will. God gave each and every one us a human brain. He let us think for our selves. Here is a question for you....i dont know if you have kids or if you even want them...but if you do/want kids would you want them to get up every morning and cook you breakfast because you demanded it for love? or would you apperciate and love it more when they did it out of there own free will? That is why God gave us a mind to think. He wanted us to follow him on our own not force us.

 
Come on, NJ, seriously???????

You haven't answered the question at all. WHY? Why would a god who loves his/her creation put CURSES on children for something someone ELSE did? That's disgusting. And if you were HEALED, NJ, why won't your god heal babies dying of cancer? Why won't he save little girls from being abducted, raped, and murdered? Why YOU?

I wouldn't command my children to cook me breakfast. They're CHILDREN and shouldn't use the stove. (Okay, I admit that mine are grown now, but I'm trying to show the analogy between what humans must be like compared to an all-knowing supreme being.) And then again, I wouldn't put curses on my children for something their great, great, great grandfather did, or let them be murdered when I could stop it.

If God wants us to follow him, perhaps he should lead BY EXAMPLE!

Received 02/24/2010 from: nj
Subject: About that

comments: "That's the whole point, people! If you have to believe it, something fishy is going on. And rationalists will always choose to refrain from "belief." We either know it, through hard, cold, ruthlessly objective FACTS, or we don't know. But we certainly won't believe it just because some other people (especially other people who wrote ages ago) said it."
 
Last time i checked some one had to "believe" that the light will turn on when you flicked the switch. Because it is not possible that the light will be blown out? So how is that fact? 
 
Define FACT:
Information that has been objectively verified.
www.teaching.state.pa.us/a_and_t/lib/a_and_t/Science_Glossary.doc
 
So by that definition you KNOW, because you verified, that the light WILL turn on because you flicked the switch. There is NO possible way that the bulb could be blown out or for some strange reason is does not work. 
 
Do tell me...Why in the world do you fight so hard to prove some thing that does not exist? If it does not exist what does it matter?
 
i look forward to your response
:
Huh?
I don't have to "believe" that the light will turn on when I flip the switch. In fact, I don't believe it. Plenty of times it doesn't come on and I have to figure out if the bulb is burnt out, or maybe there's a switch turned off so the lamp won't come on. But I "expect" the light to come on because I know how lights and electricity work and from a LOT of EXPERIENCE in turning lights on and off.

I really have no clue what you're saying about "someone having to believe" the light would turn on. What does that mean? What does this mean: "Because it is not possible that the light will be blown out?" Can you please explain exactly what you're trying to say?

What does the definition of "fact" have to do with my expectations of a light turning on when I flip the switch?

As to your more important comment, I do not fight hard to prove something does not exist. And I do not have to prove gods don't exist. I'm just expressing myself, my frustration with religion, with stupidity, and with sloppy writing skills. I don't really care what you or anyone else believes, as long as you don't try to tell me and other people that it's factual, or even sensible.

There's nothing at all wrong with fighting for reason, clarity, logic, truth, and honesty. Nothing wrong with that at all.

As to the second part of your comment: It matters because there are really stupid people in the world trying to control the freedoms of people who don't believe what they believe. There are Muslims murdering women because they don't live by a ridiculous religious code. There are people in government thwarting the rights of freethinkers and attempting to impose a Christian theocracy on us.

Those things are worth ranting about, and fighting against.

Received 02/24/2010 from: Jessica
Subject: Not a christian? WELCOME! Christians come be challenged!

comments: Here is a point to ponder.....IF the people (christians) claim there was a man named Jesus and his teachings were false then why did so many of his followers die? Looking at history and ONLY history (because even historians will say) that the claimed "apostles" died for believing in this man. Most of them were even totured. I believe even the one named "John" was the one who hung up side down on the cross because he felt unworthy of dieing the same way then his messiah. SO here is my question to all.....Would YOU lie about something and PURPOSEFULLY be tortured for it? for instance, say you claimed the sky was purple. would you still defend your point if you were cut on your arms, legs, and other bodly memebers, as well as beat, thrown out into the streets and shamed for it? Now i can under stand if this was one man (heck there are many a lunitics out there) but for so many to agree upon one man and still go threw that? I wish to inquire more information as i do my research so i welcome ALL points of view.
 
thank you for time
sincerly 
Jessica
Jessica,
Thank you for your interesting comments.
1. The Bible is not a history book. So, looking at ONLY history, we can't say whether or not these so-called apostles existed, much less died in the way the stories claim.
2. Supposing the stories are true, who ever said that the followers of Jesus knew his teachings were false? No. Clearly these people truly believed what they believed and believed it so wholeheartedly they were willing to die for their freedom to believe it and preach it. Did the woman who murdered her children because she thought she was saving them from Satan and sending them to heaven know she was deluded? No! People will do all sorts of things because they "believe" something is true.
3. This makes your question "to all" a straw man. It has nothing to do with believing something and dying for it.
Received 02/17/2010 from: Marci
Subject: Another secular curriculum resource
comments: Great web site!
Just wanted to add another resource to your list of REAL secular curriculum.  I've been using Intellego Unit Studies for the past 8 months.  They offer both a unit study aproach as well as core curriculum based on the Core Knowledge Series by E.D. Hirsch.  Rigorous, fun, hands-on, and not dumbed down by any means!  They are web based and all of the links are maintained so they remain active.  It's been great for my kids because Intellego links to videos, online games, interactive web sites, as well as reading, writing and discussion and hands-on experiments and projects.  And clearly secular -- world history units teach evolution, that sort of approach. 
 
Received 02/08/2010 from paco:
Subject: wrong
Listen the power of prayer is strong just because people prayed for the cell phone dosent mean they also cant pray for hati it dosent say in the bible thou shall pray for one thing...No it says trust in God and he will bless you...And if he dosent answer a prayer it just means you dont need whatever you asked for in your life...Like i said god will bless you if you believe in him...A blessing is a helping hand not a take everything and do nothing gift..
So, you're saying that the girl who prayed to God for protection at Columbine just before that kid blew her brains out didn't need saving? God blesses you if you believe in him? Right. He blesses you while the rapist/murderer tortures you to death. He blesses the little children while their step-dads are dunking their heads in the toilet. Right. I get it.
Recieved 02/08/2010 from Kaya:
Subject: thank god! lol
I thought is was just me! why I am having such a hard time swapping books with my fellow home-schoolers? The last straw happened when I read a hippies were like satanist in one of the book I bought. I was in shock! So I began my search for like minded home school moms. 
Thanks for creating this site.
I'm glad you found me!

 

Received 02/07/2010 from anonymous: the bible says to pray about everything no matter how little but remember to be open to God's answer whether it is yes no or wait :)
I'm not sure but I think this comment may refer to my posts about my friend's cell phone. I guess the answer was no. (see blog) I added a subject line to the form in the hopes that future comments will be more clear.