Attention atheist triathletes (Page 2)

In my mind there has not been a more detrimental, evil and misguided movement in the history of man than religion.

Couldn't agree with you more. How many people have been killed in the name of religion, how many wars have been fought, or are still being fought?

I also get very angry when educated, well-reasoned people make excuses for those of faith and their actions. 

Me too. People should be held accountable for their actions, no matter what their justification is.

That "free-pass," that desire not to be ostersized by this religious country has contributed to many of our current fundamentalist issues like Iraq and is furthering an intolerant society that will not accept you, no matter how understanding of their faith and regardless of your tolerance for their point of view.

Amen

Teaching abstinence instead of sexual education is a "mild" example of what happens when people let religious zealots make decisions for them in the name of god. Teen pregnancy and disease is higher than ever - and I blame Christianity.

I agree that it's rediculous to only teach kids abstinence, but I blame families for not doing the job they should with their kids, before I'll blame organized religion. And anyway...how many kids are out there that don't know what a condom is or how it works? Hormones displace knowledge every time.

Jesus is not going to make everything all right.

Agreed. Man has free will. Believers of Christ know that there is grace and that Jesus can save you, but it's not a one-way street. You have to take accountability for your actions.

Take some responsibility,

Absolutely

and instead of giving your money to these charlatans, why don't you donate to a more reasonable charity that will not keep building bigger churches, driving bigger cars and funding more extravagant congregations.

I take issue with that generalization. It's like saying "all atheists are bad people." There are elements of every societal group that are sorrup, but don't put everyone in a category into the same box.  There are plenty of churches that do amazing work.

Pat Robinson praying nightly on TV for more "openings" on the Supreme Court - in effect praying for Justices to die is another is what faith is really about. It's about intolerance and recruitment. 

That being said, televangelsists deserve the bad wrap they get. They give good Christians a bad name.

My point is that zealotry, in any form, is generally a bad thing.

Reading back on what I've written, I hate always saying "Christians" when arguing my perspectice. BUt I am one, so I guess that's why I use the term. But feel free to substitute, Jew, Muslim, Taoist, Wiccan or what have you.

In my mind there has not been a more detrimental, evil and misguided movement in the history of man than religion

I agree that it's rediculous to only teach kids abstinence, but I blame families for not doing the job they should with their kids, before I'll blame organized religion. And anyway...how many kids are out there that don't know what a condom is or how it works? Hormones displace knowledge every time.

Sure parents need to ultimately be respnsible for their kids education, I agree. But it sure does make it hard when a child's school is misleading her... and I find it difficult not to hold some blame for religion here...

and instead of giving your money to these charlatans, why don't you donate to a more reasonable charity that will not keep building bigger churches, driving bigger cars and funding more extravagant congregations.

I take issue with that generalization. It's like saying "all atheists are bad people." There are elements of every societal group that are sorrup, but don't put everyone in a category into the same box.  There are plenty of churches that do amazing work.

I agree, you're right, big generalization and not fair. But that doesn't mean it's not also true in many cases. I was speaking more to the feeling that "I gave at church so my conscious is clean" mentality.