Picayune Gods & Those Who Market Them

Good point. I always like to hear other peoples perspectives and how they (you) can see things in a different way than I do. I often see the future in a scary way, The anxiety of not having a job. The fear of poverty and helplessness. When faced with these feelings, I react rather than respond. I lash out at whoever or whatever I perceive to be the cause of my misery.Of course, were it not for social security I really would end up on the street. And to be honest, why should Jesus favor me any more than He does those street people whom I often despise for stealing?He teaches me decency every day. I'm a slow learner.

Now I never said that! The poor we will always have with us. There is no need to give everything away and join them.

now just a minute. Let me ask you something. Would you give up everything you had to help raise the tide? To whom would you give it?

And ringo. (to me, anyway) (I've got a rant) Liberals insist that the conservative rich are vile and greedy. They advocate the middle class paying the bill, since they intuitively know that the top 5% will never cough up much relief. And yet some of them are themselves well off. Yet they never advocate that *they* should give it all up. Do you think Biden is broke? How about Bill and Hillary? Obama? Please...quit picking on the conservatives for being greedy. [/rant]

I cant obviously speak about all atheists...any more than I could speak about ALL Americans or ALL Chinese. From what I see ideologically from my friends who have publically professed either atheism or support for atheist/humanist values, they advocate freedom from religion. They by and large are against Christian Nationalism. I had to read up on what accusations were being made by liberals and conservatives regarding this idea.
This from the Texas Observer: The Radical Theology That Could Make Religious Freedom a Thing of the Past
Even devout Christians should fear these influential leaders' refusal to separate church and state. It looks like the movement was started by hardline Christians themselves.

Texas Observer:

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What began as a fringe evangelical sect in the 1970s has seen its influence mushroom — so much so that sociologist Sara Diamond has called dominionism “the central unifying ideology for the Christian Right.” (Italics hers.) That’s especially true here in Texas, where dominionist beliefs have, over the last decade, become part and parcel of right-wing politics at the highest levels of government. (...)Dominionism fundamentally opposes America’s venerable tradition of church-state separation — in fact, dominionists deny the Founders ever intended that separation in the first place. According to Frederick Clarkson, senior fellow for religious liberty at the non-profit social justice think tank Political Research Associates, dominionists believe that Christians “have a biblical mandate to control all earthly institutions — including government — until the second coming of Jesus.” And that should worry all Texans — Christians and non-Christians alike.

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Seems to me that the atheists I know don't want to dominate anything (except the elections! ) but they *do* want to keep the far right radical dominionists out of power as well. Which seems reasonable.

Nah not stupid. Stubborn!I can come across as a hardline CCoI at times, but I read more books than they do.You will likely argue that I don't critically read but instead pick pieces parts and place them in my own preferred context. Which I will say I am guilty of at times.

Not at all. I simply dispute what you claim to be evident.You really cannot convince a believer that God is all in their head. I suppose you can call that fact stupid, but I would call your response infallibly arrogant.

No, I knew that he was referring to my thinking process and ideological beliefs about humanity in general

I have had a lot of "spiritual" (perhaps to some of you it is humanist) thinking lately. My plan was initially to go in the other room and quietly pour my heart out to God concerning a couple of people who were(are) on my heart, but what ended up happening is that I decided to watch Amazon Prime (The Marvelous Mrs.Maisal) God spoke quite clearly to me through the very Jewish secular drama and humor. The reason that I started this particular post, however, was to respond to Percy while taking the conversation out of Church History and placing it here. Ironically, that was one of the lessons that I learned tonight. There are no insignificant people in this world. That in a nutshell is what God wanted me to know. Not to also drag this old thread off topic, but you DO realize what would happen if this world had no borders. Poor and hungry people would pour into our communities and we would be forced to help them. Do you honestly think that is what Jesus would want? I am prepared to make an argument that the Left Wing can be quite authoritarian themselves, but I will try and finish this post without reacting. Comments?

Some of us fear a one world government without borders. You don't?

Actually I dont think He is wrong.

Thats a fair question. I believe that Jesus not only exists as what some humanists may say is an altruistic concept and role model but as our moral and spiritual leader. I was shooting from the hip that day into my own echo chamber which is EvC. I *knew* that it would provoke a reaction, yet what many of you did not seem to infer from my suggestion was my fear of authority which is NOT Jesus. In other words, lets look at it from your angle. You believe Jesus to be a myth and are somehow attempting to connect my real feelings with that "fact" as you see it. If ever the world was on fire and millions of people needed help, I would honestly have no problem giving all that I had if necessary. What bugs me about you is that you dont believe in Jesus and yet would be perfectly content to submit to a global authority and/or consensus to mandate cooperation from all of us. Honestly, I do get irritated because I myself am getting older and fear counting on the government in order to survive. It would indeed be a comfortable delusion to have to count on a global secular humanist coalition in order for me and my old ass to go quietly into that good night without spending my latter years under a bridge begging wealthier people such as yourself for food. Yes, I WOULD be pissed.When I engage in these conversations with you and others, I honestly feel Jesus in the middle of them. Getting scolded by a bunch of atheists is in fact noble, because if God can speak from the heart of atheists, God cannot be far from any of us who so desire not only His presence but His authority.Again, the authority I fear is from a secular government mandating that I MUST give all that I have up for the common good. To me, that is terror on earth.

I will take your rebuke with grace. You are right. And as you say, you are not even a Christian. And yet you know the right scriptures. You are a heartfelt individual.My point is that I would not submit to a mandate from a secular humanist government to give up all that I had into some giant account set up with the intention of helping everyone.I love Jesus and strive to listen to Him daily. You guys don't even know what I do on a daily basis. Many a time I buy someone a meal to help them and because they show the grace to approach me for help rather than stealing the meal and walking out the door.I wont claim any privileged status simply by being a Christian for I know that many of you who don't believe in Jesus would do the same thing and likely often have.

Is it such a crime to be self centered? Or do you trust Uncle Sam to take care of you and Mrs. Damselfly in your declining years?My guess is that you trust your people. The blues. And you despise the reds as that other aberration seeking to destroy the soul of America. What would you say to a guy who "worships at the altar" of The Washington Post? Does he get a complete picture of what is happening and what needs to happen?Just saying.