Yeah I agree with the Pope as well. "Practical atheists" are essentially what the hypocrites are. When people claim to be Christians then go around doing very unChristian things, its the people WE point to showing how hypocritical they are. It makes them look bad when in effect like the Pope says, they're not really committed "Christians" at all, they're just going through the motions because of peer pressure or fear or whatever. Sure its damaging.. to THEM. Not to US because they're generally not the ones pushing to outlaw abortion or same sex marriage or stem cell research etc. They're just along for the ride. REAL Christians are damaging to us because its generally they that organize political action groups and identify with a particular party and enact laws that infringe on everyone's freedom.
So from the Pope's perspective, I don't disagree with him.
I have never been able to reconcile the morale posturing of the Republican Party. My current theory is that in the spectrum of biblical imperatives -- anti-gay, pro-life, helping the poor, "giving to Ceasar" i.e., paying your taxes, it is preferable to adopt those values that allow one to point fingers at what others should and should not be doing than to support those values that demand more from oneself.
To borrow a biblical phrase, it is the fallen human nature that prefers banning same sex marriage which costs a heterosexual nothing than to advocate for helping the poor and needy which comes at a personal price.
This falls in neatly with the Republican ethical standard of "pulling YOURSELF up by your bootstraps" while requiring everyone to adhere to a strict standard of moral conduct.
To which I can only reply, look to the log in your own eye sinners.
"On the other hand, if the Democratic Party refuses to do this and keeps trying to compete with the Republicans on how godly they can be, atheists are not going to stick around. "
And if one wishes to remain politically relevant, where would one leave to, Republicans?
Well no, I hate to say it but there's some esoteric thinking there. The argument SHOULD be that if God was so great, his will should be done, period. Instead he gave people the choice not to follow his will. In reality however, his will is essentially completely against human nature so its exceedingly difficult to do. Its like saying his will is for you to stay awake continously but he gave you the "free will" to fall asleep which would of course be sinful. So you try and try to stay awake but of course you cant, and you fall asleep. You pray for *strength* to stay awake so you can follow his will like both of you want you to, and in fact the Bible *promises* that if you ask for things -- the things that he actually wants you do, like HIS WILL -- he WILL give them to you. But he doesnt. Its proof positive, personal proof, that he breaks his promises and therefore doesnt exist.
I was on my KNEES praying daily, TEARFULLY, in the closet, privately praying that I could do what he wanted, and i couldn't. Utter waste of time, and psychologically damaging too I might add. Its a miserable religion and mankind would be better off without it.
Well that's where the proof came in. I prayed for help to follow God's will better. THAT has to be his will. If praying to follow god's will is not god's will, then it disproves itself. Checkmate.
I can't speak in terms of percentages, but I can tell you that I did pray privately for the right things -- not a better job, not a bigger house, for the right "biblical" things and knew others who did as well. I can tell you further that I know for a fact that it doesn't work and I finally gave up. Praying is like talking to a wall. There is no answer, no guidance, no results. It MAY help the pray-er feel a certain sense of comfort, and that would be its only value. There is nothing listening on the other side to do anything with your prayer. For productivity purposes, it is an utter waste of time.
There's rumors swirling about how many students at Carmel are out with the flu.
She says she talked to CPS and she's still got her kids. I wouldnt exactly consider that an endorsement. They are just about useless. What are we waiting for? For this child to end up a stain on the road or for an Amber alert to be sent out before someone does something about this irresponsible twit?
Dont need to turn it into anything. Leave it as is and homeless people will find it on their own. LOL.
This sounds like an undocumented horror story waiting to happen -- like the invasive liposuction, silicone breast implants, and bariatric deaths. Not looking forward to seeing the first total screw up on some news show.
And a DENTIST is operating this fat laser? WHAT?? Please.
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