Raise The Board!

As I was driving down the road the other day listening to Jerry DeWitt’s talk about the doctrines of faith and works.  Then it hit me, “Why do Christians feel the need to ‘prove’ that their god is real with ‘evidence’?”

faith/fāTH/Noun:

Complete trust or confidence in someone or something. Strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.

Does the fact that they’re ‘looking’ for evidence to support their claims mean, on some level, probably subconsciously, they know that their supernatural friend story sounds ridiculous?    Doesn’t this mean that their so-called faith is just pretending to believe the unbelievable because they think it’s virtuous?    Faith, by the definition above, doesn’t require evidence.  Just believe.  If  real evidence contradicts what a person believes to be true, it would force them into a state of cognitive dissonance, or, eventually, dismantle their faith.

cog·ni·tive dis·so·nance/ˈkägnətiv/

Noun:

discomfort caused by holding conflicting cognitions (e.g., ideas, beliefs, values, emotional reactions) simultaneously.

Mark Twain said, “Faith is believing what you know ain’t so.”

Stephen F. Roberts said, “I contend we are both atheists, I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.”

If you can point out what is wrong with other religions,  then you can understand why those other religions can do the same to yours.    Who’s right?

God Chooses His People By Where They Live

I  just stopped for a 10-100 (CB radio lingo for bathroom break) to refill my cup of coffee.    The place is set up like an old general store, with older people sitting around talking about the good old days and comparing illnesses.

As I filled my cup,  I could hear parts of the small talk between two older, southern Virginia country boys.   “Yeah, I’m 67, and all my friends are dropping like flies.”  As I turned around, I was kind of chuckling with them and chimed in on how, “…the aches and pains I used to not give a second thought in my teens and twenties, they’re starting to worry me a bit.”  We chatted for a few more minutes, then, as I was getting ready to leave, John, the one I’d been speaking to, asked me about my t-shirt.   “Where are you from?  DC?”   I felt  that tingling feeling in my scalp as the blood rushed to my head.  I was excited and nervous thinking about how I was going to explain what the rally was about to a stereotypical, southern, probably christian.    I told him that it was a rally to promote reason, especially in government.  We were also there to promote the separation of church and state.    He took it surprisingly well.

As I started to leave again,  he made a racist evolution Obama joke that I debated on confronting him on, but decided to let go with a light scolding joke.   We talked about a bit of Darwin and reincarnation, then he made another joke,  “Obama said it was ok for me to come out of the closet as a queer, now.”   All of us around the table laughed.  I’m thinking, this guy is just a typical southerner.  Racist and homophobic, but considers himself neither.  I was partially wrong.

I told John that I was born and raised pentecostal, and had extreme views on homosexuals.  What changed my mind was,  when I met my first real, live, gay couple.  They didn’t fit any stereotype I’d been taught.  “I realized that they were just normal people”, I told him. I said, “When I stopped thinking of them in terms of gay sex, and instead, people wanting companionship, the debate was over for me.”

“Back in 1980, I had a life changing experience.  Change in a good way.”  John starts to tell me.  He tells me that he was pretty high up in the regional southern Baptist church hierarchy.  “They wanted me to start going around to all these churches in Alabama and Georgia and let all these ministers  know exactly what their position was to be on gay people in the church.  They told me that I was to preach that homosexuality was an abomination and it wouldn’t be tolerated”.  He continued, “Then I had my light bulb in my brain moment.  I’m not going to that.  We’re not supposed to judge these people; God is.”  He said soon there after, he resigned his position with the church.

I was shocked.  I wasn’t expecting first, this conversation, and second, for it to go this direction.   I realized that I was wrong for prejudging the man as a redneck or a hillbilly.    It reminds me to think, “you never know who you’re talking to.”  Something you or I might say might get someone to start thinking.  Or, they think already think about things like this, but don’t feel comfortable talking about them.  It is the south after all.

In my opinion, John is one of the “None’s” that David Silverman is referring to to when talking about the people he’s trying to reach with The American Atheists’ billboards.  John wouldn’t identify as an atheist or an agnostic, but for all intents and purposes, from what he told me, he lives his life as if a god does not exist.    A functional atheist.

"Here's God!"

;

If the Church is the bride, then Christ is a wife beater. In the good times, He’s nice and kind, as long as He feels like you’re giving Him all the love and attention He deserves. If at anytime he doesn’t think He’s getting your all, He could snap and beat you, possibly even kill you. It’s just easier if you pretend to love him.

That god everyone blasphemes when it storms, Zues.

“I contend we are both atheists, I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.” ~ Stephen F. Roberts