Today, an atheist needs an essential to aid himself navigate pseudoarguments and another groundless statements of believers whose sole intent is to undermine the views of an atheist. Hence, my effort to gather and discuss any of the issues we face.
Why I'm disturbed by the cross at the office
Believers cannot realize the opposition of atheists to the placement of public crosses in schools, offices, or another places of public worship. After all, a cross for an atheist is only 2 grand...
The believers forget here, however, that the cross is simply a symbol. For any it is simply a sign of salvation, but for others of persecution. Therefore, not everywhere in the planet we have the Red Cross – and for a reason. The cross can be associated very badly where Christianity was carried with fire and sword (the converts managed to survive). Of course, it has been almost 400 years since the last atheist in Poland was burned, but that does not mean that believers do not give life to everyone else. At the same time, we hear about how impiousness (or atheism) is guilty of all that is incorrect (as evil understands the hierarchs) in society.
It is in Poland that we have a provision on the “image of spiritual feelings”, which is an abstract phrase, due to the fact that how can 1 offend feeling? And knowing of this image is subject to many interpretations. Does the message “God has no” offend specified feelings? I can't imagine anything that offends spiritual feelings more. But that would mean that revealing your spiritual views by an atheist would be criminal. And for publishing these essays, am I in jail? Ordo Iuris showed that it was besides tiny ‘offences’ You can meet a lawsuit.
That's why I'm disturbed by the cross at the office. He acknowledges and confirms that I am discriminated against in my own country, that politicians set the agenda of the Sejm so as not to annoy the parish priests before the elections that I am considered an incomplete, immoral, suspicious person, and from my taxes I finance spiritual indoctrination of children and another aspects of the Church's activities.
And why symbols can interfere, Protestants in the United States have late learned about the symbol of their religion in public places based on the laws on freedom of expression. On the basis of the same provisions, the atheistic organization places a statue of Baphomet worshiped by children close them. Both symbols vanish very rapidly on the basis of a bilateral settlement.
The Bible - Short Version
God created the planet and people in his image[1]. But he did not want people to be overly independent and set a fuse – verification of obedience. He told people that on the day they ate the fruit from the Tree of Good News and the Evil One, they would die[2] and they were not allowed to eat from that tree. The serpent told them that eating fruit would give them knowledge[3]. Eve ate the fruit and it turned out that God lied – for they did not die, and the serpent told the fact – due to the fact that they knew what good is and what evil is[4].
When the charade came to light, God began to fear competition from humans[5] and decided to prevent them from gaining another, after wisdom, the attribute of divinity—immortality[6]. He drove them out of the garden so they couldn't eat the fruit from the tree of life. To force them to work hard in their labors was besides to put them out of their heads of disobedience or of trying to endanger God. It turned out, however, that man is ingenious and that through cooperation he can accomplish very much. God again felt threatened[7] and in order to make this cooperation hard – he confused people's languages[8]. Without communication, it's hard to cooperate.
Besides, God has played murdering people on a smaller scale[9] or even global scale[10]. At 1 point there were 8 people left in the world[11]. (Do not ask how 8 related people managed to populate the Earth – at first only 1 couple succeeded). Yet, seeing thousands of bloated bodies of tiny children floating in the waters of the flood was possibly besides much, even for God’s sake. In what seems to be an admission of error, he promised that there would be no more floods[12]. Doesn't mean he didn't execution men, women and children any further.
Tired of acting on specified a large scale, he mostly limited his interest in the Earth, on which there was barely anyone – so that he was actually forgotten. He appeared any time later in a completely different planet – densely populated, while the peoples already possessed their another gods. The Bible leaves no uncertainty that these deities actually existed—it was only possible to debate their comparative power. And in confronting another gods God usually won – but not always[13].
As powerful civilizations were already occupied, God had to confine himself to the Abram household and revealed himself to him. As it turned out, it was not a very permanent approach and had to reappear, this time a group of slaves in Egypt – descendants of Abram[14]. Thus arose the Chosen Nation, whose being chosen was possibly his top curse. The show of strength over the gods of Egypt, who were little successful in turning chicks into snakes[15] and over Egypt itself plagued[16] was a minute of God's glory. one more time he was swimming in blood[17]murdered thousands of firstborn, including innocent, barely born children. It is simply a eloquent image of God walking and pointing his finger at the Destroyer in whose home he is to execution innocents[18]. Clearly, God did not want to get his hands dirty, so he took a heavenly executioner with him. And it is hard to search any justification--Pharaoh did not let the Israelites go, despite the plagues, not due to the fact that he had made specified a decision--just due to the fact that God prevented it, for he wanted to have an excuse to show his power[19]. And the Israelites could escape from Egypt, along with the stolen possession, in confusion, and God himself ordered the theft[20].
God looked like a powerful ally, as confirmed by the assassination of the Egyptian army[21]. The problem is that the sadist takes it out on everyone. So shortly after, according to his old customs, he began to send monsters to his chosen ones – for the punishment that they complained that they only had manna to eat. These killed without discrimination[22]. God besides had no problem sending an epidemic – the plague upon the Israelites killed 24,000 people and stopped only erstwhile they began killing their own who dared to glorify another gods.[23]
God promised his nation land with milk and honey flowing – erstwhile they arrived, it turned out to be a place not very friendly – especially compared to Egypt, from which they fled. Therefore, the full caravan returned to the desert to wander for 40 years—for all who remembered Egypt to die[24]. And in comparison to the desert, Palestine does look much better.
When the fresh generation reached its second place, God ordered the genocide of the locals. They were all to be killed, but possibly virgins who were to become sexual slaves. erstwhile the Israelites spared women and children, Moses ordered the killing of all boys and virgins[25] (in any way the discrimination was made, it would be a mystery). The commandment was firm and sharp—and was binding long after Moses' death. King Saul murdered all the Amalekites[26], but their king Agoga. He was later punished for sparing him severely: madness[27], failure of the crown[28], yet death[29], but not for his cruelty, simply due to the fact that he dared to spare 1 person[30]. And it didn't aid that the learned man rapidly murdered him.
The slaughter of the natives was the second Gloria of the chosen nation. In the first, they stood to their knees in the blood of the murdered firstborn, here in the blood of the inhabitants of the Promised Land. Only that the blood was shed by a divine executioner, here the Israelites poured blood themselves.
It seemed that the chosen nation had triumphed. He founded his kingdom to be powerful. However, it did not last long, it was trampled on by Babylonian boots. At that time, the power of deity manifested itself in the power of the people who confessed it. Defeating another people meant the superiority of the victorious god over the conquered god. The series of subsequent disasters, sporadic and short-term successes were a serious theological problem. But there is nothing hard for the willing: defeats were besides to be a evidence to the power of God--this time to punish sins and disobey their chosen ones. The temple was demolished (not the last time), people abducted into slavery. quite a few clearly chosen people sinned due to the fact that they remained under the shoes of various invaders almost continuously: by 1948 they were inactive persecuted, murdered, and hated. He does not seem to have made a good deal of business in “being chosen”.
But they had always hoped for a messiah from the lineage of David, who would rebuild their country and reconstruct their erstwhile power--because God promised them one.[31] In the meantime, they were confronted with a prophet who claimed to be a messiah[32] (although he hid himself from it, for there was a threat of death—as we know, he did not hide well enough) and would redeem the sins of men, but there would be no kingdom of Israel on earth. In order for redemption to take place, God must apologize for our sins by sacrificing himself to himself. It refers to the old judaic work to sacrifice the firstborn (although the redemption option that was not utilized in this case)[33].
The redemption of mankind's sins took the Messiah's weekend—not all of it. Friday was truly unpleasant due to the fact that he was crucified. He died – although suspiciously rapidly – after 3 hours[34], erstwhile the procedure usually took respective days. Death must have seemed much little frightening to us, average people, since he knew it was a short-lived condition for him[35].
After a day and a half, he rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples.[36] He promised that he would return before 1 generation[37] passed away, then flew off into the clouds[38]. He's clearly late due to the fact that generations have passed distant since then over a hundred. It does not prevent many from inactive waiting for a second coming.
And the event is to be with momentum – due to the fact that in killing people we return to the scale from the beginning of times, while the murders themselves are preceded by tortures, during which people will beg for death[39]. Angels and another divine creatures commissioned by God to kill with billions[40]. In all this, Satan is simply a mild side figure.
Better Christianity than Islam
Atheists are frequently accused of criticizing Christianity, while little Buddhism, animism, Judaism and especially Islam. It's about our hypocrisy. The reflection itself is right, the conclusions less. The fact that in these mines I compose mainly about Christianity is due to respective factors.
First, religions are divided into missionary and non-missional. It is crucial for missionary religions to increase their scope and impose their values. The remainder of religion is mostly a private matter. Yes, any of them even hinder conversion – specified as Jews. I'm not curious in another people's private affairs. Everyone has the right to believe (or not believe) whatever they want. They leave me alone, so I'm not bothering them.
But in the case of religions specified as widely understood Christianity or Islam, which effort to convert me, and worse, force me to follow their principles [see: Why I am disturbed by the cross in the office]. However, under the conditions under which I am found, I am exposed to the force of Christians, not Muslims – hence my criticism touches much more the former. I gotta deal with the force of Christianity. But if I lived in a Muslim country, I would most likely have a bigger problem with Islam. So would I criticize him as profoundly as he did? most likely not.
Islam has this condition that inactive atheists and apostates kill, and Christianity has not been killing for respective 100 years. Being an atheist in an muslim country, I would alternatively hide with my atheism in fear of my life and health. I don't gotta do it here, thankfully. Undoubtedly, the points (modern) of Christianity belong. This besides explains the much more frequent criticism of Christianity by atheists: Christianity, surviving in Christian countries, is hindering and is not allowed to talk about this in muslim countries.
It is impossible to hide that today's Christianity is much more civilized than present Islam – at least in its most utmost manifestations. The average Muslim does not want to execution anyone – I know due to the fact that I have friends of Muslims. However, utmost sects exist, are strong, and in any places dominate, establishing barbarous laws and bloodyly enforce them. And if there are Christian terrorists who execution in the name of their religion today, they are highly uncommon compared to the excesses of Islam.
All this, however, does not mean that I should praise and strengthen Christendom with gratitude that she (as in the old gag about a good uncle: “And he could kill) Just due to the fact that present (because it has not always been so) is little predatory and cruel than Islam does not mean that it is good and harmless. In another words, by choosing between influenza and plague, I choose influenza. But I'm not happy.
The nature of the Christian god
The Christian believes in the God of Almighty, Merciful, and All-Knowing. This tradition is to come from the Bible, but how this conclusion is drawn is very obscure to me [see the Bible, the short version]. However, observing the planet of suffering we live in shows that something is not right. due to the fact that either God could not make a better world—then he is not omnipotent, or he could, and he did not, which means he is not merciful.
The Bible, however, shows that God created the planet part by piece, as if by trial and error. He forgot about his companion for a man, and he was moonlighting her with a rib. Then he regretted that he created people and decided to kill them (almost) all. And after he killed them, he regretted it. There is neither mercy nor omniscience, and the adherence of the instruments utilized demonstrates the shortcomings of omnipotence.
Can an atheist celebrate Christmas
An atheist can care what he likes.
Such a question can only be born in the head of a spiritual person. For her to participate in the rites of competitive religion smells like sulphur — it may indicate worship of another god. And that's what the abrahamic gods don't like – they're jealous gods. Thus, even within Christianity itself, “ecumenical devotions” are created, which can safely gather believers of different denominations.
An atheist does not offend the god of atheism – there is no specified thing. It can so celebrate the feasts of all religions – whether full or selective. She can attend spiritual household celebrations, dress a Christmas tree, and go to shepherding. We don't gotta hide, run or show up after mass – unless we want to.
[1] Gen. 1:17.
[2] Gen. 2:17 Many translations obscure the fact that the literal translation is “on the day on which you shall eat the fruit you shall surely die.”
[3] Gen 3:5.
[4] Gen 3:7.
[5] Gen. 3:22.
[6] Gen. 3:24.
[7] Gen. 11:6.
[8] Gen. 11:7.
[9] Gen. 19:28.
[10] Gen. 7:17.
[11] Gen. 7:13.
[12] Gen. 8:21.
[13] 2Krl 3:18-27.
[14] Exodus 19:6.
[15] Howl 7:11-12.
[16] Exodus 7:20 – 10:29.
[17] Ex. 12:29.
[18] Howl 12:23.
[19] Howl 10:1-2.
[20] Extract 11:2.
[21] Howl 14:27-28.
[22] Lb 21:6.
[23] Lb 25:4-9.
[24] Lb 14:23.
[25] Lb 31:7-18.
[26] 1Sam 15:8.
[27] 1Sam 16:14.
[28] 1Sam 15:26.
[29] 1Sam 31:6.
[30] 1Sam 15:9.
[31] 2Sam 7:12-16.
[32] Lk9:19-21.
[33] Howl 34:19.
[34] Mk 15:25; Mk 15:33.
[35] Lk 9:22.
[36] Mk 16:9-14.
[37] Mk 13:30.
[38] Lk 24:51.
[39] Ap 9:3-6.
[40] Ap 9:15.
