As noted above:
When religious people are in positions of legislative power they do affect me as they undoubtedly press their beliefs on me, my family and other like minded people. Abortion, Texas education materials, the pledge of allegiance was high-jacked in the 50's when congress added “under god,” stem cell research, anti-equality for same-sex marriage, and the list goes on… we are not worried about what they do behind closed doors but they always seem ready to encroach upon what we do behind ours as well as in public forum… people ignored the nazi's for quite a while too…”and then they came for me”… as much as the religious feel the need to proselytize to “enlighten” I too feel the need to share knowledge and awaken them from their slumber, free them of intolerance, and deliver them from ignorance if not only for their well-being, but mine and my childrens as well.

As noted above:
When religious people are in positions of legislative power they do affect me as they undoubtedly press their beliefs on me, my family and other like minded people. Abortion, Texas education materials, the pledge of allegiance was high-jacked in the 50’s when congress added “under god,” stem cell research, anti-equality for same-sex marriage, and the list goes on… we are not worried about what they do behind closed doors but they always seem ready to encroach upon what we do behind ours as well as in public forum… people ignored the nazi’s for quite a while too…”and then they came for me”… as much as the religious feel the need to proselytize to “enlighten” I too feel the need to share knowledge and awaken them from their slumber, free them of intolerance, and deliver them from ignorance if not only for their well-being, but mine and my childrens as well.

And Satanists are very mystical. They have magick rituals. Enough said. But, yes they are atheists in that they lack faith in a God.

What is worse than all of the above is the fence sitting agnostic who thinks they are better than believers and non-believers when in fact they fall into the non-believer camp. Atheists don't claim that God exists. So, as long as you have no faith in God you are an atheist. You fail.

And everybody is agnostic in the sense that nobody truly knows where God exists or not. There is no point boasting about it. It's just that some people claim to know he exists (i.e. believers).

Just my theory. And I'll readily admit to be talking out my butt on this one.

*This joke is meant to be funny, and not mocking any person, belief system, or wombats.

Not against you on this one, just curious about the information that I think I 'know'.

And I definitely agree that violent material should be treated the same as sexual material, and vice versa. Each can be just as despicable as the other, as well as just as funny as the other.

I would compare it to, airing a very inappropriate for children show at five in the afternoon. If a person doesn't want to expose themselves to that sort of thing that's fine. If a Christian turns on ABC during prime time, they've got an idea of what they'll see and that there probably won't be anything too terribly offensive to them on.

However, if they flip it over to FX, they know what they're getting themselves into. They're expecting to hear a few 'shits' now and then. But to randomly throw a 'shit' into … I don't know, “American Idol” or something like that, that's not fair to the viewer.

Granted, the viewer of the video has a pretty good idea as to what he's getting into, but the image that the video was pulled for crosses over the line a little bit. Given that YouTube has a guide as to what they will and will not allow to be posted, I think they were within their rights to pull it. Not in a censorship kind of way, but in a 'we're trying to be closer to PG-13 than to an R rated website'.

I hope that makes sense.

But that's not how you treat repressed minorities, now is it? :^)

As a kid, church taught me respect for my elders, general manners, kept me from drinking until I was 21 (but I think that was more with the nasty (at the time) taste of beer), and many other beneficial things. I was also encouraged to study other religions, though, as well. Almost in a know your enemy way, but not as hateful. Just so I could carry on a rational, informed conversation with someone from another faith.

So, in my opinion, being raised by a Christian family, or any other faith system with a decent set of morals, is a good thing for children. Once they're old enough to decide for themselves what they believe, then have faith in them to choose what's right for them.

On a lighter note, this actually 'proves' that none of us exist at all. Let us assume that space is truly infinite. It would stand to reason that there are an infinite number of planets in space. Since, as far as we know, there are planets in our own solar system that are not inhabited by life, that means that there is a finite number of planets with life on them.

So to find the average amount of life in the universe, one would have to divide an almost infinite number by a finite number. The result is so negligible, it 'proves' that none of use exist.

Credit due to Douglas Adams.

This doesn't sit quite right with me. If this is the case for making something true, then would it not also mean that the Muslim religion is just as valid as Christianity? Wouldn't it make the Native Americans just a right? Thousands dying for a cause does not automatically make that cause right.

I don't know if you're trying to be sarcastic here or not, but technically, wouldn't this make Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Jews, Native Americans, and basically, the majority of the population of the world anti-Christs? Granted, most religions have names for those who are not of their own belief, Gentile, Pagan, etc., but considering everyone else as the anti-Christ… I find that to be rather scary.

“…I can't imagine anyone turning down the opportunity to exist in such an idyllic place,…”

This could probably be chalked up to being raised in the Church Of Christ (I'm no longer of the Christian faith), but I would definitely turn it down. Spending eternity praising God, bowing before him, singing his praises all the time… that's not my idea of a good time. Especially when it is thrust upon an individual. Yes, we have free will, but the Heaven has also been taught to me to be a place that we're supposed to want to go to. Why? Because God said you either do this, or you will suffer a terrible fate. Ruling by fear is not a personality trait that I can stand behind. (again, this is from my upbringing in the Bible belt).

“If that's true, why do these creatures still exist and where are the half-apes, etc. that would still be evolving?”

Umm, no. By my understanding, that's the point of evolution. Change to create a more viable species. If something doesn't work, it slowly gets weeded out of the gene pool.

Another thought on evolution is that the Bible does not say that evolution didn't happen. There is the thought that if God created the universe, and everything in it, who's to say that he didn't simply put the laws of nature in place and then initiated the Big Bang? What if God created man through evolution?

“I would bet a large segment of the “spiritually awakened” who would term themselves as Christians or Creationists, have rarely stepped foot in a church.”

I agree with this 100%.

“The center of Christianity is the Vatican City…”

Really? Personally, I would think that a great deal of Protestants would disagree with that statement. Even looking at the story of Peter saying, upon this rock will I build your church (not quoting), I don't think that that took place at the location of the Vatican, but I could very well be mistaken about that.

“Any rationally thinking person knows that if a God does exist, He can't be both wicked and loving.”

This is the sentence that finally decided me to comment. If you believe that God truly does exist, then you are believing in an omniscient, omnipresent, all-powerful entity. This is an entity that has no boundaries. God is everywhere. God is in everything. Again, that's the way that I was raised.

If God is everything, then yes, God _must_ be both wicked and loving at the same time. Any time that you say “God can't…” you are placing limits on God. In my belief, that is something that you cannot do. The entity that most would call God, is limitless. It must be limitless. There is nothing that God can't do or be.

God is everything. Period. And by that statement, God must also be nothing at the same time. At least that's my take on it. The minute you start placing limits on God is when you've missed the point, and you do your God a grievous insult.

“…it is not the Christians who embrace these first five books of the Old Testament…”

Again, this could be simply due to my upbringing, but every Bible I've ever seen in a church, every Bible I've ever been taught anything from includes the Pentateuch; Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. While I see the point you are trying to make, simply being a Christian does not mean that you turn your back on part of the Bible.

If the Bible is the inspired word of God, wouldn't not embracing these books be the same as not embracing God? Yes, I know that Christianity is based on the teachings of the New and not the Old Testament. It just doesn't seem to make sense to ignore anything that God says.

“Their god [the Jews'] is not Jesus Christ, but is known among other names as “Jehovah”, “Baal”, “Serpent”, “Dragon”, “Devil” and “Satan”.”

Again, part of this comes from my religious upbringing, but also from other research I've done over the years. First off, I don't know of any Christian who believes that Jesus Christ is their God, as you imply. God is the god of Christians, and part of the trinity of entities that exist as one, and are yet separate beings; God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost/Spirit.

The God of Jewish history has many names, yes. Technically, Jehovah, is not one of them. The name of the Jewish God of the Old Testament was written as YHWH (the written Hebrew language of the time did not use vowels in written words, and the vowels needed to complete the words were implied by their context) and is the base for the name Jehovah, but Jehovah was not his name.

I'm not denying that the Jews had more than one name for their god. They did have many names for him, in fact, when reading the Hebrew version of Genesis, you will run across five different names for God, four of which show up before Cain and Able had their spat, and one of them can actually mean goddess.

However, no where in the Bible does it say that the Jews called YHWH (which is not pronounced Yaweh, by the way) Baal, Serpent, Dragon, nor Devil and Satan. In fact, the original word used for what we today view as Satan, was Ś-Ṭ-N. Again, no vowels. This word simply means adversary or opponent. In this case, someone who is against YHWH.

As far as Ba`al is concerned, there's no reason that the Jews wouldn't call YHWH Ba`al. Much in the same way that they would call YHWH (a name which was not to be spoken) Adonai, Elohim, El, El Shadai, and El Yisrael are all names for YHWH, all of which represent different aspects of YHWH. Ba`al means lord or master. Since YHWH was their lord and master, there is no reason that he wouldn't be referred to as Ba`al on occasion.

The notion though that you seem to be trying to push that the Jews called their god all the 'bad names' that Christians attribute to the Devil, that's just plain silly. If you weren't trying to say that the Jews called their god the Devil, then I apologize, and I misunderstood your intent.

“The Talmud is another of the Jews most holy books and is replete with Anti-Christian sentiment, warfare and savagery…”

Really? Is the Old Testament any different? Again, if you believe the Bible to be the inspired word of God, then you can't turn your back on parts of it. Yes, the Old Testament shows us a more vengeful, wrathful side of God. But because a people's god was mean-spirited against other religions, that's no reason to discredit their entire religion or belief system. Besides, around 500 AD, the world was still a pretty hostile place (not that it's not now).

“Jesus, in fact, warns us of the false god and the “Synagogue of Satan” in the New Testament; the book the Christians honor and cherish. The book that speaks of the one true GOD. “

Again, by your statement, you are turning away from the word of God. I understand completely that Christianity is based upon the teachings of Christ, and that he is the New Testament. I understand that Christians are no longer required to sacrifice animals for remission of their sins as it had been done in the Old Testament. But to disavow anything that God has said is to disavow God, is it not?

And as far as the New Testament being the 'book' that speaks of the one true God? First of, it's technically a book, but rather a collection of letters and testimonies, but that's simple semantics. If it's about the one true God, why does Jesus call him by a different name?

For your arguments to have merit about the Jews calling God Satan, then you must also concede that when Jesus was hanging on the cross, he called God by a different name. He used the name Eloi. Yet another name, for another aspect of God.

As far as trying to point out why the Jews are bad? You have no right to call yourself a Christian. Are Jews not people? Are Muslims not people? Buddhists? On and on and on. They are all people.

The world has grown much since the time the Bible was written. Even since the time the New Testament was written. However, in all this growth, if anything, it has taught us that we are all neighbors on this planet. And since (according to your statements) the New Testament is honored and cherished by the Christians, one would think that they would also abide by the tenets set forth therein. Namely, “Love thy neighbor as thyself.”

From what you have said, you are either not a Christian (which you have already said you are not a “devout Christian”), or you must think very poorly of yourself.

“If more God deniers and haters spent their time and resources fighting the real source of injustice and evil in this world, instead of railing against an unknown entity, planet Earth would be a far better place to inhabit.”

And if more Christians acted in a manner more becoming of the man they follow, the same would hold true. A man that loved everyone. That includes the Jews. That includes the Muslims. That includes, the Buddhists, the Hindi, the Zoroastrians, the pagans, the heathens, the heretics, and even the Satanists. They are all people. Jesus loved them all.

How so?

FYI: This video was only blocked because of the guy ramming the girl with the cross. That is the 'inappropriate content'. Remove that and the video will stay up if re-posted.

If today, everyone came to terms with there being no gods, if we all believed it, if proof was given, would war cease? No, but the foot soldiers that are fighting would. The rules would just change and new motivations would be found. The geopolitical hegemony of nations would carry on. We are pawns and we are kept in fear.
“Control the world for us. We are so scared.We will do whatever you say. Even if what you say makes us more scared.”

We are all slaves to the monetary system created by men who seek control over land and man. In their bloodline control is passed down. In your bloodline slavery is passed down.

FYI: This video was only blocked because of the guy ramming the girl with the cross. That is the 'inappropriate content'. Remove that and the video will stay up if re-posted.

If today, everyone came to terms with there being no gods, if we all believed it, if proof was given, would war cease? No, but the foot soldiers that are fighting would. The rules would just change and new motivations would be found. The geopolitical hegemony of nations would carry on. We are pawns and we are kept in fear.
“Control the world for us. We are so scared.We will do whatever you say. Even if what you say makes us more scared.”

We are all slaves to the monetary system created by men who seek control over land and man. In their bloodline control is passed down. In your bloodline slavery is passed down.