Post by tygerarmy on Jul 3, 2009 1:40:33 GMT -5
So I read a Note
And I felt like responding.
My confession:
I'm an Atheist, and no one in my family is and most of my friends aren't. And we get along. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. I like religion, it teaches good inherent values. I like most religious people they possess these values. I wish religious people well during holidays. I don't care if there are holiday decorations in Public places. I've been in Buddhist Temples, Mosques, and attended worship in Synagogues, and all forms of Christianity; Catholic, Protestant, Lutheran, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, etc
I don't like getting pushed around for being an Atheist, and I don't think Religious people like getting pushed around for being Religious. I think people are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly Atheist country or a Christian one or any religion for that matter. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat. Separation of Church and State. This makes America a land of free religion. America not being an individual can have it both ways, it can have multiple religions and no religion. Almost Agnostic. The official position of not having an official position.
God should be allowed in school. Allah too. Students should learn everyone beliefs. I have no problem with prayer in school. Pray before you eat, at whatever time of the day fits your spiritual needs. It doesn't mean all other students stop for one to pray and it doesn't mean a regulated prayer time for the class. Students have the right not to stand Pledge of Allegiance they definitely will have the right not to pray.
Attributing disasters, terrorism and the deaths of individuals to a god is wrong. As a member of any faith and or member of the human experience we should be there for each other, good works, charity. Not my god protected me they should suffer. "No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."
We do reap what we sow. And if there is a corruption of conscience and morality it's not society it's you. Be a better parent. Got it two parents have to work two jobs each to make ends meet. Still no excuse not to talk to your children, not to be in their life often enough to know when they've taken more then they can handle. Be a better friend, co-worker. Yeah some people in your life your not going to know well enough to notice destructive behavior. When it comes to people we're close to we shouldn't be so wrapped up in ourselves we don't see the signs.
The beliefs of others aren't funny. But I'm going to question them. I'm going to question everything that's told to me. I'm going to look at anything presented before me tear it apart, bring it to the point of ridiculousness and if it still works I'll rebuild it and think about accepting it.
How we can be more worried about what other people think of us and what we thinks of ourselves.
Your Atheist Chaplain,
-Max Sterling
I Only hope we find GOD again before it is too late ! !Share
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.
It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc.. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay..
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves..
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
Are you laughing yet?
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.
Pass it on if you think it has merit.
If not, then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.
My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.
It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc.. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay..
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves..
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
Are you laughing yet?
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.
Pass it on if you think it has merit.
If not, then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.
My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein
And I felt like responding.
My confession:
I'm an Atheist, and no one in my family is and most of my friends aren't. And we get along. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. I like religion, it teaches good inherent values. I like most religious people they possess these values. I wish religious people well during holidays. I don't care if there are holiday decorations in Public places. I've been in Buddhist Temples, Mosques, and attended worship in Synagogues, and all forms of Christianity; Catholic, Protestant, Lutheran, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, etc
I don't like getting pushed around for being an Atheist, and I don't think Religious people like getting pushed around for being Religious. I think people are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly Atheist country or a Christian one or any religion for that matter. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat. Separation of Church and State. This makes America a land of free religion. America not being an individual can have it both ways, it can have multiple religions and no religion. Almost Agnostic. The official position of not having an official position.
God should be allowed in school. Allah too. Students should learn everyone beliefs. I have no problem with prayer in school. Pray before you eat, at whatever time of the day fits your spiritual needs. It doesn't mean all other students stop for one to pray and it doesn't mean a regulated prayer time for the class. Students have the right not to stand Pledge of Allegiance they definitely will have the right not to pray.
Attributing disasters, terrorism and the deaths of individuals to a god is wrong. As a member of any faith and or member of the human experience we should be there for each other, good works, charity. Not my god protected me they should suffer. "No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."
We do reap what we sow. And if there is a corruption of conscience and morality it's not society it's you. Be a better parent. Got it two parents have to work two jobs each to make ends meet. Still no excuse not to talk to your children, not to be in their life often enough to know when they've taken more then they can handle. Be a better friend, co-worker. Yeah some people in your life your not going to know well enough to notice destructive behavior. When it comes to people we're close to we shouldn't be so wrapped up in ourselves we don't see the signs.
The beliefs of others aren't funny. But I'm going to question them. I'm going to question everything that's told to me. I'm going to look at anything presented before me tear it apart, bring it to the point of ridiculousness and if it still works I'll rebuild it and think about accepting it.
How we can be more worried about what other people think of us and what we thinks of ourselves.
Your Atheist Chaplain,
-Max Sterling
