Game Show: "Convert That Atheist"
johac
waht happens to the atheists who don't convert?
---
Game show looks to convert atheists
By Daren Butler Daren Butler Fri Jul 3, 11:55 am ET
ISTANBUL (Reuters) � What happens when you put a Muslim imam, a
Christian priest, a rabbi and a Buddhist monk in a room with 10 atheists?
Turkish television station Kanal T hopes the answer is a ratings success
as it prepares to launch a gameshow where spiritual guides from the four
faiths will seek to convert a group of non-believers.
The prize for converts will be a pilgrimage to a holy site of their
chosen religion -- Mecca for Muslims, the Vatican for Christians,
Jerusalem for Jews and Tibet for Buddhists.
But religious authorities in Muslim but secular Turkey are not amused by
the twist on the popular reality game show format and the Religious
Affairs Directorate is refusing to provide an imam for the show.
"Doing something like this for the sake of ratings is disrespectful to
all religions. Religion should not be a subject for entertainment
programs," High Board of Religious Affairs Chairman Hamza Aktan told
state news agency Anatolian after news of the planned program emerged.
The makers of "Penitents Compete" are unrepentant and reject claims that
the show, scheduled to begin broadcasting in September, will cheapen
religion.
"We are giving the biggest prize in the world, the gift of belief in
God," Kanal T chief executive Seyhan Soylu told Reuters.
"We don't approve of anyone being an atheist. God is great and it
doesn't matter which religion you believe in. The important thing is to
believe," Soylu said.
The project focuses attention on the issue of religious identity in
European Union-candidate Turkey, where rights groups have raised
concerns over freedom of religion for non-Muslim minorities.
Detractors of the ruling AK Party government, which is rooted in
political Islam but officially secular, accuse it of having a hidden
Islamist agenda, a charge it denies.
Some 200 people have so far applied to take part in the show and the 10
contestants will be chosen next month.
A team of theologians will ensure that the atheists are truly
non-believers and are not just seeking fame or a free holiday.
---
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090703/od_nm/us_gameshow_odd
--
John #1782
panam...@hotmail.com
> A team of theologians will ensure that the atheists are truly
> non-believers and are not just seeking fame or a free holiday.
Ah, there's the `escape road'! Two Euros sez the theologimps pick
victims of the "I Was a Teenaged Atheist" (i.e., "..I HATE GOD!..")
syndrome to pretend to be atheists on the show...
-Panama Floyd, Atlanta.
aa#2015/Member, Knights of BAAWA!
Mike Jones
[...]
> "Doing something like this for the sake of ratings is disrespectful to
> all religions. Religion should not be a subject for entertainment
> programs," High Board of Religious Affairs Chairman Hamza Aktan told
> state news agency Anatolian after news of the planned program emerged.
Aha! The old "respect for religion" ploy!
Can't stand the heat... >:)
P.S. When religions are forced to EARN respect... yeah.
--
*===( http://www.400monkeys.com/God/
*===( http://principiadiscordia.com/
*===( http://www.slackware.com/
G-Ride
news:jhachmann-872DF...@news.giganews.com...
>I wonde here they found the 200 people to sign up for this nonsense. And
> waht happens to the atheists who don't convert?
>
> ---
> Game show looks to convert atheists
>
<snip>
I wonder how they can prove that someone believes in god.
--
Aloha, G-Ride
The force that's forcing you to feel like busting up a Starbucks.
Don Martin
>On Jul 4, 2:31�am, johac <jhachm...@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
>> A team of theologians will ensure that the atheists are truly
>> non-believers and are not just seeking fame or a free holiday.
>
>Ah, there's the `escape road'! Two Euros sez the theologimps pick
>victims of the "I Was a Teenaged Atheist" (i.e., "..I HATE GOD!..")
>syndrome to pretend to be atheists on the show...
Sir, do you imply that theologians are capable of unethical acts?
Shame, Sir, shame!
-
aa #2278 If you can't be a dirty old man, what is the point of being an old man?
Fidei defensor (Hon. Antipodean)
The Squeeky Wheel: http://home.comcast.net/~drdonmartin/
JazzCat
> I wonde here they found the 200 people to sign up for this nonsense. And
> waht happens to the atheists who don't convert?
They get stoned to death. What else...
RS
Dr. Smartass, Troll Veterinarian
@mid.individual.net:
> "johac" <jhac...@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
> news:jhachmann-872DF...@news.giganews.com...
>>I wonde here they found the 200 people to sign up for this nonsense. And
>> waht happens to the atheists who don't convert?
>>
>> ---
>> Game show looks to convert atheists
>>
>
> <snip>
>
> I wonder how they can prove that someone believes in god.
Pray on it?
--
Doc Smartass, BAAWA Knight of Troll Medication
aa # 1939
Book reviews: http://jw-bookblog.blogspot.com/
Diploma Mill: a religious facility where minds are ground into powder.
Greg G.
snippage
My favorite:
> "We are giving the biggest prize in the world, the gift of belief in
> God," Kanal T chief executive Seyhan Soylu told Reuters.
>
> "We don't approve of anyone being an atheist. God is great and it
> doesn't matter which religion you believe in. The important thing is to
> believe," Soylu said.
IOW, it makes no difference whether your beliefs are true or not, as
long as you believe something that has no supporting evidence.
panam...@hotmail.com
Hey, now..this is "modern" European wanna-be Turkey, remember? Surely
they get gas or lethal injections instead...
Nosterill
Exactly. They just want to get a handle on you so you don't step out
of line. It's thinking for yourself that really bothers them.
Larry
872DFC.233...@news.giganews.com:
> "We don't approve of anyone being an atheist. God is great and it
> doesn't matter which religion you believe in. The important thing is to
> believe," Soylu said.
>
>
Will one of the gods show up and be on the show to "show his stuff" to the
audience, ending, once and for all, the question of his existence?
If he doesn't show up, do the atheists win by default?
If the atheists win, which mythologist liars do we hang first? Will
religion finally be exposed for what it is...to terrorize and enslave
mankind for power and profit, as Thomas Paine in 1795 observed?
Hope this is broadcast on YouTube for the world to see.....Should be quite
a comedy.
--
-----
Larry
If a man goes way out into the woods all alone and says something,
is it still wrong, even though no woman hears him?
Uncle Vic
> ISTANBUL
Say no more.
--
Uncle Vic
aa Atheist #2011
Separator of Church and Reason.
Convicted by Earthquack.
Looking forward to May 21, 2012 or is it 2011? Or is it sometime in
December? These idiots can't even agree...
Uncle Vic
Right, it might just make THEM think for themselves. And you know what
happens when *that* happens...
John Baker
wrote:
>One fine day in alt.atheism, johac <jhac...@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
>> ISTANBUL
>
>Say no more.
Nudge nudge...
Don Martin
>On Jul 4, 9:16�am, JazzCat <richard.s...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Jul 4, 8:31�am, johac <jhachm...@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>>
>> > I wonde here they found the 200 people to sign up for this nonsense. And
>> > waht happens to the atheists who don't convert?
>>
>> They get stoned to death. What else...
>>
>> RS
>
>Hey, now..this is "modern" European wanna-be Turkey, remember? Surely
>they get gas or lethal injections instead...
Sorry, but in cases like this with religious themes, the manner of
execution is pretty much left to the mullahs (the Turks who wanna be
in the 12th century), and their hands are pretty much tied to the
traditional stonings.
johac
Uncle Vic <add...@withheld.com> wrote:
> One fine day in alt.atheism, johac <jhac...@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> > ISTANBUL
>
> Say no more.
'Nuff said.
--
John #1782
johac
Larry <no...@home.com> wrote:
> johac <jhac...@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote in news:jhachmann-
> 872DFC.233...@news.giganews.com:
>
> > "We don't approve of anyone being an atheist. God is great and it
> > doesn't matter which religion you believe in. The important thing is to
> > believe," Soylu said.
> >
> >
>
> Will one of the gods show up and be on the show to "show his stuff" to the
> audience, ending, once and for all, the question of his existence?
>
> If he doesn't show up, do the atheists win by default?
>
> If the atheists win, which mythologist liars do we hang first? Will
> religion finally be exposed for what it is...to terrorize and enslave
> mankind for power and profit, as Thomas Paine in 1795 observed?
>
> Hope this is broadcast on YouTube for the world to see.....Should be quite
> a comedy.
Maybe they could bring back "Celebrity Death Match" with all the gods
new and ancient to fight it out.
--
John #1782
johac
<ade6a984-89c2-469f...@j32g2000yqh.googlegroups.com>,
"Greg G." <ggw...@gmail.com> wrote:
If that were true, then why have the religious sects spent so much time
fighting and killing each other over the centuries?
--
John #1782
johac
<8da3c97c-af74-4a1c...@t13g2000yqt.googlegroups.com>,
JazzCat <richar...@gmail.com> wrote:
Or burned at the stake, or beheaded, etc,...
--
John #1782
johac
"G-Ride" <gride4...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> "johac" <jhac...@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
> news:jhachmann-872DF...@news.giganews.com...
> >I wonde here they found the 200 people to sign up for this nonsense. And
> > what happens to the atheists who don't convert?
> >
> > ---
> > Game show looks to convert atheists
> >
>
> <snip>
>
> I wonder how they can prove that someone believes in god.
They have to take someone's word for it, which is the basis of all
religion.
--
John #1782
johac
Mike Jones <N...@Arizona.Bay> wrote:
> Responding to johac:
>
> [...]
> > "Doing something like this for the sake of ratings is disrespectful to
> > all religions. Religion should not be a subject for entertainment
> > programs," High Board of Religious Affairs Chairman Hamza Aktan told
> > state news agency Anatolian after news of the planned program emerged.
>
>
> Aha! The old "respect for religion" ploy!
>
> Can't stand the heat... >:)
>
>
>
> P.S. When religions are forced to EARN respect... yeah.
Perhaps the question is when are religions going to respect the vast
numbers of the human race who think for themselves?
--
John #1782
johac
Don Martin <drdon...@comcast.net> wrote:
> On Sat, 4 Jul 2009 00:57:29 -0700 (PDT), panam...@hotmail.com wrote:
>
> >On Jul 4, 2:31�am, johac <jhachm...@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> >
> >> A team of theologians will ensure that the atheists are truly
> >> non-believers and are not just seeking fame or a free holiday.
> >
> >Ah, there's the `escape road'! Two Euros sez the theologimps pick
> >victims of the "I Was a Teenaged Atheist" (i.e., "..I HATE GOD!..")
> >syndrome to pretend to be atheists on the show...
>
> Sir, do you imply that theologians are capable of unethical acts?
> Shame, Sir, shame!
>
I would say that it's the religions who have shamed themselves more than
sufficiently over the centuries.
--
John #1782
panam...@hotmail.com
> On Sat, 4 Jul 2009 10:45:41 -0700 (PDT), panamfl...@hotmail.com wrote:
> >On Jul 4, 9:16 am, JazzCat <richard.s...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> On Jul 4, 8:31 am, johac <jhachm...@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> >> > I wonde here they found the 200 people to sign up for this nonsense. And
> >> > waht happens to the atheists who don't convert?
>
> >> They get stoned to death. What else...
>
> >> RS
>
> >Hey, now..this is "modern" European wanna-be Turkey, remember? Surely
> >they get gas or lethal injections instead...
>
> Sorry, but in cases like this with religious themes, the manner of
> execution is pretty much left to the mullahs (the Turks who wanna be
> in the 12th century), and their hands are pretty much tied to the
> traditional stonings.
Jeez...and I thought that *I* was "old school"...<g>
-Panama Floyd, Atlanta.
aa#2015, Member Knights of BAAWA!
"..the prayer cloth of one aeon is the doormat of the next."
-Mark Twain
Religious societies are *less* moral than secular ones:
http://moses.creighton.edu/JRS/2005/2005-11.html
Mike Jones
History shows us that they don't, because free thought is the /enemy/ of
religion, by religion's definitions.
Its not going to happen.
So...
Learn how they work, then cut their puppet strings whenever you see them.
Reclaim that respect you seek, and make no apology to those who sought to
remove it from you as you do so.
Let /them/ earn the respect they demand, if they can.
Mike Jones
[...]
> They have to take someone's word for it, which is the basis of all
> religion.
Nice sigline material there. :)
Don Martin
>On Jul 5, 10:22�am, Don Martin <drdonmar...@comcast.net> wrote:
>> On Sat, 4 Jul 2009 10:45:41 -0700 (PDT), panamfl...@hotmail.com wrote:
>> >On Jul 4, 9:16�am, JazzCat <richard.s...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >> On Jul 4, 8:31�am, johac <jhachm...@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>>
>> >> > I wonde here they found the 200 people to sign up for this nonsense. And
>> >> > waht happens to the atheists who don't convert?
>>
>> >> They get stoned to death. What else...
>>
>> >> RS
>>
>> >Hey, now..this is "modern" European wanna-be Turkey, remember? Surely
>> >they get gas or lethal injections instead...
>>
>> Sorry, but in cases like this with religious themes, the manner of
>> execution is pretty much left to the mullahs (the Turks who wanna be
>> in the 12th century), and their hands are pretty much tied to the
>> traditional stonings.
>
>Jeez...and I thought that *I* was "old school"...<g>
You have to get up _pretty_ early in the morning to out-geezer the geezers (who
hatch plots while standing around waiting for the piss to come out).
johac
Or if everyone simply ignored them, they would disappear, but I doubt
that would happen either
--
John #1782
Mike Jones
That technique didn't work too well in the middle ages, in fact, it
assisted them in their occupation of that which didn't need occupying.
Nudge them back, one step at a time, by exposing them for what they are
whenever they move among us as if they have a god-given-right to expect
respect by default. (Didja get the joke there? ;)
Make sure they never get to feel so secure and at ease ever again.
Make them answer for their assumption and insane fantasies openly.
Be a living challenge to their piety.
And most of all, whever you do, make sure that you, and the audience,
/enjoy the show/! 8)
Alex W.
> History shows us that they don't, because free thought is the /enemy/ of
> religion, by religion's definitions.
History also shows that free thought gives rise to NEW
religions and ideologies. Freedom to think what you want is
dangerous in a species not noted for careful cogitation ....
Alex W.
> That technique didn't work too well in the middle ages, in fact, it
> assisted them in their occupation of that which didn't need occupying.
>
> Nudge them back, one step at a time, by exposing them for what they are
> whenever they move among us as if they have a god-given-right to expect
> respect by default. (Didja get the joke there? ;)
>
> Make sure they never get to feel so secure and at ease ever again.
>
> Make them answer for their assumption and insane fantasies openly.
>
> Be a living challenge to their piety.
>
> And most of all, whever you do, make sure that you, and the audience,
>
> /enjoy the show/! 8)
I disagree.
Making sure that they never feel secure and at ease is a
major factor for the strength and virulence of religion in
the United States. It keeps them on their toes and
reinforces their sense of identity, community and purpose.
It forces them to constantly reaffirm their faith, thereby
entrenching it even deeper.
There is another way.
Co-opt them. Seduce them with the prospect of sharing in
the power. Offer to financially subsidise them. Give them
a legally enshrined role in society and state. That way,
they will become dependent on the state, lose their
independent identity, and will, with time, compromise away
that which makes them dangerous. Access to power and money
subverts any ideology, including religion. This is what was
done in Europe, and it worked a treat. Half of Europe has
established state religions, sometimes to the extent that
the state collects specific church taxes on their behalf --
and we are WAY more secular than the US.
panam...@hotmail.com
> On Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:20:01 -0500, Uncle Vic <addr...@withheld.com>
> wrote:
>
> >One fine day in alt.atheism, johac <jhachm...@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> >> ISTANBUL
>
> >Say no more.
>
> Nudge nudge...
Oh, is that *my* cue?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mv-KcF3Rkv8
Mike Jones
Hmmm. They're already dependant on the state. They're already legally
enshrined. They're already dangerous. (etc.)
What was your plan again? :(
I was talking about on a personal interaction level there BTW.
Mike Jones
There's only one solution then.
One of us needs to become a Global Dictator (by next week!).
Race ya? ;)
Alex W.
> Responding to Alex W.:
>
>> On Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:53:09 GMT, Mike Jones wrote:
>>
>>> History shows us that they don't, because free thought is the /enemy/
>>> of religion, by religion's definitions.
>>
>> History also shows that free thought gives rise to NEW religions and
>> ideologies. Freedom to think what you want is dangerous in a species
>> not noted for careful cogitation ....
>
> There's only one solution then.
>
> One of us needs to become a Global Dictator (by next week!).
>
> Race ya? ;)
Drat, I am clearly disqualified.
I am 6'10", and regs clearly state that dictators must not
be taller than 5 feet or so. Stalin, Napoleon, Ceasar, Kim
Il Jong, Mao, Hitler ... ankle-biters one and all.
Can I be your loyal henchperson?
johac
Hee! Hee! :-)
>
> Make sure they never get to feel so secure and at ease ever again.
>
> Make them answer for their assumption and insane fantasies openly.
>
> Be a living challenge to their piety.
>
> And most of all, whever you do, make sure that you, and the audience,
>
> /enjoy the show/! 8)
Skeptics have been doing that as long as there were religions. The
problem is that even if all the religions in the world were to disappear
today, some huckster would start up a new one and there would be a
sufficient number of suckers to follow him.
--
John #1782
Mike Jones
According to those specs I'm disqualified too.
Maybe we need a puppet?
We could do that "left hand\right hand" thing, where we don't let each
other know what we're doing?
Actually, this sounds like a better idea. Its worked before...?
You wanna be a shadowy figure lurking in the background? >:)
Mike Jones
[...]
>> Nudge them back, one step at a time, by exposing them for what they are
>> whenever they move among us as if they have a god-given-right to expect
>> respect by default. (Didja get the joke there? ;)
>
> Hee! Hee! :-)
>>
>> Make sure they never get to feel so secure and at ease ever again.
>>
>> Make them answer for their assumption and insane fantasies openly.
>>
>> Be a living challenge to their piety.
>>
>> And most of all, whever you do, make sure that you, and the audience,
>>
>> /enjoy the show/! 8)
>
> Skeptics have been doing that as long as there were religions. The
> problem is that even if all the religions in the world were to disappear
> today, some huckster would start up a new one and there would be a
> sufficient number of suckers to follow him.
Well, Springer is always looking for a new format... ;)
Alex W.
"even if"? They do that anyway -- viz. Moonies,
Scientologists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, etc etc.
Scepticism is fine but not sufficient in itself. The
problem is that religion is a comprehensive package, a
department store where everything to address every human
need can be found under one roof. So when the sceptic comes
along, points and goes "but Mummy, the Emperor has no
clothes!", he addresses only one aspect of religion: the
belief in god. But, the odd highly deranged individual
aside, belief in god never killed anyone. It's the
*organisation* of that belief which takes a harmless
personal spleen and turns it into an irresistible motivating
power of mob-think. That is where sceptics ought to direct
their attention, and this is where they can do the most
damage. Just consider: what hurt the Catholic Church in
America more, a few books by Hitchens, Dawkins and the like,
or the revelations about the way in which the byzantine
hierarchy of the Church hid paedophile crimes and protected
the perpetrators? Many people who go to church now do not
believe in god, but they still participate in church life --
but crack their trust in the probity of their priest and the
moral claims of their church, and they will think twice
before consigning their kids to Saint Chlamydia of the
Bleeding Sores School for Infants.
Alex W.
> Responding to Alex W.:
>
>> On Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:45:31 GMT, Mike Jones wrote:
>>
>>> Responding to Alex W.:
>>>
>>>> On Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:53:09 GMT, Mike Jones wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> History shows us that they don't, because free thought is the /enemy/
>>>>> of religion, by religion's definitions.
>>>>
>>>> History also shows that free thought gives rise to NEW religions and
>>>> ideologies. Freedom to think what you want is dangerous in a species
>>>> not noted for careful cogitation ....
>>>
>>> There's only one solution then.
>>>
>>> One of us needs to become a Global Dictator (by next week!).
>>>
>>> Race ya? ;)
>>
>> Drat, I am clearly disqualified.
>> I am 6'10", and regs clearly state that dictators must not be taller
>> than 5 feet or so. Stalin, Napoleon, Ceasar, Kim Il Jong, Mao, Hitler
>> ... ankle-biters one and all.
>>
>> Can I be your loyal henchperson?
>
> According to those specs I'm disqualified too.
>
> Maybe we need a puppet?
You do what you want, I am NOT going to stick my hand up its
arse!
>
> We could do that "left hand\right hand" thing, where we don't let each
> other know what we're doing?
>
> Actually, this sounds like a better idea. Its worked before...?
>
> You wanna be a shadowy figure lurking in the background? >:)
It has been my experience that due to my size I am not very
suited for assorted lurking, skulking or similar.
:-(
Mike Jones
> On Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:46:14 GMT, Mike Jones wrote:
>
>> Responding to Alex W.:
>>
>>> On Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:45:31 GMT, Mike Jones wrote:
>>>
>>>> Responding to Alex W.:
>>>>
>>>>> On Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:53:09 GMT, Mike Jones wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> History shows us that they don't, because free thought is the
>>>>>> /enemy/ of religion, by religion's definitions.
>>>>>
>>>>> History also shows that free thought gives rise to NEW religions and
>>>>> ideologies. Freedom to think what you want is dangerous in a
>>>>> species not noted for careful cogitation ....
>>>>
>>>> There's only one solution then.
>>>>
>>>> One of us needs to become a Global Dictator (by next week!).
>>>>
>>>> Race ya? ;)
>>>
>>> Drat, I am clearly disqualified.
>>> I am 6'10", and regs clearly state that dictators must not be taller
>>> than 5 feet or so. Stalin, Napoleon, Ceasar, Kim Il Jong, Mao, Hitler
>>> ... ankle-biters one and all.
>>>
>>> Can I be your loyal henchperson?
>>
>> According to those specs I'm disqualified too.
>>
>> Maybe we need a puppet?
>
> You do what you want, I am NOT going to stick my hand up its arse!
I expect surgical gloves will be provided.
>
>> We could do that "left hand\right hand" thing, where we don't let each
>> other know what we're doing?
>>
>> Actually, this sounds like a better idea. Its worked before...?
>>
>> You wanna be a shadowy figure lurking in the background? >:)
>
> It has been my experience that due to my size I am not very suited for
> assorted lurking, skulking or similar. :-(
How about towering menacingly?
Mike Jones
[...]
> -- but crack their trust in the probity of their priest and the moral
> claims of their church, and they will think twice before consigning
> their kids to Saint Chlamydia of the Bleeding Sores School for Infants.
You could earn good money as a Hollywood screen writer y'know. ;)
Don Martin
>>
>> It has been my experience that due to my size I am not very suited for
>> assorted lurking, skulking or similar. :-(
>
>
>How about towering menacingly?
Or shrinking disarmingly. . . .
Alex W.
> On Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:10:54 GMT, Mike Jones <N...@Arizona.Bay> wrote:
>
>>>
>>> It has been my experience that due to my size I am not very suited for
>>> assorted lurking, skulking or similar. :-(
>>
>>
>>How about towering menacingly?
>
> Or shrinking disarmingly. . . .
>
They have Viagra for that now, you know ...
johac
"Alex W." <ing...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> On Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:43:37 -0700, johac wrote:
>
> > In article <pan.2009.07...@Arizona.Bay>,
> > Mike Jones <N...@Arizona.Bay> wrote:
>
>
> >> And most of all, whever you do, make sure that you, and the audience,
> >>
> >> /enjoy the show/! 8)
> >
> > Skeptics have been doing that as long as there were religions. The
> > problem is that even if all the religions in the world were to disappear
> > today, some huckster would start up a new one and there would be a
> > sufficient number of suckers to follow him.
>
> "even if"? They do that anyway -- viz. Moonies,
> Scientologists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, etc etc.
That's what I thought I said
>
> Scepticism is fine but not sufficient in itself. The
> problem is that religion is a comprehensive package, a
> department store where everything to address every human
> need can be found under one roof. So when the sceptic comes
> along, points and goes "but Mummy, the Emperor has no
> clothes!", he addresses only one aspect of religion: the
> belief in god. But, the odd highly deranged individual
> aside, belief in god never killed anyone. It's the
> *organisation* of that belief which takes a harmless
> personal spleen and turns it into an irresistible motivating
> power of mob-think. That is where sceptics ought to direct
> their attention, and this is where they can do the most
> damage. Just consider: what hurt the Catholic Church in
> America more, a few books by Hitchens, Dawkins and the like,
> or the revelations about the way in which the byzantine
> hierarchy of the Church hid paedophile crimes and protected
> the perpetrators? Many people who go to church now do not
> believe in god, but they still participate in church life --
> but crack their trust in the probity of their priest and the
> moral claims of their church, and they will think twice
> before consigning their kids to Saint Chlamydia of the
> Bleeding Sores School for Infants.
Good analysis. They need to be exposed not only for their lies, but also
for their disgusting acts.
--
John #1782