guyster

I see numerous sources showing the rates of atheists is dis-proportionally low (assuming 5-9% rates in public). It appears that we are around 20-50 times LESS likely to end up in prison, compared with Christians (and Muslims) which dominate prison populations. Jews are also proportionally rare.

Isn't this proof that man does not need a dusty old book to be moral?

http://www.skepticfiles.org/american/prison.htm

http://holysmoke.org/icr-pri.htm

http://www.atheistempire.com/reference/stats/main....

At this website below, their extensive data shows that "mutual likability" (%match) in online dating is highest for atheists and agnostics. Followed by Jews. The *worst* mutual likeability is found in Muslims, and Male Hindus, followed by Christians.

What do you think this tells us about religions?

http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/2009/09/29/how-r...

The Jewish Old Testament prophecies that the Jewish priests and prophets will be disastrously banished (Jer 23:12). It also prophesies a great leader, who Jewish people will follow.

But what actually happened was the Jewish priests continued on as before, and were not banished. Jesus was banished. Not only was Jesus murdered, but every one of apostles murdered*.

What's up?

*Apostles murdered...

http://www.keyway.ca/htm2002/whatapos.htm

When I asked why there was Evil in the world, a Christian said "Well, you can't have good without bad. Everything has its opposite."

But then how do you explain Heaven? We're told that there is no evil in Heaven.

What's up with this contradiction?

The word "Church" in the bible, never refers to a building, it just means "related to the Lord" or "people of the Lord". Preaching was done in the streets and homes.

In Acts 17:24 we read "The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, DOES NOT DWELL IN TEMPLES MADE WITH HANDS…"

This is why the Amish don't worship in churches.

Furthermore, I see no New Testament basis for tithing. If anything Jesus said sell your possessions and give it to the *poor*, not to the church (Luke 18:22).

Why do Christians go to churches and tithe?

We have read that the Bible says that the insects have four legs, and that bats are a kind of bird, that rabbits chew their cud, the Earth is flat.

But I think there is another error I'd never heard about. In Proverbs 6 it says that ant colonies have no leader, yet we know that ant colonies are organized around a queen....

"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise, which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer."

It may seem like nit-picking, but if these are errors, then how is the book the inerrant word of God?

Possible reasons?

1. Judaism doesn't prohibit contraception?

2. Judaism doesn't have a heaven?

3. The food is not as good?

4. They do not stress proselytizing?

5. Other? ( _____________ )

Gideons have been putting Bibles in hotel rooms since 1908.

Everytime I stay at a hotel that has a Bible in the nightstand, I replace it with "The God Delusion", or less commonly, "On the Origin of Species". You can find used ones cheap on Amazon.

Anyway, my real concern is that I normally just toss them in a garbage can after I leave. Is there a better way to replace them? Since I replace it with another perfectly acceptable book, is this stealing? If I dropped them in the bathtub and they were destroyed by water damage (but not removed) would that be less like "stealing"?

I need help with brainstorming. Thanks.

Muslim women who cover up are getting vitamin deficiency...

http://www.islamtoday.com/showme2.cfm?cat_id=38&su...

Did Allah (pbuh) fail to see this harmful outcome?

In Matthew 10:24-25, Jesus not only reminds slaves that they are never above their master, he actually recommends that they strive to be like him.

Is it safe to say that Jesus would approve of the sale?

This is only a hypothetical question. I love my daughter.

I don't have any skin in this game. I'm an atheist.

But in my reading of the Bible, I can't ever remember any scripture that says Mary can pray on your behalf or hear your prayers to her.

Can you identify any scripture that supports your thinking?

Thanks.

I just read this study below in which a 7300 year long continuous tree-ring history was established in Europe. They matched up correlating tree-ring sequences in nearby trees. In some cases an oak or sequoia might have been dead 2000 years, but provide a 300 year segment that matches up with others. So they matched up almost 7300 years worth. And those trees create a single ring every year, so it's got to be 100% accurate.

Doesn't that preclude a 4,000 or 6,000 year old earth?

http://www.pibburns.com/smtrerng.htm

Yesterday a christian here was saying the Bible says suicide is a sin.

But then I read that Samson committed suicide.

What gives?

I think he pretty much destroyed Dinesh D'Souza, while remaining polite and calm (despite D'Souza's antics).

I just finished his book and I think it's better than the work of Hitchens, Harris, and Dawkins.

Why is he not as well known? Is he too nice?

I understand that the Jewish Messiah was expected to be related to King David.

A Christian told me that the Bible documents that Mary was related to K. David. But I am aware of no such text. All I see is that Joseph is related to David, which means nothing since he wasn't Jesus' father.

Can someone cite the verse with documents Mary's lineage to King David?

In the U.S. (California) if I face East, my prayers would fly out toward space, and miss Mecca. I should actually face downward, approximately on my head, in order for my prayers to reach Mecca.

Isn't this religious practice, which is based on a flat-Earth interpretation, flawed for most of us?

I was just reading Wikipedia and discovered that N.O.I. has some kooky ideas, and I wondered if this is news to anyone else.

First, based on reading Ezekiel (Jewish Bible), they believe there is a "mother plane" or "wheel" in the sky that we call "UFO's". Next they believe that their leader never died, but is up there in the UFO.

They also believe that white people were created by a black muslim eugenics program (actually, that all non-blacks were created this way).

This kind of crazy is up there with Scientology and Mormonism. I mention Mormonism because they believe Native Americans are a "bad tribe" of people from the Middle East, when DNA analysis shows is clearly untrue).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nation_of_Islam#The_M...

During my research, I've found a surprising number of "serious" christian ministers or leaders who have become outspoken atheists. And I wonder why this is so prevalent?

And why do I see no examples in the reverse direction? For example, someone of the stature of Richard Dawkins converting to Islam or Mormonism. I only see one: Antony Flew, atheist who has only become "deist", seduced by Intelligent Design at age 81.

Here are examples:

Dan Barker: Evangelical minister, then became atheist (book: "Godless: How an Evangelical Preacher Became One of America's Leading Atheists")

John Loftus: Minister in several churches, then became atheist (book: "Why I Became an Atheist: A Former Preacher Rejects Christianity")

Charles Templeton: Minister and close friend of Billy Graham, then became atheist over time (author, "Farewell to God: My Reasons for Rejecting the Christian Faith")

G. Vincent Runyon: Twelve years as Methodist minister (author "Why I left the ministry and became an atheist")

Joe E. Holman: Minister for nine years, now atheist ministerturnsatheist.blogspot.com

Jim Schoch: 20 Years as minister, now atheist. housechurchresource.org/expastors/detox-schoch.html

Bart Ehrman, evangelical christian who got a PhD in religious studies (which he continues to teach), now attacking the historicity of the Bible and claiming to be agnostic, leaning towards atheist. (author, "God's Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question--Why We Suffer")

James McAllister: Lutheran minister, became atheist at age 56.

My Muslim friend says that most Muslims who do not read Arabic (Asians, African, Iranians) recite the Quran in Arabic without knowing what it means, aside from simple phrases like "Allah u Akbar".

I was told that *translations* of the Quran are held in disregard, and that during Ramadan some people recite the entire Quran without knowing what it means.

Is this true?

Minn. court rules for Franken in Senate fight...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_minnesota_senate