Atheists: can you give small-town pastors some respect, please?

You sir/madam, are overgeneralizing. Not ALL atheists are ill-hearted beings. I honor your will to help people even in these difficult economic times.

Small town pastors hardly count as "religious leaders." Your pastors have passion when they preach nonsense, so congratulations, I guess. That's about as much respect as I can give to a complete stranger.

The leaders of a religion may or may not believe in the religion itself, but they certainly have claim in the profits. Especially the Catholic and Mormon church. They're a business that doesn't have to pay taxes and can actively influence the law with little intervention. That's what is "inappropriate."

Does this pastor work for free? Does he refuse donations? If not...then he's just doing what all the others are doing on a smaller scale.....deluding people for money...and probably for the sense of power that being a "leader" gives him.

If he volunteered at a shelter or working with underprivileged kids or raising money for people who needed it....I'd respect that. I have no respect for anyone who sets themselves up as an "authority" on bullshyt and takes money from fearful, gullible people after deluding them.

That was a pretty general statement "Yet you guys like to go on about".

I wouldn't point the finger so quickly, I have never said that to anyone about any pastor. Please know that it isn't just atheists that need to show more respect.

"And if you don't think pastoral ministry is hard, you're a fool" that wasn't very respectful.

Dear Macadamia

Not bad. That actually makes a lot of sense. Both theists and atheists are painting broad swaths of humanity with the same brush, and that's unfair...just like you just did. Your post says 'atheists', period. That's a blanket statement, eh?

Other than that, you make a spot on point, and I'll back you up on it. By the way, that belief in income oriented evangelists is also held by many Christians I know.

Dr. D

I've filled sandbags at flood time alongside a small-town pastor. But I've also seen storefront hustlers and the televangelists and so have you, so don't try to gloss over that there IS a lot of money involved in the religion business.

As far as the honest ones go, yes, they exist, AND there's no logical inconsistency about my attitude to them.

I can honor some things and snicker at others.

I live in a town with a Pastor whom I would have had respect for IF he were religious for spiritual reasons but upon meeting him I discovered he was not. He is simply a fool & was peddling anti-evolution garbage outside his church simply because he has blind faith in the Biblical account for creation. I have no respect for people who have blind faith in blind faith.

We know that not ALL religious leaders want money. I really don't feel like I should have to explain that. If it doesn't apply to you or people you know, then don't get offended >.>

Plus they're not really "religious leaders." When I talk about religious leaders wanting money, I'm talking about the Pope, or televangelists, faith healers, and people like Billy Graham.

Respect for what? Deluding others?

I've never personally said all pastors are in it for the money. But being deluded, is being deluded, even if your superstitions and delusions lead you into a life of poverty and hardship. Maybe he should get a real job that doesn't involve talking about magic and invisible wizards he can't prove exists.

No. However sincere in their beliefs and hard working they may be, they're still peddling nonsense and harming society as a result as far as I'm concerned.