The United States was NOT founded on Christianity

[Shaggai]

We all know atheists are evil and all of them commit crimes due to their lack of morality and logic. The atheists who haven't committed crimes? Not atheists. They're actually religious and in denial.


Obviously.

Wrong. Atheists are not all psychopaths; however, the lack of a strong moral standpoint prevents in standing firm against evil; and more easily leads them into committing evil.

Plenty of atheists have morality. Their morality just isn't based on fear of getting eternally tortured in hell, it's motivated by what they think is best for humanity. It's motivated by wanting to help others, not by selfishly wanting a reward in heaven or fearing a punishment in hell.

[Ganos Lao]

So if atheists, who by nature do not believe in Christ, are lacking in a strong moral standpoint due to their refusal to accept Christ into their lives, what of Muslims, Jews, Zoroastrians, neopagans, etc? Are they all lacking as well?

Of course. Don't you commit daily crimes?

Well, I probably didn't have to ask about the Jews. I mean, they DID engineer the death of Christ and all. Special place in hell for guys like that, right?

[Nidaria]

They were directly caused by those factors, but his atheism accelerated the result. Everyone has a "natural law" within ourselves, but without a strong moral teacher like religion it is easy to ignore it.

Please stop lying.

Why would I be saying this if I was lying? It profits me nothing to lie.

[Divair]

Of course. Don't you commit daily crimes?

Well, I probably didn't have to ask about the Jews. I mean, they DID engineer the death of Christ and all. Special place in hell for guys like that, right?

It's alright, we'll have good company.

[Genivaria]

Please stop lying.

Why would I be saying this if I was lying? It profits me nothing to lie.

Said no Evangelist ever.

[Ganos Lao]

Wrong. Atheists are not all psychopaths; however, the lack of a strong moral standpoint prevents in standing firm against evil; and more easily leads them into committing evil.

Plenty of atheists have morality. Their morality just isn't based on fear of getting eternally tortured in hell, it's motivated by what they think is best for humanity. It's motivated by wanting to help others, not by selfishly wanting a reward in heaven or fearing a punishment in hell.

Now, to be fair, it's not about being selfish when it comes to believing in heaven. Some do just because they think it'd be a better place. They're afraid or otherwise unwilling to believe that this life is all that there is. Think about those times when a loved one dies and they say they're in a better place. Hell, I'm sure that being a dirt poor peasant made you believe in religion, in the idea of a heaven, because, fuck me, there's got to be something better than this, right?

[New Bierstaat]

people actually think it was?

Many on the right in the US do.

I think the reason they do is because the first European settlers that didn't die out were Puritans, fundamentalist Christians who wanted a place to express their religion freely.

[Genivaria]

Plenty of atheists have morality. Their morality just isn't based on fear of getting eternally tortured in hell, it's motivated by what they think is best for humanity. It's motivated by wanting to help others, not by selfishly wanting a reward in heaven or fearing a punishment in hell.

Now, to be fair, it's not about being selfish when it comes to believing in heaven. Some do just because they think it'd be a better place. They're afraid or otherwise unwilling to believe that this life is all that there is. Think about those times when a loved one dies and they say they're in a better place. Hell, I'm sure that being a dirt poor peasant made you believe in religion, in the idea of a heaven, because, fuck me, there's got to be something better than this, right?

There is. But it's not faith that gets you to that better place, it's a crossbow bolt to the local lord's head.

[Conservative Idealism]

Of course it wasn't founded on Christianity. The founding fathers did not want the government they instituted to be swayed, even by a tiny amount, by large religious institutions such as the Catholic Church, and wanted to make it very clear that discriminating against others based on their religion or lack thereof was wrong. They sought to uphold a freedom of religion.

That said, many (though not as many as people seem to think) founding fathers were indeed Christian, and all references to God in the political endeavors of that day were genuine, but not used to insult the irreligious (or polytheists, for that matter). While the government itself was to be free of religious bias (look no further than the First Amendment and that much will be clear), the nation's identity was still, in the opinion of Christians, shaped by God.

America is a God-blessed country, even if (rather, though) the government itself is not. God bless America, in any case.

[Divair]

Many on the right in the US do.

I think the reason they do is because the first European settlers that didn't die out were Puritans, fundamentalist Christians who wanted a place to express their religion freely.

Or they're just bad at history.

[Genivaria]

Many on the right in the US do.

I think the reason they do is because the first European settlers that didn't die out were Puritans, fundamentalist Christians who wanted a place to express their religion freely.

By oppressing everyone who didn't agree with them, ah the smell of hypocrisy.

[The Grey Wolf]

I'm sick of every religion that exists.

Ironically, I'm sick of every cynical atheist that exist.
What a coincidence!

[Nationalist State of Knox]

You don't know anything about the history of the USSR, do you? Holodomor, for example, had many causes, none of them religion.


Atheism =/= no moral code.

I'm atheist, and I have a moral code, hence the two aren't mutually exclusive. Stalin's lack of morality was a result of paranoia and factors other than his religious beliefs.

Seriously, do you even history?

They were directly caused by those factors, but his atheism accelerated the result.^{[Citation needed]}

Everyone has a "natural law" within ourselves, but without a strong moral teacher like religion it is easy to ignore it.

Utter lies. We get our morality from our upbringing and cultural exposure, and believe it or not, most atheists get through life without becoming vicious paranoid psychopaths because of a lack of Holy Scripture.

[The Rich Port]

This is probably the dumbest thing I've ever read.

I say that a lot on this sight... Probably because it keeps being true.

You should prove that.

I'm not going to play this retarded game you came up with.

In your own words, I said it, therefore it's true.

[Nationalist State of Knox]

Why would I be saying this if I was lying? It profits me nothing to lie.

Said no Evangelist ever.

He actually believes he's telling the truth, though. That's the difficulty.

[Nidaria]

Wrong. Atheists are not all psychopaths; however, the lack of a strong moral standpoint prevents in standing firm against evil; and more easily leads them into committing evil.

Plenty of atheists have morality. Their morality just isn't based on fear of getting eternally tortured in hell, it's motivated by what they think is best for humanity. It's motivated by wanting to help others, not by selfishly wanting a reward in heaven or fearing a punishment in hell.

Religious morality is not based on fear either. Punishment of evil is not coercion, simply justice. Atheists do not have a central concept of morality, and many reject morality completely. That is your philosophy. You should study religion more.

[Thafoo]

I'm sick of every religion that exists.

Ironically, I'm sick of every cynical atheist that exist.
What a coincidence!

Do you even know what cynical means?

[Divair]

You should prove that.

I'm not going to play this retarded game you came up with.

In your own words, I said it, therefore it's true.

No, you need to do the whole "It's logical, therefore stfu" thing.

[Genivaria]

I'm sick of every religion that exists.

Ironically, I'm sick of every cynical atheist that exist.
What a coincidence!

Note how he was talking about a harmful belief system, and you instead were talking about people.
There's a difference.

[Shaggai]

Plenty of atheists have morality. Their morality just isn't based on fear of getting eternally tortured in hell, it's motivated by what they think is best for humanity. It's motivated by wanting to help others, not by selfishly wanting a reward in heaven or fearing a punishment in hell.

Now, to be fair, it's not about being selfish when it comes to believing in heaven. Some do just because they think it'd be a better place. They're afraid or otherwise unwilling to believe that this life is all that there is. Think about those times when a loved one dies and they say they're in a better place. Hell, I'm sure that being a dirt poor peasant made you believe in religion, in the idea of a heaven, because, fuck me, there's got to be something better than this, right?

Yeah, that's true. That sort of thing is the main reason why I'm mostly not opposed to religion. Believing in heaven isn't selfish; basing your morals on what will get you to heaven is selfish. If human sacrifice would get you to heaven, would you do it? I dislike religion-based morality because it's so arbitrary. If the church or bible or whatever teaches something, it is good, no matter what they teach?

[Divair]

Ironically, I'm sick of every cynical atheist that exist.
What a coincidence!

Do you even know what cynical means?

Apparently not.

[Ganos Lao]

Now, to be fair, it's not about being selfish when it comes to believing in heaven. Some do just because they think it'd be a better place. They're afraid or otherwise unwilling to believe that this life is all that there is. Think about those times when a loved one dies and they say they're in a better place. Hell, I'm sure that being a dirt poor peasant made you believe in religion, in the idea of a heaven, because, fuck me, there's got to be something better than this, right?

There is. But it's not faith that gets you to that better place, it's a crossbow bolt to the local lord's head.

Perhaps, but above all else, I was merely referring to the constant current throughout history that people look to the promises of a heaven because it enables them to be happy, that it doesn't make them dwell on the unpleasant fact that not only, say, your loved one was brutally murdered, but that she's not going to be around in some paradise, safe and sound, but that she'll stay rotting in the ditch she was left in. It's a cyclical development, from the days of the peasants dealing with local lords to guys like Marc Klaas losing their kids to children losing their parents in drunk driving accidents.

Such a thought is utterly unpleasant to these people, and consequently they latch onto the promises of religion, or just feel spiritual in general, in the hopes that's not the truth. Now what is the truth is only up to them to decide. But I'd like to think Marcus Aurelius had it right when he analyzed the issue, to be honest.

[Genivaria]

Plenty of atheists have morality. Their morality just isn't based on fear of getting eternally tortured in hell, it's motivated by what they think is best for humanity. It's motivated by wanting to help others, not by selfishly wanting a reward in heaven or fearing a punishment in hell.

Religious morality is not based on fear either. Punishment of evil is not coercion, simply justice. Atheists do not have a central concept of morality, and many reject morality completely. That is your philosophy. You should study religion more.

Studying religion is the main path to atheism actually. That's why Atheists tend to be the most knowledgeable about religion.

[Nidaria]

They were directly caused by those factors, but his atheism accelerated the result.^{[Citation needed]}

Everyone has a "natural law" within ourselves, but without a strong moral teacher like religion it is easy to ignore it.

Utter lies. We get our morality from our upbringing and cultural exposure, and believe it or not, most atheists get through life without becoming vicious paranoid psychopaths because of a lack of Holy Scripture.

Upbringing influences our attitude toward morality, not morality itself. Sure they do, but they are held in check mainly by personality traits or fear of the law.

[Nationalist State of Knox]

Religious morality is not based on fear either. Punishment of evil is not coercion, simply justice. Atheists do not have a central concept of morality, and many reject morality completely. That is your philosophy. You should study religion more.

Studying religion is the main path to atheism actually. That's why Atheists tend to be the most knowledgeable about religion.

I can confirm this from my own experience. Nothing beats thirteen years of Catholicism out of you like reading the Bible.