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Bringing you atheist articles and building active godless communities takes hundreds of hours and resources each month. If you find any joy or stimulation at Atheist Republic, please consider becoming a Supporting Member with a recurring monthly donation of your choosing, between a cup of tea and a good dinner.
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Bringing you atheist articles and building active godless communities takes hundreds of hours and resources each month. If you find any joy or stimulation at Atheist Republic, please consider becoming a Supporting Member with a recurring monthly donation of your choosing, between a cup of tea and a good dinner.
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Since "hell" is a concept that didn't enter the judeo-christian parlance until well past the Bible era, it is safe to say that the muslims got the concept about the same time....just around the time of Dante's Inferno. Just goes to show how malleable the "strict" fundamentalist idealism really is. Attacking children isn't anything new. Corporate advertisers do it everyday, 24/7 books, mags, pamphlets, TV, billboards, phones, radios, internet,...anywhere you can place an ad. It is logical that going concerns, which is really what religions are, implore the same unethical method. They had to invent "hell" just like conservatives have to invent a boogieman. So we can all hate and feel good about ourselves for doing so. The method works better if you get them young. They're easier to brainwash and the extent of the damage is greater and more effective. It's all about destroying that thing that we Americans cherish most..."FREE WILL!"
"Hey kids! Remember, never ever question the word of god and never ever question who is telling you what that word is. For if you ever do, this is what will happen to you...(shows them mutilated bodies, twisted contorted and tortured...complete with blood curdling screams of agony and pain ).
It is the precise reason religion is so widespread today. No one is born a christian, jew, or muslim. They are indoctrinated, brainwashed, pressured into that believe. It is nothing more than institutional brainwashing and is really a crime. No one believes out of free will, no matter WHAT they say. It just isn't possible to free and logically come to the conclusion that there is a god. Dogma, folklore and twisted sense of heritage funnels all people born on Earth into some kind of belief system. Their only escape from this mental bondage is education, logic, and FREE WILL!
"It's all about destroying that thing that we Americans cherish most..."FREE WILL!""
Bull's-eye!
What do you disagree with, the fact that religion is out to destroy free will or that free will is what Americans cherish most. If it's the latter, then you really don't understand Americans. The American Revolution was based on the struggle for free will and self determination. The U.S. Constitution's main purpose is to protect and secure rights of the individual. The internal political struggles in the USA is about the boundaries and definition of free will.
He is agreeing with you, not disagreeing.
@ mykckob4
You misunderstand me. :)
I should have been more articulate... I meant that you hit the bull's-eye. I couldn't agree more, it is a mental paradox of people of faith in the US.
Sorry, I'll concentrate better next time!
"Indiana state trooper pulls woman over and asks 'do you accept Jesus Christ as your savior?'"
"The state trooper let her off with a warning, but not before asking some bizarrely unprofessional questions: Did she have a home church? Did she accept Jesus Christ as her savior? Ellen said she felt helpless to leave the traffic stop, even after the warning had been issued"
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/10/06/1334731/-Indiana-state-trooper-...
"Canada: 70 Muslim organizations advocate Sharia Bill 59 to criminalize criticism of Islam"
https://themuslimissue.wordpress.com/2015/08/24/canada-70-muslim-organiz...
If a belief cannot stand against criticism, it is a very weak and frail belief. By trying to outlaw criticism against Islam, they are virtually stating that it is nothing more than falsehood.
"youth pastor charged with sexually abusing 5-year-old girl at his home"
https://bangordailynews.com/2016/03/18/news/mid-maine/canaan-youth-pasto...
https://www.centralmaine.com/2016/03/19/canaan-community-reacts-to-alleg...
http://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/canaan-youth-pastor-charged-with-sexual-...
http://www.rawstory.com/2016/03/decent-guy-youth-pastor-charged-with-sex...
"Baptist Minister Who Paid Congregants to Burn His Wife to Death Sentenced to 50 Years"
"...to 50 years in prison after a jury convicted him on charges of attempted murder, arson, armed criminal action and financial exploitation of the elderly."
"...defrauding his 89-year-old mother of her life savings"
http://www.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2016/03/15/baptist-minister-who-...
"$21 million settlement announced in Diocese of Gallup bankruptcy"
http://www.abqjournal.com/743853/abqnewsseeker/21-million-settlement-ann...
"Fears former bishop paedophile Peter Ball impersonated his identical twin brother"
"The Old Bailey heard how Ball, of Langport, Somerset, had hand-picked vulnerable victims to commit acts of "debasement" in the name of religion, such as praying naked at the altar and encouraging them to submit to beatings, a court at the Old Bailey heard. "
http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Fears-bishop-paedophile-Peter-Ball-im...
"A longtime Dutchess County priest who was suspended in 2015 after decades-old sexual abuse allegations came to light has officially been removed from the clergy, according to the Archdiocese of New York."
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/local/2016/03/21/archdioce...
"Protesters rally amid allegations of child sex abuse at Brooklyn yeshiva"
http://pix11.com/2016/03/20/protesters-rally-amid-allegations-of-child-s...
This one almost deserves a separate thread...
"A Report of the Thirty-Seventh Statewide Investigating Grand Jury"
"This 147-page statewide investigating grand jury report released on Tuesday states that widespread child sexual abuse i̲n̲v̲o̲l̲v̲e̲d̲ a̲t̲ l̲e̲a̲s̲t̲ 5̲0̲ pr̲i̲e̲s̲t̲s̲ a̲n̲d̲ r̲e̲l̲i̲gi̲o̲u̲s̲ l̲e̲a̲d̲e̲r̲s̲ in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown."
"this Grand Jury further found that the actions of Bishops James Hogan and Joseph Adamec failed to protect children entrusted to their care and guidance. Worse yet, these men took actions that further endangered children as they place their desire to avoid public scandal over the wellbeing of innocent children. Priests were returned to ministry with full knowledge they were child predators."
"Readers should know that parts of the report are disturbing and graphic."
http://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/03/grand_jury_accuses_pr...
Related:
"Victims “out” another predator priest"
http://www.snapnetwork.org/sc--victims_out_another_predator_priest
Yea theists should read it, so maybe they trust less the priest with their children.
Do you think they put 147 pages so no one reads it?
They should make a summery of it.
Conclusion page 146 for whoever is interested.
Follow up:
"The grand jury report found at least 50 priests and religious leaders in a diocese of fewer than 100,000. That was stunning enough. But there was more."
"In small-town Pennsylvania, corruption extended into all corners of the community. The church exercised “overwhelming access and influence,” even handpicking community leaders, including the police and fire chiefs. “The mayor would have them come to me, and I would interview them and I would tell him which I would pick,” a top bishop’s aide testified."
"It happened in a small community in decline, and few noticed or cared. “The facts were all there, back in 1994,” Serbin said. “And no one bothered to look at them.”"
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-new-sex-abuse-scandal-in-the-s...
"In other words, the Boston abuse scandal found one child-molesting clergyman per 22,500 parishioners. In Altoona-Johnstown, the ratio turns out to be ten times worse — one pious rapist per 2,000 followers. And those are just the ones who didn’t manage to keep their crimes hidden."
"one pious rapist per 2,000 followers"
dam...
Perhaps we need a Global Index Map of the ratio for "Estimated number of pious rapists to followers"...
Dam, that would make me feel worse I think.
I hate getting reminded how bad reality is, even if I do prefer it.
lesser evil I guess.....
"Christian convert hacked to death in Bangladesh"
http://www.rawstory.com/2016/03/christian-convert-hacked-to-death-in-ban...
Anyone ever collect music symbolic of this forum's message? I never have. John Lennon's Imagine is one. This is another that has no place on earth to showcase except the confines of these atheist sites. I have test-aired it at different public sites to no response. I suppose that's a measure of my worth, in the terms of the song. However, rich is the landscape with praise and worship, and to such extent that I tend to dismiss the musical fellowship for it.
https://app.box.com/s/6ra1s7ohxnh9vvmhg6unpwq3o3pwnbc9
I actually like it.
The Timbre and rhyme is good.
The Guitar tune could go well even without any lyrics.
The actual message is cool of course, though if it was more emotional would not have hurt either.
Suggestions:
The beginning needs a redone, sounds like you don't have the breath for it.
Later on it improves but the first few seconds are the ones that count most.
As a whole Good JOB
P.S.
If you start your own topic with it instead of here would be best though.
Thanks for the critique. I'm thinking the emotional vocal delivery is what you mean. That's a weakness of mine but I'll give it a go. When I get that down I'll make it a thread.
"Hundreds of Child Abuse by Catholic Priest Cases Handled Behind Closed Doors in the Netherlands"
"The committee also collected private statements about sexual child abuse from well over 2000 people. So far 1045 of these reported cases have been handled."
"At least one third of these cases were handled in secret, behind closed doors and this is remarkable because the committee had promised full disclosure."
"Until January this year about 700 of these cases were handled by this foundation and in total 21.3 million Euro in damages were awarded. According to NRC, in the 34% of cases that were handled in secret, another 10 million Euro were awarded. This was real Cloak and Dagger stuff. To receive compensation the victims had to sign a non disclosure contract and on top of that, the victims are no longer allowed to talk about the sexual abuse and the perpetrators…"
Smell like a fishy cover up? Nahh... couldn't be, right?
http://churchandstate.org.uk/2016/03/hundreds-of-child-abuse-by-catholic...
The U.K: "Goddard Inquiry: Children were abused 'on industrial scale' at Lambeth Council-run homes"
"The report detailing claims by 600 people will go before the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
At a preliminary hearing earlier, the Shirley Oaks Survivors Association was given "core participant status".
Its leader Raymond Stevenson said child abuse in the Lambeth Council-run homes had been a "reversal to the dark ages"."
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35889595
Can someone please tell me...
Why is organized sexual abuse of innocent children still tax exempt?
Why are people willingly, not only providing their children to them, but also paying tithing and giving donations to this ghastly phenomenon?
@ The Pragmatic,
It's a disgrace. I can't understand it myself. Who could? The sheep who follow the wolf must ignore it or think that it could never happen to them.
This breathtaking video of a man speaking the truth from his hart, should be mandatory for everyone to watch. I urge everyone and anyone to watch this, if you don't think theism has problems, please watch it: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3zz6w2_i-ve-never-seen-a-man-this-brav...
This man deserves an ENORMOUS amount of credit, for speaking about how he was raped and beaten, questioned by seven barrister, questioned by the Vatican and contemplated suicide.
It literally brings tears to my eyes, listening to his speech.
Edit:
Convictions and beliefs put aside:
What kind of society have we build, when the victims of rape is the one at fault and the rapists are blameless?!!
More info of this man:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_O'Brien_%28Fianna_F%C3%A1il_politician%29
Apparently, this was from 25 May 2009. It was a first for me to see it. And it's well worth bringing it up again...
"Questions are growing about $16 million in debt racked up by Orlando Baptist Church's former pastor, David Janney, who resigned in February amid a sex scandal."
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/brinkmann-on-business/os-janney-...
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