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God in Polite Society

Started by St Truth, October 02, 2017, 11:47:39 AM

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St Truth

Quote from: Blackleaf on October 03, 2017, 11:16:27 AM
Sounds like any other force of habit. IMO, going to church is just a waste of time and money. Church is a business made for scamming people out of their money and controlling people. Christian culture can survive the same way Greek/Roman cultures have: through art. But they won't get another penny out of me.

It used to be that way. Except for the RC church which still controls the minds of disadvantaged people in South America and parts of Africa, most churches don't operate that way any more. The Church of England and I"m sure the Scandinavian state churches don't prey on weak people. Their congregations are not that weak or disadvantaged as RC congregations.

Of course like any organisation, the Church needs money to run. But it's not true that they are always trying to get money out of you. The charity arm of the church is very strong. I didn't know how effective the church was until I came to this country where Christianity is a minority religion and to my surprise, the bulk of charities in the country, including homes for orphans, old folks and hospices for the dying, homes for the destitute, etc are run primarily by churches. If the church were just a sham organisation intended to cream us of our money, they wouldn't be devoting so much of their resources on activities that won't earn them money. Even in this country in which there are only very few Christians, Christianity has a very good reputation.

Hijiri Byakuren

I don't have a problem with using religious language in my daily life, whether it's to appease the crazies or get my point across. It's perfectly fine to talk about God in polite society, provided you aren't preaching. If someone does start preaching to me, I just start my sermon: LET ME SHOW YOU THE POWER OF TALOS STORMCROWN!
Speak when you have something to say, not when you have to say something.

Sargon The Grape - My Youtube Channel

Baruch

Quote from: St Truth on October 03, 2017, 11:28:13 AM
It used to be that way. Except for the RC church which still controls the minds of disadvantaged people in South America and parts of Africa, most churches don't operate that way any more. The Church of England and I"m sure the Scandinavian state churches don't prey on weak people. Their congregations are not that weak or disadvantaged as RC congregations.

Of course like any organisation, the Church needs money to run. But it's not true that they are always trying to get money out of you. The charity arm of the church is very strong. I didn't know how effective the church was until I came to this country where Christianity is a minority religion and to my surprise, the bulk of charities in the country, including homes for orphans, old folks and hospices for the dying, homes for the destitute, etc are run primarily by churches. If the church were just a sham organisation intended to cream us of our money, they wouldn't be devoting so much of their resources on activities that won't earn them money. Even in this country in which there are only very few Christians, Christianity has a very good reputation.

Before the welfare state, the church and family were the only charities.  Socialism damages many things ... including family and church.  Unfortunately the modern mega-state is too big a charity case for family and church to take care of.
Ha’át’íísh baa naniná?
Azee’ Å,a’ish nanídį́į́h?
Táadoo ánít’iní.
What are you doing?
Are you taking any medications?
Don't do that.

Blackleaf

Quote from: St Truth on October 03, 2017, 11:28:13 AM
It used to be that way. Except for the RC church which still controls the minds of disadvantaged people in South America and parts of Africa, most churches don't operate that way any more. The Church of England and I"m sure the Scandinavian state churches don't prey on weak people. Their congregations are not that weak or disadvantaged as RC congregations.

Of course like any organisation, the Church needs money to run. But it's not true that they are always trying to get money out of you. The charity arm of the church is very strong. I didn't know how effective the church was until I came to this country where Christianity is a minority religion and to my surprise, the bulk of charities in the country, including homes for orphans, old folks and hospices for the dying, homes for the destitute, etc are run primarily by churches. If the church were just a sham organisation intended to cream us of our money, they wouldn't be devoting so much of their resources on activities that won't earn them money. Even in this country in which there are only very few Christians, Christianity has a very good reputation.

Does the Pope not still claim to speak for God? Do Catholic churches not still perpetuate their outdated moral code? I remember the drama when the current Pope declared that gays can be Christians. The Catholic church is still an oppressive organization. The priests still have a position of power they use to take advantage of children and women. The sooner we can separate religion and politics, the better.

Perhaps it's different in England, but churches here do not have to make public how much money they spend. Who knows how much they're spending on charity? Most churches spend a ton of money they don't have to expand their facilities, build ten story crosses and obligatory gyms. I'd rather give my money to a secular organization, where I will know where my money is going.
"Oh, wearisome condition of humanity,
Born under one law, to another bound;
Vainly begot, and yet forbidden vanity,
Created sick, commanded to be sound."
--Fulke Greville--

Gawdzilla Sama

Help me out, does "Polite Society" mean I have to put up with their godbothering shit?
We 'new atheists' have a reputation for being militant, but make no mistake  we didn't start this war. If you want to place blame put it on the the religious zealots who have been poisoning the minds of the  young for a long long time."
PZ Myers

St Truth

Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on October 03, 2017, 02:26:00 PM
Help me out, does "Polite Society" mean I have to put up with their godbothering shit?

If your parents invite priests and bishops to your house for lunch regularly, yes you have to put up with their godbothering shit.

Cavebear

Quote from: St Truth on October 02, 2017, 11:47:39 AM
About a month ago, one of those irritating old women came up to me in church to pat me on the head. I hate people who do that. It shows utter disrespect for the person. It's always snaggle-toothed hideous old women who do that. Anyway, she said she heard I did very well in my GCSE exam. She asked me if it was because I said my prayers. I told her no, I didn't say any prayer. She said she was sure I did. My mum who heard the conversation intervened and told the stupid old woman that I did say my prayers and she then took the woman aside to talk about other things. Later, my mum chided me. She said I should not contradict the old woman. I told her it was hypocritical to say I said my prayers when both my mum and I knew that prayers never work and when you say your prayers you are doing a soliloquy. My mum said there were things you have to say in polite society. If you hear that a church member is in trouble, you have to say that you'll keep the person in your prayers. It's not a lie because everybody knows nobody is going to pray about it. It's just courtesy.

I told her that was dumb hypocrisy. If someone is in trouble, I won't talk about dumb prayers. I'll tell him I'm sorry about what has happened and I hope it'll get better. That's so much better than to keep the person in your prayer. My mum said that was all right too. But still if an old woman goes to an altar boy in church to congratulate him on his school work, it's inappropriate to tell her that I didn't pray. I don't agree. Telling the stupid old woman that I didn't pray was the mildest thing I could have said. I should have told her that if she touched my head again, I'd rape her granddaughter.  Of course I didn't say that to my mum. We don't say such things in polite society.

It's funny how a lot of people are just cultural Christians like both my parents. But they believe in saying the right religious things out of courtesy. It's dishonest and hypocritical.

I don't know what the rest of you think but I don't think God has a place in polite society. One can be equally polite without pretending to pray. The funny thing is that witch of an old woman herself probably doesn't really believe in God. But everybody is playing the Pretend-We-Are-Religious game. I think if everyone is really honest, 90% of churchgoers will say they don't really believe in God.

God has no place in a rational society.  Some of us are just more honest about it than others.

My parents, both vague agnostics, told me to hide my atheism from their relatives to keep the family peace.  I didn't.   My wealthy "Godmother" finally wrote that she would "forget me" if I didn't change.  I never replied.  I'm not bribable.
Atheist born, atheist bred.  And when I die, atheist dead!