Never having had a religious impulse in my life, I have no idea what they get out of it[...]

Over the years, I’ve become convinced that most religions are, in essence, elaborate death-denial constructs. Being the only creatures on the planet that become aware at an early age that we shall inevitably die causes, well, mental problems. Our egos are inflated enough that it seems unthinkable that one day we should cease to exist–at least our mind or spirit or what-have-you must go on. The fact that the matter from which our bodies are composed will go on and on in some form or other, just as it had existed for millions or billions of years before we were even conceived, seems a cold comfort.
Facing the black void of oblivion, the mind panics. Surely, there must be more? Other planes of existence. Reincarnation. An afterlife of some sort. Heaven, where we can reunite with loved ones who passed before us. Or even Hell, because even an eternity of torment allows one the satisfaction of knowing, “I still exist!!” Anything but the void.
So we make up fairy stories to comfort ourselves, making the lack of a shred of evidence for any of this a major pillar of support for religion. “We can’t know the mind of God,” we say when horrible things happen for no apparent reason to reasonably good people. Sure, the world seems cruel, but somehow the utter alienness of God’s motivations are supposed to comfort and are supposed to reflect omnibenevolence, even as millions starve and are maimed and die. Yes, He loved them so much, He had to kill them in gruesome ways. Lovely.
So we try and pray that hurricane away, but it never works. And some of us die. Then we look for “evil” persons to place the blame on. And there’s persecution and slaughter. But still, somehow, God doesn’t see the virtue evidenced by our murderous pogroms. And the hurricanes come again. And the floods. And the famine. And the plagues. Why haven’t we regained God’s favor? Haven’t we killed enough to sate Him? It’s never enough. And so we go on, and repeat the vile atrocities of yesteryear.
Happy Holidaze, everybody!

No Christians I know (except Christian Scientists, whose beliefs, ironically, are not very “scientific” at all) would turn down the benefits science brings in their time of need. If you need brain surgery, would you turn to a Patrick Henry College grad to pray over you, or a surgeon who graduated from Stanford? I thought so.

Modern civilized life is the result of tremendously hard work (in the fields of math, physics, engineering, medicine,geology,astronomy, the life sciences, and a host of other disciplines) by millions of people, to bring humans out of the darkness of ignorance, fear, superstition and tribalism. Oddly, religious fundamentalists do not seem to appreciate any of this, and would rather spend their energy on appeasing their imaginary friends. Just think what they could accomplish if they directed it toward reality-based solutions for the world’s problems.

Never having had a religious impulse in my life, I have no idea what they get out of it, but if they would PLEASE keep it to themselves and not inflict in on those who do not believe as they do. If you must repudiate reason, then fine, go live in a cave, but don’t come crying to me when you need some real-world help with your problems. Just one thing – you don’t REALLY think your religious leaders really BELIEVE all that shite they dish out, do you? It’s all about power, money and control. Ask Pat Robertson about his diamond mines and stashed millions sometime. Now there’s a “christian” who does not deserve a capital letter!

Actually the Red cross(the IRC as we call them)are a secret branch of our movement and have for years been gathering info and sizing up you heathens just waiting for the word from us to go militant on you. The word is given.

Huh. I thought that that was the Salvation Army. Fucking bell-ringing bucket carriers.

Oh yeah? Prove it!

Actually, the International Red Cross is generally against torture and unlawful imprisonment. Unlike, say, President Bush.

Or does this have something to with “it all depends on what the meaning of “Christian” is?

Big red crosses and choppers . . . all I can think of is M*A*S*H. Come’n get me, Hot Lips!