Leader said:
Benjamin Franklin:
Here he is agreeing with Christian values, yet questioning the divinity of Christ. Historians agree upon the fact that he was a deist.
'Was' a deist, but it's widely accepted that during his later years, he embraced Christ and was devout. This isn't that much of a shocker. Ideology is great, but in his own words, this world would crumble to pieces without the moral teachings of the Bible and organized religion as a whole.
I respect your opinions, but don't skew the facts. And as for George Washington being on his death bed; he was in a fucking coma. Of course he didn't personally revive himself from his comatose state and request a clergyman. And a lot of Christians are like that. They feel that if they live their lives by the moral standards set by Christ, they're right with their maker. No need for a "last rights" service.
I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm an ideologist who applies logic and reasoning in every situation possible, and I embrace my beliefs. Think of it from a musical perspective. If someone chooses to be a metalhead (which some might argue is itself a religion, but I won't get in to that lol), they most likely do so because the message of the music and the lifestyle appeals to them. It gives them hope when there's none to be found in their material existences. That's how I view my faith. If it makes me feel a sense of peace and understanding, whose place is it to tell me I'm wrong? Yes, this debate has been made 'so' many times. It's getting old. If you don't understand why people have faith and aren't open-minded, you're never going to understand.
Judge not 'lest ye be judged, in turn. That's a GREAT moral teaching of the bible, regardless of it's religious contexts. I don't judge atheists and I find it wildly unfair when atheists judge me, debate or not. Right or wrong, I take great comfort in my beliefs that my loved ones are resting in an ethereal plain of existence, rather than succumbing to infinite nothingness. Just ceasing. That's depressing as fuck and I fail to see what sense of peace atheists obtain from such views. As I said, it's not my place to judge. I just don't understand, because as I said, atheists will never truly understand theists and theists will never understand atheists. To each their own, though.
My beliefs give me comfort and in turn lower my stress levels and, if everything goes smoothly, will extend my lifespan a great deal over non-believers. (Statistical fact that believers 'do' tend to live longer lives, not just something I pulled out of my ass.)
Also, I think Kevin Smith's views on religion are that of my own. If I choose to worship a deity and get comfort and joy from that, why should it matter to anyone else? I'm not imposing my views on anyone. I pray silently, don't attend church and keep it to myself.
I'm not bothering you. Don't bother me with your atheistic rhetoric. It will never work. No atheist will ever convert a true theist and no theist will ever convert a true atheist.
Even if you don't live by the substance of the Bible, I think we can agree that the moral teachings of it are quite solid. Regardless of your personal beliefs, it gives no man the right to act superior or live a life of deviance.
My whole point with all of this is that Christians aren't bothering anyone. At least the majority of us aren't. Regardless of the skewed facts that the extremist atheists want to misconstrue, this is a nation founded by God fearing men and should this nation ever crumble, it will be on those same terms. I'm quite learned when it comes to American history and all of the unbiased literature I've read supports the fact that the overwhelming majority of our founding fathers were men of God/Providence. Most of these facts are autobiographical in nature and hence, can not be disputed.