Pastor teaches daughters how to have sex


Posted Friday, August 31, 2007. —
A south Australian fundamentalist church pastor had sex with two of his teenage daughters to educate them on how to be good wives, a South Australian court has heard.

The 54-year-old man, who cannot be named, was sentenced in the South Australian District Court to eight and a half years jail after pleading guilty to seven counts each of incest and unlawful sexual intercourse.

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If God was a Tree; What Kind of Tree would It Be?


Posted Wednesday, August 29, 2007. —
I have recently been intrigued by the Baylor Religious Survey referenced in some discussion I was observing. I found the following statistical facts fascinating:

- Almost 30% had attended their current place of worship for more than 20 years.
- 23% attended weekly services, but of those, only 30% attended a Bible class or Sunday School weekly.
- Exactly half (49.4%) only read their Bible twice a year (or less) outside of church!


(Click here for more...)

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Michael Shermer on the Colbert Report


Posted Wednesday, August 29, 2007. —
Michael Shermer says that being interviewed by the inimitable Stephen Colbert was one of the wilder experiences of his career. Comedy Central's hit series The Colbert Report features the comedian Stephen Colbert.

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I can no longer force my heart to follow what my mind cannot justify


Posted Wednesday, August 29, 2007. —
Sent in by Chip S

I was not raised in a Christian home. My parents had not made a conscious decision for atheism, I suppose. But their daily lives and lack of religious practice certainly would label them as non-Christians. They were always in that ambiguous category of people who simply had no time for theism or atheism. It was simply a non-issue [...] Now here I am, a week away from returning to an evangelical university where belief in Jesus is a requirement for admission.

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Humanity and its relationship to religion


Posted Wednesday, August 29, 2007. —
Sent in by Steven Cody

I want credit for my actions. Good or bad I'd like to be acknowledged for what I do and accomplish. I'd thank all those in my life who helped me with any given situation of course. I want to be acknowledged as a human being who deserves better than what we have. We ALL deserve better. I am a human and so are you. We make choices and decisions every second of every waking hour of every single day of our lives. WE are responsible for the lives and deaths of our fellow human beings with every choice we make. We, as human beings, have total control over everything that happens on this planet. WE are responsible.

(Click here for more...)

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Xian Brainwashing


Posted Tuesday, August 28, 2007. —
Sent in by NZC70

I've been a reader of this outstanding site for quite a while, and I've made it part of my daily reading. I've been wanting to participate more, but time hasn't allowed it. However, I've come across a new (at least to me) xian disturbing method of brainwashing that I just had to address.

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Get a job, Ted...


Posted Tuesday, August 28, 2007. —
Disgraced minister Ted Haggard is asking that donations to support him and his family be sent to a Monument group run by a twice-convicted sex offender.

Haggard, who has moved with his family to Phoenix, could not be reached for comment today.

The head of a four-member panel of ministers overseeing the fallen preacher's spiritual restoration said he will fly to Arizona Tuesday to meet with Haggard for a face-to-face explanation.

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The Null Hypothesis


Posted Tuesday, August 28, 2007. —
A defense of atheism using the null hypothesis. When used, the null hypothesis is presumed true until statistical evidence in the form of a hypothesis test indicates otherwise. In classical science, the null hypothesis is used to test differences in treatment and control groups, and the assumption at the outset of the experiment is that no difference exists between the two groups for the variable being compared.

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The Infinite Psychopath


Posted Monday, August 27, 2007. —
Sent in by Chris A

Although the Biblical concept of the human experience had always seemed somewhat unfair, my doubts really began with the issue of homosexuality; specifically, why did the Christian god despise it so much?

(Click here for more...)

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A letter to my concerned friend and pastor at church:


Posted Monday, August 27, 2007. —
Sent in by Jeff

Dear friend, thanks so much for your note of concern regarding my absence from the church community of late. I’m sorry I’m just replying to it! Grab hold, I’m going to share what I think. I share this with you in confidence, as I’m in the wrong community (a small Texas town) for this to be general knowledge.

(Click here for more...)

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Preacher charged with child molestation


Posted Friday, August 24, 2007. —
A Webb City preacher has been charged with three counts of child molestation, according to documents filed in Jasper County Circuit Court.

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I realized I was an atheist


Posted Friday, August 24, 2007. —
Sent in by L.S.

Some people think I'm lying when I tell them that I just woke up one morning and realized that I was an atheist, but that's what really happened.

(Click here for more...)

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Preacher Wife Attacked By Preacher Husband


Posted Friday, August 24, 2007. —
Television Evangelist Juanita Bynum, the hair stylist turned preacher, known for her inspiring and candid sermons about sexuality and marital responsibility, is recovering after allegedly being attacked by her estranged husband.

Atlanta Police say Bishop Thomas Weeks III, founder of Global Destiny churches, will be charged with aggravated assault and terroristic threats, WXIA-TV in Atlanta reports.

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Bathwater and the Baby


Posted Thursday, August 23, 2007. —
Sent in by KW

In all senses of the word, I am a "Christian". (Yipes!)

I am a respected man in my church, I have a thriving buisness, I have a wonderful "Christian" family."

(Click here for more...)

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My doomed fate to hell


Posted Thursday, August 23, 2007. —
Sent in by Marie

I don't know how to summarize my story. I was raised Lutheran, and then moved into being a Baptist. I went to a Lutheran private school for several years of grade school, and then went to a private Lutheran High school for the entire 4 years.

The first time I started having doubts about my faith can be pinned on the first religion class I had of my freshman year...
(Click here for more...)

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I realized the Bible God is fictitious


Posted Thursday, August 23, 2007. —
Sent in by Danny

Hi to everyone here.

I will try to keep it short...well, as much as I can.

My name is Danny, the youngest of a family of 10. I am Filipino. My family is of Catholic background. Most Filipinos are. I grew up spoiled (I am the youngest). My family is well to do. That's really sad knowing most Filipinos live below the poverty line. My brothers sisters and I went to private Catholic schools and to good universities. We were all indoctrinated (brainwashed) to the Catholic way of thinking...

(Click here for more...)

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Is the supreme being confused?


Posted Thursday, August 23, 2007. —
By Wittu

I reexamined some notes I made last year on Bible oddities and contradictions. Here are a few thoughts -- nothing scholarly, but perhaps a few members will still dig it (although so many of you are very savvy and have likely seen these).

(Click here for more...)

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Pastor praised for abusing teen


Posted Tuesday, August 21, 2007. —
SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- The San Antonio pastor charged with assaulting a teenage girl at a Christian boot camp returned to his church Monday.

The story captured national headlines after Pastor Charles Flowers and an employee were charged with dragging a 15-year-old girl behind a van.

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Christians Condemn Time Warner Film starring Nicole Kidman


Posted Tuesday, August 21, 2007. —
WM comment: Christians are all in an uproar over a new movie that is coming out in December.


(From LifeSiteNews.com) - The best selling novels of atheist author Philip Pullman which were written specifically to indoctrinate children with anti-Christian values, have sparked the creation of a controversial new fantasy film to be released this December 7 by New Line Cinema - a Time Warner Company.

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Pastor arrested for embezzlement


Posted Tuesday, August 21, 2007. —
The senior pastor at a Round Rock church who resigned amid a criminal investigation is now in police custody.

Click here to view the news video.

Officals say Donald Roger "Roddy" Clyde, 48, the former pastor of the Fellowship at Forest Creek Church, was in the process of being booked into the Williamson County Jail Wednesday night on embezzlement charges. He is accused of taking money from the Fellowship at Forest Creek Church.

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Church hires preaching pedophile, on purpose


Posted Tuesday, August 21, 2007. —
A southwest suburban Southern Baptist congregation allowed a convicted child sex offender to preach for the last few years -- despite his past, and a warning from his previous church that he might still be dangerous.

In 1996, Jeff Hannah was sentenced to nine years in prison for having sexual relations with four underage girls -- ages 15 to 17 -- while a married youth minister at Crossroads Church in Libertyville.

(Click here for more...)

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Comedienne Julia Sweeney Talks About Giving Up On Religion


Posted Sunday, August 19, 2007. —
Whether or not God exists is perhaps the most perplexing of life's cosmic questions. It is a debate each of us has probably grappled with at one time or another.

For former "Saturday Night Live" star Julia Sweeney, giving up on religion was anything but easy.

"I had spent so much time thinking about what God meant, I hadn't really spent any time thinking what Not-God meant," said Sweeny.

(Click here for more...)

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Onward Atheist Soldiers?


Posted Sunday, August 19, 2007. —
A letter from Glenn B

Religion and her twin sister, mass self-righteousness, have been the stated cause of every war man has ever fought. It's the cause of most of the hate, bigotry and hypocrisy in the world today and always has been.

(Click here for more...)

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Cartoon-character Gods, prophets, saints and virgins


Posted Sunday, August 19, 2007. —
Sent in by Julie W

I can still pinpoint the exact time and date that I turned my back, forever, on any form of organized religion, whether it be Christianity, or any other. I often wonder if there are any others out there who experienced the same life-changing force, as I did, on 9/11, when I witnessed what humans will do to each other ‘in the name of God.’

(Click here for more...)

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Pastor caught in Internet sex sting


Posted Saturday, August 18, 2007. —

DENTON -- An Arlington pastor was arrested on Thursday afternoon during a sex sting operation where a Denton police detective posed as a 15-year-old girl arranging to meet the man for sex.

Leroy Cruz faces charges of soliciting a minor and sending explicit images to a minor over the internet.

(Click here for more...)

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Of “God-Blindness” and Absurdity


Posted Saturday, August 18, 2007. —
By Anne Corwin

So, someone has finally come out and asked the question: Joe Carter of “The Evangelical Outpost” inquires, Are Atheists Autistic?

Great, I thought, when I first read about this. Next thing you know, we’re going to have organizations with names like “Cure Atheism Now”. And their supporters will make all kinds of claims about how this terrible developmental disorder, atheism, prevents people from making friends easily, makes “fitting in” difficult, makes people less likely to be trusted, makes it impossible to get certain kinds of jobs or be elected to public office, cuts people off from the “religious community” (a strong source of social support), and denies them the comfort of belief in an afterlife.

(Click here for more...)

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I would rather poke my eye out


Posted Friday, August 17, 2007. —
Sent in by Meredith T

I recently de-converted after 15 years as a Christian while going through a divorce and enduring hypocrisy in the church. If I had a nickel for every email I got saying, "God Hates Divorce!" and, "I love you but I don't agree with you," I would be rich! I even got one saying "I'm sorry to hear you gave up your space in eternity for this (divorce)!"

(Click here for more...)

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Religion is Bullshit


Posted Thursday, August 16, 2007. —
An oldie, but a goody from George Carlin

(Click here to view...)

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Christianity is a horrible thing to believe


Posted Tuesday, August 14, 2007. —
by Thomas

I sincerely and wholeheartedly hope Christianity is false. I wish this one for one simple reason. If Christianity is true billions of people are being mercilessly tortured in a place called Hell.

(Click here for more...)

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Should I go with the flow?


Posted Tuesday, August 14, 2007. —
Sent in by Deborah K

My mother is 80 years old, a retired missionary to Africa! I have recently discovered that Christianity in it's fundamental, evangelical form is certainly not for me. My siblings are current foreign missionaries. I know it will break my mother's heart to hear of my change so I am keeping it to myself and just nodding in agreement to her crazy remarks.

(Click here for more...)

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The conflict burned inside me for years


Posted Tuesday, August 14, 2007. —
Sent in by Brent S

I have been reading many of the testimonials on this site for a while now and so have decided to share my own brief account.

Like so many others, I was raised in a barely Christian household. We considered ourselves Christians, but beyond Chuck Heston movies, we didn't really know much about religion.

(Click here for more...)

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I loved having access to the sole ‘truth’


Posted Monday, August 13, 2007. —
I arrived at University in the autumn of 2004 never having given religion of any kind much thought, I was every inch the wide eyed fresher! I quickly encountered the local group of evangelicals who ran the Christian Union at the University and I found they gave me a great sense of fellowship and warmth when I was around them. As a result I thought I would go along to the variety of events they were putting on, that target new students, such as film nights and discussions over coffee. After a five week course in the local coffee shop looking at the basic of the Bible’s message in Romans, I decided it all seemed to make sense and gave my life to Christ at the end of the final session through a prayer. For the next two years I was every bit the convinced, fundamentalist Christian...

(Click here for more...)

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Sceptics beat God in bestseller battle


Posted Monday, August 13, 2007. —
Struggling authors should keep the faith -- literally. Sales of books that explore religion or spirituality have grown by more than 50 per cent in the past three years, according to online retailer Amazon.

The boom surpasses the rise in sales of books in categories such as history, which have grown by 38 per cent, and politics, up by 30 per cent, confirming that religion has become a pivotal topic in the early 21st century.

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Pastor sentenced to prison


Posted Sunday, August 12, 2007. —
TACOMA -- A pastor has been sentenced to spend 4 1/2 years in prison for filing fake visa applications.

Dong Wan Park, 53, of Tacoma was found guilty last summer of filing false religious worker visa applications for two Korean nationals in exchange for tens of thousand in cash.

(Click here for more...)

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Michael J. Behe on the Colbert Report


Posted Sunday, August 12, 2007. —
A short video from Comedy Central.

(Click here to view the video...)

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The iBible


Posted Sunday, August 12, 2007. —
From the makers of the iPod, the iMac, the iBible and all sorts of other iStuff, comes the iBible! It's the completely automated, Charlton Heston-narrated, self-cleaning, disco-dancing, multi-lingual religious tome of the 21st Century. The good book just got even gooder!

(Click here for a hilarious video...)

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Let the bodies hit the floor


Posted Sunday, August 12, 2007. —
Christianity is a perfectly rational way to live and view the world. Right?

(Click here for a short video...)

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Does God Heal His Own Human Leaders?


Posted Saturday, August 11, 2007. —
By AtheistToothFairy

We hear much from Christians about how god takes cares of his own flock, especially when it comes to something like god healing the sick via prayer. These Christians insist that praying for someone can at least help abate their disease (despite many non-biased studies to the contrary). They also tell us that praying even for ourselves when we are sick, will also inspire god to intervene on our own behalf.

(Click here for more...)

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Pastor arrested for assault


Posted Friday, August 10, 2007. —
A San Antonio pastor and an employee of his Christian boot camp were arrested today on aggravated assault charges, accusing them of dragging a girl behind a van after failing to keep up with others during a running exercise.

(Click here for more...)

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Loving Without God


Posted Friday, August 10, 2007. —
By Bill J

I've come to realize that loving someone without God is incredibly freeing. I mean, as a Christian I was compelled to love people, even my enemies, but to truly love someone you have to be free to do it. Christianity is not about freedom because the ever present threat of hell looms near. It’s also a commandment. It’s not an option. How would you like to be commanded to love everyone? I command you to love every vile dictator and every person that has ever done you wrong. I command you to love the homeless mentally ill drug addict in your city. I command you to love the man that raped your love one. I command you to love the neighbor who lets his dog shit on your lawn. I command you to love your spouse who keeps cheating on you. I command you to love the guy/gal at work who bugs you. Is this really what Christians do?

(Click here for more...)

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I am an Agnostic


Posted Friday, August 10, 2007. —
Sent in by Rip Woodward

I remember at an early age thinking of Jesus as Santa Claus. If I pray to him ,and I am good, then I will get what I want. I contemplated becoming a priest at 16. I delved into the bible and really questioned what the verses meant. I got no greater pleasure than stumping a so called "bible expert". One thing that always bothered me was the notion of G-d not being accessible to me. I had to go through his mediator, Jesus, to talk to him. It did not fit in with my belief in a loving G-d...

(Click here for more...)

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Snap Shots and snapshots


Posted Thursday, August 09, 2007. —
A little tool has been installed called "Snap Shots." Snap Shots enhances links that leave this site with visual previews of the destination site. Snap Shots bring lets you "look ahead" before deciding if you want to follow a link or not.

"Snap Shots" isn't for everyone, so the script is turned off by default. If you want to try it, click the "Turn Snap Shots On" link box located toward the center of the left column. After trying it, should you decide this is not for you, simply click same link box which will now read "Turn Snap Shots Off." You will have to reload the page whenever changing the Snap Shots settings.

Another thing that's been installed is the ability to immediately post a picture to this site using your webcam. This option is located all the way toward the bottom of the left column.

Give them both a try! It's fun.
 
Priest arrested for jogging naked


Posted Thursday, August 09, 2007. —
Provided by Monk:

FREDERICK, Colo.—A Catholic priest faces an indecent exposure charge after police said he went jogging in the nude about an hour before sunrise.

(Click here for more...)

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When I was 15...


Posted Thursday, August 09, 2007. —
Sent in by Robert W

For me, the worst part of being a Christian was this: taking things on faith, even when my mind totally, utterly disagreed with what Christianity wanted me to believe in. I'm soon going to be 31, and I had my first moments of doubt when I was about 15. I can't remember what, exactly, set me off, but the end result was that I became a bit more fanatical about my belief in the truth of Christianity. That's not odd, I suppose. How many Christians who, when they feel doubt, begin to fear that Satan is working his wiles upon them? They, like I was doing at the age of 15, cling more tightly to a sinking ship...

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Military Leadership Ethics Breach in Christian Video


Posted Thursday, August 09, 2007. —
Sent in by JoeB, from the Washington Post

The Defense Department's inspector general has found that four generals and three other military officers improperly participated in a fundraising video for an evangelical Christian group, inappropriately offering support for the religious organization while appearing to operate within the scope of their official government duties, according to a 47-page investigative report.

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You make your own Christianity


Posted Wednesday, August 08, 2007. —
A short clip by comedian Doug Stanhope. Some of the language may not be work friendly.

(Click here to view...)

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Carl Sagan's "Cosmos"


Posted Tuesday, August 07, 2007. —
View Carl Sagan's incredible series Cosmos online. You'll need a DivX player and a high speed Internet connection. LINK

(Click here to comment...)

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What was I thinking?


Posted Tuesday, August 07, 2007. —
By Dave, the WM

The longer I'm out of Christianity, the more difficult it becomes to comprehend how I could have ever accepted such a twisted view of reality that promotes flying chariots; floating ax heads; talking bushes, snakes and donkeys; magic refilling urns; water walking; zombies; a worldwide flood; giants; raving, naked prophets; fire falling from heaven from time to time; cruel plagues; and life changing visions that resemble the descriptions of bad LSD trips.

(Click here for more...)

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Atheist meetup in Brisbane


Posted Tuesday, August 07, 2007. —
From Martin R

Hi,

I run an atheist group in Brisbane Australia which meets once a month.

(Click here for more...)

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Pastor held for theft


Posted Tuesday, August 07, 2007. —
The former pastor of the Chickaree Union Church in Jackson Township will stand trial in Cambria County Court on charges that he stole thousands of dollars in church funds.

(Click here for more...)

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Evolution doesn't have a chance


Posted Monday, August 06, 2007. —
The Christian arguments against evolutionary science habitually revolve around impressive sounding statistics that seem to indicate the extreme unlikeliness for life to have evolved. These stats are used as an apologetic against natural processes in favor of a hands-on, designing creator.

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Running afoul of GOD


Posted Sunday, August 05, 2007. —
Sent in by Nick M

I like to occasionally visit this site and read testimonials of people who've drifted away from their faiths, and admire the courage of many of them. Still, one thing strikes me every time I hear it, and that is the fear associated with giving up one's faith...

(Click here for more...)

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Marcus Brigstocke on Religion


Posted Sunday, August 05, 2007. —
English comedian Marcus Brigstocke rants about religion.

(Click here to view a short video...)

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Sex abuse suit against youth pastor


Posted Sunday, August 05, 2007. —
Baptist church leader faces sex abuse suit

LAPORTE -- A lawsuit alleges church youth leader Mark Comford spent two years gaining the trust of a boy, buying him expensive gifts then molesting him, even at the church.

(Click here for more...)

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Truth? What truth?


Posted Saturday, August 04, 2007. —
My parents were saved before I was born, and can be labeled religious fanatics! To their credit, they have been consistent in their beliefs for more than 50 years, and as far as I know, their only sins are little ones ... but let me start at the beginning...

(Click here for more...)

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Challenge Christians to Put Up or Shut Up...Literally!


Posted Saturday, August 04, 2007. —
By John W. Loftus

It's always man's fault, isn't it? It's never God's fault according to Christians, no matter what the problem is. They are letting God off the hook too easily here...way to easily. What would it take for Christians to say, "hey, this is probably God's fault in some way"? The fact is, God did not reveal himself clearly which has led to so much confusion among Christians even to the point of burning other Christian people alive (at least some, and probably many of the people burned at the stake during the Inquisition would be admitted into today's fundamentalist churches). There have been wars between Christians too. Christians killing other Christians due to a disagreement over little things by today's standards by far, leaving many widows without a husband and many children without a father.

(Click here for more...)

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