Are you an atheist? (20 Viewers)

[Bladerunner]

Sounds like you are talking about (and exaggerating) the Youth Equality Act

Organisations should not be allowed to avoid tax to push their agenda of bigotry.

no, not at all, I have no hatred of gays. My religion teaches me that marriage is between a man and a women. simple as that. Now why do gays got to get married by the church or a minister. There are states that will marry them.

I guess they should be jailed instead or maybe in addition?

Besides you are in Aussie land and they are already mostly Godless from what I here. *If they are not, then by all accounts, please correct the previous statement. I would like a rare word of encouragement!

 

[nanscombe]

In the UK the church has not been placed in the position of being forced to marry same sex couples.

However, any Christian denomination that wants to (apart from the Church of England, ie the State religion) will be free to do so.

The Catholic church would also be unlikely to do so.

Until recently UK law also stipulated that a marriage is between a man and a woman, the Marriage Act still says so, but legislation has been recently passed that says that marriage can also be between two people of the same gender.

 

[Galaxiom]

Can you link to any proposal to force churches to marry gays if they want to maintain tax free status?

About one quarter of Australians report "No religion" in the census.

Here is a pretty thorough analysis of the statistics for 2011.

 

[Galaxiom]

Marriage in Australia is largely a secular event. Only one third of marriages are conducted in churches.

Many people consider churches to be largely irrelevant.

 

[Bladerunner]

Can you link to any proposal to force churches to marry gays if they want to maintain tax free status?

About one quarter of Australians report "No religion" in the census.

Here is a pretty thorough analysis of the statistics for 2011.

I stated earlier: "It was not long ago, I put forth a scenario in which the Christian church is stripped of its present tax status in the USA."..........."I have heard that for the ministers that refuse to marry the gays in their church, will land in jail.".

Here is a link: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014...ters-who-refuse-to-perform-same-sex-weddings/


I also stated California was the culprit, however after some digging, I found it was Idaho and not a church but a wedding chapel run by two ministers. To California, I apologize.

There are several other links where persons are sued, etc. so far no churches. but to be jailed because of your faith is really bad. It would be like us Christians jailing you because you do not believe or worse as is the Islam way of life.

 

[ColinEssex]

Marriage in Australia is largely a secular event. Only one third of marriages are conducted in churches.

Many people consider churches to be largely irrelevant.

I would say churches are irreverent.

Col

 

[Bladerunner]

Sounds like you are talking about (and exaggerating) the Youth Equality Act

Organisations should not be allowed to avoid tax to push their agenda of bigotry.

This particular Act was about the Boy Scout of America. Effectively, the liberals have destroyed a good thing!. No, I would not have let my son join the BSA if the circumstances where then what they are now.

May I ask what the tax exemption has to do with not allowing a certain group of people within your organization? However, my guess is that the government uses this power over the org. to force them to do anything they want them to do. Atheist in the USA had better think about this real good. If they can do this to Christians and other organizations with impunity, they can do it to you!. Be very careful what you ask for! (see next paragraph for example)

In the USA the Senate under Harry Reed voted to pass the so called 'nuclear option'. That allowed only a majority of members to pass bills where before a 2/3 majority was required. If the senate changes majority hands this November, do you think the majority party with simply vote the nuclear option back in force?

 

[Bladerunner]

I would say churches are irreverent.

Col

Irreverent to whom? Most churches I know of are very respectful to all regardless of the faith and lifestyle. It seems to me that people without a belief in God are shouting the loudest. "Methinks thou dost protest too much"(1)

(1) William Shakespeare

 

[AnthonyGerrard]

Marriage in Australia is largely a secular event. Only one third of marriages are conducted in churches.

Many people consider churches to be largely irrelevant.

I got married in an Aussie winery. My sister in law is about to get married in a Aussie museum , she has left it until her late 30s!

 

[ConnorGiles]

I would say churches are irreverent.

Col

In this case i agree with Col, and Galaxiom.

Why does one need a church? (I know I'm an atheist and its from my point of view)

You can worship a god from anywhere, having a place to congregate only seems to be a social gathering to me.(which isn't a bad thing at all, i enjoy social gatherings. but limiting it to people of faith, in my opinion is a bad thing)

I do not see many atheist buildings

 

[Galaxiom]

You can worship a god from anywhere, having a place to congregate only seems to be a social gathering to me.

One of the great ironies of the Christian faith is that it is conducted in the most conspicuous, opulent building affordable by the believers.

Yet Jesus denounced those who worshiped conspicuously.

6:5 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

6:6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

 

[Galaxiom]

I got married in an Aussie winery.

Obviously for the plentiful sacrament at hand.

 

[ConnorGiles]

One of the great ironies of the Christian faith is that it is conducted in the most conspicuous, opulent building affordable by the believers.

Yet Jesus denounced those who worshiped conspicuously.

So it is a mystery why churches exist then - If following the bible is so important then why not heed the words from it?

Christianity has always proved to be an expensive faith - e.g. the last popes throne and so forth (covered in jewels and gold) not to mention his posessions.

 

[Bladerunner]

In this case i agree with Col, and Galaxiom.

Why does one need a church? (I know I'm an atheist and its from my point of view)

You can worship a god from anywhere, having a place to congregate only seems to be a social gathering to me.(which isn't a bad thing at all, i enjoy social gatherings. but limiting it to people of faith, in my opinion is a bad thing)

I do not see many atheist buildings [/QUOTE

]

first, one does not need a church if one is an atheist! At some previous post in this thread, someone stated to me that the liberals provided far more charity than anyone else. This person never considered what the churches do for charity. In addition, those large super churches rake in a bunch of money but it is just that 'church money' The preacher only gets so much. Where does the money go. Charity for the parishioners, money to buy food, clothes, etc. for needy children. Some churches also support or own hospitals that give charity to needy people unable to pay for medical care. Some churches provide missionaries who provide medicare and other necessary commodities that small countries in the third world do not have. When was the last time you atheist did this just for the love of mankind. In one of our states, a church provided an adoption/placement service for the state. That is until the atheist in the area wanted the separation of Church and State. They had to quit and now who is taking care of the kids. The Atheist???????? lol

I could go on but if you don't get it by know there is no hope. But, before you put all Christians in a pile and burn them, you should at least get to know some of them first. Of course since you are not worried about your salvation, you can treat anyone anyway you feel is warranted.

p.s most churches do follow the rules of the bible and take care of the people in their area. It is unfortunate that you are not part of that.

 

[ConnorGiles]

]

first, one does not need a church if one is an atheist! At some previous post in this thread, someone stated to me that the liberals provided far more charity than anyone else. This person never considered what the churches do for charity. In addition, those large super churches rake in a bunch of money but it is just that 'church money' The preacher only gets so much. Where does the money go. Charity for the parishioners, money to buy food, clothes, etc. for needy children.

Im starting to see a Liberal pattern here Bladerunner

Plus if the money they are "raking in" is that much and most is given away, why would you just not set up a charity instead of having a colossal building which costs a lot to make ?

In my opinion it wouldn't make a difference if you were giving enough to the church, why cant that money go straight to charity ? (without the middle man) the charities might even make more money that way.

Some churches also support or own hospitals that give charity to needy people unable to pay for medical care. Some churches provide missionaries who provide medicare and other necessary commodities that small countries in the third world do not have. When was the last time you atheist did this just for the love of mankind. In one of our states, a church provided an adoption/placement service for the state. That is until the atheist in the area wanted the separation of Church and State. They had to quit and now who is taking care of the kids. The Atheist???????? lol

Yes SOME churches do give shelter, I know of no churches around my area which are used to give shelter to the homeless or children... As for your statement about us Atheists doing nothing for the love of mankind, I can only assume you take note of only the religious who give to charity. Also take note that Atheists give straight to charities rather than through a church which takes a sum from that charitable donation .

I could go on but if you don't get it by know there is no hope. But, before you put all Christians in a pile and burn them, you should at least get to know some of them first. Of course since you are not worried about your salvation, you can treat anyone anyway you feel is warranted.

I don't mind Christians at all - they have a right to believe what they want, as long as it doesn't get thrust in my face I don't mind. In fact I am friends with many people from different religious backgrounds and they are all pleasant .

p.s most churches do follow the rules of the bible and take care of the people in their area. It is unfortunate that you are not part of that.

As said above - No churches around my area house any people including the vicar, so it must just be an american thing because churches are locked during certain times of the day - Ill refer to what Galaxiom has told you :


Matthew

6:5 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

6:6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.


Churches are Irrelevant even in the bible

 

[Galaxiom]

Quite a lot of religious charity is done as an opportunity to prosletyse.

 

[ConnorGiles]

Sort of a sorry I was wrong donation

 

[Galaxiom]

Check out the biggest charitable donors of 2013
http://philanthropy.com/article/A-Look-at-the-50-Most-Generous/144529/#p50_list

1. Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan - atheists - $ 992 million

Anyone care to research the others?

 

[Galaxiom]

Warren Buffett is another big donor - Agnostic

 

[ConnorGiles]

And Bladerunner said that Atheists do nothing for the people