Atheists Crash Poll on White House Prayers
Reader Comments
The First Amendment
Law dictates that religion of any sort and public life are to be kept separate. This not only benefits we atheists, but also those who are theists. Consider the blasphemy laws implemented in Ireland and what a cluster@$#% that is. This country is secular and should remain that way, and even to my own death I will defend my right to be an atheist.
I am deeply disturbed by any individual who thinks this country is somehow inherently Christian or Jewish or Islam or considers me a second-class citizen because of the fact that I don't have an imaginary friend. Read some history - and take a Haldol.
Obama's Political Calculations on Prayer
The prayers encouraged by the Obama administration are so politically calculated that they are essentially meaningless.
One possible reason for them is to gain political capital with the religious voters, some of whom are blind & gullible to Obama's deceptive charm.
Prayer Failure
If you don't believe in something of course it will fail. You don't know what to look for or have the grace to recieve it. i.e If you pray for some relief to a financial problem you being a non-belioever will expect a check in the mail, a billing error etc. When someone shows up and offers to show you how you can better deal with your problem you will not see that as an answer to a prayer but rather as a pushy, nosey person. God works through grace, but you wouldn't know that.
I don't have a problem with people who choose not to believe they are only short changing themselves. I have a problem with people who think that the only way is their way. Newsflash this country was founded on Faith and Prayer through the Grace of God. Perhaps people that want to force others into non-belief should be thankful to a "greater power" to live in a place where they can express themselves without persecution.
I as a believer am sick and tired of the minority trying to take away from the majority, but again I;m sure that the basis of their philosophy is the "squeky wheel gets the grease" as that is about the depth of their arguements.
US should be an example country
You have no credibility against the risks of fundamentalism if the boundaries between state and church are blurred within your own country. Sometimes seems unbelievable to me that problems that looked typical fothe middle ages until a couple of decades ago are now central in the political debate...
Praying
Bet this Athiests Poll would be extremely reversed if the Poll showed up in NewsMax!
Nothing fails like prayer!
You are all welcome to worship in your churches, temples, mosques, or stone circles. This atheist has no problem at all with it. I would not want to live in a country without freedom of religion, for the freedom to have a religion is also the freedom to have none.
I just don't want god or prayer or anything favoring religion in public life.
Prayer in the white house
Paul Harvey said it best. I believe the prayers in the white house or at events across this great country are intended to give hope, encouragement, not to offend anyone, if you don't want to here it change the channel just like you do when you don't want to here the commercial you hate or close your ears and hum a few bars. It is a quite moment for you to reflect. I don't care whos God you want to pray to or not pray to. It's AMERICA.
More Vindication Fantasies
Stephanie of KY wrote: He gave you everything that you own without Him you are nothing! Unfortunately you will learn this when it is too late.
While threats of violence at the hands of someone's imaginary friend may be entertaining, they are generally not convincing.
Dequartez of FL wrote: Now, when the imaginary friend talks back or starts doing amazing and wonderful things...That’s when you need to be concerned.lol.Be concerned about your lack of faith...and what the "imaginary friend" will do because it doesn’t know you.
These kinds of statements from believers always make me think of a kid on the playground who has been bullied once too often. With tears streaming down his face, he tells the kids who have been mean to him that he has a monster in his closet. When the kids laugh, he cries, "And one day my monster is going to come to school and beat all of you up. Then you'll be sorry. See if you won't."
It's amusing, but it's also kind of sad because you have to realize that the person issuing such threats is a person who must feel very inferior, unappreciated, and angry.
Stephanie of KY wrote: THIS WORLD BELONGS TO HIM YOU ARE JUST LIVING IN IT! ISN'T HE A GRACIOUS GOD TO ALLOW YOU TO LIVE IN HIS HOME WHEN YOU ARE FULL OF HATE FOR HIM.......SHAME ON YOU!
Atheists don't hate God. They simply lack a belief in the existence of a God or gods.
Vindication Fantasies
JEW of SC wrote: I wish we were able to take the atheists out of the u.s.a.
but not my will but thine be done,their time is truly coming in that huge fiery furnace.
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This an excellent demonstration of the kind of vindication fantasy that provides the religious zealot with a sense of "hope."
These kinds of statements also contribute to increased negative stereotyping of religious fundamentalists.
