It continues to intrigue me no end that some people who don't believe in anything spend so much time denouncing something. It's oxymoronic, and bizarre.

Also, with a LITTLE research you'll find out fairly rapidly that it wasn't Christians who sacrificed Christ, it was the Romans, and the Orthodox Jews 'passed him wide'. Christianity didn't really become Christianity till around 100ad. Until then, it was more of an alternative way of looking at God's teachings...IMO

Really though, you guys should be honest and admit you're not actually Atheists, you're confused, you're more Anti-Religious (not that I've read about you guys denouncing anything other than Christianity), than Atheist.

StG, I must say I am certainly not confused. It must be pointed out that anything said about how silly we believe theism to be applies equally to all religions, it's just that the Christians on this forum take that personally and say that we are attacking their religion or themselves yadda yadda ad nauseum....

If we all denounced Islam specifically, then this forum would turn into a pretty big bigoted suckfest pretty damn fast, as there aren't nearly as many muslims around to defend themselves.

This is an Australian forum and the Atheists would naturally tend to make the most remarks about the dominant religion and the one that most affects them in public policy and socially. But essentially the remarks apply equally to all god-worshippers.

The implication that Atheists don't dislike or denounce non-Christian religions (read Islam) is absurd at best. We only defend and understand their humanity as we defend and understand yours. To Atheists, the absurdity lies in the attacking of one god-belief system (some even think they are allied with Satan or something), while vehemently defending another eerily similar belief.

Thanks for the elucidation, Chappy... so... the Christian god committed suicide to beat death. Smart thinking.

Dear Boaz,
We agree that the act should be amended. You question an atheist’s morals. Moral, or socially acceptable human conduct is the product of thousands of years of survival. A moral act is one that promotes human welfare. Acts such as murder, rape, theft, cheating one’s fellows and destruction of the environment do not contribute to human welfare and are therefore immoral. There’s nothing religious or ‘god given’ in that... merely common sense. Long before civil societies or organised religion began laying down their own laws, hunter-gatherers embraced values such as kindness, generosity, consideration, affection, honesty, hospitality, compassion, charity, humour, gentleness, equality, listening, egalitarianism, respect for the elderly, love of children, diligent respect for the land, plants and animals... This moral code, to which all atheists I know try to adhere, ensured human survival and has no basis whatever in religion.
It took religion to declare our bodies sinful and women unequal. As for being a source of moral guidance, the bible endorses slavery, animal and human sacrifice, bigamy, pillage, arson, war, and genocide. Whatever is wrong with Western culture, there are no religious remedies for it, for they have all been tried.
Revealingly, there is not one word in the gospels in praise of intelligence.

Peter

StG, I wrote that Christians celebrate the sacrifice, not that they perpetrated it. You appear confused about atheists. All we say is that there’s no evidence for the supernatural claims of any religion. We are perfectly happy for adults to practice whatever religion they choose in private, with other adults. However, we think it is wrong to indoctrinate children with supernatural beliefs before they’ve learned to think for themselves. If religion is so uplifting, why not teach them about all religions and philosophies, then when they’re sixteen, let them choose for themselves? The other problem atheists’ have with religions is their desire to interfere in law-making. Clearly, that is not advisable because it leads to sectarian wars, as we see in so many countries where religions dominate politics. Do you want Catholics and Protestants at each other’s throats? Muslims throwing stones at Hindus? Baptists picketing Jewish synagogues? Don’t laugh. If any one religious group gains control of the legislature, something like that will eventually happen. Surely you can see that for believers and unbelievers alike, secularism in government is the only way to ensure civic harmony.

Peter

RELIGIOUS GROUPS and the STATE.

Peter, I tend to agree on that issue. Though historically, the problem has been between the 2 major 'organizational' faiths. Catholicism (which, like Islam, has more of a 'State' approach to things religious)and Anglicanism. The reasons for the conflict go back to King Henry the VIII as most of us know.

GOD COMMITTED SUICIDE...? well.. I guess thats probably 'one' way of describing the events of Easter, but it certainly does not convey even remotely the richness of the concept of Messiah and Gods love.
Such terminology is callous in the extreme and does not do the slightest justice to the facts or context.

Jesus explained the neccessity of the Messiah's sacrificial death for mankind. He mentioned it repeatedly, while walking to Jerusalem.

In his mind and heart were the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms, as they all contribute to the idea of 'Messiah'..
At the heart of the Messiah's role is this: (Is 53)

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

IMAGINE.... the Noble King of a people under seige. He offers the beseiging enemy "If I offer myself in place of my people, will this be acceptable?" The enemy agrees, frees the people, and executes the King.
Its just a weak human illustration of a profound and unfathomable act of divine love.

Oestra or Eastres, is the goddess of new life and fertility.

And we still celebrate her fecundity today. While I don't believe in gods at all, not even lusty ones like Eastres, I will happily scoff down a few choccies, buns and if I get lucky, fornicate.

Happy Easter and many thanks to the christians, who without your contribution Eastres has not been forgotten.

:-)

Strange isn't it that christians never bothered to change the name of this fertility celebration?

I mean if this really was about an execution of someone significant, you'd think the name would've been changed to something like,

'Slow death by Torture' hmmm, a bit wordy, um, how about

'Cruciter'

the celebration of a crucifixion. But the eating of buns and choccies and much fornication would no longer be appropriate. I think I have worked out why christians never changed the name from Easter.....