On 4/2/2009 3:09 AM, JOHNJWILSON wrote to CHINACAT:

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-> This assumption is getting to be rarely held. 
-> 

I think you live in a bubble if you really believe that. I invite you to
come stay with me for a few days and hear for yourself the majority view
that the bible is absolutely accurate in every word and anything that
contradicts that book is WRONG, EVIL, AND WILL CAUSE YOU TO BURN IN HELL
FOR ETERNITY if you accept it.
-> 

-> If by 'bible' is meant holy books...and THEIR various
-> interpretations...there's a crazy-big numbers of choices...atheism is an
-> easy one mentally, a poor one socially, a third rail politically...being
-> agnostic is even easier  

I don't see how you can say atheism is easy mentally. I would think it
would be easier to have an invisible friend to relieve you of
responsibility for anything ever. It gets kind of old hearing people say
'well, I just turned it over to god and he'll fix it' without ever
admitting to any personal responsibility. As to socially, yes you would
think that. We aren't ones to form associations, although we DO join others
for social things. Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry sponsor a lot of
things from educational seminars to a section of roadway to keep clean to
working with Habitat for Humanity. Not specifically atheist in nature but
certainly non-religious. Some of us work with the Quakers on various
concerns. Unlike most christians, though (at least the ones who come
through here) we don't have to be bragging about our 'good works'.

Politically? Until people can accept that there are those who just don't
believe, and that is the only difference in them, I guess we'll be excluded
from the political arena and demonized by politicians who want a sound
bite. Read up sometime on Herb Silverman and his 7 YEAR fight to become a
notary public.
 
 
-> Don't forget planting those old bones in them mountains...most people
-> say that those contradictions and inaccuracies are contradictions and
-> errancies. As are all science books printed more than 70 years ago...

True. But in those 70 years, corrections and updates have been made to the
science books but not to the bible.



-> I still enjoy readin' that book...for some 65 years now...I'm NOT a
-> dispensationalst, but it's a interesting conjecture: That evolution is not
-> restricted to man but God develops as He goes along..
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Of course he/she/it does. People create gods in their own image. As people
develop, so do their gods. Even while a large segment of believers want to
keep that from happening.

 
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