Tag: Atheist

Are atheists belief free?

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CHURCH

Is it true that atheists are simply people who are not convinced there is a God?  For some who claim the title “atheist” this is the case even though Webster says the difference between an atheist and agnostic is that an atheist BELIEVES there is no God.  But I question those who claim in online debates that they have no belief when some very strongly take the position that there is no God.   I question their position even more firmly when they resort to calling God my “imaginary friend.” To say that God is imaginary goes beyond simply not believing that He exists.  It is not honest for an individual to say God is imaginary while claiming they do not have a position.

There are anti-religious organizations for those who believe there is no God. Arguably one of the largest is the Freedom From Religion Foundation.  Billboards such as the one recently put up in Cobb County Georgia that reads, “Supernatural belief – the enemy of Humanity” make it clear the organization is anti-religion.  A press release from the organization claims that by giving up supernaturalism, we all can have a more fulfilling life, though it does not say how. Would it make sense to claim that belief in the supernatural is harmful if one had no opinion on the matter?  To believe faith in God is harmful is to have a belief.

People are individuals.  Each of us finds fulfillment in our own way.  It is obvious that some atheists do not find fulfillment in a life devoid of spirituality.  Gabriel Ross Parker, for example, fatally shot two classmates.  He said he did it because he was an atheist and his life and the lives of others had no purpose, something that came out in testimony following the shooting. Here is the video.   I make no claim that being an atheist leads everyone to become homicidal.  To say this would be to make a hasty generalization similar to the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s billboard that says all belief in the supernatural is harmful.

So why would an atheist who believes there is no God claim he or she simply has no opinion? Well, one reason is that it is a good debate tactic.  A person who makes a claim has the responsibility of providing evidence for their claim.  To take the position that one is not making a claim shifts the burden to the other individual. But it strains credulity when a person who says they are not making a claim refers to God as imaginary and supports a billboard saying religion is the enemy of humanity.  Is it not more likely that the god of this world has blinded them to the truth?

California woman breaks into Baptist church, rips Bibles, burns 10-foot cross

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Mug SHotA California woman faces a possible hate crime charge after she broke into a Baptist church, ripped Bibles and hymnals, and burned a 10-foot cross in the sanctuary.

Rio Vista Police say Danielle Ricafrente, 23, caused significant damage to the building of the Union Baptist Church Monday night. CBS 13 reports she was arrested on suspicion of burglary, arson of a church, felony vandalism and hate crimes against a church.

A report from The Sacramento Bee says Ricafrente also damaged musical instruments in the building.

Church Deacon Roger Benz told KCRA television He’s disappointed, willing to forgive.

The Rio Vista police department issued the following news release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/UPDATE

RIO VISTA POLICE ANNOUNCE ARREST IN CHURCH ARSON/VANDALISM

At around 9:15AM June 13, 2018, Rio Vista Police Officers responded to the Baptist Church on Sierra Drive regarding a vandalism that occurred to the interior of the Chapel. Significant damage was done to the interior of the Chapel area and a large cross behind the altar was set on fire. This crime possibly occurred between 8PM and midnight on June 12, 2018.

Rio Vista Police working with the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives developed a person of interest early in the investigation. Physical evidence has tied the person of interest to the crime scene along with video from a neighbor. Arrested for burglary, arson of a Church, felony vandalism and hate crimes against a Church was Danielle Ricafrente, age 23 of Rio Vista. Ricafrente was transported and booked into the Solano County Jail. The case will be reviewed by the US Attorney for possible federal charges.

RVPD would like to thank our federal partners for their assistance in this investigation.

Dan Dailey, Chief of Police

 

OPINION: All men are sinners, even atheists

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2018-04-17 Crowded street.png

It’s not uncommon after a Christian leader is accused of some indiscretion to hear non-believers claim this demonstrates that religious people have some flaw.  That is, some claim it is religion that caused the individual to do whatever it is they are accused of doing.  But some of those same non-believers abandon this standard when it is applied to other groups.

For example, BuzzFeed reports that the board of  American Atheists terminated David Silverman as president of their organization earlier this month because of financial conflicts and sexual assault. This happened within weeks of the American Humanist Association’s removal of Lawrence Krauss, a winner of the Humanist of the Year award, from its speaker pool because of alleged misconduct.  The Freedom from Religion foundation removed Krauss from its honorary board citing, “Well-documented allegations of sexual misconduct” according to an article on patheos.com. What, if anything, does this prove?

I don’t mention these men as part of an effort to demonstrate that atheists are bad people; quite the opposite.  I don’t accuse all atheists for the actions of individuals, but some non-believers condemn all Christians for the actions of individuals. It would be wrong to assume that something about atheism makes people do things like these atheist leaders have done.  It is equally wrong to assume that there is something about religion that makes religious leaders do wrong.  Individuals are responsible for their choices.

I think a good example is the way some non-believers react when a priest is accused of a crime against children.  If I am going to assume that religion causes some priests to assault children; then by that convention I should assume that education leads school teachers to assault students.  Making this assumption in either case is a sort-of composition fallacy; they are assuming what is true of a member of a group is true for the entire group.  In this case, they add on an assumption of cause. This type of reaction to individual actions is assumption based on personal bias.

Terrible acts are committed by religious and atheist leaders; therefore, a researcher should look for rival causal factors.

What are your thoughts?

Atheist kills mother and friend, tells others to save their thoughts and prayers

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2018-04-10 Casey James Lawhorn

A Tennessee man confessed online to killing two people including his own mother.  During his video confession, Casey James Lawhorn, 22, said, “Prayer is a waste of time, nothing happens after death” according to a report from USA Today.

Lawhorn’s Facebook confession was posted after he fatally shot his mother, Vi Lawhorn, and a friend, Avery Gains, in East Ridge, Tennessee.  While he did not specifically state his motive, his confession includes multiple statements about his hatred of religion according to an atheist source posted to the website patheos.

The Times Free Press reports Lawhorn’s body was found near his broken-down vehicle in Jasper County, Mississippi.

A Kentucky man is suing to be able to have “IM GOD” on his license plate.

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JUSTICE

Ben Hart, an atheist, told WXIX he wants license plates that say “IM GOD.” He told the TV station he wants them as part of his effort to spread his political and philosophical message that faith is susceptible to individualized interpretation. The Freedom from Religion Foundation and later the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky responded on Hart’s behalf and argued that Kentucky had violated free speech.

The idea that license plates should be considered personal speech is not universal among atheist organizations, and in some cases changes depending on the message of the plate in question. In 2009, the group Americans United for Separation of Church and State fought to remove “I BELIEVE” as an option for license plates, according to The Telegraph. The same group in 2016 fought to help a driver in New Jersey in his legal battle to get license plates that say 8THEIST according to the group’s website.

It is doubtful Heart’s legal team will use his argument that faith is susceptible to individualized interpretation. Previous court decisions and opinions of the court disagree with Heart’s reasoning. The latest case was decided last week when a federal Judge in D.C. ruled against an effort to remove the rainbow flag from two congressional office buildings.  The plaintiffs in that case wanted the flags removed citing a personal belief that the flags were religious in nature.  It is more likely his attorneys will argue that license plates constitute free speech of individuals.

If Heart’s Kentucky case were to end up before the Supreme Court, it could open the door to Christians who have been denied Bible verses and other messages for use on license plates.