ADMISSIONS of a former Christian

The Problem With Religion (Richard Dawkins)

Well worth a listen

Richard Dawkins expounds on why religion is so harmful.  Well worth a listen
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Theism is Not Rational

Are Chritians Stupid? NO!

Are you a skeptic, humanist, agnostic, seeker of truth?  Do you discuss the issues of religion and faith
with those who have made up their mind?  Do
you have relatives that refuse to even talk about it with you?

If you have, you understand how intractable belief can be, and
how resistant to reasonable discussion.  Why
is that?   You can bring up scientific
discoveries, archeology, historicity, errors in scripture, translation, ridiculous
commands and the total immorality of the stories in the Bible and they will
often defend and twist these issues till you seriously consider them terminally
stupid.  

But there are foundational issues that keep a believer
chained to faith that are not always, in fact frequently not revealed.  And they have nothing (or little) to do with
stupidity.

In this short video I explain, from the perspective of a
former Christian, why this is so.  The issues
here are.      

  Presupposition. 

1. That God is a real thing, that their book is accurate, and their soul is
   on the line
2.  Trust in their Leaders, and a suspicious that you are purposely misleading them to reject their faith      
3. That God is mysterious, and it takes faith to
   please Him and understand Him      
4. Ego.   The great comfort and significance they feel knowing that the maker of the Universe
   is personally interested I their lives     
5. Fear.
   Fear of hell fire, separation from God, rejection and loss.So…. I believe that unless these issues are raised and discussed, their will not be much headway with a believer in discussing failed
   prophesy, science, logic, cosmology, morality, ethics, or Biblical inerrancy.

Tell me how you see it? 
What has been your experience?

And if you are a believer, do you agree with these
observations?  Are there other issues
that keep you intimately connected to your faith?

WHY? 8 Honest questions for the religious

We all have questions.  And although not every question has a perfect answer, those of faith give sermons, Bible (or Qu'ran) studies and discuss these issues on a regular basis.  If you have answers, I would love to hear them. 

Original Sin - Do you know what it is?

The doctrine of original sin is taught to millions in churches all across the world.  But what is it?  Where did it come from, and does it make sense?

Genesis outlines the fall of mankind beginning with Eve n the garden being led astray by a talking snake (Satan in disguise) Many skeptics dismiss this story as allegory or fabricated myth. But there is much more to the concept of original sin that is foundational to Christianity.  even if you do not take the story literally (though millions do) the very principles of inherited sin down through parents to all of mankind has a chilling effect.  

It means just being born into sin condemns you to eternal torment in hell fire unless..... and this is a big unless, 

You accept the vicarious redemption of Jesus Christ by faith.  If you reject this as not believable, without evidence, or reasonable support you are lost.  Along with the billions of others who were born into the wrong country, at the wrong time, to the wrong parents.

Watch this video and see what you think!

God;s View of Women

Believers never come to their faith through science.   

This is a brute fact and easily confirmed in the hearts, lives, and contention for the faith of those who believe.  It is only AFTER faith takes root, that confirmation is sought from the natural world.  In this way faith is the foundational presupposition that anchors interpretation of everything else.  I can say this with certainty from my own life, as I was once one who was a card carrying member of that vast troop.   A detailed study of the Bible, as well as many other “Holy Books” and comparative religion was the spark that grew into a consuming fire and eventually reduced my religious beliefs to ashes.    It was not science, although certainly my scientific education was a contributing factor, as eventually almost all the crazy stories of the Bible fell to logic and a complete lack of evidence – Adam & Eve, Noah’s Ark, Exodus from Egypt (lack of historical, geological evidence) and Jonah and the Whale, sun standing still, The earth as a flat plane with a dome keeping the waters of heaven out, - good examples.    But other issues were even more disturbing...

Why I was a Christian so Long - FEAR

What is the problem with bringing a child up in a religious indoctrination?  Why not just let people teach whatever they want to their children?  Is religion really harmful?  Does it not just give people assurance and peace?  

Answering a Homophobic Idiot

I made one more video as a commentary to Theodore Shoebat's rant on Old Testament condemnation of homosexuality.  This will be the last one I do, as this guy is an idiot.  But unfortunately he does represent a segment of fundamentalist bigotry (bat-shit-crazy) that we as a civilization with moral courage have to confront.



Please visit my You Tube channel Michael Thinking and subscribe for more unique vids of my perspective.

Gays Are Cannibals?

I redid this video, corrected a few problems with the original.  This is a commentary of a u-tuber's rant on homosexuality.  I wouldn't bother, but way too many fundamentalist Christians, as well as Muslims think in these ways.  If our culture is to mature in fairness, equality, morality, and ethical treatment of all people we must resist these ideas and call people out for their bigotry.  



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Richard Dawkins confused by contradictions

 Great worthwhile discussion.   This Priest clearly demonstrates the ability we have to compartmentalize faith from logic, reason and science.  The persistence of faith in a God concept is deep and unmovable in most adults who have been indoctrinated in a belief system.  


Intelligence alone does not bring one to a skeptical approach to religious training.  However, many of us are distancing ourselves from religion and exploring other views of the cosmos as having a purely naturalistic  explanation.  We see events that were at one time attributed to supernatural causes as merely events we currently do not understand, but one day might with research.  

The numbers of skeptics are still small in comparison with the religious, but are growing.  The more obvious damage religion does in the world, the more young people start to question the teachings of their parents and church.  One day we humans will grow up and out of this.....one can only hope.

INTRO to Michael Thinking : Anti-Theism

Are we doomed to an eventual religious war that devastates humanity?   Along with the cultural and political differences in the world that divide, religion has become a real threat.  Those that know they are right, and have "God" on their side to prove it feel little empathy or solidarity with those of other faiths.  



This is why I do these videos, publish posts and argue with the faithful.  We must grow up and out of these ancient myths and legends into the 21st century of global relationships.  In the pursuit of a fair and just world, although an idealists impossibility, we can advance, and have advance beyond slavery, abuse of women and children, sanctioned rape, and "Holy Wars".  This in spite of - and not because of - religion.



I implore those who can to join the struggle.

Please SUBSCRIBE to my blog here and the Youtube Channel "Michael Thinking"  I have over a dozen videos there.

MH

Video - Could a Real God be Jealous?

Would a God who was capable of creating all that is, suffer from such a common and destructive human emotion as Jealousy?  If you believe the Bible you would think so.  If a friend of yours told you…

        “Oh it’s so cute, he loves me so much he watches every move I make, even when I’m sleeping and worries constantly that I’m talking with other guys.  He just get crazy green with jealousy sometimes.  He must really just love me that much!”

Would you think this was healthy?  A good thing?   Tell her to hold onto that one 'cause "He's a keeper!"

Is it possible anything worthy of the respect and worship as a God would behave in such a suspicious and brutish way?

Open Letter to Governor Mike Pence : You really stepped on your dick brother

Gov. Pence (Mikey) 

I remember when you were in Columbus Indiana High School, even though I am a few years older.   I remember watching you come up through the ranks, graduating from law school, hosting a talk radio program, struggling to get into politics.  I respected you then, especially your Constitutional conservative views.    Your family was so proud of you.  When you were finally elected as Governor of Indiana I thought you deserved it, would be good for the State.  I was especially hopeful your monetary policies would keep the State in the black, keep the budget balanced. 

But this last move in approving legislation, officially termed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (SEA 101), that prohibits any state law that would “substantially burden” a person’s ability to follow his or her religious beliefs , really is a blunder.  I know you know this is not about religious “freedom” but a cover for sexual discrimination.  Isn't that why you signed it in a private get together, and not a media event? 

Can you imagine a business putting up a sign that says…

          Due to our religious convictions we will no longer serve Blacks in this establishment

Would you approve of that? 

How do you think the LGBT folks feel about your sexual condemnation of their lifestyle?    Can you not see this is the same thing?   Here we see plainly the ignorant consequences of religious self -righteous positions that cloud judgement and create discrimination.   It is an arbitrary, arrogant, and senseless move. 

Fix this now

Michael Hervey

Crazy Jealous God

 a Jealous God Reasonable? 

The Jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves – William Penn

A competent and self-confident person is incapable of jealousy in anything.  Jealousy is invariably a symptom of neurotic insecurity.   Rob Heinlein

“Jealousy, that dragon which slays love under the pretense of keeping it alive. ” 
― Havelock Ellis

“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;
It is the green-ey'd monster, which doth mock
The meat it feeds on. That cuckold lives in bliss,
Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger:
But O, what damnèd minutes tells he o'er
Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves!

(Act 3, scene 3, 165–171)” 
― William Shakespeare, Othello

EXODUS 34:14   “For thou shalt worship no other god; for the Lord, whose name is jealous, is a Jealous God.

See also:  Duet 5:7  9:24   6:15   29:20   32:16,21     Josh 24:19,  Nahum 1:2,  Num 25:13,  1 Cor 10:22   

There are so many verses in the Bible that describe God as Jealous.   He is the green eyed monster, always out looking for offense and threatening grave punishment to all who do not pay strict attention to him above all others.    This seems such a human emotion, and is very understandable once you accept that the words were written by a people who attributed their own human emotions and feelings to their image of God.  God was plainly made after the image of man, and not the other way around.  

The ten commandments (EX 20:1-17) , reinforce this self-aggrandizement and demand for exclusive attention.  Four of the commandments are directly related to God’s neurotic need for worship and respect. 

Given the importance the Church places on these commands, and the constant appeals to the 10 statements as the basis for morality and law, is it not quite amazing that they concentrate so much energy on God’s jealousy? 

If a real God, who was good, and cared about humanity and justice had penned these, would they not include a few mentions of the great evils of child abuse, slavery, justice and maltreatment of women? 

DO the Christians really think that God had to tell people not to murder, lie , steal?  Was there any civilization where these things were thought to be okay? 

Again… the commands have all the earmarks of man-made law.  Meant to assert one religion over all others.