Webcomic Awesomeness!

[Celadon's Penultimate]

WonderDrow wrote

You're still a majority.

For now, maybe. Though, with all of those who fall away from the faith, or never had any in the first place, the numbers are undoubtedly lower than statistics currently show, and most definitely getting lower.

Not to mention, we're diverse, even within our same ranks. Some of the stuff I believe, others in my faith might consider insane, even blasphemy. Likewise, I find faults in certain interpretations that they take. Biggest example, I get ticked off at those idiotic Conservative Republican folks in government all the time, for their persistent stupidity.

Though, like I said. I really should keep my feelings about those sorts of things to myself, unless asked otherwise. They aren't fit for here, and thus far have only gotten me into trouble. If needed here, or asked for here, sure. Otherwise, there are place less hostile to it, even on the internet.

[Philote]

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Matthew 7:13-14

[WonderDrow]

It was so much easier to blame it on Them.
It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us.
If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault.
If it was us, what did that make Me?

After all, I'm one of Us. I must be.

I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them.
No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them.
We're always one of Us.

It's Them that do the bad things.

-- Terry Pratchett, Jingo --

[Celadon's Penultimate]

They don't dislike you for your accent
They just protest for the sake of dissent

They don't care about the color of your face
They don't despise your religion or race

They are the pride that comes from your fall
They hate you just because you stand tall

They are vultures, beware when they swarm
They make cold what once was warm

They make troubles seem like friends
They're where sadness starts, where happiness ends

Their joy is more when yours isn't any;
They are Legion, for they are many

Don't let haters do what they came to do;
if you hate them, then you're a hater, too.

-- Randy Micah 'Shadowulf1' Smith, They --

 And that wasn't written about you, or atheists, or agnostics, or Jews, or Muslims or Wiccans and Satanists or homosexuals or women or 'minorities' or any other cultural group. It was written years ago, about hateful people in general. People who purposely pick fights about race and philosophy and the like, but who have problems much deeper than those they stir up. That's why the comic bothered me so.

 It presented the perfect example of such a person. If you're an atheist, then great for you! Be atheist! Believe in the Big Bang and Evolution and whatnot! And if it turns out that you're wrong, or that I'm wrong, then we have to deal with our own consequences, good and bad! But neither a Christian nor an atheist has any need to be offensively showy about their beliefs! Believe it or not, Jesus says "...blessed are the peace makers..."!

 And you don't like Christians being all up in your space constantly trying to convince you that God is real, or that Christianity is the faith that truly follows the will of God, so why do you get to do it about atheism, on this forum, anytime you want? Regardless of what white people did to oppress black people in the past, it's not okay for me to go out and harass or fight white people any time I want, in revenge for my ancestors, now is it? No. Nor would I want to. I'd appreciate it if you and anyone else who comes on here would have the same respect for others that they would like to see shown toward themselves.

 Not to mention, our beliefs about the origin of the universe aren't so different as you might think. Believe it or not, neither the Big Bang Theory nor the Theory of Evolution actually exclude the possibility of God's existence. Personally, I think it's quite possible that some equivalent of those two theories could happen, but that if they happened, they were organized and executed according to God's will, and according to the perfect intellect inherent within his Omniscient mind. Only diff is my theory includes God.

 And my philosophy ('Whatever happened to create the universe, God was behind it') is likely not nearly as rare as the public makes it out to be. Most of the times, the crazies just have a louder voice. Except on MSNBC. There you'll find plenty of Christian Liberals, who I'm fortunate to say are quite loud in their opposition of the radicals. Oh! You'll even find a Conservative atheist! Kooky, right?

[Zaleramancer]

Joyce (The blond) is basically a fundie.

Not meant to be an accurate portrayal of religious folk in totality. :P

[Zaleramancer]

I don't rub your face in anything.

I put that up because it was amusing, Wulf. Not because I wanted to take a jab at religion.

Far to many Christians leap up in outrage whenever apposing beliefs are mentioned, but have no problem expounding on their own.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

 I already know that wasn't your intention. It's not offensive that you posted that portrayal. It's offensive that that kind of person exists; they're embarrassing, quite frankly, like that one relative we all have who receives psychic transmissions through fillings in their teeth. And personally, the kinds who put forth their beliefs without any desire to listen to the opinions of others (and even have a healthy debate about them once in a while) are the ones who deserve to be pushed into the closet.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Who said anything about rubbing anybody's face in anything? Just...just read the post I made above this one. If I'm leaping up into any kind of outrage, that should explain why.

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Well, I read through Gunnerkrigg Court. You're right Zale, it is FANTASTIC!

[Zaleramancer]

It's more or less that sometimes Christians act like they're being persecuted.. despite being in the clear majority.

[Zaleramancer]

Hehehehehe.

All the way through?

Jones is old, eh?

[Marvelous Miscreant]

You could say that....yes.

[Zaleramancer]

She's older than the damn oceans.

OCEANS.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

 Being numerous does not indicate popularity OUTSIDE of your cultural circle.

 Not to mention, like I've said before. Not every Christian thinks the same, just like not every Muslim, Jew or atheist thinks the same. So, technically, our majority is severely cut down, when you factor in Mormons, Catholics, Presbyterians, Methodists, Lutherans, Baptists, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc, etc.

And there's plenty of people in nearly every church who have no true heart toward God. Stirring up mischief and causing strife, they can be just as bad as bullies in schools. Not to mention, the outsiders looking in saying that, because those radical few are acting like idiots, that we must ALL be like that.

 I mean, I don't ask for sympathy, but don't go putting me on some pedestal like I've 'got it made' on the path of my faith, either.

 If I need to put any finer a point on it...we all struggle. We all belong to some group that is looked down on by some other group. Even sometimes within a group to which we believe we belong completely. Some black people would say I don't act black enough. Some gay people might scold you for not being bolder about your orientation. Some atheists might say that Wonder_Drow tolerating my 'X-ian high-and-mighty routine' is worthy of sainthood. Despite those struggles, though, this is supposed to be some kind of middle ground. A secular place where we neither promote nor disparage religion. I wouldn't have to promote it if folks here would be so kind as not to disparage it.

 Then again, I maybe should learn to lighten up, right? And you, too? Perhaps I can crack a gay joke here or there (as though I actually know any...)?

[Celadon's Penultimate]

...

[Zaleramancer]

[Celadon's Penultimate]

[Celadon's Penultimate]

[WonderDrow]

Shadowulf1 (Wulf) wrote

Some atheists might say that Wonder_Drow tolerating my 'X-ian high-and-mighty routine' is worthy of sainthood.

I chuckled at the irony of that statement.  
It suppose it would increase my faith in nothing.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Well, the atheist equivalent, whatever.