🚀 go-pugleaf

Religious zealots are idiots, but there is nothing wrong with religion. 
People are stupid and evil...most of them.  Children aren't, but they
learn this from adults.

I think you must have been raped by a Catholic priest.  You sure have some
issues to deal with.  I hope you aren't participating in Xmas, because if
you are, then you must admit that you believe in God by actually
participating.  Or, are you just in it for the presents??

Just because zealots twist religion to their own evil ends doesn't mean it
is wrong.  Do you think these people are really adhering to the spirit or
word of their religions?? No fucking way!  Read the Koran and you would
see something totally different than is advocated by moronic moslem
terrorists.  These people aren't religious.  They are evil people using
the trappings of religion to further their own twisted ends.

Merry Xmas.  I hope that you find happiness somewhere.

In article <385539A7.7582EB61@hotmail.com>, antitheist
<antitheist@hotmail.com> wrote:

> For those who missed it the first time:
> 
> A message very similar to this one was sent in response to the frothings
> of John Lauzon on the hfx.general newsgroup approximately 3 weeks ago.
> As yet, there has been no satisfactory response, so I am broadening my
> scope and intent somewhat.  The results will speak for themselves.
> 
> This message is, without qualification, in open challenge to every
> single system of belief in the world, in defiance of every conception of
> a deity, god, goddess, or ultimate spiritual being held by those
> religions.
> 
> We are presently in the closing days of the 20th Century, or at least
> close enough for the popular imagination to have siezed on the idea.
> This is the time when, some systems of belief tell us, the world will
> likely end.  This has, of course, led to insanity for some, rapture for
> others, and general paranoia for most.
> Along the path to this point, we have endured many atrocities committed
> in the name of religion: Crusades, Inquisitions, Jihads; fasts and
> hunger strikes; self-torture, and the torture and executions of others;
> the deaths of children and the mass murder of ethnic or other religious
> groups.  Scientific and philosophic thought which aimed at truth in
> defiance of doctrines has been stifled and free will has been
> subverted.  The religion of any country has meddled in the political,
> economic and artistic lives of individuals with no better explanation
> than the mystic "will of god (or God, or gods)".  In the name of some
> undefined universal plan, we have allowed theft, censorship, subjugation
> and murder.
> 
> No more.
> 
> We are now at a point where, as individuals, we are able to decide for
> ourselves, based on our own reasoning, the nature of the universe and
> the beings who inhabit it, and our success as individuals will depend on
> the ultimate truth of those ideas.  We do not need the myths anymore; we
> do not need the symbols.  Yet, the religions and churches and doctrines
> refuse to let go.  The Christian Church is trying to invent itself for
> another millenium, to maintain its power base; the Buddhists continue to
> turn inward in ignorance of the reality that surrounds them, the earth
> religions dance in defiance of the fact that their cults died centuries
> ago, and the Satanists refuse to recognize their own adherence to
> Christian dogma by their refutation of it.  The list goes on.
> 
> The only proof of the existence of an ultimate being is the existence of
> that being itself.  That is to say: a physical manifestation of a deity
> under conditions which can be explained by no other, more rational,
> terms.  To my knowledge, no such proof has ever been provided.  Any
> claimed evidence that exists does not exist beyond the shadow of a
> doubt, and as long as it remains under such a shadow, it is not
> acceptable as proof to any rational human being.
> 
> If, as humans, we are subject to the will of any kind of supreme being,
> it is in defiance of the nature of our existence (i.e. as rational
> creatures, for that is the trait which differentiates us from all other
> creatures) to accept such will without proof of its existence.
> Therefore, in the closing days of this millenium, I call upon any deity
> which exists to provide proof of its existence, concrete proof which
> cannot be denied by any rational means, cannot be explained in any other
> way.  Only such evidence can finally resolve all conflicts sparked by
> religion, and put an end to the struggles which hold us back from
> progression as human beings.  Only a lack of such evidence can provide
> evidence that such a deity or deities does not exist, and individuals
> can then be free to pursue their own rational ends without fear of the
> intervention of the lunatics and anti-life doctrinarians who try to
> propagate belief systems.
> 
> I offer myself as a target for this proof.  I will gladly accept sole
> responsibility for the consequences of my challenge.  If there is a
> deity of love, let it show its love, and if there is a deity of hate, or
> war, or death, or any character whatever, let it show that character
> distinctly and directly without subtlety or subterfuge, and I will admit
> my error, loudly and publicly.  Otherwise, I will take the lack of
> action as proof of the non-existence of a deity, and will likewise
> proclaim such loudly and publicly.
> 
> In addition, I provide an ultimatum: a deadline.  It is right now 13
> December, 1999.  The millenium, ostensibly, will end in 18 days.  If
> such proof as is required is not provided by that date, then the silence
> will reign as its own proof.
> 
> So, there it is.  The clock is ticking.  What will the result be?
> 
> I am posting this first and foremost for myself, to finally rid myself
> of the influence of all religious zealots who infect my world.
> Secondly, I do it for every rational person who agrees with these
> thoughts and is able to envision a clean, sane world unpolluted by
> unprovable mystical ideas.
> This message will be posted to as many newsgroups as I deem relevent,
> and will be sent by email to as many religious factions and promoters as
> I can find.