en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/515834 Comments by Quattrone http://reason-being.com/index.php/2012/11/14/practical-and-actual-atheists/#IDComment491115377 Yeah I agree with the Pope as well. "Practical atheists" are essentially what the hypocrites are. When people claim to be Christians then go around doing very unChristian things, its the people WE point to showing how hypocritical they are. It makes them look bad when in effect like the Pope says, they're not really committed "Christians" at all, they're just going through the motions because of peer pressure or fear or whatever. Sure its damaging.. to THEM. Not to US because they're generally not the ones pushing to outlaw abortion or same sex marriage or stem cell research etc. They're just along for the ride. REAL Christians are damaging to us because its generally they that organize political action groups and identify with a particular party and enact laws that infringe on everyone's freedom. So from the Pope's perspective, I don't disagree with him. Thu, 15 Nov 2012 12:32:10 +0000 http://reason-being.com/index.php/2012/11/14/practical-and-actual-atheists/#IDComment491115377 http://www.atheistrev.com/2012/11/bible-belt-votes-mormon-does-politics.html#IDComment483239500 I have never been able to reconcile the morale posturing of the Republican Party. My current theory is that in the spectrum of biblical imperatives -- anti-gay, pro-life, helping the poor, "giving to Ceasar" i.e., paying your taxes, it is preferable to adopt those values that allow one to point fingers at what others should and should not be doing than to support those values that demand more from oneself. To borrow a biblical phrase, it is the fallen human nature that prefers banning same sex marriage which costs a heterosexual nothing than to advocate for helping the poor and needy which comes at a personal price. This falls in neatly with the Republican ethical standard of "pulling YOURSELF up by your bootstraps" while requiring everyone to adhere to a strict standard of moral conduct. To which I can only reply, look to the log in your own eye sinners. Wed, 7 Nov 2012 16:51:03 +0000 http://www.atheistrev.com/2012/11/bible-belt-votes-mormon-does-politics.html#IDComment483239500 http://www.atheistrev.com/2012/09/how-democratic-party-could-have-handled.html#IDComment437917032 "On the other hand, if the Democratic Party refuses to do this and keeps trying to compete with the Republicans on how godly they can be, atheists are not going to stick around. " And if one wishes to remain politically relevant, where would one leave to, Republicans? Mon, 10 Sep 2012 15:21:56 +0000 http://www.atheistrev.com/2012/09/how-democratic-party-could-have-handled.html#IDComment437917032 http://www.atheistrev.com/2012/08/many-christians-do-not-believe-in-prayer.html#IDComment431799039 Well no, I hate to say it but there's some esoteric thinking there. The argument SHOULD be that if God was so great, his will should be done, period. Instead he gave people the choice not to follow his will. In reality however, his will is essentially completely against human nature so its exceedingly difficult to do. Its like saying his will is for you to stay awake continously but he gave you the "free will" to fall asleep which would of course be sinful. So you try and try to stay awake but of course you cant, and you fall asleep. You pray for *strength* to stay awake so you can follow his will like both of you want you to, and in fact the Bible *promises* that if you ask for things -- the things that he actually wants you do, like HIS WILL -- he WILL give them to you. But he doesnt. Its proof positive, personal proof, that he breaks his promises and therefore doesnt exist. I was on my KNEES praying daily, TEARFULLY, in the closet, privately praying that I could do what he wanted, and i couldn't. Utter waste of time, and psychologically damaging too I might add. Its a miserable religion and mankind would be better off without it. Fri, 31 Aug 2012 10:51:35 +0000 http://www.atheistrev.com/2012/08/many-christians-do-not-believe-in-prayer.html#IDComment431799039 http://www.atheistrev.com/2012/08/many-christians-do-not-believe-in-prayer.html#IDComment431537533 Well that's where the proof came in. I prayed for help to follow God's will better. THAT has to be his will. If praying to follow god's will is not god's will, then it disproves itself. Checkmate. Fri, 31 Aug 2012 02:47:57 +0000 http://www.atheistrev.com/2012/08/many-christians-do-not-believe-in-prayer.html#IDComment431537533 http://www.atheistrev.com/2012/08/many-christians-do-not-believe-in-prayer.html#IDComment431181986 I can't speak in terms of percentages, but I can tell you that I did pray privately for the right things -- not a better job, not a bigger house, for the right "biblical" things and knew others who did as well. I can tell you further that I know for a fact that it doesn't work and I finally gave up. Praying is like talking to a wall. There is no answer, no guidance, no results. It MAY help the pray-er feel a certain sense of comfort, and that would be its only value. There is nothing listening on the other side to do anything with your prayer. For productivity purposes, it is an utter waste of time. Thu, 30 Aug 2012 17:25:07 +0000 http://www.atheistrev.com/2012/08/many-christians-do-not-believe-in-prayer.html#IDComment431181986 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/5th_H1N1_death_confirmed_in_Indiana_20091008#IDComment37876138 There's rumors swirling about how many students at Carmel are out with the flu. Thu, 8 Oct 2009 19:43:33 +0000 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/5th_H1N1_death_confirmed_in_Indiana_20091008#IDComment37876138 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/local/marion_county/Driver_describes_near_miss_with_baby_20091002#IDComment37053644 She says she talked to CPS and she's still got her kids. I wouldnt exactly consider that an endorsement. They are just about useless. What are we waiting for? For this child to end up a stain on the road or for an Amber alert to be sent out before someone does something about this irresponsible twit? Sat, 3 Oct 2009 16:13:57 +0000 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/local/marion_county/Driver_describes_near_miss_with_baby_20091002#IDComment37053644 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/local/marion_county/Councilman_concerned_about_old_airport_20090924#IDComment35893749 Dont need to turn it into anything. Leave it as is and homeless people will find it on their own. LOL. Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:35:12 +0000 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/local/marion_county/Councilman_concerned_about_old_airport_20090924#IDComment35893749 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/health/Laser_is_new_weapon_in_fight_fat_20090923#IDComment35757283 This sounds like an undocumented horror story waiting to happen -- like the invasive liposuction, silicone breast implants, and bariatric deaths. Not looking forward to seeing the first total screw up on some news show. And a DENTIST is operating this fat laser? WHAT?? Please. Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:03:15 +0000 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/health/Laser_is_new_weapon_in_fight_fat_20090923#IDComment35757283 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/local/hamilton_county/Police_warn_of_consequences_of_sexting_20090923#IDComment35757031 The problem is more in our nationally dysfunctional attitude towards sex than in the alleged "problem" of sexting. Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:00:01 +0000 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/local/hamilton_county/Police_warn_of_consequences_of_sexting_20090923#IDComment35757031 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/sports/colts_and_nfl/colts_beat_dolphins_20090921#IDComment35489538 Yeah, I doubt they'll find anything remotely comparable to him for a long time to come. What did it take, like 50 years to outdo Unitas? I'll be long gone by the time they get someone to do better than Peyton. Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:38:32 +0000 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/sports/colts_and_nfl/colts_beat_dolphins_20090921#IDComment35489538 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/local/hamilton_county/Carmel_makes_pitch_for_roundabout_funds_20090921#IDComment35486686 Thats the only part of the Keystone renovation that actually MAKE SENSE. The rest has been a ridiculous boondoggle tribute to the alleged "brain-ard" of Carmel. 96th and Keystone should have been the first and ONLY roundabout installed on that street, for a fraction of the cost of the rest of the project which does NOTIHNG to improve traffic since traffic was hardly a problem on that stretch of road. Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:22:25 +0000 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/local/hamilton_county/Carmel_makes_pitch_for_roundabout_funds_20090921#IDComment35486686 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/sports/colts_and_nfl/colts_beat_dolphins_20090921#IDComment35482480 Yeah that was pretty interesting and had to be heartbreaking for the Dolphins. To work so hard and still end up losing; they'll be scratching their heads on that one for awhile. If the game had lasted any longer they might have won though -- I think their strategy wasnt wrong. They just didnt quite outlast the Colts defense, but they were close. Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:03:34 +0000 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/sports/colts_and_nfl/colts_beat_dolphins_20090921#IDComment35482480 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/money/business_news/nat_ap_san_francisco_want_to_read_all_about_it_online_it_may_cost_you_200909211216_2886095#IDComment35326561 Good luck with that. Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:29:57 +0000 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/money/business_news/nat_ap_san_francisco_want_to_read_all_about_it_online_it_may_cost_you_200909211216_2886095#IDComment35326561 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/mobile/3_shot_1_killed_in_overnight_shooting_20090919#IDComment35087147 Better than Detroit at any rate. Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:05:39 +0000 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/mobile/3_shot_1_killed_in_overnight_shooting_20090919#IDComment35087147 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/business/CIB_considering_layoffs_at_conv_center_20090914#IDComment34475744 Didnt they just get a raise? The landlord giveth and the landlord taketh away. Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:27:52 +0000 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/business/CIB_considering_layoffs_at_conv_center_20090914#IDComment34475744 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/crime/Man_arrested_in_Huntington_bank_robbery_20090911#IDComment33994560 Boyfriend of 11 yr old's mom arrested? What kind of absurd title is that? How about, manager of employee's sister's landlord's brother arrested? Journalism is dead in this country. Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:02:11 +0000 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/crime/Man_arrested_in_Huntington_bank_robbery_20090911#IDComment33994560 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/crime/Woman_accused_of_having_sex_with_boy_20090910#IDComment33971609 Where was this woman when I was a kid. Geez. Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:17:03 +0000 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/crime/Woman_accused_of_having_sex_with_boy_20090910#IDComment33971609 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/politics/Sunday_alcohol_sales_forum#IDComment33756431 Two things -- what is the point of the law if circumventing it is as easy as planning ahead? And second, why am I inconvenienced in the first place? Why prohibit sales on Sunday? I buy what strikes my fancy. 95% of the time I have no use for alcohol but if I happen to walk by the liquor aisle and a wine strikes me, I pick it up. And it pis ses me off ON PRINCIPLE that I can buy all my groceries on that Sunday, but that bottle of wine for some inexplicable reason I cant buy. THATS absurd. Wed, 9 Sep 2009 16:28:27 +0000 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/politics/Sunday_alcohol_sales_forum#IDComment33756431