Does God Really Show That He Loves Us?

This is how God shows that he loves us. We're supposed to believe God expressed his love by sending his son to die for us based on 2nd, 3rd, 4th handed testimony found in manuscripts dated to the 4th century AD from a pre- scientific superstitious people in a remote part of the ancient world, who included forged texts in their holy book that reinforced their hindsight conclusions, who destroyed other texts that disagreed, and who subsequently killed off anyone who didn't accept those beliefs, despite the fact that this same God allows so much intensive ubiquitous gratuitous suffering in the world? Nope, not a chance. Not even close. Nada. Zip. Zilch.

What Best Debunks Christianity and Religion?

I have been arguing that Christianity is basically bunk for seven years of daily Blogging now. I've learned a great deal in doing so from both sides of this debate and all others in between. Since I know Christianity is a delusion what greatly interests me are the reasons why Christians eventually leave the fold. After all, my single-minded goal is to convince them of this. My claim is that Christians leave the fold for so many different reasons because there are so many different reasons to do so. In fact, I've gone so far as to argue there isn't even a bad personal reason to reject the Christian faith in four parts (seen in reverse chronological order). I've also asked former Christians to share what convinced them to leave the fold and received over 200 comments of reasons which can be seen right here. But there are two reasons former Christians hardly ever mention so I don't focus on them at all, even though I think they are both serious ones worth considering. I find them to be basically wasted effort on my part if I were to focus on them, given that they don't work that well. Here they are, correct me if you think I'm wrong:

Dan Barker Interviewed On "The Malcontent's Gambit"

Dan Barker, co-president of the of the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) with Annie Laurie Gaylor, reveals a busy 2013 schedule. The FFRF is suing the IRS! He shares other news and views. It's a great half-hour interview! He comments on issues concerning nonbelievers and reveals the foundation’s growing pains. LINK.

Science Agrees: Religion Helps Criminals!

One of the oft-used justifications for religion is that it provides moral guidance and personal transformation. Now, a new study led by Volkan Topalli – professor of criminal justice at Georgia State University presents scientific proof that religion helps criminals… helps them justify their crimes, that is!

Almost all of the criminal offenders studied (involved in crimes such as car-jacking, drug-dealing, robbery, and burglary) self-identified as Christians, and professed belief in God.

My New Book On The Outsider Test for Faith is Shipping!

My publisher said it was in and they're shipping it out. It'll only be a week before Amazon gets it. Here is the flyer. Yes, I'm excited. Order it now and be the first on your block to look inside: The Outsider Test for Faith: How to Know Which Religion Is True.

"Faith: Not Wanting to Know What is True"

Previously I had mentioned the new Counter Apologist Blog. It's a good one. I highly recommend another one by a former minister called Chasing Black Swans. His excellent definition of faith is the title to this post. What is the Black Swan Theory that it's based on? This:

Quote of the Day, By a Real Christian ;-)

I am a Christian but I am rejected by "the church" for believing the Bible. I don't blame you one bit. The "church" as it is known today is a sorry group of hypocritical, self-righteous, arrogant, hateful people with no power to prove the existence of God. It's sad but true, there are only a handful of people who are really doing the work Jesus left for them to do. Our job is to love people and bless them, not curse them and hate them because they don't believe what we do. I am disgusted at what the "church" has become. Almost every mainstream church in America is following a spirit of religion where they think they have to do something in order to have favor with God. That is simply a lie. Jesus paid the price for Salvation and healing 2000 years ago. It doesn't really matter. There are very few REAL Christians, and chances are you have never met one. I apologize for the fakes masquerading as God's people. I see why people say, "I don't have a problem with God, it's His followers I can't stand." LINK

Shit Christians Say to Atheists: Translated (Part 1)

You’ve heard them over and over - all those clichéd, annoying questions and silly statements that Christians throw in your face. Well, let’s have a little fun at the expense of fundamentalists and translate what they really mean. After all, as the Good Book says: “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.”

"You’ll think differently when you stand before God at the final judgment!"

Translation:

"I really don't have any reasoned rebuttals to your arguments so I will comfort myself by imagining you burning in Hell for all eternity."

You See God In the Mirror!

There's a study proving this is true.

Twitter, No! But Facebook? Come Join Me.

I've decided to expand to Facebook. Not that I don't already have a presence there, 'cause I do. I'm just making my presence known. ;-) Come join me. You know my name. You know the drill.

Speaking of heaven...

... here follows an except from my book The Little Book Of Unholy Questions. Heaven is such a commonplace idea, even cornerstone, of Christian thinking. In the opening to this section, I talk about how the concept of heaven is stolen by late Jews just before the Christian period. This evolution of ideas undercuts the notion that it can be a cornerstone of Judeo-Christian ideology. If heaven and hell did not exist in the ideology of early Jews, and it is that crucial a set of principles, if it does not exist in the early tracts of the Bible, then something needs explaining! Anyway, here goes :

The Old Testament God Now has a Diagnosis: Narcissistic Personality Disorder

I just received my copy of Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Psychiatry, 2nd ed. to add to my library for general reading.

What Will Christians Do In Heaven For All Eternity?

Christians concoct many different scenarios about what they'll do in heaven for all eternity. None of them make good sense. Will they eternally play golf? Baseball? How about hockey, football, or even rugby? Boxing anyone? What about bear hunting? Hey, guys, how about having everlasting sex with a harem of 70 virgins? Oh, sorry, wrong religion. Regardless, what if YOU were part of a harem of 70 guys for some nymphomaniac in heaven who is just as ugly as YOU are? More seriously, what about being in a prostate position eternally worshiping God? This just seems boring to most Christians, that's all. I can hear some of the saints in heaven now:

Hey, God, can I get up and do something productive? Do you sincerely not want me to do anything now that I'm here? Doing productive activities is self-fulfilling and makes me happy. Let me do something, please, anything. Can I at least get up and stretch, or go catch up with the "few" family and friends of mine that made it here? If nothing else, your wonderfulness, can I go to the bathroom? ;-)

Robert Ingersoll On Miracles

Robert Ingersoll was interviewed in the Pittsburgh Dispatch, December 11, 1880, where he was asked about miracles in one part of it. This is must reading, the end of it is funny, really funny.

What Religion Has Contributed to the World This Month

Chris Hallquist's Book is Now Available for Free

Chris's book UFOs, Ghosts, and a Rising God: Debunking the Resurrection of Jesus, which I wrote a blurb recommending it, is now being made available for free. It takes on Christian apologists like William Lane Craig on the resurrection of Jesus. Get it right here. As he says though, if you like it and wish to donate to him for it, please do. But he says, "I’ll also be happy if all you do is read it, enjoy it, and tell your friends about it."

Civility, Like Tolerance, Like Free Speech, Like Human Rights, Like Freethought, Like Peace, Like Justice, Are All Contingent On the Truth

I have suffered attacks from both Christians and atheists mostly because I Stand in the Gap, but also because I do not suffer fools gladly. Never have, probably never will. Sometimes my temperament gets in the way and I'm sorry that's the way it is, but that's the way it is sometimes. My temperament is what makes me who I am though. Without it I would not be as passionate or effective as I am in debunking Christianity. You'll have to take the good with the bad I suppose. It's all I can offer. I hope it's enough. I sincerely apologize if it isn't good enough to some of my readers. It's who I am. I can no more change who I am than you can change who you are. But I like who I am and I don't give a damn if anyone of you think otherwise. ;-) Really!

Now enters Dan Fincke, a former Freethought Blogger, who just issued a pledge to civility that I'm supposed to sign, something Jeff Lowder has endorsed with his full support. Ed Clint calls it a Lemon Pledge though, while Chris Hallquist says he's not signing it, just as Notung said he won't be signing it. Others have chimed in as well, like Damion Reinhardt, and especially Russell Blackford. More responses are certainly coming. I wonder why Hemant Mehta hasn't endorsed it or commented on it, since he seems to link to things that concern most atheists. Well, now. What am I supposed to make of this? I pride myself on being sort of a mediator, someone who thinks outside the box, so let's see if I can. If not, at least I tried. I'm in a unique situation since I sometimes get attacked by both sides.

I Get Encouraging Emails

Dear Mr. Loftus,

I just wanted to take some time to drop you a note of encouragement. I happened upon your blog some months ago in the midst of my own deconversion from Christianity and have been visiting it regularly ever since. I’ve come to enjoy not only your blog, but also many of those in your network. I recently purchased a copy of The Christian Delusion and have found the insights in the first section in particular to be quite helpful while reflecting upon my own mindset in the 20+ years I was actively involved in Christianity and in evaluating the thinking of those I have left behind and continue to try to reach even as they fight to bring me back.

Jerry Coyne Calls 'Em As I Sees 'Em, Bullshit!

Dr. Coyne comments about a Spectator piece written by atheist Douglas Murray, who argues "it’s time we admitted that religion has some points in its favour." Jerry responds:

This is, pardon my French, complete bullshit. If Adam and Eve did not exist, and there was no Original Sin caused by human action, and the Primal Couple was just a metaphor, it means that if Jesus really was crucified and resurrected, he died for a metaphor.

A New Counter-Apologetics Blog

I know all too well how hard it is to get one's work out there. I was contacted by someone who just started a new blog and it looks good upon skimming it. Give it a look and report back with what you think. You can read about this person's goals right here.

Notes For Today's Class On the OTF

Today at 1 PM EST I'm going to Skype with the students in Professor Peter Boghossian's "New Atheism" class at Portland State University. I'm grateful for this opportunity. It's going to be about my soon to be released book, The Outsider Test for Faith (OTF).

I'll probably be referring to the following links so they're numbered below for reference:

Five Definitive Answers When Christians Say We Never Were Christians

When I first went online I was repeatedly told by Christians that I was never a Christian. At first I got upset because it was personal with me. In my mind it was as if they were calling me a liar. I answered pretty much as former pastor's wife Theresa did right here, by trying to express my devotion to Christ and his church. Over the years I have developed better answers. Here are the five definitive answers to such drivel:

1) So what? What does this have to do with my arguments? If I was never a Christian how does that affect your judgment of them? If some atheists were never Christians does it mean you don't have to take their arguments seriously? If you must do so with them, why is this an issue when it comes to me?

2) If you think this then that's just one of the delusions you have. There are many others. ;-) You have to believe one interpretation of some ancient superstitious texts over the overwhelming number of testimonies from all ex-Christians, which highlights your delusion.

3) So let me get this straight, your God promised to save me if I believed, and I did, and he didn't keep his promise? What does that say about your God?

4) I actually don't think any Christian has real faith, so at least I honestly admit I'm a non-believer. As I said before in a letter to Christians who claim I still really believe deep down :

Ingersoll's Preface to "Faith or Fact"

This is once again sent to me by Julian Haydon.

Christ-Mythicist Neil Godfrey Agrees With Me

John Loftus of Debunking Christianity made it clear that one of the worst things he could take up in his efforts to debunk Christianity was to argue Jesus did not exist. In one of his more recent statements to this effect he wrote: "Christians will be more likely to listen to me than someone who claims Jesus probably didn’t exist at all." He follows with this: "I am a focused, passionate man, who is single mindedly intent on debunking Christianity. This issue [mythicism] will not do the job for the simple fact of what evangelicals like David Marshall think of such a claim. It’s too far removed from what they will consider a possibility. I’d like to hear of the vast numbers of Christians who abandoned their faith because they were convinced Jesus didn’t exist. I just don’t see that happening at all. Christians will not see their faith is a delusion until they first see that the Bible is unreliable and untrustworthy, and that the doctrines they believe are indefensible, which is my focus. Now it might be that Christians could come to the conclusion the Bible is unreliable upon reading arguments that Jesus never existed, but they will be much less likely to read those very arguments because that thesis is too far removed from what they can consider a possibility."

Exactly. I agree 100% with what John Loftus writes here about the value of the Christ Myth idea for debunking Christianity. LINK.

Does the Internet Spell Doom For Organized Religion?

Hell yes! Or, do you live in a cave? Valerie Tarico tells us of six kinds of web content that are like, well, electrolysis on religion’s hairy toes, or more like Kryptonite to the Superman of religion.