0 Votes
RE: Wrong place. Wrong Time.
Your ignorance is showing. As a Catholic Christian, which is the plurality religion in the USA (if you don’t count all non-Catholics as simply "Protestants"), my religion teaches that man was made in God’s image, given free will (in no way made to subordinate himself to God’s will), and does indeed have intrinsic worth. Why would God let his Son die for beings that have no intrinsic worth?
This is what’s so frustrating about Christians (and other monotheists). You’ve so completely bought into the propaganda, you can’t even think for yourself.
Assuming god did create people and the rest of that nonsense, one could presume that they have worth to god – that’s not value to the person. In fact, the Catholic Church does teach that your purpose in life is to serve their god. That you are basically nothing more than a tool in his hands to do with what he wills. That you mistake this for intrinsic worth is church propaganda – they essentially frame it in the context that there is no value other than what their god values (which, of course, is whatever they tell you he values).
Atheists don’t have the market cornered on suggesting humans have intrinsic worth. The two greatest commandements, according to Jesus, were 1. To love God. and 2. To love your neighbor. Again- why would Jesus care about us loving our neighbor unless he had intrinsic worth?
As near as I can tell, "love your neighbor" has been interpreted to mean "love your fellow catholics" (or fellow jews, or fellow whatever you happen to be) up until not all that long ago. Long sections of the Bible list neighbor after neighbor for whom "love" apparently means invade, slaughter, and pillage.
I hate the argument that goes…"you can’t talk about X if you don’t have any experience with X," but in your case it may apply- you look quite ignorant when you claim to understand even the most simple tenets of Christianity.
Quite the reverse. I grew up in a Catholic home, I went to Catholic parochial schools for a few years, and attended a Jesuit college. I just don’t let other people tell me what to believe.
I’ve read the Bible, and it’s appalling. It’s no wonder Christianity has committed such atrocities throughout its history – you can justify any awful behavior you want based on its contents.
On the other hand, it’s pretty clear you know almost nothing about atheism but the slander of the church.
RE: Wrong place. Wrong Time. by LordDilly
As near as I can tell, "love your neighbor" has been interpreted to mean "love your fellow catholics" (or fellow jews, or fellow whatever you happen to be) up until not all that long ago.
I’ve read the Bible
Did you, or just the parts that support your prejudices? "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." (Matthew 5:38-44) Seems pretty clear cut to me. You make the same error that other atheists on this site have made- to say that just because some professed Christians have acted a certain way it must mean the Bible told them to act that way. Listen, I’m, not even a Biblical scholar, but it took me a half second to demolish your above statement.