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Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: E who wrote (58566)	10/11/1999 9:33:00 PM
From: nihil	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

I am not an atheist. The responsibility is just too great. One can be a Christian or a Jew or Islamic and hate everyone else while being a member in good standing of the sect. The minute some atheist shoots someone all the religious nuts jump on atheism. My religion is that of Thomas Jefferson -- The Church of Jesus the Man. Poor, sick, beaten, forsaken, a man of peace and love. Pity his life was kidnapped and distorted by Peter, James, and Paul. They should have let him rest in peace.

To: E who wrote (58566)	10/12/1999 12:33:00 AM
From: Krowbar	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

E, Once when I donated some goods to be donated to be distributed to the poor, I was immediately asked "in what church's name". I requested that she put "Atheist" on the line. She refused. I doubt if this was the first time something like this happened. Del

To: E who wrote (58566)	10/12/1999 9:21:00 AM
From: greenspirit	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

E, allow me present a scenario to illustrate my point.... Let's say everyone in America woke up today and after reading Del's latest posts became so disilusioned with their religion, they immediately professed atheistic beliefs. And within the span of a few months all the churches and synagogues in America closed. My assumption is the following: 1. Charitable giving in America, which is the highest in the world would plummet. Religion helps make people aware of the greater good there can be in helping other people. Every church I have ever attended, at one point or another, passed a pot around to help the poor or needy. These small acts and reinforcements also help instill in people a sense of intrinsic motivation to go outside the church and help in other charitable pursuits. My second point, which looks like I didn't make very clear, is that there is a significant difference between starting a charity and participating in one. Starting a charity and sometimes sacrificing your entire life to the vision, takes huge amounts of commitment, sacrifice and intrinsic motivation. And my assumption is if you look at the roots of many charitable organizations today, you will see deeply religios people as the founders or core starting group. Therefore religion, and in America's case, predominately christian religion, plays a large role in the reason why we are such a giving people. Do you find fault with this reasoning? Michael