The Legrand Family

PittieCity wrote: Let's just do away with all churches and the like.

To be replaced with what - coffee shops, so we can all have bad breath and bad attitudes?

PittieCity wrote: Let's just do away with all churches and the like.

I'm not religious at all, but I assume you're posting within the contiguous US... we have this little document called the Constitution...

Cool The Kid wrote: [quote=PittieCity]Let's just do away with all churches and the like.

I'm not religious at all, but I assume you're posting within the contiguous US... we have this little document called the Constitution...

To be replaced with moral intelligence. And yes, I believe the constitution also guarantees free speech, first on the list.

Why is it that Athiests are always hellbent on making someone believe in the absence of a God? You have the right to believe what you want so why not extend that curtesy to everyone else?

homeowner wrote: Why is it that Athiests are always hellbent on making someone believe in the absence of a God? You have the right to believe what you want so why not extend that curtesy to everyone else?

I don't think this one atheist speaks for all atheists. Also, since atheism is not a religion, there's no need to capitalize it.

As far as being "hellbent" on making others believe as they do, atheists are pretty far down on the list compared to other belief systems in the US. I've never been woken up on a Saturday morning by an atheist ringing my buzzer trying to convert me.

Carnivore wrote: [quote=homeowner]Why is it that Athiests are always hellbent on making someone believe in the absence of a God? You have the right to believe what you want so why not extend that curtesy to everyone else?

I don't think this one atheist speaks for all atheists. Also, since atheism is not a religion, there's no need to capitalize it.

As far as being "hellbent" on making others believe as they do, atheists are pretty far down on the list compared to other belief systems in the US. I've never been woken up on a Saturday morning by an atheist ringing my buzzer trying to convert me.

I have to agree with Carni. I know lots of atheists, none of them hellbent.
Did I miss something? I read the above "let's do away with.." as hyperbolic frustration.

It was meant as a joke "in the spirit" of atheism addressing the above thread (concerning the exploitation of religion amongst other things). However, considering all the praise god/Jesus contained within this thread, I am surprised that my joke could ruffle so many feathers.

Why can there exist no debate between the religious and the non-? Why is it that one side can knock on your door with pamphlets, scream nonsense on the subway and hire lobbyists to protect their interests, but the other side is considered "offensive" for undermining religious fervor? THAT is offensive.

So, how about that kooky LeGrand family?? (trying to keep on topic)

i side with Pittie City on all matters, foreign and domestic

I'm going to ask the next begging nun I see if she is a LeGrand

I made an account simply to comment on this thread.

I think it's ridiculous to even suggest that atheists are "hellbent" on pushing their beliefs on religious people, when I am constantly approached by people of all religious denominations for various reasons. I'd like to add that as an atheist, I think it's sad that so many religious people are not open to debating their beliefs. I don't care what you have faith in, I just think there should exist a voice of opposition (a devil's advocate, if you will ), and it irritates me that I don't get to question anyone's answers just as I would with ANY other philosophical topic.

Can Atheists be "hellbent"?

This definition of "hellbent" implies you may actually need to have faith to be "hellbent".

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hell-bent

However, it is not a requirement that one believe in hell to be bent. I know this because I do not believe in hell.

whynot_31 wrote: I know this because I do not believe in hell.

That could just mean you're a Jew. I was a Jew once...

Mamacita wrote: So, how about that kooky LeGrand family?? (trying to keep on topic)

whynot_31 wrote: [quote=Mamacita]So, how about that kooky LeGrand family?? (trying to keep on topic)

Okay, okay...

Soooo, where do I get West African spices? Oh, and I think I just heard gunshots... Are we living in a safe neighborhood.

Cute dog btw "whynots"

On the topic of the LeGrand's religious values......
My concern is that this thread has morphed into a debasement of all religions, holding the LeGrands up as somehow being the poster children for religion.
How about the issue of the collapse of moral values in modern society?
I'm sure that's something we can all get hell bent out of shape about.
Do we have to have religion to have morality? Is having morality a good thing? John Lennon's "Imagine" suggests we consider a moral world without religion. Is such a thing possible?

Yes it's possible. A moral code is specific to an individual. A religion is not solely a moral code; and even if it was, I would-- if I were religious-- consider that code a default of sorts to build off of. I don't think there's anything wrong with faith, just homogenization.

Prof. Dawkins makes some compelling arguments. The problem is that no one is creating those "moral institutions" that he speaks of. He can sound high minded and moral all he wants, but as long as the killing of the innocent child in Bed-Stuy and the prolonged distress of Steve Maynard go on, his lofty speculations mean nothing. Religion created a grass-roots tool to empower and engage people in moral dialogue. What has replaced it? Strip clubs and BJ shopping experiences?

Capt-
If you haven't read Bowling Alone, you should.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowling_Alone

The Crown Heights Orthodox community may be the polar opposite of what you are feeling and describing.

Everybody has their opinions about what the answer to this question isn't. What we're lacking is any idea about what the answer is.

Bowling Alone actually puts forward the arguement that the breakdown of our cultural insitutions (such as bowling clubs....) is at the root of the anomie.

....it points to the decline of attendance at religious services as a symptom and cause of the problems as well.

I'm open minded as whoever or whatever will step up. .....Religion works for a lot of people, and has achieved a lot of good stuff (and bad stuff) over the course of history. Bring it.

Well, the churches died for a reason. Their message in my opinion is simply outmoded. They did leave us a lot of cool buildings though, many of which some organized group with a relevant moral message could pick up cheap.
In short, I feel there is a gapping hole in our social fabric that needs to be filled by something other than "it's the economy, stupid".
What moral messge resonates with you? One that casts a big enough messge to attract a large following?

I do not seek to be a religious or moral leader.

Hence, I will merely accept your donation without asking for your servitude.

Moral or religious leader? Oh, God forbid you should do such a thing!!!!

Although I really hate the TED treatment of Sarah Silverman... [-X

Yes!

They are back in the news!

http://m.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/ag_having_nun_of_bogus_church_PMAEZfu0dZXrIpDyvxghyM