Some American Christians wonder why American Atheists are so angry, bitter and rude...

that Christians would become 'jaded' or go on the 'offensive' against Atheists.

They already do. There are countless Christian groups out there that are all pissy that people are challenging not their "equal" status, but their greater status.

You, yourself, have apparently seriously suggested an actual return to blasphemy laws. Blasphemy outlaws remove religious freedom.

Christians have not historically responded and do not even today respond, to such treatment with bitterness, anger or retaliation.

The Crusades weren't an example of Christian bitterness, anger, or retaliation against Muslims?

One notable example is when African American Christians experienced violent persecution and unjust discrimination, Martin Luther King led them successfully in civil disobedience and peaceful protest.

The irony of this being that Martin Luther King was dealing with Christians discriminating against Christians.

The sanctimony and false group-image of loyal christian piety in this post is staggering.Thank you for perfectly illustrating another popular gambit of the religious set:intellectual dishonesty.

Chris,

In other words, you simply cannot think of anything to refute what I have said. I would have had more respect for you, Chris, if you'd just said so.

Thelopes,

There are countless Christian groups out there that are all pissy that people are challenging not their "equal" status, but their greater status.

Would you provide some links?

You, yourself, have apparently seriously suggested an actual return to blasphemy laws. Blasphemy outlaws remove religious freedom.

I think Blasphemy laws are a good idea in any society. To think so, doesn't necessarily make me 'jaded', by any means.

The Crusades weren't an example of Christian bitterness, anger, or retaliation against Muslims?

The Crusades were beyond the purview of this article. We were dealing with modern Atheists' response to perceived discrimination and persecution contrasted with a modern Christian response. However, Christians who don't follow the Bible, the Crusaders for example, are as likely as anyone to be bitter, angry, rude, and retaliatory.

The irony of this being that Martin Luther King was dealing with Christians discriminating against Christians.

The irony is that these were Americans who claim to respect the Constitution and the Bill of Rights who were discriminating against other Americans.

Whatever the source of the discrimination, Martin Luther King's response was the correct one from a Christian vantage point. It serves as shining model of how to deal with persecution and discrimination, regardless of the source of the discrimnation or the persons being discriminated against. Peacefully.

Would you provide some links?

Probably the silliest examples in recent history would be the Catholic League and AFA's "anti-war on Christmas" campaigns.

Or how about the pushback for an appeal in the Ahlquist/Cranston High School cases?

The Crusades were beyond the purview of this article.

You expanded it with 'historically.'

The irony is that these were Americans who claim to respect the Constitution and the Bill of Rights who were discriminating against other Americans.

They also claimed to be Christian. Christians who blew smoke into peoples' faces, or spit on people just trying to go to school.

It serves as shining model of how to deal with persecution and discrimination, regardless of the source of the discrimnation or the persons being discriminated against. Peacefully.

And that's actually precisely how modern atheists deal with issues - peacefully.

Ahlquist peacefully brought up her issue to her school and was turned down. She peacefully brought it to court. She was called names and threatened in response.

Thelopes,

They also claimed to be Christian. Christians who blew smoke into peoples' faces, or spit on people just trying to go to school.

It wasn't because they were Christians that they behaved badly. It was because they were American Whites accustomed to their superior position over American Blacks. Surely you see that.

Ahlquist peacefully brought up her issue to her school and was turned down. She peacefully brought it to court. She was called names and threatened in response. And that's actually precisely how modern atheists deal with issues - peacefully.

Not according to the author of this article. American Atheists, (I know of only one exception on NV,) are angry, bitter, and rude by Chris' own admission.

Probably the silliest examples in recent history would be the Catholic League and AFA's "anti-war on Christmas" campaigns.

In reading these first two articles Catholic League and AFA, I see no evidence of anger, bitterness, or rudeness on the part of Christians. Those involved simply were naming businesses which they deem not to be Christmas friendly.

Or how about the pushback for an appeal in the Ahlquist/Cranston High School cases?

The pushback was from the community. Not necessarily all or only Christians. Any negative feedback she received could have come from those non-Christians who wanted to keep the prayer banner. One need not be a Christian to protest the removal of the banner. There are Americans, non-Christians who don't like Atheists or the Atheist agenda.

Chris,

You can't be serious.

I meant every word of it. You and I are not on a jocular level.

You mean like Anders Breivik?

Anders Breivik is a paranoid psychotic. That is a psychiatric diagnosis. He was so out of his mind, he cannot even be legally tried for his crimes. He meets the legal definition of 'insane'.

Check this out... Prison population by Percentage.

If these statistics are representative of the population, then that means christians are actually more likely to be in prison than the average person.

Of course, you will find a higher number of inmates who turn to GOD in prison. It is the nature of being incarcerated. Polling should be done that ask the inmate what religion he was when he was first arrested or convicted.

I wonder what it could be that makes Atheists much less likely to commit crimes and go to prison?

True. Atheists are more well known for committing atrocites, not petty crimes.

Prove it.

Read a history book.

What you aren't saying is that Martin Luther King was being persecuted by other Christians... violently.

If it were their Christianity that provoked the racism and violent persecution, I would admit it. But it was because the persecutors where Americans with white skin and those being persecuted were Americans with black skin. That's what racism means.

First of all, you don't think that Atheists are capable of believing in peace and love at all by virtue of just being atheist.

No! What makes you think that? Your articles are always so filled with peace and love toward Christians and Christianity "by virtue of you just being an Atheist".

Of course, you get to decide who a "True christian" is.

And you get to decide who a true Atheist is, that's how it works.

The Bible tells believers what the earmarks of a true Christian are.

You get to play God and decide who belongs on the other side of the pearly gates.

Have you never read in the Bible where Jesus said, "Do all you can to enter in by the narrow door! A lot of people will try to get in, but will not be able. -Luke 13:24 CEV

People decide whether or not they are christian by saying they are or are not.

Not according to the Bible. People decide whether they are Christian or not by repenting of their sin and believing that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, and confessing Jesus as Lord over their lives.

Those who were once true Christians have been known to go astray and lead others astray. So just because you once were a Christian, doesn't mean that you always will be one, regardless of the way you behave, or if you turn away from GOD.

It wasn't because they were Christians that they behaved badly. It was because they were American Whites accustomed to their superior position over American Blacks. Surely you see that.

Nothing in Christianity spoke against slavery - which is why the Christian-dominated Europe continued slavery for centuries. It was the mainstay Christian opinion that slavery was a-ok, even frequently justified by the Bible. Surely you know that history about your own faith.

Not according to the author of this article. American Atheists, (I know of only one exception on NV,) are angry, bitter, and rude by Chris' own admission.

What stops someone who is angry or bitter from solving something peacefully?

Do you really believe all the people involved in the civil rights movement were free of anger or bitterness?

In reading these first two articles Catholic League and AFA, I see no evidence of anger, bitterness, or rudeness on the part of Christians. Those involved simply were naming businesses which they deem not to be Christmas friendly.

I said groups were pissy that they weren't getting their greater status. People launching campaigns, year to year, angry at businesses for not advertising to 'their' religious holiday sure is being pissy about nothing. It's just another version of "political correctness."

The pushback was from the community. Not necessarily all or only Christians. Any negative feedback she received could have come from those non-Christians who wanted to keep the prayer banner. One need not be a Christian to protest the removal of the banner. There are Americans, non-Christians who don't like Atheists or the Atheist agenda.

Somehow I knew you were going to try that twisting away from it.

You really want make a stand that even half of the opposition to her - adults going to a school board meeting to boo her and people threatening her with death and violence, are non-Christians?

Also, here's a sampling of some of the twitter threats - notice all the "burn in hells" and hey, an overt "TeamJesus" reference.

And something like 78% of the entire United States claim Christianity. Is your stance really that this school, that displayed a banner to Christianity, would have a vast number of Jews, Muslims, and other non-Christians to come support displaying a Christian message?

Nothing in Christianity spoke against slavery - which is why the Christian-dominated Europe continued slavery for centuries. It was the mainstay Christian opinion that slavery was a-ok, even frequently justified by the Bible

People have used the Bible to justify so many evil things over the centuries. It doesn't mean that is what the Bible teaches, nor that that is the correct interpretation of Scripture.

Surely you know that history about your own faith.

The history of Christianity in America that I know also includes Abolitionists, and those Whites who fought for Civil Rights because of how they correctly interpreted the Scriptures.

What stops someone who is angry or bitter from solving something peacefully?

Oh, I don't know. Maybe, the anger and the bitterness. Angry people do not usually solve interpersonal issues peaceably. Jails are filled with angry and bitter people.

Do you really believe all the people involved in the civil rights movement were free of anger or bitterness?

I believe their leaders were. I know that Martin Luther King encouraged his followers to refrain from anger and bitterness in their struggle for civil rights. I don't know of any angry or bitter person who was successful in attaining civil rights. Perhaps you do.

People launching campaigns, year to year, angry at businesses for not advertising to 'their' religious holiday sure is being pissy about nothing.

You're entitled to your opinion. I read nothing in those articles you linked that mentioned anger or bitterness. 'Political correctness' is censoring words like " Merry Christmas" during the Christmas holiday season because of pressure from Atheist groups.

You really want make a stand that even half of the opposition to her - adults going to a school board meeting to boo her and people threatening her with death and violence, are non-Christians?

Also, here's a sampling of some of the twitter threats - notice all the "burn in hells" and hey, an overt "TeamJesus" reference.

I know this is a painful fact for an American Atheist to acknowledge but there are lots of non Christians in America who distrust and don't like American Atheists and what they try to do which is limit the free exercise of religion in public. Surely you don't think that only Christians are aware that people burn in hell? I don't see anything innately Christian in what was posted on that blog.

And something like 78% of the entire United States claim Christianity. Is your stance really that this school, that displayed a banner to Christianity, would have a vast number of Jews, Muslims, and other non-Christians to come support displaying a Christian message?

No, my stance is that this banner had mostly to do with the history of the school, not with Christianity, and that students and parents and others who were against the prayer banner being removed weren't necessarily Christian. There are many non Christians who don't like what American Atheists are doing. Non Christians would include Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Agnostics. Incidents like these only generate hatred for Atheists. This incident makes that quite clear.

People have used the Bible to justify so many evil things over the centuries. It doesn't mean that is what the Bible teaches, nor that that is the correct interpretation of Scripture. [...] The history of Christianity in America that I know also includes Abolitionists, and those Whites who fought for Civil Rights because of how they correctly interpreted the Scriptures.

Who is the arbiter of whose interpretation is "correct" ? Who are you to doubt the Christianity of the centuries of people reaching back to the start of the Christian church itself?

Oh, I don't know. Maybe, the anger and the bitterness. Angry people do not usually solve interpersonal issues peaceably. Jails are filled with angry and bitter people.

The world is filled with angry and bitter people - the difference is self-control.

I believe their leaders were. I know that Martin Luther King encouraged his followers to refrain from anger and bitterness in their struggle for civil rights. I don't know of any angry or bitter person who was successful in attaining civil rights. Perhaps you do.

Where did he say to refrain from anger? In looking it up, I found Martin Luther King said:

In the words of King in Freedomways magazine in 1968, "The supreme task [of a leader] is to organize and unite people so that their anger becomes a transforming force."

Malcolm X who also peacefully protested is to have said:

Usually when people are sad, they don't do anything. They just cry over their condition. But when they get angry, they bring about a change.

Sounds like they agreed with me that you could be angry and still act peacefully.

'Political correctness' is censoring words like " Merry Christmas" during the Christmas holiday season because of pressure from Atheist groups.

"Political correctness" would also then be censoring words like 'Holiday' during the holiday season because of pressure from Christian groups.

and what they try to do which is limit the free exercise of religion in public.

Nobody's free exercise of religion in public was limited in this case.

weren't necessarily Christian.

Why are you focused on whether they were "necessarily" Christian, and not whether they were probably Christian. I never said every single person in this case was a Christian - but you seem to want to suggest none of them were.

Incidents like these only generate hatred for Atheists. This incident makes that quite clear.

Christians are included in that hatred. Angry, bitter, rude Christians. This incident makes that quite clear.

I'm not leveling a charge. I'm stating what I see. All I see is your biased viewpoint.

So, give me an example of the articles 'non-sense'.

Um,

Not worth the effort.

Good strategy. Make indefensible accusation, run for the hills.

As I stated earlier -

Not worth the effort.

Besides, your BS isn't nearly as entertaining as another Viner who rants about atheists all the time.

Detracking.

Chris -

After consideration, I shouldn't have posted anything if I didn't intend to discuss specifics - my apologies.

You can delete my posts if you wish.