Atheists vow to destroy religion!! Yeah right.

Religion Must Be Destroyed, Atheist Alliance Declares
By Matt Purple
CNSNews.com Correspondent
October 03, 2007

(CNSNews.com) - Science must ultimately destroy organized religion, according to some of the leading atheist writers and intellectuals who spoke at a recent atheist conference in Northern Virginia. God is a myth, and children must not be schooled in any faith, they said, at the "Crystal Clear Atheism" event, sponsored by the Atheist Alliance International.

Some of the luminaries who spoke at the conference, held at the Crown Royal Hotel in Crystal City, Va., over the weekend, included Oxford professor Richard Dawkins, author Sam Harris and journalist Christopher Hitchens. The Atheist Alliance International describes itself as "the only democratic national atheist organization in the United States."

While most attendees on Friday night were adamant that God was a myth, the convention, attended by hundreds of people, brought into focus a divide among atheists as to their identity as a movement and the nature of the enemy they faced.

In his speech, Dawkins portrayed a black-and-white intellectual battle between atheism and religion. He denounced the "preposterous nonsense of religious customs" and compared religion to racism. He also gave no quarter to moderate or liberal believers, asserting that "so-called moderate Christianity is simply an evasion."

"If you've been taught to believe it by moderates, what's to stop you from taking the next step and blowing yourself up?" he said.

By contrast, Harris's speech was a more tempered critique of the atheist movement itself. While Harris said he believed science must ultimately destroy religion, he also discussed spirituality and mysticism and called for a greater understanding of allegedly spiritual phenomena. He also cautioned the audience against lumping all religions together.

"The refrain that all religions have their extremists is bull-t," Harris said. "All religions do not have their extremists. Some religions have never had their extremists."

Specifically, he noted that radical Islam was far more threatening than any radical Christian sect, adding that Christians had a right to be outraged when the media treated the two religions similarly.

Harris also criticized movement atheism and questioned the use of the word "atheist."

"Atheism is not a philosophy, just as non-racism is not," he said. "It is not a worldview, though it is frequently portrayed as one.

"Rather than declare ourselves atheists, I think we should emphasize reason," Harris added.

While the audience gave Dawkins a standing ovation, Harris received only polite applause. One questioner later declared herself "very disappointed" in Harris's talk.

But whatever differences the speakers had with each other, they were united in their contempt for religion and their belief that religious faith had to be challenged and ridiculed by secularism and reason.

"Religion is not the root of all evil, but it gets in the way of [determining] how we got here and where we find ourselves," Dawkins said. "And that is an evil in itself."

Dawkins was particularly critical of parents who raise their children as a "Catholic child" or "Protestant child." Children must not be labeled as subscribing to a particular religion, he said, and should be allowed to examine the evidence and determine their beliefs for themselves.

"If I said that's a post-modernist child, for example, you'd think I was mad," he quipped.

Other speakers at the convention included philosopher Daniel Dennett, evolutionary scientist Eugenie Scott, and Charles Darwin's great-great-grandson Matthew Chapman. There was also a performance by atheist rapper Greydon Square, who wore a shirt that read "The Black Carl Sagan."

Many of the attendees seemed to have developed an aversion to religion from conservative, Protestant Christians. Several of the atheists Cybercast News Service spoke to complained of living under fundamentalist parents who frowned upon any questioning of the Bible or any activity condemned in Scripture.

"It wasn't easy [telling my parents I was an atheist]," one said. "I still haven't entirely told them. I just say I'm a humanist, which they don't seem to mind."

Further emphasizing the attendees' distaste for conservative religion was the convention gift shop which, in addition to atheist materials, sold politically liberal-themed bumper stickers and pins, including "Impeach Bush" and "Stewart/Colbert '08."

A common decoration at the convention was the red letter "A," which was emblazoned on t-shirts and pins worn by several of the attendees. The "A," an allusion to Hester Prynne's punishment in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, is a symbol of the Out Campaign, a movement started by Dawkins to encourage Americans to proudly display their atheism.

Although Crystal Clear Atheism was well-attended, it received little publicity and media attention. The convention also experienced frequent technical difficulties, particularly during Dawkins' Powerpoint slideshow.

Atheists are still a small minority in America. A Newsweek poll earlier this year found that 91 percent of Americans believe in God. A more recent Pew Research Center poll found that atheists were among the most distrusted people in the nation, with 53 percent of Americans holding an unfavorable opinion of them.

But they are a proudly elitist and self-certain minority. When asked what the main difference between believers and atheists was, Dawkins had a quick answer: "Well, we're bright."

-----------------------------

Not that bright, atheist. You have a big time uphill battle and your chances are nil, none and zeeero. As most of us know that the Kingdom of God cannot be destroyed, defeated and so forth. In the end Mr. Atheist you will lose and lose very, very hard. Us Christians will pray for you and hope that you will see reason and very soon. Abandoning your fantasy trip I advise would be a great idea.

MahaRushie37 said:

Religion Must Be Destroyed, Atheist Alliance Declares
By Matt Purple
CNSNews.com Correspondent
October 03, 2007

(



"Religion is not the root of all evil, but it gets in the way of [determining] how we got here and where we find ourselves," Dawkins said. "And that is an evil in itself."

Dawkins was particularly critical of parents who raise their children as a "Catholic child" or "Protestant child." Children must not be labeled as subscribing to a particular religion, he said, and should be allowed to examine the evidence and determine their beliefs for themselves.

It's interesting that atheist even use the word evil. Evil is the opposite of what God will's, and they should be called on this fact. As for our children, seems they want control of them as did Hitler. Raise up your child in God's ways and when they are grown they will make the right decision or decisions. They also laud Darwin as being such a fine Atheist when in truth he was a self proclaimed Agnostic when he passed away. I always say too, had he had more time his theory of natural selection would have lead him to the ultimate selective choice any man or woman can make, i.e., the last rung in the ladder of natural selection, choosing Christ as our Creator Lord and Saviour.

MahaRushie37 said:

Religion Must Be Destroyed, Atheist Alliance Declares
By Matt Purple
CNSNews.com Correspondent
October 03, 2007

(CNSNews.com) - Science must ultimately destroy organized religion, according to some of the leading atheist writers and intellectuals who spoke at a recent atheist conference in Northern Virginia. God is a myth, and children must not be schooled in any faith, they said, at the "Crystal Clear Atheism" event, sponsored by the Atheist Alliance International.

Some of the luminaries who spoke at the conference, held at the Crown Royal Hotel in Crystal City, Va., over the weekend, included Oxford professor Richard Dawkins, author Sam Harris and journalist Christopher Hitchens. The Atheist Alliance International describes itself as "the only democratic national atheist organization in the United States."

While most attendees on Friday night were adamant that God was a myth, the convention, attended by hundreds of people, brought into focus a divide among atheists as to their identity as a movement and the nature of the enemy they faced.

In his speech, Dawkins portrayed a black-and-white intellectual battle between atheism and religion. He denounced the "preposterous nonsense of religious customs" and compared religion to racism. He also gave no quarter to moderate or liberal believers, asserting that "so-called moderate Christianity is simply an evasion."

"If you've been taught to believe it by moderates, what's to stop you from taking the next step and blowing yourself up?" he said.

By contrast, Harris's speech was a more tempered critique of the atheist movement itself. While Harris said he believed science must ultimately destroy religion, he also discussed spirituality and mysticism and called for a greater understanding of allegedly spiritual phenomena. He also cautioned the audience against lumping all religions together.

"The refrain that all religions have their extremists is bull-t," Harris said. "All religions do not have their extremists. Some religions have never had their extremists."

Specifically, he noted that radical Islam was far more threatening than any radical Christian sect, adding that Christians had a right to be outraged when the media treated the two religions similarly.

Harris also criticized movement atheism and questioned the use of the word "atheist."

"Atheism is not a philosophy, just as non-racism is not," he said. "It is not a worldview, though it is frequently portrayed as one.

"Rather than declare ourselves atheists, I think we should emphasize reason," Harris added.

While the audience gave Dawkins a standing ovation, Harris received only polite applause. One questioner later declared herself "very disappointed" in Harris's talk.

But whatever differences the speakers had with each other, they were united in their contempt for religion and their belief that religious faith had to be challenged and ridiculed by secularism and reason.

"Religion is not the root of all evil, but it gets in the way of [determining] how we got here and where we find ourselves," Dawkins said. "And that is an evil in itself."

Dawkins was particularly critical of parents who raise their children as a "Catholic child" or "Protestant child." Children must not be labeled as subscribing to a particular religion, he said, and should be allowed to examine the evidence and determine their beliefs for themselves.

"If I said that's a post-modernist child, for example, you'd think I was mad," he quipped.

Other speakers at the convention included philosopher Daniel Dennett, evolutionary scientist Eugenie Scott, and Charles Darwin's great-great-grandson Matthew Chapman. There was also a performance by atheist rapper Greydon Square, who wore a shirt that read "The Black Carl Sagan."

Many of the attendees seemed to have developed an aversion to religion from conservative, Protestant Christians. Several of the atheists Cybercast News Service spoke to complained of living under fundamentalist parents who frowned upon any questioning of the Bible or any activity condemned in Scripture.

"It wasn't easy [telling my parents I was an atheist]," one said. "I still haven't entirely told them. I just say I'm a humanist, which they don't seem to mind."

Further emphasizing the attendees' distaste for conservative religion was the convention gift shop which, in addition to atheist materials, sold politically liberal-themed bumper stickers and pins, including "Impeach Bush" and "Stewart/Colbert '08."

A common decoration at the convention was the red letter "A," which was emblazoned on t-shirts and pins worn by several of the attendees. The "A," an allusion to Hester Prynne's punishment in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, is a symbol of the Out Campaign, a movement started by Dawkins to encourage Americans to proudly display their atheism.

Although Crystal Clear Atheism was well-attended, it received little publicity and media attention. The convention also experienced frequent technical difficulties, particularly during Dawkins' Powerpoint slideshow.

Atheists are still a small minority in America. A Newsweek poll earlier this year found that 91 percent of Americans believe in God. A more recent Pew Research Center poll found that atheists were among the most distrusted people in the nation, with 53 percent of Americans holding an unfavorable opinion of them.

But they are a proudly elitist and self-certain minority. When asked what the main difference between believers and atheists was, Dawkins had a quick answer: "Well, we're bright."

-----------------------------

Not that bright, atheist. You have a big time uphill battle and your chances are nil, none and zeeero. As most of us know that the Kingdom of God cannot be destroyed, defeated and so forth. In the end Mr. Atheist you will lose and lose very, very hard. Us Christians will pray for you and hope that you will see reason and very soon. Abandoning your fantasy trip I advise would be a great idea.

Okay, this nut job needs to be taught a lesson...Matt Purple is NOW enemy number one....what an idiot...the first line alone is full of so much crap I need hip waders!

Matt the jerk Purple Said:

Science must ultimately destroy organized religion, according to some of the leading atheist writers and intellectuals who spoke at a recent atheist conference in Northern Virginia.

EXCUSE ME? Okay Matt purple, you better run and hide honey, hell hath NO FURY like a ticked off Christian who just happens to be highly educated in science......Science isn't out to destroy anything.....get a clue Matt Purple....you are just another mindless journalist- Your writings are irrelevant as are you

(CM) BiotechBabe said:

 

Okay, this nut job needs to be taught a lesson...Matt Purple is NOW enemy number one....what an idiot...the first line alone is full of so much crap I need hip waders!

Matt the jerk Purple Said:

Science must ultimately destroy organized religion, according to some of the leading atheist writers and intellectuals who spoke at a recent atheist conference in Northern Virginia.

EXCUSE ME? Okay Matt purple, you better run and hide honey, hell hath NO FURY like a ticked off Christian who just happens to be highly educated in science......Science isn't out to destroy anything.....get a clue Matt Purple....you are just another mindless journalist- Your writings are irrelevant as are you

 

    Exactly Biotech Babe,

  Any scientist that begins study with a predisposed position is NOT a scientist.  Ask any real scientist.  I will sit back with my popcorn and see if these "bright " fellas can come up with any new ideas that haven't already been hatched, pursued , and shot down in the last several thousand years.

Intelligent design studies have come a long way through science and the findings actually prove biblical transcripts far more than casting doubt on them.  

My experience has taught me that when you have a bitter malcontent who has not figured out how to deal with his pesky God-given guilty conscience , he blames the rest of us for leaning on the rock of truth and following the guy who's life marks how historians count years.   We need to pray for his poor disillusioned soul.   

TG  

Great Post Tommy! I give credit to God for my ability to even be able to understand half the stuff I am studying!  Whatever happened to remembering our history and that God was present as he watched over our forefathers while they wrote our declaration of independence and constitution.  

Science and God go hand in hand...if you ask me GOD is the greatest scientist of all.....look at this beautiful world he created, it is ever changing with a vast array of unique and beautiful species including man- his crowning glory. 

Matt Purple got it all wrong, and NO we atheists are not trying to take away anyone's religious rights.

We just want Freedom FROM religion just as you have Freedom OF religion. Worship at home and in your places of worship, but keep prayer out of schools. I can't believe parents can't pray with their kids BEFORE sending them off to school. Sam Harris's speech has been badly misinterpreted.

We're faced with challenges to our very survival as a species in this biosphere, what with climate change and oil reserves being finite. There's no omnipotent Guy in the Sky ready to come down and filler-up and cool us down.

Rozmarija said:

Matt Purple got it all wrong, and NO we atheists are not trying to take away anyone's religious rights.

We just want Freedom FROM religion just as you have Freedom OF religion. Worship at home and in your places of worship, but keep prayer out of schools. I can't believe parents can't pray with their kids BEFORE sending them off to school. Sam Harris's speech has been badly misinterpreted.

We're faced with challenges to our very survival as a species in this biosphere, what with climate change and oil reserves being finite. There's no omnipotent Guy in the Sky ready to come down and filler-up and cool us down.

Then I suggest that you go to a country that is more in tune with your thinking.  Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof which means I can exercise my religion without Athiest or any one elses restrictions.  Our ancestors and our ancestors ancestors have fought for that right and died for it and we will continue to do so.  This country is this country because of good hard working Christians which is why we came here some 400 years ago to get away from people like you who seem to have to follow us and try to control our lives and beliefs.  I for one don't believe in Political Correctness and we don't try to run your life don't try to run ours.  We have certain inaliable rights give to us by our CREATOR to whom we're thankful.  The wiccan, pagan forum is down the road lady.

And as a footnote people I would treat radMuslims the same way as they also want to do away with our religion and our way of life.  They say the radMuslim element is small maybe only 10 per cent, but 10 per cent of 1,500,000,000 is a hundred and fifty million pissed off people that either want you dead or converted.  Think about it.

Lady Jane said: Onward Christian Soldiers!  We all know the song!  Let them have it!  If not, let me know and I'll post it....

AMEN! And we march on FOR THE GOOD OF MAN AND OUR PLANET....and to improve and preserve what God has created. 

I am unable to understand the short-sighted beliefs of Atheists- that there is NOTHING after you die and leave this plane....ENERGY NEVER DIES IT TRANSITIONS INTO ANOTHER FORM ....number 1 Law of Thermodynamics.

There is another world beyond this one.....and its even better than anyone could ever imagine. Also the reason in the famous Eastern philosophy The Tao Teh Ching.....life and death are not "opposites" under yin-yang....life is life....but so is death....it is merely another form of life- everlasting life.

Atheists have their right to belive what they want- just don't stomp on MY RIGHTS....this country was FOUNDED by Christians so GET OVER IT- WE AREN'T GOING ANYWHERE...my ancestors DIED coming here to escape religious persecution in Europe in the mid 1600's and now you want to REVISIT THIS on me over 400 years later? Huh-uh....not in MY country...

Sorry for the rant folks...but I do feel much better! Ahhhhhh...God give me strength.

Sorry for the rant folks...but I do feel much better! Ahhhhhh...God give me strength.

If that's a rant then let it spread all over This Sweet Land of Ours

Domenico said: Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind. -- Albert Einstein

I had never heard that before Domenico....that is just about the most beautiful line I have ever read.....and from a brilliant man.

A very profound statement.

We actually need to get the Atheist Alliance together to the Muslims maybe the athiests can wipe the Muslims off the face of the earth.  May God give them the strength and courage to try!