What? Another page of hate mail so soon? How can this be? It is so because almost immediately after the last page of mail was posted (page 501) the shit hit the fan! One of my so called “hate mailers” there turned out to be a Troll! Now he get’s his in another “Giving atheists a bad name” issue of Hate Mail!
“You delusional fool.”
You shouldn’t criticize and joke about someone’s beliefs, show some respect. Let them believe in whatever they choose. God is no more ridiculous than thinking that the planet and life was made from clouds of gasses and dust.
The Earth is 6,000 years old and Adam & Eve really existed. You think Evolution is a fact when it’s just a theory, there’s no way you would know what happened neither of us lived back then. You stick to your theory and I’ll stick to mine. You delusional fool.
Diane Abbott
What if someone’s beliefs are hurtful to others? It seems to be discussing it, and even criticizing one another is exactly what we should be doing in regards to our beliefs.
I’m afraid I don’t understand where you’re coming from at all. Like, let’s say someone else believes women must cover themselves from head to toe with only a slit where their eyes show through, or be damned to hell forever. Criticizing that belief in a discussion seems perfectly fine, especially if their belief leads them to hurt women who refuse to do it.
I can’t imagine meeting someone whose beliefs hurt others and not interjecting my critique, if not just for the sake of the people they hurt.
Let me know if you agree, or if you still think there should be no criticizing of beliefs still. This is an important discussion to be having, and I think I’m right.
Bob
“Are you fucking drunk?”
Are you fucking drunk? You make no sense. Beliefs shouldn’t be criticised unless they hurt people, the Muslim women you describe want to wear those things, what’s it got to do with you? Christianity doesn’t hurt anyone these days.
Diane Abbott
Ahhhh, well that’s where you’re mistaken. I understand you might think it hurts no one since you’re so deeply entrenched you cannot see how it effects others. But I assure you Christianity does in fact hurt those who are both in and out of the belief.
For instance, the belief that anyone outside of Christianity is lost, a slave to Satan, sick or damned to hell has a great impact on those around you and the way in which you treat them. I know many instances where Christians have hurt others based on these false assumptions. It’s a very bad thing for your religion to lay these titles on others.
Also, to believe that the end of the world is a good thing because that’s when your Jesus will return, that most certainly has the potential to hurt others. Imagine how non believers see your anticipation of the end of the world. When we see you looking forward to Jesus’ return we see a group no different than a death cult ready to welcome in an apocalypse. This is indeed a hurtful wish Christians have for all mankind. The hurt it could inflict is unimaginable.
And what about the Christian feelings towards women, gays, atheists, and a great many other groups you look down upon? Do you think people aren’t hurt by that?
I’d argue that Christians, with their priority to God, Jesus & the Bible over everything else puts everyone at great risk! In my opinion people should come first, not gods or books. Let me ask you this. If your god asked you to commit harm to someone else, would you do it?
Many also argue that believing things on faith as opposed to evidence hurts others. Children have died having parents who put faith their god over taking their child to the emergency room.
Not all Muslim women want to do what they’re commanded to do by men. They face a death sentence if they complain, or act out. Do you think that all the women approve of their daughters being stoned to death for having sex before marriage? Please Diane. Are you drunk?
And what’s my penalty for not believing? Eternal punishment in the pits of hell? Do you think that hurts anyone?
If you think your religion doesn’t hurt anyone then you’re no different than an ostrich with your head in the sand, and that’s a stupid looking thing.
Bob
“Would you walk into a church and tell my grandfather that he should not go to church?
…if it comforts him then fuck you.”
Your average Christian or Muslim does not believe that the end of the world is a good thing. Stop watching fox news. If it comforts them then as long as they’re not hurting anyone it’s fine. Would you walk into a church and tell my grandfather that he should not go to church? He only started going once his son died (my father). Do if it comforts him then fuck you.
Diane Abbott
I cannot tell you how happy I am to hear about your positive Christian perspective. I know that being a Christian who proclaims Jesus’s Return as NOT a good thing is a brave, unique stance. Where most others raise up their arms to welcome the Second Coming, here you stand against it. I’m proud of you. You are a true humanitarian. Please Diane, I cannot stress enough how important it is that you spread this anti-Return sentiment to your peers. The rest of us depend on you for our survival. God bless your individuality.
There can be no arguing in the face of your parading of dead relatives. I must simply concede. Comfort is indeed the most important factor in all life. Above health, or sanity. Above truth itself! Comfort should never be withheld no matter the cost. Reality be damned! For it is through coddling, baby talk, and shameless spoon-fed comforting that we grow and mature to become healthy, functional adults.
You’ve countered my list of harms point by point. Simply put: “Grandpa depends on it. End of discussion.”
With that, obviously God is real. Thank you for clearing that up. I stand corrected.
This site of Jesus dress up is vulgar and it needs too get deleted. What kind of a sick man are you? Jesus died for your sins. So you can have eternal life. What is wrong with you?
Christina
Christina,
Had you thought maybe your guy Jesus is on his way out? I Mean, he was a knight in shining armor for the generations who could easily box themselves into self-gratifying communities with no new ideas, and complete isolation from a world of different beliefs. But now you’ve got the internet to contend with. Your kid isn’t limited to only getting answers from mom, dad, the sunday schoolteacher or the mailman. Now they go to Google, type in “other beliefs besides Christianity” or “what religion would I be if I grew up in Tibet?” and the walls come crumbling down.
If you’re finding yourself staring into the mirror wondering what the hell’s going on, this is what it looks like when religions start turning into myths. The frustration you feel has been felt over and over again by millions before you who’ve lost their gods by thinking too much. Entire societies switching from one belief to the next. From Ra to Zeus. Zeus to Jesus. Jesus to reality.
The neighborhood’s changing Christina. It’s time you caught up to the rest and let your frontal lobe fully blossom. Your Jesus will soon be standing between Horus & Kali in the Encyclopedia of Mythology, and you’ll be that woman at the park in a sandwich board yelling at people for ignoring you too much.
Bob
“If He isn’t that real why would you do that on Your website for all too see hmmm? Answer the question!”
sir you got this all wrong. Our Lord And Savior Will always be Lord. And He is real. I’m not that type of a woman that would stand there and yell at everyone for ignoring me. Actually I’d be helping out people that need help. Maybe you shouldnt judge me. You are not my judge. your just a man that God created. He loves You ovbiously. And I will continually pray for Your spirit. And yes this neighborhood is changing. Only by evil. This world is corrupt and very evil. And I hope one day You come too reliaze .
And sir with kind thoughts my son is only a year and a half how could he possibly use Google? Jesus is the Answer. As for me and my house We shall serve the Lord. And I got mad because people always represent Him in a form that’s messed up and vulgar. And He already is in the Media. But Bob with the truth He is Real. You are far from Him.
And really??? If He isn’t that real why would you do that on Your website for all too see hmmm? Answer the question! You bored? Look-in for something better too do with your life? Jesus loves you and He will forgive you! All you have too do is ask. you will be brought too Him No matter what He has too go through too get you in the fold. He died for your sins and washes your sins away what more do you want? He was mocked spit upon betrayed for your sake. So your fate don’t have too be the other place. Which is Hell and you better believe it. 😉 I really hope you didn’t get offended by this letter. I just care enough too share it. I really hope that you turn your life around and get your life together with him fast. The world is gonna be ending soon whether you know it or not.
Blessings too You.
Christina.
and if you have questions about Salvation or anything else for that matter just ask me. Thank you kindly for your time.
Believe me, Christina, my choice of Jesus over all others was based on celebrity. The level of Jesus’s fame is so great I hoped to be able to quit my day job and make a living off the magnet version of Jesus Dressup. It’s got nothing to do with how real I pretend he’s not or how threatened I am by his true existence. It had everything to do with self-employment and staying in the black.
For instance, I tried doing one of the Prophet Mohammed and no one really responded to it. I got a couple vague emails expressing some interest, but there was no customer base in wait I could depend upon. Jesus however is sure gold! And I bet right. Twelve years later and the magnets are still hot on the shelves. People walk into the stores and go nuts for them! I literally just got a phone call while writing this from a store who just found me on the web wanting to know how to order wholesale. Thank you, Jesus.
Now I know what you’re saying. You’re thinking, If it’s just about how famous he is then why not instead do Michael Jackson, or Spongebob, or a Rollen Stewart dressup?” Because, Christina, those celebs sue. Just like I can’t take a whole bunch of Madonna pictures off the internet and make a “2012 Madonna Calendar” and sell it at Barnes & Noble, the same goes for fridge magnets. There’d be lawyers on me so fast for trademark violations I’d be sunk. But Jesus, he’s fair game. You see, since he’s not real he has no lawyers who can sue me. It’s just that simple.
Anyhow, I hope this eases your concern about why I’m doing what I do. I’m guessing you’re pretty relieved it’s for the right reasons (food on the table) and as far away as possible from the wrong reasons (denial of Jesus’s love).
Thank you for your letter.
Bob
“DOES GOD NEED TO STRIKE YOU BLIND LIKE HE DID SAUL ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS?”
Subject: DRESS-UP/ CLEAN-UP BOB
HELLO BOB, DOES GOD NEED TO STRIKE YOU BLIND LIKE HE DID SAUL ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS OR, WILL YOU REALIZE YOU WERE WRONG DURING YOUR FIRST TWO SECONDS OF TORMENT IN HELL.
YOU NEED TO CONSIDER THE FACT THAT JESUS WENT TO THAT CROSS FOR YOU. TO THE LOST SOUL, YOUR WEBSITE MAY BE AMUSING BUT, THEY DON’T REALIZE THAT THEY ARE LOST “MUCH LIKE YOURSELF”. I HOPE THAT NOTHING HAPPENS TO YOU BEFORE YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO BE FORGIVEN AND, MADE RIGHT STANDINGS WITH GOD. ( AS WE NEVER KNOW WHEN OUR TIME IS UP!) ASK JESUS TO FORGIVE YOU AND START LIVING INSIDE HIS ETERNAL BLESSING. JESUS LOVES YOU!
Miles
Yeah, but I’ve yet to meet one Christian who doesn’t change their whole tune the second they hear about someone better offering a happier heaven & sadder hell. I get these emails all the time, and the mere mention of a god who can bench press a little bit more makes you take back everything and reword it for someone else.
Your god strikes people blind for not believing? How about this? I know a deity who’ll not only make you go blind but he’ll replace your eyes with burning hot meatballs fresh from a hot plate of spaghetti! I’ve got your attention now, huh? Not only that but this new god will write you a cashier’s check for $100,000 right now, including eternal paradise in the grave if you change your mind right now! Plus if you refuse you get the meatball-eyes thing.
Now let me guess. You’re want his name, don’t you? Haha… so predictable.
See, how can I take you seriously when you’re ready to change sides that easily? It’s pathetic if you ask me. It’s like you’re giving a handjob to one guy while your other hand is busy paging through god-resumes.
Miles, I’ll tell you what. I’ll give you the name of the better god for twenty bucks. Offer’s good ’til Friday, but after that it jumps to $50! What’ve you got to lose? You’re gonna get $100,000 right afterwards. You’d be an idiot to pass it up, Miles.
Don’t be embarrassed. I’ve had dozens of other people before you racing to an ATM for precisely the same reason. You’re no different.
But if people like to go to church and don’t really buy into organised religion, perhaps old people for the company and community, then don’t slate them, they’re not shooting abortionists or spreading religion.”
But they are providing a thin veneer of respectability behind which the bigots, racists, homophobes and others can hide.
Fuck the lot of them, just because you’re nice doesn’t mean you get a pass to having your ridiculous beliefs mocked publicly. Let’s break that veneer and give maximum exposure to the festering excrescence that it’s covering.
“just because you’re nice doesn’t mean you get a pass to having your ridiculous beliefs mocked publicly. ”
I’m sorry….what?
(and most of the ramblings were of this caliber, nice big words….but geeeeeez. it has to make sense or its just vomit…somehow.) shit piss fuck.
Hmmm. Maybe this troll is actually the flip-side of bipolar Peggy Miene (when exuberant mania turns into grouchy depression). Nah, probably just another mentally impaired nutter with nothing to say but all the time in the world to say it.
What if a troll’s job was to extract hatred from someone? In other words “to cause a person to ‘spend (get rid of)’ their hatred” is that really a bad thing?
Let’s look at it from another angle:
If the person in question gets angry but they claim they have peace (are secure in themselves/ their understanding of things etc) then why would they get angry? They should be secure no matter what comes along; that is their claim isn’t it?
Isn’t the fact that they get angry more of an indictment on them than on the troll?
I think Bob has turned into what he hates; he himself casts out those who don’t conform to him.
This is what he claims God does.
And as far as the Pastor conversation:
Don’t you think it’s weird that the Pastor would care WHY the person left their church and went to another? Bob is only seeing it from his point of view; as in a person who stops believing in God but there are other angles.
If he were a real Pastor all he would care about is whether this person had a real relationship with God.
If the Pastor were honest, he wouldn’t care which church a person goes to.
Why would a pastor want to keep a person IN THEIR CHURCH as opposed to another?
MONEY- TITHES.
If a person leaves they lose MONEY (and numbers); regular money (far more than the cost of a brunch). If they care about MONEY, it’s not a real church.
Or what if a troll’s job was to expose hatred??? expose that someone has hatred in themselves?? and who’s to say who the real troll is?
Uh-Oh. Looks like we have another (or the same?) commentator suffering from hypergraphia. Hope this doesn’t devolve into another worthless Peggy Mien (600+ crapful posts) thread.
Show me that person who does not has hate in them…….
But maybe there are other ways to treat people than to troll them….
Have no doubt, Lame Girl is Peggy. She Facebook messaged me almost the exact same sentiment the same day this was posted. I deleted her profile account a week or so ago because she’d gotten so far out of hand with the posts. Now she’s back… as Lame Girl.
Peggy seems determined to break into my site and “play.” I just got this on Facebook:
“honestly, you/ your site are so much fun to play with…
i get these ideas (of how to break into your site) and then i can’t help myself and then i just laugh and laugh and laugh. loop holes,,, i can’t help it, i can’t…”
Peggy Miene
In short, she making fake accounts.
She’s going to blather on about whatever she wants whether you like it or not.
We knew that the contagion had escaped the lab, but now it has mutated.
And I’m sure it’s just “a coincidence”but I just received notice that a whole handful of new accounts just got created for this blog in the last couple hours. Prepare yourselves people.
Funniest hate mail section for a while. Keep up the hilarious work Bob.
Trolls have jobs lame girl? Do they even have a purpose? Well maybe as a stooge. I must admit it is enjoyable watching a troll stretching its massive ego on other people’s computer screens, I bet it gets awfully cramped being stuck in such tiny headquarters all the time.
Bob is still the glorious winner.
I KNEW it!
If she were really so full of love for us, she’d seek treatment for her bipolar/OCD, take her meds religiously (Hah!), and stop abusing this site with her nuttiness. It’s hard to feel much sympathy for anyone who acts like such a jerk.
….Bob, you mate should be the first fucking atheist Saint for the crap that you put up with from so many either deluded or (occasionally) psychologically unstable people….you certainly missed a calling as a Psychiatric Genius or Counselling marvel!
It seems to me that too many people out there in “through the monitor land”forget that you’re just an ordinary guy having a bit of a laugh and getting through this weird ole life in any way you can,; just like the majority of us, and that you don’t really have to justify your beliefs to ANYONE if you so wish……mind you, if you didn’t I’d have sod all to read when I come here!
….whatever happens, I hope the buggers NEVER grind you down….keep up the sterling work
Atheists who say “You shouldn’t criticize people’s beliefs” are either naive, ignorant, or just not very well-read.
What about Monty Python, The Simpsons, South Park, Family Guy, “Moral Orel,” Luis Bunuel, Ingmar Bergman, Oscar Wilde, Patton Oswalt, Mark Twain, Mel Brooks,
…I have more…
Robert Anton Wilson, The Church of the Subgenius, the Dischordians, Frank Zappa, George Carlin, Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, Woody Allen, Terry Prachett, Douglas Adams, Gary Trudeau, Bill Maher, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Jello Biafra, The Dead Kennedys, Bill Hicks, Sarah Silverman, Mike Judge, Mad Magazine, Saturday Night Live, The Onion, John Stewart, Stephen Colbert, The amazing Randi, David Cross, Kathy Griffin, Penn and Teller, Rowan Atkinson and the rest of the people and shows and everything else? Will we censor all of this?
How about we just ban all Satire in the universe and have it over with, if we “can’t criticize religion?”
Oh, and Scientology.
This whole idea that religion is harmless is disproved EVERY FUCKING DAY by the asswads who picket the funerals of dead soldiers, or proclaim that “God hates fags,” or fly planes into buildings, or blow up mosques.
How about the televangelists who make millions off of gullible morons who are too stupid to see through their lies? Is this not harmful?
Hundreds of thousands of preachers telling their congregations that it is okay to persecute, hate, and harass people for being gay–or black, or female, or Mexican, or Muslim, or Protestant, or whatever their target-of-the-month happens to be….this is not harmful?
Millions of parents teaching their children that anyone who is not a Christian will go to a place of eternal burning suffering…this is not harmful in any way? Really?
Teaching children that science is evil, evolution is false, and the world was poofed into existence in six days less than 10,000 years ago…how is this NOT detrimental to the education and intelligence of everyone who receives it? How is it NOT harmful to the overall advancement of the society in which they live–a society that depends on scientific advances to improve life for millions?
I think it is about time we stop pretending that religion is just a harmless weekend pastime for little old ladies in flowered hats, or a cool place for kids to socialize. We need to get away from the idea that we MUST respect a person’s beliefs regardless of how crazy, stupid, dangerous, or retarded those beliefs might be. Religion has had thousands of years to prove itself, and has failed miserably. It has a shitty track record and a history stained by bloodshed. No, it is NOT harmless. Let us not remain silent when others insist that it is.
Damned right it’s not harmless. People think we should leave the believers alone, as if it does no more harm that a belief in Santa Claus. But no one I know gives Santa credit for the finest accomplishments of the human race, or lays blame for the horrors we can inflict on each other, or to our planet, on some diabolical anti-Santa who is locked in eternal conflict with Santa for our very souls.
At a point in each of our lives most of us leave Santa, and the Easter Bunny and all the other childish myths behind, except for the myth of God. And with that, we never reach adulthood as a species. The human race is capable of greatness, and I don’t consider pride in our accomplishments a sin. We are also capable of great atrocity, and we need to own up to it, not foist the blame off on supernatural forces.
These beliefs are harmful to our “spirit”, for lack of a better word, and we need to grow up!
But they are providing a thin veneer of respectability behind which the bigots, racists, homophobes and others can hide.
Fuck the lot of them, just because you’re nice doesn’t mean you get a pass to having your ridiculous beliefs mocked publicly. Let’s break that veneer and give maximum exposure to the festering excrescence that it’s covering.
“just because you’re nice doesn’t mean you get a pass to having your ridiculous beliefs mocked publicly. ”
I’m sorry….what?
(and most of the ramblings were of this caliber, nice big words….but geeeeeez. it has to make sense or its just vomit…somehow.) shit piss fuck.
Hmmm. Maybe this troll is actually the flip-side of bipolar Peggy Miene (when exuberant mania turns into grouchy depression). Nah, probably just another mentally impaired nutter with nothing to say but all the time in the world to say it.
What if a troll’s job was to extract hatred from someone? In other words “to cause a person to ‘spend (get rid of)’ their hatred” is that really a bad thing?
Let’s look at it from another angle:
If the person in question gets angry but they claim they have peace (are secure in themselves/ their understanding of things etc) then why would they get angry? They should be secure no matter what comes along; that is their claim isn’t it?
Isn’t the fact that they get angry more of an indictment on them than on the troll?
I think Bob has turned into what he hates; he himself casts out those who don’t conform to him.
This is what he claims God does.
And as far as the Pastor conversation:
Don’t you think it’s weird that the Pastor would care WHY the person left their church and went to another? Bob is only seeing it from his point of view; as in a person who stops believing in God but there are other angles.
If he were a real Pastor all he would care about is whether this person had a real relationship with God.
If the Pastor were honest, he wouldn’t care which church a person goes to.
Why would a pastor want to keep a person IN THEIR CHURCH as opposed to another?
MONEY- TITHES.
If a person leaves they lose MONEY (and numbers); regular money (far more than the cost of a brunch). If they care about MONEY, it’s not a real church.
Or what if a troll’s job was to expose hatred??? expose that someone has hatred in themselves?? and who’s to say who the real troll is?
Uh-Oh. Looks like we have another (or the same?) commentator suffering from hypergraphia. Hope this doesn’t devolve into another worthless Peggy Mien (600+ crapful posts) thread.
Show me that person who does not has hate in them…….
But maybe there are other ways to treat people than to troll them….
Have no doubt, Lame Girl is Peggy. She Facebook messaged me almost the exact same sentiment the same day this was posted. I deleted her profile account a week or so ago because she’d gotten so far out of hand with the posts. Now she’s back… as Lame Girl.
Peggy seems determined to break into my site and “play.” I just got this on Facebook:
“honestly, you/ your site are so much fun to play with…
i get these ideas (of how to break into your site) and then i can’t help myself and then i just laugh and laugh and laugh. loop holes,,, i can’t help it, i can’t…”
Peggy Miene
In short, she making fake accounts.
She’s going to blather on about whatever she wants whether you like it or not.
We knew that the contagion had escaped the lab, but now it has mutated.
And I’m sure it’s just “a coincidence”but I just received notice that a whole handful of new accounts just got created for this blog in the last couple hours. Prepare yourselves people.
Funniest hate mail section for a while. Keep up the hilarious work Bob.
Trolls have jobs lame girl? Do they even have a purpose? Well maybe as a stooge. I must admit it is enjoyable watching a troll stretching its massive ego on other people’s computer screens, I bet it gets awfully cramped being stuck in such tiny headquarters all the time.
Bob is still the glorious winner.
I KNEW it!
If she were really so full of love for us, she’d seek treatment for her bipolar/OCD, take her meds religiously (Hah!), and stop abusing this site with her nuttiness. It’s hard to feel much sympathy for anyone who acts like such a jerk.
….Bob, you mate should be the first fucking atheist Saint for the crap that you put up with from so many either deluded or (occasionally) psychologically unstable people….you certainly missed a calling as a Psychiatric Genius or Counselling marvel!
It seems to me that too many people out there in “through the monitor land”forget that you’re just an ordinary guy having a bit of a laugh and getting through this weird ole life in any way you can,; just like the majority of us, and that you don’t really have to justify your beliefs to ANYONE if you so wish……mind you, if you didn’t I’d have sod all to read when I come here!
….whatever happens, I hope the buggers NEVER grind you down….keep up the sterling work
Atheists who say “You shouldn’t criticize people’s beliefs” are either naive, ignorant, or just not very well-read.
What about Monty Python, The Simpsons, South Park, Family Guy, “Moral Orel,” Luis Bunuel, Ingmar Bergman, Oscar Wilde, Patton Oswalt, Mark Twain, Mel Brooks,
…I have more…
Robert Anton Wilson, The Church of the Subgenius, the Dischordians, Frank Zappa, George Carlin, Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, Woody Allen, Terry Prachett, Douglas Adams, Gary Trudeau, Bill Maher, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Jello Biafra, The Dead Kennedys, Bill Hicks, Sarah Silverman, Mike Judge, Mad Magazine, Saturday Night Live, The Onion, John Stewart, Stephen Colbert, The amazing Randi, David Cross, Kathy Griffin, Penn and Teller, Rowan Atkinson and the rest of the people and shows and everything else? Will we censor all of this?
How about we just ban all Satire in the universe and have it over with, if we “can’t criticize religion?”
Oh, and Scientology.
This whole idea that religion is harmless is disproved EVERY FUCKING DAY by the asswads who picket the funerals of dead soldiers, or proclaim that “God hates fags,” or fly planes into buildings, or blow up mosques.
How about the televangelists who make millions off of gullible morons who are too stupid to see through their lies? Is this not harmful?
Hundreds of thousands of preachers telling their congregations that it is okay to persecute, hate, and harass people for being gay–or black, or female, or Mexican, or Muslim, or Protestant, or whatever their target-of-the-month happens to be….this is not harmful?
Millions of parents teaching their children that anyone who is not a Christian will go to a place of eternal burning suffering…this is not harmful in any way? Really?
Teaching children that science is evil, evolution is false, and the world was poofed into existence in six days less than 10,000 years ago…how is this NOT detrimental to the education and intelligence of everyone who receives it? How is it NOT harmful to the overall advancement of the society in which they live–a society that depends on scientific advances to improve life for millions?
I think it is about time we stop pretending that religion is just a harmless weekend pastime for little old ladies in flowered hats, or a cool place for kids to socialize. We need to get away from the idea that we MUST respect a person’s beliefs regardless of how crazy, stupid, dangerous, or retarded those beliefs might be. Religion has had thousands of years to prove itself, and has failed miserably. It has a shitty track record and a history stained by bloodshed. No, it is NOT harmless. Let us not remain silent when others insist that it is.
Damned right it’s not harmless. People think we should leave the believers alone, as if it does no more harm that a belief in Santa Claus. But no one I know gives Santa credit for the finest accomplishments of the human race, or lays blame for the horrors we can inflict on each other, or to our planet, on some diabolical anti-Santa who is locked in eternal conflict with Santa for our very souls.
At a point in each of our lives most of us leave Santa, and the Easter Bunny and all the other childish myths behind, except for the myth of God. And with that, we never reach adulthood as a species. The human race is capable of greatness, and I don’t consider pride in our accomplishments a sin. We are also capable of great atrocity, and we need to own up to it, not foist the blame off on supernatural forces.
These beliefs are harmful to our “spirit”, for lack of a better word, and we need to grow up!