I love it when people argue Catholic doctrine with me.

It makes me all warm and fuzzy to school them. The latest is a round of "You don't know anything about Catholicism--birth control is NOT a mortal sin." I mean, come on, that's Catholicism 101; give me something challenging.

Those three years in the seminary didn't go to waste. Why is it that everyone assumes that atheists are completely clueless about religion. We're not idiots, people.

I've seen that movie a few times - I know how it will always end. :)

we'd be religious...

I like that - may I please appropriate it for my own use?

Most of the atheists' and other skeptics' I know are very knowledgeable about most religions; they're actually pretty interesting in a cultural anthropology/abnormal psychology sort of way - sort of like studying an isolated indigenous culture or trying to understand what drives a sociopath.

feel free. :thumbsup:

And it's true..the reason many atheists are atheists is because they know far too much about the history and sacred texts of religions to ever take them seriously as either true or morally sound.

With your permission, I'll be using that as well. I will, of course, credit my source. :)
The more I learn about religion the more atheist I become.

you have my blessing...or whatever we heathens call it :-)

:toast:

We mustn't give DU a reason to disband the Skepti-Nazi militia.

Just too damn easy to get spread thin as a skeptic these days....but it's nice to be missed :-)

Woo seems to be at a fairly low ebb in R/T lately...but like mold, I know it always grows back.

Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand.

A man is accepted into a church for what he believes and he is turned out for what he knows.

Why don't buffet style catholics just switch churches?

Lots of people shop for a new church when they're dissatisfied.

he taught seminary for years and Art at a local university. He, has however, found reason and Atheism..

Religion is bullshit and he would kindly tell them such. When I tell the religious nutters that I am friends with such a person and that I will ask him about their accusations, they shut the fuck up.

I had him confirm a book for me: "The Fable Of Christ". He said the book was spot on and that it was legitimate. He was so excited about the book, he bought 3 copies and sent them to other former Jesuits who also confirmed the book as spot on.

They're secure in their religion and feel no need to proselytize. I don't think religion has ever even come up. It's the "born again" types that get under my skin. They have no compunctions about dragging religion into any conversation, never dawns on them that it might be offensive.:eyes:

I went to a boarding school where religion courses were required, so I understand where you're coming from, though I don't have your depth of knowledge. But I can remember a time when the "God-squad" types (that's what we called the religious zealots at school... ;)) would accost you on the street and I got a kick out of correcting their attempts to quote the Bible to me. I found that this was the fastest way to shut them up...:evilgrin:

And I sure agree with you. Nobody develops beliefs in a vacuum. If you've rejected religion, it's because you've experienced it, up close in most cases, and rejected what you were told...:shrug: