As a plethora of atheists have touched on many times, organized religion is full of wonderful contradictions that even the most learned scholars cannot properly explain.
Perhaps this is trivial, but I still can't figure out why a being that has no limitations needed to take a day off after creating the world.
"Wow guys, I'm beat - I'm going to spend Sunday taking it easy," aren't words you'd normally equate with the Almighty. Yet on the seventh day He rested.
But why?
He wanted you to take one day and do nothing but worship him, so He took one day off and did nothing but worship Himself?
If He's God, why didn't He just tell you to take a day off! Isn't that one of the requirements of being a Christian: that you must do what He says!?
And why would He encourage laziness? Wouldn't hard work honor Him?
And I'm sorry, but He "rested"? Why does God need rest? That means God can do anything except work seven days in a row. I suppose I should be impressed seeing as how I only work a measly five days a week. Or perhaps I should look at it like this: "God only has the stamina to work one more day a week than myself! I'm God-like in my work ethic!"
Does God not like work? Is it unpleasant for him? Why would He create something He didn't like? After He created the earth, did He say to His angels, "I can't tell you how glad I am that's over," while popping open a beer and picking up the remote control to watch a religious program about His glory.
I just think whoever wrote the Bible should have been a little more careful when it came to accuracy. Then again, I'm the same person who got angry when Rachel from Friends sisters came to visit and we discovered that they couldn't possibly have accumulated the wealth needed to buy a ski lodge despite the fact that in an earlier episode Rachel took the gang, minus Ross, for a weekend of skiing at "her sister's retreat."
I suppose the writers of the Bible had an understanding of just how gullible future generations would be and felt all that was needed to convince them of God's existence was a bunch of words carelessly slapped together.
Or maybe they didn't dream it would work...
"Hey Ezekiel, should we proof read this thing? It's got to be full of inaccuracies."
"Why bother - it's not like its going to eventually become the best selling book in the history of the world or anything. It's so full of holes I doubt I'll even be able to get my parents to shell out a single shekel."
Well, I better go now; I'm tired after all this writing.
Uh-oh, maybe that means I'm turning into one of those religious zealots!
Religion Will Give You Something to Cry About
Some of my favorite debates on cable news channels are between Christian parents, who believe that sparing the rod is a horrific sin, and normal parents who realize one doesn't need to resort to acts of violence to be an affective teacher.
Christians use the Bible to defend behavior that makes them feel better about themselves. Spanking, or other abuse inflicted upon a child, will in no way help said youngster lead a better life. Rationally teaching them right from wrong at an early age is what they need.
How many adults make moral decisions in life because they're afraid of being paddled by a parental figure?
How many adults make moral decisions in life because they intellectually understand what is right and what is wrong?
We beat our pets because they can't comprehend language. You Christians spank your children because it's a great way to relieve stress, and your book of worship indicates that - not only are you not a monster – your abuse is of a holy nature.
"Did you notice that bump protruding from my child's backside - the ones that is throbbing so badly you can see it pulsate from across the room? Yeah, well I can't take all the credit - God's inspiring words helped my arm move through the air with the force necessary to create a welt of such magnitude."
It should never be forgotten that Christianity is not the only religion that has followers who consider violence to be their God-given responsibility.
Of course Christians criticize radical Islam for their desire to kill innocence with the, "It's perfectly fine to commit minor acts of violence against children, but to actively pursue their death is taking things way too far," argument. I keep expecting to drive by a local church and in place of the usual "God Loves You," sign, see the words, "Keep Your Physical Abuse at a Reasonable Level."
I suppose I understand why it's necessary for Christians to use force in order to discipline their children. I think it would be very difficult to teach them values based on a book full of contradictions.
"If you go by this Bible verse I did the right thing, Daddy."
"Yeah, but if you go by these three verses here, and this one in Deuteronomy, it's clear that you did the wrong thing, Son."
"But that doesn't make any sense!"
"Oh yeah, well, uhhh... get my paddle and bend over my knee!"
I understand raising children is not easy - but people who resort to violence as soon as things become difficult are what I refer to as a Neanderthals.
And of course spanking isn't even enough for some fundamentalist Christians.
Take the lady who played Blaire in the Facts of Life. She has bragged about her fondness for putting hot sauce on her children's tongues when they've been naughty.
Does anyone really believe she does this for the benefit of her offspring? Does anyone really believe that she doesn't immensely enjoy the feeling of power that comes with abusing her children in a manner that likely won't result in a lengthy prison sentence?
Her book, Creative Correction, which gives abusive punishment ideas to Christian parents, is basically a guide for demented souls who believe children are their property to be treated however they see fit - yet have no desire to see the inside of a jail cell.
I suppose I could be wrong. I suppose when those kids are all grown up and asked, "So, how have you managed to not go on a shooting spree all these years," they'll respond, "I have to give all the credit to God and a few drops of perfectly placed Tabasco."
I suppose, after they have children of their own, they'll never be at a Mexican restaurant, and when asked by the server if they'd like mild or hot sauce on their burrito, curl up in a little ball on the cushion of the booth, rocking back and forth, hugging their knees and sucking their thumb while screaming, "But why Mommy - I've been a good boy! I've been a very, very good boy!"
Christians use the Bible to defend behavior that makes them feel better about themselves. Spanking, or other abuse inflicted upon a child, will in no way help said youngster lead a better life. Rationally teaching them right from wrong at an early age is what they need.
How many adults make moral decisions in life because they're afraid of being paddled by a parental figure?
How many adults make moral decisions in life because they intellectually understand what is right and what is wrong?
We beat our pets because they can't comprehend language. You Christians spank your children because it's a great way to relieve stress, and your book of worship indicates that - not only are you not a monster – your abuse is of a holy nature.
"Did you notice that bump protruding from my child's backside - the ones that is throbbing so badly you can see it pulsate from across the room? Yeah, well I can't take all the credit - God's inspiring words helped my arm move through the air with the force necessary to create a welt of such magnitude."
It should never be forgotten that Christianity is not the only religion that has followers who consider violence to be their God-given responsibility.
Of course Christians criticize radical Islam for their desire to kill innocence with the, "It's perfectly fine to commit minor acts of violence against children, but to actively pursue their death is taking things way too far," argument. I keep expecting to drive by a local church and in place of the usual "God Loves You," sign, see the words, "Keep Your Physical Abuse at a Reasonable Level."
I suppose I understand why it's necessary for Christians to use force in order to discipline their children. I think it would be very difficult to teach them values based on a book full of contradictions.
"If you go by this Bible verse I did the right thing, Daddy."
"Yeah, but if you go by these three verses here, and this one in Deuteronomy, it's clear that you did the wrong thing, Son."
"But that doesn't make any sense!"
"Oh yeah, well, uhhh... get my paddle and bend over my knee!"
I understand raising children is not easy - but people who resort to violence as soon as things become difficult are what I refer to as a Neanderthals.
And of course spanking isn't even enough for some fundamentalist Christians.
Take the lady who played Blaire in the Facts of Life. She has bragged about her fondness for putting hot sauce on her children's tongues when they've been naughty.
Does anyone really believe she does this for the benefit of her offspring? Does anyone really believe that she doesn't immensely enjoy the feeling of power that comes with abusing her children in a manner that likely won't result in a lengthy prison sentence?
Her book, Creative Correction, which gives abusive punishment ideas to Christian parents, is basically a guide for demented souls who believe children are their property to be treated however they see fit - yet have no desire to see the inside of a jail cell.
I suppose I could be wrong. I suppose when those kids are all grown up and asked, "So, how have you managed to not go on a shooting spree all these years," they'll respond, "I have to give all the credit to God and a few drops of perfectly placed Tabasco."
I suppose, after they have children of their own, they'll never be at a Mexican restaurant, and when asked by the server if they'd like mild or hot sauce on their burrito, curl up in a little ball on the cushion of the booth, rocking back and forth, hugging their knees and sucking their thumb while screaming, "But why Mommy - I've been a good boy! I've been a very, very good boy!"
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