I hear from my brother frequently about how concerned he is I'm going to hell.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 27, 2019:

People fall for this because of indoctrination. People worried about an unknown part of you going to be burning forever in an unknown place need to back off and get a grip. When couples split because of this and one cries so much you see the big tears, there is usually a minister somewhere agging it on because his congregation once was both of you and he sees now that 1 is better than none. This would be about the money unless that minister is exceptionally stupid. Take that situation back to just you and your brother it shows that your brother remains indoctrinated.

I was having a conversation with a Christian friend about free will.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 27, 2019:

The big "free will argument" comes about because it is so important that you want to worship god of your own free will. I always heard that god could have robots or angels worship him but with humans it is their choice to do so. This is free will.This is why even the angels are looking into this area of humanity. Once you study enough the big question becomes who in their right mind would want to worship this ignorant tribal god? Why would anyone want to worship anything? On the other hand the murderer has free will to murder you just as you have free will to be murdered. There are no gods in that equation.

If you think it is the right thing to "respect other's beliefs", please tell me why?

DenoPenno comments on Dec 27, 2019:

I do not respect other people's beliefs. Some beliefs are crazy as shit!

How do my fellow Atheists deal with depression?

DenoPenno comments on Dec 27, 2019:

I'm probably more depressed now than I was before. I take no meds for it, but just live with it. Nothing is real. We have the god myth and cartoon characters sell us insurance and other products and things. Movies make up entire histories of make believe situations they think we are so enamored with and they just keep going. The world you thought you knew is no longer there at all. Demands of logic and evidence show this as fact. Anxiety comes in and you cannot sleep more than 2 hours at a time but refuse to take meds for it because you have to know what is going on. I just deal with it and refuse to give in to demands of this new idiotic world. Therapy might help but most likely a therapist today would even recommend god. It's all a catch 22.

Merry Christmas Donny trump... I got you a basket of peaches... ! Come pick them up!

DenoPenno comments on Dec 26, 2019:

That bastard certainly is not a peach. LOL

Always the same states proving why the only acceptable solution is removal of all guns from ...

DenoPenno comments on Dec 26, 2019:

If they are in politics with these views they are shooting themselves in the head. Besides, I'm not sure you can remove all guns from civilians hands even if you want to.

The Importance and Relevance of Endorsements in Presidential Candidates Joe BIden has the most ...

DenoPenno comments on Dec 26, 2019:

What I see out of the enter mess is the biggest bunch of disappointment that I've ever seen in my life. I'm talking about both parties here but the Trumpers are just ignorant. One wanted to argue with me today that Obama was babied because he is a black man. I pointed out that Obama is no longer in power and Mitch McConnell said early on that he would do everything he could to see that Obama was a one term president. So much for coddling and babying.

Make them believe in something young, then they have a chance of controlling them as adults.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 26, 2019:

I believe that children figure it out about Jesus also. The problem is that due to conditioning they keep on playing that same old game. They know it but still play it. Part of this is because there is no Church of Santa where they refresh it all week to week.

UPDATE if you read my post about my major Dilemma.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 26, 2019:

Even that Rascal Paul said that the believer in a relationship might influence the non-believer in the end and that this was a reason to stay together. Oh, well. Everyone cherry picks the bible.

In a couple of my Amazon books I mention the danger of a self-fulfilling prophesy.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 26, 2019:

In Evangelical Christianity it is widely believed that Gog and Magog as mentioned in the bible is Russia. I'm here today to tell you that your bible says nothing of Russia, and it also says nothing of the USA.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year

DenoPenno comments on Dec 25, 2019:

Thanks. U2.

Study finds that children raised without religion show more empathy - anyone surprised?

DenoPenno comments on Dec 25, 2019:

I would not be surprised because a believer would have less empathy due to the fact that they can be "forgiven." Keep in mind that they have something that we do not.

Be Christ-like...

DenoPenno comments on Dec 25, 2019:

Nice meme but to be "Christ-like" is to be dead.

There are individuals who believe that being spiritual and religious are not the same thing.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 25, 2019:

I've had people tell me that I am "spiritual" but this can mean anything that you want it to mean. Usually it is a copout for believing in your own way. This means religion and spiritual are concurrent.

How Migrant Children in Federal Custody Will Spend Christmas | Time

DenoPenno comments on Dec 25, 2019:

This is because the Trump policy at our borders is mostly decided by Stephen Miller and it fits the white nationalist/white supremacist agenda.

I love how inventive humans are.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 25, 2019:

Just think. Christmas became the birthday of Jesus in the 4th century. It took that long and the Catholic Church decided that. Merry Christmas.

Logic is not a common thing in the minds of religious zealots.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 25, 2019:

I agree with your every word, girl.

Are you a "Season's Greetings" or "Happy Holidays" person?

DenoPenno comments on Dec 25, 2019:

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Season's Greetings. You know Fox Noise claimed that all the secular people were trying to take Happy Holidays away but now I here that Donald Trump brought it back. Where did it go?

Married to a JW

DenoPenno comments on Dec 24, 2019:

I have had Witness friends and my grandpa was a Baptist turned JW, but he never went to meetings. Much of the "worldly" religions today damn the hell out of this group and the main reason is that they do not believe in a soul. When you are dead you are dead.This is why the Evangelicals damn them because Evangelicals do believe in a soul. They think they die physically and then are instantly someplace else. I see your plight but do not know what to tell you. If your wife will stick with you just remain so that your daughter has the both of you. Will she do that? Will the group try to split you apart? If I did this and was in your place the biggest bother I would have is hearing the word "Jehovah" way, way too many times. Good luck.

Maybe adding appeal to secularism, rather than talking stink on religion, is a more productive ...

DenoPenno comments on Dec 24, 2019:

They want to believe. To me, clapping and singing is not worshiping a god. What it really is is being a part of your chosen community. The honest believer knows this and still wants to tell you all the wonderful things his god is doing. My form of enlightenment to them is bringing out how many biblical things contradict each other. One such example is how mankind was sinful and god wanted to destroy them, so he did so by water and them wanted to re-populate the earth by incest a second time around. Such is the wisdom of god.

This was 5 years ago but that cutie is my daughter.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 24, 2019:

Nice baby pic. A sweetie.

Do you approve capital punishment?

DenoPenno comments on Dec 23, 2019:

Here is what I know about capital punishment. If you put the person to death that killed those innocent people it is certain that the killer will never kill again. If you believe the killer can be rehabilitated you are probably mistaken. It is not a perfect system and yes, mistakes can be made. Most of them today come from cops or prosecutors who want to make a name for themselves.

It's all about DEATH, every one of the major religions are at their core - death cults.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 23, 2019:

Yes, it is all about death. Everything is so much better at or after death. Ideas of "rapture" come from the belief that in the "end times" your god will make sure that you do not have to go through all the stuff that everyone else goes through. So much nonsense coming from an insane book that almost did not make it into the bible. Yet, they believe it and tell you how wonderful it will be to be in heaven with god forever. It's all garbage. Some have now changed it to where god is the big spark and we are the little sparks. When your life is over you might get lucky and be sitting around the big spark forever. Please spare me. I do not want any part of this.

I know it is a bit late since it is the 23 of Dec today but is anyone taking advantage of the Sam ...

DenoPenno comments on Dec 23, 2019:

Sounds good but I do not deal with aps and deliberately do not have the phone for it. I can and will check Sam Harris out on You Tube which I play on a desktop computer. All of my interests and managed on a desktop computer and this is how I keep myself from becoming part of todays madness. I continue to watch TV and news from all over the world. i can literally watch anything that I want to.

Your in-person community?

DenoPenno comments on Dec 23, 2019:

Mostly none, but if you belong to something that would be a good reason to believe in it or support it.

How do you deal with Holiday family gatherings?

DenoPenno comments on Dec 23, 2019:

I live alone so gifts do not enter the picture. Even my children know not to buy gifts for me. I tell them to buy for their children instead. Normally we have a holiday dinner at one of the daughter's homes. This year it appears that is not going to happen because of stupidity and one's work schedule. I might stay home alone OR maybe I could look for a homeless person less fortunate and try and surprise them by buying them dinner.

65th Birthday Musings... Eternal Optimist Yep. That's me. Do I believe in Christian ideology?

DenoPenno comments on Dec 23, 2019:

Happy Birthday.

Have you ever thought about why religions think they need to sacrifice a goat, a lamb, a virgin or a...

DenoPenno comments on Dec 23, 2019:

I told a couple of door knockers that they could just sacrifice a goat for me and one of them spoke up quickly to say that didn't work any longer. He was serious. In the OT things were burned and sacrificed to god and it was even said of burned offerings that "god liked the smell." Is this where hell came from? The best I can say is that Jesus became the sacrifice in order to fully explain his death. Ignore the sarcasm. I studied to be a preacher but those Christians just keep on making it up.

How long would be long enough?

DenoPenno comments on Dec 23, 2019:

I'm already a dinosaur. I hate what we have become socially so I avoid it. I'm talking about living every moment on an expensive phone that has become your everything and your very self. It is common to see people all in one room and texting each other. This is not me or my way of life. I know it is not 1960 anymore but I'm not so sure I want to stick around and see how this all turns out. Finding a female who can agree with this and live with me would work out well but my record so far is only about 12 years at a time.

I haven't been here in a long time, i started here when the site was just starting up and made a few...

DenoPenno comments on Dec 23, 2019:

How is the site doing? Stick around and investigate.

I have quite a dilemma.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 23, 2019:

I would run like crazy. It does appear even by the buybull that you two are unequally joked.

Is 'god' an impersonal force of nature, a 'universal consciousness' similar in quality to other ...

DenoPenno comments on Dec 23, 2019:

The basics on god is that god is myth. Thousands of years ago the god idea explained things to a lot of people. Today it is nonsense.

FIVE THINGS TO SAY IF YOU GET CAUGHT SLEEPING AT YOUR DESK: > > 5.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 22, 2019:

That last one will do it every time.

No one teaches a newborn human to breath.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 22, 2019:

It cracks me up that adults think a child might not eat and therefore starve. Sorry. It just does not happen when there is food to eat, even if that child does not eat to suit you. Also, I do understand potty training to degrees but some people ac like the child may not crap unless taught to do so. This is why so many adults strain like crazy to do something that comes naturally. Stop putting a time on this bowel activity and jut live your life. You may end up healthier.

Afterlife thoughts... Do you believe in an afterlife?

DenoPenno comments on Dec 22, 2019:

The words might be in your head. I hear words especially if I am tired. No one is talking to me. They are just words like having something on in the background. We do so many repetitious things and often do have way too much on in the background for comfort, and even some to be able to sleep. You are hearing what you want to hear. Years ago my musician friend and I heard words coming out of his analog guitar amplifier. Very faint but they proved to be coming from the local radio station. Some people hear words due to dental work. Some people just want to hear something. Is there an afterlife? IDK and neither does anyone else. My belief in ghosts and the supernatural went out the door with my belief in gods.

exile in happy valley: Dennis Kucinich, Tulsi Gabbard and the Slow Death of the Democratic Delusion

DenoPenno comments on Dec 21, 2019:

The way Trump is handling things is a true disaster and I really do mean that. Then we have to look beyond politics and go into the greed that made you think it was perfectly OK to have a second mortgage on your home. How was that ever going to work out? The powers that be want your money. If they cannot play nice and get it, they will try other ways.

I just read a post elsewhere that said, Don't let bad politics interfere with good friendships.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 21, 2019:

Honest and good politics was on its way out for sometime, then it died fully in 2015. Trump supporters that I know want the craziest things and one in my family recently told me that the Dems "laughed at god." I laugh at his orange ass too. They seem to have a problem with America having "open borders" but forget that we have always (and still do) have them. This is because Trump is so great at getting things done. A recent thing his supporters have come back with is that they have to get rid of Obamacare. These people are insane. I'm not a Dem but I am no longer friends with some of them. I can't overlook the bullshit. Then I read recently where a woman ran down a 14 year old girl with her car because the girl was Hispanic. People won't even admit that Trump has caused this to happen, but they should lock that bitch up and throw away the key.

"Your next post should be People Who Over Post."

DenoPenno comments on Dec 20, 2019:

I haven't blocked anyone. None at all.

Why Doing Good Makes It Easier To Be Bad.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 20, 2019:

This sounds about right, Linx. Religion gives us a license to be bad because we can always be forgiven. We all know there is a public and private part to our lives. A nose picker does not want others to see him do it. If you ask him, he will lie.

I think the first thing that turned me away from Christianity was my mom telling me that Santa was ...

DenoPenno comments on Dec 20, 2019:

I'm not into "worshiping" anything. As for Santa, I thought he was Gene when I was five.

More Americans Celebrating a Secular Christmas [news.gallup.com]

DenoPenno comments on Dec 20, 2019:

I'm alone and not celebrating either way but it has been many years since I believed Christmas had anything to do with Jesus.

Researchers locate what they believe are two mass graves from Tulsa race massacre of 1921 ...

DenoPenno comments on Dec 20, 2019:

I have heard of this and it was no "race riot." Contrived outrage at some event reportedly similar to that of Emmet Till. I'm white but whites get out of hand quickly because of nationalism and racism. I have read of incidents in which whites demand that blacks tell them where other blacks are when there was no way the people could even know. They based it all on race. A black man escaped from prison and we think he is in the area. You are black so tell us where he is. It's just stupid!

Ex-Reagan Adviser Makes Ominous Prediction About How Trump Will Respond To Impeachment ...

DenoPenno comments on Dec 20, 2019:

I fully agree. Trump has shown his "get even" attitude long ago. This has to be when everything in life is all about him.

I’m confused about my beliefs on afterlife.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 20, 2019:

Do we have any proof of life after death? It is almost a ridiculous question.

Just trying to get a head count here. Who's an atheist and who isn't, and why?

DenoPenno comments on Dec 20, 2019:

I'm an agnostic atheist and that settles that. I became one when ~~Santa~~Jesus refused to bring me a pony.

How many of you all are ex-fundamentalist Christians?

DenoPenno comments on Dec 20, 2019:

It was bible study. I was like any other believer until I studied too much bible and read it through a couple of times. Most people do not know that the book as we have it today came about some 300 plus years after Jesus and it was arranged to seem as if it all told one continuing story. This actually explains the contradictions. Nobody was giving you a "roadmap" and there was no god trying to tell you something.

The plight of the Ignorant and Superstitious.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 19, 2019:

Today we are just as ignorant. I know people who believe in ghosts and a few claim they have seen them. Not sure if the ghosts were holy or not and the churches still have profits. (No, that is not a misspell.)

I am bemused that people would talk so much about religion, mostly Christianity, on here.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 19, 2019:

I'm a bit bemused, but since I was once a believer and intense bible study changed my mind, I'm still in the occasional bible discussion. I try to hold back and limit myself because so many of these go around in circles. Believers just do not give up. They have all sorts of nonsense to try and prove their god. The reality is that there is no proof either way. I simply deal with evidence and logic. Jesus was not raised up into the clouds and Mohammed did not fly to heaven on a winged horse.

It's all about the marketing, you can sell refrigerators to eskimos if you know how to market your ...

DenoPenno comments on Dec 19, 2019:

I liked the cartoon meme where they brought gold, myrrh, and Frankenstein

Another charge should be added to Trumps impeachment, "anybody who said that British airports were ...

DenoPenno comments on Dec 19, 2019:

Yes, he said that. Having Trump as POTUS is similar to everyone supporting Alfred E. Neuman. The whole idea is MAD.

So coming up to Christmas please tell me Athiests what you think of the Holiday season since you ...

DenoPenno comments on Dec 19, 2019:

Christ is not a name. It is a title. There may or may not have been a real Jesus that believers think their gospels were based on. Even if there was a real Jesus, Christmas has nothing to do with that person. The church decided in the fourth century to use December 25th as a birthday for Jesus. If these words are true and can be found using the Internet, it appears that you need a lot more education.

What is up with all these dumb questions about Christianity and Christmas from these Christians.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 19, 2019:

It's a money trap and a current political trap that came from Fox Noise and the GOP. Bill O'Reilly claimed there was a "war on Christmas" because people did not want you to say "Merry Christmas" any longer. Apparently it would be un-American to say "Happy Holidays" because this takes the holiday out of the Christian realm. Never mind that Bing Crosby sang a song named "Happy Holidays" in a movie in 1942. Meanwhile, a current meme in Facebook shows Eric and Laura Trump claiming that Donald Trump has brought back "Merry Christmas" again. It appears to be one of the great Trump accomplishments. What I want to know is when did it ever leave? Trumpers have swallowed it all hook, line, and sinker. As for celebrating this holiday I say do it as you will. If it brings your family together that is great. Only a select few continue today with ideas of Christmas being about Jesus.

The Argumentative Theory

DenoPenno comments on Dec 19, 2019:

Reasoning is indeed about convincing others when truth alone is not enough. In our current political situation I talk to others and spell out everything in detail. They all agree with my every word but in the end someone wants to be shown some evidence. If everyone agrees, what evidence is it that you want to see? Apparently their minds are made up already. In fact, Graham and a few others declare that they will not review any evidence because their minds are made up in advance. Then they have balls enough to make that same remark on those who want to impeach with claims that if it was not so impeachment would not be the current issue.

It takes more than an Atheist to over throw over obiedience authority of Religion.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 19, 2019:

I am not so easily wanting to take up arms against others even if I agree with the basics.

I am often told that god is unknowable.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 19, 2019:

I hear ya. God is unknowable and if anything happens at all (good or bad) it is within the perfect plan of this unknowable god. :)

How does one get their ex-pastor to leave them alone?

DenoPenno comments on Dec 18, 2019:

He is doing his job but I would tell him that I am just not interested any longer. Say you are fine but just not wanting to attend a church right now.

I’m new to this site and I find it interesting that people who are religious are here.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 18, 2019:

The religious are here to convert a non-believer. I think some of them are polishing their bibles with this in mind. :)

Justin Trudeau moves to ban gay conversion therapy all throughout Canada – DeadState

DenoPenno comments on Dec 18, 2019:

I call it good news but Christians have to believe in gay conversion therapy. This is because they know that gay people are trying to ensnare them constantly. This is their fear. It then becomes logical to them that it might work in reverse. The reason is that "their god can do anything." Hell yeah! They don't want it to rub off. Then you end up with that poor gay person of either sex who desperately wants to remain Christian when they should be running like hell in the opposite direction. Why would people live like this?

Just in case you might possibly have forgotten; we are god damn lucky to be here.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 18, 2019:

Thank you. I believe in it because it is much better than Sandy's Claws or Caesar Chrisp.

If Jesus saves, why are all of his human representatives alway asking you to give them money?

DenoPenno comments on Dec 18, 2019:

It was not money that Jesus saved. Apparently he saves an unknown invisible part of you from total oblivion when you die. He might also save you from your enemies so try not to piss people off unless you really have Jesus. Strange that he does all this and could not save himself.

Wait a minute, that was just ...... yesterday, wasn't it?

DenoPenno comments on Dec 18, 2019:

I don't think they have aged one bit.

I am just beginning to understand how interesting this site could become.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 18, 2019:

I would think that you are correct. Many that disagree think that court houses and law enforcement vehicles should have writings on them about how much they "trust in god." It's nuts! It's ridiculous!

Evaluating the Truth of the New Testament.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 18, 2019:

It is all about protection and pimping out. This latter one is good for wealth and position building if used properly.

"You shouldn't judge people!" I have often heard this from my Christian friends.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 18, 2019:

It always amazed me that Jesus was said to be "the first fruits of the dead" when anyone that studied the bible knew it was not true. We also know that Jesus himself and many others of the time believed the Jewish OT scriptures to be true. This gets you into discussions with believers who try to explain that others raised from the dead would not remain raised and would have to die again. This is an attempt to validate that scripture about Jesus. (I Corinthians 15:20.) Maybe they want you to believe that others had died and come back, but did not go to heaven and see god. Who knows? Remember that Lazarus never said anything about being dead. What about all of those people who came out of the tombs when Jesus was crucified? Maybe they went home and scared the crap out of their families and then one day they all dropped down dead again. Yes, god works in mysteriously hysterical ways.

Left to Right: Han Solo, Darth Vader, Chewbacca, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, R2-D2

DenoPenno comments on Dec 18, 2019:

Luke, I am your father.

Can someone be intellectually honest about religion without being agnostic?

DenoPenno comments on Dec 17, 2019:

OK, you have a god. What is it for and what does it do? Oh, it protects you and also will save you. What does it protect you from? Your enemies you say. Yes, and it also might save you from your enemies. IC. Does it ever tell you to not piss so many people off?

Afterlife

DenoPenno comments on Dec 17, 2019:

Hell is not real. Study the evolution of hell and you will find many types of hell. Much of it so bizarre as to be funny and much of it before Christianity.

21 Things You Didn’t Know About St. Patrick’s Day

DenoPenno comments on Dec 17, 2019:

In the now famous cartoon I saw, St. Patrick was driving all of the snakes out of Ireland when he had to stop the car and tell them to stop all that hissing going on in the back seat area.

Do you really feel jealous when you lover is online but not chatting with you.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 17, 2019:

This is an old thread now, but how would I know? Why would I be wasting all my time in texting and checking up on someone?

Rock Hudson 1925-1985 Born Roy Harold Scherer, Jr.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 17, 2019:

I remembered him as Roy Fitzgerald but that last name was his adopted name. He hated it. When I was much younger we made jokes of his name by saying he got the name "Rock Hudson" by throwing a rock across the Hudson river. This must have been shades of George Washington and his remarkable silver dollar throwing ability that we learned of in school. :)

Top 4 Reasons Trump’s Impeachment Trial in the Senate Is Going to Be a Total Mess ...

DenoPenno comments on Dec 17, 2019:

It will be a total mess and the outcome is already decided by the GOP. Do we have hope then for the second impeachment in mid-year 2020? I'm in favor of a rule of law.

Cartoon: Nothing is true

DenoPenno comments on Dec 17, 2019:

Classic!

If Facebook Is Dealing with Deceptive ‘BL’ Network, It’s Not Working Snopes’ reporting ...

DenoPenno comments on Dec 17, 2019:

I did not know this but it does not surprise me. Facebook appears to now be allowing lies about our wonderful president in some agreement that Dump made with Zuck. You create your truth out of these lies. Yes, it is terrifying. I have posted for some time now that I want Facebook to stop showing me something I looked at on other pages and I'm telling others that Facebook will post your words about something even if it is out of context. Facebook posts off to the side what I have looked at and I told them to take it down. Why, they ask. Is it offensive? Is it hate speech? No, robot. It is just damned inappropriate! The fact that I looked at a car last week does not mean I am buying a car, nor does it mean I want to continue looking at this one. You also cannot "tempt me to buy" by continuing to show me things. Bug off!

"The Color Purple" premiered in New York City on this date in 1985.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 17, 2019:

I loved that movie. Good casting and acting for everyone involved. The film included my FB friend Rae Dawn Chong and was a showcase and big turning point for Oprah. Many thought Oprah was making a mistake in going for a talk show host after this film.

I was wondering why republicans do not recognize the bribery in the “perfect” call.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 17, 2019:

I see the point fully and I can discuss this with people who appear to agree with me fully, then they complain to me that nobody presented any evidence. Nobody gets it. Try discussing this with a Trumper and you get back "you mean what Joe Biden did?" Nobody gets it.

Democrats combine impeachment and collaboration with Trump [wsws.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 17, 2019:

If the CIA backs the Democrats it makes things easier for me when Trump calls them "scum." It must be part of the reality game for Trump as a fascist. I get more educated all the time.

What are your thoughts on home schooling?

DenoPenno comments on Dec 17, 2019:

I'm reading a lot of the pros and cons here and glad to see them. It means I can adjust my thinking on the subject. The big reason I need to do so is that in my area home schooling is done to prevent religious families from critical thinking. This way the kids will believe in creation. It also shows that they do not have fit teachers for the needed subjects.

Hallmark Reverses Decision To Pull Ads Featuring Lesbian Couple That Triggered Conservatives

DenoPenno comments on Dec 16, 2019:

The Christian group does not have to watch the ads and you can bet they are also not watching the programming either.

What can be done about the inactive members problem on this site?

DenoPenno comments on Dec 16, 2019:

What can be done about inactive members? IDK. How are we measuring their inactivity? Do you have to post to be active?

How many here think of themselves as skeptical thinkers?

DenoPenno comments on Dec 16, 2019:

Lack of evidence. In the end it is painfully apparent.

N.J. bill to remove religion as reason to avoid vaccinating kids enrages parents at hearing - nj.com

DenoPenno comments on Dec 16, 2019:

**"Your right to practice religion freely does not include...exposing the community or a child to a communicable disease,” Weller said.** To me those words say it all. I'm also wondering what a belief in gods has to do with being an antivaxxer? It takes a special kind of stupid for this.

1 Million Moms, is freaking out over a commercial showing two people kissing

DenoPenno comments on Dec 16, 2019:

Here is where I take a different stance than most of you. My bottom line is that we do not need to see commercials with people kissing. I mean people of any gender. I get it and we all know what kissing is. It is not always so easy to avoid seeing people kissing, so why put this upon us? Most of us are smart enough to know what goes on and we do not need what some would say are instructions. Once we get into the LGBTQ movies and TV shows this takes on another direction entirely. In the film kissing might be important to what they are trying to say. If you do not have that point of view then do not watch the program. I watch "Batwoman" for example and Ruby Rose and her character are lesbian. This is not why I watch the show but I have a choice to not watch if that bothers me. OK, on a recap let's say you tune in to Hallmark and they are showing LGBTQ movies. Possibly they would have words or a soundbite to tell you what the content is. You know. Like a TV rating. I've already covered what people hate about the commercial, but isn't it likely that ads and programming would go together here? Guess what. Rather than set there dumbfounded and be offended you have the option to not watch and tune out. Change the channel and watch something else.

(LINK) "I understand why it’s hard for normal people to believe that white evangelical Christians ...

DenoPenno comments on Dec 16, 2019:

Well said here. I think I can agree with every word of this. Put that thinking into our current political situation and you have defined it very well. This is what Trump, the Mercers, Kochs, and DeVos are all about. Their brand of "white Christian" has defined everyone else. If you hear someone say "Trump is not hurting all those he needs to be hurting" you start to understand it. The white nationalist is in power and divine justice will fall on everyone. Your religion and politics become you. BTW, the word "sadist" does not have to be associated with sex. A sadist can get pleasure from poking your eye out or braking your arm. His pleasure does not have to be sexual pleasure.

Ever notice how The Wizard of Oz is basically about religion?

DenoPenno comments on Dec 16, 2019:

Today I notice what you are saying about the Wizard of Oz in every way. In fact, I often say that once you have seen behind the curtain you can no longer believe in the Wizard. I am talking religion, of course. The funny thing is that no one gets it. When I was younger and in church everyone loved this movie but no one got it. Not me or the others, and the film was shown in my area at least once a year. If you bring this up to Evangelicals in my area you might get arguments on it. This is most likely because they still do not get it.

What if I told you that the impeachment hearings are.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 15, 2019:

Ancient Aliens. Oh, my. What have I been missing?

My recovery from religion feels like a lifelong journey. Is it?

DenoPenno comments on Dec 15, 2019:

Religion and what it taught you would be the biggest reason I know of to explain your feelings of self loathing. Recovering could be a lifelong journey and you might need to talk to a therapist if you can afford one. Make sure it is a secular therapist if you do. If possible find a support group that you can identify with.

Texas Pastor Taunts Kids At Mall: ‘Santa Does Not Exist!’ | Michael Stone

DenoPenno comments on Dec 15, 2019:

Someone should have been around to say back to him that neither does god and Jesus.

Christian Conservative Claims Star Wars Is Based On The Bible | Michael Stone

DenoPenno comments on Dec 15, 2019:

I've heard that story since the very first Star Wars came out. OK, let me see if I got this. Darth (Lucifer) Vadar is really Jesus Luke's father. That just about does it.

Mike Huckabee Argues LGBTQ People Are ‘Biggest Threat’ To American Morality | Michael Stone

DenoPenno comments on Dec 15, 2019:

Huckabuck must really be worried about them. Maybe he should team up with Pat Robertson who thinks gay men have a special ring that they scratch you with to give you AIDS. I remember my younger days when it was said that the target of this crowd was children. It simple is not true.

Why do some men think women should be attracted because they are?

DenoPenno comments on Dec 15, 2019:

I hear you, Kathleen, but most of us are really a legend in our own minds. This goes for male and female. I used to think I was Tarzan or Errol Flynn and I worked out all the time. These days I look in the mirror and I see my grandpa.

They say 90 percent of what you worry about won't happen.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 15, 2019:

I think almost every day that I have things all figured out. Sometimes I worry that what I have figured out might happen, but it doesn't. The real key is to avoid stress and worry, and for the most part I do that. Weird things do happen though. Not so long ago I bought a screwdriver with 40 bits to it and I remembered putting it away somewhere. Needing it this weekend I looked everywhere and could not find it. Looking in one closet for the tenth time I was bordering on insanity when suddenly there it was in plain sight. I moved it again so it will become more obvious but most things we are looking for in life are always in plain sight. :)

Back in Summer 2009 at the age of 21, I was baptized after I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal ...

DenoPenno comments on Dec 15, 2019:

On the gay thing it's pretty simple. Men in the days of the sheepherder's guide to the galaxy could only talk about men and homosexuality because women were like property and being lesbian was not even considered. This made it a one sided issue so god must have been pretty dumb, or maybe men wrote all of these texts. My advice would be to get out of religion of any kind. I'm not gay but in trying to find my own standing in the religious world the best thing I ever did was to leave. If you need a sense of community or belonging there might be some groups in your area that can help. Check into it and youi might find one just for you. Maybe they even have regular meetings. Living your life without stress or guilt should be an ultimate goal.

I'd like to make a suggestion as I watch more folks jump ship over moral differences with the site ...

DenoPenno comments on Dec 15, 2019:

If you do not want to see a nude do not click on it. Similarly if you do not like bad words or cursing do not read it or use it. I say this and I do not belong to any nude sites.

Why does this seem accurate????

DenoPenno comments on Dec 15, 2019:

Yes, she loves mushrooms. Woman bleaches her own asshole.

Great conversation about real history .

DenoPenno comments on Dec 15, 2019:

I am totally aware that there are socialists and communists, etc. along with all the different takes on them from past practices by past rulers all over the world. I am just as aware that we cannot talk all this shit today and have it stick to anything going on. Hoover applied all of it to MLK and others and had many of us convinced of subversion. It was a lie. The problem here is that everything changes and it does so quickly. There does not seem to be Pol Pot communism today or anything Stalinist. America has Social Security and many things good that are related to it, and yet wants to throw it away by scaring us with talks of socialism and communism, the progressives, illegals, subversive religions, etc. We are being set up for exactly what the rulers are talking against when they give the tax breaks to the top 1% and convince you that the real problem is that person in front of you at the super market who is on food stamps or SNAP. This is all Nazi Germany all over again and we are falling for it. Way past time now for us to wake up.

So I'm stuck in the bible belt and, in my opinion, one of the very small number of things the church...

DenoPenno comments on Dec 15, 2019:

If you really feel this go for it! Jerry DeWitt does a similar thing in Louisiana and he used to be a Pentecostal preacher. He has preserved the sense of community that so many people need in doing this. I do not know Jerry and never met him, but I listened to many of his talks on You Tube and he was a big influence in me coming out atheist. In general I am against the word "church" for this type of service because it tends to bring atheism back into religious grounds but we all know that "without god" is a simple doctrine to follow. There are no other requirements.

Morrissey CLAIMS he's forgiven Jesus.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 15, 2019:

I think it is a song and his heart was in his hand. Doesn't matter about the 80's or any other time. I do a basic avoid of everything "now" coz the world has went insane. Like what you will. Live and let live.

Madison’s reasons for Church State Separation, 1785.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 15, 2019:

Those in power right now and those hanging on the coattails of them should take special notice of this.

My nephew said almost this exact thing back at Thanksgiving.

DenoPenno comments on Dec 14, 2019:

Yusuf seems to have hit it all right on the head. The big problem from my part of the world is that nobody cares. They gladly work 2 jobs if they can smile and play on their phones while pretending that everything is all OK. No insurance and no home. It's all OK. Maybe we can just take on a third job.

It's here at last!

DenoPenno comments on Dec 14, 2019:

It is worth a try, kid, but i doubt that ring is going to help you out very much.