What is an atheist?

[_Mercury]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdVucvo-kDU

Decent video covering statistics, personalities and comparisons to christian doctrine versus the reality of Atheism.

"My feelings as a Christian points me to my Lord and Savior as a fighter. It points me to the man who once in loneliness, surrounded by a few followers, recognized these Jews for what they were and summoned men to fight against them and who, God's truth! was greatest not as a sufferer but as a fighter."

-1922, AH

(double double, toil and trouble!)

[_Ren]

I've seen this video before. I really like it.
Not just the data itself, but I like the whole feel of it. Nicely done.

[_Inconceivable]

The statistics are somewhat deceiving. They need to ask how many inmates were Christians before entering prison - and after their release.

Seems if you're having trouble locating Jesus I'd suggest you look in a prison. This is where most inmates find Him.

Of course, when many have paid their debt to society, they bid Him adieu.

..and leave Him there.

[_Mercury]

The statistics are somewhat deceiving. They need to ask how many inmates were Christians before entering prison - and after their release.

Seems if you're having trouble locating Jesus I'd suggest you look in a prison. This is where most inmates find Him.

Of course, when many have paid their debt to society, they bid Him adieu.

..and leave Him there.

Statistics please

[_huckelberry]

Merc, whats with the nasy antisemitic quote? Are we going to have to listen to you explain the reasonableness of AH final solution?

[_Mercury]

Merc, whats with the nasy antisemitic quote? Are we going to have to listen to you explain the reasonableness of AH final solution?

I put it there so as to show what human scum can do with what chistianity or any system of religion has to offer, a.k.a. a false justification for atrocities based on religion.

[_huckelberry]

what scum do,

It is to my mind a serious observation that religion offers in its mythological language material which indivduals with a talent for manipulation can use for their own purpose. Humanity needs to learn how to stand against such manipulations. I could wish that material makeing people vulnerable was limited to an identifiable group of religions.I do not think it is limited to even religions. As a result of that suspicion I think the only solution is learning to reject the manipulation.

All sorts of believe or nonbelief groups can do that resistence. I think it should be respected from all those quarters. I am slow to think negative of a person who feels that for themselves scepticsm of religous belief is necessary to make that resistence. Some ability to do skeptic thought can be a useful ability.

[_richardMdBorn]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdVucvo-kDU

Decent video covering statistics, personalities and comparisons to christian doctrine versus the reality of Atheism.

"My feelings as a Christian points me to my Lord and Savior as a fighter. It points me to the man who once in loneliness, surrounded by a few followers, recognized these Jews for what they were and summoned men to fight against them and who, God's truth! was greatest not as a sufferer but as a fighter."

-1922, AH

(double double, toil and trouble!)

The straight Dope has a pretty balanced perspective on Hitler and Christianity:

You are right that Hitler did mention Christianity many times in his writings. He paid Christianity a lot of lip service in Mein Kampf, and he claimed to be a Christian. But Hitler's secretary, Martin Bormann, also declared that "National Socialism [Nazism] and Christianity are irreconcilable" and Hitler didn't squawk too much about it. Similarly, Hermann Rauschning, a Hitler associate, said, "One is either a Christian or a German. You can't be both." In addition, Hitler declared Nazism the state religion and the Bible was replaced by Mein Kampf in the schools.

http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mhi ... stian.html

The rest of the article deals with issues such as your quote. The Nazis advocated a pre-Christian religion (see Wagner). From further into the article

I could probably find more speeches in which Hitler claims himself to be a Christian, but I think the point has been made. He said it. Now, what did it mean?

It seems Hitler, like many modern-day politicians, spoke out of both sides of his mouth. And when he didn't, his lackeys did. It may have been political pandering, just like many of our current politicians who invoke God's name to gain support.

Also, it seems probable that Hitler, being the great manipulator, knew that he couldn't fight the Christian churches and their members right off the bat. So he made statements to put the church at ease and may have patronized religion as a way to prevent having to fight the Christian-based church.

[_Mercury]

Richard, the target of Hitlers audience was "pre christian" (whatever the hell that means) as well? I do not understand what you mean by this. Specifically, if he was using the language of typical Christian beliefs and narratives then he was speaking as a Christian. This still does not make this particular quote outside the context of christianity even though you REALLY want it not to.

[_richardMdBorn]

Richard, the target of Hitlers audience was "pre christian" (whatever the hell that means) as well? I do not understand what you mean by this. Specifically, if he was using the language of typical Christian beliefs and narratives then he was speaking as a Christian. This still does not make this particular quote outside the context of christianity even though you REALLY want it not to.

My comment was: "The Nazis advocated a pre-Christian religion (see Wagner)". What's so difficult to understand about that? Hitler was a great fan of Wagner. "Wagner drew largely from Northern European mythology and legend, notably Icelandic sources such as the Poetic Edda, the Volsunga Saga and the German Nibelungenlied." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Wagner