Oh, so no thought provocation accompanying the entertainment? No depth of thought?

Just Obama in a straw boater and cane doing a soft shoe?

Or sword swallowers and high-wire acts.

Nothing heavier than God Almighty as a Terry Gilliam cardboard cutout.

Gotcha.

…the purpose of blogging at IMAO is to be entertaining.

Which explains right there why I don’t post any more than I do.

This just isn’t an appropriate venue for me to have a significant discussion.

Atheism being that insignificant, why the reluctance to make the leap and acknowledge something significant?

Like The Uncaused First Cause.

(Which brings us back to #5.)

A quaint parlor trick, like rubbing a balloon on a cat and sticking it to a wall.

Oh, I want to see that trick!

Or did you mean stick the balloon to the wall. If so, not as impressive.

A quaint parlor trick, like rubbing a balloon on a cat and sticking it to a wall.

Honestly, it’s about that important in guiding my day-to-day activities.

What then, with the absence of belief in God, does that make the news of Atheism?

It’s been said that the greatest trick the Devil pulled off was convincing the world that he doesn’t exist. Wrong. It is convincing people, that, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, God doesn’t exist.

Happy Festivus!

Fine, and granted. I, honestly, would not presume any right to know whatever personal experience(s) culminated in your arrival at the point where you say, “yup, God simply cannot exist”.

Just in the same way as I tend towards indifference when encountering sesquipedalian evangelical proselytizers (thank you, bless, but I’m already in the flock)…but we on this side of the Tiber are tasked with going forth and making the case that, yes, He does exist. Without crawthumping or voluable exhortations.

Merely a larger, philosophical, exploration of theological (atheological?) convictions, and the courage to be drawn therefrom, without need for rolling out personal experiences.

And we are talking about celebrating the birth of Christ. Which is, inarguably, theologically significant.

Otherwise, you might as well be celebrating Festivus.

But seriously, Bunker, I don’t want to talk about why I’m an atheist. That’s what evangelical atheists do, and those guys are assholes.

So who gave the universe this awesome bacon? Placed it in the foodchain as wondrous sustenance?

Don’t you think said Almighty Bacongiver warrants acknowledgement and more than a modicum of gratitude?

Surely, that is well within the scope of the posting.

Any knowledge outside that is beyond the scope of this post.

Cloak it, or euphemise, by descriptions of action-reaction…I have yet to come across an avowed atheist who can accurately explain The Uncaused First Cause.

Deny a belief in God Almighty with all the breath in one’s lungs while proclaiming an abiding respect for nature or science (Science!)…but in the so-doing, the impressive alignments of natural overlays on this Earth, the precise alignment of the planets in the solar system, the galaxy, etc., must be acknowledged.

However, the greater acknowledgement, of the consciousness which made said design and alignment, is rarely made.

The acknowledgement of that higher consciousness which gave us this planet and all that exists within and upon it…gave us the gifts of free will and intellect…and His only-begotten Son.

Such gifts, trumping diamonds or gaming systems, should warrant humble gratitude being expressed towards the Giver.

Merry Christmas!

http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ari_ayn_rand_the_objectivist_ethics

My less-confrontational short answer is this:

What goes around, comes around.

Or as one of my Navy chiefs once told me, “if you hate a guy, never tell him, because sure as anything, he’ll be the guy holding the life preserver when you fall overboard”.

I’m personally offended by those fake atheist commies who worship their political religion and spread social division in the foolish belief that it somehow benefits their twisted agenda.

Atheism is NOT a cause to be promoted, it’s merely a state of mind. A genuine atheist would not begrudge those who have their beliefs.

Merry Christmas everyone and a Happy New Year!