Mosque ban in TN

[Ronin13]

I never understood why people object to this. Why would I believe in a religion if I didn't believe it was right?

Keep in mind that there is a huge difference between "If you disagree with me, when you die you'll got to hell." and "If you disagree with me I'll kill you!" In the case of Islam, its the latter (and any Christian that claims that second position is in direct violation of Christ's teachings).

This assumes that YOUR religious belief (which appears to be atheism) is the "ONLY real religion".

Most folk (top to bottom) that claim a religion say they believe it because they actually DO believe it. That's the essence of faith. Your glib cynicism notwithstanding.

What about those of us who don't believe in the mass religious system, and think Atheism is a bit too extreme in the other direction? I don't subscribe to any mass ideal system but do learn about them and base my beliefs on the things I like (such as Norse Paganism- that one works because they place a deity on different aspects of the world and life). Why is it that everyone who stands against major religions gets pegged with being an atheist? If I were to claim no beliefs I would immediately call myself a nihilist (for those unsure what that is basically you believe in NOTHING).

[Zundfolge]

What about those of us who don't believe in the mass religious system, and think Atheism is a bit too extreme in the other direction?

You're probably right. Agnostic would probably be a safer and more polite guess.

And I can certainly understand those with issues with organized religion (I myself am an Antidenominationalist Christian).

Thing is, most often those that go down the "all organized religion is teh evilz" are angry, proselytizing Atheists.

[bellavite1]

I never understood why people object to this. Why would I believe in a religion if I didn't believe it was right?

Keep in mind that there is a huge difference between "If you disagree with me, when you die you'll got to hell." and "If you disagree with me I'll kill you!" In the case of Islam, its the latter (and any Christian that claims that second position is in direct violation of Christ's teachings).

This assumes that YOUR religious belief (which appears to be atheism) is the "ONLY real religion".

Most folk (top to bottom) that claim a religion say they believe it because they actually DO believe it. That's the essence of faith. Your glib cynicism notwithstanding.

Yes, I am an Atheist and a Satanist (there is no conflict here, just look up modern Satanism).
And no, it is not a religion, but rather a philosophy: an Atheist believe the there is no senzient entity ruling the world or deciding your destiny, no heaven or hell, therefore you are the maker of your own destiny and fully responsible for your life and what you do with it.
If there was a God, He would know your past, present and future, because He is past present and future.
This would negate the freedom of choice in your life, because the future not only is already written, but has been created by God Himself by own act of existing.
With that being said, if you want to believe, it is your own business and I have no right to try to change your mind.
And nobody should try to change mine, be it by flipping me off when I drive in my pentagram emblemed car, come to my door to tell me I am wrong and I WILL burn in hell, or try to behead me because I have a pentagram tattooed on my chest.
Different religions have different ways to "change your mind", but the whole concept is disrispectful and any attempt to impose your views on me is an act of violence, be it moral or phisycal.
Different approaches will be addressed in like manner, and, depending on your approach, I might flip you back off, engage you in a theological and philosophical conversation (and trust me, you do not want to go there with me) or just fight you back with every last bullet I have.
Now, about that bachelor party and them titties...

[UberTong]

I will accept anyone here, in the USA as long as they are accepting of the ideals and values embodied here. If not, if you want to come to this country and only buy into the positives with the intent to take, change, convert, this country and its people for the worse, you can dodge lead on the way out.

IMHO, if we allow Islam leniency in our culture because of how 'pc paralyzed' our country has become, something terrible will happen on our soil in my lifetime, worse than 9-11. They will infiltrate our society as 'nice Muslims' until the day comes and Allah calls for the destruction of infidels at the right time, and the west falls, hard. If that makes me a racist or a bigot, I sign. I believe in God, a higher power and frankly I'm not 100% sold on religion as a whole sometimes either, its a lifelong struggle for me called faith. But I still see too much beauty, too much good, and too many good people to think all of this world, was an accident.

[Ronin13]

You're probably right. Agnostic would probably be a safer and more polite guess.

And I can certainly understand those with issues with organized religion (I myself am an Antidenominationalist Christian).

Thing is, most often those that go down the "all organized religion is teh evilz" are angry, proselytizing Atheists.

Well that can be true, but being neither agnostic or atheist (raised Protestant Christian) I look at the fact that all organized religion leads to irrational and violent problems... more have killed in the name of God than anything else (Crusades, Spanish Inquisition, Early Years of Islam, any conflict involving Israel, GWOT, etc.). Does it mean all organized religion is evil? no, but masses worshiping some deity or another does lead to animosity, head butting, and eventually violence- the problem is historically the most violent have been Muslims. And that is where I draw the line. Modern day religions do not advocate conversion or murder as the only alternatives to their ideals... You will never see a Jewish congregation force their members to pull all their women out of school and force them to stay home and tend to the household. And you certainly wouldn't see some Presbyterians stoning someone to death because they committed adultery. Islam is not a religion of peace as some Muslims would try and have you believe.

[UberTong]

Yes, I am an Atheist and a Satanist (there is no conflict here, just look up modern Satanism).

Honest question here, as I know nothing about your beliefs. What is your goal worshiping Satan? Do you get a place in hell just a Christian would in Heaven? Who do you fight for in the end? As a Satanist do you wish for the way of Satan to take place on earth, i.e. anarchy, complete loss of morality on Earth etc?

No questions here meant to be aggressive or anything but inquisitive, I've never spoke to a Satanist.

[Ronin13]

Honest question here, as I know nothing about your beliefs. What is your goal worshiping Satan? Do you get a place in hell just a Christian would in Heaven? Who do you fight for in the end? As a Satanist do you wish for the way of Satan to take place on earth, i.e. anarchy, complete loss of morality on Earth etc?

No questions here meant to be aggressive or anything but inquisitive, I've never spoke to a Satanist.

What Uber said... I'm curious too. I was raised my whole childhood thinking Satan is wrong, God/Jesus are right, you don't want to go to hell, heaven is the place to be, etc etc. But thinking about it, if God forbids random fornication, drugs (?), and polygamy then would it be safe to surmise that hell is just one great big drug filled orgy? That can't be so bad, can it?

[Zundfolge]

With that being said, if you want to believe, it is your own business and I have no right to try to change your mind.
And nobody should try to change mine, be it by flipping me off when I drive in my pentagram emblemed car, come to my door to tell me I am wrong and I WILL burn in hell, or try to behead me because I have a pentagram tattooed on my chest.
Different religions have different ways to "change your mind", but the whole concept is disrispectful and any attempt to impose your views on me is an act of violence, be it moral or phisycal.

Again, I don't understand how polite discussion is disrespectful or even an "imposition of views".

I agree 100% that it would be wrong to flip you off or try to kill you because of your beliefs. But if I believed I had discovered the answer to life's problems and/or a way to spend eternity in paradise I'd be a real dick if I DIDN'T try to share that with you. Granted it would be wrong to use force (or for that matter be obnoxious about it once I've been told you're not interested). It just seems to me that lumping reasonable and polite prosletizing in the same category as armed conquest is intellectually dishonest.

I see no difference in sharing one's faith with others (again in a non coercive fashion) than sharing one's favorite recipes.

Honest question here, as I know nothing about your beliefs. What is your goal worshiping Satan?

At the risk of appearing to speak for bellavite1, modern Satanism isn't really worship of Satan. A more accurate description of it would be a stylized form of hedonism and non-conformity blended with a strong libertarian attitude toward ones spirituality.

I think most of the time when someone hears "Satanist" they assume "Occultist". Most of the Satanists I've known are decent folk that just wear a bit too much black

[bellavite1]

Honest question here, as I know nothing about your beliefs. What is your goal worshiping Satan? Do you get a place in hell just a Christian would in Heaven? Who do you fight for in the end? As a Satanist do you wish for the way of Satan to take place on earth, i.e. anarchy, complete loss of morality on Earth etc?

No questions here meant to be aggressive or anything but inquisitive, I've never spoke to a Satanist.

No problem.
A Satanist does not worship Satan: if you believe in Satan God is implied.
Modern Satanism is a form of Atheism.
As mentioned before, most religions out there will profess that their religion is the only one, and everything else, including the lack of belief in a God, is the making of the Devil, Satan himself.
Hence, somewhat ironically, the name Satanism, not anlike the 1% status in the biker world.
A Satanist believes that , without Heaven or Hell, your life is over when you die, and your consciusness with it (which is somewhat a peaceful feeling to me).
When you die you go back in Nature's cycle, by decomposing and therefore creating new life.
Your life is the only one you'll get and your main responsibility is to live it fully, as long as you don't hurt others in the process.
A Satanist does not believe in offering the other cheek, if you are bothering no one and somebody slaps you inthe face, destroy him.
Last but not least, a Satanist does not proselithize (and I might be breaking this rule here), because everybody is entitled to their happines, and if your religion gives you happines, you have the right to believe.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Satanic_Bible

[bellavite1]

Again, I don't understand how polite discussion is disrespectful or even an "imposition of views".

I agree 100% that it would be wrong to flip you off or try to kill you because of your beliefs. But if I believed I had discovered the answer to life's problems and/or a way to spend eternity in paradise I'd be a real dick if I DIDN'T try to share that with you. Granted it would be wrong to use force (or for that matter be obnoxious about it once I've been told you're not interested). It just seems to me that lumping reasonable and polite prosletizing in the same category as armed conquest is intellectually dishonest.

I see no difference in sharing one's faith with others (again in a non coercive fashion) than sharing one's favorite recipes.



At the risk of appearing to speak for bellavite1, modern Satanism isn't really worship of Satan. A more accurate description of it would be a stylized form of hedonism and non-conformity blended with a strong libertarian attitude toward ones spirituality.

I think most of the time when someone hears "Satanist" they assume "Occultist". Most of the Satanists I've known are decent folk that just wear a bit too much black

I just don't believe that I would be well received at your door trying to convince you you wasted your life believing in something that it is not there and feeling guilty for desires and feelings that are natural to any human being.
It gets a little more personal than my Spaghetti alla Carbonara recipe...
As far as your description of a Satanist, it is fairly accurate, but it gets a little deeper than that (see above).