re: Mass shooting at Tx baptist church

quote:

---

y'all are making the same sample biases that anti-gun people do with these shootings. you're amplifying the statistical relevance of these mass killing incidents to create your platform for your personal beliefs. mass killings are still a very small % of our total violence, and the vast majority of violent crimes are committed by religious people. we're also the most violent developed nation while also being the most religious developed nation.

i understand your arguments are sincere, but they're illogical and just wrong

---

Do you disagree that religion was held in higher esteem by the nation as a whole more that 60 years ago - even by atheists - than it is now? Do you disagree that having a higher power to guide your belief system has a better prognosis for a moral society than a system which emphasizes YOLO - where violence and depravity in our entertainment is not only tolerated but celebrated??

For the last 25 years or so our youth have been indoctrinated to respect nothing or no one.

No respect for the Constitution or the ideals that founded this country.

No respect for religion or religious institutions.

No respect for the sanctity of life itself.

We have completely devolved to a society of vitriolic hatred. We have no shared beliefs or values that unite us as a country.

quote:

---

the nihilistic Philosophy of Atheism is an essential incubator for this type of action.

---

Well of all the stupid bullshite I’ve read, this one might take the cake. Atheists don’t just get there by accident, most probably have read more religious books more often than you, including the Bible. Any one want to show an example of someone going on a killing spree because there wasn’t a god? It just doesn’t work like that. If you want to say these people weren’t “acting christianlike” then sure I’ll agree they are pscyhopathic, but it’s a religion just like all the others, being able to be influenced or brainwashed by any of them is a sign of being weak minded. I see no correlation of not believing there’s enough evidence for a personal god, and being innately evil, there’s more to it.

quote:

---

I suspect overall it may have been more violent

---

it was a LOT more violent

quote:

---

but mass ideologically driven killings, were virtually unheard of.

---

i don't know if we have the data, but these situations are outliers

again, y'all are literally making the same illogical arguments that anti-gun nuts make re: mass killings

We're talking about murders, not other types of crime... your data indicates that it doubled between 1960 and 1990 .....and then is back down to approximately the 1960 level. You describe mass killings as "outliers" . We've had three in the last month.... I think that's pretty indicative of a problem

quote:

---

Without a God, sport, its just survival of the fittest.

---

this is simply not true

morality can be reasoned without a god

quote:

---

pretty sure they've done studies and atheists are the least violent population group (by religion) in the US

---

Since it's evolved into Religion, SF (always does), there is a Verse in the Good Book that states a particular problematic dynamic re just what responsible and enlightened individuals do and believe. It speaks of a potential "stumblingblock" laid in the path of the "weaker brethren"...by those who believe and act on certain things and incur no negative consequence. However, weaker-minded and less educated individuals MAY believe/act upon the same thing...and incur great damage to their self and/or their brethren.

It's like getting drunk in front of the kids; the kids think that they can get drunk too...minus harm. Of course, we daily witness the consequences therein.

Bottom line. The kind of person that chooses a rational belief in Atheism is (generally) a thoughtful and strong-willed individual; both being solid characteristics for positive societal affects/contributions. However, they should realize that their PUBLIC and militant support of Atheism WILL have serious societal blowback via the "weaker brethren".

I've never supported either the censorship or even the (Subjective) non-validity of Atheistic Belief. We've comprehensively argued it here many times. In fact, I much respect those who thoughtfully choose such Belief, for it takes a bold soul to bear the nihilistic, psychological consequence therein; and do so on the principle that if we choose to believe with no rational basis for choice...then we can choose to believe anything which fits our selfish motivation.

And of course, there is the hypocrisy and imperfection in simplistic individuals who embrace Religion...but really have no clue re the Spiritual Principles and personal action required of that particular paradigm of belief. Easy to see why Atheists become militant, and contemptuous. Still, they get no pass; there is no slack in Nature or God...outside of the (supposed) Mercy of Jesus. And He is a tough Task Master at that; for good reason.

The societal affect of Atheism is equally as bad as that of false Religion; though (IMO), Religion - rightly interpreted - CAN ultimately be true and profitable...wherein Atheism is an absolute dead end, for as long as one chooses to believe it.

You start off your comment with some passive aggressive “sport” so I already think you’re being personally offended here. And had our ancestors not gotten us out of the food chain after shedding our hair, yes we would be fighting for survival everyday.

So you’re saying those who are weak minded enough to commit crimes and be influenced negatively through whatever means are more dangerous if they have an atheistic POV than say a Muslim?

quote:

---

morality can be reasoned without a god

---

Morality exists in the mind, our conscience. I wholeheartedly believe that is God speaking from within us. Otherwise we'd all be heathens doing terrible things.