September 30, 2007 - 10:14 ET by sublight68

Every time those radical Christians hold up a sign, thousands of people die. Yep, they're just like the Islamofacists.

Haha, I know people who think like that..

Seriously though, even though lumping Christian sign holders with Muslim terrorists is wrong, they do have a point, the rise of the christian right has created atheists out of agnostics and agnostics out of atheists, I've met a couple of people like that. I guess they feel alienated by it or something, I don't really completely understand their reasons, I've always been an Atheist so I'm not in that boat, but thats what I gathered from talking with certain people

I'm pretty sure the number of Atheists has been consistantly rising for years, 9-11 might have pushed that number up, but I bet it created more christians then Atheists...

Pete Stark is positively one of the worst people in Congress today. Look at what is listed about him in his Wikipedia entry: Along with John Conyers, in April 2006 Stark brought an action against George W. Bush and others alleging violations of the Constitution in the passing of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005[4]. The case (Conyers v. Bush) was ultimately dismissed[5]. 

A staunch opponent of the War in Iraq, Stark voted against authorizing the war and has opposed every funding bill for the war while the Republicans controlled Congress. However, he chose not to stand against the Democratic legislation to continue funding the war on March 23, 2007, despite other liberal Democrats voting against the bill. In a statement posted on his website he stated, "Despite my utmost respect for my colleagues who crafted this bill, I can’t in good conscience vote to continue this war. Nor, however, can I vote ‘No’ and join those who think today’s legislation goes too far toward withdrawal. That’s why I’m making the difficult decision to vote ‘present.’" 

Stark has occasionally faced criticism for his remarks about opponents. In 1990 Stark drew controversy for calling United States Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Louis Wade Sullivan, an African American, "a disgrace to his race." He later apologized for the remark.[6]

According to a San Francisco Chronicle editorial published July 23, 2003, Stark has also called fellow Congressman Scott McInnis a “little wimp” and a “little fruitcake” and challenged him to a fight during a Ways and Means Committee meeting. The editorial goes on to say that this “was reminiscent of the 2001 debate when Stark made a reference to the children of Rep. J.C. Watts all being ‘born out of wedlock."

Stark has also accused Rep. Nancy Johnson, R-Conn., of being a "whore for the insurance industry” and suggested that her knowledge of health care came solely from "pillow talk" with her husband, who is a physician. In addition, Stark attacked former conservative California state welfare director Eloise Anderson in 1999 as a baby-killer, complaining at a public forum that she would "kill children if she had her way" simply because she opposed particular policy proposals.

The San Francisco Chronicle editorialized, "Only a politician who assumes he has a job for life could behave so badly on a semi-regular basis by spewing personalized invective that might get him punched in certain East Bay taverns…Surely there must be someone along the shoreline between Alameda and Fremont who could represent the good citizens of the district with class and dignity. It's not the case now."

In recent times Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington brought to attention that Stark paid his wife Deborah $176,800 over three election cycles for her work as a campaign treasurer. He defended this action by stating she was qualified for the job, but she has since retired from the position.[7]

If ABC is trying to convince us that Pete Stark, as an atheist, is someone to be admired or emulated, then I'll stick with the Christians, thank you!]

Your wrong about atheism needing religion to exist, it needs religion to be defined, but not to exist.

Morality is from both instinct and upper-level reasoning, instinctually we know whats right and wrong, evolution created instinctual morality. Reason dictates that your personal hapiness is not anymore meaningful then someone elses, so creating a net gain in hapiness is optimal, which in itself makes us happy, so morality is just the best way to create hapiness.

You were frightened because of something in YOU that was MISSING. It is called FAITH. There is no Christianity apart from "Fundamentalism", and those who think there is, are fooling themselves. If you're "uncomfortable" in church perhaps it's your tolerance of homosexuality or abortion or some other area where you are at odds with the Scriptures. See, Church is there to convict you of sin. Church is NOT there to "make you feel good", it's there to make you REPENT, which we all have need of. The bible says that if we say we have no sin, we lie and the truth is not IN  us. Therefore it is the job of the church to preach against sin  and give you the specific uncomfortable feeling that you are running away from. I would take you to the second chapter of Acts, after Peter has given the first Holy Ghost filled message on the day of Pentecost. The Bible says that the men that Peter was speaking to were "cut in their hearts" or "made to feel uncomfortable with how they've been living their lives". This prompted them to ask what they might do to "relieve" this condition whereupon Peter told them to REPENT and be baptized in a way that most so-called Christian churches ignore...i.e. in Jesus' NAME as opposed to the empty titles of "father son and Holy Ghost. Remember Peter has just told them that the One that they killed a couple of weeks ago (Jesus) was in fact the Messiah and that He Is Risen.

ACTS 2:36-39

 36"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

 37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

 38Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

Contrary to popular opinon and teaching, Christianity is not a club that anyone can "join" by raising their hands and citing some "sinners prayer". You have to be CALLED to this salvation. One of the ways in which you know that you have heard the TRUE word of God, is the VERY FEELING YOU DESCRIBE! Since it is this uncomfortable feeling that leads directly to Repentance. Think about it, the only reason for us to feel "uncomfortable" in Church is because of the filth we have allowed into our hearts and our lives. Believe me, I've been there! Repent and be baptized CORRECTLY according to scripture (acts 2:38) and you will see a change in how you "feel", upon hearing the Word.

"Under God" was added in the fifties.  As originally written in 1892 it read: I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all

Brilliantly put together my friend, simply brilliant.

FINALLY SOMEONE WHO "GETS" IT. You want to know why they hate Christians more than they hate even the Islamoterrorists? It's because Jesus is real and "allah" was a just something that Satan whispered to Mohammed and inside where it counts, they know it. Jesus said that if the world hates you it is because they hated Him. Jesus also said in Matt 13 in the parable of the "Wheat and the Tares" that there are two groups of people present on earth. Those that were given to Him by the Father and those who were planted by the Enemy.  He said that He allows those plante by the Enemy to flourish along with those that are His, for the protection of those that are His, but that in the last day the Reapers will cut down those sown by the Enemy and throw them in the fire. What side did you think homosexual supporting, abortion providing, America hating, nutbags are on in the first place?