Does Hell Exist? And If It Does, Will There Be Twitter?
Of course you couldn’t. I feel bad when I yell at my dogs for barking at kids walking down the street.
So, let’s begin with the understanding that I do not believe there is such a thing as Hell. I’d be glad to argue with you about it in the comment section, so go there and be ready to defend your belief that God (or whatever your pet name for an all-perfect creator deity may be) is just sitting there, waiting for you to screw up so he can damn you to the pit of eternal fire.
If there is a Hell, I think it would have to come with its own, slightly-less contemptible version of Twitter.
On Mothers’ Day, I awoke to an e-mail from my sister alerting me to the fact that one of my Twitter Tormenters had been suspended for refusing to remove an avatar he was using of my deceased mother, disfigured to make a monster out of her. I wrote a Tweet congratulating Twitter for, finally, dealing with this feculent heap of stupid.
Twitter responded by reinstating his account, after which he immediately sent me a Tweet involving my late Mom and the USMC. This person then launched into a tantrum of profanity and obscenity, calling for my immediate suicide, remarking about things my father (who died before this lout was born) would do for a drink (complete with altered photos), and images of people blowing their own brains out with the strong suggestion that I should do the same.
I contacted Twitter immediately, sent them the URLs to this temper tantrum of profane posts, and asked that they take steps to remove this person once and for all from their social media platform.
Twitter acted quickly.
Within a half hour, my account was suspended.
As it turns out, the suspension has nothing to do with these delightful circumstances I have just described. My online radio station, powered by the good folks at Shoutca.st, offer a service called #NowPlaying whereby once every 5 songs or so, your Twitter followers are advised of what’s “now playing” on your radio station. Shoutca.st informed us yesterday that Twitter had suspended many such accounts and they were looking into it.
That’s the reality. And we all know how important “reality” is to our right-wing nut job pals. They were high-fiving each other, saluting this particular pinhead for “taking me down,” even though he had nothing to do with it. These righteous, “Christian” observers of all that is right and moral in the world were congratulating this simp for his foul, obscene, profane attack on my dead mother — on Mother’s Day, yet!
One thing I have learned about Twitter over the years I have used it. Right-Wingers seem to have a knack for getting liberals suspended. Even though this current suspension has nothing to do with politics, my experience has shown that when conservatives engage in “hive mind behavior” — like a swarm of rampaging fire ants — they can swarm Twitter with complaints about any individual liberal and get that person sent to what we call “The Twitter Gulag” where one is guilty unless otherwise proven innocent.
There are ways around this, of course. Although Twitter’s “terms of service” (HA HA HA HA HA HA HA…. pardon me….) say that owning more than one Twitter account is “verboten,” I know several people who have a Twitter account or two stashed away for the day when their primary account gets “Gulaged.” The RWNJ’s howl about this, of course, unless they employ the tactic themselves, at which time it is totally acceptable.
We liberals, lacking the “hive mind” mentality of lower creatures like bees, ants, wasps or conservatives, aren’t as good at organizing a group activity unless there’s chanting and Native American drum circles involved. A liberal finding himself surrounded by fire ants is generally left to be peeled down to a gleaming white skeleton while his friends stand by and watch, shaking their heads sadly, clucking their tongues saying, “I told him not to read that guy’s blog. But did he listen?”
So, on doctor’s orders and on threat of impalement by my wife, it is with great delight I say…
FAREWELL CRUEL TWITTER!
Thou hast turned into a cesspool of the wicked. What profiteth a man who becomes the mightiest turd in the toilet, when he is still naught but a turd? Thou takest otherwise decent people and turneth them into monsters, not fit for the company of decent folks.
From now on, I will do business on my Facebook account, I will promote my online radio station and my various books on my Facebook fan page, and I shall stay in touch with the outside world through those two entities as well as Linked In, which I have too long overlooked.
Thou mayest findeth me there. Eth.
Now… anyone up for a discussion on the existence of and/or need for Hell?
Click here for reuse options!Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: Bill Schmalfeldt
I no longer use Twitter or Facebook because they are evil. I do continue to blog at http://Schmalfeldt.org, where you can get information about other stuff I do, like comedy/parody CDs and MP3 downloads and audiobooks and such. Get yours now. When I'm dead, there will be a drastic price increase.
80 responses to Does Hell Exist? And If It Does, Will There Be Twitter?
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BanditBasheert May 13th, 2014 at 12:55
I share your non belief in hell. It never made any sense to me – similar to the “great flood” where the kind of loving god got pissed at everyone in the world except Noah and drowned everyone.
Very little religious dogma makes sense to me – and since its my life, and so far I am not required to bow down to the christian fascists who claim my country is a theocracy, I will continue to believe as I choose based upon the reasons I made my decision.
Bill Schmalfeldt May 13th, 2014 at 13:22
The thing that bothered me most about growing up Catholic was the not being allowed to question any of it. Common sense stuff, like why do I have to tell my sins to a priest if we have a personal relationship with God? Nobody likes a wise guy, I guess. Best to just bleat and follow.
Debra Watkins May 13th, 2014 at 14:28
Grew up Catholic also, seems to me now that Catholicism is so streamlined across the world, that they are now operating in a McDonald’s like fashion. Kind of sad really.
Don Berghuis May 14th, 2014 at 14:39
I didn’t grow up Catholic….I grew up Protestant, actually the Christian Reformed Church—and have questioned various of the doctrines I was taught , and at 81 years of age, I find them STILL to be reasonable.
William May 25th, 2014 at 08:57
Remember the concept of purgatory? George Carlin had a great take on it.
“Remember when eating meat on Friday was a sin? Are there souls doing 10 to 20 thousand years in purgatory on a hot dog rap? Is it retroactive?”
Don Berghuis May 14th, 2014 at 14:37
Feel free. And I will continue to bow down and pray to Almighty God, and I will fight to the death to preserve your and my rights to do so.
BanditBasheert May 13th, 2014 at 12:55
I share your non belief in hell. It never made any sense to me – similar to the “great flood” where the kind of loving god got pissed at everyone in the world except Noah and drowned everyone.
Very little religious dogma makes sense to me – and since its my life, and so far I am not required to bow down to the christian fascists who claim my country is a theocracy, I will continue to believe as I choose based upon the reasons I made my decision.
Bill Schmalfeldt May 13th, 2014 at 13:22
The thing that bothered me most about growing up Catholic was the not being allowed to question any of it. Common sense stuff, like why do I have to tell my sins to a priest if we have a personal relationship with God? Nobody likes a wise guy, I guess. Best to just bleat and follow.
Debra Watkins May 13th, 2014 at 14:28
Grew up Catholic also, seems to me now that Catholicism is so streamlined across the world, that they are now operating in a McDonald’s like fashion. Kind of sad really.
Don Berghuis May 14th, 2014 at 14:39
I didn’t grow up Catholic….I grew up Protestant, actually the Christian Reformed Church—and have questioned various of the doctrines I was taught , and at 81 years of age, I find them STILL to be reasonable.
William May 25th, 2014 at 08:57
Remember the concept of purgatory? George Carlin had a great take on it.
“Remember when eating meat on Friday was a sin? Are there souls doing 10 to 20 thousand years in purgatory on a hot dog rap? Is it retroactive?”
Don Berghuis May 14th, 2014 at 14:37
Feel free. And I will continue to bow down and pray to Almighty God, and I will fight to the death to preserve your and my rights to do so.
Anomaly 100 May 13th, 2014 at 13:08
Of course hell exists. It’s called #Tcot
Bill Schmalfeldt May 13th, 2014 at 13:21
Oooh! From downtown! Nothing but net!
Anomaly 100 May 13th, 2014 at 13:08
Of course hell exists. It’s called #Tcot
Bill Schmalfeldt May 13th, 2014 at 13:21
Oooh! From downtown! Nothing but net!
Bunya May 13th, 2014 at 13:43
I’m sure you godless heathens are well aware that you’re all headed for hell, where you’ll burn forever. I’ll see you there.
Bill Schmalfeldt May 13th, 2014 at 13:46
Ask for the Tiki room. I hear it’s nice.
granpa.usthai May 14th, 2014 at 15:21
don’t forget to take a lot of Mesquite BBQ Sauce – just in case Heaven does turn out to be Texas.
fahvel May 25th, 2014 at 11:53
the beer is cheap too. Be seein ya.
Bunya May 13th, 2014 at 13:43
I’m sure you godless heathens are well aware that you’re all headed for hell, where you’ll burn forever. I’ll see you there.
Bill Schmalfeldt May 13th, 2014 at 13:46
Ask for the Tiki room. I hear it’s nice.
granpa.usthai May 14th, 2014 at 15:21
don’t forget to take a lot of Mesquite BBQ Sauce – just in case Heaven does turn out to be Texas.
fahvel May 25th, 2014 at 11:53
the beer is cheap too. Be seein ya.
Dwendt44 May 13th, 2014 at 17:43
Who says god is all loving? From what I’ve read, (a book called the bible) god is a tyrant, cruel, and jealous (of what?) and about anything BUT loving.
Don Berghuis May 14th, 2014 at 14:35
He must be loving. After man rebelled (in Adam) against the few rules “Don’t eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”…the only rule He imposed on man, He sent His Son to die for those sins. All that one had to do (and all they still have to do) is to accept that sacrifice. Sounds like a loving God to me. In human terms, it is like a make a table and only demand it serve me as tables should. If it falls apart on me, I can take it out and use it for firewood… I owe the table nothing. But if I determine that I don’t want to do that because I remember the pleasure I had in making it and decide to keep it, that is a kind of mercy. Something, tho not totally, like God. He made us, made a small amount of demands on us and told us failure to meet those demands would result ultimately in our death. Then He provided a way of rdemption for ALL of us. The fact that some accept that and others do not is not evidence that God is not loving. His Son —Jesus—died for my sins—therefore I am eternally blessed. Oh, and yes, I have a Twitter account and a FB account. I never use the Twitter account, but use the FB account all the time.
Dwendt44 May 14th, 2014 at 20:47
Try reading farther into the bible to find out a bit more about how ‘loving’ he is. Killing off everyone in the world except for the 8 on the supposed Ark; the ridiculous rules ‘his’ people now had to live by (300+ commands) the contradictions he ‘inspired’ to confuse readers, the commands to kill off several civilizations and/or societies, etc… the list is long.
Don Berghuis May 15th, 2014 at 11:21
Dwendt44 I know that there are things like the flood and apparent genocide in the Bible. In almost all the cases, the people slain by God’s action were folks who had specifically defied the God who made them. God didn’t destroy them because He was in a snit or was having a bad day.
fahvel May 25th, 2014 at 11:52
you mean like living in a valley that god decided to give to a bunch of ragamuffin nomads?
T_P_K May 25th, 2014 at 19:29
Truth be told, God kills EVERYONE. But “old school” religionists still can’t seem to stop talking out of both sides of their mouths.
If God doesn’t kill people because he’s had a bad day, then he sure as hell (ha) doesn’t kill people who “specifically defied” him; I mean, come on.
HE’s the one who gave us all free will, so how backward is it to think God would presume to force ANYONE to believe in him, or else; let along force anyone to believe all the puerile evolutionary dogmas and doctrines various men have claimed are from the hand of God.
If you believe God indwells you, then exercise REAL faith, and listen to what HE says in the deepest part of you (your soul); not what anyone else says, living or dead.
fahvel May 25th, 2014 at 11:51
yeah, but it’s just a book with no author.
Dwendt44 May 25th, 2014 at 12:53
“Don’t eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”.
In other words, stay ignorant!
Wells May 21st, 2014 at 20:51
.
“FAREWELL CRUEL TWITTER”
Thou hast turned into a cesspool of the wicked. “What profiteth a man who becomes the mightiest turd in the toilet when he is still naught but a turd. Thou takest otherwise decent people and turneth them into monsters, not fit for the company of folks”
From now on, I wilst do business on Facebook, wilst I promote online radio stations and various books there, and shall stayeth in touch with the outside world through those entities or Linked In, too long overlookedeth .
Thou mayest findeth me there.
fahvel May 25th, 2014 at 11:50
perfectly said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
T_P_K May 25th, 2014 at 19:11
I say God is all-loving. Do you believe everything you read? There’s a lot of crap in the Bible to be sure. Have you learned to separate the wheat from the chaff? So isn’t truth valuable to you? That book ALSO says God is Love. Stop believing the bullshit when you’re free to believe the truth.
Dwendt44 May 13th, 2014 at 17:43
Who says god is all loving? From what I’ve read, (a book called the bible) god is a tyrant, cruel, and jealous (of what?) and about anything BUT loving.
Don Berghuis May 14th, 2014 at 14:35
He must be loving. After man rebelled (in Adam) against the few rules “Don’t eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”…the only rule He imposed on man, He sent His Son to die for those sins. All that one had to do (and all they still have to do) is to accept that sacrifice. Sounds like a loving God to me. In human terms, it is like a make a table and only demand it serve me as tables should. If it falls apart on me, I can take it out and use it for firewood… I owe the table nothing. But if I determine that I don’t want to do that because I remember the pleasure I had in making it and decide to keep it, that is a kind of mercy. Something, tho not totally, like God. He made us, made a small amount of demands on us and told us failure to meet those demands would result ultimately in our death. Then He provided a way of rdemption for ALL of us. The fact that some accept that and others do not is not evidence that God is not loving. His Son —Jesus—died for my sins—therefore I am eternally blessed. Oh, and yes, I have a Twitter account and a FB account. I never use the Twitter account, but use the FB account all the time.
Dwendt44 May 14th, 2014 at 20:47
Try reading farther into the bible to find out a bit more about how ‘loving’ he is. Killing off everyone in the world except for the 8 on the supposed Ark; the ridiculous rules ‘his’ people now had to live by (300+ commands) the contradictions he ‘inspired’ to confuse readers, the commands to kill off several civilizations and/or societies, etc… the list is long.
Don Berghuis May 15th, 2014 at 11:21
Dwendt44 I know that there are things like the flood and apparent genocide in the Bible. In almost all the cases, the people slain by God’s action were folks who had specifically defied the God who made them. God didn’t destroy them because He was in a snit or was having a bad day.
fahvel May 25th, 2014 at 11:52
you mean like living in a valley that god decided to give to a bunch of ragamuffin nomads?
T_P_K May 25th, 2014 at 19:29
Truth be told, God kills EVERYONE. But “old school” religionists still can’t seem to stop talking out of both sides of their mouths.
If God doesn’t kill people because he’s had a bad day, then he sure as hell (ha) doesn’t kill people who “specifically defied” him; I mean, come on.
HE’s the one who gave us all free will, so how backward is it to think God would presume to force ANYONE to believe in him, or else; let along force anyone to believe all the puerile evolutionary dogmas and doctrines various men have claimed are from the hand of God.
If you believe God indwells you, then exercise REAL faith, and listen to what HE says in the deepest part of you (your soul); not what anyone else says, living or dead.
fahvel May 25th, 2014 at 11:51
yeah, but it’s just a book with no author.
Dwendt44 May 25th, 2014 at 12:53
“Don’t eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”.
In other words, stay ignorant!
Wells May 21st, 2014 at 20:51
.
“FAREWELL CRUEL TWITTER”
Thou hast turned into a cesspool of the wicked. “What profiteth a man who becomes the mightiest turd in the toilet when he is still naught but a turd.” Thou takest otherwise decent people and turneth them into monsters, not fit for the company of folks. From now on, I wilst do business on Facebook, wilst promoting online radio stations and various books there, and shall stayeth in touch with the outside world through those entities or Linked In, too long overlookedeth. Thou mayest findeth me there.
fahvel May 25th, 2014 at 11:50
perfectly said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
T_P_K May 25th, 2014 at 19:11
I say God is all-loving. Do you believe everything you read? There’s a lot of crap in the Bible to be sure. Have you learned to separate the wheat from the chaff? So isn’t truth valuable to you? That book ALSO says God is Love. Stop believing the bullshit when you’re free to believe the truth.
fancypants May 13th, 2014 at 20:28
not only does hell exist ..
fancypants May 13th, 2014 at 20:28
not only does hell exist ..
T_P_K May 13th, 2014 at 21:20
No, there is no “hell.”
Well wait.
There are all those thousands of supposedly rational people who still believe that the all-loving, all-merciful, all-knowing God they profess belief in, maintains a gigantic universal “Lake of Fire,” at enormous expense, too, and probably available on the Celestial Cable base package under “entertainment.”
On second thought, that would be a living hell. You know, one of their own making. But there is no material place called Hell.
Mm, okay, there is the brain-box of Rush Limbaugh’s enormous head, that’s gotta be pretty close to a living hell, but he’s probably really close to death, so. . . let’s say there’s no eternal material place called hell.
Ahh shit. Yeah, there’s the idea of hell too, and that’s probably the most vivid and powerful form of hell that there is, really; and you might be surprised to learn that it
isn’t kept alive by just the fundie-mentalists either. It seems there are many weak-minded atheist trolls who, while claiming to know there is no hell (good so far) still insist on helping to keep the idea of hell alive by continually bringing it up whenever and wherever they can, in an effort to prove— get this— how dumb fundamentalists are. The irony— it burns all the way to the center of the earth.
Hmm. Well dammit, the center of the earth is a lot like hell, too; I mean if you could actually get there. . . Ya know, just forgeddaboudit.
T_P_K May 13th, 2014 at 21:20
No, there is no “hell.”
Well wait.
There are all those thousands of supposedly rational people who still believe that the all-loving, all-merciful, all-knowing God they profess belief in, maintains a gigantic universal “Lake of Fire,” at enormous expense, too, and probably available on the Celestial Cable base package under “entertainment.”
On second thought, that would be a living hell. You know, one of their own making. But there is no material place called Hell.
Mm, okay, there is the brain-box of Rush Limbaugh’s enormous head, that’s gotta be pretty close to a living hell, but he’s probably really close to death, so. . . let’s say there’s no eternal material place called hell.
Ahh shit. Yeah, there’s the idea of hell too, and that’s probably the most vivid and powerful form of hell that there is, really; and you might be surprised to learn that it
isn’t kept alive by just the fundie-mentalists either. It seems there are many weak-minded atheist trolls who, while claiming to know there is no hell (good so far) still insist on helping to keep the idea of hell alive by continually bringing it up whenever and wherever they can, in an effort to prove— get this— how dumb fundamentalists are. The irony— it burns all the way to the center of the earth.
Hmm. Well dammit, the center of the earth is a lot like hell, too; I mean if you could actually get there. . . Ya know, just forgeddaboudit.
William May 25th, 2014 at 08:50
” But there is no material place called Hell”.
I take it you’ve never been to Newark.
Jonathan May 25th, 2014 at 14:51
I spent a week in Newark one day.
T_P_K May 25th, 2014 at 19:04
You got me. :-[
Wells May 21st, 2014 at 20:35
No, there will NOT be Twitter, but
given some thought, Shopping Therapy
will provide sufficient entertainment, okay?
Also, pets of all stripes follow us into the garden.
There, to entertain amidst the Garden, of course.
Eden, is here.
Eden is here.
Parallel Dimension?
Invisably viewing the living?
Occassionally choosing to change garments, therefore, shopping.
Yes,Virginia, there will be shopping!
Last note: ALL HORSES go to heaven.
(you wanna ride somewhere, talk to me later)
Wells May 21st, 2014 at 20:35
No, there will NOT be Twitter, but
given some thought, Shopping Therapy
will provide sufficient entertainment, okay?
Also, pets of all stripes follow us into the garden.
There, to entertain amidst the Garden, of course.
Eden, is here.
Eden is here.
Parallel Dimension?
Invisably viewing the living?
Occassionally choosing to change garments, therefore, shopping.
Yes,Virginia, there will be shopping!
Last note: ALL HORSES go to heaven.
(you wanna ride somewhere, talk to me later)
Jonathan May 25th, 2014 at 08:06
Why do you feel the need to debunk Christianity, one of the four largest religions in the world? If one attempted to debunk Judaism, he would be labeled an anti-semite. If one tried to debunk Islam, he would be labeled a bigot. It’s fine to be an atheist if that’s what you want. This is America. But what’s wrong with live and let live? What’s wrong with respecting the beliefs of others? Why the need to ridicule someone’s belief system?
William May 25th, 2014 at 08:42
” What’s wrong with respecting the beliefs of others? Why the need to ridicule someone’s belief system?”
Well it was bound to happen.
Somebody writes a light hearted tongue in cheek article that clearly represents itself as such by the title that mentions hell and twitter, and some religious zealot will get all butt-hurt.
Yes this is America and there is no duty, implied or otherwise for anyone to respect your religion. There is only a requirement that people respect your RIGHT to have a religion.
Yes indeed what’s wrong with live and let live?
Jefferson one of our *gasp*. founding fathers put it eloquently.
Jonathan May 25th, 2014 at 09:56
” . . . some religious zealot will get all butt-hurt.”
I’m hardly a religious zealot. I’ve never been a member of any church. I’m just a middle of the road American who thinks people should respect the views of others. My cardiologist and dentist are both Muslim. My opthalmologist is Jewish. My internist is Catholic. All good people and great doctors. I feel no need to question their religion. If it works for them and helps them get through this life, who am I to question their religion? Or anyone’s religion. And why would I want to?
I have noticed a tendency among some self-described liberals to demonize and ridicule Christians. I suppose this is because some Christians can be a royal pain in the posterior with their Bible thumping and judgmental, hypocritical behavior. It’s unfair, I think, to paint all Christians with the same broad brush. For every judgmental, loud-mouthed Christian, there are probably 100 who quietly go to church on Sunday and do their best to live the life Jesus taught them to live, doing good things for others and helping the poor.
William May 25th, 2014 at 11:28
I’m a practicing Catholic. I don’t consider a snarky comedic article about hell and twitter an attack on my faith. I’m also not a liberal.
I believe in freedom of religion, and freedom from religion.
So much so that I have no idea what religion my Dr., dentist, trainer or dog groomers practices. I think they are good people without even considering their faith.
Jonathan May 25th, 2014 at 11:45
I didn’t make it a point to find out what religion my various doctors are. My cardiologist’s first name is Mohammed so I assume he’s muslim. My dentist has a certificate on her waiting room wall showing she belongs to the Syrian-American Dental association and several others about muslim organizations. My internist’s photo is in the local paper frequently because he wins cooking contests at his Catholic church. And my opthalmologist wears a yamulke.
I believe in freedom of religion and freedom from religion as well.
I will choose my words more carefully in the future so people will not assume I’m a “religioious zealot” who got all “butt-hurt,” whatever that means.
William May 25th, 2014 at 11:56
My nieces first name is Kelly, so I assume she’s Irish. Thank you for sharing the background of your health professionals. It was very interesting. BTW. My comments, IE religious zealot, and butt-hurt were not directed at you.
Jonathan May 25th, 2014 at 12:05
And thank you for the sarcasm.
fahvel May 25th, 2014 at 11:47
what’s . wrong is that all the whacko religions you listed are responsible for the untimely deaths of millions upn millions of innocent people during the past 2-4 centuries – that’s it J
Jonathan May 25th, 2014 at 16:53
I can’t argue that point. They have also hindered the advancement of science. Carl Sagan once estimated the Catholic church alone set science back 1,000 years by imprisoning people like Galileo and burning others, including Giordano Bruno, at the stake for heresy.
The Eternal Word Television Network, a conservative Catholic network, once stated on its website that the Catholic Church had apologized enough for burning “heretics” at the stake and need never apologize again.
Jonathan May 25th, 2014 at 08:06
Why do you feel the need to debunk Christianity, one of the four largest religions in the world? If one attempted to debunk Judaism, he would be labeled an anti-semite. If one tried to debunk Islam, he would be labeled a bigot. It’s fine to be an atheist if that’s what you want. This is America. But what’s wrong with live and let live? What’s wrong with respecting the beliefs of others? Why the need to ridicule someone’s belief system?
And what’s the nonsense about Twitter? Turds in toilets? Sheesh. Either use Twitter or don’t. Who cares?
William May 25th, 2014 at 08:42
” What’s wrong with respecting the beliefs of others? Why the need to ridicule someone’s belief system?”
Well it was bound to happen.
Somebody writes a light hearted tongue in cheek article that clearly represents itself as such by the title that mentions hell and twitter, and some religious zealot will get all butt-hurt.
Yes this is America and there is no duty, implied or otherwise for anyone to respect your religion. There is only a requirement that people respect your RIGHT to have a religion.
Yes indeed what’s wrong with live and let live?
Jefferson one of our *gasp*. founding fathers put it eloquently.
Jonathan May 25th, 2014 at 09:56
” . . . some religious zealot will get all butt-hurt.”
I’m hardly a religious zealot. I’ve never been a member of any church. I’m just a middle of the road American who thinks people should respect the views of others. My cardiologist and dentist are both Muslim. My opthalmologist is Jewish. My internist is Catholic. All good people and great doctors. I feel no need to question their religion. If it works for them and helps them get through this life, who am I to question their religion? Or anyone’s religion. And why would I want to?
I have noticed a tendency among some self-described liberals to demonize and ridicule Christians. I suppose this is because some Christians can be a royal pain in the posterior with their Bible thumping and judgmental, hypocritical behavior. It’s unfair, however, to paint all Christians with the same broad brush. For every judgmental, loud-mouthed Christian, there are probably 100 who quietly go to church on Sunday and do their best to live the life Jesus taught them to live, doing good things for others and helping the poor.
You seem very angry. Good luck with that.
William May 25th, 2014 at 11:28
I’m a practicing Catholic. I don’t consider a snarky comedic article about hell and twitter an attack on my faith. I’m also not a liberal.
I believe in freedom of religion, and freedom from religion.
So much so that I have no idea what religion my Dr., dentist, trainer or dog groomer practices. I think they are good people without even considering their faith.
Jonathan May 25th, 2014 at 11:45
I didn’t make it a point to find out what religion my various doctors are. My cardiologist’s first name is Mohammed so I assume he’s muslim. My dentist has a certificate on her waiting room wall showing she belongs to the Syrian-American Dental association and several others about muslim organizations. My internist’s photo is in the local paper frequently because he wins cooking contests at his Catholic church. And my opthalmologist wears a yamulke.
As I said, they’re all nice people and good doctors. Their religion is irrelevant to me.
I believe in freedom of religion and freedom from religion as well.
I will choose my words more carefully in the future so people will not assume I’m a “religioious zealot” who got all “butt-hurt,” whatever that means.
William May 25th, 2014 at 11:56
My nieces first name is Kelly, so I assume she’s Irish. Thank you for sharing the background of your health professionals. It was very interesting. BTW. My comments, IE religious zealot, and butt-hurt were not directed at you.
Jonathan May 25th, 2014 at 12:05
And thank you for the sarcasm. I’m glad you found my comments about the backgrounds of my health professionals to be interesting.
Your point is well-taken. I should not have assumed my Pakistani cardiologist named Mohammed is muslim. He’s probably Seventh Day Adventist. I was attempting to make the point that people’s religious views are irrelevant.
I would, however, be somewhat concerned if I found out that a doctor who is about to operate on me is a member of the Church of Scientology or the Church of Christ, Scientist. Or if I found my dentist is Amish. I hate it when that happens.
fahvel May 25th, 2014 at 11:47
what’s . wrong is that all the whacko religions you listed are responsible for the untimely deaths of millions upn millions of innocent people during the past 2-4 centuries – that’s it J
Jonathan May 25th, 2014 at 16:53
I can’t argue that point. They have also hindered the advancement of science. Carl Sagan once estimated the Catholic church alone set science back 1,000 years by imprisoning people like Galileo and burning others, including Giordano Bruno, at the stake for heresy.
The Eternal Word Television Network, a conservative Catholic network, once stated on its website that the Catholic Church had apologized enough for burning “heretics” at the stake and need never apologize again.
William May 25th, 2014 at 08:50
” But there is no material place called Hell”.
I take it you’ve never been to Newark.
Jonathan May 25th, 2014 at 14:51
I spent a week in Newark one day.
T_P_K May 25th, 2014 at 19:04
You got me. :-[
fahvel May 25th, 2014 at 11:46
no hell – no heaven – no god – it’s all crap invented by scared life forms during thier brief speck of time in the universe – bummer, eh?
craig7120 May 25th, 2014 at 12:11
Ah…a post after my own heart.
Humans believing in supernatural entities such as ghosts, gnomes, fairies, gods ain’t no big deal personally. I bet if you started the world 10 times over, each time humans will believe in ghosts, fairies, gnomes, gods over and over. Problems begin when imams, preachers, priest use their influence and power to assert their belief onto others. A fellow in a cave or a pope on a balcony makes no matter, their opinion is no larger or smaller than any of the other billion who occupy this rock spinning through space.
Be safe
fahvel May 25th, 2014 at 11:46
no hell – no heaven – no god – it’s all crap invented by scared life forms during thier brief speck of time in the universe – bummer, eh?
craig7120 May 25th, 2014 at 12:11
Ah…a post after my own heart.
Humans believing in supernatural entities such as ghosts, gnomes, fairies, gods ain’t no big deal personally. I bet if you started the world 10 times over, each time humans will believe in ghosts, fairies, gnomes, gods over and over. Problems begin when imams, preachers, priest use their influence and power to assert their belief onto others. A fellow in a cave or a pope on a balcony makes no matter, their opinion is no larger or smaller than any of the other billion who occupy this rock spinning through space.
Be safe