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'Humble atheist' responds to Pastor's comments


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Published Date: 11 November 2008
By Staff reporter
SIR - I read an article in last weeks Times by Pastor David A Purse in which he made a rather unsavoury remark about atheists.
Pastor Purse wrote:“It is becoming fashionable in some quarters to boast of being an atheist…”

In my experience, I have never met an atheist who boasts about their non-belief in gods. I have yet to see an atheist standing at the bandstand at Broad
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way handing out flyers and singing songs, trying to convince others to become atheists. Can the same be said of Christians?

Perhaps the reason why the atheist voice is being heard more-and-more these days is simply a reaction to the increasing way in which religion is being forced into areas of society in which it has no place. In particular I refer to the science class, and science in general.

I’m sure many people are aware that some Christians are trying to include the teaching of the 6 day creationism story in science classes. This is not just happening in the USA but right here in Northern Ireland, and it is something that must be opposed. Science, by definition, is the systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation. The creationism story does not belong in the science class because there is no demonstrable evidence to support it. The entire hypothesis is based purely on what the Bible says.

And I am also sure that everyone is aware of the ongoing debate between creationists and those who understand evolution. Ironically, the majority of creationists don’t understand evolution, and perhaps they don’t want to, simply because it contradicts what they believe in.

They claim that there is no evidence to support evolution, however, this could not be further from the truth. All anyone has to do is pick up any book on the subject and read. There are hundreds available, and they all point to the same conclusion - the evidence to support the theory is overwhelming.

I am not trying to convert anyone by means of this letter. If someone wishes to believe in a god, it is their right to do so, and I defend that right. My purpose here is to simply explain why atheists feel the need to voice their concerns these days, and finally, to ask others to resist tarnishing the name of those who don’t share their beliefs.

- Kind Regards,

A humble atheist

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Exodus 21:3-4 Says that if a male slave is given a wife by his master (regardless of how long they are wed, how much they love each other or if they have kids) he can not leave servanthood with his wife or children. The woman and children are merely property of the master and their personal happiness or sanctity of family doesn’t matter.

Exodus 21:7 God not only sanctions selling ones daughter into slavery, but he also gives out laws on how it should be done.

Exodus 21:10 God ordains men taking several wives and even sets up laws as to how multiple wives should be handled.

Leviticus 12:1-8 Explains that a woman has to be purified after giving birth because she is “unclean”. It goes on to say that birthing a male is cleaner then birthing a female, hence a mother must purify TWICE as long when having a daughter. This is BLATANT sexism from the point of birth. A woman is dirty simply for being a woman; this is obviously very biased and chauvinistic.

Leviticus 15:19-30 Explains that a woman having her menstruation must be avoided to the point of not even touching what she has touched. It is quite curious that women are punished for simply having a biological function that “God” claims to have created. What is so just about vilifying what you created?

Leviticus 18:19 Goes onto say that even LOOKING at a menstruating woman is wrong.

Leviticus 19:20 Says that if a man has sex with a slave or betrothed woman he must then “scourge” her. Scourging is a term for a severe flogging or whipping. I find it quite curious that the woman shall be punished to the point of a beating for such an occurrence, yet the man gets to go free for the deed.

Leviticus 21:9 Explains that unchaste daughters of priests must be burnt to death. What about his unchaste sons? Of course this isn’t even answered in the Torah, we are to assume yet again that men have the power to do as they wish and a woman must suffer the punishment for BOTH of them.

Leviticus 27:3-7 God places a dollar value on human life; with women worth less than men.

Numbers 1:2 Is the basis for the sexism that remains rampant today. In this verse Moses takes a poll of all the men who are able to fight in war, women aren’t even counted in the census. Apparently back then, just like today, us women are considered the weaker species and unable to battle. (Let’s not forget that during the time the Pentateuch was written women in Pagan cultures were FEARED and revered as the more powerful species. It is because of this patriarchal religion and it’s offshoots that we have been reduced to cowering sub-humans.)

Numbers 30:3-16 A woman can’t make a vow unless her husband allows it.

Numbers 31: 14-18 Moses tells his men to kill all the males, non-virginal women, elderly and children of the Midianite tribe. Of course, the virgin women are kept for raping. If you read later down in the scripture God states that the Jews can not even marry a Midianite woman (with exception to Moses). Hence these women who were captured were repeatedly raped and impregnated and they weren’t even allowed a marital status in which to protect them.
Deuteronomy 20:13-15 Kill all the men and boys in the cities that God “delivers into your hands,” but keep the women for raping.

Deuteronomy 21:11-14 If you see a pretty woman among the captives then just take her home and “go in unto her.”

Deuteronomy 22:5 Women that wear men’s clothing are an “abomination unto the Lord.”

Deuteronomy 22:13-22 Women, be sure to keep the tokens of your virginity. Otherwise the men of your city may stone you to death. This does not apply to men though, of course. What is interesting to note here is the actual wording, it says : “that if a man hateth his wife he may say she did not have the tokens of her virginity”. Since there is no way a woman can truly prove she had a hymen upon marriage the word rests on the husband and she can be disposed of

In the next few days (i.e. hopefully before saturday of the13th of June) you shall see @ the Bandstand at the Broadway in Ballymena and around town a A4 posters and other thing's around town about Atheist's and Atheism and of course religion...