From: Genienozeit@aol.com
Subject: Godless people…

Since you have removed Christ from many secular places now, He has been kicked out of the schools.  Tell me, what do you have in our young people now? Nothing!!!
They have no thought of marriage and children, just what they can get out of life.  The can plan no future anymore. Henceforth America is going to the dogs.
They have nothing to stand up for now. It’s live and let live.
  We each have the right to choose or not choose.  I choose to live for Christ and when He returns, you will watch me leave this old world that people like you have made Godless.
Why can I not live like I want to and you live like you want to and leave each other alone?

Yes, Live and Let Live!
  In Christ,

  Genie

I love how “live and let live” for this person involves forcing their religion on a captive audience by having prayer in school.

Bishop O’Donoghue, who has recently published a report on how to renew Catholicism in Britain, argued that mass education has led to “sickness in the Church and wider society”.

“What we have witnessed in Western societies since the end of the Second World War is the development of mass education on a scale unprecedented in human history - resulting in economic growth, scientific and technological advances, and the cultural and social enrichment of billions of people’s lives,“ he said.

“However, every human endeavor has a dark side, due to original sin and concupiscence. In the case of education, we can see its distortion through the widespread dissemination of radical scepticism, positivism, utilitarianism and relativism.

“Taken together, these intellectual trends have resulted in a fragmented society that marginalizes God, with many people mistakenly thinking they can live happy and productive lives without him.

Awwwww. I feel so bad for the Bishop. All those damnable educated people and their stupid questions about Catholic dogma. I’ve always said that the cure for religion is more education. It doesn’t work in every case, but it works more often than not. Where it doesn’t eliminate belief in sky faeries it at least makes the believers much more moderate and reasonable. It’s interesting to hear a Catholic bitch about education for a change, though, as usually that’s the domain of Evangelicals.

William,

That’s some impressively tortured logic you’ve got going there. Doesn’t tend to lend well to your claim that you can answer any argument I might be able to put forth. Atheism is simply the lack of theistic belief. It has no bearing on politics, marriage, or holidays. How you figure those three things imply an “end to human life higher than survival” is beyond me. I bow to your superior, if somewhat spurious, logic.

I do appreciate the email, though. It’s sure to amuse the folks who drop by my blog. Thanks for sending it along!

Les

I figured that would be enough to piss him off and he’d wander back into whatever dark recess he had scurried out from as most of the Catholics I’ve gotten email from tend to do. Usually it’s the Evangelicals that are persistent, but it appears Mr. Michael is of sterner stuff as he replied back:

Les,

As I expected, you suggest that my logic is flawed, but provide no reason for your criticism other than your opinion.  That kind of dumb response is what I meant when I said you should leave the little pond of idiots and put up some real reasons for your views—-which you obviously think are important enough to post on a website.  Your too acustomed to picking on the little girls, like Georgie Porgie…”when the boys came out to play, Georgie Porgie ran away.”

Having opinions without demonstrable reasons is called “prejudice” and suggests a lack of proof rather than any real thought.  Every fool has an opinion.  Rhetorically, if you had reasons you were ready to stand behind you’d be able to let them speak for you, rather than suggesting that the support of your blog viewers is proof.  If numbers of supporters is proof, then I think Catholicism would win on a worldwide contest.  Knowing you don’t think that, what are your reasons?

Here are some questions I bet you will struggle to answer in a positive way. 

1. What is the purpose of human life?  You obviously cannot have an opinion about what a government should do before you can state what the purpose of life even is.  I would love to read your answer to a question like this.  Again, not you picking on other people’s answers, but something of your own for consideration.
2. What makes a day or event greater than any other?  After all, to set a holiday as a day of rest from other activities, or to recognize one event over another, implies that one is more significant than the other.  What exactly is this system of ranking events in the mind of an atheist?  Also, if holidays are intended to be celebrated in common, what would be the link that bound these groups together?  Or would there be as many holidays as individuals?
3. What is the starting principle from which you define human rights?  I’d like to understand how an atheist concludes that humans have any “rights”.  The idea of a human right assumes that (a) there is a law higher than that of the individual and (b) that right is evident to humans in general, not in particular.  What exactly do you believe those rights are and what is your justification for them?

Again, refutations are a dime a dozen, demonstrations are the proof of reason and truth.  State your ideas positively, and we’ll know whether you really have anything to say.  Maybe you can post your answers to my questions on your blog and let people offer criticism of them.  After all, you’re a free thinker and no prejudiced or narrow-minded individual, right?

Bill Michael

***

William Michael, Director
Classical Liberal Arts Academy
Phone: (704)764-8641
E-Mail: mail@classicalliberalarts.com

I’ve not replied yet as I thought I’d take some time and consider my answers, but I will get to it eventually. I thought you folks would be interested in seeing his latest missive, though, so here you go.

From: Classical Liberal Arts Academy ()
Subject: Come into the Big Pond

If you were truly an atheist, wouldn’t you also not concern yourself with politics, holidays, marriage, etc..?  All of these things imply that there is an end to human life higher than survival.  Wouldn’t you simply ignore these things as products of religion and susperstition?  No matter what, atheism leads one to deny the reality of ideas and institutions that transcend animal life and your concern for these things undermines your whole point and suggests there is a higher end for human beings than eating, drinking and reproducing.

It seems to me you flatter yourself by beating up on people you know have no clue what they’re talking about….evangelical Protestants and the media.  We all know they’re idiots.  Why not be honest and take on the Catholic philosophers who actually understand how to debate and argue fairly with respectable reasons.  They’re not on TV or on cheap websites…they’re in universities and monasteries around the world.  Again, not the bad apples among Catholic priests (who are on the lowest rung of the totem pole in Catholicism) and clueless laymen, but the teachers and practicers of true Christian philosophy who can answer every argument you make? 

I look forward to seeing you put your ideas up for debate with people who actually can answer them, not the morons who tie their own shoes together.  I for one would be able to refute any argument you have against the (Catholic) Christian faith, which has always been presented with concern for not only faith but also natural human reason.

***
William Michael
Classical Liberal Arts Academy
E-Mail: wmichael@alumni.rutgers.edu

Try to make sense out of that tortured logic.

You better watch out. There is a new combatant in the Christmas wars.

Ads proclaiming, “Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness’ sake,“ will appear on Washington, D.C., buses starting next week and running through December. The American Humanist Association unveiled the provocative $40,000 holiday ad campaign Tuesday.

[...] “We are trying to reach our audience, and sometimes in order to reach an audience, everybody has to hear you,“ said Fred Edwords, spokesman for the humanist group. “Our reason for doing it during the holidays is there are an awful lot of agnostics, atheists and other types of non-theists who feel a little alone during the holidays because of its association with traditional religion.“

To that end, the ads and posters will include a link to a Web site that will seek to connect and organize like-minded thinkers in the D.C. area, Edwords said.

Edwords said the purpose isn’t to argue that God doesn’t exist or change minds about a deity, although “we are trying to plant a seed of rational thought and critical thinking and questioning in people’s minds.“

Needless to say, various Christian groups, particularly those involved in the annual War!On!Christmas! nonsense, aren’t too impressed with these ads. Take AFA president Tim Wildmon’s reaction for example:

“It’s a stupid ad,“ he said. “How do we define ‘good’ if we don’t believe in God? God in his word, the Bible, tells us what’s good and bad and right and wrong. If we are each ourselves defining what’s good, it’s going to be a crazy world.“

Hate to break the news to you, Tom, but everyone already defines what’s good individually. Some of you just use God as a lame rationalization for your opinion on what is good.

Also on Tuesday, the Orlando, Fla.-based Liberty Counsel, a conservative Christian legal group, launched its sixth annual “Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign.“ Liberty Counsel has intervened in disputes over nativity scenes and government bans on Christmas decorations, among other things.

“It’s the ultimate grinch to say there is no God at a time when millions of people around the world celebrate the birth of Christ,“ said Mathew Staver, the group’s chairman and dean of the Liberty University School of Law. “Certainly, they have the right to believe what they want but this is insulting.“

What’s insulting is your insistence that Christmas has anything to do with Christ’s birth when there’s not a credible Biblical scholar around who thinks Christ was born anywhere near December 25th.

Both of those responses pale in comparison to Fox News’ own Steve Doocy, Brian Kilmeade and Alisyn Camerota as they discussed the ad campaign in mocking terms:

That whole thing is so full of idiotic assumptions that it would take multiple entries just to address them all. Take for example that Atheists don’t celebrate Christmas when, in fact, quite a few of us do. There’s a whole secular side to Christmas and plenty of customs that have nothing to do with the religious aspects that have been forced on the holiday by Christians. You may have noticed that I make use of the word “Krismas” to indicate the difference. What’s really annoying, however, is that rather than discuss the message of the ad—which suggests that belief in a God isn’t a requirement for being good—they opted to simply mock atheists with a lot of strawman arguments and then suggest that we shouldn’t be allowed to put up messages such as this one on public buses.

Troy Eckonen was eating breakfast at Mack’s Cafe in Pompano Beach last Tuesday when he spotted Jesus’ face on his last piece of French toast.

After studying the toast Eckonen says he and friends also see Christ’s left arm raised and holding a cross, as well as two birds over the left shoulder.

Looks more like Frank Zappa to me.

So, having said all that, I give you Anthony Carfanyo’s question:

From: Anthony Carfanyo (anthonycarfanyo@yahoo.com)
Subject: Question?

Les…

  Does your Screen name imply all it says. I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt you just picked it, just to get a rise and recognition from you viewers. (Like a stage name) I don’t want to sound rude or insulting in my first letter to you as you and I have a common friend Convict, Dr. Kent Hovind, and Hovind and I have a common friend Jesus, “The Christ”. (The most dangerous personality in the universe).

  Anyway…I would ask you to read this through as I am not trying to insult you of put you down but, trying to get you to think about your view of yourself, and how words of others and even ourselves can make us become something… maybe God had not had for us from the beginning. Just really ask yourself ... “Am I happy” or just hurting?

Stupid Evil Bastard, the “Oxford American Dictionary” defines these words as such…

stupid |ˈst(y)oōpid | adjective ( -pider, -pidest)lacking intelligence or common sense; dazed and unable to think clearly

evil |ˈēvəl| adjective profoundly immoral and malevolent-(having or showing a wish to do evil to others) : his evil deeds | no man is so evil as to bebeyond redemption.• (of a force or spirit) embodying or associated with the forces of the devil :we have been driven out of the house by this evil spirit.• harmful or tending to harm : the evil effects of high taxes.• (of something seen or smelled) extremely unpleasant : a bathroom with an evil smell.

bastard |ˈbastərd | noun1 archaic or derogatory a person born of parents not married to each other.2 informal an unpleasant or despicable person : he lied to me, the bastard!• [with adj. ] a person (used to suggest an emotion such as pity or envy) :the poor bastard | he was a lucky bastard.• a difficult or awkward thing, undertaking, or situation : it’s been an absolute bastard of a week.

I am a Judeo Christian. What that means to you I.D.K. as I don’t know your history. Some can be real, morons ... and others can be like me and Jesus cool and straight to the point. It is the audience we speak too.  I minister to the homeless in a soup kitchen… as I was told the belly of the beast. I am a C.T. (Conspiracy Theorist) so I am considered a NUT with my peers, but Jesus’ peers killed him and Dr. Kent Hovind’s stuck him in jail and the Indians are on reservations so you tell me who the BAD guy really is? Have you been fooled by those who want you to think the way you do? Are you that, “Steroetype”, Raa-Raa guy?

So again just for converastion sake ... Who is Jesus to you. Have you ever spoken to someone who would let you ask the questions you have, and most important, have you listened to the answer if it DID make sense?

Write me back if you have the time… I know it take brains, Guts, and 2 parents, to run a web site. So you not some stupid evil bastard, your like me ... a seeker of truth. and I do agree with part of your logo “What in the WORLD is wrong with you people” .
Fire Fighter Anthony (YoCuzwaasup) Carfanyo

PS. I too am a horrible speller. I was told MANY TIMES to to use the Dictionary, (even from my daughter). I finally got one on the computer.  Just one more tool to shut them up and help your cause for truth.

And last but not least some video’s of what I believe, and why I am saved and why I believe Jesus Is the baddest and toughest and truest man that ever lived. 

President Ike Speech on the NWOhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd8wwMFmCeE&feature=related

JFK 60’s speach http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq99snleP4E&feature=related

Now you know why he was killed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l39XsMcyvgA&mode=related&search=

Also: If you look to the side (of this link) you will see Father Bush. In that video he says “New World Order”. This is the start of Hitler’s Germany all over.

Also if you want to see how deep the rabbit hole goes…

Arron Russo video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nD7dbkkBIA&feature=related

Was I duped? Did The GUY I VOTED FOR AND HIS DAD have knowledge of 911
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlWSv0NZBRw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sm73wOuPL60&NR=1

The subtle way these “NEW Policies” will be forced on us. “THROUGH FEAR”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82L3qU33CwY&feature=related

This one is to give you a taste of what, “THE BIBLE” says is going to happen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNZvfiKrJHo&feature=related

Olbermann: the beginning of the end of America
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqxmPjB0WSs

From Mad TV Cartoon (Childish but look at the truth in it)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbIvPhZ3IsQ&NR=1

And “Thermite” (You did Haz-Mat)?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezIU6ZxYU3A&NR=1

Now imagine that at a font size at least three times what I used here. I’ve never had someone try to convince me Jesus was real by citing a bunch of conspiracy theories before. I have to give the man credit for being original. Well, at least more original than most. I’ve not responded to the email yet because I’m not sure if I want to bother. This guy is crazy on two different levels and it’s annoying enough dealing with those two types individually.

At [my daughter’s] confirmation class this evening, she drew a picture of an anime Jesus for an assignment.
When she told me, I couldn’t resist thinking about the song “Drop kick me Jesus through the goal posts of life” (and it’s ilk of bad religious music) and was inspired to write the following:

Jesus is the hero of my anime
When reading right to left he’s going to show me the Way
It doesn’t matter if my friends are nasty, or rude
Cuz Jesus is my spike-haired holy ninja dude.

I was standing in a line, when someone pushed on ahead
It really made me mad, and I wished that he were dead.
But then a 2-D image flashed across my mind:
A smiling chibi spirit, that told me to be kind.

...refrain…

I saw a special toy, but I didn’t have the cash.
I thought I might just grab it, and then make a hasty dash.
But then that mighty warrior with his flame haze book of might.
Showed me 10 commandments and made me do what’s right.

...refrain…

I was worried about dying, with a lump inside my throat.
Somewhere’s a shinigami with my name upon a note.
But I thought about my Light, the one who came to me.
And by His side I’ll walk through life and he will set me free.

Having listened to more than my share of Christian pop music, I must say that the above is almost indistinguishable from the real thing. Being a long-time anime fan myself it’s doubly amusing.

That song will be stuck in my head all day now.

“What can I pray for you about?”

Translation: “Any juicy tidbits about your life I can spread through the prayer gossip grapevine?”
Acceptable Response: “Thanks for asking. You’re so kind. My wife is having an affair, my brother is a drunk, and my dog can’t control his sexual desires.”
Unacceptable Response: “Have you ever kept a prayer journal to see if you get more unanswered prayers than answered ones, or if your unasked prayers get answered just as much?”

I giggled at more than a few of these.