My fellow blogger, Dinesh D'Souza, asks where atheists are when tragedies like Virginia Tech shooting happens? I'm not an atheist (I'm agnostic), but the answer is simple -- they don't have to be anywhere. They're not the ones with the grand theory of the wonderful, benevolent God who is going to save us all. A thousand times better question is -- where is Jesus?
Or Mohammed? Or Moses? Or Ganesh? Or Apollo? Or Thor? Why didn't any of them ride to the rescue? Here's the real answer, although it makes a lot of you very uncomfortable -- because they don't exist!
They don't do wonderful magic tricks. They're not waiting to the end of time (usually after most of the people on earth are killed according to the so-called holy books) to show up to rescue the few good people left. They're not going to show up any of these tragedies. Because they are a figment of your imagination.
Atheists have nothing to answer for. Whereas, all of the religions claim to have all the answers. So, here's a simple one: Where the hell were you when we needed you?
Yeah, I know, God works in mysterious ways. Excuses are a dime a dozen. You claim there's a magic man up in the sky, so you bear the burden of proof. Ante up. Where is he?
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Where is Jesus?
Posted Apr 18th 2007 6:40PM by Cenk Uygur
Filed under: Young Turks, Religion, Islam, Christianity, Virginia Tech Shooting
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31. WHERE THE F IS GOD WHEN THIS STUPID CRAP HAPPENED?!??!?! IF THERE IS ONE THEN HE WOULD'VE NOT LET THIS HAPPEN WHO GIVES A CRAP WHAT ADAM DID THIS ISNT PRISON!!!! WHEN ONE PERSON MESSES IT UP FOR EVERYONE!!! ITS CALLED HIS CREATION AND IF ITS SOO F'ING BRILLIANT TO HIM THEN HE SHOULD'VE CONTROLED WHAT F'ING HAPPENED!!! THIS IS WHY I DONT BELIEVE IN SANTA-CLAUSE AND EASTER BUNNY AND ALL THAT MAGICAL CRAP CUZ GOD IS JUST AMONG ONE OF THOSE STUPID LITTLE CRAPS THAT WE SHOULD BELIEVE WHEN WE'RE LIKE F'ING 4 YEARS OLD!!!! IF YOU BELIEVE IN GOD THEN JUMP OFF A BUILDING...BUT WAIT!!! IT SAYS DO NOT TEST GOD...THIS IS BECAUSE HE'S A F'ING FAKE!!!! ITS JUST A JOKE!
AND BTW...NO LIGHTNING YET!
fyuckgoduphispiehole at 7:35PM on Apr 21st 2007
32. God does NOT work in mysterious ways. That is NOT scripture.
Read more of the Bible and you'll see where God/Jesus is, and why they don't just appear out of thin air to "rescue" us. Read more and come to a better understanding.
latisha at 4:01PM on Apr 19th 2007
33. Wow, it's an interesting discussion you have here, guys... I live in Indonesia, a country with more than 200 million population. One of the victims in Virginia Tech tragedy is an Indonesian, who believes in God, he is a Christian. You know what? From TV news I saw his familes don't blame God, they still believe in Him. If we can receive the good things from Him, why can we thank Him for the bad things? I believe God makes everything beautiful in its time. I think this is your time for you all, American people to check your heart. If you don't believe in God, it's your choice. I believe every people have an empty space that only can be fulfilled with God's love. I had that kind of experience, too. May God bless America and all of you guys.
Gandi at 8:28AM on Apr 19th 2007
34. dalosophy,
If God were omniscient and not sadistic, how would she mess up and produce a bunch of people who like to murder?
God: "Oops, I went and produced ANOTHER mass murderer! Dang! Well, I can't be held accountable when the humans do exactly what I created them to do. It's their fault."
lil_turk at 8:48AM on Apr 19th 2007
35. HAHA, spoiled Obnoxious Brats...DRUNK ON FREEDOM...the "young immature Turks!"
stefano at 10:16PM on Apr 21st 2007
36. And the sparrow falls - bla bla bla - what's the difference between what happened on Tuesday and 187 people being blown up in Iraq or beheadings in Mexico - but those good god-fearing people will fight like hell - oops sorry - heck to stop same sex marriage - like that's a threat to my safety - I'm sick to death of these church-goers who preach to me about God but don't practice what they preach. I don't need to go to a building to be a good person - is there were a devine somebody - he/she would have stepped in a long time ago - or perhaps when that animal in Florida was burrying that child alive.
jgs286 at 11:23AM on Apr 19th 2007
37. Quit leaning upon GOD ..ride to the rescue , ride to the rescue...thats what this Physical manifestaion experience is all about ..dont blame the medicine man Jesus for not being your superman cape crusader...you are ignorant young immature Turk!
stefano at 10:16PM on Apr 21st 2007
38. Where is God when life hits you in the gut?
As Dinesh D Souza said (more elegantly than me) if Dawkins is right...what dif does it make? I.E. if there is no meaning, it doesn't matter if the gunman here kissed---or killed...his ex girl friend. Whether I caress or carve up my husband...if there's no meaning...it's all dada confusion...just random debris...
But I can't just say "Well, the deep pain inside you...me...means there's a God." If God is real...anything close to what is claimed by the Jewish Carpenter (who also claims to be God) then call on Him.
Bitch to him...if you need to. Screams to Him are better than stony silence.
I am asking Him (he is not a man, but He is like a good, comforting Father, thus I say "him") Ask Him to reveal Himself to you & to comfort you and the victims. I know the comfort of God. I still have pain, but I have His comfort...and no, I still don't understand this tragedy.
vaness at 10:49AM on Apr 19th 2007
39. For those who have faith, no explanation is necessary. For those with no faith, no explanation will suffice.
There will always be those who "think" that believers believe in a God who controls will. A true believer doesn't believe that God interferes with will. Nonbelievers look for blame beyond. How ironic. It's all with the nature of Adam and Eve. Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the serpent and so it goes. No one takes personal responsibility for their own action. The true believer knows that persona responsibility defines the participation with good of the individual through choice. The none believer looks for a case to sue and blame someone else.
Enrique at 10:53AM on Apr 19th 2007
40. I think I understand the dilema here. It's not exactly about where God was in this situation alone. It's more personal than that. It's where was God in MY life when it hit the fan? As a follower of Jesus since age 23 I can understand why people feel that way. To be honest I had doubts just like they do. I didn't want to pretend to believe, if I didn't believe then I didn't fake it. For me it began with seeing others who were real with their faith and not just theological. Who spoke plain english instead of christianese. Who admitted their faults and still you could see the goodness of God in them. That at least peeked my interest. As I came a little closer I asked questions sincerely and He began to answer them. Simple as that. I ran out of excuses. You can't remove faith from God, but that doesn't mean He won't answer a sincere seeker. I know that personally.
John B. at 11:00AM on Apr 19th 2007
41. Why is it when sometime bad happen people ask where is God,
Why God allowed this to happen ?
But the true is America turn their back on God
They took prayers out of the school's
they remove the 10 commandment out of the court
They turn their back on the poor people
And you say where is God.
You your self have push God away.So dont go acting like there is no God.
Repent from all your wickedness and sins turn from your wrong ways.
Is not God fault for this matter to happen
Is not God fault.
Teach your childrens about the Lord and His commandments and His son Teachings lay a good foundation so your childrens will never leave His path.
Dont blame God, blame the parents for not teaching their childrens about Who is The Lord of host.
When a man make a mistake dont blame God for it.
When Religion make a mistake dont blame God for it.
God is perfect in all His ways.
Man is imperfect.
That is why Man needs God in their life, because only God is perfect in all His ways.
You want to find Jesus Christ just confess His name accept Him in your heart and their you will find
The King of Kings Jesus Christ.
Stop with the blame game. It wont take you no where.
Angie at 11:09AM on Apr 19th 2007
42. I give my heart to Jesus many years ago and I know that he is real. I have seen with my own eyes many mircales before. When preachers are asked to come and speak at ceremonies like this one in Virgina. They can say the God but they can't say Jesus. That's because there is POWER,conviction, and authority in the name of Jesus. These Muslims are killing people left and right in the name of there god. But people won't say anthing and they are taking over America. All you atheists shouldn't be worrying about the Christians, you should be worrying about the Muslims. As the old saying goes..."you won't find a atheist in a fox-hole"
Mike S at 11:24AM on Apr 19th 2007
43. Yaw is your creator learn his name and be blessed. He has been with you all and shall remain.
average joe at 11:24AM on Apr 19th 2007
44. I don’t understand something
If you say God and Jesus are not real then why do you get so upset when tragic things like this happen there would be no reason for us to even live,
so he would kind of be doing all of us a favor, since life is so hard anyway dying should be nothing (unless deep down you know there is a God)
Tina at 10:54AM on Apr 20th 2007
45. Atheists are making the world a better place, while hate-mongers are worsening it.
NYC ATHEISTS GIFT TO LIFE DAY MAY 3, 2007
TIME: 4:00 - 6:30 PM
LOCATION: NY BLOOD BANK
310 EAST 67TH ST. (2ND)
RESERVATIONS: NONE
=========================
PRESS RELEASE
Atheists to Counter "National Day of Prayer" with Blood Donations
------------------
Lifesaving Action, Not Passive Prayer, Is the Message
---------------
What do you do on May 3, 2007, the "National Day of Prayer," if you are an atheist, do not believe in prayer and are opposed to the observance of a prayer day being imposed on all American citizens?
While Believers are praying on May 3rd (an act that has been scientifically proven to be ineffective*), groups of atheists will go to Blood Banks in scores of U.S. locales to donate their blood and sign up for organ donation programs. It is a nationwide action which we hope will point out that there are alternatives to silently beseeching a deity to perform miracles.
"While religious people are on their knees, we atheists will be on our feet, giving a part of ourselves for the benefit of humanity," says Kenneth Bronstein, founder of the Center For Atheism, an informational and activist group based in New York City. "We know that prayer does not work--but medical science does."
This year, CFA will be joined by atheists from The Rational Response Squad, an activist network (RationalResponders.com) formed in 2005 by Philadelphia-based Brian Sapient and Rook Hawkins. The Rational Response Squad has grown from a popular internet radio show into a force of 20,000 members in 15 regional chapters and a youth division.
"We want to make a public statement about how nonreligious people can observe the so-called National Day of Prayer, which we have renamed Gift of Life Day," says Sapient. "At the same time, we want to let America know that there are millions of us who know that praying is nothing more than talking to yourself. So on that day, we atheists will be engaging in action that we can prove scientifically has real-life impact on our fellow citizens."
In the past three years, Gift of Life Day has become a tradition among New York City atheists. Last year, members of NYCA celebrated Gift of Life Day by giving blood at the New York Blood Bank in upper Manhattan. A group of atheists arrived together to donate their life-giving blood and then celebrated together in a small anteroom with coffee, juice and light refreshment supplied by the Blood Bank. "We found that the Blood Bank was delighted to have us, cooperated with us in every way and allowed us to post our atheist banner for the occasion," notes Bronstein.
The Rational Response Squad will focus on logging the effort on one of their new websites (atheistvolunteers.org) to help make the project an International success.
If you want to start a Gift of Life Day in your locale, it's simple. Here's what you do:
1) Find your local blood bank by accessing www.americasblood.org or http://www.givelife.org, then type in your zip code to find your local blood bank
2) Phone the blood bank to make arrangements for a group donation (You will find them amazingly supportive and accommodating.)
3) Notify your local newspaper, TV and other media that your group is doing this and why. It?s important to alert them long before the event.
4) Visit www.atheistvolunteers.org to log your donation.
It's simple, it's positive, it's effective. Come on, Agnostics, Atheists, Freethinkers, Humanists, Secularists, Nonbelievers, Separation of Church and State advocates, join us in our humanitarian protest against the Day of Prayer! Show the world
that while religious people are on their knees, Atheists are on their feet giving of themselves to humanity.
For further information, contact:
Ken Bronstein: centerforatheism@aol.com
Brian Sapient: sapient@rationalresponderscom
*http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12082681/
Mike Caprio at 11:32AM on Apr 19th 2007