Comments on: Capricious Deity Brutally Yanks Back Precious Gift

By: James Tracy

James Tracy — Wed, 19 May 2010 15:47:14 +0000

"I thought the whole point of being an atheist…" Then you are seriously misinformed.

By: David

David — Wed, 19 May 2010 13:09:53 +0000

And how do you KNOW that is the case?

I thought the whole point of being an atheist was that you didn't believe in anything therefore you didn't try to force your non-beliefs into the world and yet all I see now are so called "atheists" throwing their weight around.

Hypocrite = you.

By: James Tracy

James Tracy — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:35:46 +0000

I feel that the story as reported above raises some important theological questions that should be discussed rather than dismissed out of hand simply because one of the individuals involved is grieving. The fact that the mother lost a child does not make her religious beliefs more true nor should it shield them from criticism and discussion. You seem to want to conflate respect for the person as a human being with respect for her religious beliefs. I respect the mother as a person. I respect the fact that she was willing to express her opinions in a comment on this blog. I do not have to respect her unfounded religious beliefs – and that is exactly what they are.

By: James Tracy

James Tracy — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:28:31 +0000

You need to take note that I am not "Atheist Under Ur Bed" – the author of this post (and a frequent contributor to this website). My only contribution here was my reply to the mother. Even still, the author of this post isn't "using" the lives of anyone – the author is using a newspaper story to raise some serious theological questions.

By: jlf

jlf — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:22:28 +0000

Mr. Tracy I was about to try and answer your need to explain the above story in a way that you are looking for, but then I saw your reply to the mother. The start of your thread implies a belief in God that you feel is unjustified. While your reply to the mother implies you are a true atheist. You need to look deep inside yourself before you use the lives of others to propagate what you may or may not believe.

By: L.Southard

L.Southard — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:23:40 +0000

Mr. Tracy,

You are using a hurting mom to make your point. You make me sick! If you don't believe in God that is your choice but for you to specifically target a parent that has lost her child is sickening! We can't make you believe in God anymore than you can make people believe that there isn't a God. You have absolutely no respect! Take your psychoanalytical crap and leave this family to grieve the loss of their child!

By: James Tracy

James Tracy — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:56:09 +0000

With all due respect, you do not "know" that there is a heaven let alone that he is "waiting" there for you with Jesus. I would rather be realistic and recognize that stories like this one demonstrate that the universe does not care whether we live or die – we are here at its mercy and must learn to live with that. The happy fantasy that religion provides us may serve useful psychological purposes but in the end I believe it is ultimately harmful to the human condition.

By: SLW

SLW — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:38:52 +0000

I am the mother of Marcos and read your message, but I ask myself these questions too, but in no way am I going to blame god for this. I understand what you are saying and he was and is my son and I wake up every day and ask that questions and am angry but I know he is waiting for us in heaven with Jesus and thats what comforts me everyday to know that I will see him soon. I miss my little boy everyday and dont understand why him he was just a baby??? I would like to know but until then I just pray everyday and ask god to give me strength..

By: A Christian Whose Mind Was Changed | AnAtheist.Net

A Christian Whose Mind Was Changed | AnAtheist.Net — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:42:04 +0000

[...] might have eventually shared the story I did in my last entry in any event, but I especially wanted to share it today because it seemed like the perfect [...]