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Website: FortWayne.com by Guest Columnist Richard D. Sloan Publication Date: August 11, 2004
THERE ARE WRETCHED souls who would actually deny atheists the prerogative of trying to make the world a better place. One such soul says atheists are trying to make a heaven on Earth. Another assails them for establishing institutions toward bettering our world.
“We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the Untied States of America.”
For those who know the Pledge of Allegiance but do not recognize the preceding quote, this is the Preamble to the United States Constitution. It lays out the reasons for which the Constitution was established. Read real close and you will see it even says that the U. S. government is an institution established by man (We the people).
And it sure reads like the idea was to make the United States a better place, at least a bit closer to a heaven on Earth. Justice, domestic tranquilty, promotion of the general welfare and the blessings of liberty do not exactly sound like hell. I am surprised that Christians want to maintain the U.S. as a living hell and a blemish on the face of the Earth. I always thought people other than just the atheists believed in these causes.
But, Ronald Reagan (allegedly the best president ever) and King George “W” (now practically a god) have both been set on destroying all the good Americans have done to make this a better place over the course of our history.
I have to believe now that the Constitution is just an atheist plot. I can’t figure out how all them godless commies got the jump on us to get all that junk in the Preamble.
I do have a problem with the idea that anyone who would be against making the world a better place could get a place reserved in Heaven. I kind of figured good souls were supposed to be kind and pure of heart. And I have a problem with a God who would ban even an atheist from heaven for trying to do some good in the world.
I do wish some of you armchair preachers would explain this new revelation, because I don’t think I would much like a Heaven full of such hateful, rotten-hearted souls, and I doubt God really wants to spend all eternity with such dark points of light.
"I came not to send peace, but a sword" ~Jesus the Christ (Matt 10:34)
Joined: Nov 2003 Gender: Female Posts: 1,391 Location: In front of my computer
Re: The horror! Atheists try to better the world « Reply #1 on Aug 13, 2004, 3:44pm »
Although the writer of this column seems to have a theistic point of view, it made me smile that he acknowledges the humanist endeavours of the atheists in the U.S.A.
A friend of mine (a non-practicing Catholic) once told me that she believes that if there is a heaven, I will still be allowed entry because I am a kind person and try my best to help others. The author of this article seems to share that belief.
Some of the kindest people I have met, some of the most caring and giving people, do so not because of doctrines and scripture. They do so because they truely care. They don't hold out any hope for some mystical redemption. They don't seek 'brownie points'. They are earnest individuals who wish to see an end to suffering. They are Secular Humanists.
I can't say that every atheist I have met is void of hate. I have met several who hold a hatred for religion and those who are religious, but they are, thankfully, the minority.
Joined: Jul 2005 Gender: Female Posts: 22 Location: Fort Wayne IN
Re: The horror! Atheists try to better the world « Reply #2 on Jul 9, 2005, 9:20pm »
hi all i'm one of the recent new folks-- he has written more than a few articles which have appeared in the ft wayne news sentinal--i live in ft wayne. i may not always agree with all he says, but i give him credit for getting published! some of his columns have been very interesting....and egads there are other non-believers in fort wayne!! if he didnt write i would never have guessed!
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