Excerpt from Transmetropolitan.

[Rude Louis]

There is a scene in issue six of the series Transmetropolitan where Spider Jerusalem makes a rant on organized modern religion:

Thieves! The lot of you. Thieves and leeches! Fucking vampires sucking the will from people who's only crimes were to be frightened and tired! And you don't help them! You don't listen to them! They get no truth from you. All you do is scare them with stories of something that doesn't exist! And you bastards are winning! Hundreds more of you everyday! Getting away with it in a place so noisy that no one could hear the truth if it were ever told. And I can't fight you alone, you fucks, couldn't when I was a kid and dad went cultist and I can't now. All I can do is tell the truth!

Mind you, he is dressed as Jesus and is knocking over tables in the Religion center similar to what happened in Matthew 21 I think, where Christ entered into Jerusalem in the manner of the Messiah and then proceeded to knock over the tables of the money-changers in the Temple. So make of that what you will. I just wanted to share this. Is it intended to be a coincidence or am I just seeing things?

[Dream of the iris]

Good for him! Someone needs to tell them..


Oh wait, that's just a book?

[Built To Last]

As with all new atheists, you are far removed from the reality of modern day theology.

Edit: I realize I come off as insulting to the OP. This is my mistake as, the OP is not condoning the provided passage, merely asking our opinions of it. My apologies.

[Jack]

Originally Posted by kurdt318

As with all new atheists, you are far removed from the reality of modern day theology.

What, does it change a lot or something?

[Built To Last]

Originally Posted by Jack

What, does it change a lot or something?

Are you in the dungeon of St Peter's basilica being boiled alive because you disagree with the catholic church?

My point is, the evilness, extremism, and influence of organized religion in the present day is greatly exaggerated by new atheists in order that they may justify their position.

[Dream of the iris]

I believe in God, but I think organized religion is ridiculous and yes it does cause problems.


Do I have to cite examples?


Believe what you want, that's fine. But the fact is religion is a problem in my opinion. Any organization is a problem because it creates borders. A border that others can't cross and can't actually become connected with another human because he's of a different religion or race or nationality or whatever. It's that mentality that religion embodies and pushes on people.

I was a Christian for a while, I know the deal. It is hard to break out, especially when you have a parent or parents who push it on you. But you have to be free, it's unhealthy to be locked in a certain paradigm, unable to see any other position or even better, question your own position.

[Cytosine]

Originally Posted by kurdt318

Are you in the dungeon of St Peter's basilica being boiled alive because you disagree with the catholic church?

My point is, the evilness, extremism, and influence of organized religion in the present day is greatly exaggerated by new atheists in order that they may justify their position.

You're right. I mean; suicide bombings, killing abortion doctors, rape, female circumcision, racism, genocide, denying the very science that built our civilization, money-grubbing preachers who molest children and whatever else those Abrahamic fucks get up to is greatly exaggerated.

Just because they don't run society as much as they did before does not make the behaviour of the extremists any more acceptable, and they could regain that power at any time. Less than 40% of the American public trusts a scientifically viable theory that has been verified over and over again for over 100 years (evolution). Why? A less-than-bronze age book tells them not to.

Rejecting the evils and ignorance of the Abrahamic religions does not mean justifying atheism. It is a valid critique and could lead one to studying other spiritual paths.

[Built To Last]

Many years ago I was given some advice by a rabbi. He told me that, "You don't have to be wrong, for me to be right." I have taken this message of tolerance very seriously.

I often times find myself playing the devils advocate on forums because I believe that extremism is created when you do not have contact with those you disagree with. Even though I disagree with organized religion and christianity/islam/judaism I find myself defending their right to exist.

It is the moral superiority and intolerance I often find among "new atheists" that distubs me.

[Built To Last]

Originally Posted by Cytosine

You're right. I mean; suicide bombings, killing abortion doctors, rape, female circumcision, racism, genocide, denying the very science that built our civilization, money-grubbing preachers who molest children and whatever else those Abrahamic fucks get up to is greatly exaggerated.

It's funny you choose to call the acts of .05% of the religious community, the acts of ALL who are in the religious community.

[Rude Louis]

Originally Posted by kurdt318

As with all new atheists, you are far removed from the reality of modern day theology.

Edit: I realize I come off as insulting to the OP. This is my mistake as, the OP is not condoning the provided passage, merely asking our opinions of it. My apologies.

Wait. Am I a new Atheist? I wasn't Atheist last time I checked.

[Built To Last]

Originally Posted by The Rudeboy

Wait. Am I a new Atheist? I wasn't Atheist last time I checked.

My apologies, thats why I put the edit in there. I meant to put that the authors of the passage come off as "new atheists".

[Ambient]

Atheistic preaching FTL.

[Tunicate]

maybe some context will help our audience here?
Transmetropolitan is a graphic novel about a futuristic Cyber Punk Gonzo Journalist named Spider Jerusalem who's trying to save the world from greedy capitalistic pigs from (specifically two?) opposing factions.
They wont let him have a phone because his words "kill" (people literally die, he makes shit happen).The major political figure hates him and wants him dead because he's spreading opposition to the campaign. Spider doesn't want to be famous, though he kind of is (c'mon!). He also says,

"You people don't know what the truth is! It's there, just under their bullshit, but you never look! That's what I hate most about this fucking city -- lies are news and the truth is obsolete!"

he seems to be, indeed, (IMO) an allegory for Jesus... just more dirty, mean, and more self aware. He's the "IDGAF" Jesus from 12-33

"So this Zealot comes to my door, all glazed eyes and clean reproductive organs, asking me if I ever think about God.

So I tell him I killed God. I tracked God down like a rabid dog, hacked off his legs with a hedge trimmer, raped him with a corncob, and boiled off his corpse in an acid bath.

So he pulls an alternating-current taser on me and tells me that only the Official Serbian Church of Tesla can save my polyphase intrinsic electric field, known to non-engineers as "the soul."

So I hit him. What would you do? "

[Ambient]

^^

Doesnt change my point of view on the matter.

It comes across as a mockery, taking the piss out of religion rather than taking it as a true enquiry into existance.

A fundamental theist can say "you dont know about truth, your just talking lies!"

And the fundamental atheist can say "you dont know about truth, your just talking lies!" in reply... we are no closer to the truth than when we began.

This comic or whatever it is; it is probably entertaining but it is not theosophical- its just a generic piss take seeking offense.

[PirateJoe]

Originally Posted by kurdt318

It's funny you choose to call the acts of .05% of the religious community, the acts of ALL who are in the religious community.

I wonder what percentage of the atheist community commits those crimes in the name of atheism.

[Built To Last]

Originally Posted by PirateJoe

I wonder what percentage of the atheist community commits those crimes in the name of atheism.

I'm willing to bet it is .05%.