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A forum for serious Catholic men who wish to better themselves and actively pursue their sanctification and their roles as men in society.


    Atheism From Wikipedia

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    Atheism From Wikipedia Empty Atheism From Wikipedia

    Post  Admin Tue May 08, 2012 11:30 am

    Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities.[1] In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities.[2][3] Most inclusively, atheism is simply the absence of belief that any deities exist.[3][4][5] Atheism is contrasted with theism,[6][7] which in its most general form is the belief that at least one deity exists.[7][8]
    The term atheism originated from the Greek ἄθεος (atheos), meaning "without god", used as a pejorative term applied to those thought to reject the gods worshipped by the larger society. With the spread of freethought, skeptical inquiry, and subsequent increase in criticism of religion, application of the term narrowed in scope. The first individuals to identify themselves using the word "atheist" lived in the 18th century.[9]
    Atheists tend to be skeptical of supernatural claims, citing a lack of empirical evidence for deities.[10] Rationales for not believing in any deity include the problem of evil, the argument from inconsistent revelations, and the argument from nonbelief. Other arguments for atheism range from the philosophical to the social to the historical. Although some atheists have adopted secular philosophies,[11][12] there is no one ideology or set of behaviors to which all atheists adhere.[13] Many atheists hold that atheism is a more parsimonious worldview than theism, and therefore the burden of proof lies not on the atheist to disprove the existence of God, but on the theist to provide a rationale for theism.[14]
    Atheism is accepted within some religious and spiritual belief systems, including Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Neopagan movements[15] such as Wicca,[16] and nontheistic religions. Jainism and some forms of Buddhism do not advocate belief in gods,[17] whereas Hinduism holds atheism to be valid, but difficult to follow spiritually.[18]
    Since conceptions of atheism vary, determining how many atheists exist in the world today is difficult.[19] According to one estimate, about 2.3% of the world's population are atheists, while a further 11.9% are nonreligious.[20] According to another, rates of self-reported atheism are among the highest in Western nations, again to varying degrees: United States (4%), Italy (7%), Spain (11%), Great Britain (17%), Germany (20%), and France (32%).[21]

    Definition as impossible or impermanent
    Before the 18th century, the existence of God was so universally accepted in the western world that even the possibility of true atheism was questioned. This is called theistic innatism—the notion that all people believe in God from birth; within this view was the connotation that atheists are simply in denial.[37]
    There is also a position claiming that atheists are quick to believe in God in times of crisis, that atheists make deathbed conversions, or that "there are no atheists in foxholes."[38] There have however been examples to the contrary, among them examples of literal "atheists in foxholes."[39]

    Another study assessing religiosity among scientists who are members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science found that "just over half of scientists (51%) believe in some form of deity or higher power; specifically, 33% of scientists say they believe in God, while 18% believe in a universal spirit or higher power."[177] Frank Sulloway of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Michael Shermer of California State University conducted a study which found in their polling sample of "credentialed" U.S. adults (12% had Ph.Ds and 62% were college graduates) 64% believed in God, and there was a correlation indicating that religious conviction diminished with education level.

    Dangers of religions
    See also: Criticism of religion
    Some prominent atheists—such as Bertrand Russell, Christopher Hitchens, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris, and Richard Dawkins—have criticized religions, citing harmful aspects of religious practices and doctrines.[85] Atheists have often engaged in debate with religious advocates, and the debates sometimes address the issue of whether religions provide a net benefit to individuals and society.
    One argument that religions can be harmful, made by atheists such as Sam Harris, is that Western religions' reliance on divine authority lends itself to authoritarianism and dogmatism.[86] Atheists have also cited data showing that there is a correlation between religious fundamentalism and extrinsic religion (when religion is held because it serves ulterior interests)[87] and authoritarianism, dogmatism, and prejudice.[88] These arguments—combined with historical events that are argued to demonstrate the dangers of religion, such as the Crusades, inquisitions, witch trials, and terrorist attacks—have been used in response to claims of beneficial effects of belief in religion.[89] Believers counter-argue that some regimes that espouse atheism, such as in Soviet Russia, have also been guilty of mass murder
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    Atheism From Wikipedia Empty A Reply To The Attacks Leveled At The Catholic Church

    Post  Admin Tue May 08, 2012 1:29 pm

    I'm not so sure how the atheists claim they are not a religion in the first place.
    Religion: a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects:
    Catholics believe in God, atheists believe in no god, the key word is believe. figure that one out?

    The atheists want to accuse religion for the: "Crusades, inquisitions, witch trials, and terrorist attacks" Alright so we can probably let the last two slide, since the more infamous "witch hunts" can be more or less attributed to the protestants, and the "terrorist attacks" they probably refer to are more in line with the teaching of mohammad.

    But what we can not let slide are the FALSE accusations being leveled against us and our Catholic Faith by these atheists, the liberal media, and the falsely/improperly educated man, and the very fact that they would even attempt to bundle our Catholic history and Religion up with these false, heretical, and devious "religions" is a ABSOLUTE INSULT no Catholic man should let slide.

    So I Have posted here two u-tube links to free videos done by Michael Voris, on the history from a true and Catholic point of view of both the Crusades and the Inquisitions, these are very well done, very interesting, and thoroughly researched educational films. I highly recommend them to all of our Catholic men, not only will it set the record straight in our own minds but this knowledge will also become a valuable weapon in our defense of the Catholic Church!

    The Crusades
    https://youtu.be/RLVXRrzm0kc
    Contrary to popular belief, the Crusades were not a campaign to spread faith by the sword, but a defense of Catholics and their holy places against Muslim aggression as well as an answer to a desperate plea from the Orthodox Church.

    The Inquisition
    https://youtu.be/18EderfKDOM
    The inquisitions were instituted to protect both guilty and innocent people from the gross injustice of secular leaders and mob rule thus initiating an unprecedented level of justice and order throughout much of Europe.

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