I have just received my email version of the ‘The Australian Atheist’ which of course after 'Duck Monthly' is one of my favorite reads.
Over Easter the 2010 Global Atheist Convention was held in Sydney and it caused something of a furore in religious circles. You would think we heathens had crucified Jesus on the Sydney Harbour Bridge by the sheer volume of hate mail from the clergy in general.
Archbishop Peter Jensen of Sydney said - amongst other things:
“atheism is not the rational philosophy that it claims to be.”
“atheism is as much of a religion as Christianity.”
“It’s about our determination as human beings to have our own way, to make our own rules, to live our own lives, unfettered by the rule of God and the right of God to rule over us...”
“What we’re really seeing, once more [is] an example of the contest between human beings and God over who rules the world.”
“atheism was a form of idolatry.”
“As we can see by the sheer passion and virulence of the atheist—they seem to hate the Christian God—we are not dealing here with cool philosophy up against faith without a brain.”
And then there was the Catholic Archbishop Andrew Fisher of Parramatta. He certainly has a way with words:
“[It’s] the illusion that we can build a better life without God.”
“Last century we tried godlessness on a grand scale and the effects were devastating: Nazism, Stalinism, Pol Pot-ery, mass murder, abortion and broken relationships – all promoted by state-imposed atheism.”
Blimey!
Here I was thinking I was a reasonably good person. I love and cherish my wife and look after her like a silkworm. I am an excellent housekeeper and cook. I love cats. I am kind and generous and donate to worthy causes. I don’t dislike most Christians at all. (My blogging is not up to much but I am praying to Julia about this).
And apparently I do all this bad shit. It’s to much. I can’t go on.
