The following is my email response to a post I found on craigslist, which I will mirror here after the jump. I don't normally respond to every random christian hate post, but I had to this time, in defense of George Carlin.
Your post wasn't openly celebrating George's death, but you are trying to use it as a recruiting tool. Atheism isn't a weak stance that you can just convert people by saying that one of our beloved champions is burning in hell. Shame on you for stooping to the same level as those who were openly happy to see Falwell die. Do you picket funerals along with the Westboro Baptist Church? Do you realize that atheists are good people? Do you understand that they do good things for the world? They are your scientists, your doctors, your fast food workers, your mechanics, your neighbors, and possibly your friends. The main difference between us and you is belief in a fairy tale. We don't waste our time on our knees praying because it is the "safer bet." (see Atheist's Wager) And when someone is in trouble we either do something about it or we don't; we don't lull ourselves into a false sense of worth by doing nothing (praying) and then pretending like we did something. Other than being "blasphemous" what did George Carlin ever do to deserve an ETERNITY in hell? What kind of sadistic evil being do you worship that would damn someone to eternal hellfire just for not believing in something that is illogical to believe in? Any rational and compassionate deity would not do such stupid things. According to christians, you can rape and murder and then ask for forgiveness and you'll go to heaven. On the other hand if you are an atheist who lives an good life and never harmed anyone, that person is going to hell. I ask you, what kind of god is that? Is that a being worth worshiping? The answer of course is no. And if that god is benevolent enough to accept a good person regardless of their earth religion (or lack of), then what is the point in any religion at all? If you were born in India to a Hindu family, would god send you to hell for never converting to christianity even though you were never exposed to it? I encourage you to take a critical look at your beliefs. Question why christianity says the things it does. Research where the bible really came from, and who it was written and (more importantly) edited by. Question the world around you and question your own faith. Try to see the world as a whole, instead of just your limited local view. Come to conclusions on your own, because only then can you truly see the world as it really is. Recommended books to read: Here is the original post that I was responding to.
Before anyone thinks I'm writing a Christian version of something like some who openly hate God did in the aftermath of Dr. Jerry Falwell's death in 2007, allow me to state that I am not, in any manner whatsoever, celebrating the death of comedian George Carlin who died last week at the age of 71. Truly, along with all those who loved him, his family, friends and fans, I am sorry to hear that he is no longer here with us, the last curtain of the stage that was his life now closed. Having gotten that out of the way, if George Carlin's life on earth came to its end last week with him still believing that the Christian faith is nothing more than "religious superstition", he knows today what he chose not to know in the past - that Jesus Christ is Lord. He also knows that, without Christ as one's Savior, a great wit and sense of humor is of no benefit when it comes to avoiding an eternity of suffering and anguish that begins the very instant that an unrepentant sinner's life ends. Mr. Carlin once poked fun at the widspread use of euphemisms in society today by saying that one can not simply "die" anymore: "...thanks to our fear of death in this country I won't have to die. I'll 'pass away.' Or I'll 'expire,' like a magazine subscription. If it happens in the hospital they'll call it a 'terminal episode.' The insurance company will refer to it as 'negative patient care outcome.' And if it's the result of malpractice they'll say it was a 'therapeutic misadventure.'" If Mr. Carlin, who once drew attention to himself by getting arrested in Milwaukee in 1972 for performing a comedy routine during which he spoke "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television", died without Jesus Christ as His Savior, there's another term we could use to describe his death. It's not a euphemism but it's fitting. We could call it a "tragedy." Although I never cared a great deal for his brand of comedy as it was most often too vulger for my liking, not to mention godless, I'd be lying if I said George Carlin had never said anything that made me laugh, the above being a prime example. More than once, although I never sought him out as someone to entertain me, something of his I saw, heard or read connected with me and left me chuckling, sometimes out loud. Not only could he say funny words, like all the comedic greats, his face and body language added to his spoken words. Never once did I, nor do I today, question that George Carlin was fearfully and wonderfully made by a loving God. (Psalm 139:14) That is, for me at the very least, the most troubling aspect of Mr. Carlin's 'terminal episode.' Like many lost souls in the world around us today, any of whom could be in eternity by this time tomorrow awaiting the day when they will stand in judgment before Jesus Christ, George Carlin was very talented. He had the bull by the horns for many years of his life and will be remembered positively by many. Even so, in spite of all his successes, if he left this world lost in his sins - and I hope with all my heart he didn't - he would today give away all the wealth he acquired and all the fame he knew for decades to have just one moment here in this world to repent of his sins and acknowledge Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. And why is that? Because George Carlin is, as of last week, no longer an atheist. And Jesus Christ? He's anything but a "religious superstition" to him now! Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?
|
|||