I thank God everyday for athiests

[arely staircase]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Goblinmonger (a host of the Atheists & Agnostics group).

All the athiests who work to ease the sufferring of others.

Who fight for social justice.

Who believe, like Christ that the poor are oppressed by a capitalist system in which the poor are units of production and not human beings worthy of the same dignity as anyone else.

God bless you - not a dig but a recognition of the work we must do together, motivations aside.

Lets get to work. Lets stop fighting.

[Mr.Bill]

1. And as an Atheist,

I support the good work done by many religious organizations, especially on a local level. I have even volunteered to help at church-run events that help needy people in my area.

[arely staircase]

4. and you are doing the Lords work (imho)

and no belief in my Lord necessary. Ibworkbwith atheists and fundies - neither group buys into my liberal theology. But I couldn't care less as long as the poor are at least somewhat comforfed

[AtheistCrusader]

7. 'Thank god for you' and 'doing the lords work', etc sounds

like shifting the credit off humans that are working very hard.

I'm sure you don't mean it that way, but it comes across as something you probably don't intend.

[mr blur]

2. "People", you mean.

All the people who work to ease the suffering of others.

Who fight for social justice.

What does their lack of belief in gods have to do with it?

I'm afraid your OP comes across as patronising, to say the least.

[arely staircase]

5. if I come across as patronizing, I have failed.

It was not my intention at all.

[libodem]

3. I appreciate

Your thoughtful message.

[Heddi]

6. I'm sorry but this is so utterly offensive

You "thank god" for us every day. We see the poor "as Christ does." We're doing "The Lord's Work"

No, we're not seeing the poor "as Christ did," because Christ did not exist. We are not doing "the lord's work," we're doing our part to hold up the social contract we have with each other for being a part of this interconnected world.

Please do not "Thank God" for me or my work. Don't compare me with Christ, unless you're equally willing to compare me with Santa, the Easter Bunny, or a billy goat gruff.

And do not EVER equate what I do with my time, my mind, or my money, as being "the lord's work" You know, I've performed CPR on a dying child for FORTY FIVE MINUTES without rest. You try doing minimum 100 compressions a minute for 45 minutes. The lord's work. Please. If "The Lord" was so interested, he could have taken over and done some fucking CPR instead of making me nearly kill myself to stop another person from dying.

TO come to an Atheist/Agnostic safe haven, the ONE place where we barely get any peace because of alert-trolling net nannies, and tell us that you Thank God and we're like Jesus and doing The Lord's Work... seriously, where do you even get the idea that's remotely okay?

We don't believe in God. We don't believe in Jesus. We do the things we do because they're the RIGHT things to do, not because God Told Us So, or because we savor some great reward after we die.

How utterly inappropriate.

Just say Thanks. Just say you appreciate it. Bringing the flowery religious overtones is just....it's like telling the parents of a dead child "oh God needed an extra angel!" or "he's in a better place now." Just because you CAN say it doesn't mean you SHOULD say it

[Goblinmonger]

8. I'm temporarily locking this

as a violation of the SOP. This is unilateral, and I will discuss this with other hosts which may change the outcome but I doubt it.

[Goblinmonger]

9. After discussing this with both other hosts we are keeping the lock.

This is not the place for discussions like this. Regardless of intent, this just isn't want we want in this group.