Just a quick howdy folks

[_TJ_]

I'm an atheist but I have great respect for a lot of the people
in this group and I just wanted to drop in and say 'hi'. :D

Also, I think the teachings of Jesus are something very special and
that if he were alive today he would certainly be a liberal. :7

[RevCheesehead]

1. Hi, TJ

How are ya doing? I haven't seen you around in a while. That, of course, is not your fault, but mine, for being very busy.

I'm glad you dropped in, and hope you will feel free to do so any time! :hi:

[_TJ_]

2. Thanks for the welcome Rev

I haven't been posting too much lately because I've been a bit
messed up with medication problems :scared:

The nice admins recently gave me my first shiny star though so I
thought I would take the opportunity to drop in and say hi
to everyone. :D

:hi:

[elshiva]

3. You are welcome!

Everyone is welcome who is respectful. Jesus' teachings are very special and I think there are alot of atheists who think he was a good teacher, right?

Congrats on the star! :toast:

[TreasonousBastard]

4. Back atcha, TJ...

and I, for one, have no problem with most atheists.

The teachings of Jesus aren't all that much different from other great religious and moral leaders. They have lasted for 2,000 years because they speak to all of us, not just those who join the church.

In the Decameron, there is a story about a heathen who visited Italy during the Renaissance. He visited the powerful families who all cried out their religious virtue as they robbed and murdered. He visited monestaries where the monks raped and stole. He visited bishops' palaces where the bishops robbed the people and demanded some of the spoils of the royal families.

After all of this, he converted to Christianity. When asked why he would do that after seeing all of the evils brought in the name of Christ, he simply replied that any religion that could survive with all of that evil done in its name must have God behind it watching carefully in judgment, and must have some great value hidden that is worth the search.

That value is the life of Jesus, and his example is available to all of us.