The Blasphemy Challenge

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7QVb...eature=related

Here's something I stumbled on Youtube last night, and since then it's been bugging me to no end. As a theist(I've been researching religion, taking classes about the philosophy of Religion and World Civilizations), who does NOT go to church, I am NOT an eveangelical and I do NOT take a word of the Bible literally, I find that this following disturbing.

As the video says, It's a way to flaunt that you deny the Holy Spirit, thus committing the unforgivable sin and condemning yourself to the lowest layer of Hell for Eternity. Yet countless people have posted videos denying the Holy Spirit.

Even if you don't believe in a particular religion, I think that one should at least respect it, even if its followers gets a bad rap for being maniacal. I don't practice Buddhism, Hinduism, etc, etc, but I at least respect the religions and its followers.

Considering the fact the you can't prove or deny the existence of God, Buddha, Allah, Krishna or any other God/Goddess, it's silly to even consider going out of your way to commit a sin that could possibly damn you forever.

What's everyone else's take on this?

Well, let's assume that a "challenger" has - for whatever reasons - carefully and unemotionally concluded that belief in the Christian God is irrational (and try to cut debates about the soundness of the atheist position and the true motivations of the average non-believer off at the head... though I doubt that will be possible).

In refusing to take the challenge, such a free-thinker is letting himself be controlled by what he has honestly concluded to be an irrational fear; and that's a very damaging cowardice. Videotaping and posting online may be a bit uncalled for, but the act in and of itself is highly commendable.

^^This.

I'm not a fan of Christianity, or most other religions, so all the power to them.

If people want to flaunt their disbelief of god, or any other deities that's fine. Personally it seems pretty pointless.

Originally Posted by John Henry Eden

If people want to flaunt their disbelief of god, or any other deities that's fine. Personally it seems pretty pointless.

This. As an atheist I find it kind of silly, and I don't think it portrays a good picture of us.

Originally Posted by -Link-182-

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As the video says, It's a way to flaunt that you deny the Holy Spirit, thus committing the unforgivable sin and condemning yourself to the lowest layer of Hell for Eternity. Yet countless people have posted videos denying the Holy Spirit.

nonsense. Blasphemers go to the inner ring of the seventh circle of Hell where they lay on burning sand while fiery flakes rain down upon them. the lowest level of hell is reserved for those who betray their benefactors.

The point is not to piss off Christians, it's to show that you're not alone in your disbelief. Being an atheist can be lonely in some parts of the world. The Blasphemy Challenge is an act of solidarity.

That being said, I'm not a huge fan of the Rational Response Squad. They bug me a little, and they totally bombed a really juvenile debate on national TV.

Originally Posted by -Link-182-

Considering the fact the you can't prove or deny the existence of God, Buddha, Allah, Krishna or any other God/Goddess, it's silly to even consider going out of your way to commit a sin that could possibly damn you forever.

But given that there are an infinite number of possible gods with an infinite number of possible actions that could damn us, anything we do is equally likely to damn us. If there's no evidence, it's silly to consider it.

My first thought was: whatever.

After giving it some serious thought, I concluded: Whatever.

Originally Posted by -Link-182-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7QVb...eature=related

Here's something I stumbled on Youtube last night, and since then it's been bugging me to no end. As a theist(I've been researching religion, taking classes about the philosophy of Religion and World Civilizations), who does NOT go to church, I am NOT an eveangelical and I do NOT take a word of the Bible literally, I find that this following disturbing.

As the video says, It's a way to flaunt that you deny the Holy Spirit, thus committing the unforgivable sin and condemning yourself to the lowest layer of Hell for Eternity. Yet countless people have posted videos denying the Holy Spirit.

Even if you don't believe in a particular religion, I think that one should at least respect it, even if its followers gets a bad rap for being maniacal. I don't practice Buddhism, Hinduism, etc, etc, but I at least respect the religions and its followers.

Considering the fact the you can't prove or deny the existence of God, Buddha, Allah, Krishna or any other God/Goddess, it's silly to even consider going out of your way to commit a sin that could possibly damn you forever.

What's everyone else's take on this?

you studied philosophy of religion and said buddah is a god...
well, I think it's ok to do such things, it's the same monotheists saying that there isn't any other gods other than God (really nice name lol).
I deny God and the Holy Spirit.
(and going to hell is better than not going anywhere, like, it's a "life" after this life, even if you are suffering it's better than the nothingness that atheist believe)

Originally Posted by Puck

My first thought was: whatever.

After giving it some serious thought, I concluded: Whatever.

Pretty much this

Now to those who deny I have one question to ask, Whats the point of denying the existance of God/s whats your reasoning?

Originally Posted by LightHawk

Pretty much this

Now to those who deny I have one question to ask, Whats the point of denying the existance of God/s whats your reasoning?

in my religion denying a god isn't a big thing, and gods aren't a big thing at all. they are just more developed than humans, but there are humans that are more developed than gods.

The rational response squad sounds like one more religion for people to conform to for comfort. Go to the altar and be saved for a group of people that tell you to, make a video on youtube saying you deny the holy spirit for a group of people that tell you to. All the same to me.

I'm not a huge fan of it, because it's needlessly confrontational.


That said the idea, in and of itself, is not horrible. I'm an atheist. I have, on numerous occasions, stated my disbelief in any form of deity or supernatural phenomena. All this is is saying the same thing.

Still, I think that, perhaps, an "I am a non-believer" challenge, or something like that, would've raised far less ire, if being rather less catchy a title.

Originally Posted by LightHawk

Now to those who deny I have one question to ask, Whats the point of denying the existance of God/s whats your reasoning?

I could ask you the same question about The Flying Spaghetti Monster, or any other god which you deny.

Originally Posted by -Link-182-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7QVb...eature=related

Here's something I stumbled on Youtube last night, and since then it's been bugging me to no end. As a theist(I've been researching religion, taking classes about the philosophy of Religion and World Civilizations), who does NOT go to church, I am NOT an eveangelical and I do NOT take a word of the Bible literally, I find that this following disturbing.

As the video says, It's a way to flaunt that you deny the Holy Spirit, thus committing the unforgivable sin and condemning yourself to the lowest layer of Hell for Eternity. Yet countless people have posted videos denying the Holy Spirit.

Even if you don't believe in a particular religion, I think that one should at least respect it, even if its followers gets a bad rap for being maniacal. I don't practice Buddhism, Hinduism, etc, etc, but I at least respect the religions and its followers.

Considering the fact the you can't prove or deny the existence of God, Buddha, Allah, Krishna or any other God/Goddess, it's silly to even consider going out of your way to commit a sin that could possibly damn you forever.

What's everyone else's take on this?

No just God would ever send his creations to eternal torture, period. They have nothing to worry about if the Christian God is as nice as Christians say.

Originally Posted by Danger

No just God would ever send his creations to eternal torture, period. They have nothing to worry about if the Christian God is as nice as Christians say.

I'm not sure that's what the opening poster is trying to bring up, though to be honest, I can't be bothered to reread his post, so if I missed something bear with me

The punishment isn't just "OH NOW YOU'RE GOING TO HELL." It's a very bland existence in purgatory, for a goodly bit of time. Punishment by withdrawal really.

you studied philosophy of religion and said buddah is a god...

I've met Buddhists who believe Buddha was a god, and in all the various multi-religious courses I've taken, I've been told that some do and some don't, but it's not something that really matters to them.

Oh and my opinion on this: And people say theists do silly things.

Originally Posted by Danger

No just God would ever send his creations to eternal torture, period. They have nothing to worry about if the Christian God is as nice as Christians say.

Agreed. Though I must say - it's things like this that give atheists such a bad image with theists. It's needlessly provocative, to the point that it seems more like rash teenage rebellion than an actual, measured statement of beliefs.

You don't have to publicly declare your denial of the holy spirit to be committing the unforgivable sin.
To me, "denying the holy spirit" means going through your whole life without acknowledging the son of God and the the sacrifice, and choosing of your own free will to NOT be a christian, and then holding to that promise til the day you die.

Also, plenty of people have denounced Jesus and Christianity, only to have life-altering experiences that changed their lives and beliefs, and caused them to convert and follow God. Are they still damned to hell? Probably not. God is supposed to be forgiving and if you truly believe in the holy spirit in your heart, then why would god hold a grudge?

Otherwise, plenty of christian-converts will be going to hell!

Originally Posted by Avalanchemike

I'm not sure that's what the opening poster is trying to bring up, though to be honest, I can't be bothered to reread his post, so if I missed something bear with me

The punishment isn't just "OH NOW YOU'RE GOING TO HELL." It's a very bland existence in purgatory, for a goodly bit of time. Punishment by withdrawal really.

I wouldn't mind being with a god or gods if it turns out that belief is correct. Punishment for not knowing isn't fair either way, whether it's permanently or temporarily.

Originally Posted by -Link-182-

Considering the fact the you can't prove or deny the existence of God, Buddha, Allah, Krishna or any other God/Goddess, it's silly to even consider going out of your way to commit a sin that could possibly damn you forever.

What if your (I assume is Christian) belief damn you forever in my religion with 20 members? That's so silly of you.

By the way- purgatory, the various levels of hell, etc were all MADE UP by Dante Alighieri, who wrote the Divine Comedy (Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso). The Catholic church just decided to exploit the poor peasants who couldn't read for themselves, and they took the work of FICTION and passed it off as true, so the people would be scared into paying their tithes and whatnot.

there is absolutely no mention of anything LIKE purgatory in the Bible, nor any refference to various levels or areas in hell. It was a FICTION STORY.