Sort of strange really. When my ex moved back to the USA she pretended to be Christian unionist for atheists are not very much liked there, well that’s what I know from her. She built a reputation of lying, so that information could be false…
She wasn’t exaggerating. Although, the amount of animosity toward atheists can vary depending on what part of the country you are in. In all fairness, however, it is faaaar better in today’s day and age than it was when I was a kid. Even here in The Bible Belt, I have noticed over the past few years more and more people slowly becoming “neutral” to religion, or even pulling away from it altogether. Mostly the younger generations, though. Still, churches of every denomination dominate the landscape in many areas.
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I’ve been burned at the steak twice. Or is that burned as a stake? Monkey’s don’t spell.
No, no, no… Don’t be silly. That righteous survivor would not have to kill himself/herself. Absolutely not. On the contrary, that individual would be greatly rewarded for defeating all those sinners in the Name of God! Ya see, as long as you are killing at the command of God, you are totally covered. Besides, suicide is a SIN, and God would be terribly pissed if that valiant Christian warrior offed himself/herself. Straight to hell with THAT sinner.
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I dare you to find that in the Bible. Besides, Jesus committed suicide. (Think about it.)
If a bunch of 4 year old children tried to tie you do a cross, wouldn’t you just step on the little rug runners and walk away? Wouldn’t you have to “let them” tie you to that cross. Do you imagine for am moment that God, in the form of his own son, could not just walkaway from being crucified? God killed himself because it was part of his plan. He knew he would kill himself when he set things in motion… or… there is shit that God does not know, so why call him God?
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In a past life, I took a job on the crew of a professional auto racing team in what is appropriately described as the deep South.
The team, their family, and the town folk were a level of receptive and cordial that I’d rarely experienced before… until that first Sunday, when everyone else went to church and I just slept. They returned and asked me, in all seriousness, if I were severely ill or perhaps had slept through my church alarm.
They could scarcely comprehend non-belief, much less the apostasy of missing the Sunday meeting.
Debates about what the Christian bible sanctioned and outright denials that it sanctioned those things were a big part of the disputations which followed. I lasted exactly four months there.
Damn, Cog, you of all people should know it doesn’t really matter if it’s actually IN the bible or not. The hundreds (thousands?) of obscure passages in that literary wonder can be interpreted to mean whatever the reader desires. Just ask any good Catholic priest. Therefore, suicide is a BIG no-no to God. UNLESS… You ARE God, and you send youself to Earth in human form to have yourself sacrificed in a gruesomely painful manner to show humanity how much you love them. Nevermind the fact you didn’t actually stay dead and you already knew beforehand that you would come back to life and return to heaven. That is totally beside the point.
I am an addicted race fan and have followed NA$CAR for decades. And from what I have seen on TV, yes, they are heavily religious … christian that is.
Down there, if you don’t have the anthem and the invocation, it ain’t a race.
I worked in the motor sports industry for a short period of time (white collar work). I had a similar experience as well. It is the only job I’ve ever lost because I was an atheist.
And the hilarious irony is that with all the religious pious and ceremony embedded in that industry, NASCAR was born out of running moonshine (Bootlegging) during the Prohibition Period. Even better, some of the BIGGEST sponsors are alcoholic beverage companies. Seriously, you can’t make this shit up! 
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The one and only race I crewed for them was during a test and tune weekend at a more local, small time track.
Prior to the anthem and invocation, the announcer stated (over the PA) that if anyone attending weren’t interested in standing for the anthem or bowing their head for the prayer, they were “free to leave the track sooner or later.” This met with applause of agreement from most in attendance.
Outside of being a bit of a procedurally unspecific instruction (threat?), that announcement was the final nail in the coffin of my employment.
THE BIBLE. The big book of, “Do as I say and not as I do.”
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BINGO! Give that man a cig-… Er-uh, that monkey a banana!
Yes, christians do consider suicide to be a mortal sin. But since they consider heaven such a wonderful place where they can be with jesus and god, why aren’t more christians involved with activities that can accelerate their entrance into heaven, such as free solo climbing and base jumping?
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Yet, according to Titus Livius, suicide was a perfectly acceptable form of checking out in Ancient Rome after Senate approval. Seneca was even ordered by the state to do it to himself on one, and only one, occasion, IIRC.
Why Augustine eventually declared that this act was a sin trigger for the Imaginary Sky Tyrant, I have never known.
This could be totally wrong, but it’s my understanding that suicide was declared one of the biggest No-No sins because too many people started doing self-checkout upon hearing about how amazingly fantastic heaven was. And considering the severity of living conditions for most folks at that time, who could blame them? I can just hear the “governmental meetings” when THAT started…
King: Sooo… Tell me the great news about this year’s fantastic harvest!
Royal Counsellor (RC): Er-uh… Well, your Majesty…ummm… about that… Uh, you see, there seems to be a manpower shortage lately among the Kingdom’s peasant population.
King: Oh, reallly? What on Earth has happened? Intruders and assassins? Plagues and sickness? Accidents in the homes? Tell me, what has caused this shortage?
RC: If you will please forgive me, your Majesty, I’m afraid I am hesitant to explain, as it is a matter pertaining to God and His promise to us all.
King: Royal Counsellor, tell me NOW.
RC: Yes, Sire. Well, uh, remember how a few weeks ago you had all our priests go forth throughout the kingdom and spread the Word of God to all the people of the Land?
King: Don’t be silly. Of COURSE I remember! For it is our BELOVED GOD that will keep our people united and protected!
RC: …(rubbing back of neck and shuffling from foot to foot)… Uh, yes, uhhh… Certainly, your Majesty. But, uh, your Majesty, do you remember when you told the priests to emphasize how WONDERFUL heaven is, and how all of God’s children will gather there with God when they die?
King: Absolutely, Royal Counsellor! My people need to know how much our God LOVES them! And they need to know how greatly they will be rewarded in heaven for being such loyal and faithful servants!
RC: Well, your Majesty, therein lies the problem. After questioning what few peasants remain in the kingdom, it would seem all the others decided they would be happier in heaven rather than trying to survive another harsh winter with minimal food and shelter. Therefore, Sire, they all committed suicide.
King: …(losing his shit)… SAY WHAT?!? Are… You… KIDDING ME? JEEE-SUS CHRIST!!! Who the HELL are we going to use now to get the crops out of the fields and bring them to my castle to provide for all my winter banquets?!? FUUUUCK!!! Royal Counsellor, this is UN-AC-CEPT-ABLE! We must put an END to these suicides IMMEDIATELY!
RC: …(respectful bow of his head)… Of course, your Majesty.
King: Dispatch ALL the priests RIGHT NOW! Tell them to spread the message that our loving caring God will be absolutely PISSED at any of his precious children who would dare take their own life so that they can be happy in heaven with their Holy Father. Better yet, let the people know that our benevolent and all-forgiving Lord and Saviour will CAST DOWN TO THE BOILING BOWELS OF HELL any of his faithful followers who end their own life to escape any pain and suffering our loving God has bestowed upon them! Oh, and make sure the priests carefully explain to the people it is because God cares about them, okay? I think that will add a nice touch and take some of the “edge” off the message. So, got all of that, Royal Counsellor?
RC: …(scribbling notes on a scroll)… (softly mumbling as he writes)… beeecaaause… god… caaares… (looking up at King)… Yes, your Majesty. The priests will be dispatched within the hour.
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Spent many, many years of my life doing things exactly like that (and some worse). Never had a desire to kill myself, mind you. Still don’t. At the same time, however, the thought of possibly getting killed while participating in any of those activities never really bothered me. Honestly, I’ve never really been afraid if dying, even during all those years I was still confused about religion. What I find almost hilarious (and incredibly ironic) is how many “hardcore” faithful Christians I know who are TERRIFIED at the thought of their eventual death. And they avoid ANY type of even moderately risky activities because of that. Basically, they live their entire boring life in constant fear. So sad.
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The real hilarity are the penalties are only applied to those who botch it. I mean, wtf are they going to do to a corpse that will make any difference.
Well, there’s still the fun of tormenting the friends and loved ones that the departed is burning in hell for eternity. They get to serve as a bad example. Same can be said of the church. They seem determined to serve as a bad example for lots of things.
Well a JW on another forum finally gleefully threatened me with Hell yesterday.