Comments by poston24

Written on Knoxville City Council to keep praying despite group's request:

in response to mykidsmom4:

Is it just me or does thi comment make no sence?

Yes, it is just you.

Written on Live streaming video: Texas Senate on track to pass tough abortion rules:

This is what you get when you elect tea party taliban radicals. That is not a government, this is a theocratic dictatorship. They are stomping all over the constitution.

Written on Nonprofit challenges prayer before Knoxville City Council meetings:

in response to dowhatisright:

Sadly, one day you will be in a place void of GOD and he will let you stay there forever and never help or bother you. GOD will let you see him and you will fall down on knees and confess Jesus as Lord GOD but it will be to late to save your lost soul. We worship GOD Almighty not a man in the sky. Atheism will die one day and the truth Jesus Christ will last forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How does someone maintain belief? The evidence against the existance of a diety is overwhelming. The stories of the bible do not paint a picture of a loving god, at least not one I would want to worship.

Written on Nonprofit challenges prayer before Knoxville City Council meetings:

in response to lm5449#205749:

Spin it anyway you want. Call yourself what you please. They hate and fear God and want Him gone.

How can they hate and fear something they do not believe in? Do you hate and fear allah?

Written on Letter: Dog rescue renews faith in humanity:

Great story. It's wonderful to read there are still good people in the world.

Written on George Korda: The playing field isn’t level in the national pastime of being offended:

Paula Dean is a redneck and deserves what she is getting. She is being sued by a white female who was fed up with years of abuse. Read the article below.

Written on Al Westerfield: Atheists victims of hypocrisy by some groups:

in response to mikeford66:

So what are you trying to say about muslims?

Wow, you missed the point. Just because I don't believe in your god does not give you the right to force or endorse your beliefs through a federal institution. Some idiot judge has decided the ten commandments is a "historical document" and can be hung in the courthouse. You should expect a lot of other religions to add their sacred text to the courthouse walls. They should be represented, don't you think? I mean since you don't believe in their gods, it's not a problem...right?


in response to Liberty2_0:

Hahahaha... Athiest are all hypocrites. They "claim" to be of "science" and "of the mind", but if they were, none of the would live by the Judeo-Christian ethic. They would lie, cheat, steal, rape, murder without regard for anyone but themselves. But instead they live by the morals and rules set down by a Judeo-Christian inspired society.

Hypocrites, one and all, just as much as they point out the hypocrisy of backsliding Christians.

ALL of us are hypocrites, particularly in the eyes of God...

If we lived by the "morals and rules" set by the Judeo-Christian inspired book, we would still be stoning each other in the street, having arranged marriages, and slavery. No thanks.


in response to mikeford66:

How hard is it to "ignore" ANYTHING about God if you don't believe in him?????? Dang people grow up.

So, by your reasoning everyone who does not believe in allah should ignore what muslims do.


in response to MD2020:

I hate long, overdrawn postings on websites more than anyone, but in my brief 48 years on this planet I have actually been on both sides of this debate, so here goes nothing:
I was raised Christian, then at the age of 14 rebelled against my parents and the church and declared myself an Atheist. I started drinking & smoking pot soon thereafter and went from an A student to a dropout at 16. I continued the party lifestyle for the next 30 years, only thinking of God when sick-drunk or drunk driving with a cop car behind me. I never hurt anyone or went to jail for anything. I had a live-in girlfriend for 13 years whom I eventually married in a non-denominational ceremony, still partying. Eventually I grew tired of being hung over all the time and stopped smoking & drinking about 5 years ago. To do this I had to admit to myself that I had made a bad choice in 1980 to dedicate my life to sex, drugs & rock & roll. Nothing horrible happened to me exactly, but nothing really good came of it, either. Then something strange happened that I did not expect: I started going through my library looking for books on Spiritualism. Without the drugs, I felt a strange emptiness inside. I ended up reading a book on meditation written by the Dalai Lama [because the Bible was of course banished from my house], which led to reading more of his books. I read Bhuddist texts, and for a minute considered becoming a Buddhist. Then I stumbled across a video of the Dalai Lama telling someone that he did not believe that everyone on earth should be Buddhists. Instead he suggested that a person such as myself should take whatever lessons I had learned from Buddhism & apply them to my religion of origin, i.e., Christianity, and that is what I did. So far, so good. My wife & I read the Bible at home for an hour every Sunday morning and then try to apply it to our lives. I have now read the entire book 3 times. When I called myself an Atheist, I had never read it at all. I only knew the stuff they teach in Sunday School. The hardest part of being an Atheist was the lonely feeling of always having to come up with every answer to life's questions by myself at all times. I still push myself harder than anyone I know, but I feel comforted at the end of the day to know that there is a force in the universe that accepts me when others don't, and forgives when others won't, right or wrong. I heard people say this a million times when I didn't believe in God and called it B.S., but now that I am where I am now, I am very happy that I was completely wrong all those years. One last observation on my take on what it means to be a Christian: Christians are not Christ. Christians can only try to follow Christ's teachings, so expect daily failings from us & we'll do the same for you.

Your story reminds me of hundreds of others. I knew a lot of punks in high school who were raised in christian homes but they did not "practice" their religion. They partied and did whatever they wanted. Then around 40 they start reviewing their life, maybe have a traumatic experience, and realize their life didn't turn out how they hoped it would. That is when they turn to jesus. You get that communal feeling that fills a void. Most people return to the church due to an emotional need. Not because they read the bible and thought, hey this is a great book and way to live.


in response to paleocon:

Gifts from the Enlightenment: the blood soaked, viciously anti Catholic French Revolution, Karl Marx, Lenin and Stalin. The most murderous regimes in history? Stalin's Soviet Union where religious observance was outlawed, the same for Mao's China, Pol Pot's Cambodia and others. Read the "Black Book of Communism" from Harvard University Press (not exactly a conservative Christian or Jewish outfit). Flat earth? Who invented the modern university? Atheist ignorance about Christianity's history is breathtaking and parallels the ignorance they ascribe to faithful Christians. I have a bumper sticker for Al: "Annoy an atheist; read the Bible."

That's hilarious. The reason I am an atheist is because I read the bible. Everyone, read your bibles!!!!


in response to Eli:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Spending an eternity with a mass murdering rapist does not sound appealing. Have you ever stopped to think why god would forgive rapist, murderers, and pedophiles but he will not forgive the person who has led a decent life and hurt no one but is an unbeliever? Sounds like the perfect scam to me. A rational thinker would see the red flags.


in response to Longhunter:

raysaurus - “It is the courage discovered in a strong commitment to live honestly that sets atheists apart from the list of deplorable statistics such as the astonishing revelation that atheists are 50 times less likely to be convicted criminals”.


Not according to Joseph Stalin as he murdered millions as his government promoted atheism. His rage on Christianity resulted in crushing the Russian Orthodox Church, destroying all Churches across Russia killing more than 100,000 priests, nuns and monks.
But, let’s give you credit for Stalin, since (he was the government) and would not want to convict himself.

As the infamous serial killer Jeffery Dahmer once said “if a person doesn’t think that there is a God to be accountable to, and then what’s the point of trying to modify your behavior to keep it within acceptable ranges?”. He killed 17 men and boys storing their parts in his indulgence of cannibalism and necrophilia. – He was sentenced to over 900 yrs in prison for his crimes and was later killed in prison.
Jared Lee Loughner is a 22-year-old "ardent atheist" and a left-wing nihilist. He was formally charged with a shooting spree on January 8, 2011 that left 6 dead and 14 injured, including a congresswoman.
Nihilism is the worst form of atheism.

raysaurus, out of curiosity, where do you get your moral standards?

Stalin was not promoting atheism. Jeffrey Dahmer found god in prison which means he is singing with the angel choir now. Are you saying the only reason you are not out raping and killing is your fear and belief of god?


in response to JoeKing:


why would someone who didnt believe in the words care if they are on the courthouse? I can understand it being a "waste of time" issue, but how can it be offensive or upsetting to a person who does not believe?

Why would I care? What a moronic thing to ask. I pay taxes to. Why should I be forced to live by your religion? You guys really aren't that far removed from the mentality of the taliban. But you probably would not get that. I think Bill Maher said it best "One of the complaints levelled against me is, "Oh, Bill, you're such a meanie. Why do you have to go after religion? It gives people comfort; it doesn't hurt anything." Okay, well, other than most wars, the Crusades, the Inquisition, 9/11, arranged marriages to minors, blowing up girls' schools, the suppression of women and homosexuals, fatwas, ethnic cleansing, honor rape, human sacrifice, burning witches, suicide bombings, condoning slavery, and the systematic raping of children, there's a few little things I have a problem with."

Written on State appellate court upholds Knox mom being held in contempt for son's baptism:

I'm on the father's side. Religious indoctrination of young children is serious. The consequences of which have life long repercussions. The father should have had more time to discuss this with his child.

Written on Letters: Boy Scout cartoon was ridiculous:

in response to OldMP2:

I take offence at that despicable drawing – it is not a “cartoon” – it is a Leftist statement for an unnatural life as a homosexual.

Homosexual behavior is incompatible with the principles enshrined in the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

Admitting homosexuals is incompatible with the Oath: “To keep myself morally straight.”

The boys and young men taking the Scout Oath swear:

“On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.”

No homosexual can swear to nor keep that Oath because he swears “On my honor I will do my duty to God and keep myself morally straight.”

The Scripture says that homosexuals are an abomination.

Most young men know that homosexuality is an abomination to God and is morally Wrong and the Scouts have sworn an Oath on their Honor and before God to keep themselves morally straight.

Most young men and boys know what is Right and Wrong and those asking them to violate that knowledge and to violate the Oath that the Scout took are telling them to do Wrong.

Now THAT is Wrong – to tell the Straight young man to do something Wrong and to tell the Homosexual young man to Swear an Oath that he can not possibly keep.

The admittance of Homosexuals to the Scouts is not only and affront to Scouting, but it is an affront to all young men – those that are Straight and those that are Homosexual.

Admitting homosexuals to Scouting is Wrong in every way -- it is Wrong in God’s eyes, it is an affront to Scouting, an affront to all young men and worse it is an affront to Society.

Admitting homosexuals to Scouting is Wrong in every way.

There is no god. They should take God out of the oath. Believing in one does not make you "morally straight". It will only make you judgemental. The only unnatural sexual orientation is celibacy.

Written on Letter: Writer just proves Scripture is right:

"The truth shall set you free." Yes indeed. I encourage those who believe, go to church, pay tithes, to read your bible. Cover to cover. If you still believe in gods when you are finished, then your heart must be stone cold and your mind incapable of rational thought.

Written on Letter: Abortion cartoon was insulting:

Amazing! These people only care about the fetus until it is born. Then it is on it's own.

Written on FBI court documents recount 'gray side' of Pilot:

Sound like they knew the $h!t was getting ready to hit the fan?

Written on Letter: Country needs more patriotism, belief:

in response to Destroyer2112:

Quick note on your last paragraph - Christianity cannot be blamed for "wanton death, rape, murder, destruction, and even genocide throughout history". Christians can be but not 'Christianity'.

One of my often read Christian authors once wrote, "Christians will let you down but Christ won't." I may fail to be a perfect Christian (certainly will) but perfect Christianity cannot kill, rape, destroy or promote genocide. There is no room for any of it in the true religion.

What is this "true religion" and how do you know it's true?

Written on News Sentinel entertainment writer Terry Morrow dead at 52:

My condolences to the family.

Written on Letter: Keep mountaintop coal removal legal:

Wow! "I’m fascinated by the gigantic machinery used to remove tons of earth easily" You like to see billboards along the interstate to break up your long boring drive? What are you? 10?

Written on Letter: Science, faith compatible:

93% of the members of the National Academy of Sciences believe in evolution. Who are these 50% of scientist that believe in creation? Link please.

Written on Angela Danovi: Removal of Sex Week funding at UT sets dangerous precedent:

in response to knoxzombie:

What I'll never understand is you don't see us moving to more "advanced" areas and tryin to change how you view the world. Do we not get the same respect? Or is this another example of us not being Shepeople such as yourselfs where it has to be your way or the highway?

No one is trying to "change" your world view. However this whole thing was started because it upset some "christians" who happen to be legislaters. The line between seperation of church and state was definately crossed when they pulled funding. The Talibaptist have struck again! So in that respect, Campfield and Dunn tried to stop students from learning about sex. They failed embarrassingly on the international stage. Maybe when christians actually "respect" others, they will be respected.


I was talking to a couple last night who are not from this area but here because of a job. They can hardly wait to get back to their roots. They described E. TN as extremely poor. Sure the people are nice but the lack of education is obvious. This is not a progressive but regressive area and there are a lot of people who WANT to keep it that way. You can see from the comments on this board that there are those who view sex as a sin because an ancient book tells them so. It is really sad.

Written on State funding pulled from UT Sex Week:

in response to topdog:

So you are, in effect, saying that "normal sexual activity" would include bondage and teaching college students how to write "erotica" (porn)? Both are included in "Sex Week." Excuse me, but most parents would not consider those two things to be "normal sexual activity." And that is just the beginning of the "teaching" going on here. The Yale University and Harvard Sex Weeks (where this originated) included incest and pedophilia. Are those "normal sexual activities" to you, too?


Only in the catholic church.

Written on Bill allowing counselors to reject clients based on religious beliefs moves on:

People whose religious beliefs prohibit them from working with others should never be hired in positions of authority of the general public or in a field in which there beliefs handicap them in that they judge others.

Written on Letter: Atheists still face discrimination:

in response to Pembroke:

No, you misunderstand me. You are putting words in my mouth. When did I ever say that I supported these things?

I don't care because it has absolutely zero effect on me. Or any other atheist. It is not hurting anyone.

If there are those who need these constant reminders in their everyday lives to keep their heads above the water, fine. How many people are there who feel as though they have no one to turn to other than some higher power that I don't believe in? A whole lot of them, especially around here where education isn't so great, where poverty is rampant, where teenagers are having loads of children, and where divorces are more common than smiles. That's all that's keeping some people alive, and you know the reality of it--we're all coming out of here dead.

Do you disagree with the guidelines set by the ten commandments from the Bible? You think it should be all right to murder someone, to steal from people if you like, to try to get a hold of your friends' wives in a mostly monogamous society, to raise children with no respect for their elders, and so on? You disagree that people should not worship false idols (corporations, celebrities, the media)? Sure, the whole "No God before me" bit is a bit much, but who follows that? The gods of our society sit in front of our faces on our computer and television screens. Still, most of the ideas are sound in that they promote a nonanarchist society, which no one would survive well in regardless of what they may think.

And I wish people kept the Sabbath holy. I hate working on Sundays (Saturdays too, since the day is debated, either one!) when I could spend some hard-won time with my family.

I wasn't talking about being a jerk in supporting the constitution. Read some of your pompous comments. You're being a jerk. And so are 3/4ths of the people on these comment boards at any given time.

It is obvious to me that you do not know any atheist or you would not question their morality. You seem to think that they are OK with murder, stealing, and adultery when nothing is farther from the truth. What stops a christian from murdering? stealing? or adultery? Have you ever stopped to ask yourself why MOST of the murdering, stealing, and adulterers are christians? The christian god will forgive you of anything. You could the most vile, evil person committing attrocities against humanity and the christian god will "forgive" you of your sins. All you have to do is repent and ask his forgiveness. The only sin he will not forgive is nonbelief. That should raise all kinds of red flags. That is not love, that is extortion. Believe in me or burn in hell. According to the rules of the bible, Jeffrey Dahmer is in heaven and Ghandi is in hell. That is messed up.

Written on East Tennessee congressmen vote against domestic violence bill:

Here is what the House GOP has brought us: 46 abortion bills, 113 religion bills, 73 family relationship bills, 36 marriage bills, 72 gun bills, 0 job bills.

Written on Motto 'In God We Trust' eyed for Anderson Courthouse :

in response to mikeford66:

why do atheist, and other haters worry about prayer and the ten commandment in our court houses?and IN GOD WE TRUST off our money If they dont believe in God they dont believe in prayer! so what does it matter? they dont believe in the ten commandments so why even be threatened by it? don't believe in God so why worry if it's on our money? You can spend it, and thats all that should matter to you

Because I pay taxes and deserve government representation just like every other American.


in response to rebelmtnmom:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

First of all, the supreme court is not housed at the Capitol building. Neither are the ten commandments displayed in the US supreme court. The freize on the wall above where the judges sit depicts a tablet with the roman numerals I through X. They do not represent the ten commandments but the bill of rights. There are lots of historical figures on display in the supreme court building, Menes, Hammurabi, Moses, Solomon, Lycurgus, Solon, Charlemagne, King John, Confucious, Octavian, Mohammed, and Napolean to name a few. They were selected to represent "SECULAR" law. Do you really want christian law? I cannot think of anything worse. The reason people are somewhat good and moral is because of secular laws not christian. If we relied on christianity for our morals, we would still be stoning people in the streets.


in response to raysaurus:

As evidence that the "God" motto is considered an endorsement of religion by the public, the Freedom From Religion Foundation commissioned an independent national survey. Sixty-one percent consider "In God We Trust" religious, and 71% believe it endorses a belief in God. A majority also regard the motto as preferring religion over nonreligion. (Chamberlain Research, poll of 900 adults, conducted May 18-23, 1994)

The Foundation lawsuit was dismissed by a 10th Circuit federal judge on the grounds that "In God We Trust" is not a religious phrase (1994). The Foundation appealed the dismissal to the U.S. Supreme Court, which did not take the case in 1996.

What do you think? Is "In God We Trust" a religious symbol?

Yes. It is absolutely a religious symbol of the christian religion and does not belong on a federal building.

Written on Letter: American left is to blame for tragedies:

in response to kcsteve:

Do Liberals feel any shame when they read Jack's letter?


Written on Letter: Court interprets the Constitution:

in response to WilliamDawes:

10 USC § 311 - Militia: composition and classes

That would be our present legal definition of the militia. Unless you propose we need to deny the right to bear arms to women, to the disabled, or to old folks like me, I fail to see how this clause in any material way constrains "The People."

Hmmm? Between the ages of 17-45. That would cut out a lot of people.

Written on Letter: Court interprets the Constitution:

Every nut job does not constitute a militia.

mi·li·tia/mɪˈlɪʃə/ Show Spelled [mi-lish-uh] Show IPA


Written on Obama birth control mandates loosens lawsuits:

in response to SunnieDay:

Generic BCP are available at Walmart for $9 per month. Similar prices are available at Target. BCP are available free of charge for those who are on welfare and also available at PP and other local providers who serve those without means.

Wow. That is wonderful! I will tell my friend, who is paying over $100 month for BC that she is being had. To bad a lot of Planned Parenthoods have been shut down by right wing zealots. Think of all the women that could have been helped.

Written on Obama birth control mandates loosens lawsuits:

in response to tnvarmit#526548:

You going to volunteer to free up some space for others by leaving the planet yourself then? How soon? Can I have your belongings and all your money before you do? Can you hurry it up please? I need your space.

Oh and I read you comment about church ran hospitals. Churches helped establish our first educational system as well as our hospitals in many parts of this nation. In general they did a good job with both until government stepped in and mandated them out of continuing their missions with over regulation and allowed lawsuits against charities.

Doctors used to be affordable even for a janitors wages until lawyers began filing frivolous lawsuits & drove up doctors malpractice insurance cost through the roof. No one dares come down on lawyers. Government demands did their part in raising cost also.

Oh and who are you to say that a Catholic must by law be forced to pay for someone else’s birth control? By your logic then AA members should be forced to pay up for rounds of drinks for the persons in bars. How about a law to force you to buy my firearms for me? The government has way overstepped it's constitutional authority with this mandate.

Religious prohibitions in certain churches on certain methods of birth control usually meaning simply artificial means have been around for ages. This as such was not an issue until Obama and Nancy Pelosi made it one by forcing it as in employer must pay for issue. I think they did it solely as yet an attack on religion myself.

Birth Control is not expensive and all this mandate does is buy votes from Dolts. It’s just another dividing wedge Obama and company have unnecessarily placed in the heart of this nation.

If birth control is inexpensive, then what are you complaining about? Wouldn't you rather prevent an unwanted pregnancy than have to pay the health care cost of an unwanted child?

Written on Obama birth control mandates loosens lawsuits:

in response to Axemanagain:

To my knowledge most of the organizations objecting are Catholic in nature. Non Catholics have routinely expressed less than flattering opinions about Catholics' proclivity for procreation. This should be some people's dream come true, a new weapon in the breeding war against the Pope worshipers.

The hypocrisy of the Catholic church never ceases to amaze me. A fetus is a person so long as the church/hospital is not being sued for malpractice.

Written on How will you spend your Friday?:

At work.

Written on Letter: Abortion issue about when life begins:

I'm all for this contraception. I think insurance companies should pay for it because it is preventative care. 100 percent effective male contraception.

Written on Letter: Abortion issue about when life begins:

in response to JoeKing:

an unwanted pregnancy can be prevented.

if a woman does not want a baby then she can either abstain from sex or take precautions to prevent conception.

do they not teach sex education to the girls anymore?

No, sex education is no longer taught in schools. The pro-birther movement has put a stop to any planned parenthood involvement in the schools.

Written on Letter: Abortion issue about when life begins:

in response to squirtgun:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

What a ridiculous concept. Just because it has a heart beat doesn't mean it is viable.


All bibles should come with a warning label.


EXPOSURE WARNING: Exposure to contents for extended periods of time or during formative years in children may cause delusions, hallucinations, decrease cognitive and objective reasoning abilities, and in extreme cases, pathological disorders, hatred, bigotry, violence including but not limited to fanaticism, murder and genocide.” endanger your mental health and life”.


in response to neelysmom:

Knowing the Bible is one thing; knowing the author is another. ;-)

Do you mean "knowing the authors"? There were over 90.


in response to neelysmom:


Don't you mean "knowing the authors"? There were over 90.

Written on Letter: God, prayer still present in schools:

in response to dowhatisright:

It is sad that so many people have no understanding of GOD. You can turn away and reject him, but you would not live one second without him and all he is willing to bless you with. God gives you your very life, he holds all that we see and can't see together by his power. You have the right to reject him but that just means that he will someday eternally reject you.

....and yet he will welcome, with open arms, rapist, murders, and pedophiles because they BELIEVED in him. Sick.

Written on Hawkins County deputies raid 'serious' cockfighting tournament:

in response to kcsteve:

Does anybody remember the Newport Raid where the authorities arrested everyone for cruelty to animals then euthanized all of the chickens with gasoline in a barrel?

This is sickening. Were the "authorities" charged with animanl cruelty? They should have been.

Written on Obama will use Bibles belonging to both Lincoln and King in inauguration :

I would prefer he swore on the constitution instead of a book of fiction.

Written on Haslam uncertain on school security upgrades:

It's a horrible idea. I do not want to become a police state.

Written on Roane County man who lost 4 family members in wreck fatally shoots son :

I'm so sorry for you loss. I don't know you but your are in my thoughts and I hope you are able to find peace in your life.