I will preface by saying that I am a Christian (although it is debatable whether I am a good one), but James makes a good point and does not beat around the bush doing it.
Exclamations of "Oh my God!" or "What the *heck*!" have been in general use in the English language since the days when the Church was the effective government and foundation of most social structures... of course even atheists would use phrases that have been in common use for centuries.
There is little difference (to an atheist) between any of the phrases you note and a surprise utterance of "holy moly!"... it is colloquial and in general use.

I have heard Jews and Muslims make the exact same, pseudo religious exclamations Christians do. There is virtually no connection to religion in those exclamations anymore. It's a cultural thing.

Keith

Here is one for ya.


Why is it that the Church DEMANDS you show PROOF OF INCOME, and then they DEMAND you give a certain amount EACH WEEK TO THE CHURCH ??

Passing the plate around THREE TIMES ON SUNDAY !!

As my Father said many years ago, ' THIS IS WHY I DON'T LIKE GOING TO CHURCH. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY !! "

It doesn't

At the Catholic Church my Mother went to, back in 1957, they sure did !! The old Church she used to go to, never did that. But, the new Church did that, because it was their policy. Even told my Mother " If you don't donate to the Church each week, you can't get Buried in a Catholic Cemetery

Go to church every Sunday and have never ever seen this.

I'm Catholic and have never seen this.Then again some Catholic churches allow biden to receive holy communion. I would drop that Catholic church and attend another if that was true.

All religions are man made. That why there are so may of them. Something for everyone the mix.
But I am sure, that the one you picked is the right one.

Nope not the one made on a rock.That one was made by Jesus.There are so many of them due to people not agreeing with Gods words and breaking away forming their own religion.

From the Aborigines to the Chinese From the native Americans to the Philippines, they all have their religions and a lot of them are older than Christianity, and due to geography they were quite happy with those religions, till the europeans brought their version to them. I am not religious and if I had to choose one, it would probably the wrong one, so I'll give it a miss. The world would be a lot more peaceful if the religious folks just quit kicking the crap out of each other because they think they know that their imagined friend is way better that the other guys.

Speaking of old writings, what does everyone think of the writings of Nostradamus ? Are his predictions accurate, or just made up ?

IF YOU believe in a superior being, beings, or not, why concern yourself with what "religion or name" that Higher Entity is called? . . . it's on YOU, and ONLY YOU.

Have fun explaining that to God when you meet him.Good luck.

What difference does it make except to put down people who believe in something that care less that you don’t. LOL

Never been to a Catholic Church but every Christian or Baptist Church I've been in only took up offering once on Sunday morning and I have never been asked how much I make. I think the church you speak of canvasback is definitely in the minority

Nostradamus's writings, Cayce's, and many others "predictions" have been manipulated over the years to conjure one's own thoughts of prophecy.

Asking for an "invoice" of income used to be an old timey thing so that they made sure you gave your 10%. The church my wife grew up in still did a basically similar thing until the mid 90's. Her grandfather was pushing 90 and couldn't make it to church anymore, and was on a fixed income so he wasn't tithing as much as before. Sometimes he would go months without because he was trying to buy food and such. The church sent a person out to talk to him and told him if he didn't start giving regularly he wouldn't be able to have a funeral mass in the church when he died. He told them to send a priest out to tell him that and not some lackey.

A couple days later a priest and some higher ups came out to talk to him. He told them to shove their tithings and goofy rules up under their robes. Then he wrote a letter to the editor to the paper detailing all they had said to him. The diocese got involved and denied it. The local radio station came out and interviewed him, and he played the audio recording he made of them outlining everything that he wouldn't get when he passed. It also had in it about how hypocritical the church was with talking about gambling and drinking being so bad, then holding this giant festival once a year that was nothing but a big gambling and drinking party, and having bingo every week.

Talk about back pedaling. The church couldn't get out from under it quick enough. Offered to pay for his funeral and cemetery plot. He told them thanks but no thanks and gave all his money to the local VFW/Legion.

We still get envelopes for my MIL to send in her offering. She hasn't been to church in close to 15 years, but they keep asking for money.

Its like the bible ... You just have to " interpret it the right way " then anything you would want can be true or verified. Its the old version of the " fact checkers ' lol

Our church stopped taking an offering during the service about 10 years ago. The teens felt that passing the plate would put off any visitors who didn't really understand tithing. Seemed like the church was just interested in their money. I think they had a good point. So we got rid of the offering plate. Church finances haven't changed a bit. We have a lot of faithful tithers who mail checks to the treasurer once a month. My wife and I have an automatic deposit set up that happens on pay day.

Have fun explaining that to God when you meet him.Good luck.[/quote]

I'll deal with him / it IF the time comes.