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<channel>
	<title>Lay Theism &#187; heaven</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.laytheism.com/blog/tag/heaven/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.laytheism.com/blog</link>
	<description>Born Again... Secular</description>
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			<item>
		<title>Am I Going to Heaven?</title>
		<link>http://www.laytheism.com/blog/2009/am-i-going-to-heaven/</link>
		<comments>http://www.laytheism.com/blog/2009/am-i-going-to-heaven/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2009 05:37:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Hugh</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Agnostic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Atheism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Religion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[belief]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bible]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bullshit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[god]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[heaven]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[King James]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[propaganda]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.laytheism.com/blog/?p=290</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[For starters&#8230; No.  No you are not.  There is no such thing.  You are not going to hell either.  But, wait, I am getting ahead of myself.
The other day I stepped into a Walgreens for some allergy medication (because I was pretty sure I was going to die), and during the 5 minutes I was [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>For starters&#8230; No.  No you are not.  There is no such thing.  You are not going to hell either.  But, wait, I am getting ahead of myself.</p>
<p>The other day I stepped into a Walgreens for some allergy medication (because I was pretty sure I was going to die), and during the 5 minutes I was inside on a Saturday night at 10pm in North Atlanta, some douche jammed a card into my door handle with this tease on the top:</p>
<p><strong>Am I Going to Heaven?</strong></p>
<p>It&#8217;s worth quoting from, if for no other reason than to make this easily searchable by web zealots bent on converting me (back).  I just don&#8217;t feel like typing it all, so here are some choice highlights:</p>
<blockquote><p>The greatest book ever written was published in 1611. It&#8217;s name &#8211; The Holy Bible &#8211; authorized by King James. The reason for it&#8217;s greatness is that it is God speaking to us in English words.</p></blockquote>
<p>Huh?  What a weird way to start a Christian track.  Who cares when it was published in English (words)? Authorized?  Well, thank goodness&#8230; then there&#8217;s no way it could be manipulated or untrustworthy, right?</p>
<blockquote><p>The king gave the translators instructions designed to guarantee that the new version would conform to the ecclesiology and reflect the episcopal structure of the Church of England and its beliefs about an ordained clergy.<br />
- <a title="King James" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authorized_King_James_Version">Wikipedia</a></p></blockquote>
<p>But I digress&#8230; it&#8217;s not terribly relevant when or how Christian mythology was further corrupted and usurped four centuries ago.  Several billion people don&#8217;t believe any of that crap.  Around a billion people actively do not believe in any god or gods, and you won&#8217;t be converting them because they have already been saved&#8230; by reason.</p>
<p>A couple of more highlights:</p>
<blockquote><p>If you want to have joy in your heart under all circumstances&#8230;<br />
If you want to be totally free from guilt&#8230;<br />
If you want the power to overcome things you would like to change in your life&#8230;<br />
If you would like to truly care about others, not for what they can do for you, but what you can do for them&#8230;<br />
If you would like to never be alone again&#8230;</p></blockquote>
<p>Hey!  That&#8217;s a lot like me!  I live that way, but I didn&#8217;t need God to make it happen. Getting rid of God, in fact, freed me to live that kind of life. I won&#8217;t address each one, but suffice it to say that you can realize these aspects of your life by being kind to others, living by the Golden Rule, getting an education, and generally not being an ass.  Things tend to fall in place when you live responsibly, god or no god.  People who naively cling to god as savior without squaring up the rest of their life are surely up for serious disappointment.  Examples of failures, misery, and hypocrisy are everywhere.</p>
<p>If I get the energy, I&#8217;ll type in the rest and say more about it&#8230; I&#8217;ve attached a <a title="Christian track with the whole heaven pitch..." href="http://www.laytheism.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/am-i-going-to-heaven.gif">scan of the entire thing</a> if you are inclined to dissect it on your own.</p>
<p>Hey, and special thanks to Ken at:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Inprint, Inc.<br />
P. O. Box 76147<br />
Atlanta, GA 30358<br />
<a title="No, you are not going to heaven" href="mailto:inprintincorporated@yahoo.com?subject=No, you are not going to heaven.">inprintincorporated@yahoo.com</a></p>
<p>Stay away from my car.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.laytheism.com/blog/2009/am-i-going-to-heaven/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>An Atheist Meets God</title>
		<link>http://www.laytheism.com/blog/2009/an-atheist-meets-god/</link>
		<comments>http://www.laytheism.com/blog/2009/an-atheist-meets-god/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:21:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Hugh</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Agnostic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Atheism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bible]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cartoon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[evil]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[funny]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[good]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[heaven]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jesus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[limbo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[purgatory]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.laytheism.com/blog/2009/216/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Pretty clever.  Points out several of the issues with being devout vs. being good.
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.com/v/urlTBBKTO68"></param><embed src="http://youtube.com/v/urlTBBKTO68" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br />Pretty clever.  Points out several of the issues with being devout vs. being good.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Afterlife Test</title>
		<link>http://www.laytheism.com/blog/2008/the-afterlife-test/</link>
		<comments>http://www.laytheism.com/blog/2008/the-afterlife-test/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 25 Oct 2008 05:02:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Hugh</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Agnostic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Atheism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Graphics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Polling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Religion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Science]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Statistics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[faith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[god]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[heaven]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[purgatory]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sex]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.laytheism.com/blog/?p=96</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I accidentally found this when writing my Bryant Wright post!  Too funny.  You should try it.  Amazingly, I could not score less than 51 after three tries! What the hell? That only gets me to purgatory.  I guess with lame questions about income and questioning my beliefs, it skews the result.  For instance, I never [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I accidentally found this when writing my <a title="This is Bryant Wright, speaking right from my heart." href="http://www.laytheism.com/blog/2008/pastor-bryant-wright/">Bryant Wright post</a>!  Too funny.  You should try it.  Amazingly, I could not score less than 51 after three tries! What the hell? That only gets me to purgatory.  I guess with lame questions about income and questioning my beliefs, it skews the result.  For instance, I never question my beliefs, but neither would a devout suicide bomber I imagine. See what you can score and post your results here.</p>
<p>Enjoy:</p>
<div id="attachment_97" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 135px"><a title="Highway to Hell" href="http://www.heavenhellpurgatory.com/hhp/afterlife.html"><img class="size-full wp-image-97" title="afterlife-hell" src="http://www.laytheism.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/afterlife-hell.gif" alt="Heading to Hell" width="125" height="125" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Headed to Hell, I Guess...</p></div>
<p>Sampling of the questions for your reference (<strong>non-functional</strong>):</p>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="300" align="center">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="tdleft" align="left">
<div>
<form style="text-align: left;" action="http://www.heavenhellpurgatory.com/cgi-bin/sfesurvey.cgi" accept-charset="UNKNOWN" enctype="application/x-www-form-urlencoded" method="post">
<input name="FA" size="20" type="hidden" value="Grade Quiz" /><a title="Highway to Hell" href="http://www.heavenhellpurgatory.com/hhp/afterlife.html"><strong>The Afterlife Test</strong></a></form>
</div>
<h3><span style="color: #800000;">DO NOT ANSWER &#8212; USE LINK ABOVE!!</span></h3>
<hr />
<dt><strong>Our life on earth is:</strong> </dt>
<dd>
<input name="Our life on earth is:" size="20" type="radio" value="a test for the Afterlife" />a test for the Afterlife </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Our life on earth is:" size="20" type="radio" value="to be enjoyed" />to be enjoyed </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Our life on earth is:" size="20" type="radio" value="to work hard" />to work hard </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Our life on earth is:" size="20" type="radio" value="to help the world" />to help the world </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Our life on earth is:" size="20" type="radio" value="insignificant" />insignificant</dd>
<dt><strong>How often do you attend religious services?</strong> </dt>
<dd>
<input name="How often do you attend religious services?" size="20" type="radio" value="never" />never </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How often do you attend religious services?" size="20" type="radio" value="only on major holidays" />only on major holidays </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How often do you attend religious services?" size="20" type="radio" value="every month or two" />every month or two </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How often do you attend religious services?" size="20" type="radio" value="almost every week" />almost every week </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How often do you attend religious services?" size="20" type="radio" value="more than once a week" />more than once a week</dd>
<dt><strong>Which rules your life?</strong> </dt>
<dd>
<input name="Which rules your life?" size="20" type="radio" value="my job" />my job </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Which rules your life?" size="20" type="radio" value="my faith" />my faith </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Which rules your life?" size="20" type="radio" value="my body" />my body </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Which rules your life?" size="20" type="radio" value="my mind" />my mind </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Which rules your life?" size="20" type="radio" value="I am balanced" />I am balanced</dd>
<dt><strong>How holy do you feel?</strong> </dt>
<dd>
<input name="How holy do you feel?" size="20" type="radio" value="holier than thou" />holier than thou </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How holy do you feel?" size="20" type="radio" value="holy" />holy </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How holy do you feel?" size="20" type="radio" value="about average" />about average </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How holy do you feel?" size="20" type="radio" value="more unholy than holy" />more unholy than holy </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How holy do you feel?" size="20" type="radio" value="very unholy" />very unholy</dd>
<dt><strong>How often do you question your beliefs?</strong> </dt>
<dd>
<input name="How often do you question your beliefs?" size="20" type="radio" value="constantly" />constantly </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How often do you question your beliefs?" size="20" type="radio" value="frequently" />frequently </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How often do you question your beliefs?" size="20" type="radio" value="sometimes" />sometimes </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How often do you question your beliefs?" size="20" type="radio" value="rarely" />rarely </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How often do you question your beliefs?" size="20" type="radio" value="never" />never</dd>
<dt><strong>How often do you indulge in guilty pleasures?</strong> </dt>
<dd>
<input name="How often do you indulge in guilty pleasures?" size="20" type="radio" value="daily" />daily </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How often do you indulge in guilty pleasures?" size="20" type="radio" value="often" />often </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How often do you indulge in guilty pleasures?" size="20" type="radio" value="sometimes" />sometimes </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How often do you indulge in guilty pleasures?" size="20" type="radio" value="rarely" />rarely </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How often do you indulge in guilty pleasures?" size="20" type="radio" value="never" />never</dd>
<dt><strong>How would you describe yourself politically?</strong> </dt>
<dd>
<input name="How would you describe yourself politically?" size="20" type="radio" value="conservative" />conservative </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How would you describe yourself politically?" size="20" type="radio" value="liberal" />liberal </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How would you describe yourself politically?" size="20" type="radio" value="moderate" />moderate </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How would you describe yourself politically?" size="20" type="radio" value="anarchist" />anarchist </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How would you describe yourself politically?" size="20" type="radio" value="fascist" />fascist</dd>
<dt><strong>How much money do you make per year?</strong> </dt>
<dd>
<input name="How much money do you make per year?" size="20" type="radio" value="less than $10,000" />less than $10,000 </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How much money do you make per year?" size="20" type="radio" value="$10,000 - $25,000" />$10,000 &#8211; $25,000 </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How much money do you make per year?" size="20" type="radio" value="$25,000 - $50,000" />$25,000 &#8211; $50,000 </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How much money do you make per year?" size="20" type="radio" value="$50,000 - $100,000" />$50,000 &#8211; $100,000 </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How much money do you make per year?" size="20" type="radio" value="over $100,000" />over $100,000</dd>
<dt><strong>Which is more important, hard work or creativity?</strong> </dt>
<dd>
<input name="Which is more important, hard work or creativity?" size="20" type="radio" value="definitely hard work" />definitely hard work </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Which is more important, hard work or creativity?" size="20" type="radio" value="hard work" />hard work </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Which is more important, hard work or creativity?" size="20" type="radio" value="about equal" />about equal </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Which is more important, hard work or creativity?" size="20" type="radio" value="creativity" />creativity </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Which is more important, hard work or creativity?" size="20" type="radio" value="definitely creativity" />definitely creativity</dd>
<dt><strong>Which is more important, knowledge or faith?</strong> </dt>
<dd>
<input name="Which is more important, knowledge or faith?" size="20" type="radio" value="definitely knowledge" />definitely knowledge </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Which is more important, knowledge or faith?" size="20" type="radio" value="knowledge" />knowledge </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Which is more important, knowledge or faith?" size="20" type="radio" value="about equal" />about equal </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Which is more important, knowledge or faith?" size="20" type="radio" value="faith" />faith </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Which is more important, knowledge or faith?" size="20" type="radio" value="definitely faith" />definitely faith</dd>
<dt><strong>Which is more important, the individual or the social order?</strong> </dt>
<dd>
<input name="Which is more important, the individual or the social order?" size="20" type="radio" value="definitely the individual" />definitely the individual </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Which is more important, the individual or the social order?" size="20" type="radio" value="the individual" />the individual </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Which is more important, the individual or the social order?" size="20" type="radio" value="about equal" />about equal </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Which is more important, the individual or the social order?" size="20" type="radio" value="the social order" />the social order </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Which is more important, the individual or the social order?" size="20" type="radio" value="definitely the social order" />definitely the social order</dd>
<dt><strong>The most important discovery or invention was:</strong> </dt>
<dd>
<input name="The most important discovery or invention was:" size="20" type="radio" value="fire" />fire </dd>
<dd>
<input name="The most important discovery or invention was:" size="20" type="radio" value="electricity" />electricity </dd>
<dd>
<input name="The most important discovery or invention was:" size="20" type="radio" value="the wheel" />the wheel </dd>
<dd>
<input name="The most important discovery or invention was:" size="20" type="radio" value="the printing press" />the printing press </dd>
<dd>
<input name="The most important discovery or invention was:" size="20" type="radio" value="religion" />religion</dd>
<dt><strong>Which is more powerful, fate or free will?</strong> </dt>
<dd>
<input name="Which is more powerful, fate or free will?" size="20" type="radio" value="definitely fate" />definitely fate </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Which is more powerful, fate or free will?" size="20" type="radio" value="fate" />fate </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Which is more powerful, fate or free will?" size="20" type="radio" value="about equal" />about equal </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Which is more powerful, fate or free will?" size="20" type="radio" value="free will" />free will </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Which is more powerful, fate or free will?" size="20" type="radio" value="definitely free will" />definitely free will</dd>
<dt><strong>Which is most important for civilization?</strong> </dt>
<dd>
<input name="Which is most important for civilization?" size="20" type="radio" value="technology" />technology </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Which is most important for civilization?" size="20" type="radio" value="biotechnology" />biotechnology </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Which is most important for civilization?" size="20" type="radio" value="the economy" />the economy </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Which is most important for civilization?" size="20" type="radio" value="art" />art </dd>
<dd>
<input name="Which is most important for civilization?" size="20" type="radio" value="literature" />literature</dd>
<dt><strong>How would you like the Internet to evolve?</strong> </dt>
<dd>
<input name="How would you like the Internet to evolve?" size="20" type="radio" value="anything goes" />anything goes </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How would you like the Internet to evolve?" size="20" type="radio" value="more freedom" />more freedom </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How would you like the Internet to evolve?" size="20" type="radio" value="same as now" />same as now </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How would you like the Internet to evolve?" size="20" type="radio" value="more laws" />more laws </dd>
<dd>
<input name="How would you like the Internet to evolve?" size="20" type="radio" value="much tighter controls" />much tighter controls</dd>
<dt><strong>&#8220;The answer is more important than the question&#8221;</strong> </dt>
<dd>
<input name="&quot;The answer is more important than the question&quot;" size="20" type="radio" value="strongly agree" />strongly agree </dd>
<dd>
<input name="&quot;The answer is more important than the question&quot;" size="20" type="radio" value="agree" />agree </dd>
<dd>
<input name="&quot;The answer is more important than the question&quot;" size="20" type="radio" value="indifferent" />indifferent </dd>
<dd>
<input name="&quot;The answer is more important than the question&quot;" size="20" type="radio" value="disagree" />disagree </dd>
<dd>
<input name="&quot;The answer is more important than the question&quot;" size="20" type="radio" value="strongly disagree" />strongly disagree</dd>
<dt><strong>&#8220;All great truths begin as blasphemies&#8221;</strong> </dt>
<dd>
<input name="&quot;All great truths begin as blasphemies&quot;" size="20" type="radio" value="strongly agree" />strongly agree </dd>
<dd>
<input name="&quot;All great truths begin as blasphemies&quot;" size="20" type="radio" value="agree" />agree </dd>
<dd>
<input name="&quot;All great truths begin as blasphemies&quot;" size="20" type="radio" value="indifferent" />indifferent </dd>
<dd>
<input name="&quot;All great truths begin as blasphemies&quot;" size="20" type="radio" value="disagree" />disagree </dd>
<dd>
<input name="&quot;All great truths begin as blasphemies&quot;" size="20" type="radio" value="strongly disagree" />strongly disagree</dd>
<dt><strong>&#8220;People have too much freedom these days&#8221;</strong> </dt>
<dd>
<input name="&quot;People have too much freedom these days&quot;" size="20" type="radio" value="strongly agree" />strongly agree </dd>
<dd>
<input name="&quot;People have too much freedom these days&quot;" size="20" type="radio" value="agree" />agree </dd>
<dd>
<input name="&quot;People have too much freedom these days&quot;" size="20" type="radio" value="indifferent" />indifferent </dd>
<dd>
<input name="&quot;People have too much freedom these days&quot;" size="20" type="radio" value="disagree" />disagree </dd>
<dd>
<input name="&quot;People have too much freedom these days&quot;" size="20" type="radio" value="strongly disagree" />strongly disagree</dd>
<dt><strong>&#8220;Government and the church should be separate&#8221;</strong> </dt>
<dd>
<input name="&quot;Government and the church should be separate&quot;" size="20" type="radio" value="strongly agree" />strongly agree </dd>
<dd>
<input name="&quot;Government and the church should be separate&quot;" size="20" type="radio" value="agree" />agree </dd>
<dd>
<input name="&quot;Government and the church should be separate&quot;" size="20" type="radio" value="indifferent" />indifferent </dd>
<dd>
<input name="&quot;Government and the church should be separate&quot;" size="20" type="radio" value="disagree" />disagree </dd>
<dd>
<input name="&quot;Government and the church should be separate&quot;" size="20" type="radio" value="strongly disagree" />strongly disagree</dd>
<dt><strong>&#8220;The end justifies the means&#8221;</strong> </dt>
<dd>
<input name="&quot;The end justifies the means&quot;" size="20" type="radio" value="strongly agree" />strongly agree </dd>
<dd>
<input name="&quot;The end justifies the means&quot;" size="20" type="radio" value="agree" />agree </dd>
<dd>
<input name="&quot;The end justifies the means&quot;" size="20" type="radio" value="indifferent" />indifferent </dd>
<dd>
<input name="&quot;The end justifies the means&quot;" size="20" type="radio" value="disagree" />disagree </dd>
<dd>
<input name="&quot;The end justifies the means&quot;" size="20" type="radio" value="strongly disagree" />strongly disagree</dd>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Shamelessly copied from The Afterlife Test, by Heaven Hell Purgatory.</p>
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