Christian's raise funds for ill atheist protester

[cbayer]

http://www.cbs19.tv/story/17199221/christians-raise-funds-for-ill-atheist-protester

Posted: Mar 20, 2012 6:46 AM PDT Updated: Mar 20, 2012 6:46 AM PDT

(TYLER MORNING TELEGRAPH) - Patrick Greene says he has always been "treated like dirt" by Christians because of his atheistic beliefs.

That recently changed, leaving Greene "completely flabbergasted."

It happened when some Henderson County Christians offered Greene financial assistance with a medical problem despite his opposition to a nativity scene on the courthouse square.
Greene is the San Antonio atheist who threatened to sue in an attempt to force Henderson County officials to remove its nativity scene. Greene also filed a complaint with the state against the county judge for not removing a county commissioner for remarks supporting the nativity scene.

Greene dropped consideration of the lawsuit after being told by medical personnel he could at any time go blind in at least one eye from a detached retina. Greene decided he could not pursue a lawsuit blind.

more at link

[SirRevolutionary]

1. Perhaps Mr Greene is realizing the substance of the Universe is consciousness

and nothing materializes in matter which isn't first perceived in consciousness. None so blind as those who will not see. Excellent story, thanks for sharing

[dmallind]

3. Yeah because all atheists go blind. It's our curse.

Meanwhile may the quantum qi of the universal Om balance your chakras, Dude.

[SirRevolutionary]

5. That's helpful. Thanks for sharing your piece too, bro.

[Thats my opinion]

13. Of course nobody around here has said that or anything like it.

Why did you offer it? Just to stir up bitterness. Not much of a rational reason.

[cleanhippie]

8. Wow, that is SOME rationalization for a person going blind. Good luck with that.

[cbayer]

10. He says some interesting things in the article.

"Despite his atheism, Greene has clear-cut ideas about "real" Christians. "They do not say horrible things about an atheist because we don't believe," he said, lamenting that he and his wife have long been confronted by that.

Contrarily, what some Henderson County Christians did for him, Greene said, is such an amazing story that he is going to write a book about it. "I've already titled it ‘The REAL Christians of Henderson County,'" he said."

[SirRevolutionary]

11. I thought it was an excellent example

of people with opposing world views overcoming their differences and acting in a civil, even friendly manner. As opposed to the same old one-upmanship that's regularly on display elsewhere in our society. Ethics should transcend anything else. Thanks for posting cbayer, it's a great find.

[ZombieHorde]

14. Why do you think the substance of the universe is consciousness?

If mater doesn't materialize without being first perceived in consciousness, then what is the consciousness perceiving?

How did consciousness come to be without the foundation of matter? If the world didn't exist before it was perceived, then where were the perceivers?

[SirRevolutionary]

16. How consciousness came to be is quite the conundrum, isn't it?

How is anything proven fact? And to whom is it proven? Things are proven to the observer that can be reproduced in a controlled manner. What makes an observer? Consciousness. You can prove matter doesn't actually exist with physics, but you can't really prove consciousness does or does not exist. But we both would agree that consciousness does in fact exist, I think.

I would assert, whatever consciousness is, it always was, is now, and most likely will forever be the one who perceives, and by necessity, becomes a creator. If human beings die off, will consciousness in general die off as well leaving only matter? How can that be if no one's around to perceive it? Science dictates that if consciousness is not observing matter, then matter does not exist.

[Silent3]

17. "Science dictates" no such thing

What you assert is at best a fanciful interpretation of quantum mechanics, not in the least backed up by experimental data.

Wondering what happens when there's no one left to observe what's happening may lead to a philosophical conundrum, but that conundrum reveals no explanatory inadequacy or conflict in science.

[SirRevolutionary]

20. Again, who is the observer?

Who would perform the experiment if not a conscious observer? Indeed it is a philosophical conundrum as well, isn't it?

[Silent3]

21. Science doesn't, and doesn't have to, answer that question

What QM gives us is equations and experiments suggested by those equations. Time and time again what the equations tell us corresponds to a very high degree of accuracy with experimental results. That's enough for QM to be considered a successful theory, no matter how many new unanswered questions the theory creates.

The question of where "observation" actually occurs is indeed interesting, but no confirmed, replicated experiments favor any particular interpretation of that philosophical question. Experiments certainly don't favor or confirm any interpretation of events where what people think determines what happens, where consciousness is the cause and measured outcomes a clearly linked effect.

Scientists would of course love to better understand why QM works the way that it does, but one needs testable, falsifiable ideas in order to explore the issue in a scientific way. New-agey quantum magic isn't based in experimental results. Either "create your own reality" woo either isn't by definition testable or falsifiable, or proponents take the lazy approach that they're right until someone else does the hard work of proving them wrong.

[Ian David]

2. Credit where credit is due, man. Christians doing things that Christ actually talked about.

And they're not even Unitarians.

[SlimJimmy]

4. +1 Credit where credit is due.

[xchrom]

6. That's what Christians should do. Nt

[dmallind]

7. What we all should do really - and thankfully quite often what we all DO do. nt

[cleanhippie]

9. Nice! People helping people because its the right thing to do.

We need more of that.

[LeftishBrit]

12. Good for them

Good to hear of people helping each other despite differences of belief - come to think of it, this was the basic point of the tale of the Good Samaritan.

[ZombieHorde]

15. Awesome. nt

[Silent3]

18. Good for them.

Of course, it would be even better if we lived in a country where no one had to hope for charity from churches or any other private group to prevent blindness, but that's another matter. It's good to see these Christians exhibit the positive side of Christianity to help this atheist.

[Dorian Gray]

19. As caring human beings

they did a good thing. I hope that his medical issues are taken care of.