ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — It looked harmless enough, but the words on a billboard unnerved so many people that a popular restaurant nearby actually lost business. The billboard was on Colonial Drive near Old Cheney Highway.
Although the popular Straub’s Seafood restaurant often advertises on it, it wasn’t their billboard. The sign was taken down after Channel 9 started asking questions.
The billboard came down around 4:00 Friday afternoon and nearby business owners are relieved. Straub’s Restaurant can replace the sign with the night’s specials.
At first glance, the sign looked like a children’s cartoon, but the message next to the fairy princess stirred emotions.
“When you condemn all religions and say they are a fairytale, that is wrong,” said Rich Stormes, a nearby business owner.
Complete story here.
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Hello RJ,
“anyone who quotes freerepublic.com, a well known anti-American Christian fascist web site becomes very suspect.” This is classic genetic fallacy stuff. Well I suppose I could have looked elsewhere as I have no regard for their views. If I were to quote Mein Kempf for some reason, would you tar me with that brush too?
“I would counter with, show me a Christian theocracy that hasn’t persecuted Semites and also banned freedom of religion and mandated their own waring religion over the masses”
“Christian theocracy” is a concept and practice that is incongruous with NT Christianity. The separation of church and state is essentially a Christian idea in its origin. What distinguished the early Christian churches from Judaism in this regard was that they were non-political, non-ethnic (though most were Jews initially), decentralized, international, and intercultural. This does not prohibit individual Christians from being politically active, rather it is that the church is not intended to be a movement for political power.
The quote above about Christian theocracy and my statement about Marxist states are both true. What it points to is the Christian truth of human nature and unbridled power. Whether a person is religious, irreligious or Atheist, when power is unrestrained, human corruption is accentuated.
My point, however, was that Marxism–which is intrinsically atheistic–thereby lacks moral restraint. The atrocities that atheistic or secularist political ideologies committed in the last century make those performed under religious banners in previous centuries rather paled.
“Christian theocracy†is a concept and practice that is incongruous with NT Christianity.
Try telling that to the Catholic church of the middle ages. The two got along fantastically – like a heretic on fire! :)
It’s a bit late to do that, Jayman. ;o}
I see the billboard, as some others did, as a test of faith. Those people with beiiefs based on little else but a suspension of disbelief can easily fall prey to confusion when faced with any viewpoint differing from scripture. These people make great followers because they take any serious thinking about reality out of the equation. The churches need these people as does the Republican party. When you have to refer to what you think as a belief system, it’s probably all downhill from there.
Why would God test is followers? He’s supposed to be all-knowing. Given that, he should know the result before he gives him the test. If he does, why give the test in the first place? Once again, common sense applied to religion tears it to pieces.
well, god really loves stupid people (they give money to him..) that’s why he made so many…
My dictionary defines faith as: “Firm belief in something for which there is no proof.”
Funny, how people want to believe the impossible, just because it makes them feel good.
Well, perhaps not so funny. They have so little faith in themselves to cope with life that they create an impossible figure to help them along the way. How pathetic!
Sorry, folks, but we’re here on our own. Don’t waste time praying for help to some father figure that doesn’t exist.
Check it out for yourself. I did.
I did what few Christians dare to do. I read the whole bible from cover to cover. What utter nonsense! It’s part history book, but includes many events that never occurred. Just because some events and reigns are correct doesn’t validate the whole book. Almost every book ever written contains some elements of truth, yet is fiction. The bible is true-fiction!
Don’t be gullible and accept things at face value. Check them out for yourself.
Remember! The bible is said to have been inspired by “god.” If such is the case, why does it contain so many errors, contradictions, exaggerations and outright impossibilities?
If I made an outrageous offer to people, including one of everlasting life, wouldn’t they first check it out to make sure it was on the up-and-up?
Then, do the same thing with the bible, the foundation of christianity.
Come on, folks! Put your thinking caps on!
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e151/MisterKuj/GodListensToSlayer.jpg
I like this road sign better.
Well.. first off.. to those who believe that there’s no God, i ask you this: Why do we as humans feel shame when naked? No other animal does, but we do… we should just feel cold.
– also, as a species, why are we so innate to right and wrong, punishment and reward.. if someone killed your family, would you want justice? It shouldn’t be wrong though, if there’s no God.. then we should be lawless like other animals (yet alone feel shame when merely naked). Kids (young kids) believe that killing is wrong. There should be no awareness of right and wrong… or guilt… guilt.. think about it.. if there’s guilt inside (lot of people have that, can’t deny).. If there’s guilt, there’s judgment.. if judgment, then a judge… be aware my friend, i don’t care if you ain’t religious.. just cause you don’t believe in water doesn’t make it any less wet. Have you asked God to reveal Himself to you? I have.. and HE did.. in my room.. in my dreams, visions (lots of ‘em) and i don’t get involved with organized church… ASK HIM and let’s see what happens.. Out loud friend, if you got the cajones… literally all alone ask God (in Jesus name) to teach you about one thing.. anything, you say it.. and let’s see what happens. DO NOT JUDGE what you DO NOT KNOW.. at least be atheist and don’t be a hater of what you do not know or DO NOT try to know. Try and fail then go preach about the lack of God.. Seek Him for a while and if he doesn’t come to you, do what you want.. but without doing that first, you’re setting yourself up… i rather be a Christian and be wrong then an atheist and be wrong..lol. I would rather you think about how much we sin mentally with thought.. envy.. lust.. savage fulfillment of flesh vs spirit? No-judged more than Jesus, no-one. Ever.
peace.
Al – ever heard of memes? Or nurture? Or culture? Evolutionary psychology perhaps? Maybe crowd psychology, or bandwagon effect? And so on and so forth.. because that may explain the first part of your entry.
And as for the rest of it, good for you. I’m genuinely happy for you that your faith was answered in a way you wanted. But why the the concern about how your religion is judged? Your religion, part of the Abrahamic religions, along with the plethora of others, will always be open to scrutiny and questions for as long as we (as an intelligent and vocal species) have a voice. Is your religion that shaky in its foundation that it cannot stand the test of us mere mortals?
Peace indeed.
Al, your post is one of the best I have read on here! I totally agree with you! If people don’t believe in God or Jesus, why are they trying SO HARD to convince everyone else that [they] do not exist. If you don’t believe in something, is it necessary to post it or tell everyone about it? I think it’s funny. I don’t believe anyone has landed on the moon, but you don’t see me starting a website about it. lol
Al, your post 59 is one of the worst, and one of the most glaringly erroneous, that has appeared here.
Humans are not so distinct from other animal species in the manners that you claim. For example, regarding shame, an old, incontinent dog will exhibit signs of shame after it defecates without control. Many other species demonstrate both cooperative behaviors, and emotions. Witness the mourning behavior of a wolf pack after a pack member dies, the cooperative partnering, hunting and schooling behavior of many species, and much more.
However, even the obvious distinctions between homo sapiens and other species are not evidence for creationism. The details of our bodies and their now well-established evolutionary origins are glaring evidence for a lack of involved design, rather than for a designer such as the god that you claim. Furthermore, the evolutionary path and timeframe that the human species has arrived from is now well established, and contradicts silly Christian biblical stories.
Your final statement is just Pascal’s Wager, warmed over. It is a failed argument for the existence of your particular god, and appears here all too often. Also, the mythical god that you apparently follow can hardly be claimed as a basis for morality, given its sorry history of crusades and inquisitions, just to get started. In regard to ThreeD’s comment, the violence and wrong-think that have resulted from religious idiocy over the centuries are more than reason enough to “tell everyone about it”; the consequences of religion have been awful for humanity, and that is more than sufficient justification for this site and the religious idiocy that it so frequently exposes.
Fortunately for humanity, the Christian wingnut population of the US is in decline and the fraction of the US population without religious affiliation is growing. As many others have said, it will be a great thing when religion and other superstitions are finally consigned to the dustbin of history.
Religion is for the gullible and the stupid, and for those who would profit from them.
Korgan, Christian population might be in the decline- But I will stand forever with “OUR” Saviour- the world Saviour- My Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Do you not understand why Jesus Christ came?! EVERYONE, STAND FIRM ON HIS WORDS, for He is God and is the Creator of everything. He came to make us LIVE for each other and to say “I Love you”. In everything we do -Give Thanks and Praise for such Agape Love!
I say, take your stand – stand with God who is Jesus Christ or stand on what you “feel” is right in your head. I say this because He has shown me things I thought was right in my own eyes But searching out His words of love in the dirt putting it through a screen looking-looking for every detail that I might over look at the evidence that is in this world for things of the past in the beauty of it all, the hands of the potter making the pot.
My Brothers and Sisters In Number 6:24-26
The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
If you don’t know who is Jesus Christ? I would be happy to share His words and pray for you, that you might have LIFE and see the love he has for you. Will you come and have a relationship in God -know Him like you never have before.
I congratulate you Korgan, you used the PsW and that gives you a win. I was reading Irish post:)
Your doing it wrong, hyrocket, so wrong it is amusing.
The hyrocket-bot has already been dealt with in prior posts such as this one. No new material, just more spewing of the same old unsupported nonsense, is in its latest posts.
Jag, I disagree based on what Irish said.
whom ever makes these these type of video for any reliion he or she must not be a human
This small episode with PsW makes it blatantly clear why you do your show and tell routine, you have trouble grasping the order, intent and meaning of sentences? Just go through the PsW bit again, and try anew.
Actually a Fairytale is supposed to be a tale for children that has always a morale, good vs evil elements inside, where the good side always wins at the end.
The good side is always represented by a prototype of ancient greek good mythology hero, or at least by a goodloking and smart children.
I don’t really see anything in common between a Fairytale for children, and an insane cult of mentaly impaired and physically degenerated sons of bitches.
This is a common mistake made due to the lack of knowledge about American pop culture.
In USA the person responsable of fairytales for children was the late Mr. Walt Disney.
Religion has nothing to do whatsoever with fairytales, simply becouse Religion is a product of abused, unconscious, degenerated, perverted minds who are completely unable to communicate in a normal way to anybody, including of course children.
evolution is the best fairy tale of them all
Gary, regarding your post 71, that’s only the case if by “fairy tale” you mean one that is demonstrably true and actually supported by reason and evidence. But then, that definition would exclude religion.
Religion is for the ignorant, the stupid, and the gullible, and for those who would profit from them.
These are the basic evidences about being normal people sane in mind and body.
NORMALITY IS RATIONAL MIND IN RATIONAL BODY
COUPLING IS NATURAL EVOLUTION TROUGH NATURAL SELECTION
NORMALITY IS FREE TO SELECT THE RIGHT PARTNER AND EVOLUTE
Thats why religion is against the normal people and denies the reality of universal – natural laws of selection and evolution.
The main purpose of the VATICAN is to make all th enormla people left on earth suffer like the fucking priests suffer becouse they were born degenerated freaks and weirdos.
Normal people, being goodloking and intelligent, never have problems in finding a coupling partner.
If some asshole is still doubtful about religion being created as the main evil on earth by degenertaed perverts, here are the main hints:
1 VATICANO – means literally Go To Fuck Yourself, VATI – means go, CANO is Fuck Yourself. The name of the VATI CANO is nothing less than a perverted name of an ancient hospital, that was VATI SANO.
2 VATI CANO is populated by degenertaed people, sick in mind and bodies, who are unable to live a normal life, have a normla job, or have a coupling partner in odrer to have sex and create a family.
It is impossible that midless degenertae perverts are able to comprehend how normal humans are and obviously unable to teach npormla people how to live of course.
There are a lot of great discussions going on here, I’m glad I found this site.
I think the problem with the whole religion concept is the lack of people really thinking for themselves. We have a tendency to want the easy way out: “give me a pill to make me better so I don’t have to make lifestyle changes”, “listen to a pastor/preacher/minister/priest’s INTERPRETATION of the bible so that I don’t have to think for myself.” Examples of this behavior are everywhere, and the people in charge are making a killing.
The bible, koran, old testament, etc were NOT written by god. God is not a man or a woman and it therefore it doesn’t matter what color god is. God is just energy. And science has proven that literally ALL forms of life (and stones actually) are all connected by the same form of energy. We all feel it, that’s why so many people claim to KNOW there is a god.
The problem is that people also haven’t taken the time to read about other cultures, other religions (which ARE fairy tales btw) or think for themselves. If they could lose the fear that foolish clergymen have planted in them that they would go to hell where their merciful god would let them be tortured for eternity, maybe they could understand.
I know this is a black and white way to look at things but, I can’t have respect for a person who is religious. It shows such a glaring lack of intelligence for a person to blindly follow another person’s teachings, and if they cannot see the contradictions in their “faith” then they are missing a huge component of religion.
Spirituality is different. If more people understood spirituality, things could actually get done. Instead of following a fairy tale-filled book (as they all are: bible, koran, etc) we as people might be able to actually achieve peace. The only god we should be aware of is the energy we are all connected by. It is neither good nor bad, and that is what we have to be careful with. We should be doing good things because it is the right thing to do, not because of a big scary misogynistic man in the clouds who will send us to an eternity of torture if we don’t.
It’s hard not to look at people with disdain when they start spouting religious crap, or rolling my eyes when I read a hate-filled, idiotic billboard (I mean the christian ones, not the one the story is about).
I don’t think people will stop to think, not as long as we are still brainwashing our kids from birth with ideas that terrify them. How can they not grow up to be zealots when they are convinced they will go to hell and so will everyone else who doesn’t believe as they do?
And to the christians who are posting your stupid “trust in the lord” crap, try actually thinking for yourself. Know that god didn’t write the bible and that a great many gospels were left out. Know that christianity is based on clergymen who are profiting from your idiocy. It always was, and if you would read and study your “faith” you’d know that. Also, I don’t want to read any more of your stupid billboards and signs posted everywhere, and stop buying up all the pristine land to build your enormous churches so that you can be exempt from taxes and suck more money from your stupid flock.
Given that it actually impacted their business in a strong way and negatively, I’d have to say it probably “damaged” the neighborhood. I know I personally don’t like seeing ads regarding religion in anyway, especially since I see religion as an intensely personal thing and that it should NOT be communal. That being said its just the same as an atheist insulting what you believe to your face or to a christian doing the same, its just annoying to have to deal with someone or something that completely undermines what you believe in when it is their choice to believe or not believe and in this case it hurt the business so I’d be quite pissed if I was the owner as well.
Religion explained for dummies.
Very easy way to explain religion to unaware people:
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/ca861703b8/religion-from-danny
Dr. Robert Langdon explained for dummies.
Very easy way to explain Dr. Robert Langdon to unaware people:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Langdon
For all those who have to see something first to believe in it…I suppose you don’t believe in air.
Believers know God because of His actions in our lives.
Try a little faith. It will do you good.
Having said that, if you won’t try it, don’t knock it.
Kurt, the “content” of your post is BULLSHIT plain and simple.
Present proof of even one of your god’s actions in our lives. So far, no one has shown such proof, and all the evidence contradicts your sick jeebus on a stick tales.
Most of the RF audience has “tried on” faith and rejected it. It’s really clear that what your bible says about the world is wrong and that your god story is just that, fiction for some ancient people (others here appropriately call them goat herders) that didn’t know any better.
It’s nearly 2010, loser (and damn the stupid datum that is based on). The world has suffered enough already from your religion of hate. Your religion fucking well deserves to be “knocked”. Fuck your stupid, ignorant, hateful jeebus myth and fuck off.
Hate? Hm.
I compared the last two posts, and I found quite a bit more hate in the last one than in the first.
D has lastworditis.
Yes I do.
D has lastworditis.
Yes it does.
Yes it does.
Stags do does not your nose.
Who has the same name?
Who, in the deepest parts of the God forsaken hell, is doing this?
And just in case you did actually say I have lastworditis, Mark, then let me tell you.
I do.
Who, in the deepest shell?
And just in case you then let you.
your nose in shell in case in lastworditis
same name do.
same name do.
The only religion God considers his,is taking care of widows and orphans and not being polluted by the world.
Religion is a distraction from the truth which is God.
So god ignores the sick folks with cancer, the crash victims, the crime victims? What a f__ing jerk your god is.
religion pollutes the world of thought.
Ya, BenG, nicely said. You rock. And what you said is one of the somewhat less nasty evils of religion.
For the religious nuts, listen in and listen hard: It’s nearly 2010. Get past your foolish goat-herder -age superstitions such as Islam and Christianity and stop being an embarrassment to humanity.
and those “thoughts” are foolish in the eyes of thoughtless fools. In the Light reveals the thoughtlessness of the age of superstitions of fools that pollutes the world. If religion pollutes than get a relationship of The One who sets you free to think of thoughts that clean the world of the nasty evils of thoughtless fools.
Come and see with your heart the love of God through His Son Jesus Christ of the living God.
Psalm 85:2 “You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin.”
hyrocket, seriously, see a psychologist. Even the One Goat that you herded has left your keeping, maybe after it kicked you hard in the head.
For you and other religious nuts, listen in and listen hard:
It’s nearly 2010. Get past your foolish goat-herder -age superstitions such as Islam and Christianity and stop being an embarrassment to humanity.
LET ME BE REAL HERE, WHY A LOT OF YOU DON’T WANT TO BELIEVE IN GOD OR THE BIBLE, BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH, AUTHORITY..BLAME THE BIBLE, SAY IT’S NOT REAL, SAY JESUS WAS NOT REAL, THEN THE ROMAN EMPIRE NEVER EXISTED, THE EGYPTIANS NEVER EXISTED…DO U WANT TO SAY THAT, CAUSE WITH OUT THEM, THEN YOU CAN’T SAY JESUS NEVER WALKED THE EARTH, BUT IF YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR PAST, BUT DENY JESUS, U OR AN IDIOT + DIDN’T NERO THE EMPEROR. KILL PETER WHO WALKED WITH JESUS AND SAUL WHO WAS CALLED PAUL, AFTER HE WAS BLINDED BY THE LIGHT OF SEEING JESUS….YOUR PROBLEM IS BECAUSE YOU WANT TO LIVE A WICKED LIFESTYLE, TO PURSUE THE RIGHT TO KILL RAPE, STEAL, CHEAT, FORNICATE, MURDER, DRINK, SLEEP WITH THE SAME SEX, SLEEP WITH KIDS, DRUG ABUSE, LIE, ADULTERY,ROB, HATE, LUST AND ENJOY EVERY WICKED PLEASURE THAT YOU CAN FIND TO DO…HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE NOT DONE ONE THING I MENTIONED, IF YOU DONE ONE YOU DONE THEM ALL, THATS Y U CHOOSE NOT TO BELIEVE IN A GOD, CAUSE YOU CAN’T LIVE THE LIFESTYLE, BUT THANK GOD FOR A MAN THAT LOVED US SO MUCH THAT HE GAVE HIS LIFE SO THAT WE CAN BE FORGIVEN FOR THOSE THINGS WE DO…IM NOT PERFECT BUT I REPENT FOR THE WRONG I DO…YOU WOULD ASK IF GOD WAS REAL WHY DID HE LET 911 HAPPEN, THEN I WOULD ASK YOU, DID ANYBODY TRY TO STOP THEM, THEY HAD BOX CUTTERS BUT EVERYBODY TO SCARED TO STOP THEM, YOU WHITE MEN IN SLAVED A RACE OF PEOPLE, THEY HAD PEOPLE WHO HAD THE POWER TO STOP IT, DID ANYONE STAND UP, DID GOD DO IT, WHY MAN CAN’T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS ACTIONS, BUT IS SO WILLING TO BLAME GOD FOR EVERYTHING, WHEN HAVE YOU TRIED TO STOP SOMEONE FROM BEING RAPED, SHOT, KILLED, YOU DON’T FIRST THING YOU SAY WELL THAT NONE OF MY BUSINESS…WHATS GOING ON WITH THE WEATHER IS IT GODS FAULT OR MANS FAULT, TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY, THE REASON WHY 911 HAPPENED, HAVE WE DONE THE SAME AND WORSE TO OTHER COUNTRIES, BUT YOU CAN’T SEE ALL THE BAD THINGS WE DO, BUT YOUR SO QUICK TO JUMP ON THOSE WHO ARE WEAK, THAT STRIKE BACK AND WANT TO TALK ABOUT DEMOCRACY, EVERYBODY SHOULD LEAD LIKE US, WHERE U LOCK UP MOST PEOPLE OF COLOR, RACIAL PROFILE ALL PEOPLE OF COLOR, DISCRIMINATE ON RACIAL LINES, WHERE YOU HAVE THE KKK AND SKINHEADS, WHERE IS GOOD TEACH THAT WE CAME FROM APES AND IF WE CAME FROM APES WHY HAVEN’T ANY APES TURNED HUMAN IN ALL THIS TIME, DON’T U THINK WE WOULD HAVE SEEN ONE BY NOW, WE CLAIM TO BE EQUAL, BUT IF WE WAS EQUAL, THEN WHY I CAN’T MAKE THE SAME SALARY ON THE SAME JOB WITH THE SAME POSITION AS A WHITE MAN DOES, OUR SCHOOLS IN LOWER INCOME AREAS DONT LOOK THE SAME, AND IF WE LIVE IN THE RICHEST COUNTRY ON EARTH, WHY EVERY KID DOESN’T HAVE A TEXT BOOK FOR EACH SUBJECT, A DESK FOR EACH CLASS, AND THE TEACHER STUDENT RADIUS IS 1 TO 30, AND U WANT TO BLAME GOD FOR ALL THE PROBLEMS OR YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN GOD BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, WHY HAVEN’T YOU BLAMED THE MEN WHO CONTROL ALL OF THIS
Wrong forum, patrick. You want the forum (and the asylum) for raving lunatics that are too stupid to realize that posting in all caps results in posts that people take less seriously.
And by the way, your logic is invalid in many instances throughout your post, and your god as described in your ravings is obviously a fable. We’ll get into the details of your errors if you return from the asylum in a less cappy state.
Actually, this bit is actually interesting,
Answer is yesterday.
Well, as usual, jagannath, you have something interesting and thought-provoking to say (no matter how absurd the whole post was, that you were responding to.).
I agree with netyahoo’s sentiments in 97 too.
Have a happy new year.
I’m ashamed to see the narrow minded materialists have allowed their line of questioning of religion to stop and go no further than the lowest level dogmas and direct interpretations of scriptures.
That you people seem to lack the real intelligence to consider spiritual pursuit in theological – more more appropriately metaphysical terms implies that you have in fact lost the capacity to think.
I don’t hold you fully accountable though – there are so many ‘raving (fake) Christian loonies’ out there – who only have a grasp on the most basic and material form of their religion without understanding the ‘higher purpose’ (to put it simply), that I guess I can’t be surprised that you poor people have no idea what religion is.
I blame especially the evangelical Christian Churches for the problem.
The Christian creation myth is no more a fairy tale than the ‘the big bang’ (by the way, I have a degree in Science from a reputable school), and in the grand scheme of things Exodus – even merely as a piece of literature – offers more to humanity than ‘the big bang’.
Religion is the unfoldment of spiritual progress in the material world. Religion is not the objective, it is merely a tool to enable humanity to achieve greater spiritual attainment. Lower-grade elements, such as rituals, dietary habits are not ‘holy’ in of themselves, but the rituals are. Religion is also something that binds cultures and people together across space and time – unifying their purpose.
You need to look no further than the Jews – who totally surrounded by people of other faiths have had to be very strong in the promotion of their cultural and spiritual identity amongst themselves. While not ‘pious’ in the classical sense – they have an extremely strong sense of identity which is based in religion and faith – and look how absolutely successful they have been. Facebook, Microsoft, Google, EBay, Dell, (previously) Intel, Starbucks – all fundamentally Jewish, which is ‘religion’.
I would urge many of you to re-consider the narrow minded and materialist view that spiritual pursuit is an activity based upon ‘fairy tales’ – because in a very scientific sense – nothing could be further from the truth.
Hey – Al Gore’s ‘fairy tale’ regarding the flooding of New York because of global warming does not mean global warming is not real – because global warming is absolutely real, the only debate left is ‘how much we cause exactly’ and ‘at what rate will it happen’.
‘Faith in yourself’ is in fact the worst – of all possible rational and spiritual perspectives. Or to be more precise – ‘having trust in oneself or faith in ones abilities’ is perfectly fine and even advised – but to disavow spiritual pursuit in the belief that your material presence ‘is all that matters’ or ‘is a god’ (as opposed to an expression of god) – is the root, cardinal sin of all religions – period.
So – don’t worry about the ‘religious freaks’ because they are not ‘religious freaks’, they are just ‘freaks’. Find yourself as much knowledge as you can on spiritual pursuit and enlighten yourself. Pray, do some Yoga – it really helps.
For some easy to grasp but nevertheless difficult to internalize material, try ‘Exchart Tolle’.
For some really heavy stuff, try ‘Theosophistry’ or anything by ‘Alice Bailey’. Be weary though, it’s 75% rubbish, 25% pure gold. If anything, your challenge is to be able to discriminate the gold from the rubbish.
Enjoy.