One question please........ aside from cost of this statue - why do atheists feel it necessary to mock and make nasty comments concerning Christians. Truly, I have never heard a Christian call you down, make fun of your non-belief or doubts. We might silently pray for you, but wonder why you have to be downright nasty and ugly. Have you ever heard of Respect? Live and let live? I bet all you atheists have family members, friends, co-workers connected to a religion and worship in churches, temples, synagogues....do you express your feelings to them in person? Laugh at their 'stupidity', call them 'ignorant'? No! Why? because you need your family, you need your friends, and as for co-workers - your boss would probably fire you if you acted that way on the job. So it comes down to most of you being hypocrits - you can only vent your feelings annonymously in letters or postings. So put on your big boy or big girl panties - if you can't say it in person, don't put it in writing. Have a great day!

Nice Ellie! Well spoken....

Jesus loves all people weather you love Him or not/ no matter what you have done, He wants to wash you and make you clean, wouldnt that be nice...But, He wont strive with us forever which means... there is "a cut off time" that no one knows...Get with the program people, blow off the dust from your bible and BE like Jesus. Dont look at the stupid mistakes people make as an excuse not to believe, it wont work on Judgement Day :) If you dont have a bible, just ask one of us "Jesus freaks" and they will give you one, free.

I don't have any problem with them erecting a statue of Jesus Christ. If I have any problem at all with anything and I suppose I'm the only one that does, it is this: Why is Jesus Christ wearing a gold crown? Only crown I recall him ever wearing was made of thorns.

@Ellie

Oh please. You haven't lived the shoes of an atheist. We get discriminated against ALL THE TIME! We are the last minority where it is considered okay to discriminate against. Yes, I have family and friends that are theists and I try to express my views to them all the time, but I get the cold shoulder because apparently Christians are afraid to talk about their beliefs to non-Christians. And if my boss fired me because I was not Christian, then you bet your @ss that I would sue.

The fact that atheists have to vent their feelings anonymously only goes to show how intolerant Christians are.

Christianity is a sick and immoral cult. This statue is a huge waste of money and resources that could have gone to feeding a starving child but instead you Christians have to go and flaunt your messiah.

I'm not an athiest, I'm agnostic. But I've been treated like dirt by Christians many many times.
One holiday, I was chastised by the people with whom I work for taking down the Christmas decorations before the Epiphany. Though the supervisors asked me to do it, I was treated like the anti-christ for not giving a damn about Christmas in mid-January. And the horror when they realized I didn't decorate my home for Easter.

I don't have a problem with Christians. I even voted -- several times -- to keep a local cross on a hill, though it's federal land. You have faith, great. I have tried. I don't believe in blind adherance to any ideology and I like to think for myself. So let's just agree to disagree.

Dear Lola3,

I do truly hope you are not gambling with your eternity on the stupidity of "people". The kindest person in the world will let you down dear. Get past the people thing, get your eyes OFF people and put them on The Lord Jesus. You Wont be let down or disappointed is what His words and actions say. And you said blind adherence, there is "nothing" blind about Him or faith. You said you tried, why did you give up? Dont worry about what people say, read you bible first and dont worry about church goers, you dont need to worry about them or impress them. Just DO what your bible tells you to and you cant go wrong. It sounds like you were hurt by someone or just gave in to your desires (sin) but God did not give up on you :) Get back on the horse, thats what life is all about. This time, REALLY study the word and dont push yourself too much. Enjoy it/ get away from those who would discourage you. Find a "good" bible "teacher" not just a preacher and you will be AMAZED at how fun it is and how captivating it is. God knows we are just made of dirt, He can deal with our faults through His perfect Son Jesus. Just dont give up :) ever!! No matter what! Thats what will get Gods attention. We know that from the bible. May He bless you and heal you sister.

No thank you. I have made my choice and I'm happy with my lack of faith in any god. You have fun though.

@ThunderProof:

"Why is Jesus Christ wearing a gold crown? Only crown I recall him ever wearing was made of thorns."

Here in Poland Jesus has been crowned and named "king of Poland".

So its some kind of symbol what people belive in. Jesus isn't sooo tall in Bible too ;)

Read your bible just a bit more my friend, you will know why. Its all good :) Think future.....Hummm The New Jerusalem....Hummmm

Thanks for the info too. I love His new name :)

Prove He is imaginary :)

You would have to claim to have all knowledge of everything there is to know about everything to say "Im an atheist". You are saying that in all the things you dont know, God does not exist. The top scientist say that visible matter is only about 10% of "reality" as we know it. Talk about faith and religion, now thats a fairytale religion. No factual basis for that kind of belief. You cant claim ignorance, you have been warned by the watchman on the tower. Jesus is coming back and we will all stand before Him and have to give an account. You cant earn the right to be in Gods family. His son paid the price with His life and all you have to do is accept the redemption He offers, free of charge. We will NEVER be "good enough", just say thank you and serve your KING.

The burden of proof is on you to prove that your definition of god exists, not on the atheist. Atheism is simply the lack of belief in a theistic deity. Atheism is the rational position to take in light of insufficient evidence for a theistic deity.

Prove he exists ?

Can you give us a date when he is likely to show up ?

Ellie 123...

I think you need to read a lot more (try the non fiction area of the library) Atheist are the least liked people in the US: Lack of non belief and younger critical thinkers are the biggest threat to religion.

In the old days we were just slaughtered, last days we were educated to make us respect people that pray to fresh air. These days we tell it like it is a bunch of BS. You would be surprised how much your beleifs in a invisible god tries to dictate society.

You were saying?

As surprised to see how many self-proclaimed 'athiests' look towards their denied deity when the ground starts to shake?

@ kubush84

Still, you have to claim to have all knowledge of everything to say Im an atheist. You have "no proof". I know for a fact, If you read your bible and took the time to "Seriously investigate" its authenticity, you would come to only ONE conclusion. Maybe you are just lazy, there is nothing to be afraid of. There is no burden on "me". I cant give you answers for something you dont understand....

I want to join a nuclear physics class but before I sign up, I want all the answers, PFFT! Come on!

Analysis = You would not understand the answers even if you were given the answers.

DIY + pray to your maker and ask Him to make Himself known to you with an honest heart and you wont be denied. Its His promise to you as stated in "His word". :)

@HIS child-2382068

Nonsense. I am an atheist because I do not accept the theistic claim of a deity. Atheism is the lack of belief, it is not a belief in it of itself. Would you have to have 100% knowledge of everything in order for you to say "Santa clause does not exist"? No, of course not. The burden of proof is on the person making the claim that X exists.

"I know for a fact, If you read your bible and took the time to..."

Apparently you don't realize how ignorant it is to claim knowledge without any evidence whatsoever. I have read and studied the bible, as have many ex-christians atheists and have come to the only logical and rational conclusion that your bible is wrong and that your god does not exist. I am saying this as a positive claim because if the existence of your god being real is defined and contingent upon the bible being 100% correct, then I can show you why it is not.

Get off your high horse and don't talk down to me simply because I don't buy your bronze age superstitious myth. Pretending that you can't answer serious critical questions about your religion because I won't understand them, is just an excuse because you know in your heart that you can't defend the nonsense that you accept.

"pray to your maker and ask Him to make Himself known to you with an honest heart and you wont be denied. Its His promise to you as stated in "His word". :)"

I have and so have many other atheists but nothing happened. So apparently his "word" was wrong. :)

Hell yes, biggest graven image I ever did see!

All of which were pagans, and non-believers. not much of a point now, is it.

If you define "pagan" as "any religion that is not Christian" then what is the point of pointing that out? They most definitely were believers of their gods. His point still stands.

I use money to feed my family.

I do not have any "soul" and your Jesus was a charlatan preacher who died two thousand years ago after making money by "curing" diseases by speaking Hebrew to "spirits". And believe me, each of his patients would have prefered Mayo Clinic to "talking to spirits" if they had the opportunity.

They used their money to get You to "think" about Jesus. Food goes away, your soul Does Not...Ever, in a place where time does not exist.

@Alex-1488986 Your opinion pretty much matches the one I used to hold, though I did tend to blame much of the mythologizing on people who came well after Jesus' lifetime. However, after having not giving it much thought since around my early thirties (I'm currently 54) I ran into an article that caused me to doubt whether Jesus actually existed at all. Anywhosits, long story short, the piece piqued my interest enough to pursue the topic and so I read a good deal more, both pro and con, on the subject. Now, as a result of that reading, I am quite convinced that the person of Jesus is an utter fiction. (Bad news for those Christians who enjoy disparaging Muslims: The "Prophet" Muhammad was, in contrast to Jesus, a person in easily ascertainable history. (Though of course he was, and is, no more "divine' or a "prophet" than my pet goldfish.))

Well, then why have so many Expert big bangers, atheist and evolutionary "scientists" bent on debunking "The word" become believers? In their thorough investigation using Science, archeology, ancient documents back up 100% what "The Word" says. Believing Nothing came to be from Nothing without a designer ( God ) is believing in a fairy tale. Have you ever hear of the flagella motor? http://www.annualreviews.org/eprint/cDJrS190m62mDRwHrlp9/full/10.1146/annurev.biochem.72.121801.161737 Look it up. Speaking about something you obviously know Nothing about is what my mommy taught me was called ignorant. Willingly ignorant must be a tough realm to live in. Hope you get a clue soon. He is waiting for you to give up fighting Him, He created you to love you.

What utter nonsense! The Big Bang Theory and Evolution are scientific models of reality and are not dependent on atheism or vice-a-versa. The fact that you reject evidence based science just goes to show how dangerous religion really is. It promotes ignorants. Your assumption that most scientists that try to debunk Christianity become Christians is utterly false. You make up facts for your own comfort. Atheism says nothing about origins. It is a lack of belief. But let me tell you that the current scientific thought of the universe is that it was eternal, at least in some form. I guess that means that your god is out of a job. The flagella motor? Is that a reference to intelligent design? The flagella is a perfect example of evolution in action. Try again.

@ kubush 84

Evolution is the biggest religion there is...something from nothing! PFFT! Where did the matter come from to make "anything". Something from nothing and thats not to even mention "design". The probability factor of JUST the eye to "evolve" is IMPOSSIBLE, do the math. GET a clue, things dont "evolve better" , they deteriorate. Dont you know anything about your religion? Dont you know the FIRST law of thermodynamics? God is calling you out of your professed ignorance. You will be pleasantly surprised when you give up and give your life to your maker. He made you to live with Him, He knows you are just made of dirt. Give Him a break and stop rebelling child. You have just made so many childish statements, not to offend you, sorry.

As a scientist - and an atheist - I am curious about the rationalization behind accepting a 'GOD' as an explanation for the existence of the universe. Whence the 'GOD'? Why does the 'existence' of 'God' not require a source? Why is the eternal nature of 'God' without explanation acceptable? The wonders of the universe are many, which is why science is fun. The fact that we do not yet have a complete understanding is not a reason to suggest that it is time to give up and evoke 'god'. To suggest that your - or my - incomplete knowledge means that such knowledge is unattainable is the ultimate hubris.

@ nedhead,

Finally, a "half" decent response here. Well, I see you profess to be a scientist. May I suggest to you to find the Top scientist to study with. The Top leading scientist are Christians now a days, not to insult your intelligence. You are obviously pondering the wonders of the universe, good, most people do. If God gave you all the answers for those kinds of things, you would then be God wouldnt you...? You trusted your mommy and daddy when they said its safe to do this and that, didnt you? Well, why would God (Jesus) ask you to believe in a Lie or give you a red herring, He wouldnt. I would not start with the big questions until you learned the smaller ones first since you love science. We dont just walk into the top classes of science, do we? Start at the bottom, ask the right questions and dont write God out of your equation yet since you obviously cant deny He does not exists, right? Aaaaand No one has what you so called "evoked" anything on you. You are a scientist right, only facts please...no stretching the truth with Evoke, come on, God (and I ) expects a little bit more from a smart scientist person....not like some of these ranters and ravers here above and below. Just out of curiosity, If everything "we" make here on earth has a designer, why would anyone think there is NO design involved in our beautiful expanses in space, earth, all its life and US? No designer Hu? Just accident? You should know as a scientist, thats a mathematical impossibility...even if some funny people do "believe" our solar system and everything in it is billions and billions of years old. Kinda like they say, the grand canyon took millions of years to create. We now know that this happened very quickly, like a couple of days probably. Wouldnt all that sediment be in the gulf of Mexico...DOH!

Anyway, hope that give you something to think about and dont forget, No "one" is evoking anything on you, Jesus is inviting you to be with Him....although He asks for your whole heart and thats it.

While I appreciate the depth of your irrational conviction, in concert with the shallowness of your arguments, I fail to perceive even a hint of an attempt to answer my civil question. Perhaps if you were to try and craft a paragraph or two that did not include bumper sticker slogans, factual errors, and insults, a constructive dialog might ensue.

My Nedhead friend,

I thought I made myself clear, sorry bout that. I will say it like I did to that above person.

Hi, I want to sign up for nuclear physics class but before I sign up, I want all the answers. Thats not very smart hu? I know you know the answer to that.....How can you understand the answer to something you dont understand?

Like I was saying, you presume to be smarter than me which is your first mistake because I dont use fancy words to entertain ears. Dont ever do that if you really want to proceed in science and the pursuit of truth can be blinded by your presuppositions. Ive learned some of the most remarkable things from some very "dumb" folks. No insult intended. Sometimes we get into what I call the "fishbowl" effect. Get out of the fishbowl and go live in the rest of the world and learn of it, you cant learn of it in a classroom or lab only.

Is that too bumper stickerish for you sir? Im usually the one who says I dont like bumper sticker phrases I never meant to be insulting, this is the problem with not being face to face in conversation. Miscommunication is rampant because we dont see facial expressions nor do we hear tone of voice....sorry if I seemed insulting.

God has revealed Himself to the poor, sick and stupid and thumbed his nose and the "know it alls". All knowledge must exalt God who "gave" it to us.

OK, I didn't want to get to this point but here we go.

First off, as I approach retirement age (although I have no plans to retire), I have had a very successful career in science (and business).

The very essence of science is seeking to understand the answers (and new questions) to that which we don't know already.

And finally, you still have not attempted to answer the very clear and simple question which I posed earlier; most likely because you have no answer.

You speak (write) words that resemble sentences, but they have no content, no substance (not to mention no comprehension of grammar or spelling).

I end this thread with you now, because I get no satisfaction from engaging in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.

@ nedhead,

Oh my friend, I expected much more from you than giving your resume and insulting me...since you are so smart. The Lord expects a lot more from you also since He gave you this intelligence. He will require an account form you. What did you do with what I gave you...rebel against Me?

Here, I will try to say it again differently and this will be the last from me.

You are an expert in Chinese characters. (your resume)

You go up to the Egyptian hieroglyphics teacher and try to joust with him on his understanding of what he knows. You say, ok, I dont want to join your class, also you must give me all the answers to the questions I have for you in your field of expertise.

This is what you are doing. I expected much more from you as a seasoned scientist and educated person.

Seek Him, pray to Him, call out to Him and you wont be disappointed. This life is so full of disappointments. He wont disappoint you, You have everything to gain and Nothing that matters to lose.....

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

@HIS child-2382068

Don't presume that you can educate people, especially on the subject of science when you proclaim such utter ignorance by asking, "how did something come from nothing?" when it comes to evolution. Any first year biology student can tell you why this is such a silly question but I'll let you try to figure that out on your own. You fail to see that something that looks designed isn't necessarily so.

You seem to be throwing out all the most common Creationist canards like candy to kids. ALL have been easily debunked by logic and evidence. The earth is not thousands of years old. It is around 4.55 billion years old. The Grand Canyon was carved out over millions of years and that is backed by real evidence and not just a collection of 2000 year old writings from some ignorant old superstitious men.

You need to go get yourself a real education outside of your bible and creationist videos on youtube.

Well worded Hal, its kinda like what I said....

Oh? The man that invented an eternal torture chamber should be revered? The guy who taught how to properly beat your slave? Sorry, I don't accept your supposed messiah and his message. Your cult is dangerous and a waste of resources.

@kubush84

Dont even get started on trying to go into MY area (the bible) please. You are embarrassing yourself already. Your questioning God, for one....Two, you just made a statement about slaves and morphed into something that has nothing to do with fact. See what your Darwin god evolved you into...A fairytale artist just writing make believe :) Your god Darwin even admitted it in his later writings that his theory was not possible but it was better that believing in God. Why dont you go look up and find that paper....I did :) Did you know he called the human cell, just plasma like glue that holds us together that has no real function....PFT! Primordial ooze, fairytale :) No facts to back up your hocus-pocus. You know you are wrong thats why you TRY and attack the bible to your own demise. You are the dangerous cult imposing your laws on us and silence us. Stick to facts.

Your heart will be hardened if you keep this up, and you wont be able to know Him. I suggest you stop while you still have the chance. These are not my opinions, these are biblical facts well documented by eye witness accounts....I hope you believe in eye witness accounts, our judicial system does. Who is the cult follower? God will happily forgive you of anything you have done and will heal you of the wrongs done TO you that made you this Hard-hearted. Ask Jesus to make Himself known to you and ask him to forgive you and tell him you want to give up and surrender your whole life to Him :) He loves YOU :)

First off, yes, I have a brain, hence I can question ANYTHING, even your made-up god. Second, I did not morph anything. I took it right out of your bible. You couldn't even defend it and rightfully so because it is indefensible. I can bet that I know more about your religion and your bible than you do.

"Your god Darwin even admitted it in his later writings that his theory was not possible but it was better that believing in God."

Doesn't your god say "Thou shalt not bear false witness"? Because that is exactly what you did here. Darwin NEVER said anything of the sort. Finding made up quotes from Creationist websites is not considered real research. Darwin knew that we had heritable traits but did not know about genetics. Darwin set the foundation of Evolutionary Theory but we have learned a lot since and it is a lot more accurate and refined than it was 150 years ago. It is called the progress of science.

How the hell am I imposing my laws and silencing you?!?!?!?!?

"No facts to back up your hocus-pocus."

LOL. Oh the irony, it hurts! Let's see what you have to believe in be a YEC: a magical father figure in the sky created everything from nothing and then magically transformed dirt into the first man, and then transformed a rib into a woman (because she was created to serve Adam, of course), then a talking snake convinced the woman to eat from a magical tree which then caused all of their descendent's to be cursed (by hocus-pocus) and the only way to be saved from an eternal torture chamber is to believe and love some guy that lived in the middle east 2k years ago that walked on water, magically made water into wine, and raised from the dead. ROTFL!!! And you call incremental changes in species over a vast amount of time to be "hocus-pocus"?!?

Eye-witness accounts are not sufficient even in the courtroom. The credibility of the eye witness must be established. Also, the fact that the eye witness needs to have their story in line with all the other evidence, otherwise the testimony is called into question. The bible's accounts are hear-say to say the least. And if you truly believe in eye-witness testimony then why don't you accept the testimony of the Prophet Mohammed?

"Religion easily has the best bull@!$%# story of all time. Think about it. Religion has convinced people that there's an invisible man . . . living in the sky. Who watches everything you do every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a list of 10 specific things he doesn't want you to do. And if you do any of these things, he will send you to a special place, of burning and fire and smoke and torture and anguish for you to live forever, and suffer, and burn, and scream, until the end of time. But he loves you." ~George Carlin RIP

"Why is everyone talking about Jesus?"

Maybe, just maybe it's because the article is about a giant jesus statue?

I'm Polish and I'm an atheist.

Great !!

Have you read "The greatest show on Earth" By Richard Darkins

Best seller in some parts of the world where knowledge is permitted

@ Kubush

Again ! You CANT be an atheist. No such thing, sorry.

Nothing tops the religion of self-righteous arrogance practicing it's trade quite like ...

What an ugly monstrosity. That sends a clear message. Polish people believe in myths from the dusty old book called the bible

@ Barbara Y

You seem like a nice, logical person who can tell the future like the bible can...I think I will believe in what you believe now ......NOT! :)

"Again ! You CANT be an atheist. No such thing, sorry"

*facepalm* What a stupid thing to say. Yes, atheism and atheists exist!

Sorry! You think a statue that is 167ft tall is not forcing their beleif on every person in the village.

What say 12% of the village don't beleive in the jesus and every morning its in their face, did they have a say, or they just kept silence as that was safer.

Religion always wants to force their beleif that is why they start with the children, scare the hell out of them, muddle their thinking.

You live your life your way, I'll live mine..... No one forces anything on me that I do not allow. Period

Good to hear !!

No I haven't

I have travelled in other parts of Europe

Would like to do some more

I want to go to Russia/ Moscow and travel in the metro

@ kubush84

You keep saying your "opinion" about things you know nothing about dear. If you were in charge of Rio de Janeiro...What!? You are going to presume to tell someone whos job it is to run that place and those people "how" they should do THEIR job!? In a culture and a place you know NOTHING about...please. You gotta be kidding me?! Have you ever lived anywhere outside the states? Monday morning quarterback, go over there and do something about it, go volunteer over there and get involved.

"If you were in charge of Rio...are going to presume to tell someone whos job it is to run that place"

I don't get it. Is that a trick question? If I am in charge, then presumably I run that place. lol.

"ave you ever lived anywhere outside the states?" Apparently you didn't even read the comment that you replied to. I was born in Poland, I immigrated to the U.S. And I have lived abroad in places like Ecuador which also has a big statue of Jesus on a mountain side. If it is private money and on private land then I don't really care too much but I still hold that the money could have been better spent on say...feeding the poor? WWJD? LOL.

Thank you Poppy :) well said. I must be getting tired, Im outa here......I hope. God bless your civility and Love.

And your would be definition of what love truly is, is your god? The guy who coerces people to love and worship him for his own vanity otherwise he will torture them for eternity? The guy who allows children to get raped and other such horrific evils? That is NOT love!

John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Think about it: Would you allow your son to die to save anyone else? God is a perfect example of love and sacrifice. Sin causes "children to be raped and other such horrific evils". I questioned this myself for a long time, but have come to truly believe that we must understand what life is like in the depths of valleys to realize just how wonderful it will be on the mountaintop. I am not coerced to love and worship God by any means. I am truly in awe of Him, and worship him because I see how worthy He is of my praise. God does not torture people, people torture people. As far as being tortured for eternity, I pray you find the love that God offers each person before you have to experience what hell really is - eternity apart from God.

@ Bill Bowen

Amen brother !!

The Bible says we are tried at every moment we watch all the corruption and we want to fight back but if we do Satan has another one to take that ones place. Your right about the U.S. It is the most blessed country in the world. But I hope we will do what God ask when he says If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

"It is the most blessed country in the world." Prove it.

Doesn't this seem odd? That when people ask about suffering, Christians say god gave us free will, therefor he wont interfere with our suffering but then they will say that god produced this miracle or that, or that he blessed this or that. So apparently god CAN interfere without infringing on our free will but couldn't care less about our suffering.

Oh and to imply that a supreme cosmic deity cares about our artificial borders is belittling to your notion of god.