"You have a heavenly father who loves you." I find that statement as

[raccoon]

meaningless as if they said, "Buddy Holly loves you."

It's vague, nebulous, and to me means nothing.

Other church members, or just other people, showing they care in various ways, now THAT means something.

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. My response to that kind of statement is usually...

"He never calls, he never has time to play catch, and when the hell was the last time he sent a child support check? Hmph! Some father."

[cosmik debris]

6. Absentee parents really piss me off!

He could at least send a hallmark card on my birthday.

[Evoman]

10. I'd just be happy if he didn't get drunk on my birthday and ruin my barbeque

by having it rain. Dad, you had to piss on my parade.

[Odin2005]

2. I have no need for a celestial supper-daddy.

As Bakunin one said, if God existed who would have to abolish Him. The notion of a personal god in inherently authoritarian and paternalistic.

[billyoc]

3. "...and he sent me with this bag of rice."

:hi:

[murray hill farm]

4. I agree!

Another one I hate is "you are good people" and it is the same premice...that whoever says it has some special knowledge or place where they make a decision on something they do not know about god or about me. It is also a place of self appointed power. I always just want to smack the person...ha!

[Benhurst]

5. You don't believe Buddy Holly loves you?

Maybe not; but I'm sure Elvis does.

[blueatheart]

7. social services should step in for parental neglect... e.o.m.

[cosmik debris]

8. The state may take away all his children and put them in foster care

Until they are adopted by Zeus, Vishnu, or FSM.

[Az]

9. Its about the ability to imagine identity and the need for acceptance

Both pretty common human traits really. We all want to be approved of. We all have the ability to imagine identity (its how we get to know one another). Combine the two and you have an easily imagined entity that not only approves of you but is the ultimate authority on love, understanding, and whether you are worthy or not... or so it is imagined.

[raccoon]

12. Well, whatever floats your boat. It never worked for me. nt

[Az]

13. Never worked for me either

And thats actually very interesting in and of itself. The notion of believing in gods seems to be a common enough trait. Its those for whom the notion never sets in that are odd. I wonder if there is a neurological difference or if its a nurture thing.

[raccoon]

14. I wonder. I've wondered the same thing about left- vs. right-wingers.

I don't believe there is a biological difference, but IMO it would be more understandable if there were.

[ZombieHorde]

11. My responses are usualy...

He loved me all night long.

or

How could he not?