Good Thing They're Not Atheists

And the hits just keep on coming. Via Pharyngula and about sixty billion other atheist blogs comes the story of Richard and Lindsay Roberts, son and daughter-in-law of Oral Roberts, who are being sued for treating the budget of Oral Roberts University as their personal bank account: spending it on fancy cars, on tens of thousands of dollars worth of clothes, on remodeling their home multiple times, and more. They allegedly used the university jet to send their daughter to the Bahamas; Richard is accused of illegal involvement in a local political campaign (a big, big no-no for religious non-profits); and according to the suit, university and ministry employees are regularly summoned to the Roberts' home to do the daughters' homework. (The original story is well worth looking at, if only for the photo of the giant Oral Roberts U praying hands with the police car parked in front of them.)

And that's just the beginning of their wacky shenanigans. The punch line: Richard is now saying that God is speaking to him and giving him advice on how to handle this lawsuit. According to Roberts -- excuse me, according to God -- "We live in a litigious society. Anyone can get mad and file a lawsuit against another person whether they have a legitimate case or not. This lawsuit... is about intimidation, blackmail and extortion."

I just want to say this:

It's a good thing they're not atheists.

Because if they were atheists, they'd have no morality or decency, no reason to follow a code of ethics, and would act as if they could just do whatever they wanted.

Comments

[Ebonmuse]

I think Greta Christina wins the Internet with this post. :)

[Greta Christina]

"I think Greta Christina wins the Internet with this post."

Thank you, thank you. I'd like to thank the Academy, the cast and crew, my agent, and all the little people out there in the dark who made me what I am today. :)

[Becca]

That picture in the original story was, indeed, priceless!
Are you the author of "Atheist Anger"? I have to say ~wipes away tears~ that was one of the best articles/rants I have read in a long long time! Bravo and keep it up!

you win the internet.

[Korinthian]

Oh, but you know how Christians will respond to this: "They weren't *real* Christians, which proves that it's atheism that made them do it".

[Michael]

"We live in a litigious society. Anyone can get mad and file a lawsuit against another person whether they have a legitimate case or not. This lawsuit... is about intimidation, blackmail and extortion."
Really. It's not about robbing your father's university blind? Wasn't there a commandment about that? I guess if God Is on His Side, then it's ok...
There is no shamelessness like that of a believer, especially a true believer. How can feel shame, when by definition whatever they do is right? It's simply disgusting.

[Michael]

I used to work across the street from that statue, in the towers, we affectionately referred to them as "Oral Roberts' Dick" because if you lay down in front of them and take a picture, it looks like the building is your cocknballs.

[Emma]

I laughed until I cried.

Honestly, I am always trying make this kind of point about morality, but I've never been able to put it quite as succinctly as you did.