Discuss Stanley Pembroke's answer to: What does the scripture say about making people look bad?

 Look with me to 1 Kings chapter 18.  This is a test between God, and the two most despicable cults then in Israel and Judea. 

Ashtoreth cult ran brothels, extortion, and slavery, controlling most of the economy of the area as would the Mafia if we let them get away with it.  Their close competition was the Baal cult, also notorious for these immoral practices.  People were constantly being caught in the crossfire between these two cults (although criminal rackets might be a more accurate term).

Elijah represented God.  He demands that people be free to do as they should, which of course costs criminal racket bosses their control over other people, which sends these criminals to panic -- as it should.

Elijah demanded a test.  It had not rained in Israel or Judea for many months, and the drought was going to kill them.  "If the Lord be God, then follow Him.  If Baal be god, then follow him." 

They prepared sacrifices, laid them on altars, and the cults went to work.  Nothing happened.  Then they shredded their backs with lancets, and added their blood to that of the sacrifices.  Again, nothing happened. 

Elijah shouted, "Maybe you need to scream louder!  Maybe your gods can't hear you!"  At sunset, Elijah asked for 12 barrels of water to be dumped on his pyre, and then prayed.  Lightning struck the soaked pyre and it took the altar also. 

That made it clear that the cults were as false as they seemed.  The people brought the cults to justice.

It is such an evil to allow cults like atheism to get away wioth their obscenities that we dare never forgive them, and that is why we must continue to bring out the truth to prevent the spread of this criminal racket.