[quote]Lorisco wrote:
So if someone believes something to be true and it becomes true for them, then it is true.
[/quote]
But once again, it is only true to them, not necessarily the rest of the world.
I’ve lurked here for a bit and read many of the relious themed threads. I’ve seen hundreds of posts blasting religion, calling religious folks idiots and worse. Then I’ll see elsewhere, other threads, in which the name callers are preaching tolerance. I guess that tolerance only extends so far. And not far enough to include those who belive in the Christian faith.
If someone posted a thread and stated ‘I am a follower of Islam.’ And we got responses like, “You brain dead moron” and “You closed minded fool! Allah is an asshole!” We’d have people coming out the woodwork castigating the name-callers. And they would probably be the same people who post similar comments aimed at Christians. I’m sure this says something, right?
We’ll all find out in the end. And if the atheists are right and there’s no God then nobody loses. If God does exist, then some are going to be in trouble and it’ll be too late to make changes.
[quote]DS 007 wrote:
I’ve lurked here for a bit and read many of the relious themed threads. I’ve seen hundreds of posts blasting religion, calling religious folks idiots and worse. Then I’ll see elsewhere, other threads, in which the name callers are preaching tolerance.
I guess that tolerance only extends so far. And not far enough to include those who belive in the Christian faith.
If someone posted a thread and stated ‘I am a follower of Islam.’ And we got responses like, “You brain dead moron” and “You closed minded fool! Allah is an asshole!” We’d have people coming out the woodwork castigating the name-callers. And they would probably be the same people who post similar comments aimed at Christians. I’m sure this says something, right?[/quote]
Dude, where have you been? Don’t you know that when it comes to Jesus it’s open season?
[quote]Kainjer wrote:
Lorisco wrote:
So if someone believes something to be true and it becomes true for them, then it is true.
But once again, it is only true to them, not necessarily the rest of the world.[/quote]
That is true. Everyone’s experience is different. But that doesn’t make one person’s experience false.
Ps - I like your Avatar. I think I golfed with that guy before. He kept throwing his crap at everyone when he missed a putt.
[quote]DS 007 wrote:
I’ve lurked here for a bit and read many of the relious themed threads. I’ve seen hundreds of posts blasting religion, calling religious folks idiots and worse. Then I’ll see elsewhere, other threads, in which the name callers are preaching tolerance. I guess that tolerance only extends so far. And not far enough to include those who belive in the Christian faith.
If someone posted a thread and stated ‘I am a follower of Islam.’ And we got responses like, “You brain dead moron” and “You closed minded fool! Allah is an asshole!” We’d have people coming out the woodwork castigating the name-callers. And they would probably be the same people who post similar comments aimed at Christians. I’m sure this says something, right?[/quote]
If someone wrote “I’m a follower of Islam. Your all going to hell and must convert now! Why are women allowed in schools? They should not be there?”
We could blast there ass.
If someone wrote “I’m a follower of Christ. Post here if you are too”.
Guess what? The flamers WOULD be looked down upon.
We are typing on an english forum, and most english speakers practice some form of Christianity. There just happen to be many more Christian idiots who post here then idiots of other religions.
Most of us are not flamming Christianity, or Jesus. Most of us are giving facts, and honest opinions about what Christianity has become, and debating what Christs true message is.
Few of us are being opressive of Christianity. In fact, most of us here are perfectly content to let you Christians practice in privacy. It’s when Christianity mixes it up with politics and government/education (which it often does), that we Atheists crawl out of thw woodwork to defend the seperation of Church and state.
We are mostly open-minded. It just so happens that Christians aren’t really attacked outright. No one (well, mostly no one) is saying Jesus was evil, or that all Chrisitians are the scum of the Earth. So, therefore, no one is castrated for saying it (b/c no one IS saying it). When Christians start threads bashing ALL Muslims, calling Islam ultimatly evil, or inferior to Chritianity, they truly ARE being close-minded pigs. Chritianity had has many good qualities. So does Islam, and most of every other religion. But they all also have many negative points. Claiming one is essentially better or “more good” than another is what we will chastize no matter what (us open-minded people, that is).
[quote]Beowolf wrote:
DS 007 wrote:
If someone wrote “I’m a follower of Islam. Your all going to hell and must convert now! Why are women allowed in schools? They should not be there?”
We could blast there ass.
If someone wrote “I’m a follower of Christ. Post here if you are too”.
Guess what? The flamers WOULD be looked down upon.
[/quote]
Research it on the site. I think you will find that you are wrong. I’ve seen some pretty innocuous posts about God or Jesus get slammed violently.
[quote]Lorisco wrote:
Ps - I like your Avatar. I think I golfed with that guy before. He kept throwing his crap at everyone when he missed a putt.
[/quote]
Yeah, his short game could use some work, but he has a hell of a long game.
[quote]jlesk68 wrote:
We’ll all find out in the end. And if the atheists are right and there’s no God then nobody loses. If God does exist, then some are going to be in trouble and it’ll be too late to make changes.[/quote]
Believing in a God who isn’t there is not an innocuous quirk without repercussions.
A few examples:
Some believers are more prone to overlook injustices “in this world” because they believe that God will make it right in the next. So instead of actively opposing injustice or tyranny, they tolerate it.
Believing in delusions also harms critical thinking and reasoning. If you believe in spirits, souls, an afterlife; you’re also more likely to fall for other snake oil. Psychics, people who claim to contact your deceased loved ones; faith healing, etc.
Dogma is opposed to change and has to be believed as True. Believer will then go into enormous distortions to reject any scientific conclusions that show the dogma to be false. A recent example is trying to get rid of Evolution in schools, or to get Creationism taught alongside it as if it held equal validity.
Many believers will also not think about “life” issues (abortion, euthanasia, death penalty, stem cell research, organ transplants, genetic manipulations, etc.) for themselves; preferring to parrot whatever handed down opinion is given to them by their church or congregation.
Religions also create artificial barriers between people who would otherwise get along fine. Just look at the threads here where Born-Agains claim that Catholics are going to Hell.
There is also much wasted resources in time and money spent at worship. Many churches amass vast fortunes and are tax exempt. All that time and money could be invested in pragmatic endeavors who would actually benefit people.
There is also the difficulty in following the teachings of various religions. How many Christians are actually like Christ? How many even look like they’re trying? Doesn’t the hypocrisy get to be a bit much after some years?
You can take Pascal’s Wager if you like. I’ll stick with being honest with myself.
Great post,Pookie.
If everything that happens can just be chalked up to “God’s will”,then I just don’t see him as a just or benevolent God…