FL,
Using Jesus in an analogy is not a good idea, because people’s feelings about Jesus are always mixed, and that is across the board. You have added more variability to an already complex variable, I think DoubleDuce and myself are talking about similar ideas here.
Why is it so hard for people to accept that there is a lot of fiction around Jesus, when most of the Christians complaining in this thread have accused one another of exactly that over the past few weeks? It’s hardly a far stretch, since they are convinced that many who claim to be Christians mistakenly believe in a great deal of fiction and false doctrine about Jesus, his nature, his teachings, and his requirements for salvation.
They accept that fiction exists about Jesus. That isn’t the issue. The reason their panties are in a wad is because they mistakenly assumed I was criticizing their particular beliefs about Jesus, rather than the beliefs of others whom they criticize themselves.
Don’t blame me for their defensiveness. I was making a simple point that historical facts can be twisted, augmented, and supplanted over time, even when there is a kernel of truth to the original claim. I believe this is the case for the Illuminati, and I believe it is the case for Christianity.
[quote]forlife wrote:
Why is it so hard for people to accept that there is a lot of fiction around Jesus, when most of the Christians complaining in this thread have accused one another of exactly that over the past few weeks? It’s hardly a far stretch, since they are convinced that many who claim to be Christians mistakenly believe in a great deal of fiction and false doctrine about Jesus, his nature, his teachings, and his requirements for salvation.
They accept that fiction exists about Jesus. That isn’t the issue. The reason their panties are in a wad is because they mistakenly assumed I was criticizing their particular beliefs about Jesus, rather than the beliefs of others whom they criticize themselves.
Don’t blame me for their defensiveness. I was making a simple point that historical facts can be twisted, augmented, and supplanted over time, even when there is a kernel of truth to the original claim. I believe this is the case for the Illuminati, and I believe it is the case for Christianity.[/quote]
Did that discussion take place in a thread about the Illuminati?
[quote]forlife wrote:
Gotcha.[/quote]
Enough with the dishonesty. You transparently wanted to lob a grenade at believers and clumsily shoehorned it into this thread. It’s painfully obvious. Why not just fess up to it and stop being phony about it?
No DD, but the discussion took place by the same people posting in this thread about the Illuminati. These people would agree with the analogy, insofar as it includes all the misguided Christians they condemn, but only if it specifically excludes them.
Is there anyone here that doesn’t believe fiction exists about Jesus?
Anyone?
The analogy is apt, and I stand by it.
[quote]forlife wrote:
No DD, but the discussion took place by the same people posting in this thread about the Illuminati. These people would agree with the analogy, insofar as it includes all the misguided Christians they condemn, but only if it specifically excludes them.
Is there anyone here that doesn’t believe fiction exists about Jesus?
Anyone?
The analogy is apt, and I stand by it. [/quote]
aptly bad. No, as is blatantly obvious by the result in this thread the mythology of Jesus is an incredibly complex and varying thing in personal beliefs. Your analogy detracted from your point and muddied the waters. Period.
[quote]forlife wrote:
No DD, but the discussion took place by the same people posting in this thread about the Illuminati. These people would agree with the analogy, insofar as it includes all the misguided Christians they condemn, but only if it specifically excludes them.
Is there anyone here that doesn’t believe fiction exists about Jesus?
Anyone?
The analogy is apt, and I stand by it. [/quote]
There are fictions associated with George Washington, but analogizing those fictions to the Illuminati would not be “apt” any more than yours was.
Your analogy is a poor one, and not driven by a desire to simply make an analogy. Why not just cop to it, since everyone has already figured you out? Who is left here that you are attempting to fool?
Thunder, I’m not going to give your attacks on my character and motivation any more attention than they deserve. Feel free to ignore me if you’re so convinced that I’m being disingenuous.
What is wrong with an analogy comparing the historical-fictional perceptions of George Washington with those of the Illuminati?
[quote]DoubleDuce wrote:
[quote]forlife wrote:
Why is it so hard for people to accept that there is a lot of fiction around Jesus, when most of the Christians complaining in this thread have accused one another of exactly that over the past few weeks? It’s hardly a far stretch, since they are convinced that many who claim to be Christians mistakenly believe in a great deal of fiction and false doctrine about Jesus, his nature, his teachings, and his requirements for salvation.
They accept that fiction exists about Jesus. That isn’t the issue. The reason their panties are in a wad is because they mistakenly assumed I was criticizing their particular beliefs about Jesus, rather than the beliefs of others whom they criticize themselves.
Don’t blame me for their defensiveness. I was making a simple point that historical facts can be twisted, augmented, and supplanted over time, even when there is a kernel of truth to the original claim. I believe this is the case for the Illuminati, and I believe it is the case for Christianity.[/quote]
Did that discussion take place in a thread about the Illuminati?[/quote]
FL, you got fucking PWNED right here.
You chose to provoke with your choice of analogy and DD just pulled your bitch card.
Great job for taking a steaming dump on this entire thread.
Just curious dude, how do you go about life when anything and everything can be surrounded by fiction (in your mind)? Do you over-analyze shit to an obscene level? Can you not take something for what it is? Young kids like the idea of Santa, the tooth fairy, and the Easter Bunny, I bet you’re a real hoot on the holiday season.
[quote]DoubleDuce wrote:
[quote]forlife wrote:
No DD, but the discussion took place by the same people posting in this thread about the Illuminati. These people would agree with the analogy, insofar as it includes all the misguided Christians they condemn, but only if it specifically excludes them.
Is there anyone here that doesn’t believe fiction exists about Jesus?
Anyone?
The analogy is apt, and I stand by it. [/quote]
aptly bad. No, as is blatantly obvious by the result in this thread the mythology of Jesus is an incredibly complex and varying thing in personal beliefs. Your analogy detracted from your point and muddied the waters. Period. [/quote]
I think it is a valid point we have people that would condemn anyone that engaged in anal sex because of their interpretation of some mythical scripture . I would be curious to hear this scripture
My only knowledge of the Illuminati, just like Jesus, comes from story books.
Maximus, to answer your question I try to base my beliefs on what is actually real, rather than on what I want or fear to be true. Like any human being I’m imperfect in that regard, but I accept science as the most reliable tool we have for differentiating facts from fiction.
I never told my children there was a Santa Claus, but asked them what they thought and let them make up their own minds. Not surprisingly, they eventually matured to the point where they recognized the myth for what it is. We still love the holidays, and don’t need to believe in myths in order to celebrate our memories, traditions, and love for each other.
How do you know that Jesus is not real?
[quote]forlife wrote:
Thunder, I’m not going to give your attacks on my character and motivation any more attention than they deserve. Feel free to ignore me if you’re so convinced that I’m being disingenuous.[/quote]
Though you would prefer it, your schtick will not be insulated from criticism. And, you seem to think there is great value in assailing frauds, false prophets and phoniness, hence your “crusade” appearing even in threads that don’t warrant it - well, certainly I do, too, and if you are uncomfortable with a door swinging both ways, oblige yourself not to walk through it.
Yeah, the illuminati have been a real bitch – constantly interfering with evil Joo plots to take over the world.
And don’t get me started on the Freemasons, with all their charitable works, good deeds, and fraternal beer drinking. They’ve been a huge thorn in our sides. Any group that includes John Wayne and George Washington and the founders of the Salvation Army has to be up to something.
(For those unaware of my sarcasm, the idea of any of the shadow groups running the world borders on the hysterical to me.)
[quote]Jewbacca wrote:
Yeah, the illuminati have been a real bitch – constantly interfering with evil Joo plots to take over the world.
And don’t get me started on the Freemasons, with all their charitable works, good deeds, and fraternal beer drinking. They’ve been a huge thorn in our sides. Any group that includes John Wayne and George Washington and the founders of the Salvation Army has to be up to something.
(For those unaware of my sarcasm, the idea of any of the shadow groups running the world borders on the hysterical to me.)[/quote]
Hey! Don’t try to distract us from your plots with sarcasm and hilarity.
You just keep the free masons handy to distract the public when people start asking questions.
/schizo rant 
[quote]MaximusB wrote:
How do you know that Jesus is not real?[/quote]
I think Jesus was probably an actual person, and as I said, I strongly agree with the philosophy of love ascribed to Jesus as a guiding principle in life.
If you’re referring to the supernatural Jesus, I don’t see any reliable objective evidence for that claim. I can’t claim to know there is no supernatural Jesus, like I can’t claim to know there is no supernatural Allah or Brahma or Buddha. It’s impossible to prove something doesn’t exist, but without compelling evidence, it’s nothing more than wishful thinking to claim something does exist.
My favorite part about Jesus today is how the Republicans claim that Christ was not Altruistic and that was a product of liberal scholars
[quote]thunderbolt23 wrote:
[quote]forlife wrote:
Thunder, I’m not going to give your attacks on my character and motivation any more attention than they deserve. Feel free to ignore me if you’re so convinced that I’m being disingenuous.[/quote]
Though you would prefer it, your schtick will not be insulated from criticism. And, you seem to think there is great value in assailing frauds, false prophets and phoniness, hence your “crusade” appearing even in threads that don’t warrant it - well, certainly I do, too, and if you are uncomfortable with a door swinging both ways, oblige yourself not to walk through it.[/quote]
I don’t consider the Christians posting on this forum to be disingenuous. I think they are earnest in their beliefs, and have said many times that I don’t judge them for those beliefs. I understand where they are coming from, and was a devout Christian myself for many years.
I don’t get into personal attacks on their integrity, and I don’t appreciate the same attacks on my own integrity.
I’m a bit torn when it comes to you, because unlike most of those who engage in personal attacks, you are intelligent, educated, and are usually willing to keep the discussion focused on the topic. You’re at a different level than a clown like Zeb, and I actually value your perspective.
Feel free to criticize my points; I look forward to it. But I do ask that you forgo the personal comments about my sincerity and my character. You’re better than that.
[quote]forlife wrote:
[quote]MaximusB wrote:
How do you know that Jesus is not real?[/quote]
I think Jesus was probably an actual person, and as I said, I strongly agree with the philosophy of love ascribed to Jesus as a guiding principle in life.
If you’re referring to the supernatural Jesus, I don’t see any reliable objective evidence for that claim. I can’t claim to know there is no supernatural Jesus, like I can’t claim to know there is no supernatural Allah or Brahma or Buddha. It’s impossible to prove something doesn’t exist, but without compelling evidence, it’s nothing more than wishful thinking to claim something does exist. [/quote]
Hey! How about you take your philosophy to any of the other numerous threads you have contaminated?
Seriously man, even with the benefit of the doubt, you are coming off as a complete fucking asshole.