John Creasy wrote:I firmly believe in God. I am a Christian and although I do have doubts about certain doctrine and theology, I'm confident that there is a higher power. I'd just like to say not to listen to all these knuckleheads telling you how evil religion is. I think they're doing you a great disservice by painting all religion as corrupt and dishonest. They don't know any more than me what the truth is, so how can they write off such things so easily? Somebody mentioned that if you join a church, you can no longer have an open mind. What a bunch of malarkey. I can tell you from experience that this isn't true. I am very open to other beliefs and if I experienced something that turned me in another direction then that's where I would go. To the person who said religion is just for befuddled people, I would suggest a little humility, as this is a very arrogant thing to say. But I will agree with what many have said, that you should follow your heart and work on your spirituality. I believe that God works through people so you never know when or where you might experience him.
Welcome to the board, JC. We have a lot of fun here.
cicerone imposter wrote:Set, You have me LMAO now too! Real life, get a "real life." Your life is "phony" to the core. LOL
Hi Imposter,
So are you claiming omniscience too?
OK , tell me what you "know" about my life, since you apparently don't have anything of substance to contribute anyway and only chime in with insults as the muse directs you.
This should be more fun than the psychic hotline. And cheaper too.
(But since you are obviously omniscient, didn't you already know this would be my answer?)
Go ahead. Tell what you "know" about my life, Imposter.
No, I have never claimed such a thing, but people like you love to make claims you can't ever prove.
That is true: I have nothing of substance to contribute to people of religion. But as you say, it's a fun forum to see you people squirm to Frank's questions.
What "life" to me is the fact that people of religion follow some dogma created by other men thinking they will be eventually rewarded by the cow in the sky with eternal life. Nevah happen.
What is important in this life is to treat all living things with dignity and respect. Don't need no church dogma to live a good life on this planet. If you have ever studied history, religion has been responsible for most of the atrocities of man committed to man. Don't need no god for that!
This planet has not been kind to the majority of humans that were born. If you're one of the lucky ones, you were born in a developed country where we've been fortunate to have sufficient food, shelter and luxuries - and medical care. About 75 percent of humanity goes to bed hungry every day. It has nothing to do with any omnipotent cow in the sky.
When religious people pray to their god, they ask for some personal wants - even while seeing all the suffering that goes on in this world. Please, god, give me good health. Please god, take care of my son or daughter. Please god, take care of my dog. You get the idea. Race car drivers ask god to keep them safe. Athletes ask god to let them perform well. Christians ask god to save them from hell.
There are now some six billion humans on this planet. Praying might make the person feel good, but that's the extent of any prayer. No penalty and no rewards.
Religion is an accident of birth. Most people belong to the church of their parents, and remain so for the rest of their natural life. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what religion anyone born in Italy or Mexico will be. Even in the US, some 90 percent are christians. If a person is born in any of the Asian countries, it's most likely you wouldn't be a christian, and you'd be praying to buddha. So your god is no more god than any man-made religion on this planet.
Lastly, christians rely on one book they claim as the word of god. The only problem christians have are the many errors and contradictions that cannot be explained. Word of god = errors and contradictions. No logic.
Let me share this with you. We used to be buddhists at one time, but our mother converted to christianity. She took all of us children to church with her. My three siblings are christians married to christians. I'm an ahteist married to a buddhist. I'd rate my wife in the top 2 percent of "good humans" on this planet. That's what is important; not what god or church one belongs to.
You're the next George Carlin!
"I'd just like to say not to listen to all these knuckleheads telling you how evil religion is. I think they're doing you a great disservice by painting all religion as corrupt and dishonest."
LOL. I think all of the major religions have done a great enough disservice to their own reputations, that the negative remarks of an individual on a message board is rather irrelevant.
I find it funny that you're trying to defend the merits of the single most destructive force in the history of mankind. How can you be so blind as to not see the strife religion causes in the modern world and has caused throughout history? Religion is nothing more than a tool for the immoral to exploit the masses who lack intelligence and strong moral phenomenology.
BubbaGumbo, Welcome to a2k. Like your thinking style.
cicerone imposter wrote:Let me share this with you. We used to be buddhists at one time, but our mother converted to christianity. She took all of us children to church with her. My three siblings are christians married to christians. I'm an ahteist married to a buddhist. I'd rate my wife in the top 2 percent of "good humans" on this planet. That's what is important; not what god or church one belongs to.
Hi Imposter,
Since you are a professed atheist, I'd like you to explain, if you will, what qualifies someone as a "good human" and why you as an atheist think it is important to be a "good human".
Re: You're the next George Carlin!
BubbaGumbo wrote: "I'd just like to say not to listen to all these knuckleheads telling you how evil religion is. I think they're doing you a great disservice by painting all religion as corrupt and dishonest."
LOL. I think all of the major religions have done a great enough disservice to their own reputations, that the negative remarks of an individual on a message board is rather irrelevant.
I find it funny that you're trying to defend the merits of the single most destructive force in the history of mankind. How can you be so blind as to not see the strife religion causes in the modern world and has caused throughout history? Religion is nothing more than a tool for the immoral to exploit the masses who lack intelligence and strong moral phenomenology.
Oh the "masses" lack intelligence. But not you, no doubt. Your elitist arrogance is only exceeded by your elitist arrogance.
And you, who stated that your major goal in life is sexual gratification, are gonna teach us all about morals as well ? Give it a rest.
real life wrote:cicerone imposter wrote:Let me share this with you. We used to be buddhists at one time, but our mother converted to christianity. She took all of us children to church with her. My three siblings are christians married to christians. I'm an ahteist married to a buddhist. I'd rate my wife in the top 2 percent of "good humans" on this planet. That's what is important; not what god or church one belongs to.
Hi Imposter,
Since you are a professed atheist, I'd like you to explain, if you will, what qualifies someone as a "good human" and why you as an atheist think it is important to be a "good human".
Hey ci....
...as you can tell, Life is trying very hard here to suggest that one cannot have a notion of right and wrong...useful and destructive...without a god to "command" him to those notions.
Very simple minded....which is excellent for simple minded people.
Laugh at it. Take it for its humor value.
And enjoy that Life is now stuck in a sistuation where all he can do to argue against what we have to say is: You have to be omniscient in order to say what you are saying.
Once again...it is not often someone will go so far out of his way to say funny things for everyone's enjoyment.
Real Life (a foundless allegation) is after Bubba for seeking sexual gratification, implying that Bubba cannot therefore be moral.
Sexuality really puts the wind up religionist skirts, don't it? I suspect a christian, Real Life shows a classic disdain for mere human nature. Wonder why sex scares the bejeebus outta them boys an' girls? It does recall Mr. Mencken's mot, however:
Puritanism: the haunting fear that someone somewhere is happy.
Re: You're the next George Carlin!
BubbaGumbo wrote: "I'd just like to say not to listen to all these knuckleheads telling you how evil religion is. I think they're doing you a great disservice by painting all religion as corrupt and dishonest."
LOL. I think all of the major religions have done a great enough disservice to their own reputations, that the negative remarks of an individual on a message board is rather irrelevant.
I find it funny that you're trying to defend the merits of the single most destructive force in the history of mankind. How can you be so blind as to not see the strife religion causes in the modern world and has caused throughout history? Religion is nothing more than a tool for the immoral to exploit the masses who lack intelligence and strong moral phenomenology.
Well that is your opinion and nothing more. Are you really one of these people that suggest that if there was no religion, the world would be living in peace? Like if everybody became an athiest that everyone would just love each other? You have to be smarter than that. Anyway, I'm not willing to sell my soul because you think the world would be a better place.
I feel a bit awkward butting into this topic with so many pages of replies..
Personally I do not believe in God, nor do I believe in a religion anymore. I was brought up to believe in God, but I think my opinions changed after studying religious studies at school. I think Religious education really begins to confuse people.
"Puritanism: the haunting fear that someone somewhere is happy."
LMAO, well put.
Frank Apisa wrote:real life wrote:cicerone imposter wrote:Let me share this with you. We used to be buddhists at one time, but our mother converted to christianity. She took all of us children to church with her. My three siblings are christians married to christians. I'm an ahteist married to a buddhist. I'd rate my wife in the top 2 percent of "good humans" on this planet. That's what is important; not what god or church one belongs to.
Hi Imposter,
Since you are a professed atheist, I'd like you to explain, if you will, what qualifies someone as a "good human" and why you as an atheist think it is important to be a "good human".
Hey ci....
...as you can tell, Life is trying very hard here to suggest that one cannot have a notion of right and wrong...useful and destructive...without a god to "command" him to those notions............
Not at all Frank. It is obvious he has a notion of right and wrong. I acknowledged it and asked for elaboration. You should read the post more carefully.
I think the upcoming conversation between he and I (if he is able to defend his position) should be quite instructive for all of us. I urge you to stay tuned.
There is nothing for C.I. to defend. You demand to know what he thinks "qualifies someone as a 'good human' " and demand to know why he as an atheist would think it important to be a "good human." What has he to defend--unless, of course, Frank is correct in assuming that you are willing to assert that there can be no definition of what is or isn't good without a deity.
Setanta wrote:There is nothing for C.I. to defend. You demand to know what he thinks "qualifies someone as a 'good human' " and demand to know why he as an atheist would think it important to be a "good human." What has he to defend--unless, of course, Frank is correct in assuming that you are willing to assert that there can be no definition of what is or isn't good without a deity.
Funny how you and Frank seem to be afraid to let him speak for himself.
"Hi Imposter,
Since you are a professed atheist, I'd like you to explain, if you will, what qualifies someone as a "good human" and why you as an atheist think it is important to be a "good human"."
I know you still don't have a clue, but it's not somebody who claims he's a "christian."
real life wrote:Funny how you and Frank seem to be afraid to let him speak for himself.
Predictable how a religionist will attempt to characterize criticism as arising from fear. The only fear in operation here is your fear of the chaos you would perceive were there no fairy-tale god to make it all seem alright to you.
cicerone imposter wrote:When religious people pray to their god, they ask for some personal wants - even while seeing all the suffering that goes on in this world. Please, god, give me good health. Please god, take care of my son or daughter. Please god, take care of my dog. You get the idea. Race car drivers ask god to keep them safe. Athletes ask god to let them perform well. Christians ask god to save them from hell.
Holy guacamole, Batman! I've been gone for 12 hours and all these words! I can't keep up.
Let me comment on just this paragraph. Then we can go on. OK?
The fact that religionists pray for their own selfish desires does not mean their prayers are being heard. A careful reading of the bible would reveal the sort of things for which it is proper to pray. (An example can be found in Jesus' model prayer found at Matthew chapter 5.)
Finding fault with the actions of some (or many) religionists proves nothing. Nor does finding fault with the actions of some atheists. Many atheists have well thought out and beneficent philosophies of life, as I'm sure you must have, CI.
More later.
