potter

Big difference here e_brown and I think you probably know what I am going to say . God has this authority. No one else does. He is sovereign God and whether we like it or not, He makes the rules.

Quote:

Big difference here e_brown and I think you probably know what I am going to say . God has this authority. No one else does. He is sovereign God and whether we like it or not, He makes the rules.

I used to believe this. But I have found that this isn't true.

In fact, God has a big problem.

If his followers took the words and life of Jesus seriously, they would spend their time loving their enemies, defending the poor, ending war, promoting forgiveness and standing up for those who are being mistreated.

If this were the case, God would have a huge impact on the world we live in-- not just in the example they would set, but even in the people they would help

Instead, when they are not condemning others, or trying to dictate how non-believers act today's Christians are worrying about children's fiction.

If you're referring to the atheist's exposure and rejection of an unverifiable claim, you're absolutely right: it is a versatile card, especially because theists present so many opportunities to use it.

Yeah, I know, atheists have all the answers and there is no chance anyone else does?

You missed my point Arella. I wasn't feeling condemned in this thread. I am talking about in general.

Look at how much energy is being put, by American "Christians" into telling people who they can't marry. If you are a Christian you may choose to enter a same sex marriage that is against your personal beliefs...

Jesus spent his time talking about personal righteousnesses. He didn't spend any time talking about how to stop people who didn't believe from doing anything. You see absolutely no interest of Jesus on any issue for anyone who wasn't following Him.

Likewise Paul only worried about what was happening in the Church. You again see no interest in forcing people of other religions to do anything.

Today's Christians are supporting war... promoting hatred an fear of their enemies (that's the people they call "islamofacists"), and actively opposing forgiveness (otherwise known as amnesty) for their neighbors who they are supposed to be loving.

The main teachings of Jesus, "blessed are the peacemakers", "love your enemies", "don't resist the evil man", "forgive as you have been forgiven" have been completely forgotten.

The main teachings of today's Christians "don't forgive people who have broken the law", "keep people from marrying", "don't read children's books that have broomriding" seem a bit off even from a Biblical point of view.

If you are going to claim to be following God, why not spend your energy doing something worthwhile?

Arella Mae wrote:

Yeah, I know, atheists have all the answers and there is no chance anyone else does?

Ah... another time-honored tactic: dismiss something the other side didn't say, but do it facetiously so that they'll be tricked into defending it anyway. Arella, please show me where I claimed that atheists have all the answers, or where I was trying to foist some belief on you. If you read back through the thread, you'll see that my comments have to do with the manner in which Tam Tam's (and then your) point is being argued--first, the notion that claims could be made about a book without having read it; second, the notion of appealing to a universally applicable and therefore empty standard of justification. I don't have the slightest interest in the actual content of your or anyone else's beliefs, just as they shouldn't have the slightest interest in mine.

It's the most versatile trump card in the theist's deck. It's always ready to go, when all else fails

The themes of the Harry Potter books/movies are not about gardening.

God I love your sense of humor cyphercat.

Tell me that this statement doesn't, in any way, imply that you (atheist I'm assuming. If I'm wrong, I will happily apologize) are right and I was somehow dodging/evading the point because I failed to prove you or whomever wrong?

Yeah, I know, atheists have all the answers and there is no chance anyone else does?

Fortunately, the idiocy that makes these people attack the Potter books is not shared by all "Christians," thus allowing the books to be one of the most loved and widely appreciated series in history. I think it's a waste of time to let MOAN push everone's buttons like this.

Messing with the occult is not a good idea at all.

We are making sport of Tam Tam's ideas. The problem is that what he is saying is NOT funny, and there are many more people who think like him.
It is a shame that some people are so taken in by the radical religious rhetoric, that they cannot discern truth from fiction.

We can only look to Afghanistan, and observe the results of the same kinds of thinking, to realize how badly a country can deteriorate when an area is taken over by religious wingnuts.

Hi Tam Tam. This is my first time seeing you here so welcome.

Something you might want to keep in mind when reading some of these posts is many on this forum either 1) do not believe in God; 2) aren't sure there is God; 3) think themselves to be god, 4) searching for God.

If they do not believe God is real then they, of course, are going to consider the occult to not be real in the same sense. I cannot speak for anyone other than myself but that is the impression I have gotten from many of the conversations here.

Many equate believing in unicorns to believing in God. It's a bumpy ride here on A2K at times but there are plenty of civil, respectful, and knowledgable people here.

I, for one, and I'm sure it's no surprise to anyone, agree with you. Messing with the occult is not a good idea at all.