RE: Believer(s) of god are plague to this world. (Full Version)

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Moonhead -> RE: Believer(s) of god are plague to this world. (11/26/2009 7:10:11 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Moonhead


quote:

ORIGINAL: GotSteel

quote:

ORIGINAL: Moonhead
In a lot of cases, but not all. There are definitely denominations which are happy to let others be wrong and go to Hell after they die, if they wish.

Actually those people tend to be sure that they worship the one true god, that they have the right answer and that all other religions are wrong.


No question, but at least a lot of them are willing to let other people be wrong, if only so that they can gloat about it on judgement day...

Now that I think about this more, aren't there are a lot of Christian groups (the Methodists spring to mind, for a start) who actually use that unpleasantly smug notion as a USP to distinguish themselves from the competition? Any church which has ideas about any sort of elect, basically.




eyesopened -> RE: Believer(s) of god are plague to this world. (11/26/2009 10:11:41 AM)

Happy Thanksgiving to You and Yours.

It seems that we are in agreement over so many things!  I really do understand why Christianity as it is practiced by most denominations today is rejected.  I think it is a shame that so many atheists will take one or two religion's oft-spewed notions of god and accept it, then use it to reject god altogether.  That really supports the 'evolution of God' but the current mutation stinks, in my opinion.

I have been attacked before for my beliefs.  They are mine alone.  While dear Martin Luther might applaud my questioning and searching, he'd spin in his grave if he heard me tell my children about reincarnation or God as Energy.  I cautioned my children to be careful not to embrace fully or reject entirely any notion of spirituality because they could easily miss the message intended for them alone.

You question and seek.  You don't claim to have all the answers!  What a joy it is to share with you!  Jesus said somewhere that one must be like a little child to find God.  Not just in the easy trust or innocence but the constant (and often annoying to adults) asking Why. 

quote:

ORIGINAL: vincentML

For me it is easier to accept the alternative hypothesis that mass/energy is eternal going in both directions: forward (as the Religious say) so why not backwards as well? If time began in this Universe with the Big Bang then perhaps there are multiverses where time has and does begin anew.


I don't see your hypothesis as an alternative to there being a Great Spirit but perhaps a more accurate definition of such.  There appears to me to be some Force some Intelligent (in a manner of speaking) Eternal Energy that draws to It our thoughts as though It and all things must be connected.  Sir Issac Newton explored the natural laws in an effort to better understand God.  Should his experiments be rejected because he sought God?  And didn't Newton actually find God in his discoveries?  Most would laugh at me but what exactly is God?  We are most laughable when we try to create God in our image, dressing It up like a poodle and saying "See? Isn't that cute!  Just like a little person!"  To me, even the religion of Atheism holds a piece of the Truth and if I want to know the Truth, I need to be able to stay open to it as well.




vincentML -> RE: Believer(s) of god are plague to this world. (11/27/2009 5:45:22 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: eyesopened

Happy Thanksgiving to You and Yours.


Thank you, eyes. We eat out as a rule. The restaurant, extremely crowded last year, was quite subdued last night, and traffic was very light. The recession perhaps. In southeast Florida we depend a lot on the tourist trade. the French Canadians seem to have arrived from Montreal, but we are missing the snowbirds from the northeast States. They have not yet had their first heavy snowfall.

quote:

It seems that we are in agreement over so many things!  I really do understand why Christianity as it is practiced by most denominations today is rejected.  I think it is a shame that so many atheists will take one or two religion's oft-spewed notions of god and accept it, then use it to reject god altogether.  That really supports the 'evolution of God' but the current mutation stinks, in my opinion.


I suppose some none-believers are guilty of your accusation but it is due to laziness and a reluctance to think the matter through. The more credible ones (in my book) offer a thorough critique based on the foundation of Science. They are materialists through and through, rejecting the world of the supernatural.

I am eager to read this new book. The review I linked for you was intriguing.

quote:

I have been attacked before for my beliefs.  They are mine alone.  While dear Martin Luther might applaud my questioning and searching, he'd spin in his grave if he heard me tell my children about reincarnation or God as Energy.  I cautioned my children to be careful not to embrace fully or reject entirely any notion of spirituality because they could easily miss the message intended for them alone.


I cannot imagine what is so threatening about your beliefs to warrent attacks from others unless it is because you rejected their notion of god. Sadly, rejection is often motivation for attack.

I have always wondered, if reincarnation were true and I had a previous life as a human which I cannot recall, what good is it to me and how does that differ from Mark Twain's remark (paraphrasing) "I was dead for millions of years before I was born and it was not inconvenient."


quote:

ORIGINAL: vincentML

For me it is easier to accept the alternative hypothesis that mass/energy is eternal going in both directions: forward (as the Religious say) so why not backwards as well? If time began in this Universe with the Big Bang then perhaps there are multiverses where time has and does begin anew.

QUOTE = eyesopen:
I don't see your hypothesis as an alternative to there being a Great Spirit but perhaps a more accurate definition of such.  There appears to me to be some Force some Intelligent (in a manner of speaking) Eternal Energy that draws to It our thoughts as though It and all things must be connected.  Sir Issac Newton explored the natural laws in an effort to better understand God.  Should his experiments be rejected because he sought God?  And didn't Newton actually find God in his discoveries?  Most would laugh at me but what exactly is God?  We are most laughable when we try to create God in our image, dressing It up like a poodle and saying "See? Isn't that cute!  Just like a little person!"  To me, even the religion of Atheism holds a piece of the Truth and if I want to know the Truth, I need to be able to stay open to it as well.


The difference lies in the use of the term "intelligent" which suggests "willful" which in turn leads one to ponder upon a creator (I recall you do not) Another difference lies in the connectedness you perceive. The only connectedness the scientific atheists seem to observe is the wildly branching connectedness of the evolutionary process, and it with many blind alleys, dead ends, and wasted experiments all done in a rather haphazard fashion, Nature acting mindlessly and without purpose and yet driven by certain inevitabilities once constructs have been made and those genes survived in the hospitable environment of the time. One tiny blind step at a time. Richard Dawkins summed it up quite nicely in his book aptly titled The Blind Watchmaker.

As for Newton, I have heard he was heavily theological. I don't know which God he found. Perhaps a Deist god. You inspire me to read a bit about him.

The more important question I have for you is whether you anticipate within the construct of your theology the survival of your Personality (current consciousness) beyond the inevitable decay of your brain? Seems to me to be the key question that people dance around when they posit this or that characteristic about god. The god question appears to me to be a detractor from the more important question of personal existentialism.

Lovely chatting with you, eyes. Have a joyful weekend with your Master and children.

vincent




vincentML -> RE: Believer(s) of god are plague to this world. (11/27/2009 5:56:37 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Moonhead


quote:

ORIGINAL: Moonhead


quote:

ORIGINAL: GotSteel

quote:

ORIGINAL: Moonhead
In a lot of cases, but not all. There are definitely denominations which are happy to let others be wrong and go to Hell after they die, if they wish.

Actually those people tend to be sure that they worship the one true god, that they have the right answer and that all other religions are wrong.


No question, but at least a lot of them are willing to let other people be wrong, if only so that they can gloat about it on judgement day...

Now that I think about this more, aren't there are a lot of Christian groups (the Methodists spring to mind, for a start) who actually use that unpleasantly smug notion as a USP to distinguish themselves from the competition? Any church which has ideas about any sort of elect, basically.


Moonhead;

Isn't it true of most religious groups? They are self-identified chosen by god, hence exclusive and elitist? Or possessive of a unique knowledge of the "true path" to paradise which marks them as favored and in a higher station? Just wondering.

vincent




tazzygirl -> RE: Believer(s) of god are plague to this world. (11/27/2009 6:01:00 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: GotSteel

So Tazzy....does that mean we agree that there are evil Christians?


No Steel. I do not believe one can be evil and Christian at the same time.




eyesopened -> RE: Believer(s) of god are plague to this world. (11/28/2009 5:10:07 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: vincentML
The more important question I have for you is whether you anticipate within the construct of your theology the survival of your Personality (current consciousness) beyond the inevitable decay of your brain? Seems to me to be the key question that people dance around when they posit this or that characteristic about god. The god question appears to me to be a detractor from the more important question of personal existentialism.

Lovely chatting with you, eyes. Have a joyful weekend with your Master and children.

vincent


I do believe my consciousness consists of more than just chemo-electrical impulses.  What form my energry will take after my body dies, I don't know.  My belief is that if energy doesn't die, it just changes form, then my energy must continue.  I would like to think that for a time it will be the Personality of me, but I can't say.  I do believe the energy I would refer to as my soul will seek to join that greater Energy just like water seeks the ocean.  Will it meander a while on its own before joining a larger stream, will it evaporate in an instant?  At what point does a drop of rain cease being that drop of rain?  Doesn't a raindrop still exist even when it is joined by thousands of others, even when it is part of a lake, a stream. a river, an ocean, a vapor, a cloud, another raindrop?




Moonhead -> RE: Believer(s) of god are plague to this world. (11/28/2009 5:27:41 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: vincentML


quote:

ORIGINAL: Moonhead


quote:

ORIGINAL: Moonhead


quote:

ORIGINAL: GotSteel

quote:

ORIGINAL: Moonhead
In a lot of cases, but not all. There are definitely denominations which are happy to let others be wrong and go to Hell after they die, if they wish.

Actually those people tend to be sure that they worship the one true god, that they have the right answer and that all other religions are wrong.


No question, but at least a lot of them are willing to let other people be wrong, if only so that they can gloat about it on judgement day...

Now that I think about this more, aren't there are a lot of Christian groups (the Methodists spring to mind, for a start) who actually use that unpleasantly smug notion as a USP to distinguish themselves from the competition? Any church which has ideas about any sort of elect, basically.


Moonhead;

Isn't it true of most religious groups? They are self-identified chosen by god, hence exclusive and elitist? Or possessive of a unique knowledge of the "true path" to paradise which marks them as favored and in a higher station? Just wondering.

vincent

To a large extent, but some are very keen to recruit until everybody shares their faith, while others are more than happy to be a elite group who have a lot of infidels they can feel superior to.




vincentML -> RE: Believer(s) of god are plague to this world. (11/28/2009 1:25:39 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: eyesopened

quote:

ORIGINAL: vincentML
The more important question I have for you is whether you anticipate within the construct of your theology the survival of your Personality (current consciousness) beyond the inevitable decay of your brain? Seems to me to be the key question that people dance around when they posit this or that characteristic about god. The god question appears to me to be a detractor from the more important question of personal existentialism.

Lovely chatting with you, eyes. Have a joyful weekend with your Master and children.

vincent


I do believe my consciousness consists of more than just chemo-electrical impulses.  What form my energry will take after my body dies, I don't know.  My belief is that if energy doesn't die, it just changes form, then my energy must continue.  I would like to think that for a time it will be the Personality of me, but I can't say.  I do believe the energy I would refer to as my soul will seek to join that greater Energy just like water seeks the ocean.  Will it meander a while on its own before joining a larger stream, will it evaporate in an instant?  At what point does a drop of rain cease being that drop of rain?  Doesn't a raindrop still exist even when it is joined by thousands of others, even when it is part of a lake, a stream. a river, an ocean, a vapor, a cloud, another raindrop?


eyes,

Lovely answer. I will not intrude upon your poetry with my own nihilistic skepticism except to add this classic expression of wonder and doubt:

To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub:


It would be lovely if you were right and i were not.

vincent




Politesub53 -> RE: Believer(s) of god are plague to this world. (11/28/2009 5:44:39 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl


quote:

ORIGINAL: GotSteel

So Tazzy....does that mean we agree that there are evil Christians?


No Steel. I do not believe one can be evil and Christian at the same time.


Why not Tazzy ? There are many evil people about who consider themselves Christians. History is full of them and the same old, they are not real Christians doesnt hold with me. I would suggest some of the evilest Christians of the middle ages were also the most pious.




tazzygirl -> RE: Believer(s) of god are plague to this world. (11/28/2009 10:30:35 PM)

The same could be said about our own history in the US. Owning men and women was deplorable. How many founding fathers had ownership of slaves? How many put a switch or whip to them? How many of these brave, founding men of our country sold off family members, ripping children from mothers and fathers arms?

Its extremely easy to pick a time and say... look. Ft Hood is a good example. A man who entered the service, took an oath, stated he was a good american soldier, then openly attacked those he swore to fight with and protect. Words and deeds go hand in hand. Claiming to be something doesnt make it true.




GotSteel -> RE: Believer(s) of god are plague to this world. (11/28/2009 11:06:55 PM)

Tazzy, maybe you should define what you think is the definition of a Christian.




tazzygirl -> RE: Believer(s) of god are plague to this world. (11/28/2009 11:10:36 PM)

I already have.

Why dont you define what you believe a christian is.... i dont mean the kind you are always pointing out to be bad examples... i mean your definition of a good christian.




NihilusZero -> RE: Believer(s) of god are plague to this world. (11/29/2009 1:53:37 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

No Steel. I do not believe one can be evil and Christian at the same time.

Translation:

I do not accept the viable application of the title "Christian" made by anyone upon themselves if they commit an act I find deplorable.

Are you indeed the final infallible arbiter of who is and isn't a Christian?




Politesub53 -> RE: Believer(s) of god are plague to this world. (11/29/2009 2:50:33 AM)

Tazzy, you cant deflect from the issue by bringing slaveholders into the equasion. Like it or not, and I see why you dont, the fact remains that some Christians are indeed evil. The evidnce of history, and indeed the evidence of the present shows us this. Are you really suggesting Priests, Popes, Bishops ect who have committed evil were not Christian ? Sure they were not good Christians, but Christians they were.




DedicatedDom40 -> RE: Believer(s) of god are plague to this world. (11/29/2009 3:28:30 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: MasterJack53

my point, which you obviously mnissed, was that a small portion of the population are undermining the age old law that majority rules. so because 18% of the population doesnt believe in religon or God, the ohter 82% shouldnt be allowed to observe their rituals and beliefs.


"Majority Rule" does not apply to how religion is engaged in this country. We have a purposely-designed secular government, mandated by law to treat all religions equally, regardless of size. The government is not supposed to endorse any one religion over another. In the eyes of the US government, the biggest religion is on equal footing with the smallest. "Majority Rule" does not apply.

Everytime there is an ACLU controversy, like the supposed 'war on Christmas', its only happenes because *some* Christians have wrongly expected their government to endorse their religion over other other religions, based on their errant belief of "majority rule". 






tazzygirl -> RE: Believer(s) of god are plague to this world. (11/29/2009 5:11:22 AM)

Are you really suggesting Priests, Popes, Bishops ect who have committed evil were not Christian ? Sure they were not good Christians, but Christians they were.

That is exactly what i am saying.

There is a difference between being christian by word and a christian by deed. I know, its a hard concept to grasp, especially if you dont want to be able too.

The first is lip service... not a state of the heart.

The second is a state of the heart... not caring about the thoughts or beliefs of others.

quote:

Translation:

I do not accept the viable application of the title "Christian" made by anyone upon themselves if they commit an act I find deplorable.

Are you indeed the final infallible arbiter of who is and isn't a Christian?


No NZ. I am not... the Bible by which they claim to live their lives is.




GotSteel -> RE: Believer(s) of god are plague to this world. (11/29/2009 5:51:51 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl
Why dont you define what you believe a christian is....

I use definition 1a, which is about the same as most everyone else uses:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/christian
1Chris·tian
Pronunciation: \'kris-ch?n, 'krish-\ Function: noun Etymology: Latin christianus, adjective & noun, from Greek christianos, from Christos Date: 1526 1 a : one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ b (1) : disciple 2 (2) : a member of one of the Churches of Christ separating from the Disciples of Christ in 1906 (3) : a member of the Christian denomination having part in the union of the United Church of Christ concluded in 1961

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl
i dont mean the kind you are always pointing out to be bad examples... i mean your definition of a good christian.

For clarification are you asking about someone who happens to be good and also happens to be Christian or about a good Christian.





tazzygirl -> RE: Believer(s) of god are plague to this world. (11/29/2009 6:08:10 AM)

What your definition entails is a lable. being a christian, jew, muslim, ect, isnt about wearing a lable. For example, christians believe in following the 10 commandments. Pretty clear cut rules there. I dont recall wiggle room in most, if any of them. I can proclaim i am born again, a christian, convince others through words that i have given my life over to the Lord.... yet, if my actions speak otherwise, am i telling the truth? And here we come to another crux... truth. [:D]




vincentML -> RE: Believer(s) of god are plague to this world. (11/29/2009 3:32:20 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

What your definition entails is a lable. being a christian, jew, muslim, ect, isnt about wearing a lable. For example, christians believe in following the 10 commandments. Pretty clear cut rules there. I dont recall wiggle room in most, if any of them. I can proclaim i am born again, a christian, convince others through words that i have given my life over to the Lord.... yet, if my actions speak otherwise, am i telling the truth? And here we come to another crux... truth. [:D]



Nothing as simple as following the ten commandments: clear cut; no wiggle room. lol!

"The lists known as the Ten Commandments are given in passages in two books of the Bible: Exodus 20:2–17, Exodus 34:11–27 and Deuteronomy 5:6–21. These passages are provided in English below, using the New Revised Standard Version translation and formatting. Various religions and denominations group the commandments differently; see the Division of the Commandments section for a detailed accounting. The Exodus 34 passage is divergent and covered elsewhere."

Here's the link if you want to blow your mind.

I particularly like this one:

"Neither shall you covet your neighbor’s wife. Neither shall you desire your neighbor’s house, or field, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

A good Christian should never covet his neighbor's slaves!!! It's so easy to spot a good Christian these days. Pssst, hey, make sure you're not looking at the slave next door.

I wonder if the lady knows what she is talking about. The ox and donkey injunctions are really up to date also. LMAO!

vincent




Politesub53 -> RE: Believer(s) of god are plague to this world. (11/29/2009 4:10:50 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

Are you really suggesting Priests, Popes, Bishops ect who have committed evil were not Christian ? Sure they were not good Christians, but Christians they were.

That is exactly what i am saying.

There is a difference between being christian by word and a christian by deed. I know, its a hard concept to grasp, especially if you dont want to be able too.



Seems to me it is you, and not I, that doesnt want to grasp concepts.

" I do not believe one can be evil and Christian at the same time. "

That is what you said, I am clearly stating the opposite, dont get confused  by the two.




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