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what do you think a christian is?

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 BigTeddyPaul
04-23-2003, 8:42 PM
#51
I am not stating anything about prayer besides the fact that it can be answered with a no. Lots of people have died when their lives were threatened. That is the price we pay for sin.

Sin is the reason we die. We were not officially dying until the apple was eaten. The reason was because sin is negative and anything that is negative to our body causes it to die a little. This is all in a nutshell mind you.

Death is no reason for God to do something. If so we would not have martyrs.

BigTeddyPaul
 Izzy
04-24-2003, 12:32 AM
#52
C'jais, have you heard of miracles? There are such things...some happenings can be unaccounted for! God can assure there is no draught in India, or whatever, he is the Almightly God, and can summon and control all on Earth...
BigTeddyPaul, I totally agree with you, sin is what kills people, gradually over time. I am just saying God can extend peoples lives, he will not let them live for ever...thats whats Heaven is for (can't wait to get there...!)
 ShockV1.89
04-24-2003, 12:35 AM
#53
Originally posted by Izzy
C'jais, have you heard of miracles? There are such things...some happenings can be unaccounted for! God can assure there is no draught in India, or whatever, he is the Almightly God, and can summon and control all on Earth...


God gapping. If we cant readily explain it or understand it, lets attribute it to God.

I have to wonder to myself how much further we'd be as a society if people never God gapped...
 Izzy
04-24-2003, 6:19 AM
#54
Its not God gapping. Technically, God is in control of everything...but by unexplainable miracles...Okay, my friends Dad, was at a prayer group. One of the members had lost one of her legs, it had been amputated because a tree fell on it. Well, this group of full on Christians living for God, prayed for this lady, for a new leg, and it grew back right before their eyes! It sounds pretty impossible, but it DID happen, trust me.
Now is that, or is that not a miracle from God?
I rest my case.
 BigTeddyPaul
04-24-2003, 6:31 AM
#55
I will tell you what that is it is BS. Legs do not grow back. Even Jesus used severed parts of the body to place back.

I do believe in the mind overcoming obscene obstacles like telling a person you are going to poke them with a lite cigarette thus causing a burn mark. The mind then has the potential to create a burn where the spot was that was poked by the pencil (pencil took the place of the cigarette). Mind has the potential to do great things to the body but in no way can it regenerate lost body parts.

Reminds me of the Monty Python sketch of the Brittish army in Africa against the Zulus where a "tiger" came in the middle of the night and ate an officer's leg. Funny as hell because he kept asking when it would grow back.

If what you said was true then all the pope's peeps would be fine and Mother Teressas people would not be poor and starving and all the other ailments. Does that mean the the millions/billions of people who pray for no one to die in the Iraq invasion are not entitled to a miracle even though I am sure those same people who prayed for the leg prayed about the War.

BigTeddyPaul
 Homuncul
04-24-2003, 7:19 AM
#56
Well, this group of full on Christians living for God, prayed for this lady, for a new leg, and it grew back right before their eyes! It sounds pretty impossible, but it DID happen, trust me.

Why again it is God who did it? Because it looks like miracle. Seeing is not believing any more. Face it. Maybe it's a highly improbable situation but it can be explained without some stucked up omnimpotent oldman from the Bible.
Miracle is just a word that stubborn christians use for defining the unexplainable. Is there actually a proof for miracle?
A so-called religious trance might be the cause of such cellular activity which resulted in extreme cell regeneration and nothing more. Remember yoga, they can lower their body tempetrature, stop heart bitting. But trance actually has nothing to do with even word "religious" but more to human's extreme awareness
It may be even mutation. Highly unprobable but still possible.

Why still a miracle by Christian God? If there are so many reasons for not concerning him in these matters
 BigTeddyPaul
04-24-2003, 2:51 PM
#57
People who have faith in God believe everything is attributed to him whether it is a death, grades on papers, happiness in love, etc. God has a plan and all that. So when freaky deaky things happen believers attribute it to God. Better to have it from God than some abnormal manipulation of the mind.

The leg thing is still BS because if it was true we would have the physician on all the news and everyone would know about it. It would be famous.

I think that answers your question.

BigTeddyPaul
 ShockV1.89
04-24-2003, 3:25 PM
#58
Originally posted by Izzy
It sounds pretty impossible, but it DID happen, trust me.


No.
 Izzy
04-24-2003, 11:13 PM
#59
Yes.



(sorry if this is considered spamming)
 munik
04-24-2003, 11:18 PM
#60
You are trolling, that's it. Doubt anyone would call it spam, more like crap.
 Kain
04-24-2003, 11:35 PM
#61
well, there was this one time when we hypnotized our dog who got nutered and when we told the dog that it grew back, it did:rolleyes:

and then we mass hypnotized people in New York into thinking George W. was actually Bill Clinton and then George W. got a blow job from an intern and started playing the saxaphone:rolleyes:
 Homuncul
04-25-2003, 3:55 AM
#62
People who have faith in God believe everything is attributed to him whether it is a death, grades on papers, happiness in love, etc. God has a plan and all that. So when freaky deaky things happen believers attribute it to God. Better to have it from God than some abnormal manipulation of the mind.

Reality doesn't care about you being better, it puts you to the test with its natural selection. The Same would have done God if he was in place (which is not). Do you think he would have been that limited to put us in his divine plan which is really a labyrinth with many blind leads leading to no exit. It's a test for your faith. Do you want to be a human without so-called free will with high level ability (as you put it)? Or you have treat God as not only attracter of unexplainable

The leg thing is still BS because if it was true we would have the physician on all the news and everyone would know about it. It would be famous.

Why don't people run with superstring theory and there's none in the streets talking about it?. Because it's not proven and can not even make predictions. And scientists are already fed with such dirt that it's hard for them to except such things without implicit proof. They don't recognize it to be a studying material. And if you want to see those famous physicians read yellow paper, there's a lot of it there.

Why do you still want to put completeness in your life? Stop trying
 BigTeddyPaul
04-25-2003, 7:41 AM
#63
Originally posted by Homuncul
Why don't people run with superstring theory and there's none in the streets talking about it?. Because it's not proven and can not even make predictions. And scientists are already fed with such dirt that it's hard for them to except such things without implicit proof. They don't recognize it to be a studying material. And if you want to see those famous physicians read yellow paper, there's a lot of it there.

Why do you still want to put completeness in your life? Stop trying

If the leg thing was true it seems rather easy to prove. Amputated was used which means a surgery. You would have records and probably pictures. Fair enough. Didn't happen.

And who wants their life to be complete? Seems rather boring to me if you have everything. My life is far from complete and I like it that way. This stuff is becoming stupid and unless there is some more valid arguments I will stop posting here.

BigTeddyPaul
 Izzy
04-25-2003, 10:06 AM
#64
Who on this thread has read the bible? All those miracles happened, so why can't some in this era?
 C'jais
04-25-2003, 10:26 AM
#65
Originally posted by Izzy
Who on this thread has read the bible? All those miracles happened

How do you know?

Trust me, a leg cannot "grow back". It just can't. If there was a single case where it did, it'd be all over the science mags, tabloids and general newspapers. It hasn't happened.
 Homuncul
04-28-2003, 5:24 AM
#66
Posted by BigTeddyPaul
And who wants their life to be complete? Seems rather boring to me if you have everything. My life is far from complete and I like it that way. This stuff is becoming stupid and unless there is some more valid arguments I will stop posting here.

It's not the complete that I want. Everyone knows that what's perfect and complete doesn't matter it is all static thing. All that matter is dynamic, our movement towards perfection and completeness which would never stop. People move that line unequally some faster some slower. You're contradicting with yourself.
First of all you came here for some reason. To see what people talk. This way or another You took the knowledge of it. And more you found here something that moved you to react which is a dynamic. You chose to answer a post. You improve yourself so it's actually useless to talk about it.
So in sub-conscious you don't like it that way. And if you now answer me you only prove yourself wrong on your consious rational level. So keep moving


Posted by C'jais
Trust me, a leg cannot "grow back". It just can't. If there was a single case where it did, it'd be all over the science mags, tabloids and general newspapers. It hasn't happened.

"It can't grow back because it just can't" is somehow circular. And there're thousands of such examples in pulp fiction (mutants, aliens etc.). Of course it's highly unprobable but I actually explained before how it could happen. I thought we were demytholising miracles and not the inadequate work of mass media. Of course there are strange things in our world (of course not miracles) which can be explained (I believe) by paying close attention to them and not only by yellow press.
I believe if there was really something that could be very closly defined as miracle would only be due to our limited perception only of space-time (with time only in one direction)
 BigTeddyPaul
04-28-2003, 6:23 AM
#67
I improve myself by answering posts? Ummm okay. And it is nice to tell me to keep moving when I said unless there was some better material in here I would not post.

BigTeddyPaul
 Izzy
04-28-2003, 7:51 AM
#68
Now I don't have problem if you people do not believe in God, but what will happen when you die? Will everything go on just like it was before you were concieved? Maybe, but your souls will go to hell (don't mean to be harsh, though it is true). God is a kind and loving God, and one way he shows his love is through miracles.

Quote from Matthew Chapter 7 vs7:
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find it; knock, and the door will open for you."

If you ask God for something with all your heart, he will give it to you when the time is right:D
Take JK3 for example, I know I will get it!
 Homuncul
04-28-2003, 9:00 AM
#69
I improve myself by answering posts? Ummm okay. And it is nice to tell me to keep moving when I said unless there was some better material in here I would not post.

And there was. That's why you answered.

Now I don't have problem if you people do not believe in God, but what will happen when you die? Will everything go on just like it was before you were concieved? Maybe, but your souls will go to hell (don't mean to be harsh, though it is true). God is a kind and loving God, and one way he shows his love is through miracles.

I thought miracles were for convincing of his divine existence because people just love to forget about him
Death is said to be uncurable inhereted desease and vital part of life. And if you consider death holiday and vacation enough as I do you would only think of it as a right thing. And life's too short to think about and prepare yourself for what's gonna be after it. Although I believe in God and consider myself righteous enough.
Heard some people talking about their close people death. That it was like the soul were going off the body and person was loosing his life. I don't know how our life ends. I'm sure it's something like falling asleep and nothing else.
Every day you woke up in your future. You are not the one you were a day before. So it somehow feels like rebirth or simply birth. The same with death it's like you can't stop falling asleep and that's it. Just when you fall asleep and not die you start to see dreams (guard mechanism of your mind). When you die you don't have time to see them. And hell is like for kids to structure their moral views which are required to live in a civilized society

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find it; knock, and the door will open for you."

That's what I love in biblical quotes. They are just so free for interpreting that I could say that it looks like an instruction of your behavior on the airplane in the section of toilet search (chapter 7 vs. 7).
 Izzy
04-28-2003, 9:51 AM
#70
Are you a christian Homuncul? Cool if you are. In reply to wot said, though this life may be short, the next one is going to be for eternity. Now, would you prefer to be joyful in the Kingdom of God, enjoying everything and do lots of awesome stuff? Or do you choose the torture and hardship and pain and suffering of hell? Its for eternity, so you'd better decide!
I personally choose the riches of Heaven.
 C'jais
04-28-2003, 6:16 PM
#71
Originally posted by Homuncul
And life's too short to think about and prepare yourself for what's gonna be after it. Although I believe in God and consider myself righteous enough.
Heard some people talking about their close people death. That it was like the soul were going off the body and person was loosing his life. I don't know how our life ends. I'm sure it's something like falling asleep and nothing else.
Every day you woke up in your future. You are not the one you were a day before. So it somehow feels like rebirth or simply birth. The same with death it's like you can't stop falling asleep and that's it. Just when you fall asleep and not die you start to see dreams (guard mechanism of your mind). When you die you don't have time to see them. And hell is like for kids to structure their moral views which are required to live in a civilized society

So much explanation for simply going to bed! ;)

Yeh, I agree.

What's with dreams again? How are they guard mechanisms?

That's what I love in biblical quotes. They are just so free for interpreting that I could say that it looks like an instruction of your behavior on the airplane in the section of toilet search (chapter 7 vs. 7).

ROFL! Right on, man.
 munik
04-29-2003, 1:19 AM
#72
Originally posted by Izzy
Now, would you prefer to be joyful in the Kingdom of God, enjoying everything and do lots of awesome stuff? Or do you choose the torture and hardship and pain and suffering of hell? Better to reign in hell then serve in heaven.

I would rather spend eternity sucking satans greasy dick then buddying up to god just because he threatens me to do it.
 Darth Zanatos
04-29-2003, 2:05 AM
#73
Munik, that's sad.

But anyway, I think this is a great discussion and it is a great way to talk to people about Christianity.

I'm a Christian, and it means you have accepted Jesus into your heart and asked God to forgive your sins. Then you do God's Will(that's not a bad thing you people who think we're wasting time) and do that by praying and reading the Bible for guidance.
 munik
04-29-2003, 2:23 AM
#74
I think it's sad that you would desire to spend eternity as the lapdog of a being who created you just to do what he told you to do, because if you don't you will get punished. god tells you this, yet you still choose him.

Don't get me wrong, I don't really buy into this crap. When I die, I'm not going to hell, or heaven for that matter. Just gonna be gone.
 Homuncul
04-29-2003, 3:11 AM
#75
izzy:
Are you a christian Homuncul? Cool if you are. In reply to wot said, though this life may be short, the next one is going to be for eternity. Now, would you prefer to be joyful in the Kingdom of God, enjoying everything and do lots of awesome stuff? Or do you choose the torture and hardship and pain and suffering of hell? Its for eternity, so you'd better decide!
I personally choose the riches of Heaven.

How greedy you are? (about riches of Heaven)
I don't know if I'm christian it depends on how you see a christian. If you see the person who was christened and had a good religious upbringing then I'm a christian. If you call that one for his beliefs in Holy Bible then I'm far from it.
About eternity: I can hardly imagine eternity. For me it's like instance and whole time of our universe at the same time.
I decide to take knowledge of this world first than I'll take of Heaven or Hell (wherever I'm going). I am joyful because I live in a beautiful world with lots of awesome stuff in it and I'm not going to become dull and serious and forget about everything only to think about my salvation and my future joy. I see wonders of this realm and I want to understand them first before moving to another level. I'll take my punishment for it. You could say then that I don't know what punishment and flames of Hell are but neither do you. Greed is a sin and our nature. If not in absurd amounts I agree living with it and with any other sin.
 C'jais
04-29-2003, 4:42 PM
#76
Originally posted by Darth Zanatos
I'm a Christian, and it means you have accepted Jesus into your heart and asked God to forgive your sins. Then you do God's Will(that's not a bad thing you people who think we're wasting time) and do that by praying and reading the Bible for guidance.

So going to heaven is just about knowing the right people, rather than doing the right thing?

I can't believe that's what's referred to as "just and fair".
 Darth Zanatos
04-29-2003, 9:45 PM
#77
No. I also said that "do God's will" which is doing the right thing.
 Kain
04-29-2003, 9:53 PM
#78
okay, I'll make everyone a promise. When God shows himself to me, I see an angel, or I shake hands with Christ, I'll convert. Until then, the whole omnipotent being is, well, bull.
 Izzy
04-30-2003, 6:42 AM
#79
Hey Darth Zanatos,
Why don't we pray for MydnightPsion and munik...
 ShockV1.89
04-30-2003, 8:22 AM
#80
Hmph. I'm not heathen enough to warrent prayers for me? ;) I'll have to work harder.

Actually, my girlfriend prays for me every night. She's a born-again christian. These discussions are nothing new to me. Her and I have talked for hours upon hours about this. One of the major justifications she cites for her faith is the feeling she gets from it.

I might be able to explain this away through psychology, but I dont bother. I mean, it's making her happy. It makes people happy. I cant oppose this, even if they might be made to feel happy by something other than what they think it is.

People use what they want to feel happy. As long as you're not hurting yourself or forcing it on others, I have no problem with it. Just dont tell me I'm wrong for using mine.
 C'jais
04-30-2003, 8:38 AM
#81
Originally posted by ShockV1.89
I might be able to explain this away through psychology, but I dont bother. I mean, it's making her happy. It makes people happy. I cant oppose this, even if they might be made to feel happy by something other than what they think it is.

I'm with you.

It's indeniable that faith can truly work wonders on a personal scale. Some people need faith to survive, much in the same way that some old people need a dog to keep them company. I can't see anything wrong with this.

Regarding psychology, if we assume that religious experiences are caused by brain chemistry and electrical impulses, could it perhaps be that certain people might have the genetic disposition for believing more than others do? Could it be that our friends Izzy and Zanatos needs less of a "push" in order to believe than I do? And could it be that we could artificially create religious experiences and beliefs?
 ShockV1.89
04-30-2003, 9:14 AM
#82
Originally posted by C'jais
Regarding psychology, if we assume that religious experiences are caused by brain chemistry and electrical impulses, could it perhaps be that certain people might have the genetic disposition for believing more than others do? Could it be that our friends Izzy and Zanatos needs less of a "push" in order to believe than I do? And could it be that we could artificially create religious experiences and beliefs?

I bet some really, really deep sci-fi stories could be written on this subject. :D

But honestly, I dont know. I guess it depends on what people think a "religious experience" is. If you consider praying and suddenly feeling better a religious experience, well, that wouldnt be terribly hard to replicate. A simple increase in endorphins to the brain would make anyone feel better.

But if you consider a religious experience as one in which something miraculous happens (burning bushes, limbs growing back)... that might be harder to duplicate. That would require external manipulation of the environment, which increases the chances of people finding out they're being led on.
 Kain
04-30-2003, 3:57 PM
#83
Originally posted by Izzy
Hey Darth Zanatos,
Why don't we pray for MydnightPsion and munik...

Don't pray for me, don't feel sorry for me, and DON'T CONDEMN ME to your Hell. Your tools for keeping small children in line failed on me before, and that was from my own mother. YOU can't turn my beliefs into you or your God's favor. My mind is clean of faith and religious hub-bub. I don't condemn people because their different from me and don't share my beliefes, and I won't feel sorry for them, nor will I try to convert them by scaring them with eternal damnation.

Tell me, how can Christians be righteous if they stole half their book from a group of people they think are Hell-bound?
 C'jais
05-01-2003, 6:37 PM
#84
Originally posted by ShockV1.89
But honestly, I dont know. I guess it depends on what people think a "religious experience" is. If you consider praying and suddenly feeling better a religious experience, well, that wouldnt be terribly hard to replicate. A simple increase in endorphins to the brain would make anyone feel better.

Nope.

What I was thinking about would be the feeling of "being connected to your god". In this way, you could make many people religious by simply giving them a quick fix of this sensation. It could also help boost morale, and all that jazz.

However, there might be another use for his discovery...

Suppose we'd be able to develop a "cure" to these religious experiences?
 C'jais
05-01-2003, 6:39 PM
#85
Originally posted by MydnightPsion
Tell me, how can Christians be righteous if they stole half their book from a group of people they think are Hell-bound?

I think I heard someone in this forum say that all Jews go to Heaven per default.

Or something like that.
 Kain
05-02-2003, 3:01 AM
#86
well, if thats the case, then what about Muslims? Who read the same 2 books as the Christians and one of there own?
 Wacky_Baccy
05-02-2003, 5:31 AM
#87
Posted by C'jais
Regarding psychology, if we assume that religious experiences are caused by brain chemistry and electrical impulses, could it perhaps be that certain people might have the genetic disposition for believing more than others do? Could it be that our friends Izzy and Zanatos needs less of a "push" in order to believe than I do? And could it be that we could artificially create religious experiences and beliefs? O.o

Did you happen to watch a documentary recently about that sort of thing?

I only ask because what you describe is virtually what was said in the documentary I saw - and very interesting it was indeed :D

I usually avoid discussions on religion, but this one's a bit [a lot]more orderly than they tend to be, so I think I might read it through and then join in...
 SkinWalker
05-02-2003, 2:08 PM
#88
I've avoided this thread for too long now :p

The original question, posted by Man..54 prior to his announcement that evolution is science fiction, was "what is christianity?"

I see christianity as an affliction to most of the world. That statement isn't meant as a flame by any means, but in many countries of the "developing world" also known as the periphery by core nations, christian missionaries made their "mission" to educate the masses in what was the "correct" religion.

The premise for this may have been noble: "spread god's word to all the poor people of the world that haven't heard it so that they, too, have the chance to get into heaven."

Unfortunately, it assumes that their own cultures were broken. As Man...54 pointed out, there is a significant amount of christianity in Africa. This is primarily due to the missionary work that is still going on.

While these cultures were certainly different, they still had many of the same general concepts in their religions that christianity has: sets of morals and codes to live by, explanations for otherwise unexplainable events, provision of comfort to those who wonder questions like "what's the purpose? what happens after death?" etc.

From an objective, outside, non-religious viewpoint, the only thing that made the indigenous cultures wrong and christianity right was the fact that christian cultures had advanced more technologically.

Along with the missionary movements came colonialism by countries such as England, France, Spain, etc., each bringing with them their own brands of christianity. Many cultures were having a hard time accepting that all these "christian" missionaries actually disagreed with each other. The colonizers, of course, were only interested in making profit by taking advantage of the people and their resources, so therefore the missionaries made it possible to offere some control.

The empires that colonized countries in, say, Africa, were interested in cash crops and got the people to grow them. Unfortunately, cash crop agriculture has several problems: 1) soil depletion of nutriants; 2) replacement of subsistance farming; 3) making people reliant on the colonial system for food, goods, etc. 4) loss of pastoral tradition

The missionaries were able to offer two things that the indigenous people wanted. Neither was religion. Christianity was a trade for food and the ability to read. The influences of colonial powers over native people caused things such as famine since their traditional methods of subsistance were no longer followed.

So that's why I call christianity an affliction to most of the world.

Not because I dislike christians, I actually find many christian concepts fascinating and think it's interesting to hear christians describe other religions, since you can see how obviously they judge them through the lens of their own religions, even without realizing it.
 munik
05-11-2003, 12:37 AM
#89
Originally posted by Izzy
Hey Darth Zanatos,
Why don't we pray for MydnightPsion and munik... I'm curious, as I've heard such requests for prayer before, but what would you pray for? Unlike MydnightPsion, I do not deny christianity for lack of proof, but because I think it's retarded. If the rapture happened today, I would not convert. If jesus knocked on my door to deliver my pepperoni with extra cheese, I would not tip him. So, what would you pray for? For god to change my mind? That doesn't seem to make it any better, for the supreme being to alter those who dislike him.

This does not make me a bad person. I do not hate puppies, and I really enjoy things in life. I just choose to be my own master, because that is a choice I can make. Because I do not want to serve, especially someone as twisted as your god.
 BrodieCadden
05-11-2003, 12:56 AM
#90
"So that's why I call christianity an affliction to most of the world.

Not because I dislike christians, I actually find many christian concepts fascinating and think it's interesting to hear christians describe other religions, since you can see how obviously they judge them through the lens of their own religions, even without realizing it"

That is the most condescending sentence I have ever read. You treat Christians like you are a scientist studieing chimpanzees, nodding your head and taking notes and thinking "how wonderful and fascinating, but wholly wrong. I am glad I am so advanced in my thinking..."

I am getting quite sick and tired of the non religious (not all of you, just a few) pretending to have "clear lenses" through which they see the world. It is contrived rubbish. None of us see the world through clear lenses, that would imply that we have not been affected by any outside cultures and practises.

Being religious doesn't mean one sees the world through a jaded lense, and being atheistic does not imply that one is open minded and "rational". Nor is the opposite true. Generalising the "religious" and the "non religious" to certain behaviours and social perspectives is simply stupid.

"but because I think it's retarded...Because I do not want to serve, especially someone as twisted as your god."

Many if not all of the Christians in this topic have given you the courtesy of not calling your beliefs or lack thereof retarted and twisted: how about you return the favour? This is a place for intelligent discussion, not childish name calling and conjecture.

"If the rapture happened today, I would not convert."

Oh I think you would. You are giving yourself too much credit and not thinking seriously: If God came down to Earth today and called all to repentence, with rejection meaning eternal hellfire, you my friend would repent, I am sure of it.
 munik
05-11-2003, 1:38 AM
#91
Remedial Reading 101. I said "I think it is", which denotes the expression of my opinion. I did no childish name calling, just an expression of my opinion. If you took it as such, you need to invest in a thicker skin.

I did not make a half-hearted statement concerning the conversion to christianity. I don't really believe it in it anyhow, but if it were true I would not choose it. You can say that I will all you want, but if god were to come down herself and make the statement about repentence and such, I find that no different then reading it in the bible. A more correct statement would be that I would convert after I was burning in the eternal hellfire, and that would be true, because I would then believe the threat. But, it would then be too late, so it's really a moot point.

Just because god shows up in person to threaten me because the book isn't working, do you really think I would bend to his will then? He's holding eternal hellfire over my head, not an asswhooping, showing up at my door isn't going to change anything.
 SkinWalker
05-11-2003, 1:59 AM
#92
Originally posted by BrodieCadden
You treat Christians like you are a scientist studieing chimpanzees, nodding your head and taking notes and thinking "how wonderful and fascinating, but wholly wrong. I am glad I am so advanced in my thinking..."

You're only half-right. I don't think christianity is wholly wrong. I only think it's partially wrong. But that is my perspective, which, I admit, might threaten those christians who may have a sliver of doubt existing in their minds.

Originally posted by BrodieCadden
I am getting quite sick and tired of the non religious (not all of you, just a few) pretending to have "clear lenses" through which they see the world. It is contrived rubbish. None of us see the world through clear lenses, that would imply that we have not been affected by any outside cultures and practises.

All mostly very true words, however, some of our lenses are clearer than others. I don't subscribe to the notion of sending missionaries out to "developing" countries to impose my own religious beliefs on others. I simply accept that whatever convictions I might have, other cultures may have their own, both of which have equal chances of being correct. That isn't "contrived rubish", but rather logical and critical reasoning.

Certainly, I have my own culture and norms and I have undboubtedly judged other cultures through the lens of my own. On my first trip to the Middle East, I quickly noticed the differences in toiletry when using public restrooms. I found squatting over a hole in the floor and wiping with my hand and a hose somewhat repulsive... at first. I opened my mind and accepted that there are reasons for why they took care of business this way: Desert conditions mean less trees, less trees mean less pulp, less pulp means less paper, less paper means you don't waste what you have on your arse.

Originally posted by BrodieCadden
Being religious doesn't mean one sees the world through a jaded lense,

I disagree. Certainly there are many shades of jade here... I know a very many religious people who are very open minded, but only to an extent. I also know a very many religious (not just christianity) people who are very jaded in how they view the world. But religion definately affects how you see other cultures. If, for instance, you believe your own religion is the correct one (and some people do accept multiple "truths"), then you must therefore understand that the other culture and its religion is wrong.

Originally posted by BrodieCadden who Quoted Munik
"but because I think it's retarded...

I definately don't share Munik's view here. I respect it, but I'm starting to understand why people believe (in many things, not just religion) and the process by which people "learn" as they mature. Religion is far too re-occurring to be considered retarded, even though I understand that he did not mean the literal translation of the word, but rather the colloquial.

Originally posted by BrodieCadden
"If the rapture happened today, I would not convert."

Oh I think you would.

I doubt there's any danger of a "rapture" occurring... but that's my perspective. I could be wrong. If I am, I would gladly admit my mistake and seek favor of the higher power, but at this point in time, I see no evidence that would indicate a need to waste so much time involved in rituals and meetings. I have more productive methods of spending time with family and friends and providing to my community.
 munik
05-11-2003, 2:13 AM
#93
And the conundrum here is how do we continue to read well articulated material after the author describes the situation in which he wipes his ass with his hands. As funny as I think that is, sadly I too have had to do the crap in a hole thing. 'Cept I brought my own paper.

Retarded is just one of my negative descriptive words. Used liberally in my vernacular. Also, I'm curious as to what you meant by religion being too re-ocurring to be wrong/bad/whatever.
 BrodieCadden
05-11-2003, 2:42 AM
#94
SkinWalker, you are a very smart individual and we both argue our case to the point where neither of us can ever agree because we disagree on one very important point: I am a Christian man and you are not.

Our world views, social and cultural commentary and logical reasoning are much the same, except we disagree on one crucial point in the conversation and continuing the discussion would just run us around in circles, one being unable to convince the other of their perspective.

Unless there is some new point you would like to make I don't see a reason to discuss this much further. Good discussion.


Stalemate, mate :)
 SkinWalker
05-11-2003, 2:46 AM
#95
Originally posted by munik
And the conundrum here is how do we continue to read well articulated material after the author describes the situation in which he wipes his ass with his hands. As funny as I think that is, sadly I too have had to do the crap in a hole thing. 'Cept I brought my own paper.

:D :D :D LMAO!

Actually you begin to also understand the taboo about using your left hand for things like greeting others, eating, etc.!

The key is to make sure that the water works in the little metal hose first, but I often brought my own paper as well. The locals hated that, as it stopped up their pipes. Since they don't flush paper through the septic, the pipes of a much less diameter and with sharper angles then western pipes, which account for MOTS (Matter Other Than Sh*t).
 SkinWalker
05-11-2003, 2:49 AM
#96
Originally posted by BrodieCadden
Unless there is some new point you would like to make I don't see a reason to discuss this much further. Good discussion.


Stalemate, mate :)

Actually I was thinking some of the same sentiments (not just the ones I quoted) about your arguments. They are well thought out and make me consider my own perspective very carefully. I hope that I provided the same service to you.

BTW, welcome to the Senate mate! I look forward to seeing more of your posts on other topics as well (perhaps we'll agree on one or two ;) )
 BrodieCadden
05-11-2003, 5:17 AM
#97
"They are well thought out and make me consider my own perspective very carefully. I hope that I provided the same service to you."

You certainly did, and I think we have both walked out of this discussion more enlightened then when we entered it.

And thankyou for the welcome :D
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