[Dorothy]

It is trippy, isn't it? I know you weren't being mean or anything. It is a good discussion though.

I don't know if being lovely people will ever be enough, because every one of us has a different understanding of what that entails. But it was very good talking to you about this. Patrick, let me know if you read the Strobel book, or if you can't find a copy, or if there is anything else that we can discuss about Christianity.

This post has been edited by Dorothy: 27 July 2005 - 03:45 PM

[Slade]

The point I find disconcerning is that the entity you're giving yourself over to is based upon entirely subjective, tentitive, personal reasons. I could never bring myself to trust an invisible being of mass creation and benevolence to help me out of jams and send my soul into Paradise that has only a thin and speculative existance. The whole faith thing baffles me.

And I've found just as much peace in being philosophically inclined, if not more (specifically, agnostic existentialism). I don't have any supernatural entities breathing down my neck if I do something wrong, just me.

[Jordan]

So you don't like guilt? Or authority? Those are your problems?

[JW Wells]

In regards to the bombing, those are political-ideological grounds. Blowing up a church because you're a communist government is a little different, but just as retarded.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No argument here! By definition, atheists don't do anything on "religious" grounds, but for a lot of Communists, their politics was their religion, complete with the elect, the damned, prophets, and a promised future paradise.

It wasn't only Christianity that caught flak from them, either. I have a book containing a series of photographs taken during the Cultural Revolution in China showing a mob tearing down a Buddhist temple, defacing statues, forcing the monks into a denunciation session, etc.

[Slade]

So you don't like guilt? Or authority? Those are your problems?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Har har... It's the fact that something that can't even make its presence known is the cause of said guilt and is trying to tell me what to do.

[Revan-47]

well, when you are a christian, and ask forgiveness for your sins, yu dont feel guilty anymore.

This post has been edited by Revan-47: 29 July 2005 - 11:38 AM

[BiggSpiffy]

thats not really true for me. I mean i am a christian, and i go to church and stuff, but its more because my parents make me. When my life is screwed over, i pray , but the ll powerful Lord never helps me...My life still sucks, and when i sin i used to pray, but i wouldnt feel any better because i never new if he head or not, because id still feel guilty and crap like that. When i was younger i used to do stupid things like steal from and talk during tests and stupid ish like that, and id get in trouble, but when i prayed for forgivness i never felt better. So my faith is slowly drifting farther nd farther away from religion and into my own instincts

[Patrick Bateman]

Good man

[barend]

BS, you should pray to me. if telling me something doesn't make you feel better, i'll go beat up the person making you feel guilty.

[Slade]

Or consult your pineal gland concerning the worship of Our Lady of Discord, Eris.

[scubasteve4lyfe]

Or consult your pineal gland concerning the worship of Our Lady of Discord, Eris.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

After all, those Greeks can't be trusted.

[Slade]

They weren't a bad lot, they were just victims of indigestion...

Do you Fnord, ScubaSteve?

[barend]

pineal discharge?

[Slade]

Only when they slept.

[Dr Lecter]

On the subject of Jesus, I would like to question his status as a self-less human being/god. There are three reasons why I would like to question a. his intelligence, b. his motives c. if he is a bastard.

a. He goes out drinking all the damn time with his brothers, but he can turn water into water? What is that all about? Hell if I could do that I sure as hell wouldn't be paying to wine all the time.
b. Why does Jesus suddenly decide once hes reached about 30, that hes going to start performing miracles? Mid-life crisis maybe? Why would the son of God walk around dieing people for 30 years of his life and not do a single thing about it? Even though its a fact (loosing as that fact is according to the Bible) that he had the power to do so? If there was a Jesus surely he would have done everything he could? Hence, he must have been a bastard, not just because, obviously, Mary wasn't married to God, but in the not very nice sense. Did Joesph just sit Jesus down one day and say "Look son, you mother and I understand that your the Messiah and all, but... don't you think you should get a trade under you belt first?"
And of course Jesus would say "Yes, you're right, this 'Son of God' thing won't last, I mean who can make a living out of being the divine set from Heaven to forgive man's sins?"
"Exactly my thoughts Jesus."

My fourth point is: Why didn't Matthew, Mark, Luke or John have a sense of humour?
Unless the joke was lost in translation, why didn't they take the opertunity to make a joke in their version of the feeding of the 5,000? No-where does it say in the Bible 'And one man stood up to thank Jesus, and with a suprized look on his face say "Hang on a minute... didn't you build my shed?"'

Where are all these matters in the Bible? It doesn't make sense! I rest my case.