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RE: Hello
May 13, 2012 at 4:57 am
(May 13, 2012 at 3:41 am)Aiza Wrote: Lol no need to apologize, to me it makes no difference but I think to some atheists they see it as a challenge somehow, that they have to prove I wasn't a "real atheist". 
What's hard to believe is that a strong atheist, someone who is completely sure that there is no god, someone who could go as far as to claim to know would turn to the Catholic faith so easily.
What convinced you that there is a god? What brought you from a strong atheist to a theist?
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence - Carl Sagan
Mankind's intelligence walks hand in hand with it's stupidity.
Being an atheist says nothing about your overall intelligence, it just means you don't believe in god. Atheists can be as bright as any scientist and as stupid as any creationist.
You never really know just how stupid someone is, until you've argued with them.
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RE: Hello
May 13, 2012 at 7:47 am
Well, I'm willing to reserve judgement for now, new guy. My opinions of religion in general and the RCC in particular are to be found around the board so there's no need to go over them here. Just don't go justifying childrape or similar and I won't bite.
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
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RE: Hello
May 13, 2012 at 8:35 am
(May 13, 2012 at 7:47 am)Stimbo Wrote: Well, I'm willing to reserve judgement for now, new guy. My opinions of religion in general and the RCC in particular are to be found around the board so there's no need to go over them here. Just don't go justifying childrape or similar and I won't bite.
If you only knew. My advice for you is to sharpen your teeth because you will be using them often unless Azzi's views have changed radically over the last two months.
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RE: Hello
May 13, 2012 at 11:57 am
Looks like we're in for some fun then.
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
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RE: Hello
May 13, 2012 at 7:06 pm
(May 13, 2012 at 4:57 am)Ace Otana Wrote: What's hard to believe is that a strong atheist, someone who is completely sure that there is no god, someone who could go as far as to claim to know would turn to the Catholic faith so easily.
It's not just hard to believe, it's impossible. I smell trolling.
You are currently experiencing a lucky and very brief window of awareness, sandwiched in between two periods of timeless and utter nothingness. So why not make the most of it, and stop wasting your life away trying to convince other people that there is something else? The reality is obvious.
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Re: Hello
May 13, 2012 at 7:45 pm
Welcome. I've been on af.com and know how adolescent they can be. This place is far better, I hope you get something out of it.
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RE: Hello
May 13, 2012 at 9:35 pm
Howdy Aiza.
What’s your take on the Vatican’s bitch slapping of the LCWR?
(May 11, 2012 at 11:56 am)Napoleon Wrote: Sounds to me like you're religious just because you like the idea of it.
Based on what I've seen from Aiza in the past that's probably an accurate assessment of the situation.
Save a life. Adopt a greyhound.
![[Image: JUkLw58.gif]](https://i.imgur.com/JUkLw58.gif)
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RE: Hello
May 13, 2012 at 9:42 pm
(May 13, 2012 at 4:57 am)Ace Otana Wrote: What's hard to believe is that a strong atheist, someone who is completely sure that there is no god, someone who could go as far as to claim to know would turn to the Catholic faith so easily.
Yes, particularly catholicism which is the dumbest of the dumb....right down in the shitter with the JWs, mormons, evangelicals and pentecostals.
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RE: Hello
May 14, 2012 at 5:19 am
(May 13, 2012 at 9:35 pm)popeyespappy Wrote: Howdy Aiza.
What’s your take on the Vatican’s bitch slapping of the LCWR?
Well first of all, I think "bitch slap" is a poor choice of words! 
I have mixed feelings and I could write a lot on the subject. I know some sisters who are from orders represented by the LCWR and they were a large inspiration for me when I converted and also when discerning to be a sister. I am visiting one of their convents this weekend actually (very excited!!). They have dedicated themselves to God, the same as any other sister, and they represent a lot of amazing, strong and intensely charitable women. I even thought about joining one of their orders, and still sort of am drawn to it in a way.
But I'd be lying if I said that the organization is always 100% devout. I could PM you if you want some concrete examples, but I am not even sure if you could appreciate the differences. Here is an example of a religious order of Benedictine sisters who are represented by the LCWR and here is an example of an order of Benedictines who are represented by the CMSWR, a more traditional parallel organization to the LCWR which was established in the early 90s as a response to so many orders in the LCWR removing their habits, no longer living in community, no longer praying the liturgy of the hours, etc. You may not be able to tell the difference, but the fastest growing orders are in the CMSWR, and the new members are younger as well. It isn't necessarily about the clothes or getting to wear a habit (though such a thing is so lovely and definitely something I desire in my future community!), but it's the level of devotion. Where is Our Lord and the Eucharist? Where is Our Lady and the Saints? It feels cold and generic and sad to me.
I could talk a lot about my experiences at different LCWR convents and I think I already talked a bit on af.com. But I won't bore you more than I already have. 
Its not like its being forcibly disbanded--its just being changed and I can only hope they come out stronger for it. I know that liturgy of the hours and the Eucharist for example, are supposed to now have a priority at LCWR events and I am so excited about that!
(May 13, 2012 at 4:57 am)Ace Otana Wrote: What's hard to believe is that a strong atheist, someone who is completely sure that there is no god, someone who could go as far as to claim to know would turn to the Catholic faith so easily.
What convinced you that there is a god? What brought you from a strong atheist to a theist?
Like I said, I went from strong atheist to weak atheist; and then from weak atheist to theist. A lot of arguments for strong atheism (all the ones I am familiar with), are flawed once you gain a solid understanding of the internal workings of religion. The best I had as a weak atheist was Russell's teapot, which I still think is probably the most...legitimate of the atheist arguments. But then I also realized that if I really did replace God with a teapot in space, I would have no problem whatsoever in believing.
And its also a rather intense emotional transformation as well, though I am sure you know that. 
Mary Immaculate, star of the morning
Chosen before the creation began
Chosen to bring for your bridal adorning
Woe to the serpent and rescue to man.
Sinners, we honor your sinless perfection;
Fallen and weak, for your pity we plead;
Grand us the shield of your sovereign protection,
Measure your aid by the depth of our need.
Bend from your throne at the voice of our crying,
Bend to this earth which your footsteps have trod;
Stretch out your arms to us, living and dying,
Mary Immaculate, Mother of God.
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RE: Hello
May 14, 2012 at 5:45 am
(This post was last modified: May 14, 2012 at 5:51 am by NoMoreFaith.)
(May 14, 2012 at 5:19 am)Aiza Wrote: The best I had as a weak atheist was Russell's teapot, which I still think is probably the most...legitimate of the atheist arguments. But then I also realized that if I really did replace God with a teapot in space, I would have no problem whatsoever in believing.
Then you missed the point of the argument. It highlighted the difficulty in proving negatives and applications of Occams Razor.
The fact you had no problem replacing the teapot with God, seems to indicate you did not understand the relationship between a positive assertion and the burden of proof for complexity over simplicity.
To be honest, the most legitimate atheist argument, remains, and will always be religion itself. You are Catholic, they are Muslim, she is Sikh, he is Hindu, they are Jewish, they are Zoroastrian, etc etc.
The fact if you took a census of belief based upon the religions you reject, we are all weak atheists. Even the pope.
The Outsider Test for Faith is one of the strongest arguments, and atheism is potentially the only philosophical position which passes.
Self-authenticating private evidence is useless, because it is indistinguishable from the illusion of it. ― Kel, Kelosophy Blog
If you’re going to watch tele, you should watch Scooby Doo. That show was so cool because every time there’s a church with a ghoul, or a ghost in a school. They looked beneath the mask and what was inside?
The f**king janitor or the dude who runs the waterslide. Throughout history every mystery. Ever solved has turned out to be. Not Magic. ― Tim Minchin, Storm
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