(October 25, 2015 at 1:59 am)Parkers Tan Wrote:

(October 23, 2015 at 11:27 pm)Delicate Wrote: [...]people don't become Christians because they want to avoid hell[...]

Nonsense.  Why else are kids fed that line?

People don't become Christians out of love; were that the case, you'd see much more love in the world.

This is a prime example of an atheist blindly swallowing atheist fairytales while declaring themselves to be freethinking skeptics about everything else.

A truly skeptical critical thinker will notice that kids can be fed that line for one of many reasons, none of which have to do with Christianity itself.

(October 25, 2015 at 11:57 am)Crossless1 Wrote: As long as we have Delicate's word that there are no important points of contention between the various Christian sects, that Christians never killed each other over doctrinal differences (all such conflicts were really about other things with a bit of Christian window dressing -- nothing more), that no one becomes Christian because they want to avoid hell (they really like that salvation story, but hell doesn't figure in their motivation) . . . fuck it, as long as we have Delicate's word that he speaks authoritatively on behalf of two millennia of Christians, then what's the problem?

He's right. We're stunningly ignorant of his religion. All we ever needed to do was to consult him and ignore all the rest.

Well, you're certainly short on comprehension. Let's take care of that, both for you, and for everyone else.

I don't believe there are NO points of contention over core doctrine. I just think there are so few that when atheists harp on doctrinal diversity, they are talking about a far smaller pool of differences than they imagine.

(October 25, 2015 at 10:24 pm)Delicate Wrote:

(October 25, 2015 at 1:59 am)Parkers Tan Wrote: Nonsense.  Why else are kids fed that line?

People don't become Christians out of love; were that the case, you'd see much more love in the world.

This is a prime example of an atheist blindly swallowing atheist fairytales while declaring themselves to be freethinking skeptics about everything else.

A truly skeptical critical thinker will notice that kids can be fed that line for one of many reasons, none of which have to do with Christianity itself.

You have serious issues. Are you completely blind to the fact that many of us were Christians? Many of us were fed that very story as children. It's a great way to terrify your children into believing in god and following the rules.

Blindly swallowing indeed, Mr. Kettle.

Atheist fairytales?

Come on, this guy can't be for real.

(October 25, 2015 at 10:27 pm)Delicate Wrote: I don't believe there are NO points of contention over core doctrine. I just think there are so few that when atheists harp on doctrinal diversity, they are talking about a far smaller pool of differences than they imagine.

I agree.... and it is similar to the claim that there are hundreds of thousands of variances in the scriptural manuscripts.  The point that is trying to be made; falls apart when looked at in context.   It's just a surface deception and doesn't have the meaning implied. 

I have a friend, who converted to Greek Orthodoxy (I met him after). We have debated quite a bit and normally what is initially thought to be a large divide at first, we find that our views are fairly similar in the end.

(October 25, 2015 at 11:25 pm)Losty Wrote:

(October 25, 2015 at 10:24 pm)Delicate Wrote: This is a prime example of an atheist blindly swallowing atheist fairytales while declaring themselves to be freethinking skeptics about everything else.

A truly skeptical critical thinker will notice that kids can be fed that line for one of many reasons, none of which have to do with Christianity itself.

You have serious issues. Are you completely blind to the fact that many of us were Christians? Many of us were fed that very story as children. It's a great way to terrify your children into believing in god and following the rules.

Read the underlined. Then read the bolded. Understand what the bolded says. Then see that you're making my point.

Rinse and repeat until you finally notice that people looking to terrify their kids is not motivated by anything Christianity says, but is motivated by what people want to misuse to further their goals.

It feels like there's a correlation between atheism and reading comprehension deficiencies/fallacious thinking.

(October 25, 2015 at 11:56 pm)RoadRunner79 Wrote:

(October 25, 2015 at 10:27 pm)Delicate Wrote: I don't believe there are NO points of contention over core doctrine. I just think there are so few that when atheists harp on doctrinal diversity, they are talking about a far smaller pool of differences than they imagine.

I agree.... and it is similar to the claim that there are hundreds of thousands of variances in the scriptural manuscripts.  The point that is trying to be made; falls apart when looked at in context.   It's just a surface deception and doesn't have the meaning implied. 

I have a friend, who converted to Greek Orthodoxy (I met him after).  We have debated quite a bit and normally what is initially thought to be a large divide at first, we find that our views are fairly similar in the end.

I've had the same thing happen with a Catholic friend on the question of works and salvation, as well as sola scriptura. The views are almost identical when you look at what exactly the other person is saying.

Ah, yes, so the entirety of those good ol' Southern Baptists slinging the fire and brimstone from the pulpit has nothing to do with Christianity.

Gotcha. Certainly no Christians use the hell motif to instill the sheer importance and consequences of the choice to receive god's "gift".

(October 25, 2015 at 10:27 pm)Delicate Wrote: I don't believe there are NO points of contention over core doctrine. I just think there are so few that when atheists harp on doctrinal diversity, they are talking about a far smaller pool of differences than they imagine.

*my posts copied from your "Are all atheists this ill-informed about religion?" thread*

#271 Is a baptism considered legitimate if it's performed on an infant? Does one even have to be baptized to get to Heaven or does one gain entrance through grace alone? Is simply accepting the Holy Spirit considered baptism? Or is actual immersion required?

Before you dismiss these as minor differences, consider what's at stake according to those who believe it.

#273 The pathway to salvation is a big fucking deal, is it not?

You've been asked about this numerous times and haven't attempted to address it, as far as I know.