(April 11, 2016 at 11:12 pm)ApeNotKillApe Wrote:

(April 11, 2016 at 11:09 pm)The Valkyrie Wrote: To an extent, yes.

However, any religion that practices cutting off believers from their families, especially when one of those members leaves the religion, then it's definitely a cult.

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
- Luke 14:26 (KJV)

Right, Jesus also said that he is a sword that will divide families.

(April 11, 2016 at 11:06 pm)Goosebump Wrote:

(April 11, 2016 at 10:55 pm)Won2blv Wrote: Empathy is simply the ability to understand someones feelings. It doesn't meant that you have to adopt them. Trust me, when I told a few close people that I am going towards atheism they almost all asked me, "but don't you want to see your mom again" I understand why this is a reason alone to want to believe in god. It doesn't justify that belief but its very reasonable why many people would simply just want to see their loved ones again.

One thing that I am very grateful for, being raised a JW I was constantly going door to door and engaging with people face to face. It helped me to learn how to reason and see things from another point of view. This is vital. If you're not able or willing to consider the other side of an argument then how well grounded can you be in your own beliefs? Its so much easier to be honest when you grant dignity to the other sides point of view. And if you concede that, even hypothetically, then you have no burden on your end.

Yes empathy is emotionally relating, but in-order to do that you have to have the same or similar influences on them (your emotions) that theist belief or atheist understanding brings to those feelings. I can't honestly empathize when discussing a religions doctrine with a theist. Their emotions related to their belief are from the belief its self. I do not have that belief, which is fundamental to my atheism.

I have to apologize. For some reason I thought you were the OP. I believe my points are all valid. It can be applied to any situation with 2 opposite sides. Like gun rights people and gun regulation people. If you can't try to see things from another persons point of view then it'll be near impossible for them to see yours. (holding hands emoji)

How come the OP got banned?

(April 12, 2016 at 10:11 am)Won2blv Wrote: How come the OP got banned?

OP was a sock of a previously perma-banned member.