(April 24, 2011 at 11:02 am)Garmston Ansell Wrote: Without the understanding, what made you feel that there was a way to refute it?

Really? Are we going in this direction now? Why is it that Christianity always gets a special treatment, but if other people or religions say such a thing it is approached with great skepticism.

Heres one..how about the fact that the idea of some dude coming back from the dead after 3 days sounds absolutely preposterous?

Would you believe me if I told you I was the son of God? You dont have anything to argue against it, so why should you automatically have bias against me and refuse to worship me?

How about the fact that people cant walk on water, or turn water into wine, or give sight to the blind just using their spit? Oh sure, no need to have a natural bias against that at all..I mean hell, if someone walked up to me and declared he can cure the blind with just his spit then I would have no reason to have bias against him. Obviously he would have no need to be lying, especially if I cant produce eveidence in the contrary.

What if the guy said "If you worship me, then my healing powers become greater"? Well, I see no reasons to offer any resistance or bias seeing as I have no way to refute what he says, so I may as well worship him...right? Now I will be actively hurting other people by refusing to worship this great healer..how dare I be so self centered and biased?!?

(April 24, 2011 at 11:47 am)reverendjeremiah Wrote:

(April 24, 2011 at 11:02 am)Garmston Ansell Wrote: Without the understanding, what made you feel that there was a way to refute it?

Really? Are we going in this direction now? Why is it that Christianity always gets a special treatment, but if other people or religions say such a thing it is approached with great skepticism.

Heres one..how about the fact that the idea of some dude coming back from the dead after 3 days sounds absolutely preposterous?

Would you believe me if I told you I was the son of God? You dont have anything to argue against it, so why should you automatically have bias against me and refuse to worship me?

How about the fact that people cant walk on water, or turn water into wine, or give sight to the blind just using their spit? Oh sure, no need to have a natural bias against that at all..I mean hell, if someone walked up to me and declared he can cure the blind with just his spit then I would have no reason to have bias against him. Obviously he would have no need to be lying, especially if I cant produce eveidence in the contrary.

What if the guy said "If you worship me, then my healing powers become greater"? Well, I see no reasons to offer any resistance or bias seeing as I have no way to refute what he says, so I may as well worship him...right? Now I will be actively hurting other people by refusing to worship this great healer..how dare I be so self centered and biased?!?

Do all religions get special treatment, or is it just christianity?

(April 24, 2011 at 11:31 am)thesummerqueen Wrote: Actually, my dear, I've heard far more rational discussions about Satanism and other aspects of the left-hand path than I have ever for Christianity.

Oh yeah. I read Anton LaVay's Satanic Bible. It was my very first introduction to atheism. I didnt care to much for the rest of the book, and scratched my head wondering why Anton said he was an atheist, but worshipped Satan. Know I know it was just for the shock value..to scare the religious normals.

He made "satan" a metaphor for chaos/complexity/hedonism so he could make $$$, good move.

(April 24, 2011 at 11:37 am)Eleazar Wrote:

(April 24, 2011 at 11:20 am)reverendjeremiah Wrote: LMFAO.. So you think Islam and all are rational without a need for a good argument?

..and you think that evolution, the pride of naturalism, argues against naturalism?

All I'm doing is providing information about the arguments and views, not advocating them. That said, it doesn't follow that if theism is properly basic, then a whole theistic belief system is properly basic. And some of those belief systems you list are not even theistic!

Oh, i get it. So just because "theism" is rational without needing an argument, doesnt mean that other religions get that special argument. Christianity, for example, receives much of that argument, and especially if said Christian sect matches yours, then it receives the full benefit of being rational without needing an argument. Theistic satanism, however, since only Christianity is rational, means that Satan is real, but does not mean that satanism in itself is rational without an argument. They will have to make an argument to be rational. The only problem, it has already been confirmen that only Christianity is rational, and to ask for an argument of such is irrational. Therefore satanic theism is irrational no matter what argument it makes.

I think I understand where you are coming from..and WOW...it is opening avenues in my mind that I have never considered! Perhaps Christianity is the way to go for me. What sect are you so that I may gain the full benefit of this wisdom

P.S. - everything I listed above IS a theism. Some monotheistic (such as theistic satanism and Islam), and the others being polytheistic (such as Hinduism and Asatru and Helenism, and Chinese traditional) like Christianity is.

That's not what he was getting at Jerry, to be fair it's a fucking obscure and weird argument, the dying breath of theistic philosophy, but the point is specifically tailored at a belief in God and not at any specific religion or sect.

(April 24, 2011 at 11:49 am)Garmston Ansell Wrote: Do all religions get special treatment, or is it just christianity?

I think the best explanation would be provincial attitudes. Whatever the majority of people hold onto is what will be given the benefit of the doubt, as it is hardwired into the social mind or to avoid bickering and arguments from those who have minor doubts..they just dont say it about the popular stuff as they would gladly say of those ten thousand miles away and their freaky beliefs. But of course, those people are far enough away, which means you can avoid being hurt by them.

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(April 24, 2011 at 11:56 am)theVOID Wrote: He made "satan" a metaphor for chaos/complexity/hedonism so he could make $$$, good move.

Yeah, that too. He also used the word "aesthetics" alot.

(April 24, 2011 at 12:09 pm)reverendjeremiah Wrote:

(April 24, 2011 at 11:49 am)Garmston Ansell Wrote: Do all religions get special treatment, or is it just christianity?

I think the best explanation would be provincial attitudes. Whatever the majority of people hold onto is what will be given the benefit of the doubt, as it is hardwired into the social mind or to avoid bickering and arguments from those who have minor doubts..they just dont say it about the popular stuff as they would gladly say of those ten thousand miles away and their freaky beliefs. But of course, those people are far enough away, which means you can avoid being hurt by them.

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(April 24, 2011 at 11:56 am)theVOID Wrote: He made "satan" a metaphor for chaos/complexity/hedonism so he could make $$$, good move.

Yeah, that too. He also used the word "aesthetics" alot.

Who's trying to hurt you?

(April 24, 2011 at 12:05 pm)theVOID Wrote: That's not what he was getting at Jerry, to be fair it's a fucking obscure and weird argument, the dying breath of theistic philosophy, but the point is specifically tailored at a belief in God and not at any specific religion or sect.

Well, if that isnt were he is getting at, then I havent a clue what the fuck he is saying and I am wrong and I apologize for it.

IF he is saying what I think he is saying then I stand by my posts.

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(April 24, 2011 at 12:12 pm)Garmston Ansell Wrote: Who's trying to hurt you?

I'm sorry...what do you mean?

That's like apologizing for not understanding nonsense, it's Plantinga who owes US an apology for giving the theists more shit to sling