(July 12, 2016 at 12:08 pm)purplepurpose Wrote:

(July 12, 2016 at 11:54 am)madog Wrote: Natural selection, good or bad is based on empirical evidence ... it may be superseded by a better understanding of the facts along with further empirical evidence, but it is a scientific process that may eventual lead to the truth rather than what some would prefer to be the truth.

Religion, bad or worse is based on indoctrination from stone-age myths and reinterprets our better understanding of facts and new empirical evidence so some can maintain what they prefer to be the truth and tries to stop us reaching the truth.

According to current science we are mere sparks of consciousness. Whats the point of empirical wisdom when we are fragile dying meatbags.

I can turn that around .... if we are just in Gods waiting room with pre-determined afterlife why do we need the bible, why not get on with it already?

But your bullshit to one side. We want to enjoy our time while we are "fragile dying meatbags", which includes the knowledge why and how our "fragile dying meatbags" came into existence ....

I don't refuse my turn on a fair ground ride because it will end, nor do I need to convince myself the ride will go on forever to enjoy the moment ...

(July 12, 2016 at 9:01 am)Czechlervitz29 Wrote: I am quite speechless when I think about how many people have been tricked including me with religion. When I want to talk about something I am blank with anger and want to cuss out my family and christian former friends.

Including you. So you're not angry with your family and friends, you're angry with religious indoctrination.

I use the same model some Christians do. They say "Love the sinner, hate the sin" and I say "Love the religious, hate the religion".

I no longer have anger toward Christians. I understand their sad condition and I have mercy on them.

Yeah, I view the entrenched religous theist as a victim. Their mind has been violated beyond repair. Sadly, they will likely go on to violate their own childrens' minds in the same way. It's this cycle I'd like to see stop. But I think the internet is doing that for me.

(July 12, 2016 at 12:27 pm)robvalue Wrote: He's one of those people who thinks he's better than both theists and atheists. I don't know how he thinks he escapes being in one of those categories himself. Probably by not understanding what the words mean.

Non believers have total freedom over their lifes. And certainly there are many atheists in jail, who in time of desperation acted like animals. 

On the other hand theistic people fueled by fear in God often evade such catastrophe.

I think there are pros and cons in being atheist and theist. Your presumtion about what I think is wrong.

Which are you? You seem very reluctant to commit.

All I have to go on is you misrepresenting both sides.

(July 12, 2016 at 12:32 pm)robvalue Wrote: Yeah, I view the entrenched religous theist as a victim. Their mind has been violated beyond repair. Sadly, they will likely go on to violate their own childrens' minds in the same way. It's this cycle I'd like to see stop. But I think the internet is doing that for me.

I think, at least here in the US, part of the religious decline can also be attributed to our ADD, rapid fire, marketing-and-celebrity-and-general-irrelevant culture.  Church doesn't give the same instant gratification as video games, or other internet/social media things (like you mention), or celebrity gossip/reality shows/whatever the fuck Kim and Kanye are doing, or the sensationalistic bullshit we label 'news'.

There's a million and one things that can give people a sense of comfort and belonging, and much like printed newspapers, churches haven't adapted.  Not in method, and certainly not in message (funny how they're never leading cultural trends, but are always scrambling to catch up in order to stay barely relevant).

I mean, look at PokemonGo.  That shit is a legit phenomenon right now.  It may not last, but it's captured the hearts and minds of young people in a way churches can't even begin to approach right now.  And in contrast, the people that are into church are dying in increasing numbers with no one interested in replacing them.  It's literally becoming a relic of another age.

(July 12, 2016 at 12:37 pm)purplepurpose Wrote:

(July 12, 2016 at 12:27 pm)robvalue Wrote: He's one of those people who thinks he's better than both theists and atheists. I don't know how he thinks he escapes being in one of those categories himself. Probably by not understanding what the words mean.

Non believers have total freedom over their lifes. And certainly there are many atheists in jail, who in time of desperation acted like animals. 

On the other hand theistic people fueled by fear in God often evade such catastrophe.

I think there are pros and cons in being atheist and theist. Your presumtion about what I think is wrong.

*static* Paging TheRocketSurgeon.  TheRocketSurgeon to the front desk, please.

Very well said!

Religion, and church services in particular, are fucking boring. Add in pointless restrictions, mindless bigotry and no actual consequences for not joining (except people being shitty to you), and you've got an outdated idea.

(July 12, 2016 at 12:45 pm)KevinM1 Wrote:

(July 12, 2016 at 12:37 pm)purplepurpose Wrote: Non believers have total freedom over their lifes. And certainly there are many atheists in jail, who in time of desperation acted like animals. 

On the other hand theistic people fueled by fear in God often evade such catastrophe.

I think there are pros and cons in being atheist and theist. Your presumtion about what I think is wrong.

*static* Paging TheRocketSurgeon.  TheRocketSurgeon to the front desk, please.

I wish he would come back.

(July 12, 2016 at 12:48 pm)robvalue Wrote: Very well said!

Religion, and church services in particular, are fucking boring. Add in pointless restrictions, mindless bigotry and no actual consequences for not joining (except people being shitty to you), and you've got an outdated idea.

If you murder few people and end up in prison. Its safe to say that your life is beyond repair. And its a collateral damage of being compeletly free. What an exciting life.