There came a time for me when I wondered if I believed in God/Jesus/etc. or if I was told that is what I believed in. As I worked through that, I realized that I had been told - this is what we believe, and I went along with it. I was pretty young when I made that distinction and started to look more closely. It was then I realized that I did not believe any of it. Then I allowed a few years for my mind to be changed...it wasn't.

(April 29, 2025 at 8:31 am)Thumpalumpacus Wrote: Why do you think Christians focus on eternal life, if not a fear of death?

The focus of Christians, as the name implies, is on Christ himself. His character, his story, that is what appeals to the Christian. Jesus is what makes heaven appealing to the Christian.

You'll never meet a Christian that says they're a Christian because they fear death, that is a caricature found within atheist circles.

(April 29, 2025 at 3:13 pm)John 6IX Breezy Wrote:

(April 29, 2025 at 8:31 am)Thumpalumpacus Wrote: Why do you think Christians focus on eternal life, if not a fear of death?

The focus of Christians, as the name implies, is on Christ himself. His character, his story, that is what appeals to the Christian. Jesus is what makes heaven appealing to the Christian.

You'll never meet a Christian that says they're a Christian because they fear death, that is a caricature found within atheist circles.

You speak for atheists now?

You really shouldn't.

(April 29, 2025 at 3:13 pm)John 6IX Breezy Wrote: You'll never meet a Christian that says they're a Christian because they fear death, that is a caricature found within atheist circles.

There's a mirror-image accusation that Christians sometimes make against atheists, too.

Once in a while you'll hear a Christian claim that people become atheists only because they want to live an immoral life, and don't want to be judged and sent to hell. 

Naturally no atheist accepts the claim that they become atheist due to fear.

(April 29, 2025 at 3:13 pm)John 6IX Breezy Wrote:

(April 29, 2025 at 8:31 am)Thumpalumpacus Wrote: Why do you think Christians focus on eternal life, if not a fear of death?

The focus of Christians, as the name implies, is on Christ himself. His character, his story, that is what appeals to the Christian. Jesus is what makes heaven appealing to the Christian.

You'll never meet a Christian that says they're a Christian because they fear death, that is a caricature found within atheist circles.

Why are xians lied to with teaching that there are human souls in heaven right now when the bible says differently?

Why do xians cry at funerals and say they will never see insert name ever again?

(April 29, 2025 at 3:46 pm)h4ym4n Wrote:

(April 29, 2025 at 3:13 pm)John 6IX Breezy Wrote: The focus of Christians, as the name implies, is on Christ himself. His character, his story, that is what appeals to the Christian. Jesus is what makes heaven appealing to the Christian.

You'll never meet a Christian that says they're a Christian because they fear death, that is a caricature found within atheist circles.

Why are xians lied to with teaching that there are human souls in heaven right now when the bible says differently?

Why do xians cry at funerals and say they will never see insert name ever again?

The refrain should really be "I can't wait to die so I can see so-and-so again."  Yet, that doesn't seem to be the case.

Why did the pope go to hospital when he became ill, did he not want to go to heaven?

(April 29, 2025 at 3:13 pm)John 6IX Breezy Wrote:

(April 29, 2025 at 8:31 am)Thumpalumpacus Wrote: Why do you think Christians focus on eternal life, if not a fear of death?

The focus of Christians, as the name implies, is on Christ himself. His character, his story, that is what appeals to the Christian. Jesus is what makes heaven appealing to the Christian.

You'll never meet a Christian that says they're a Christian because they fear death, that is a caricature found within atheist circles.

Sure, they won't admit that as a reason. But there's a reason why accepting the redemption of Christ is the key to everlasting heavenly life. The everlasting heavenly life is the honey.

How you can assert that no Christian feels the fear of death, that's beyond my ken. I barely know 200 people.

(April 29, 2025 at 4:23 pm)Thumpalumpacus Wrote: How you can assert that no Christian feels the fear of death, that's beyond my ken.

Everybody naturally fears death when it comes knocking. What I reject is the idea that this fear is the reason people believe in Jesus, and that Christianity provides some kind of immunity from it. Jesus himself, in the garden of gethsemane, famously prays wanting to avoid the death and suffering he was about to endure, and then proceeds to die in the most horrific way possible. Christianity isn't the religion to join if you're trying escape the fear of death.

(April 29, 2025 at 4:42 pm)John 6IX Breezy Wrote:

(April 29, 2025 at 4:23 pm)Thumpalumpacus Wrote: How you can assert that no Christian feels the fear of death, that's beyond my ken.

Everybody naturally fears death when it comes knocking. What I reject is the idea that this fear is the reason people believe in Jesus, and that Christianity provides some kind of immunity from it. Jesus himself, in the garden of gethsemane, famously prays wanting to avoid the death and suffering he was about to endure, and then proceeds to die in the most horrific way possible. Christianity isn't the religion to join if you're trying escape the fear of death.

Oh for fuck this sakes.

Jesus, god wearing a human suit, had a bad weekend at human camp