(May 10, 2012 at 6:58 pm)Aiza Wrote: Any religion or lack thereof firmly comes down to choice. There is no other way around it. And yes, you very much could probably decide to follow any religion you chose. I highly doubt your mind is some special exception to the rule.

In terms of evidence, Christianity has no shortage of witnesses, though I don't think thats why most Christians convert in the first place.

What are these witnesses of which you speak?

(May 10, 2012 at 7:03 pm)Phil Wrote:

(May 10, 2012 at 6:58 pm)Aiza Wrote: Any religion or lack thereof firmly comes down to choice. There is no other way around it. And yes, you very much could probably decide to follow any religion you chose. I highly doubt your mind is some special exception to the rule.

In terms of evidence, Christianity has no shortage of witnesses, though I don't think thats why most Christians convert in the first place.

What are these witnesses of which you speak?

I'm fairly certain that the usage of "witness" here is, much like religious usage of "testify", quite different from the usage by those of us who own dictionaries.

Quote:I wonder, is it possible to "choose" to believe in something that has no evidence

Possible? I don't know; I can't.

Quote:Agreed, there is no evidence for this

Here we go again; 'evidence' is NOT a synonym for 'proof'. There are shiploads of evidence for all kinds of REALLY loopy beliefs. EG: sacred books such as the bible,the Book of Mormon, Dianetics, personal testimony and tradition. What there is not is any CREDIBLE evidence or PROOF..

Sorry to be pedantic,it's a minor pet peeve.

Quote:In terms of evidence, Christianity has no shortage of witnesses

Really? Name ONE contemporary account by an eye witness, ( boy,are you gonna be FAMOUS! The first person to ever find one)

(May 10, 2012 at 7:12 pm)Cthulhu Dreaming Wrote:

(May 10, 2012 at 7:03 pm)Phil Wrote: What are these witnesses of which you speak?

I'm fairly certain that the usage of "witness" here is, much like religious usage of "testify", quite different from the usage by those of us who own dictionaries.

And this is a PhD candidate that claimed on af.com to be a research scientist (assistant)? Don't think that she should be believed at all.

(May 10, 2012 at 7:03 pm)Phil Wrote: What are these witnesses of which you speak?

Starting with the Apostles, through all of the Saints and those who have witnessed God and his Saints in their own lives: from St Pio or Ven Mary of Agreda to the children of Fatima to the millions who saw Our Lady of Zeitoun. Many people in my own life, and perhaps yours as well.

But like I said, that is scarcely why most Christians convert, unless they themselves come into direct contact. I think they are attracted to the message first and foremost. For me, the idea of Heaven was the last thing I came around to.

I believe in Heaven because I am a Christian; I'm not a Christian because I believe in Heaven, if that makes sense.

Quote:Starting with the Apostles,

Oh. Just the old fictional sidekicks for your fucking fictional god shit.

Never mind. We've heard it all before and it was not convincing then, either.


BTW, how can you still call yourself a catholic when they are nothing but child raping perverts?

(May 10, 2012 at 7:21 pm)Aiza Wrote:

(May 10, 2012 at 7:03 pm)Phil Wrote: What are these witnesses of which you speak?

Starting with the Apostles, through all of the Saints and those who have witnessed God and his Saints in their own lives: from St Pio or Ven Mary of Agreda to the children of Fatima to the millions who saw Our Lady of Zeitoun. Many people in my own life, and perhaps yours as well.

But like I said, that is scarcely why most Christians convert, unless they themselves come into direct contact. I think they are attracted to the message first and foremost. For me, the idea of Heaven was the last thing I came around to.

I believe in Heaven because I am a Christian; I'm not a Christian because I believe in Heaven, if that makes sense.

So you who claim to be a PhD candidate and claimed on af.com to be a research scientist (assistant) believe in the supernatural occurrence of miracles and that there is evidence of witnesses to Jesus? Then why did you claim there is no need for evidence to believe? You seem to be suffering from muddy thinking just as you were on af.com before you were banned.

---

Supernatural miracles are so ill defined (among other reasons) that they cause nothing but arguments and dissension among most people. In that one sense, miracles are not anything a Christian (or any religion) should argue for.

Quote:You seem to be suffering from muddy thinking just as you were on af.com before you were banned.

Ah....the lunacy seemed familiar. Thanks, Phil.

Quote:Starting with the Apostles, through all of the Saints and those who have witnessed God and his Saints in their own lives

Do you not grasp the meaning of the word 'comtemporary' ? (the apostles did NOT write the Gospels,and Saul never met Jesus)

Hearsay is indeed evidence,but not CREDIBLE evidence OR PROOF.

I think somebody said you claim to be a Phd candidate. May I ask,in which discipline at at which university? What is the title of your Phd thesis.? I'm trying to establish if you have any personal credibility or are being cavalier with the truth.

(May 10, 2012 at 8:00 pm)padraic Wrote:

Quote:Starting with the Apostles, through all of the Saints and those who have witnessed God and his Saints in their own lives

Do you not grasp the meaning of the word 'comtemporary' ? (the apostles did NOT write the Gospels,and Saul never met Jesus)

Hearsay is indeed evidence,but not CREDIBLE evidence OR PROOF.

I think somebody said you claim to be a Phd candidate. May I ask,in which discipline at at which university? What is the title of your Phd thesis.? I'm trying to establish if you have any personal credibility or are being cavalier with the truth.

Here is your answer.

(May 10, 2012 at 1:10 am)Aiza Wrote: Hi!

I've come here to chat about religion and such. I am 23 years old, a rather devout Catholic, currently in a PhD program for molecular biology, though I am discerning religious life and becoming an apostolic sister. I was a strong atheist for a long while, and converted to Catholicism relatively recently, though Islam and Orthodox Christianity also came close.

I also quite like history, nature, geography and cooking.

Looking forward to talking with you all.