(March 3, 2010 at 6:27 pm)Thor Wrote: And yet, these people spout their beliefs as if they are undeniable fact. They KNOW "God" exists! They KNOW he answers prayers! They KNOW Jesus will return. They KNOW heaven is waiting for them when they die.

These same dingbats also KNEW that Zeus was in the sky throwing lightning bolts. They KNEW that Apollo rode through the heavens on a chariot of fire. They KNEW that witches could cause cattle to die and crops to wither. These people would have bet their very lives that these things were true.

And they were all wrong.

They are only trying to ignore what others say about their beliefs. When they go over and over about ending in heaven I see it as reasurance. They are trying to reasure themselves that death is not the end of the line.
Of course it's arrogant to claim absalute knowledge of something. Also many have the dim view to think that the more people who believe it that it somehow makes it more real, more true in some way. But as we know a lie is a lie no matter how many believe it. Reality does not favour the masses.
Whatever they claim, it will continue to be rejected until they actually produce something that can be considered evidence for their strange claims. As far as I am concerned, they know NOTHING. Religion knows as much as the population does. That will never change. Personal beliefs are just that. Personal beliefs. Nothing more.

(March 3, 2010 at 6:27 pm)Thor Wrote:

(March 3, 2010 at 5:27 pm)Ace Wrote: Indeed. What reason is there to believe what they say?

And yet, these people spout their beliefs as if they are undeniable fact. They KNOW "God" exists! They KNOW he answers prayers! They KNOW Jesus will return. They KNOW heaven is waiting for them when they die.

These same dingbats also KNEW that Zeus was in the sky throwing lightning bolts. They KNEW that Apollo rode through the heavens on a chariot of fire. They KNEW that witches could cause cattle to die and crops to wither. These people would have bet their very lives that these things were true.

And they were all wrong.

But does Thor have a big hammer?

(March 3, 2010 at 6:55 pm)Ace Wrote: They are only trying to ignore what others say about their beliefs. When they go over and over about ending in heaven I see it as reasurance. They are trying to reasure themselves that death is not the end of the line.

Many believers I've spoken with have chastised me because I don't believe there is anything after this life. Sometimes I get silly threats like, "I wouldn't want to be you when it's time for your final judgement." I retort that if their deity banishes someone to an eternity in a firepit merely because they didn't believe, then they are worshiping an incredibly petty deity.

Yes, I think many believers swallow this tripe because it's comforting to think that your loved ones aren't really "gone". They're living happily in a paradise! Makes it easier than confronting the reality that grandma is gone and you'll never see her again.

---

(March 4, 2010 at 4:55 am)Loki_999 Wrote: But does Thor have a big hammer?

Didn't a famous man once say, "Speak softly, but carry a big hammer"?

(March 4, 2010 at 4:48 pm)Thor Wrote: Yes, I think many believers swallow this tripe because it's comforting to think that your loved ones aren't really "gone". They're living happily in a paradise! Makes it easier than confronting the reality that grandma is gone and you'll never see her again.

It's all wishful thinking and I can say I have looked into it and for a time I tried to convince myself that if I died here and now I'd wake up again somewhere else. However despite giving myself false sense of safety and asurance I knew I was only fooling myself. Blinding myself to the reality at hand. This wishful thought of comfort in the personal belief of another place must first be created by you. Think about it, you and I were never born with the idea of going to another place. It was thought up. A blissful afterlife is a delusion for those who seek comfort from reality.
I dont' care what they believe. A lie is a lie no matter how many believe it or how strongly. What I don't like is that they feel the need to press their personal beliefs on others by threaterning us with hell. It's unacceptable and I'm sure that if there is a god and he is as wise as they say, then he'd think it's unacceptable too. Anyway according to the bible - "Do not judge. Mt.7:1,2.
Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned"

(March 3, 2010 at 6:55 pm)Ace Wrote:

(March 3, 2010 at 6:27 pm)Thor Wrote: And yet, these people spout their beliefs as if they are undeniable fact. They KNOW "God" exists! They KNOW he answers prayers! They KNOW Jesus will return. They KNOW heaven is waiting for them when they die.

These same dingbats also KNEW that Zeus was in the sky throwing lightning bolts. They KNEW that Apollo rode through the heavens on a chariot of fire. They KNEW that witches could cause cattle to die and crops to wither. These people would have bet their very lives that these things were true.

And they were all wrong.

They are only trying to ignore what others say about their beliefs. When they go over and over about ending in heaven I see it as reasurance. They are trying to reasure themselves that death is not the end of the line.
Of course it's arrogant to claim absalute knowledge of something. Also many have the dim view to think that the more people who believe it that it somehow makes it more real, more true in some way. But as we know a lie is a lie no matter how many believe it. Reality does not favour the masses.
Whatever they claim, it will continue to be rejected until they actually produce something that can be considered evidence for their strange claims. As far as I am concerned, they know NOTHING. Religion knows as much as the population does. That will never change. Personal beliefs are just that. Personal beliefs. Nothing more.

My wife 'knows' that the spirits talk to her and that all christians are silly because they ignore 'the truth'
I'm not sure what she thinks of atheists, but she used to try to convince me of the spiritualist truth but I could barely keep a straight face.

We no longer talk about these things.

Except for this little thing shes really lovely, just dont talk about RELIGION.

(March 5, 2010 at 12:44 pm)downbeatplumb Wrote:

(March 3, 2010 at 6:55 pm)Ace Wrote:

(March 3, 2010 at 6:27 pm)Thor Wrote: And yet, these people spout their beliefs as if they are undeniable fact. They KNOW "God" exists! They KNOW he answers prayers! They KNOW Jesus will return. They KNOW heaven is waiting for them when they die.

These same dingbats also KNEW that Zeus was in the sky throwing lightning bolts. They KNEW that Apollo rode through the heavens on a chariot of fire. They KNEW that witches could cause cattle to die and crops to wither. These people would have bet their very lives that these things were true.

And they were all wrong.

They are only trying to ignore what others say about their beliefs. When they go over and over about ending in heaven I see it as reasurance. They are trying to reasure themselves that death is not the end of the line.
Of course it's arrogant to claim absalute knowledge of something. Also many have the dim view to think that the more people who believe it that it somehow makes it more real, more true in some way. But as we know a lie is a lie no matter how many believe it. Reality does not favour the masses.
Whatever they claim, it will continue to be rejected until they actually produce something that can be considered evidence for their strange claims. As far as I am concerned, they know NOTHING. Religion knows as much as the population does. That will never change. Personal beliefs are just that. Personal beliefs. Nothing more.

My wife 'knows' that the spirits talk to her and that all christians are silly because they ignore 'the truth'
I'm not sure what she thinks of atheists, but she used to try to convince me of the spiritualist truth but I could barely keep a straight face.

We no longer talk about these things.

Except for this little thing shes really lovely, just dont talk about RELIGION.

The same with my girlfriend of three years.

She has very low standards of evidence, and believes just for the sake of believing and does so from childhood indoctrination. It frustrates me sometimes, but other than that one aspect, we get along great.

(March 5, 2010 at 12:48 pm)tavarish Wrote:

(March 5, 2010 at 12:44 pm)downbeatplumb Wrote:

(March 3, 2010 at 6:55 pm)Ace Wrote:

(March 3, 2010 at 6:27 pm)Thor Wrote: And yet, these people spout their beliefs as if they are undeniable fact. They KNOW "God" exists! They KNOW he answers prayers! They KNOW Jesus will return. They KNOW heaven is waiting for them when they die.

These same dingbats also KNEW that Zeus was in the sky throwing lightning bolts. They KNEW that Apollo rode through the heavens on a chariot of fire. They KNEW that witches could cause cattle to die and crops to wither. These people would have bet their very lives that these things were true.

And they were all wrong.

They are only trying to ignore what others say about their beliefs. When they go over and over about ending in heaven I see it as reasurance. They are trying to reasure themselves that death is not the end of the line.
Of course it's arrogant to claim absalute knowledge of something. Also many have the dim view to think that the more people who believe it that it somehow makes it more real, more true in some way. But as we know a lie is a lie no matter how many believe it. Reality does not favour the masses.
Whatever they claim, it will continue to be rejected until they actually produce something that can be considered evidence for their strange claims. As far as I am concerned, they know NOTHING. Religion knows as much as the population does. That will never change. Personal beliefs are just that. Personal beliefs. Nothing more.

My wife 'knows' that the spirits talk to her and that all christians are silly because they ignore 'the truth'
I'm not sure what she thinks of atheists, but she used to try to convince me of the spiritualist truth but I could barely keep a straight face.

We no longer talk about these things.

Except for this little thing shes really lovely, just dont talk about RELIGION.

The same with my girlfriend of three years.

She has very low standards of evidence, and believes just for the sake of believing and does so from childhood indoctrination. It frustrates me sometimes, but other than that one aspect, we get along great.

My wife goes beyond just believing, she 'channels the spirits in church halls' a la Derek Acorah.
She is a medium to my shame.
Although I've never seen her do it and I am banned from attending because of my 'negative vibrations'

I repeat in evry other way shes nice, its just......

(March 5, 2010 at 12:53 pm)downbeatplumb Wrote:

(March 5, 2010 at 12:48 pm)tavarish Wrote:

(March 5, 2010 at 12:44 pm)downbeatplumb Wrote:

(March 3, 2010 at 6:55 pm)Ace Wrote:

(March 3, 2010 at 6:27 pm)Thor Wrote: And yet, these people spout their beliefs as if they are undeniable fact. They KNOW "God" exists! They KNOW he answers prayers! They KNOW Jesus will return. They KNOW heaven is waiting for them when they die.

These same dingbats also KNEW that Zeus was in the sky throwing lightning bolts. They KNEW that Apollo rode through the heavens on a chariot of fire. They KNEW that witches could cause cattle to die and crops to wither. These people would have bet their very lives that these things were true.

And they were all wrong.

They are only trying to ignore what others say about their beliefs. When they go over and over about ending in heaven I see it as reasurance. They are trying to reasure themselves that death is not the end of the line.
Of course it's arrogant to claim absalute knowledge of something. Also many have the dim view to think that the more people who believe it that it somehow makes it more real, more true in some way. But as we know a lie is a lie no matter how many believe it. Reality does not favour the masses.
Whatever they claim, it will continue to be rejected until they actually produce something that can be considered evidence for their strange claims. As far as I am concerned, they know NOTHING. Religion knows as much as the population does. That will never change. Personal beliefs are just that. Personal beliefs. Nothing more.

My wife 'knows' that the spirits talk to her and that all christians are silly because they ignore 'the truth'
I'm not sure what she thinks of atheists, but she used to try to convince me of the spiritualist truth but I could barely keep a straight face.

We no longer talk about these things.

Except for this little thing shes really lovely, just dont talk about RELIGION.

The same with my girlfriend of three years.

She has very low standards of evidence, and believes just for the sake of believing and does so from childhood indoctrination. It frustrates me sometimes, but other than that one aspect, we get along great.

My wife goes beyond just believing, she 'channels the spirits in church halls' a la Derek Acorah.
She is a medium to my shame.
Although I've never seen her do it and I am banned from attending because of my 'negative vibrations'

I repeat in evry other way shes nice, its just......

Some people go further than others with their delusions.

As long as she's not denying care or imposing on others' rights, then I wouldn't worry about it. I have a very religious neighbor that sings gospel tunes all the time. I tell her that she has an amazing voice, and e leave it at that. She's not trying to convert me and we're friendly to each other.

The Jehovah's Witnesses who bother me on saturday morning however....

Ah Jehovahs witnesses.
They even know they are hated and yet they force themselves to do it.
It takes a lot of bravery to knowingly annoy almost everyone.

Just going to correct the title of this thread. Should of done it a while ago.

Quote:reasons to believe, there is no God

It's "reasons to disbelieve in god". I have a lack of belief not a belief. Lack of belief, lack of faith, without a religion.