(March 6, 2014 at 11:40 pm)dr_jpeg Wrote:

(March 6, 2014 at 10:21 pm)Marsellus Wallace Wrote: your religious views say that you are agnostic , and your post says you're a lifelong atheist . make up your mind

make a post at the introduction area, tell us more about yourself.

and welcome

I am an atheist in that I don't believe in a deity. I am agnostic in that I believe that we got here somehow; life did not spontaneously sprout on this planet from nothing. "God" may be a comet which deposited some single-celled life form along with the water which makes up our oceans. That single-celled life form no doubt evolved into life as we know it.

Wow! A magic comet fundamentalist!

(March 6, 2014 at 11:40 pm)dr_jpeg Wrote: I am an atheist in that I don't believe in a deity. I am agnostic in that I believe that we got here somehow; life did not spontaneously sprout on this planet from nothing. "God" may be a comet which deposited some single-celled life form along with the water which makes up our oceans. That single-celled life form no doubt evolved into life as we know it.

I would like to understand why you can accept life 'spontaneoudly sprouting' on a comet, but not Earth.

I'm giving up Laundry for Lint

Just to add that the Orthodox Church also has a period of Lent.

Monday was "clean Monday" (public holiday) which is the start of Greek Lent. You have traditional unleavened bread and seafood. Greeks traditionally give up meat and animal products but they also electively give up other things - like chocolate and so on.

We don't do it in our house - we had schnitzel's (homemade) yesterday.

Robert G. Ingersoll (1833 -1899) on Lent.

Quote:What possible good did it do the world for Christ to go without food for forty days? Why should we follow such an example? As a rule, hungry people are cross, contrary, obstinate, peevish and unpleasant. A good dinner puts a man at peace with all the world—makes him generous, good natured and happy. He feels like kissing his wife and children. The future looks bright. He wants to help the needy. The good in him predominates, and he wonders that any man was ever stingy or cruel. Your good cook is a civilizer, and without good food, well prepared, intellectual progress is simply impossible. Most of the orthodox creeds were born of bad cooking. Bad food produced dyspepsia, and dyspepsia produced Calvinism, and Calvinism is the cancer of Christianity. Oatmeal is responsible for the worst features of Scotch Presbyterianism. Half cooked beans account for the religion of the Puritans. Fried bacon and saleratus [baking powder] biscuit underlie the doctrine of State Rights. Lent is a mistake, fasting is a blunder, and bad cooking is a crime.

from an interview in the Brooklyn Eagle, April 24, 1881

(March 7, 2014 at 12:47 am)SteelCurtain Wrote:

(March 6, 2014 at 10:40 pm)Huggy74 Wrote: Lent is predominantly a Catholic practice, it definitely is only practiced by denominational Churches.

Patently untrue. I grew up in a Non-denominational church. That practiced lent.

And now I know. And knowing is half the battle. *G.I. Joe theme plays*

(March 7, 2014 at 9:28 am)xpastor Wrote: Robert G. Ingersoll (1833 -1899) on Lent.

Quote:What possible good did it do the world for Christ to go without food for forty days? Why should we follow such an example? ..... Lent is a mistake, fasting is a blunder, and bad cooking is a crime.

from an interview in the Brooklyn Eagle, April 24, 1881

The only truthful statement in all that hogwash is about "bad cooking".

Religion aside, fasting has proven its benefits over and OVER again! Including curing 4th stage cancer. Google it.

And Jesus fasted for Himself...not humanity. Fasting (long term) is a disconnect from society, and material things. It's a spiritual experience, that very few will ever truly know. Also, there are many kinds of fasts! Not just food. You can fast from gambling, or what-have-you.

As for our reasons to fast? Its a personal acknowlegement to God through: Prayer, Fasting and Good Deeds. This will show God and ourselves that we are capable of loving Him and one another. For at least a month or so!

What else do we have to give God, for so much that He has given us?

And, what have any of you done for "humanity" lately? Why-not fast from your time [here] to save baby seals, protest global warming, or find a an organ grinders' monkey to tip?

(March 7, 2014 at 12:47 am)SteelCurtain Wrote:

(March 6, 2014 at 10:40 pm)Huggy74 Wrote: Lent is predominantly a Catholic practice, it definitely is only practiced by denominational Churches.

Patently untrue. I grew up in a Non-denominational church. That practiced lent.

When I was in seminary long ago, the dean liked to comment that so-called non-denominational churches are really denominations with one congregation, in that they have a set of agreed upon beliefs. He did have a point.

However, I take your point that while Lent is mostly observed in churches with a "high" liturgical tradition (Catholic Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican) there are other churches which practice it.

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(March 7, 2014 at 10:30 am)ronedee Wrote: Religion aside, fasting has proven its benefits over and OVER again! Including curing 4th stage cancer. Google it.

Yeah, sure. Anything you say.

(March 7, 2014 at 10:30 am)ronedee Wrote: As for our reasons to fast? Its a personal acknowlegement to God through: Prayer, Fasting and Good Deeds. This will show God and ourselves that we are capable of loving Him and one another. For at least a month or so!

Been There, Done That. As a pastor, urged it upon my congregation. Utterly pointless like all the rest of Christianity.

(March 7, 2014 at 6:14 am)Cato Wrote:

(March 6, 2014 at 11:40 pm)dr_jpeg Wrote: I am an atheist in that I don't believe in a deity. I am agnostic in that I believe that we got here somehow; life did not spontaneously sprout on this planet from nothing. "God" may be a comet which deposited some single-celled life form along with the water which makes up our oceans. That single-celled life form no doubt evolved into life as we know it.

I would like to understand why you can accept life 'spontaneoudly sprouting' on a comet, but not Earth.

Who said it spontaneously sprouted ANYWHERE? Perhaps a comet was formed somewhere that life existed previously and was simply a vehicle. I am a firm believer in an infinite past during which life has ALWAYS existed somewhere. There was never a beginning or a "creation" of any kind. Our universe is within an entire infinite cosmos of universes. OUR universe had a beginning, but all of the materials of its makeup already existed within that cosmos.

What's the point of Lent? I mean, I kind of get what it is (giving something you like up for a period of time) but why do religious people do it?