1. I answered 'no' several posts up.

2. Pretty much. The same way that most any religion maintains members....indoctrination while they are too young to notice the bullshit.

(August 21, 2014 at 2:57 am)Minimalist Wrote: 1. I answered 'no' several posts up.

2. Pretty much. The same way that most any religion maintains members....indoctrination while they are too young to notice the bullshit.

You did answer "no" several posts up. Here fore posterity:

Quote: the US there is no benefit to being an atheist...

But you do agree that some (we can't generalize) "new-born" Christians do so for the benefits in american society?

Just to be absolutely clear. Those who are new to the christian evangelical faith do so for the benefits they expect in American society*?

*Though noted not solely for these the reasons.

#My quotes didn't work, I am disturbed. I may be kicked!
## I fixed it.

I'm not entirely convinced you're not a poe.
Anyway, to put it bluntly.

Why are you even bringing in the born agains.
They are far and few between.
Whatever their motives are, it will have a negligible impact on society either way.
Nuff said.

Yes, there are benefits:

Networking.
Polical point scoring.
Socialising.

But nobody chooses this, as said before, people are born to it, therefore learn to take advantage of a given situation.

PS, no born again will do it for this reason if being honest.
They all do it for personal salvation.
They are born again (as my sig states), because they couldn't grow up and take responsibility the first time.

(August 21, 2014 at 3:22 am)ignoramus Wrote: I'm not entirely convinced you're not a poe.

Forgive my ignorance I do not know what a “poe” is. Is it a sock puppet? I've seen that on your forum and don't understand how 'poe' fits as an acronym. I am not a “sock puppet” and you can readily check my IP, I'm always who I say I am.
Anyway, to put it bluntly.

Quote:Why are you even bringing in the born agains.
They are far and few between.
Whatever their motives are, it will have a negligible impact on society either way.
Nuff said.

I guess I dug myself a hole there. “Born Again” is a self professed thing and not something that gets lumped into any category. A “Born Again” could be an Evangelical or Protestant or Catholic or anything. So your right, I don't have much to to go on. I spend the last hour looking for solid “Born Again”, “Returned to Christ”, “First Time Christains” and could find any kind of solid polls to solidify that.

However I did find this one.

I'm not sure or clear if I can post a link so I'll just put it in here and you can Copy/Past it if you care to see. It's of your congress circa 2011.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2011/02/...filiation/#

Doesn't help my argument any? I say it does... over 55% christian, nearly 30% catholic. I'd say it helps to be if your running for office.

As for the indoctrinated, that's also no my argument. Even if they are does it not help them with:
Networking.
Political point scoring.
Socializing. (in their cliches)

Is it no a benefit? Is it not desirable?

Begrudgingly arguing,

~ GB

(August 21, 2014 at 3:38 am)Goosebump Wrote:

(August 21, 2014 at 3:22 am)ignoramus Wrote: I'm not entirely convinced you're not a poe.

Forgive my ignorance I do not know what a “poe” is. Is it a sock puppet? I've seen that on your forum and don't understand how 'poe' fits as an acronym. I am not a “sock puppet” and you can readily check my IP, I'm always who I say I am.
Anyway, to put it bluntly.

Quote:Why are you even bringing in the born agains.
They are far and few between.
Whatever their motives are, it will have a negligible impact on society either way.
Nuff said.

I guess I dug myself a hole there. “Born Again” is a self professed thing and not something that gets lumped into any category. A “Born Again” could be an Evangelical or Protestant or Catholic or anything. So your right, I don't have much to to go on. I spend the last hour looking for solid “Born Again”, “Returned to Christ”, “First Time Christains” and could find any kind of solid polls to solidify that.

However I did find this one.

I'm not sure or clear if I can post a link so I'll just put it in here and you can Copy/Past it if you care to see. It's of your congress circa 2011.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2011/02/...filiation/#

Doesn't help my argument any? I say it does... over 55% christian, nearly 30% catholic. I'd say it helps to be if your running for office.

As for the indoctrinated, that's also no my argument. Even if they are does it not help them with:
Networking.
Political point scoring.
Socializing. (in their cliches)

Is it no a benefit? Is it not desirable?

Begrudgingly arguing,

~ GB

Sure it's a benefit. As long as you understand it's not a choice.
Nobody can honestly turn religious for those gains.
It doesn't work like that. Only an already religious person may or may not take advantage of existing situations in their circles.

Not sure what you ultimate point is?

Some people cite the growth of the industrialist age as being a direct result of protestantism entrenching itself in states where the RCC had been ousted and/or declined in popularity.

The so called puritan work ethic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_work_ethic) is where some argue that modern capitalism originated.

I've not come to a conclusion on it as I haven't studied it. Interesting theory, though.

(August 21, 2014 at 4:47 am)ignoramus Wrote: Sure it's a benefit. As long as you understand it's not a choice.
Nobody can honestly turn religious for those gains.
It doesn't work like that. Only an already religious person may or may not take advantage of existing situations in their circles.

Not sure what you ultimate point is?

Can't they? A New Yorker can become a Cowboys fan after a year in Texas. False equivalence sure. But are you making the "no true Scotsman" claim on those that do or do not become "born again"?

One of the benefits is not getting killed by idiots.

(August 21, 2014 at 4:56 am)czúzyt ylgájla Wrote: One of the benefits is not getting killed by idiots.

I'm not sure how to quantify the value of that input but I thank you for it none the less. I also recognize a morbid potential in its relevancy.

There are benefits of being an atheists, some of them are :
To stop hating your self because of your sins.
To accept your sexuality if you are a sexual minority.
To stop being afraid of thinking.
To stop wasting your life on bullshit
Etc

---

And the existence of fundies gives me confidence by making feel like a genius. (Lisa Simpson style)