(October 1, 2014 at 9:14 pm)Hezekiah Wrote:

(October 1, 2014 at 9:07 pm)Rhythm Wrote: LOL, I'm asking you -how- christianity makes you a better person. The point of anti-theism isn't to make someone a better person in the first place....so I'm not surprised that you don't find it useful in that regard. Neither do I.

Right. I understand if you don't find it useful in that regard, and I believe you, but to claim that I don't find it useful for myself in that way is rather forward.

Also, I gave examples earlier -"I care about other people's happiness, I'm passionate about human rights" -but if you're asking me to be more detailed, sure: My faith relies on me to believe and practice grace, mercy, forgiveness, humility, and love toward others. In that respect alone, I am becoming a better person.

I see. It doesn't matter whether or not it's true, all that matters is that it makes you feel better.

Religion is designed to make adherents feel 'superior' - not merely better.

As Mencken noted:

Quote:God is the immemorial refuge of the incompetent, the helpless, the miserable. They find not only sanctuary in His arms, but also a kind of superiority, soothing to their macerated egos: He will set them above their betters.
— H L Mencken

(October 1, 2014 at 11:36 pm)Hezekiah Wrote: I agree, doubts and questions is definitely how we must learn. Christianity aside, I personally believe that if God, Tao, Allah, whatever intelligent creator brought about this reality existed he had to be perfect, all-powerfull, and all-knowing in order to do so. I admit, I don't understand his ways, but if I'm assuming He is truly all-powerful, all-knowing, perfect and good, then one would assume that is my own perspective of the situation that is wrong.

And simply put, Jesus proclaimed that he is "I Am" and that "I and the Father are One". That's why one would attribute Jesus to being human and God. He also prophezied His own death and resurrection, and if one were to assume that Jesus wasn't a liar, one would have to believe what he said about resurrecting.

Being a spiritual person I don't know that god/s are male. I have no reason to think god has a gender.

You are not a Christian by biblical standards, props. I will not associate myself with a bunch of murderers, Ain't gonna happen. My moral compass tells me to defy your religion. I think it's a dishonor to Jesus if he existed.

The story was probably embellished to turn a human, Jesus, into a god. Start a new religion and start controlling the masses with it, while either being rich with infamy or money or both.

Greed is the problem, not god/s. It is human greed and nothing else. I feel very strongly about this. It's intense. KNOW YOUR ENEMY, Rage Against the Machine. My enemy is greed not gods or no gods.

---

I can't catch up. I read 3 pages of 3-4 guys talking to each other. This thread is hi-jacked. I give up.

(October 2, 2014 at 12:30 pm)Rogue Wrote: You are not a Christian by biblical standards, props.

Erm..I don't know where you got the idea that you get to determine who is a Christian and who isn't, as well as what the Bible actually means..but it's really bizarre and a bit arrogant to think you're the arbiter of who's a real Christian.

(October 1, 2014 at 10:53 pm)Hezekiah Wrote:

(October 1, 2014 at 10:49 pm)Pickup_shonuff Wrote: To add to what Rhythm said, I wonder if Hezekiah would continue trying to persuade others of faith and religion--given his knowledge that they're false but still retaining them due to personal preference--and if so, we can conclude that such a person is a flat out liar with little regard for integrity and probably complete absence moral conviction (if you, however, state that you would not seek to persuade others of your cherished but false ideas, then by all means, carry on however you'd like).

I didn't even want to have this conversatioin. I said earlier:

Quote:I don't want to open that discussion up and derail the thread, so I'll leave the topic alone from here on out.

And I was met by:

Quote:Well, we're talking about this now, so go on. Threads deviate all the time.

Quote:Gotta admit, I'm extremely curious. Whats scary about the idea of "no god"?

Was it wrong for me to answer their questions? And should I have just ignored them instead?

Not at all. I think many of us were already aware that a great deal of the motivation behind religious belief and faith is the hope for a sense of security or comfort rather than regard for truth. I really do appreciate you admitting as much.

(October 2, 2014 at 12:32 pm)FatAndFaithless Wrote:

(October 2, 2014 at 12:30 pm)Rogue Wrote: You are not a Christian by biblical standards, props.

Erm..I don't know where you got the idea that you get to determine who is a Christian and who isn't, as well as what the Bible actually means..but it's really bizarre and a bit arrogant to think you're the arbiter of who's a real Christian.

They all think like that. Why do you think I can't stand the sanctimonious sons-of-bitches?

(October 2, 2014 at 2:17 pm)Minimalist Wrote:

(October 2, 2014 at 12:32 pm)FatAndFaithless Wrote: Erm..I don't know where you got the idea that you get to determine who is a Christian and who isn't, as well as what the Bible actually means..but it's really bizarre and a bit arrogant to think you're the arbiter of who's a real Christian.

They all think like that. Why do you think I can't stand the sanctimonious sons-of-bitches?

But Rogue isn't even a Christian, which makes it even weirder.

(October 2, 2014 at 12:30 pm)Rogue Wrote: I give up.

I'm guessing this will not be the case.

(October 2, 2014 at 2:18 pm)FatAndFaithless Wrote:

(October 2, 2014 at 2:17 pm)Minimalist Wrote: They all think like that. Why do you think I can't stand the sanctimonious sons-of-bitches?

But Rogue isn't even a Christian, which makes it even weirder.

It doesn't matter. They are all alike.

(October 2, 2014 at 2:30 pm)Minimalist Wrote:

(October 2, 2014 at 2:18 pm)FatAndFaithless Wrote: But Rogue isn't even a Christian, which makes it even weirder.

It doesn't matter. They are all alike.

Certainly seems more and more like it.