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Anymouse
Worshipper of Caffeinea, Goddess of Coffee.
Religious Views: Atheist (formerly Wiccan, with a Discordian bent). Erotic Romance novel editor. Handfasted to BethK, the smartest, coolest, sexiest, brightest atheist here.
Posts: 544
Threads: 62
Joined: May 25, 2011
Reputation:
15
(August 26, 2011 at 2:38 pm)thesummerqueen Wrote: wow. The forums have been difficult all day on this computer, so I've only seen bits and pieces of this thread and now I'm afraid to go back and read it all.
Just read my answer right above yours then. It's the best one.
My oft-proclaimed good opinion of certain people of a pagan bent notwithstanding, excuse me if I remain skeptical as to whose answers are "best".
I was mostly being cheeky and self-important, like salty here at the start of this thread.
Frequently I find your answers to be the "best." I have little doubt mine are a wide shot from that, particularly since "best" is a relative term anyway, like sister or cousin or aunt.
"Be ye not lost amongst Precept of Order." - Book of Uterus, 1:5, "Principia Discordia, or How I Found Goddess and What I Did to Her When I Found Her."
To anyone who thinks my questions are meant to be disrespectful:
If you don't want to help me understand more about the athiest persepective, no problem, just say so. I'm aware that Christians mock, offend and embitter plenty of people, of many faiths and no faith. The difference between them and me is that I'm here. I'm open. I can be asked questions. I can be spoken to and spoken about. I can talk back and give you a new persepective, just as you have shown a new side of life with no faith.
I don't represent all the people that have burned you or anyone in the past. I can apologize for them, but I am not them, I'm me. And you're you. Please, believe me when I say: I did not come here to burn you, my questions weren't baited, they were realistic. Stupid, childish, yes, but also realistic. I'm not going to be a pro at faithlessness when I have been a committed follower of Christ for a long time, it's going to take some very basic means to get me to see where someone with an opposing view is coming from. I'd appreciate it if you would be a little more patient with me because I am doing everything in my power to be patient and open with you.
Lastly, for those of you who were guessing, I was not raised Christian. My parents were seventh-day adventists, my mother Catholic before she converted to seventh-day adventism. She and my father divorced when I was three, he continues today as a seventh-day adventist (as is my grandmother) and my mother became a non-denominational Chrisian. When I was in 8th grade my mother invited me to church, but up until then she never forced me to read the Bible, go to church or even pray or talk about God. I decided that the least I could do was go to church. I stayed and for two years they taught me about God, by example and by sermons. I accepted the Lord when I was around 15 years old and I never turned and never will turn back. My choice wasn't rushed. I didn't worship the church, I didn't worship the pope, I fell asleep during service all the time. I loved my youth pastor, but my faith did not die when he left because it was based on the person of Jesus as described in the Bible. I asked every question I wanted to ask and I lived how I wanted to live, but I wanted the joy that the other believers had because my life (the way I lived it) wasn't bringing joy, it was bringing me guilt, anger and pain. Ever since I believed I haven't had a day without joy and relief, even when I'm suffering.
Thank you for taking a moment to read this.
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6
August 26, 2011 at 3:37 pm (This post was last modified: August 26, 2011 at 3:38 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
Where do you think all that guilt, anger and pain came from?
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence - Carl Sagan
Mankind's intelligence walks hand in hand with it's stupidity.
Being an atheist says nothing about your overall intelligence, it just means you don't believe in god. Atheists can be as bright as any scientist and as stupid as any creationist.
You never really know just how stupid someone is, until you've argued with them.
(August 26, 2011 at 3:34 pm)salty Wrote: I loved my youth pastor, but my faith did not die when he left because it was based on the person of Jesus as described in the Bible.
But surely the character of Jesus as described in the Bible is a work of fiction, as I'm sure any decent and impartial Biblical scholar will tell you..
Consider this..
Horus
Born 3000 B.C, 25th December
Egyptian God
Born of a virgin (Isis-Merion =Mary)
His father was called “Seb” = Joseph
Adorned by 3 Kings
Star in the east
Teacher at the age of 12
Baptized at the age of 30
Had 12 disciples
Preformed miracles i.e. Healing the sick, walking on water etc...
Known as “the lamb of God/ the light” etc...
Betrayed & Crucified
Dead for 3 days
And thus resurrected
Attis
Born 1700 B.C, 25th December
Greek God
Born of a virgin (Nana)
Star in the east
Teacher at the age of 12
Baptized at the age of 30
Had 12 disciples
Preformed miracles i.e. Healing the sick, walking on water etc...
Known as “the lamb of God/ the light” etc...
Betrayed & Crucified
Dead for 3 days
And thus resurrected on March 25
Mithra
Born 1200 B.C, 25th December
Persian God
Born of a virgin
His birth was attended by shepherds bearing gifts
Star in the east
Worshiped on Sundays
Baptized at the age of 30
Had 12 disciples
Preformed miracles i.e. Healing the sick, walking on water etc...
Known as “the Good Shepherd/ the light” etc...
Betrayed & Crucified
Dead for 3 days
And thus resurrected
Krishna
Born 900 B.C, 25th December
Indian God
Born of a virgin (Devaki)
Adorned by 3 Kings
Star in the east
Teacher at the age of 12
Was a Carpenter
Baptized at the age of 30
Had 12 disciples
Preformed miracles i.e. Healing the sick, walking on water etc...
Known as “the lamb of God/ the light” etc...
Betrayed & Crucified
Dead for 3 days
And thus resurrected
Zoroaster/Zarathustra
Born 628 B.C, 25th December
Iranian Prophet
Born of a virgin (“immaculate conception by a ray of divine reason.”)
He astounded wise men with his wisdom
Star in the east
He began his ministry at age 30
Had 12 disciples
Preformed miracles i.e. Healing the sick, walking on water etc...
Known as “the lamb of God/ the light” etc...
He was slain
He had a sacred cup or grail.
And thus resurrected
Zoroaster’s followers expected a “second coming” in the virgin-born Saoshynt or Savior
Jesus Christ
Born 4 B.C, Month unknown, (Celebrated on the 25th December)
Christian God
Born of a virgin (Mary)
Adorned by 3 Kings
Star in the east
Teacher at the age of 12
Was also a Carpenter
Baptized at the age of 30 and started his ministry
Had 12 disciples
Preformed miracles i.e. Healing the sick, walking on water, turned water into wine, etc...
Known as “the lamb of God/ the light” etc...
Betrayed & Crucified
Dead for 3 days
And thus resurrected
Dionysus
Born 200 A.D, 25th December
Greek God
Born of a virgin
Star in the east
Teacher at the age of 12
Baptized at the age of 30
Had 12 disciples
Preformed miracles i.e. Healing the sick, Turning water into wine etc...
Known as “the king of kings/ the Alpha & Omega” etc...
Betrayed & Crucified
Dead for 3 days
And thus resurrected
August 26, 2011 at 3:57 pm (This post was last modified: August 26, 2011 at 4:06 pm by salty.)
lol, the heavy indoctrination actually comes from my own study. i simply listened as a skeptic and also the term "monkey" is a racial slur, I was really convinced that we evolved, especially since no one could show me evolution in action. But the Jews were still around.
(August 26, 2011 at 3:54 pm)Darwinian Wrote:
(August 26, 2011 at 3:34 pm)salty Wrote: I loved my youth pastor, but my faith did not die when he left because it was based on the person of Jesus as described in the Bible.
But surely the character of Jesus as described in the Bible is a work of fiction, as I'm sure any decent and impartial Biblical scholar will tell you..
Consider this..
Horus
Born 3000 B.C, 25th December
Egyptian God
Born of a virgin (Isis-Merion =Mary)
His father was called “Seb” = Joseph
Adorned by 3 Kings
Star in the east
Teacher at the age of 12
Baptized at the age of 30
Had 12 disciples
Preformed miracles i.e. Healing the sick, walking on water etc...
Known as “the lamb of God/ the light” etc...
Betrayed & Crucified
Dead for 3 days
And thus resurrected
Attis
Born 1700 B.C, 25th December
Greek God
Born of a virgin (Nana)
Star in the east
Teacher at the age of 12
Baptized at the age of 30
Had 12 disciples
Preformed miracles i.e. Healing the sick, walking on water etc...
Known as “the lamb of God/ the light” etc...
Betrayed & Crucified
Dead for 3 days
And thus resurrected on March 25
Mithra
Born 1200 B.C, 25th December
Persian God
Born of a virgin
His birth was attended by shepherds bearing gifts
Star in the east
Worshiped on Sundays
Baptized at the age of 30
Had 12 disciples
Preformed miracles i.e. Healing the sick, walking on water etc...
Known as “the Good Shepherd/ the light” etc...
Betrayed & Crucified
Dead for 3 days
And thus resurrected
Krishna
Born 900 B.C, 25th December
Indian God
Born of a virgin (Devaki)
Adorned by 3 Kings
Star in the east
Teacher at the age of 12
Was a Carpenter
Baptized at the age of 30
Had 12 disciples
Preformed miracles i.e. Healing the sick, walking on water etc...
Known as “the lamb of God/ the light” etc...
Betrayed & Crucified
Dead for 3 days
And thus resurrected
Zoroaster/Zarathustra
Born 628 B.C, 25th December
Iranian Prophet
Born of a virgin (“immaculate conception by a ray of divine reason.”)
He astounded wise men with his wisdom
Star in the east
He began his ministry at age 30
Had 12 disciples
Preformed miracles i.e. Healing the sick, walking on water etc...
Known as “the lamb of God/ the light” etc...
He was slain
He had a sacred cup or grail.
And thus resurrected
Zoroaster’s followers expected a “second coming” in the virgin-born Saoshynt or Savior
Jesus Christ
Born 4 B.C, Month unknown, (Celebrated on the 25th December)
Christian God
Born of a virgin (Mary)
Adorned by 3 Kings
Star in the east
Teacher at the age of 12
Was also a Carpenter
Baptized at the age of 30 and started his ministry
Had 12 disciples
Preformed miracles i.e. Healing the sick, walking on water, turned water into wine, etc...
Known as “the lamb of God/ the light” etc...
Betrayed & Crucified
Dead for 3 days
And thus resurrected
Dionysus
Born 200 A.D, 25th December
Greek God
Born of a virgin
Star in the east
Teacher at the age of 12
Baptized at the age of 30
Had 12 disciples
Preformed miracles i.e. Healing the sick, Turning water into wine etc...
Known as “the king of kings/ the Alpha & Omega” etc...
Betrayed & Crucified
Dead for 3 days
And thus resurrected
Whoa, that is a lot to consider, thank you. I didn't realize there were so many people with such a similar story as Jesus, therefore I'll have to take a look at everything you've listed. I should ask William Craig about these people you've mentioned! I wanted to add this question to you: What ministry did Horus, Attis, Mithra, & Dionysus have? What did they teach, do you know the names of the religions connected to them? I know what's connected to Zorastor, Jesus & Krishna.
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6
August 26, 2011 at 4:02 pm (This post was last modified: August 26, 2011 at 4:04 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
(August 26, 2011 at 3:57 pm)salty Wrote: lol, the heavy indoctrination actually comes from my own study. i simply listened as a skeptic and also the term "monkey" is a racial slur, I was really convinced that we evolved, especially since no one could show me evolution in action. But the Jews were still around.
hock: Reword?
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
ohhhhhhh boy. Id love to hear how william lane craig explains the similarities of jesus to all those other gods. I mean truly, william lane craig has all the answers since god hasnt talked to us lately.
(August 26, 2011 at 3:57 pm)salty Wrote: lol, the heavy indoctrination actually comes from my own study. i simply listened as a skeptic and also the term "monkey" is a racial slur, I was really convinced that we evolved, especially since no one could show me evolution in action. But the Jews were still around.
(August 26, 2011 at 3:54 pm)Darwinian Wrote:
(August 26, 2011 at 3:34 pm)salty Wrote: I loved my youth pastor, but my faith did not die when he left because it was based on the person of Jesus as described in the Bible.
But surely the character of Jesus as described in the Bible is a work of fiction, as I'm sure any decent and impartial Biblical scholar will tell you..
Consider this..
Mithra
Born 1200 B.C, 25th December
Persian God
Born of a virgin
His birth was attended by shepherds bearing gifts
Star in the east
Worshiped on Sundays
Baptized at the age of 30
Had 12 disciples
Preformed miracles i.e. Healing the sick, walking on water etc...
Known as “the Good Shepherd/ the light” etc...
Betrayed & Crucified
Dead for 3 days
And thus resurrected
Whoa, that is a lot to consider, thank you. I didn't realize there were so many people with such a similar story as Jesus, therefore I'll have to take a look at everything you've listed. I should ask William Craig about these people you've mentioned! I wanted to add this question to you: What ministry did Horus, Attis, Mithra, & Dionysus have? What did they teach, do you know the names of the religions connected to them? I know what's connected to Zorastor, Jesus & Krishna.
Well, I won't go into the rest of them as Horus, Attis, and Dionysus were part of various pantheons, and basically everyone in their culture were "their followers" and "their ministry".
Mithras though, did also have apostles, ministry, congregations. They taught "love one another" and called each other "Brother" and "Sister". They were baptized into their congregations. They preached, healed the sick, helped the poor and downtrodden. You have thought they'd have gotten along well with Christians.... but no, the two groups HATED each other! The Roman government and the priests of the typical pantheon gods were more sympathetic to both groups than they were to each other. Why? The Christians thought Mithrism as a "cheap copy" of Christianity, and Mithrists thought Christianity was a "cheap copy" of Mithrism.
How did this happen when Mithras is more than 1000 years older than Jesus? That's simple: The devil imitated Jesus' works in advance, according to St. Anslem. Imitated things in advance???? Does the devil, or Mithras, or the Persians somehow have knowledge of the future? Jesus says that "the Father alone" knows the future!
Yet another shining example of Christian illogic along with them not listening to Jesus' words when it suits them. Also, they were not "known by their love" in how they treated the followers of Mithras!