The prize of Christianity

[John V]

Don't you think that in context, the word fear means something more akin to respect. For example, you walk past a junk yard and a vicious dog crashes against the chain link fence growling and barking at you. At first it will startle you, but then you realize he's defending his territory and you have to respect him for that. Or the way you must respect a loaded gun, even if you know how to handle.

(wow, I just compared God to a junkyard dog and a loaded gun...)

I've never studied the usages of the underlying hebrew word. I figure that if it meant respect, it would have been translated as respect. However, translations are sometimes wanting, and sometimes the first few influence all the rest. IOW, I say fear, but I'm open to respect if that can be argued with something solid.

[Simon Moon]

Then what's your point?

My points were:

1. That you believe you have a 'disease' from birth, defined by your religion, The the same religion offers you an imaginary cure.

2. You believe that you deserve to be shot for refusing to be the servant for a guy with a gun. Which is understandable, considering your religion has a god that rules the exact same way as the guy with the gun. Might makes right.

[John V]

It has not gone unnoticed that you failed to address the actual points.

Instead you point out a pretty minor 'mistake'.

People have struggled with conscience and guilt throughout recorded history, and you just dismiss this as an imaginary illness. I didn't think it deserved a serious reply. I still don't. Bye-bye.

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2. You believe that you deserve to be shot for refusing to be the servant for a guy with a gun.

No, I deserve to be shot for my sins.

[Simon Moon]

People have struggled with conscience and guilt throughout recorded history, and you just dismiss this as an imaginary illness. I didn't think it deserved a serious reply. I still don't. Bye-bye.

Of course they have.

But you didn't say "guilt and conscience" did you? You said "sin". These are not the same thing.

If I were to treat someone bad, or steal something, I would feel guilty and my conscience would bother me. But that is because I mistreated another human.

But sin is something completely different. Sin is something that is supposedly wrong just because a god says so. Sins are not necessarily something that is the mistreatment of other people. Apostasy, for example.

No, I deserve to be shot for my sins.

Yes, because your thought process has become so poisoned because of your beliefs.

Do you believe that us atheists, if we die atheist, are going to hell?

[John V]

People have struggled with conscience and guilt throughout recorded history, and you just dismiss this as an imaginary illness. I didn't think it deserved a serious reply. I still don't. Bye-bye.

Of course they have.

But you didn't say "guilt and conscience" did you? You said "sin". These are not the same thing.

OK, I'll restate - I deserve to be shot for my actions and thoughts toward other people.

[Neo-Scholastic]

...your thought process has become so poisoned because of your beliefs.

Your mind has become a dessert because you kill everything that gives life.

Do you believe that us atheists, if we die atheist, are going to hell?

Yes.

...your religion has a god that rules the exact same way as the guy with the gun. Might makes right.

You have it backwards. Atheism supports 'might makes right.' Following God is right because He is the source of everything good.

[Simon Moon]

OK, I'll restate - I deserve to be shot for my actions and thoughts toward other people.

Have you murdered anyone? If not, there is no other crime that deserves death. Especially thought crimes.

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Yes.

Do YOU believe we deserve to go to hell?

As an analogy, is there anything your children could do, that would cause you to build a torture chamber and torture them for the rest of their lives?

You have it backwards. Atheism supports 'might makes right.' Following God is right because He is the source of everything good.

Atheism does not support might makes right. I hope you're not talking about Stalin or Pol Pot, or some such rubbish.

Is god the source for good because he says so, or is he the source of good because it is inherently good?

[Tonus]

(wow, I just compared God to a junkyard dog and a loaded gun...)

Every journey begins with a single step.

[Neo-Scholastic]

Do YOU believe we deserve to go to hell?

Yes.

Is god the source for good because he says so, or is he the source of good because it is inherently good?

Neither, you dope. He is goodness itself.

[John V]

Might can't make right - nothing can, as right is subjective. But, might does put people in jail. While they're there, they can say that they're right all they want.

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[quote='John V' pid='419219' dateline='1363995265']
Have you murdered anyone?

I took a girlfriend to get an abortion. In my view, yes, I murdered someone.

If not, there is no other crime that deserves death. Especially thought crimes.

Who are you to declare what crimes deserve what punishments?