Atheists are mentally ill

[Esquilax]

God explains literally everything we understand, as well as anything we don't understand and God will explain himself to us through the scriptures.

Uh uh, no. God doesn't explain anything about anything: shrugging and saying god... doesn't tell you anything at all. It doesn't tell you how, or why, or even what, since the Genesis account is entirely contradicted by what we know to be true about the universe. "Godidit" is an explanation that is completely content free, asserted without evidence, and defended despite all the evidence pointing to the contrary.

It doesn't mean to say of course that the Bible is a book of science it provides the underpinning of a universe that can be understood by a rational mind. It can be understood this because it was as the Bible insist purposefully made for a reason.

You first need to prove that the biblical account of things actually corresponds to reality before you start claiming that it explains things. Good luck with that: why not start with how plants were created before the sun?

How do you know humans aren't ever capable of doing this? Perhaps it's beyond the capability of the average guy on the street or if they have any capability at all is so subtle as to be unnoticed. If you were to try to remove all of Jesus's paranormal capabilities from the gospels then as Jefferson discovered you're not left with much of a coherent story of the man himself. A man who couldn't heal anyone wouldn't have crowds flocking to him or people cutting holes in his rood in an attempt to get to him. If you believe in God them all of this is perfectly reasonably possible. Bear in mind that these miraculous powers aren't claimed to be limited to Jesus though perhaps he had the highest grade it's possible for a human to have.

Another possibility: the story was entirely made up, or embellished in places, or even composed of multiple accounts of different people. How can you tell? By just accepting that it's true, you're only begging the question. Instead of interpreting the evidence to fit the bible, why not forget the book and see where the evidence leads on its own?

We only abolished slavery because of the teachings of Christ to begin with.

Which teachings? Was it the one about slaves obeying their masters, perhaps? Also, I believe the white slave owners who justified slavery with the bible... might disagree with you.

The abolition movement was inspired directly from Christianity,

It was also opposed by it. What are we to draw from that?

as was the human rights movement,

It was also opposed by it: what are we to draw from this?

the gender equality movement

Which is also opposed by it to this day. There are entire congregations that smile and nod to the idea of women submitting to their husbands.

and everything else.

Anything else you'd like to take credit for? The smell of fresh baked cookies, perhaps?

It all goes back to Jesus and God. This was God manifested in human life, look at the difference he made to world. Again it's like evidence you can see yet you will deny it.

No. It goes back to people. Honestly, every one of those good things you mentioned, you can find christians on either side of the issue. I know you will, as most christians do, leap to the no true scotsman fallacy there, but actually think about it: you're left with two options here. Either god directly intervened with the minds of only the people on the sides you like, contravening their free will in the process, or both sides were able to draw adequate justification for their actions from the bible. The latter is more likely, so think about what that means.

Christianity is the one with the most evidence, the one that had the biggest impact on the world, the most original, the most rational and the most influential. The other religions have a chance of being true sure, as does atheism/naturalism as a belief. That's the way it is but you go for the best pick of the pack you don't mess around.

You know, the practitioners of every other religion are telling us the exact same thing...

[pineapplebunnybounce]

Protip for all theists: don't claim that science agrees with you.

[Jackalope]

Jesus Christ was not a murderous monster I'm not sure where you're getting that idea. The Old Testament may have had an imperfect view of Gods Moral Justice/Law but even there you see portrayals God as a compassionate being who loved his people and saw his creation as "good", who demanded the Jews treat the aliens in their land with respect as they themselves were once aliens in the land of Egypt. There is an emphasis on the equality of man no matter what your race, nation or ethnicity. This was very much stressed by Jesus himself of course.

The old testament features numerous accounts of your god committing genocide upon humanity, and through your prophets, encouraging his followers to to the same.

Whether these stories are true or not is irrelevant. Your view on them is irrelevant. Many people believe these stores are true, and examples of your god's good justice. People read these tales to children, as examples of your god's good justice, poisoning their minds.

[gall]

Protip for all theists: don't claim that science agrees with you.

Science really doesn't agree or disagree. It presents evidence and lets one draw conclusions based on that evidence. One can choose to ignore that, argue it or support it.

If any atheist claim anything it seems to be the opposite of what being an atheist means. Atheism to me means I am simply saying I disagree with the claims that are being made...aka there is a god. Atheists say prove it!!! if you cannot prove it I reject your claim until such a time as you have proof for me to consider and I may or may not draw a new conclusion.

Sorry to be so picky but science is not religion or philosophy. It really doesn't matter what you agree with if all of the supporting data says the opposite. you just end up looking asshatish. I don't mean you personally by the way just people in general.

[Sword of Christ]

No these things happened in spite of xtianity.

Nope, because of Christianity and specifically Christ himself. You see why do you think it's wrong to own slaves? People have owned slaves for thousands of years in every culture and civilization on Earth. So explain why we think it's wrong now? What changed? I'll tell you what happened it was Christ. It took time to fully develop and take root but this is what happened. By it's fruits you shall judge and all that business.

They mostly were promoted by that very religion for thousands of years. Don't even think you can claim the slowly emerging healing that is happening as people begin to move away from these fantasies.

You know very well that we could all be atheists and own slaves as well, you can't put this one down to science or whatever. Something else was at work and it originated in the Christian part of the world. It certainly wasn't the Islamic part of the world, Mohammed himself actually kept slaves. There are Islamic countries where slavery was still legal up until the 1960s.

The ground you are standing on is so full of holes I would watch your step. I won't even waste my time digging out all the reason in your own book about why you are wrong. I am sure when you comment about the dumbass I am for even claiming that the opposite of what you say is true someone else here that takes pleasure in seeing you eat your words with their proof will come blasting into your arrogant face.

I do actually have some respect for atheism seeing as it is genuine interest in the truth no matter what it is and regardless of whether you like it or not, and it's committed to (Christian) morality for the sake of it, this somewhat the idea of Christianity as well. I see it as the main intellectual opposition to Christianity as a belief. So no disrespect intended here if that's how this is coming across. BTW the Bible isn't one book but a collection of 66 books written over 1500 years.

[gall]

No these things happened in spite of xtianity.

Nope, because of Christianity and specifically Christ himself. You see why do you think it's wrong to own slaves? People have owned slaves for thousands of years in every culture and civilization on Earth. So explain why we think it's wrong now? What changed? I'll tell you what happened it was Christ. It took time to fully develop and take root but this is what happened. By it's fruits you shall judge and all that business.

They mostly were promoted by that very religion for thousands of years. Don't even think you can claim the slowly emerging healing that is happening as people begin to move away from these fantasies.

You know very well that we could all be atheists and own slaves as well, you can't put this one down to science or whatever. Something else was at work and it originated in the Christian part of the world. It certainly wasn't the Islamic part of the world, Mohammed himself actually kept slaves. There are Islamic countries where slavery was still legal up until the 1960s.

The ground you are standing on is so full of holes I would watch your step. I won't even waste my time digging out all the reason in your own book about why you are wrong. I am sure when you comment about the dumbass I am for even claiming that the opposite of what you say is true someone else here that takes pleasure in seeing you eat your words with their proof will come blasting into your arrogant face.

I do actually have some respect for atheism seeing as it is genuine interest in the truth no matter what it is and regardless of whether you like it or not, and it's committed to (Christian) morality for the sake of it, this somewhat the idea of Christianity as well. I see it as the main intellectual opposition to Christianity as a belief. So no disrespect intended here if that's how this is coming across. BTW the Bible isn't one book but a collection of 66 books written over 1500 years.

If I could draw such perfect circles just by arguing I might make money as an artist. You surely could as long as people will buy bullshit.

Try again I won't even comment to this drivel.

[Sword of Christ]

Protip for all theists: don't claim that science agrees with you.

Probably something like 90% of all the major scientific discoveries ever made or hypothesized were made by theists. So there is incompatibility there. Certainly the trend atm is for scientists to be atheists but that's not because science is incompatible with God as I think history has demonstrated.

If I could draw such perfect circles just by arguing I might make money as an artist. You surely could as long as people will buy bullshit.

Try again I won't even comment to this drivel.

Christs message was one of compassion for the oppressed and for human equality, community and brotherhood. It isn't a message compatible with the slave trade. This is why we don't still have an official slave trade today.

[Esquilax]

Probably something like 90% of all the major scientific discoveries ever made or hypothesized were made by theists.

But none of those discoveries were made by theism. A more accurate sentence would be that one hundred percent of scientific discoveries were made by scientists, using the scientific method. It's a testament to the strength of the common element in all scientific discoveries, which is... you know, science.

And isn't it funny that the preachers and faithful, despite claiming inerrant wisdom from on high, never come to any of these discoveries from the pulpit? They all need to go and get degrees in the sciences first...

It's almost like religion has nothing to do with scientific progress at all...

---

Christs message was one of compassion for the oppressed and for human equality, community and brotherhood. It isn't a message compatible with the slave trade. This is why we don't still have an official slave trade today.

"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ." - (Ephesians 6:5 NLT)

What were you saying?

EDIT: Oh, by the way, I've got a quote from Jesus about how you should punish slaves, if that'd carry more weight with you.

[Something completely different]

Christs message was one of compassion for the oppressed and for human equality, community and brotherhood. It isn't a message compatible with the slave trade. This is why we don't still have an official slave trade today.

As someone who is interested in the human rights situation across the globe I can tell you that there is more slavery today, dispite it being illegal, than there has ever been throughout human history.

And if you think slavery and christianity dont fit together look up the curse of Ham.

Other than that, I would like to adress your first point which I just noticed forgot to quote. Even if 90% of all scientists who ever existed were theists this would not change my attitude, since science and atheism are things which are not conected. One does not need to believe in anything that comes forth from scientific discovery and can still be an atheist.
The reason why so many of us tak interest in science because it is interesting. And because it is the religious who often fight scientific discovery.

[Silver]

Nope, because of Christianity and specifically Christ himself.

I see you have conveniently ignored my responses.