(May 3, 2016 at 10:25 pm)PETE_ROSE Wrote: Just got the family and wife take care of for the evening. Enjoyed wonderful fish fry with friends while our children played together. Catfish my buddy caught jug fishing on the river this week. Pool noodles can be such an effective way to catch catfish. Sure beats the old rod n reel.
I took a glimpse of this thread earlier, 40 something pages. I hope I can stay awake long enough to read through it and formulate some form of intelligent response.
I must say Rocket, the thought of explaining anything to some self righteous pastoral lampoon (thanks forum, knew I could use it) does not appeal to me in the least. Thanks buddy.
Oh, no, I wouldn't ask you to read the full 40 pages. That's why I linked you to the specific statement in question, by the guy.
But I can certainly understand why you'd be reluctant to engage "some self righteous pastoral lampoon" (good one!)... you'll get a first-hand look at what we have to deal with on a daily basis, and start to understand the root of most of our mistrust and disrespect when we suspect another one is upon us.
I assure you, I do not enjoy "debating" (I use that term loosely) with someone whose mind is so made up that they refuse to even acknowledge the basic precepts of logic, or to correct their ideas when it is soundly demonstrated that they're incorrect about some provable thing (e.g. the claim we frequently hear, that evolutionists think that cats give birth to dogs or similar rubbish). I am particularly fond of debating (actually debating) scriptural passages, without the intent to "disprove" anything but only to understand what the authors were trying to say... and yet, with this particular guy, I can reference a passage with an analysis that would get me an A grade from the most devout professor at the Yale Divinity School, only to have him tell me that I don't understand the Bible and it's because I'm an atheist.
I don't mean to ask something of you that is odious, but I feel it would do you a great deal of good to engage this guy before you engage us. Empathy is one of the most important emotions for humans to nurture; there's a REASON Jesus stood up to the Pharisees and other "proper" people of society, while associating with those the former would rather spit upon than treat as fellow human beings worthy of respect.
A Christian told me: if you were saved you cant lose your salvation. you're sealed with the Holy Ghost
I replied: Can I refuse? Because I find the entire concept of vicarious blood sacrifice atonement to be morally abhorrent, the concept of holding flawed creatures permanently accountable for social misbehaviors and thought crimes to be morally abhorrent, and the concept of calling something "free" when it comes with the strings of subjugation and obedience perhaps the most morally abhorrent of all... and that's without even going into the history of justifying genocide, slavery, rape, misogyny, religious intolerance, and suppression of free speech which has been attributed by your own scriptures to your deity. I want a refund. I would burn happily rather than serve the monster you profess to love.
I replied: Can I refuse? Because I find the entire concept of vicarious blood sacrifice atonement to be morally abhorrent, the concept of holding flawed creatures permanently accountable for social misbehaviors and thought crimes to be morally abhorrent, and the concept of calling something "free" when it comes with the strings of subjugation and obedience perhaps the most morally abhorrent of all... and that's without even going into the history of justifying genocide, slavery, rape, misogyny, religious intolerance, and suppression of free speech which has been attributed by your own scriptures to your deity. I want a refund. I would burn happily rather than serve the monster you profess to love.
