RE: Pat gets mad
July 28, 2011 at 11:01 am
(This post was last modified: July 28, 2011 at 11:17 am by DeistPaladin.)
I wouldn't say Cauglin666 or 616 or whatever number he's using lately, it a good source for rational arguments. The guy strikes me as nuts.
It's the same with Christianity. Most Christians I know are decent people. It's not like a religion poisons everyone it touches to the point where every Christian winds up like Fred Phelps.
In fact, I'm willing to speculate that 90% of Christians and Muslims are good people who want to believe their religion and god are also good. Many of them have either never read their scriptures or selectively interpret them to make them decent religions in their own minds.
When I rail against Christianity, I'm not thinking of pastor Joe Phelps, leader of a moderate, gay-friendly, evolution and science compatible church. I'm thinking of Fred Phelps. I'm not thinking of Frodo or TackAttack or my mother-in-law. I'm thinking of Falwell, Robertson, Ken Ham, et. al.
Why? Because these are the voices that dominate our political discourse. Even here in Louisville, it's far more likely that people on the street will recognize Albert Mohler, the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary who's arch-conservative views may be known outside my home town, than his rival Joe Phelps, who I mentioned earlier.
It also has something to do with my own reading of the Bible itself. When I read the OT, it's hard to think of Joe Phelps instead of Fred Phelps. I see nothing "loving" about Yahweh at all, unless one's twisted concept of love would include what an abusive husband feels for his battered wife. When I think of moderate Christians, I think of good people who's theological views are based more on conscience, idealism and modernity than scripture.
(July 28, 2011 at 5:34 am)padraic Wrote: OK,it's not complex; Condell makes sweeping generalisations about Islam, a faith with over one BILLION followers.His broad charactertisations of Islam and Muslims are not supported by evidence.
Eg We have a moderate Muslim here in Rayaan. That decent man is in fact typical of the many Muslims I knew well when living in a Muslim country .(Malaysia)
It's the same with Christianity. Most Christians I know are decent people. It's not like a religion poisons everyone it touches to the point where every Christian winds up like Fred Phelps.
In fact, I'm willing to speculate that 90% of Christians and Muslims are good people who want to believe their religion and god are also good. Many of them have either never read their scriptures or selectively interpret them to make them decent religions in their own minds.
When I rail against Christianity, I'm not thinking of pastor Joe Phelps, leader of a moderate, gay-friendly, evolution and science compatible church. I'm thinking of Fred Phelps. I'm not thinking of Frodo or TackAttack or my mother-in-law. I'm thinking of Falwell, Robertson, Ken Ham, et. al.
Why? Because these are the voices that dominate our political discourse. Even here in Louisville, it's far more likely that people on the street will recognize Albert Mohler, the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary who's arch-conservative views may be known outside my home town, than his rival Joe Phelps, who I mentioned earlier.
It also has something to do with my own reading of the Bible itself. When I read the OT, it's hard to think of Joe Phelps instead of Fred Phelps. I see nothing "loving" about Yahweh at all, unless one's twisted concept of love would include what an abusive husband feels for his battered wife. When I think of moderate Christians, I think of good people who's theological views are based more on conscience, idealism and modernity than scripture.
Atheist Forums Hall of Shame:
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
