RE: Questions for theists.
December 20, 2011 at 1:26 am
(This post was last modified: December 20, 2011 at 1:51 am by The Grand Nudger.)
My bad, I read 'questions for theists" as the thread title and then automatically assumed that I might be able to ask a theist a question.....You don't get to decide whether or not a question is genuine Tack.
I ask a believer why they have a belief in any part of their faith. Usually I get the answer "it's in the book". Well, there's a lot of shit in that book, it's a big book. Sometimes people see two entirely different things when reading it's passages. It's accuracy regarding events and subjects which have been shown to exist is extremely poor to non-existent to intentionally deceitful. It's never been shown to have been penned by or inspired by any god, and no god has ever been shown to exist. So, it's not an incredibly satisfying answer. If that's all you have then so be it, no need to reply.
The litany of "genuine" questions I have about hell.
-Does hell exist? I'm not asking you if you believe that it does. I believe that you believe.
-What reasons do you have for whatever answer you give?
-Do you feel that these reasons, whatever they are, are good reasons, and could you elaborate upon them?
Maybe you don't want to handle whether or not these claims that theists make are factually accurate or defensible, that's fine, perhaps someone else will handle it? Maybe god and hell is real, perhaps it's just that you are incapable of explaining these things. Perhaps you lack evidence, though it exists. If I keep asking, I might find the person who can explain them, who does have evidence. Dismissing questions as "not genuine" is the sort of thing I would expect from someone who has found the answer they are comfortable with calling "ultimate" and has no desire to ask or address any more questions about the subject. I did not expect that you would be such a person, or make such dismissive remarks when asked a question about a part of your beliefs. What I get from you when I ask such a simple question is a long winded way of saying "no, I have no evidence that hell is actually real, and I don't want to discuss it". Disappointing. This shit isn't some game where people get +1's. It's lethal, it's serious, and every now and again I imagine that I might be able to have a serious discussion about it. You don't have to prove god exists, you can tackle hell on it's own yes? Show me how you've determined that the stories about hell can be trusted? Perhaps explain how such a thing as hell or a soul is even possible? Maybe show that these things which you've shown above (if you choose to do so) align with your particular concept of hell? Point to the place, show me how to get there (show me how the souls, which you'll have to demonstrate in the first place, get there). No, you'd rather just wave me away because I don't ask "genuine" questions? Garbage. I'm not going to open my mouth and get in the receiving position just because you have thoughts or beliefs. I believe that you have thoughts and beliefs, that's settled. What I'm asking you is whether or not your thoughts and beliefs are based in reality or fantasy. That's a genuine question, I think you know that it's a genuine question, and I personally believe that you've decided to be evasive about it because you know damn well you can't show any claims you'd like to offer about hell to be an accurate assessment or description of reality. I'm seriously fucking tired of constantly answering your camps questions honestly and to the best of my ability and getting nothing but crickets or evasive platitudes when I ask questions in return.
I ask a believer why they have a belief in any part of their faith. Usually I get the answer "it's in the book". Well, there's a lot of shit in that book, it's a big book. Sometimes people see two entirely different things when reading it's passages. It's accuracy regarding events and subjects which have been shown to exist is extremely poor to non-existent to intentionally deceitful. It's never been shown to have been penned by or inspired by any god, and no god has ever been shown to exist. So, it's not an incredibly satisfying answer. If that's all you have then so be it, no need to reply.
The litany of "genuine" questions I have about hell.
-Does hell exist? I'm not asking you if you believe that it does. I believe that you believe.
-What reasons do you have for whatever answer you give?
-Do you feel that these reasons, whatever they are, are good reasons, and could you elaborate upon them?
Maybe you don't want to handle whether or not these claims that theists make are factually accurate or defensible, that's fine, perhaps someone else will handle it? Maybe god and hell is real, perhaps it's just that you are incapable of explaining these things. Perhaps you lack evidence, though it exists. If I keep asking, I might find the person who can explain them, who does have evidence. Dismissing questions as "not genuine" is the sort of thing I would expect from someone who has found the answer they are comfortable with calling "ultimate" and has no desire to ask or address any more questions about the subject. I did not expect that you would be such a person, or make such dismissive remarks when asked a question about a part of your beliefs. What I get from you when I ask such a simple question is a long winded way of saying "no, I have no evidence that hell is actually real, and I don't want to discuss it". Disappointing. This shit isn't some game where people get +1's. It's lethal, it's serious, and every now and again I imagine that I might be able to have a serious discussion about it. You don't have to prove god exists, you can tackle hell on it's own yes? Show me how you've determined that the stories about hell can be trusted? Perhaps explain how such a thing as hell or a soul is even possible? Maybe show that these things which you've shown above (if you choose to do so) align with your particular concept of hell? Point to the place, show me how to get there (show me how the souls, which you'll have to demonstrate in the first place, get there). No, you'd rather just wave me away because I don't ask "genuine" questions? Garbage. I'm not going to open my mouth and get in the receiving position just because you have thoughts or beliefs. I believe that you have thoughts and beliefs, that's settled. What I'm asking you is whether or not your thoughts and beliefs are based in reality or fantasy. That's a genuine question, I think you know that it's a genuine question, and I personally believe that you've decided to be evasive about it because you know damn well you can't show any claims you'd like to offer about hell to be an accurate assessment or description of reality. I'm seriously fucking tired of constantly answering your camps questions honestly and to the best of my ability and getting nothing but crickets or evasive platitudes when I ask questions in return.
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!
