Ahhh I understand where you're coming from in that case. I've personally been 'foruming' for many years, and have been involved in my fair share of online debates. That being said - I have *never* experienced such extreme idiocy as those times attempting to converse with the religous type. It seems all reason, rules and logic flies out the window. I've had private IM style conversations with some religious folks, only to find it a most frustrating encounter as they end up not being able to satisfactorily explain their beliefs. In the majority of cases, it seems to stem from the fact that they don't really understand their own beliefs and have never questioned them.
In relation to fundamentalists, I think I respect them more than the average christian because they seem less 'wishy washy' with their beliefs. Like the Westborough Baptist Church. They might be the looniest loons I have ever laid eyes on, they may be twisted, demented, sick, mislead, and straight out wrong - but I *respect* the fact that at the very least they don't attempt to twist the words of the bible to fit their own beliefs.
Well... maybe they do, but not as much as the average christian. You just have to respect somebody who stands by their beliefs through thick and thin, regardless of how demented or screwed up those beliefs may be. Either that, or pity them for being too stubborn and blind to percieve how badly their beliefs deviate from reality.
In relation to fundamentalists, I think I respect them more than the average christian because they seem less 'wishy washy' with their beliefs. Like the Westborough Baptist Church. They might be the looniest loons I have ever laid eyes on, they may be twisted, demented, sick, mislead, and straight out wrong - but I *respect* the fact that at the very least they don't attempt to twist the words of the bible to fit their own beliefs.
Well... maybe they do, but not as much as the average christian. You just have to respect somebody who stands by their beliefs through thick and thin, regardless of how demented or screwed up those beliefs may be. Either that, or pity them for being too stubborn and blind to percieve how badly their beliefs deviate from reality.
Atheism as a Religion
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A man also or woman that hath a Macintosh, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with used and abandoned Windows 3.1 floppy disks: their blood shall be upon them. Leviticus 20:27
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A man also or woman that hath a Macintosh, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with used and abandoned Windows 3.1 floppy disks: their blood shall be upon them. Leviticus 20:27