Unconventional Religion

[genkaus]

Why should the men care what the women think? And why is rape punished by the government, a third party?

I told you already - men care because they don't want their wives/daughters/sisters to be raped. And the government is not a third party - it is made up of mean and women.

What I said exactly. To leave someone in the dust is not an active verb. It's apathy towards the suffering of others. You hid that concept at the bottom of your explanation, but its still there. And humanity is not advancing. The people who fall upon opportunity in a society where birth, race, money, and power are the currency are advancing. They are not humanity. We all are humanity, and each one of us deserves what the person next to him has.

Not hiding anything. I'm saying that apathy towards the suffering of others is as irrelevant to human progress as empathy towards the suffering. And humanity is advancing. Look at the past and look at the present and see how much it has advanced. And simply "falling upon opportunity" is not sufficient for advancement - you need to be able to use it. Which is why each person does not deserve whatever happens to the next guy.

His question spelled out his views for him. That God gives salvation to those who do stuff.

Something that was never denied.

What advice? Did Jesus have any intention of him following it? Why do you think a blatant contradiction was placed at the beginning? And since when are you Jesus' speechwriter? Jesus had his own style of preaching, and he didn't need you filling in the blanks for him. If the Gospels' wording doesn't suit your style, you are free to write your own.

Unless your Jesus' style of preaching was lying - yes, he fully intended that the man should follow his advice. As evidenced by his acceptance of all the other guys who did the same. As for being his 'speechwriter' - you are the one taking on that role. You are the one creating imaginary blanks and trying to fill them in. I'm just taking him at his word.

And he went away sad. What do you mean his understanding didn't change? He would have had time to think over his conversation and see that the disciples didn't take moneybags from passerby and burn them.

He was sad because he'd just been told that he can either have material wealth here or he can have his salvation. Even if he reviews the conversation, all he'll see is that disciples all chose to give up money for salvation. That's all he'll see because that's all the conversation actually says.

Haven't we been over how this was a hyperbole, and the entire Bible comes down on your ideas like a hammer?

What we've been through is your abject failure to demonstrate that it was a hyperbole or that the Bible actually opposes my literal interpretation.

I don't even want to know what hurdles you jumped through to arrive at this conclusion. Just stop. I'm not buying your evangelical message.

No hurdles. Simple logic.

Morals not apply to everyone = moral relativism.

Jesus gave morals.
Said morals apply to rich man and followers.
Said moral don't apply to you.
Therefore, moral relativism.

I know that; I'm not stupid—oh, wait, I'm a Christian, therefore I must be, like you and your cronies would claim all non-atheists to be.

Not all Christians are stupid - only Christians like you.

How does one "accept Jesus"?

How is that relevant?

Earning salvation is a free-pass because it means that a concrete action entitles you to salvation, like swiping a card through a slot. Life is more than that.

Even if there is a concrete action that entitles you to salvation, it still wouldn't be a free pass. Look up the meaning of the word, you moron.

Secondly, are you telling me there is no concrete action available to achieve salvation? The what the hell is your christianity good for if it can't even guarantee that?

said genkaus, in the middle of a thread in which he told me that I'm not following my religion unless I'm hitting him with a cross and burning dollar bills. I hope that image of me fuels your self-victimization.

I'm not the victim here - you are.

You are equating such "change" with its physical manifestation. Changing does not make me worthy of anything. It only makes it possible that I can recieve something. Salvation fits into place when a heart is open to it. I can only breathe when I inhale. I do not inhale to earn air, and it is physically impossible not to get air when I inhale.

So, basically, what you are saying is that a rich guy can give up all his money, believe in Jesus and follow his teachings all his life and even then he hasn't actually 'earned' the bullshit your religion is peddling - and that is something your bible actually teaches.

The rich man's perfection was never possible, which is why the fake roadmap was drawn up and then flung into the rich man's face. Christ knew no man was perfect, and the rich man was made to realize that his question revealed his belief in this fallacy, him already knowing it was false. The powerful dissuasion tore down his old beliefs so he could plant something new.

Except, he was never made to realize that it was false. There is no evidence of that. In fact, there is no evidence that even Jesus' own followers realized that that was false. Which means your Jesus was a liar and a conman.

By asking them to do the most despicable thing known to man—give away money.
Without getting it back.
Or getting a medal and a pat on the back.
To the benefit of another human being.
No refunds.
Terrible, isn't it?

On the contrary, these donations go to the upkeep and maintenance of the forum.
Which means they are not giving the money away.
Which means they are being paid back by the continued existence of the forum.
And getting a pat on the back in form of recognition - as indicated by a differently colored username and status symbol.
This donation benefits all members involved, including themselves.
Therefore, not terrible at all.