RE: How to debate a Christian
August 19, 2010 at 4:53 pm
(This post was last modified: August 19, 2010 at 4:59 pm by The Omnissiunt One.)
(August 17, 2010 at 8:25 pm)solja247 Wrote: Firstly the crusades were used by the pope to do his dirty work. If one was to go on a crusade, 'it was get into heaven card'. I Dont really think you can blame Christianity, you can blame a corrupt pope. Killing local Jews was everywhere in Europe, they were an easy scape goat. We still have a scape goat, they are called terroists.
I've studied the Crusades, and that doesn't seem accurate. There were certainly some political reasons for the crusade leaders (one was the reunification of the Orthodox and Catholic churches, following a religious schism), but the Crusades couldn't have happened if not for the religiosity of their participants. Also, it seems likely that people like King Richard were partly motivated by religion. Certainly Louis VII and Conrad III of the Second Crusade had religious concerns. As for the Jews, part of the reason that they were an easy scapegoat was the Christian teaching that the Jews killed Jesus.
Quote:Since, I myself am a Jewish Christian. I would of been persecuted as well. (The spanish inquistion was against Judaizers)
So? Is this an answer to the charge that Christianity caused it?
Quote:Religion was used a tool. Pagan Europe and Christian Europe wasnt much different. Instead of druids, they had preists. Instead of gods to pray too, they had saints.
Yes. All religion is essentially the same; I'll agree with that. There must have been some Inquisitors driven by religious fervour, though, even if some used it as a tool. It stretches credulity to say that, in such a religious period, they were all cynical sadists.
Quote:The only reason why so many evangelicals believe YEC is because Dawkins and creation scientists say there is a battle, between evolution and creation. That you cant be a Christian and believe in evolution. If Atheists stopped using that card, more people would accept evolution.
To be honest, I don't think that many people listen to what Dawkins says. They just can't reconcile evolution with their beliefs, so they reject evolution.
Quote:Stem cell is a very controversial issue.
Only for religious people.
Quote:You do know that Deism was a big thing in the 18th and 19th century? A lot of people were Deists (The founders of the USA were). If my understanding of Deists are correct they dont believe in special revelation from God, thus the Bible is just another holy book. I can gurantee to you that if atheists were back then, they would also of had slaves.
Probably, but that doesn't change the fact that Christianity was used as justification.
(August 19, 2010 at 3:12 pm)NoGodaloud ? Wrote:(August 18, 2010 at 7:29 pm)Eilonnwy Wrote: Most atheists simply lack a belief of God. We have considered the claims of theists and whatever flimsy evidence they have and not accepted it.
then i guess you have a better explanation for our existence. what is it ?
if you answer : i don't know, i can help you out.
you have exactly more two options.
Wheter the universe has existed eternally, without a beginning, in some form, or it had a beginning with the Big bang, but without any cause. The Big Bang simply happended, out of absolutely nothing.
which one of the two do you prefere, and why ? and why do you prefere it over God as best explanation ?
It's a false dichotomy, as there could be an infinite series of universes. Nevertheless, these two are possibilities. My inclination is probably the latter: it happened out of nothing. But we don't know, and any intellectually honest person has to admit that, rather than filling the gap with whatever the hell they want.
Also, I am a positive atheist, but an agnostic atheist. I make the claim, 'God probably doesn't exist'. That's because a disembodied mind with the attributes assigned to most deities, existing timelessly and eternally, is so far from our experience as to be more improbable than probable, epistemically. Also, the problem of evil and so forth count against the existence of a loving god.
'We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart.' H.L. Mencken
'False religion' is the ultimate tautology.
'It is just like man's vanity and impertinence to call an animal dumb because it is dumb to his dull perceptions.' Mark Twain
'I care not much for a man's religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it.' Abraham Lincoln
'False religion' is the ultimate tautology.
'It is just like man's vanity and impertinence to call an animal dumb because it is dumb to his dull perceptions.' Mark Twain
'I care not much for a man's religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it.' Abraham Lincoln