[split] Better reasons to quit Christianity

[radorth]

What are they? Reason for asking: I've been told by thoughtful atheists that looking for logical contradictions in Christian beliefs, or within the pages of the Bible is a waste of time. The explanation given is that there are much better reasons to give up on being Christian. I'm just wondering what the better reasons are so I can try them on and see how they fit.

Given the number of thoughtful people who became Christians, or at least called Jesus' teachings "the most sublime and benevolent code of morals every recorded," how do you know you met a thoughtful atheist?

[The Grand Nudger]

Sounds like a lot of people were blithering idiots. The christ narrative is horrendous. Sublime and benevolent..

[Mystic]

What are they? Reason for asking: I've been told by thoughtful atheists that looking for logical contradictions in Christian beliefs, or within the pages of the Bible is a waste of time. The explanation given is that there are much better reasons to give up on being Christian. I'm just wondering what the better reasons are so I can try them on and see how they fit.

Given the number of thoughtful people who became Christians, or at least called Jesus' teachings "the most sublime and benevolent code of morals every recorded," how do you know you met a thoughtful atheist?

Anecdotal experience?

[Mister Agenda]

Let's see:

More sleep, more money, more time not wasted, more food choices, more guilt-free good times. Curious about one of those: How can I know the deity does not exist? I mean, if I'm not pretty sure God is not, I might be taking a big risk:

• God exists, I don't give a hoot about God - I lose after I die
  
  
• God exists, I do give a hoot about God - I win after I die
  
  
• God does not exist, I don't give a hoot about God - I break even after I die
  
  
• God does not exist, I give a hoot about God - I break even after I die
  

Seems to me that if I play the odds, the best I can hope for if God does not exist and I don't care is to break even (for I won't exist, either). If God does exists and I don't care, the best I can hope for is to lose (for I might end up in hell). Unless, of course Catholics are correct, then I might break even in Purgatory.

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Thanks everyone. Don't have time to reply to everyone else right now (promised to spend time playing the XBox with my son). I'll reply later.

Over 300 posts and our reward is yet another iteration of Pascal's Wager?

Carry on, I'm sure if the God of Christianity who is known for his acceptance of the wishy-washy is real, he'll be glad to take the people who believe in him 'just-in-case' into his holy bosom.

[radorth]

Be a part of a logical,smart, developed community that is based on tolerance and logic thinking.

Like the one Karl Marx said he was starting?

Good grief, what have you developed except some scientific theories like there are probably 11 dimensions and a hydrogen bomb?

With the notable exception of some medical discoveries, the Christians hold virtually all the records for helping their fellow men, many medical, but primarily democratic and social achievements. (See Luke 4 for the reason)

Those are Seventh Day Adventist hospitals, not Seventh Day Atheist hospitals.

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Anecdotal experience?

That's not permitted here.

[The Grand Nudger]

Boogeymen and delusions of grandeur. meh

[Mister Agenda]

Be a part of a logical,smart, developed community that is based on tolerance and logic thinking.

Like the one Karl Marx said he was starting?

Care to quote where Marx said that? And when did Marx start a society anyway?

Good grief, what have you developed except some scientific theories like there are probably 11 dimensions and a hydrogen bomb?

It's nice for you to give us credit for all of modern physics, but theists did a fair bit, too.

With the notable exception of some medical discoveries, the Christians hold virtually all the records for helping their fellow men, many medical, but primarily democratic and social achievements. (See Luke 4 for the reason)

See Greek and Roman civilization and the Enlightenment for the reason. The bits in between were not that impressive in comparison.

That said, sure, theists have accomplished a lot. So have atheists. Our accomplishments were not BECAUSE we were theists (including theists who weren't Christians) and atheists. They were because some of us are smart and creative and diligent in our fields of expertise, regardless of religious belief or a lack thereof.

Those are Seventh Day Adventist hospitals, not Seventh Day Atheist hospitals.

Yes, to my knowledge there are no secular hospitals or even hospitals founded by atheists that have the word 'atheist' in the name. Surely you don't think that means there aren't any?

[LastPoet]

Allright, I've split this one as it came from a necropost, please consider making new threads if you want to continue the topic on a dead thread, for now its done, carry on.

[thesummerqueen]

I'm insulted you would ask such a stupid fucking question as "how do you know you've met a thoughtful atheist?" Not personally insulted, mind, I don't give two fucks what you or any of the other theists on this board think of me, but fuck if I'll let that pass considering all the other wickedly intelligent people who are on this board that you apparently wish to demean and ignore.

[radorth]

Sounds like a lot of people were blithering idiots. The christ narrative is horrendous. Sublime and benevolent..

Thomas Jefferson is a blithering idot? "The most sublime and benevolent code of morals ever recorded" are his words, not mine.

Interesting.

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Care to quote where Marx said that? And when did Marx start a society anyway?

That's funny.

Yes, to my knowledge there are no secular hospitals or even hospitals founded by atheists that have the word 'atheist' in the name. Surely you don't think that means there aren't any?

I would not say there are none. There are those in Cuba, and some semi- advanced ones in Russia and China, but that's because they would have none at all if the state hadn't started them. If you can name some started by small groups of atheists with private money, you will have a point. How would I know. Maybe some rich crooked Russion oligarch started one recently.