Richard Dawkins obliterates the 10 Commandments.

[catfish]

Read my sig, start the debate if you like.

Not detailed enough.

Whatever you think is Christianity, I probably reject.

[Savannahw]

Not detailed enough.

Whatever you think is Christianity, I probably reject.

I didn't think you were being serious. Personally I think that most Christians(Even if they disagree) all have a slightly different version of Christianity. There is nothing wrong with that. But that makes me what to find out what someone believes before I drill them about it.

[Godscreated]

It is not a trap to have a person state before hand the outlines of their belief structure. If I am going to debate someone and before hand I do not know the foundations of their faith, how will any thing be accomplished? How will you know if you agree or disagree on a point? Do you find it trapping to not be able to change the structure of your beliefs in the middle of a debate?

I'm sound in my beliefs, I've spent many years learning what scripture says and what it does not say, I've learned that much scripture is divinely revealed and that comes from years of study and learning. Young Christians at times parrot what they have heard and have no idea if it's true or not, they lack the time needed to learn and mature into the Christian belief. Yes I know many different denominations have different thoughts about scripture and claim they are right, example Calvinism, which is not supported by the scriptures. Even the Baptist whom I belong have beliefs that scripture does not support and, I do not hold to all Baptist doctrine. As long as a denomination supports the belief in Christ and what he has done for mankind then a lot of the rest are up for debate by anyone. Scripture has to be supported by itself because there is no other way to debate scripture, the only outside things that could come into play is the way people lived during certain times or something that would be unchanging.

[Savannahw]

Godschild, you do not speak for every christian out there. Yes, you have found what you claim is the right way. Great! I am serious happy for you. I am happy for anyone who is happy with their religious belief structure. However as you have said you are southern baptist, but do not hold all of those beliefs. Would it not be prudent for me to know what the differences are in your personal philosophy, before we got into a major debate? Also You are the one that brought up scripture. It is a major part of your belief system. I know some Christians that think it is just mythology. I know a few who claim god is a woman. I know some who believe in a trinity and others who don't. It is all a personal belief system. That is why it is important to know the details of someone's faith before hand.

[Godscreated]

Godschild, you do not speak for every christian out there. Yes, you have found what you claim is the right way. Great! I am serious happy for you. I am happy for anyone who is happy with their religious belief structure. However as you have said you are southern baptist, but do not hold all of those beliefs. Would it not be prudent for me to know what the differences are in your personal philosophy, before we got into a major debate? Also You are the one that brought up scripture. It is a major part of your belief system. I know some Christians that think it is just mythology. I know a few who claim god is a woman. I know some who believe in a trinity and others who don't. It is all a personal belief system. That is why it is important to know the details of someone's faith before hand.

I'm sorry if you misunderstood what I was saying, I do not presume to speak for all Christians and there are many Christians I trust in teaching me and showing me my errors in belief.
My belief has grown such as to be hard to even sum up before a debate or discussion and I believe that things should develop as a discussion goes on, this is when one will make a change without realizing it and can then be challenged for contradictions. As far as scripture goes where else does a Christian develop his/her knowledge, there's nowhere else to go. I will agree that some knowledge of a persons belief before hand is necessary, but only to pin down certain things to debate.

[Esquilax]

I think that you should have qualified your knowledge on scripture when you said you tried to nail down someones belief to debate them or actually the way you made it sound trap them.

I think the actual point is that knowledge of scripture is damn near pointless; regardless of how much you know, there's no guarantee that any individual christian or christian sect will hold to any single piece of scriptural law. You could have a fully complete, working knowledge of every word of scripture and still not know the position of the christian you're talking to because not only do you all pick and choose which parts you want to follow and which ones you don't, and then also which of those are represented literally or metaphorically, but you then have to contend with their knowledge of scripture too.

Because surely you weren't thinking that yours is the only school of thought on this, GC? Pinning down theists on their beliefs is like herding cats, but even if you're successful there's no guarantee they think exactly as you do; there are all kinds of theologians, both crackpot and otherwise, who've twisted the bible in all manner of ways. Now, I know you no doubt think that all of them have got it wrong the moment they deviate from your one-true-bible worldview, but that's sort of the point; there's no such thing as knowledge of scripture because the scriptures themselves have been interpreted into meaninglessness over and over again.

[Minimalist]

Not detailed enough.

Whatever you think is Christianity, I probably reject.

Hey! That's my line.

[ronedee]

I think the actual point is that knowledge of scripture is damn near pointless; regardless of how much you know, there's no guarantee that any individual christian or christian sect will hold to any single piece of scriptural law. You could have a fully complete, working knowledge of every word of scripture and still not know the position of the christian you're talking to because not only do you all pick and choose which parts you want to follow and which ones you don't, and then also which of those are represented literally or metaphorically, but you then have to contend with their knowledge of scripture too.

Because surely you weren't thinking that yours is the only school of thought on this, GC? Pinning down theists on their beliefs is like herding cats, but even if you're successful there's no guarantee they think exactly as you do; there are all kinds of theologians, both crackpot and otherwise, who've twisted the bible in all manner of ways. Now, I know you no doubt think that all of them have got it wrong the moment they deviate from your one-true-bible worldview, but that's sort of the point; there's no such thing as knowledge of scripture because the scriptures themselves have been interpreted into meaninglessness over and over again.

Could we not say the same for Atheists? Just change Christians to Atheists above and ...well, we might want to change cats to something more food worthy?

But anyway... Christians have more in common than not. At least we "ALL" believe in God & Jesus! Atheists on the other hand can't agree on whether there is a God or not! Which baffles the crap outta me?!

And my vote was for Carlin! Much funnier than Dorkins....he better keep his day gig!

[Godscreated]

I think that you should have qualified your knowledge on scripture when you said you tried to nail down someones belief to debate them or actually the way you made it sound trap them.

I think the actual point is that knowledge of scripture is damn near pointless; regardless of how much you know, there's no guarantee that any individual christian or christian sect will hold to any single piece of scriptural law. You could have a fully complete, working knowledge of every word of scripture and still not know the position of the christian you're talking to because not only do you all pick and choose which parts you want to follow and which ones you don't, and then also which of those are represented literally or metaphorically, but you then have to contend with their knowledge of scripture too.

Because surely you weren't thinking that yours is the only school of thought on this, GC? Pinning down theists on their beliefs is like herding cats, but even if you're successful there's no guarantee they think exactly as you do; there are all kinds of theologians, both crackpot and otherwise, who've twisted the bible in all manner of ways. Now, I know you no doubt think that all of them have got it wrong the moment they deviate from your one-true-bible worldview, but that's sort of the point; there's no such thing as knowledge of scripture because the scriptures themselves have been interpreted into meaninglessness over and over again.

It's apparent you did not read with intent to understand anything I stated, your definition of what I believe is all you care about, not what I really stated, well that's your choice, dishonest as it is. Because you do this I see no need in arguing any point with you, because the argument is between yourself and what you want to believe I said.

[max-greece]

I think the actual point is that knowledge of scripture is damn near pointless; regardless of how much you know, there's no guarantee that any individual christian or christian sect will hold to any single piece of scriptural law. You could have a fully complete, working knowledge of every word of scripture and still not know the position of the christian you're talking to because not only do you all pick and choose which parts you want to follow and which ones you don't, and then also which of those are represented literally or metaphorically, but you then have to contend with their knowledge of scripture too.

Because surely you weren't thinking that yours is the only school of thought on this, GC? Pinning down theists on their beliefs is like herding cats, but even if you're successful there's no guarantee they think exactly as you do; there are all kinds of theologians, both crackpot and otherwise, who've twisted the bible in all manner of ways. Now, I know you no doubt think that all of them have got it wrong the moment they deviate from your one-true-bible worldview, but that's sort of the point; there's no such thing as knowledge of scripture because the scriptures themselves have been interpreted into meaninglessness over and over again.

Could we not say the same for Atheists? Just change Christians to Atheists above and ...well, we might want to change cats to something more food worthy?

But anyway... Christians have more in common than not. At least we "ALL" believe in God & Jesus! Atheists on the other hand can't agree on whether there is a God or not! Which baffles the crap outta me?!

And my vote was for Carlin! Much funnier than Dorkins....he better keep his day gig!

I do not know why you would expect Atheists (who are defined as a group only for the sake of convenience - those that reject theism) should be consistent in their opinions.

This is not true for any given religion. There we ought to be able to find massive commonality - beyond Jesus and God. We don't.

Not only that but each variant of Christianity (and how many are there now? Who knows?) claims it is the one true path and that all others are wrong. Most go as far as to claim that followers of a different branch of Christianity are going to hell with us non-believers.