Hello, I am a Christian

[Whateverist]

Welcome Shadow.
Being a Christian or an Atheist makes one neither automatically stupid nor intelligent, and I'd like to think there are more options than that - it's a bit of a false dilemma, no?

I was reading through another thread here where Atheists were assuming a Christian, who they did not meet, was an "ignoramus."

I suppose I should have asked, is a Christian ignorant of the bigger spiritual, religious, theological picture, or are they ignorant for believing such a picture exists? Are Atheists ignorant of such a picture, or intelligent because they deny its existence?

I hope I am not breaking a forum rule by asking these things here.

You're not breaking any rule I know of but it is sort of bad form to ask substantive questions from within the safety of an intro thread unless you'll also answer those you receive. I thought Psykhronic's question was fair enough. Do you agree it's a false dilemma, that neither theism nor atheism (of any stripe) is a sure indication of intellect?

[By all means stay within the safety of the intro thread if you're not looking for the full experience, but try to give as good as you get.]

[Doubting Thomas]

Welcome. And what everyone else said, religious belief by itself is not an indicator of intelligence or lack thereof. The lack of intelligence comes when people refuse to listen to facts because they conflict with their religious beliefs, i.e. acknowledging that there is evidence for evolution but refusing to believe that it's true because you believe in biblical creationism.

[Whateverist]

@Doubting Thomas, love your current sig:

"Poor birthers. What are they going to do in 2016? I mean, nobody cares about them now, but after 2016, really nobody will give a shit about anything they have to say. They're still beating a dead horse now, but in 2016 there will just be a few bone fragments and a puddle of goo where a dead horse once lay."

Sorry for the interruption but with the current state of my memory I truly get only one opportunity to act on an impulse .. so far as I can remember. We now return to our cat-and-mouse welcoming ritual. Look how damned friendly we are. Meow.

[ShadowWolf1986]

Welcome Shadow.
Being a Christian or an Atheist makes one neither automatically stupid nor intelligent, and I'd like to think there are more options than that - it's a bit of a false dilemma, no?

I think it is a false dilemma, but like I said I read a thread on here where Atheists were bashing a Christian they had not met based on second hand knowledge from another Atheist poster. The thread link follows,

http://atheistforums.org/thread-8522.html

I wanted the question of intelligence, and possibly the one I asked about ignorance if the Mod will allow, out of the way before I further engage the Atheists on this forum.

[Anomalocaris]

Christ, savior, scripture are all man made, yokelish, supertitious concept just like trinity. You thinking prostrating yourself before some but not others makes less superstitious or irrational?

There is this strange tendency amongst some adherents of many yokelish superstitions to imagine that somehow, it is nobler to prostrate themselves before what they imagine to be the original idiocy propounded by what they conceive to be the original yokels, then to embrace amendments and enhancements to the idiocy by later generations of yokels.

Appearently there is more wisdom in the naying from the mouth of the original horse than there is in the interpretation of the meaning of naying by subsequent generations of horse talkers.

[popeyespappy]

Howdy!

Oneness Pentecostalism

*Lays hands on Shadow

BE HEALED!!!

*Mumbles a few words in Shyriiwook and wonders off...

[LastPoet]

Indeed, usually insults get thrown when someone really go into stupid mode. It is allowed, as long as some reasoning is behind it. Creationists deserve them, because at one point it gets frustrating the whole "lalala, I can't hear you" routine. People could learn to get past their pride and sensibilities in the receiving end of an insult and focus on the argument. This is no place for persecution-happy people.

As to the trinity, it would be interesting to contrast it between christians, not so much with atheists. To us its kind of a moot point, since evidence of a god or gods should be provided. Mabe you can make a thread about it

[ShadowWolf1986]

Christ, savior, scripture are all man made, yokelish, supertitious concept just like trinity. You thinking prostrating yourself before some but not others makes less superstitious or irrational?

I do not prostrate myself before God to make myself less superstitious or irrational. I do not know of anyone who does that. However, prostrating myself before the one and only God who created everything makes me more thankful for what I have been given.

[Whateverist]

Welcome Shadow.
Being a Christian or an Atheist makes one neither automatically stupid nor intelligent, and I'd like to think there are more options than that - it's a bit of a false dilemma, no?

I think it is a false dilemma, but like I said I read a thread on here where Atheists were bashing a Christian they had not met based on second hand knowledge from another Atheist poster. The thread link follows,

http://atheistforums.org/thread-8522.html

I wanted the question of intelligence, and possibly the one I asked about ignorance if the Mod will allow, out of the way before I further engage the Atheists on this forum.

No one here can speak for everyone here, nor give assurances of everyone else's good behavior. (Expect the worse.) I for one agree it is a false dilemma.

I'm not sure which user you thought was being bashed, the agnostic or the believer. The agnostic seemed like a poe feigning moral ambiguity about child abuse in order to imply some things about homosexuality. The believer seemed upfront convinced there is something wrong with homosexuality. I only read several posts but didn't find anything very bash-full. Did you think that first post was the abusive one?

[Anomalocaris]

You take the imagined words of some Iron Age yokels to be more truthful overarching world view about everything, including what you are and how every thing is created, then all the fruits of modern science and rational inquiry. This is moral and intellectual prostration to beat all other prostrations.