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RE: Question for Theists/Atheists
October 20, 2013 at 5:58 am
A co-worker of mine was greeted by an american colleague on their first ever meeting with an outstretched hand and the question "Are you sharp for the lord" which led to an awkward encounter. Why he felt the need to put my friend in this position I don't know.
What people believe can be a touchy subject and people sometimes react badly if you think what they believe is stupid. I'd rather not be in the position to have to mention it but if asked.....
You can fix ignorance, you can't fix stupid.
Tinkety Tonk and down with the Nazis.
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RE: Question for Theists/Atheists
October 20, 2013 at 6:37 am
(This post was last modified: October 20, 2013 at 6:56 am by DLJ.)
Well that escalated quickly!
You know things have gone awry when posts have to start with "In regards to the OP..."
But anyway...
In regards to the OP, most people (in the countries in which I have abided) live outwardly secular lives and their (largely private) religion usually stems from their upbringing / culture / traditions.
Rarely do I see the faith-card played so early in a conversation, if at all.
Mind you, the clothes that people wear in e.g. Malaysia can be a bit of a giveaway.
Meanwhile...
(October 20, 2013 at 1:44 am)Polaris Wrote: ...
Uh...Jesus hates...
Figs.
Little chewy bastards!
The PURPOSE of life is to replicate our DNA ................. (from Darwin)
The MEANING of life is the experience of living ... (from Frank Herbert)
The VALUE of life is the legacy we leave behind ..... (from observation)
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RE: Question for Theists/Atheists
October 21, 2013 at 12:26 am
(October 20, 2013 at 5:58 am)downbeatplumb Wrote: A co-worker of mine was greeted by an american colleague on their first ever meeting with an outstretched hand and the question "Are you sharp for the lord" which led to an awkward encounter. Why he felt the need to put my friend in this position I don't know.
What people believe can be a touchy subject and people sometimes react badly if you think what they believe is stupid. I'd rather not be in the position to have to mention it but if asked.....
Reminds me of many years ago when I was greeted by an evangelist who asked me with hand extended, "so, are you a deadbeat for Jesus?"
I was very young and still yet a christian so I didn't find the question offensive, but had that happened today my answer would be significantly different.
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RE: Question for Theists/Atheists
October 21, 2013 at 1:23 am
(This post was last modified: October 21, 2013 at 1:24 am by pineapplebunnybounce.)
(October 20, 2013 at 6:37 am)DLJ Wrote: Well that escalated quickly!
You know things have gone awry when posts have to start with "In regards to the OP..."
But anyway...
In regards to the OP, most people (in the countries in which I have abided) live outwardly secular lives and their (largely private) religion usually stems from their upbringing / culture / traditions.
Rarely do I see the faith-card played so early in a conversation, if at all.
Mind you, the clothes that people wear in e.g. Malaysia can be a bit of a giveaway.
Meanwhile...
(October 20, 2013 at 1:44 am)Polaris Wrote: ...
Uh...Jesus hates...
Figs.
Little chewy bastards!
Malaysia is a bit of a special case, religion has more to do with race and politics than it does "spiritual life". But the popular consensus on many issues like gays and such, it is the traditional muslim answer.
Anyways.
Announce your religion/lack thereof as you see fit and others will judge you accordingly, if someone mentions very early on that they're christian, I know they're out to convert me. If your religion isn't going to impact the relationship but you somehow keep bringing it up, knowing full well the other person thinks it's bullshit, it gets annoying very quickly.
Oh, and apologetics are stupid.
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RE: Question for Theists/Atheists
October 21, 2013 at 1:27 am
I don't really care much about what religion people are. In fact, I wish people didn't discuss it all.
If you have to lie to bolster your argument, it’s time to rethink the validity of the argument.
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RE: Question for Theists/Atheists
October 21, 2013 at 1:28 am
Here in Australia, people just don't bring it up at all. Being agnostic/atheist all my life, it actually seemed weirder to me that people would be christian rather than like me when I was growing up, simply because I had no method of comparison. I still don't know, with regards to the majority of the people I know, what they believe, because people aren't dickheads about it here.
It's nice. 
"YOU take the hard look in the mirror. You are everything that is wrong with this world. The only thing important to you, is you." - ronedee
Want to see more of my writing? Check out my (safe for work!) site, Unprotected Sects!
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RE: Question for Theists/Atheists
October 21, 2013 at 1:33 am
(October 21, 2013 at 1:28 am)Esquilax Wrote: Here in Australia, people just don't bring it up at all. Being agnostic/atheist all my life, it actually seemed weirder to me that people would be christian rather than like me when I was growing up, simply because I had no method of comparison. I still don't know, with regards to the majority of the people I know, what they believe, because people aren't dickheads about it here.
It's nice.
That's it, I'm moving. 
If you have to lie to bolster your argument, it’s time to rethink the validity of the argument.
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RE: Question for Theists/Atheists
October 21, 2013 at 4:00 am
(October 20, 2013 at 1:15 am)Polaris Wrote: So the question is this....theists, do you think it is dishonest and un-religious for a believer to not say they believe to everyone they meet or to make a show of their religious beliefs? Like Min said, it becomes easy to tell after a while of talking with the person... depending a bit on the content of the conversation.
Some wear their favorite torture instrument around their necks, making it extremely obvious.
But, for the most part, I prefer not to now and assume I'm interacting with a peer, and think that the other person also thinks s/he's addressing a peer.
Why would I need to know that you're a christian, if you're only asking me for directions to the Hotel; or if we're discussing football, or the weather... or programming languages... or... anything that doesn't involve religion/death???
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RE: Question for Theists/Atheists
October 21, 2013 at 4:40 am
Oh I'm definitely moving to Australia  Next May!
If I were to create self aware beings knowing fully what they would do in their lifetimes, I sure wouldn't create a HELL for the majority of them to live in infinitely! That's not Love, that's sadistic. Therefore a truly loving god does not exist!
Quote:The sin is against an infinite being (God) unforgiven infinitely, therefore the punishment is infinite.
Dead wrong. The actions of a finite being measured against an infinite one are infinitesimal and therefore merit infinitesimal punishment.
Quote:Some people deserve hell.
I say again: No exceptions. Punishment should be equal to the crime, not in excess of it. As soon as the punishment is greater than the crime, the punisher is in the wrong.
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RE: Question for Theists/Atheists
October 21, 2013 at 6:25 am
Around here there isn't much talk about religion. Most are non-practicing catholics and even the ones that practice don't really start talking about it from nothing. Given this, I also don't have the need to tell anyone about being an atheist, unless asked directly.
I also don't know anyone that has been ostracized for being an atheist around here. Portugal is quite secular, barring a few nutcases, religious people from all the faiths are very moderate and keep it to themselves or when they are on the church/mosque/temple.
Portuguese Republic Constitution Wrote:Article 41
(Freedom of conscience, religion and worship)
1. Freedom of conscience, religion and worship shall be inviolable.
2. No one shall be persecuted, deprived of rights or exempted from civic obligations or duties because of his convictions or religious observance.
3. No authority shall question anyone in relation to his convictions or religious observance, save in order to gather statistical data that cannot be individually identified, nor shall anyone be prejudiced in any way for refusing to answer.
4. Churches and other religious communities shall be separate from the state and free to organise themselves and to perform their ceremonies and their worship.
5. Freedom to teach any religion within the denomination in question and to use appropriate media for the pursuit of its activities shall be guaranteed.
6. The right to be a conscientious objector, as laid down by law, shall be guaranteed.
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