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RE: Thoughts from a Christian
October 25, 2014 at 10:20 pm
You do realise that theism/atheism refers to what a person believes or claims to believe, while gnosticism/agnosticism refers to what one claims to know. So you can be an agnostic atheist just as you can be an agnostic theist. Or a gnostic theist or gnostic atheist. I think most people here would identify with the first category.
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
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RE: Thoughts from a Christian
October 25, 2014 at 10:38 pm
(October 25, 2014 at 10:20 pm)Stimbo Wrote: You do realise that theism/atheism refers to what a person believes or claims to believe, while gnosticism/agnosticism refers to what one claims to know. So you can be an agnostic atheist just as you can be an agnostic theist. Or a gnostic theist or gnostic atheist. I think most people here would identify with the first category.
I do realize that, and I stand by my original position, though I won't debate at length about it here. I'll save that for another time. It should be noted, however, that there there are plenty of people on both sides of the debate who are neither aware of that distinction, nor care to make it. The fact that you have brought it up serves to help educate those people, so kudos.
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RE: Thoughts from a Christian
October 25, 2014 at 10:57 pm
(October 25, 2014 at 8:00 pm)trmof Wrote: This is a very immature and rude tactic, to put words in somebody's mouth without speaking to them directly. Everyone who has matured past high-school is aware of this and recognizes it for the passive-aggressive, meaningless fluff that it is. You're more than welcome to behave like a child and frame your opinions like a child, but you will also more than likely be talked down to like one. You would do well to correct this habit if you want to maintain stronger social connections beyond your sphere of immediate friends.
You're on a message board so you're going to run into a lot of people with passive aggressive behavior.
At the same time you should consider taking a look at things from our perspective. Some Christian coming on an atheist forum and telling us to reconsider our beliefs (or something along those lines). Or challenging, or whatever. It's hard to take something like this seriously considering that many of us were probably theists at one point or another, or at least considered ourselves theists.
Have you ever tried being an atheist? What if someone challenged you to stop believing in god for a week? How would you react?
Cmon now. Just stop.
“Love is the only bow on Life’s dark cloud. It is the morning and the evening star. It shines upon the babe, and sheds its radiance on the quiet tomb. It is the mother of art, inspirer of poet, patriot and philosopher.
It is the air and light of every heart – builder of every home, kindler of every fire on every hearth. It was the first to dream of immortality. It fills the world with melody – for music is the voice of love.
Love is the magician, the enchanter, that changes worthless things to Joy, and makes royal kings and queens of common clay. It is the perfume of that wondrous flower, the heart, and without that sacred passion, that divine swoon, we are less than beasts; but with it, earth is heaven, and we are gods.” - Robert. G. Ingersoll
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RE: Thoughts from a Christian
October 26, 2014 at 4:49 am
I count thirteen a-hole posters who replied to this thread and didn't even have the common curtsey to welcome the new member. Min even called him a name, which is in violation of the Introduction forum rules.
@trmof - 
For Religion & Health see:[/b][/size] Williams & Sternthal. (2007). Spirituality, religion and health: Evidence and research directions. Med. J. Aust., 186(10), S47-S50. -LINK
The WIN/Gallup End of Year Survey 2013 found the US was perceived to be the greatest threat to world peace by a huge margin, with 24% of respondents fearful of the US followed by: 8% for Pakistan, and 6% for China. This was followed by 5% each for: Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, North Korea. -LINK
"That's disgusting. There were clean athletes out there that have had their whole careers ruined by people like Lance Armstrong who just bended thoughts to fit their circumstances. He didn't look up cheating because he wanted to stop, he wanted to justify what he was doing and to keep that continuing on." - Nicole Cooke
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RE: Thoughts from a Christian
October 26, 2014 at 7:14 am
Yeh sorry about that, I didn't welcome him earlier because this thread, though in the introduction section felt nothing like a introduction and he seemed like a drive-by poster as he never even updated on the challenge.
@trmof, Welcome, I hope you'll be able to have a comfortable stay here. And sorry about the joke earlier. All of the christians and theists here have a good sense of humor so I didn't expect it to be that different for you, but I do apologize, I shouldn't have based my assumptions on my past experiences.
Now since this is the introduction section, would you mind actually introducing yourself?
As for the challenge, I really couldn't find the challenge, so maybe you can just put it in text like you said you would? However from what others said it sounds like you want us to accept theism for a month to find a reason to believe. Which doesn't really make sense because that would translate to, "believe in order to believe". However this is just my assumption, so please post your actual challenge.
Quote:To know yet to think that one does not know is best; Not to know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty.
- Lau Tzu
Join me on atheistforums Slack  (pester tibs via pm if you need invite) 
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RE: Thoughts from a Christian
October 26, 2014 at 7:22 am
Yeah, but he's new and it's only to be expected that he doesn't know the rules/etiquette yet (how many people have done the same kind of intro posts in the past? - Plenty!)
He could just wait 30 days and then post his youtube video again, no need to hurry!
For Religion & Health see:[/b][/size] Williams & Sternthal. (2007). Spirituality, religion and health: Evidence and research directions. Med. J. Aust., 186(10), S47-S50. -LINK
The WIN/Gallup End of Year Survey 2013 found the US was perceived to be the greatest threat to world peace by a huge margin, with 24% of respondents fearful of the US followed by: 8% for Pakistan, and 6% for China. This was followed by 5% each for: Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, North Korea. -LINK
"That's disgusting. There were clean athletes out there that have had their whole careers ruined by people like Lance Armstrong who just bended thoughts to fit their circumstances. He didn't look up cheating because he wanted to stop, he wanted to justify what he was doing and to keep that continuing on." - Nicole Cooke
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RE: Thoughts from a Christian
October 26, 2014 at 7:38 am
I have no problem with that, but as he said he can post the challenge in text, I don't really see any reason to wait a month to watch it in video form.
Quote:To know yet to think that one does not know is best; Not to know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty.
- Lau Tzu
Join me on atheistforums Slack (pester tibs via pm if you need invite)
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RE: Thoughts from a Christian
October 26, 2014 at 7:57 am
Aractus is right, where are my manners. Welcome aboard.
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
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RE: Thoughts from a Christian
October 26, 2014 at 8:17 am
@trmof:
Thanks for the kudos, but you're really meant to click the button as well. 
And the former Daniel is quite right - I bid thee welcome!
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
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RE: Thoughts from a Christian
October 26, 2014 at 8:46 am
(October 26, 2014 at 7:38 am)Aoi Magi Wrote: I have no problem with that, but as he said he can post the challenge in text, I don't really see any reason to wait a month to watch it in video form.
Text would be easier to respond to point by point.
You can fix ignorance, you can't fix stupid.
Tinkety Tonk and down with the Nazis.
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