Virtual reality girlfriend

[Catholic_Lady]

...And that's the other thing. Some of you assume the only reason any of us believe is because we were "brain washed" as kids and manipulated into doing so.

This has always been a mystery to me. Why would an adult choose to have a religion goes beyond me. I believe it is a minority among those who believe.

I will not try to convince you to stop believing since there must a deep emotional reason for you to choose to believe. But there are some limits that you have to consider then: 1. No political power 2. No supporting the church in any way, be it money, etc. 3. Do not force you children to believe in your chosen religion. 4. The church must be taxed. 5. Do not try to teach your religious beliefs in schools/highschools.

My bold.

It isn't always about being a "choice", neither is it always "emotional reasons." 

This is all just more assumptions and generalizations about entire groups of people. Which it seems in every other circumstances not involving religious people, you would be totally against.

Contrary to what you asserted, I'd say usually people don't choose to believe or disbelieve in certain things, they just genuinely do/don't because it makes more sense for them. For example, I couldn't "choose" to believe in unicorns if I tried (and I would love it if they existed), because as far as I know they are completely made up. I'm sure it's the same way with you and God. You don't choose not believe in God. You just don't because you genuinely don't think He's real. 

Likewise, do you have to consciously choose to believe your mom loves you? Or do you believe she loves you because based on what you've gathered, it makes more sense to you that she does? And it doesn't mean it's for emotional reasons that you believe she does. Maybe you can make a list of objective reasons why it makes sense to you that she loves you - she gave you life, she raised you, she supports you, she gave you the jacket she had on when you were cold, etc etc...  

^That's the way it is with me and my faith, and I think that's how it probably is with most of us. Not a choice, and not purely emotional.

[Catholic_Lady]

Also, I've noticed some people here use the philosophy of "if it makes you happy, then go for it" for any action/lifestyle under the sun that isn't directly harming another.

...Yet take a much more critical/judgmental approach when it comes to people taking joy in their faith.  

Why does the logic of "if it makes you happy, go for it" get tossed out the window when it comes to theists who's faith brings them happiness? Who are happy when they go to church, pray, sing together, believe, etc?

Some food for thought.

Live and let live =/= ban on criticism and critique. 

If you air your ideas about your beliefs in the real world, expect people to talk back. The fact there is even a discussion about the subject of virtual girlfriend's online (if they do harm anyone it could be argued it is only be the person indulging in it, which can't often be said of religious faith) is surely testament to that, no?

But that's the thing though. They don't give criticism or critique to practically any lifestyle or action a person takes on the basis that "if it makes you happy, go for it." No critique necessary. No reason for anyone else to care or put further thought into. 

...It does not seem to be that way when it comes to people going to church, praying, or believing. 

And I'm not talking about having a discussion with a religious person about what they believe, and disagreeing with them and telling them the reasons why you think their logic is flawed. I'm talking about actually being opposed to this persons' lifestyle of prayer, belief, and church going. Some of the same people preaching "if it makes you happy, go for it" are also some of the people who would be opposed to another person having a religious lifestyle.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

I, and I would hazard a guess 'we', are like that to 99% of the people in the world who are religious. You may have heard people telling others to keep their religion in their pants, or in other words, if you have a faith that's good for you. You want to bring it up in conversation? Then we'll have discussion about.

The only people I talk to about religion are those who bring it up, be it in personal conversation or in wider macro-environments such as, say, policy or debates about society.

After all, if I took issue with everyone's religious faith, it'd take me many millions of lifetimes to get to object to everyone.

I think it grossly unfair to accuse people of objecting to others 'having a religious lifestyle' (not sure what that is). I certainly don't, and I don't think others do either (though I can't speak for everyone). The main difference between the subject in the OP and this 'religious lifestyle' is that one propagates through interaction with others, by necessity, the other is entirely a choice that affects, directly, the person making the decision. I don't think it a fair comparison.

[The Grand Nudger]

Maybe it has something to do with religious people casting jesus' vote in absentia, or with their noted ability to shittify other peoples lives at every conceivable level? Or maybe it's the piled on affrontery of watching those very same, very religious people play a limp victim card at any given opportunity?

[Kingpin]

Maybe it has something to do with religious people casting jesus' vote in absentia, or with their noted ability to shittify other peoples lives at every conceivable level? Or maybe it's the piled on affrontery of watching those very same, very religious people play a limp victim card at any given opportunity?

Again you lump all religious people together and apply critiques en masse instead of taking each person as an individual.

[The Grand Nudger]

-and?  I'm still waiting for the other foot to fall.  Was there some criticism or conclusion that you were working your way up to?  Would you like to call me names, lol? Are you personally offended? Do you cast jesus vote, do you shittify the lives of others, do you play the victim when called on the preceeding bullshit?

[Catholic_Lady]

I, and I would hazard a guess 'we', are like that to 99% of the people in the world who are religious. You may have heard people telling others to keep their religion in their pants, or in other words, if you have a faith that's good for you. You want to bring it up in conversation? Then we'll have  discussion about.

The only people I talk to about religion are those who bring it up, be it in personal conversation or in wider macro-environments such as, say, policy or debates about society.

After all, if I took issue with everyone's religious faith, it'd take me many millions of lifetimes to get to object to everyone.

I think it grossly unfair to accuse people of objecting to others 'having a religious lifestyle' (not sure what that is). I certainly don't, and I don't think others do either (though I can't speak for everyone). The main difference between the subject in the OP and this 'religious lifestyle' is that one propagates through interaction with others, by necessity, the other is entirely a choice that affects, directly, the person making the decision. I don't think it a fair comparison.

That's why I was and always am very careful to say "some".

[downbeatplumb]

...And that's the other thing. Some of you assume the only reason any of us believe is because we were "brain washed" as kids and manipulated into doing so.

Were you brought up in a catholic house hold?
Did your family go to church?
Did they take you?
Was it "normal" to be a catholic where you lived or in your house?

If you can answer yes to any of those then you should see where we are coming from. If you were brought up in a mulsim country chances are you'd be a muslim. It has absolutely to do with indoctrination and manipulation.

You need to be very careful what you teach children because it is very easy to pass on beliefs as facts otherwise.

[Kingpin]

-and?  I'm still waiting for the other foot to fall.  Was there some criticism or conclusion that you were working your way up to?  Would you like to call me names, lol?  Are you personally offended?  Do you cast jesus vote, do you shittify the lives of others, do you play the victim when called on the preceeding bullshit?

Let me answer your questions.

1.  My conclusion was self evident, but I will rephrase:  You paint religious people with a broad brush.  Do you apply this same broad brush to other groups?  Do you think all black people do X?  Do you think all democrats believe X?  Do you believe that all Chinese people eat X?  Just stating be careful in applying broad brushes

2.  I don't call anyone names.  Anyone that does is a child.

3.  No I am not offended, in fact rarely am I offended

4.  Jesus vote?  Not even sure what this is supposed to mean

5.  Shittify others?  Those that know me here, know the answer to that one

6.  Play the victim?  No, what would I be a victim of exactly?

[The Grand Nudger]

Excellent, so I couldn't possibly be referring to you, then..could I?  What's the problem, again? Is the issue one of you denying that such people exist...or that I shouldn't lump them together based upon their commonalities? Are we trying to posture for nonexistent high ground? You can have it, whenever you find it. I don't care.