Wanted: Christians who reject the supernatural and a literal afterlife.

[Whateverist]

Whereas I hope to live forever in memory and lineage... and through a monument of stone that I build with my own two hands.  One day, all of you will feel the cruel boot of my children on your necks.   

Don't sweat it. With four emissaries to carry forth your spawn, equally diversified between XY's and XX's, you should feel assured.

[The Grand Nudger]

Five Whatevs, five - and that's just what I claim beyond foreign bastards. 

On a more serious note...this is why religious afterlife claims hold no particular temptation for me. My afterlife is already assured..and not by some thin promissory note. It's not allegory, and it's not metaphor. I can hold it in my hands, and I have.

[Whateverist]

Five Whatevs, five - and that's just what I claim beyond foreign bastards. 

On a more serious note...this is why religious afterlife claims hold no particular temptation for me.  My afterlife is already assured..and not by some thin promissory note.  It's not allegory, and it's not metaphor.  I can hold it in my hands, and I have.

Not a bad plan but not exactly easy either. My idea is to get vultures or something with a strong stomach -hell maggots will do- to uptake my organic matter back into the web of life. Afterlife assured for zero dollars and very little muss or fuss.

[JackRussell]

I want monkeys to evolve and speak with me.

I mean why are there still monkeys if I'm human.

Hang on.... they might be pissed off.

I think I saw a documentary about that.

[The Grand Nudger]

They keep trying....they're pretty sure we're idiots.

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I was at the Cinci Zoo, bonobo exhibit, and I watched some chimp roll up and drive straight into cunnilingus on a previously sleeping female..she wakes up semi-bored.  Crowd goes nuts giggling and pointing.  The chimps make some noises..and stare right back at us, wonder what they were thinking.

[Whateverist]

I want monkeys to evolve and speak with me.

I mean why are there still monkeys if I'm human.

Hang on.... they might be pissed off.

I think I saw a documentary about that.

The hairy ones are lazy bastards.  They could evolve if they pulled hard enough on their boot straps.

[John V]

I tend to agree with that last sentence.

As an aside, I'd say that "refuted" is way too strong a word for what happens between Jesus and the Sadducees in Matthew 22. I'd go with 'disagreed with' and leave it at that. But then again, I don't view that Bible through the lens you use.

For this thread, "attempted to refute" is fine. The point is that, in attempting to refute them, it's clear that he doesn't view the afterlife as merely allegorical. I don't see how someone can reasonably claim to interpret the bible's teaching on the afterlife as merely allegorical considering these passages, and there are others that could be brought up as well.

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It's conceivable that someone can reject the foundations of Christianity and call themselves a Christian. As noted, I've met one. But just because such people exist doesn't make their interpretation reasonable.

It may not be their interpretation that is unreasonable so much as their desire to associate themselves with those who believe as you do.

Wouldn't it be both? When your interpretation on major tenets differs from 99% of the people in the group, why would you want to be in the group?

[drfuzzy]

Here's a good article on the subject:  Half of U.S. Catholics say belief in God is not necessary to be a good person

[Neo-Scholastic]

There was once a movement called Death of God Theology promoted by a very small group of Christians. It didn't last long. For obvious reasons.

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...some chimp roll up and drive straight into cunnilingus on a previously sleeping female..she wakes up semi-bored.

Some things never change...