Easy comebacks ?

[Simon Moon]

Exactly, give me the summary.

There are atheists like me who oppose institutionalized religion, and then some atheists who also spend their time studying the Bible to understand what makes it wrong.

Regardless, I find it a waste of time.

Seriously?!

I recently heard about a thing called Google. Not sure too much about it, but I heard it can lead to sources to find answer to almost anything.


Let me Google that for you

[GrandizerII]

There are also atheists who read the Bible as just another book to read, for the sake of reading. Not to find mistakes in it.

[mordant]

@Macocelo,

I have it easy; I was a bible-studying, bible-institute-attending fundie in the Long Ago, and even though well equipped to do so, find it difficult to gin up the energy to argue with my fundie brother about religion. And for the most part, he has the same problem in the other direction. We both understand that "there is a great gulf fixed between us" (Biblical reference there!) and there's not much point to it.

The ONLY point to it is really in a forum like this one, where a believer occasionally is drawn to the discussion because they have some private reservations about it (or much more often, they LURK but don't participate for that reason). I try to put info out there for the benefit of those folks. The kind of info I wish I'd stumbled upon back during my deconversion (it was pre-Internet then).

So add my vote to those who say, "don't waste your time". Or if you REALLY care about righting wrongs, however quixotic, then educate yourself like anyone else has to. A knowledgable Christian will know when you're metaphorically cribbing from Cliff's Notes instead of having an actual grasp of the material.

[Atomic Lava]

How about the fact that the Bible has been altered and mistranslated on possibly more than a few occasions. Why? Well for political purposes mainly. Remember, up until at least 200 years ago only Priests could read from or own a Bible. Why was this? I don't know. However, I think they had reasoning for this. Possibly they did not want the masses to know the rest of the Bible, or they just felt it was for the better. Again, I don't know. I'm sure someone has that answer however.

However, I'm curious how these arguments start. Seems it is best just to ignore it or change the subject. Because the truth is the chances of you changing someone's mind about their deeply held religious beliefs is very low. Like near 0%. I don't really believe in God myself. Wait, no, I'm just not even sure if he exists. I cannot however say he exists but I also cannot say with 100% certainty he doesn't exist.

I myself choose to shy away from the discussion of religion because I just don't feel it is my place to be critical of someone's religious views. I honestly don't care what someone else believes. It is their business and not mine. But I think like others have said - if you want to debate the Bible with someone it might be a good idea to read it. I'd recommend reading the King James Version. But that is entirely up to you.

And just a little pro tip: when debating, NEVER and I do mean NEVER use words with negative connotations. You never want to be attacking an idea, but instead challenging it. Saying stuff such as "well the Bible is full of shit" just makes you look bad and like an ignorant jerk. And as always, keep it civil.

---

Hey OP, when anyone mentions the word God here in Australia, we generally just say: You still believe in invisible friends, how old are you?

Are the Spiders really that big there?

[ignoramus]

Nah, the big ones are harmless, it's the little fuckers who are deadly.

[Peebothuhlu]

At work.

Nah, the big ones are harmless, it's the little fuckers who are deadly.

Technically it's both.

Funnel webs can get big enough their fangs will punch through thin leather. 'Sand-shoes' and the like.

A female that big will easily sit across the palm of your hand.

Now, 'White tail' spiders are 'Small'. An abdomen size akin to your average 'Daddy Long Legs'.

Now, while their bite isn't 'Fatal' per-sey. The necrotic, flesh eating effect is a tad hazardous.

Plus, the venom will easily (And has done) make a small/young child quite sick for a few days.... to a week.

Mouse spiders won't hurt you with their venom. But the web lairing females are large enough to have fang sizes comparable to funnel webs. Did I mention these big lady's make webs... generally in the open spaces between trees and brushes and/or fences? At about head hight?

So... fangs quite big enough to put descent, needle sized holes in you..... (At night. In the dark. Around your head height)

Then there are the Orb weavers. There are google images of these lady's with small lizards and birds in their webs/fangs.....

How are we doing for interest so far?



Cheers.

[ignoramus]

Fuck me! Funnel webs as big as your hand? Tell me where they are so I won't move to within 1000 kilometers of them. Aiming to shift to Caboolture soon. Do I still need my flame thrower?

[Peebothuhlu]

Fuck me! Funnel webs as big as your hand? Tell me where they are so I won't move to within 1000 kilometers of them. Aiming to shift to Caboolture soon. Do I still need my flame thrower?

Oh! Queensland! No worries, mate! X-bows are still legal there PLUS you can get the dual purpose benefit of being able to shoot the more Southerly Salty's (As in 'Salt water crocodiles) well done!

Speaking of Crocs.... How do you think you'll do with the jellyfish, octopii and/or sharks?

Not at work.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Fuck me! Funnel webs as big as your hand? Tell me where they are so I won't move to within 1000 kilometers of them. Aiming to shift to Caboolture soon. Do I still need my flame thrower?

Oh! Queensland! No worries, mate! X-bows are still legal there PLUS you can get the dual purpose benefit of being able to shoot the more Southerly Salty's (As in 'Salt water crocodiles) well done!  

Speaking of Crocs.... How do you think you'll do with the jellyfish,  octopii and/or sharks?  

Not at work.

I just read that the Australian government would like you to capture any funnel web spiders you find and bring them to one of the collection points.  They raise and milk them for antivenom.

No mention of a cash bounty, though.

Boru

[Peebothuhlu]

Yah...... while it's a great idea. Not sure how many folks would really want to get all 'Fondly' with a milkable funnel web....

They're kind of known for how agressive they can be.

Mind you, a freind is telling me the tale if the one they did take in.

They found it their shoe. So freind gently put 'Glad-wrap' over/around the shoe.

Then put the wrapped shoe in a bag.

Then put the bag in a box.

Then simply handed the whole thing over....... and went off to buy a new pair of shoes....



Not at work.