New theistic chew toys wanted!

[brewer]

Isn't it strange, especially in this conversation, to assume that?  Do you have an example - you might find that the people here agree with your valuations of many things.

If you agree that religion makes people happy, more often than not, how come you aren't religious?

Some of us aren't damaged enough to need that mental band-aid.

[Ahriman]

If you agree that religion makes people happy, more often than not, how come you aren't religious?

Some of us aren't damaged enough to need that mental band-aid.

I was a Catholic since I was a baby, until I was 19 years old. How could I have been "damaged" as a newborn baby, before I had ever attended Mass? It's not possible, unless you're willing to believe I had some kind of pre-mortal existence, during which I was damaged.

[Spongebob]

Happiness. But that's just my perspective.

If your belief in God brings you happiness, Ahri, I'm cool with that. IMO, it's one of the valid reasons to believe.

From the perspective of the religion itself, happiness is not a valid reason.  If the Christian god is who the Bible says he is, then that's the only justification.  God is who god says god is and that god demands adulation from humans.  There's absolutely nothing in the Bible that remotely suggests god will make you happy if you believe in him and follow his commandments.

[brewer]

Some of us aren't damaged enough to need that mental band-aid.

I was a Catholic since I was a baby, until I was 19 years old. How could I have been "damaged" as a newborn baby, before I had ever attended Mass? It's not possible, unless you're willing to believe I had some kind of pre-mortal existence, during which I was damaged.

How the fuck did you perceive anything about "age" my statement?

[Ahriman]

If your belief in God brings you happiness, Ahri, I'm cool with that. IMO, it's one of the valid reasons to believe.

From the perspective of the religion itself, happiness is not a valid reason.  If the Christian god is who the Bible says he is, then that's the only justification.  God is who god says god is and that god demands adulation from humans.  There's absolutely nothing in the Bible that remotely suggests god will make you happy if you believe in him and follow his commandments.

Back when I attended Catholic school, Bible study was just a formality. I didn't take it seriously, and neither did any of my friends. There were some "good kids" who took it seriously, but those were the "weird kids"

---

I was a Catholic since I was a baby, until I was 19 years old. How could I have been "damaged" as a newborn baby, before I had ever attended Mass? It's not possible, unless you're willing to believe I had some kind of pre-mortal existence, during which I was damaged.

How the fuck did you perceive anything about "age" my statement?

Believing in God is not, nor ever was, a choice for me.

[Spongebob]

From the perspective of the religion itself, happiness is not a valid reason.  If the Christian god is who the Bible says he is, then that's the only justification.  God is who god says god is and that god demands adulation from humans.  There's absolutely nothing in the Bible that remotely suggests god will make you happy if you believe in him and follow his commandments.

1) Back when I attended Catholic school, Bible study was just a formality. I didn't take it seriously, and neither did any of my friends. There were some "good kids" who took it seriously, but those were the "weird kids"

---

2) Believing in God is not, nor ever was, a choice for me.

1)  That's not really surprising but has nothing to do with my comment, so I have no idea why you are telling us this.  Lots of children pay little attention in religious studies because its not interesting to them.  All you're telling us is that you are average.

In contrast, most evangelical churches go to great lengths to make Sunday school and Bible study "fun" for children.  It's all part of their indoctrination plan.  You would think Catholics would have figured this out by now since they have almost 2 millennia on all other versions of Christianity.

2)  If that is the case then you should be able to relate to most atheists.  It's not a choice for us either.

[brewer]

How the fuck did you perceive anything about "age" my statement?

Believing in God is not, nor ever was, a choice for me.

And there we see the indoctrination inherent in the system.

I'm expected to believe that, on your own with no outside influence, you would have come up with god exists?

[Ahriman]

Believing in God is not, nor ever was, a choice for me.

And there we see the indoctrination inherent in the system.

I'm expected to believe that, on your own with no outside influence, you would have come up with god exists?

Ever since my first conscious memories, I always had a sense that someone was watching over me, but when I observed my parents, they didn't seem to "fit the bill" of that "someone" watching over me.

[Deesse23]

When religion makes people happy, it's a fake happiness brought on by self-delusion. This quote still remains relevant: "Better the horrible truth than the comforting lie."

Truth isn't worth much if it makes you miserable.

Lets assume your doctor tells you tomorrow that you have terminal cancer. What do you do? Accept the truth and feel miserable, or pretend you dont have cancer?

[brewer]

And there we see the indoctrination inherent in the system.

I'm expected to believe that, on your own with no outside influence, you would have come up with god exists?

Ever since my first conscious memories, I always had a sense that someone was watching over me, but when I observed my parents, they didn't seem to "fit the bill" of that "someone" who was watching over me.

That's not what you have been describing (ad nauseam) as your god.