Why Catholics Are Right

[Rev. Rye]

Again, prove that hell is a real place and that I'm going to spend eternity there. Otherwise you're just wasting time here.

Yes. I think I addressed this point in my guide for theists on an atheist forum.
1) Atheists tend to not believe in Hell or Heaven, and so the threat/warning isn't going to be effective.
2) As Sagan said so eloquently, "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." If you ever expect atheists to believe something like this, you're going to have to show proof that A) It exists, B) Atheists go there if they don't convert, and C) The existence of Hell is somehow reconcilable with an all-powerful, all-knowing, benevolent God, in descending order of importance.

[Cinjin]

[OnlyNatural]

And this last quote, below, is just priceless. I can't believe he thinks the two situations are equal. By desecrating a Holocaust memorial, you're disrespecting millions of actual innocent lives lost. But by desecrating some communion wafers? You're disrespecting an entity that almost certainly doesn't exist except in your collective delusions! Tragic real-life facts are NOT the same as personal beliefs that are unsupported by evidence, no matter how deeply they are held.

Not sure I agree here, you don't get to make the call about the truth of someone else's beliefs unless you can present a compelling interest that justifies your doing so. I don't think those are really Christ cookies, but then nobodies asking that I believe. If they do so, then bitch. Now it's a separate issue whether some kinds of beliefs have rights. I'd say no, but then I'm not going to go around pissing in realist's wheaties with my anti-realist mojo either. I think there is a place for realizing that some beliefs mean more to some people than life itself.

Hey, I'm willing to consider the truth value of their beliefs, if only they had some evidence. I have more respect for something real that happened, than for irrational beliefs taken on faith. The Holocaust happened, causing unimaginable suffering. But if someone tells me that Jesus's feelings are hurt (and his followers suffer equally from the insult) if you crush a cracker that's supposed to somehow transform into his flesh? Maybe this person cares more about God's feelings than anything else, but I care about real human beings. I wouldn't intentionally hurt someone by stomping on their faith, mind you, but I don't think that religious beliefs are worthy of the same respect as beliefs based on reality. I respect the religious person, certainly, but not the belief.

[Minimalist]

Maybe Christians do overuse that, but that says nothing about it's valididty.

Hmmm...Tacky, I used to do this over at Evilbible all the time. Here's a bit out of your precious bible.


Isaiah 13

14 Like a hunted gazelle,
like sheep without a shepherd,
they will all return to their own people,
they will flee to their native land.
15 Whoever is captured will be thrust through;
all who are caught will fall by the sword.
16 Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes;
their houses will be looted and their wives violated.

Feel free to put this into any "context" you wish in order to show me how fucking good your bloody god is.

I'll wait.

[tackattack]

It's a prophecy min. I'm not sure of the historicity of the fall of Babylon too well. It may be a completed prophecy or one yet to pass. I'm sure you can clue me in on that. With all the burning though, it seems to be an end times prophecy. I could imagine seeing people around you get tossed into a lake of fire and burning till they're destroyed might be pretty terrifying. I thought that particular verse you quoted though was about the Chaldeans or Medes conquring? Overall the chapter is odd in that it at times is in all 3 persons (first, second and third no the trinity) and on a plain read seems difficult to determin if Isaiah is relating his prophecy, speaking for God, or imposing himself into the vison he sees. Usually those things (prophecies) end up factoring in far too much of the latter. That being said, the verses you quote are not directly related to God's hand, as he isn't doing the thrusting through or dashing.

Hope I didn't make you wait too long. I like it when I get to discuss these things with you. Usually you're on about politics and it's my least favorite subject