Christians

[Minimalist]

you're stupid and he's nuts.

[Zenith]

Our arguments are generally intelligent, thought provoking, and not based on a book.

To answer your question, I find it unbelievable that people of the same religion cannot agree on a single book, how hard can it be. It matters because where I live (Uk) Christians are still are fighting other christians.(northern Ireland)

This is an old post of this thread, but I thought about answering it:
First off, consider that there are a lot of denominations of christianity, where people of each denomination blindly believe its doctrine and its pastors and are eager to show how others are wrong and themselves are right, i.e. they (95%+) are not interested in seeing how things actually are, they are only loyal to their own religious parties.

So, to answer the question "how hard can it be?": if - as it actually happens - people are not open-minded (i.e. they don't want to listen what others have to say), then it is... impossible.

There is obviously also the issue with indoctrination (you put an idea in 1000 people's heads and they'd die for that idea) and with the study (i.e. most christians never read their bibles - I mean, the whole bible). So how can they agree on a book they never read??

[Anymouse]

There is obviously also the issue with indoctrination (you put an idea in 1000 people's heads and they'd die for that idea) and with the study (i.e. most christians never read their bibles - I mean, the whole bible). So how can they agree on a book they never read??

It amazes me the numbers of Christians over my life have asked me, "Have you read the Bible?" (I always want to answer "yes out of self-defence"). They are in turn amazed when I tell them, "Yes, cover-to-cover, several different imprints, several times."

But I am not amazed by the vast majority who themselves tell me they have not read it, or much of it. They buy the thing and keep it around the house like a "look at me I'm Christian" trophy.

I don't go in for quoting back the Bible in such discussions; they only listen to whoever it is they have put their trust in blindly to interpret what it says for them. I do like quoting the very sexy parts and asking them if this is really a book they would allow their children to read if it were any other name. Incest and adult nursing are two good ones, but there are many sexy or downright perverted stories in there.

I never had the heart to issue a challenge: you let me pick out ten passages to read to your kids, and you can read ten to mine. I'm not nearly as cruel or evil as the Christians I have found myself among.

[Zenith]

Ryft strikes me as a smart and articulate, if sleazy character, who knows how to muddy the issue with a lot of fancy words, frivolous accusations of logical fallacies and a pompous demeanor. He is too intelligent and articulate to actually believe any of the crap that oozes from his posts. I personally think he's a snake oil salesman and have no trouble treating him as such.

I didn't read too much of what he posted, but from what I read and what you said, I think the things are a bit different here... He seems to use the tactic "give an argument, even if you don't have one!", i.e. to say anything that could work and could be convincing to anybody. I believe he does believe what he says - if he didn't believe that, then a. he wouldn't have said that, but instead would have said what he actually believes; b. he wouldn't have been a xtian (i.e. his religion/denomination & indoctrination ask him to believe and say so).

The fact is that there can be people very smart at some things, but stupid in a certain thing (and you can also have a guy who studied a lot in universities and is a doctor in something, but is also a muslim, fanatically believing his religion). That's one of the bad part with indoctrination (here, indoctrination = first believe, then ask questions; things that inevitably happen to christians if they grow in christian families, because a child can believe his parents without questions, very easily; and growing in that environment means that he may remain with those taught ideas forever).

[Darth]

Ouch dp, ouch =P

What happened to steatlr anyhow?

[Cinjin]

As I stated earlier in this post you must understand when Jesus is speaking from His divinity and when He speaks from His humanity, guess you did not bother to read my reply to you and Cinjin, typical.

I always read your replies GC, and although I don't always reply, I certainly wouldn't consider it typical - since most often, I do reply.

Here's the deal - and I think everyone on this forum should consider this:

If I'm actively involved in a debate with multiple members of this forum, and one of those members on my side of the argument happens to be DeistPaladin (as this thread indeed does), I now prefer to await his reply to the argument. You see, whatever response I may have, he probably has the same one ... only it's more concise, far more eloquent and delivers the bitch-slap that mine would've lacked.

What can I say --- I agree with the man's ideologies and quite frankly --- he's better than me at making you people look foolish.
I hope that answers why I did not respond to your last, and yet another, illogical biased rambling.

Ever Sincerely, Cinjin

[Darth]

As I stated earlier in this post you must understand when Jesus is speaking from His divinity and when He speaks from His humanity, guess you did not bother to read my reply to you and Cinjin, typical.

I always read your replies GC, and although I don't always reply, I certainly wouldn't consider it typical - since most often, I do reply.

Here's the deal - and I think everyone on this forum should consider this:

If I'm actively involved in a debate with multiple members of this forum, and one of those members on my side of the argument happens to be DeistPaladin (as this thread indeed does), I now prefer to await his reply to the argument. You see, whatever response I may have, he probably has the same one ... only it's more concise, far more eloquent and delivers the bitch-slap that mine would've lacked.

What can I say --- I agree with the man's ideologies and quite frankly --- he's better than me at making you people look foolish.
I hope that answers why I did not respond to your last, and yet another, illogical biased rambling.

Ever Sincerely, Cinjin

Your's aren't half bad you know. I rate this post 9 out of 10 Stues. (10 Stue's being a perfect score) Intelligent, witty, and with a bit of a sting to it, not bad at all.

[DeistPaladin]

Too kind, Cin, but thank you, and as Steu said, you post some great things too.

[Godscreated]

As I stated earlier in this post you must understand when Jesus is speaking from His divinity and when He speaks from His humanity, guess you did not bother to read my reply to you and Cinjin, typical.

I always read your replies GC, and although I don't always reply, I certainly wouldn't consider it typical - since most often, I do reply.

Here's the deal - and I think everyone on this forum should consider this:

If I'm actively involved in a debate with multiple members of this forum, and one of those members on my side of the argument happens to be DeistPaladin (as this thread indeed does), I now prefer to await his reply to the argument. You see, whatever response I may have, he probably has the same one ... only it's more concise, far more eloquent and delivers the bitch-slap that mine would've lacked.

What can I say --- I agree with the man's ideologies and quite frankly --- he's better than me at making you people look foolish.
I hope that answers why I did not respond to your last, and yet another, illogical biased rambling.

Ever Sincerely, Cinjin

Sorry Cinjin, I was not eluding to you, I do see where it appears that way, again sorry. DP often does not address a post, he will ignor what is stated or make a snide remark and go on, this action is the same as what christians are accused of (not questioning). The only reason I mentioned you was the post I made was to both of you and I wanted to make sure he read the correct one, your non reply did not bother me, it was being ignored about a subject that DP obviously knows nothing about.

Sorry, Godschild

---

Too kind, Cin, but thank you, and as Steu said, you post some great things too.

It's apparent that Cinjin was raised with and uses manners.