Intelligence is a Curse

[The Grand Nudger]

You'd heard of pascals wager before. Remember the person who explained faith in Christ to you couched in that language? That person had either never given it any thought, or they were being intentionally manipulative and disingenuous.
(most likely a pastor, and most likely the latter....sadly)

There really isn't any kind way to tell you that you've been lied to btw. It's a painful notion to even consider, I understand that.

[salty]

3. Never heard of Pascal's Wager until now. My belief is simple: what do you lose by following the teachings of Christ? I assert: you lose nothing, instead you gain everything.

And as has already been asserted: If you believe that, then you absolutely must follow EVERY set of religious teachings, which is of course impossible.

It was demonstrated to you how absurd it was. Substitute the word Christ for Allah, Krishna or the Flying Spaghetti Monster and you cannot help but see how flimsy an argument this is. The fact that you are a Christian and therefore you 'know' that your God is the right one does not make this point any less valid. More absence of logic, salty. If you had been raised in a Muslim country you would absolutely undoubtedly be saying the same thing about Mohammad or Allah.

El Dinero & Rhythm
Yes, that statement can be applied to any religion that is being taught, you're correct. Yes, that's absurd when it's applied to every religious group because no one can follow everything.

What I have been trying to clarify is this: I am affirming that I believe Christianity is the only path, again we're in the "Christianity" section of the forum, meaning there are only two choices (follow or don't follow). Therefore under the rule of only speaking about Christianity the challenge: What do you have to lose by following the teachings of Jesus Christ [according to the Bible] is nothing, and what you have to gain is everything.

You'll notice that Aleia and I were fighting about my God and the Bible. I was stating that according to the Bible I win on both accounts, this is my firm conviction. The goal of this statement was not to convince anyone to come to Christ, but to simply state that my ability to love, befriend, enjoy and live life has happened with double pleasure since I have been living with Christ, therefore if nothing were to happen, as many atheists believe, then I would be in the same situation as everyone else, but if I am correct about my oneness with Christ, then I will have gained something beautiful and eternal. Again my final point was: No one knows what happens when you die. Since we are affirming that my beliefs are aligned to the Bible, as a Christian I assume the result will follow what has been stated in Revelation and all over the Bible about the end. Otherwise, there will be nothing.

If your goal is to say that "something" of another religion may happen, then you aren't arguing the atheist viewpoint. If your goal is to be convinced that my God is the one true god, then why would you single out this statement I made to Aleia as a basis for me to convince you, when I'm speaking of Biblical things?

If you are trying to decide if Jesus is a good example of how a person should behave while on earth, I am telling you that you have nothing to lose by following his lead.

El Dinero, that is all I can do for the moment. I have a meeting. I will continue this tomorrow. Be patient with me, we'll come to an understanding, even if it's a disagreement.

[The Grand Nudger]

Confronted with the abject stupidity of a statement, you just keep repeating it. Then quickly try to tiptoe over to following Jesus lead, which I of course did..in post #25. "Arguing the atheist viewpoint" lol. Dictating the rules of sane conversation now eh? You're unqualified for such a position.

[salty]

You'd heard of pascals wager before. Remember the person who explained faith in Christ to you couched in that language? That person had either never given it any thought, or they were being intentionally manipulative and disingenuous.
(most likely a pastor, and most likely the latter....sadly)

There really isn't any kind way to tell you that you've been lied to btw. It's a painful notion to even consider, I understand that.

So kind. you really would make a good teacher. I haven't read the link on Pascal's Wager yet. I am still defending my point of view because I've never hear of this wager. I am defending my views from the side that I am speaking strictly about Christianity and the views that are aligned with Bibilical teaching. I am not including other religious beliefs. I know we disagree, but I have come to like you and I respect that you are trying to deliver me from the evil ways of some Christians in the church. I agree that there are things I should have known more about myself, but I am learning and my view of things will change, but I will never lose my faith in God because he raised me while my father was getting himself together. Now I have two fathers and I won't disregard either one.

See you tomorrow, my friend.

[bozo]

Does this woman's habit of calling everybody her " friend " not get tedious?

[The Grand Nudger]

You're right, I'm unkind. We're adults, and adults don't blow smoke up each others ass when one says something absurd. I have enough respect for you to actually explain that you've been treated as a mark, rather than throw my hands in the air "oh well" and let you trudge along with people literally skullfucking you.

[frankiej]

Does this woman's habit of calling everybody her " friend " not get tedious?

They just say it to lure you in, so they can try to take you to their heaven, where you definitely don't want to go... Rather selfish really. I hear there aren't even any poker nights in heaven.

[Jackalope]

What I have been trying to clarify is this: I am affirming that I believe Christianity is the only path, again we're in the "Christianity" section of the forum, meaning there are only two choices (follow or don't follow). Therefore under the rule of only speaking about Christianity the challenge: What do you have to lose by following the teachings of Jesus Christ [according to the Bible] is nothing, and what you have to gain is everything.

You've missed the point. Pascal's Wager presents a false dichotomy. In fact, you do not have nothing to lose by adopting Christian faith. What if there is in fact a supreme being that is not God as described in the Bible and your faith has offended him greatly?

Pascal's Wager assumes that the wagerer's God is the correct one, and this is far from a reasonable assumption.

[Erinome]

If all this makes you feel better, then so be it. I think you have some misconceptions of yourself because of your education. You call me deluded, yet you feel you're a compassionate person, have you read any of the things you've said to me lately? Clearly you don't look over your shoulder to consider how you treat others, therefore you do not know what it means to be forgiving and kind. If we had someone evaluate the two of us through our posts, they would certainly maintain that you are defending your ego and your point of view with tactics that declare you have resentment issues with the deity called God, which extends to his followers and even people you do not know in person. Wouldn't you agree that people are different in person, not because they will say different things, but beacuse they have shown themselves in the flesh? Haven't you noticed that I have no need to attack your beliefs because they do not hinder me or scare me? Haven't you noticed that you are angry with an invisible force that "cannot" exist, that kills children, smashing their heads against rocks. Why isn't your passionate disgust directed at the millions of mothers that disassemble their children in the womb through abortion, using instruments to pull them into pieces and cut off their limbs. Why aren't you going after them, instead of a dusty old book that has "made up stories" about people doing killing people? At least, as far as you believe, these stories aren't true, but abortion is happening everyday, around the world. Aleia, stop defending your ego and open your eyes. I am not your enemy and neither is God.

Also, it's easy to be compassionate to people you like, but being compassionate with people you don't like, that's when virtue really shows. Show me this virtue you speak of, respond to me with some respect.

I know it's common in Christian cultures to blow smoke up people's asses, but salty, I don't do that shit. I call it like I see it. If you want something sugar coated, eat a doughnut! Who has taught you that respect is always being nice about everything? I believe respect is largely based upon honesty, and I have done nothing but be honest with you about my thoughts and feelings on your unfounded, nonsensical "points". I've not called you names. How have I disrespected you? Disagreeing with you is not disrespecting you, it's just disagreeing.

I am not angry with an invisible being that doesn't exist. I am angry that the world is full of stupid people, and that in the Information Age, people refuse to inform themselves. They stick with faith. That's annoying to those of us who took the time to do a little thinking.

Christians abort more children every year than any other religious/nonreligious group. By a landslide. Google it, and inform yourself.. or perhaps you'll just have faith that Aleia the evil atheist is a liar. But I haven't lied to you, and that's the problem you have with me. It's okay. You're inflicted with the backward "christian" perspective of respect.

I'm pro choice, btw. There are millions of abortions every year (Christians making up about 60%), and the world is over crowded as it is. I would see it as heinous on the mother's part, but considering we live in a society that believes that by teaching young people how to protect themselves is giving them permission to fuck, and sticks by their abstinence until marriage, unrealistic views; it's easy to see why abortion is a necessary evil.

As for me, I have no delusions about myself. I am imperfect and I embrace my imperfections. I treat people like I would want to be treated. I respect people who aren't afraid to tell me when I'm wrong, as long as they can prove it. I respect people who don't live by that ridiculous "Thumper from Bambi" wisdom: "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all". I don't abuse children, kill people, drive drunk, lie, steal, cheat, abandon, rape, maim, or tell people they are going to burn in hell. I do get a bit snippy sometimes, but I forgive those who get snippy with me.

[The Grand Nudger]

They've been informed (and I bet they even passed the finals). No excuses, any way you look at it.