A really hard question on Satan and deception.

[Cyberman]

I'm no stranger to the internet, but the single most disturbing statement I have ever read on it has been right here in this thread:

"Didn't stop god from wiping them out though."

It's His call, they are essentially extraneous in the equation.

(My bold)

By itself it's bad enough. Combine the sentiment of those words with that of statements such as "I don't excuse God, I am saying He is right. God is sovereign, and everything in the Universe belongs to Him" and the resulting picture is one of an individual who is one trip to Home Depot away from doing something about it. I really hope and pray (!) that I'm wrong.

[lucent]

I'm no stranger to the internet, but the single most disturbing statement I have ever read on it has been right here in this thread:

"Didn't stop god from wiping them out though."

It's His call, they are essentially extraneous in the equation.

(My bold)

By itself it's bad enough. Combine the sentiment of those words with that of statements such as "I don't excuse God, I am saying He is right. God is sovereign, and everything in the Universe belongs to Him" and the resulting picture is one of an individual who is one trip to Home Depot away from doing something about it. I really hope and pray (!) that I'm wrong.

The melodrama of this forum is utterly amazing. Stimbo, before you make such wild claims, don't you think you should actually read *and* comprehend the things that were said?

My statement referred to plants and bacteria, and that because they don't have souls. I do think they're extraneous to the equation. Does this make me a potential terrorist? I just ate some califlower..are you shedding a tear right now? How about you just stay in the peanut gallery next time.

[Minimalist]

What I think is that you look for evidence to support your position, and listen to people who agree with that position.

Lucy, you probably don't get the irony - your kind is almost immune to it - but when a believer in fairy tales says something like that it is humorous beyond belief.

[lucent]

What I think is that you look for evidence to support your position, and listen to people who agree with that position.

Lucy, you probably don't get the irony - your kind is almost immune to it - but when a believer in fairy tales says something like that it is humorous beyond belief.

I will not be responding to anyone addressing me as "lucy". I am not female, so this is a derogatory nickname and a personal attack, which is against the forum rules.

---

I'm no stranger to the internet, but the single most disturbing statement I have ever read on it has been right here in this thread:

"Didn't stop god from wiping them out though."

It's His call, they are essentially extraneous in the equation.

(My bold)

By itself it's bad enough. Combine the sentiment of those words with that of statements such as "I don't excuse God, I am saying He is right. God is sovereign, and everything in the Universe belongs to Him" and the resulting picture is one of an individual who is one trip to Home Depot away from doing something about it. I really hope and pray (!) that I'm wrong.

I notice you're not responding Stimbo. Are you going to retract your statement?

[Cyberman]

I, like everybody else, can only go by whatever you choose to share here. When I see comments apparently expressing a dismissive attitude to life, combined with wilfully blind devotion to a religion that has been described by some as a death cult, I feel obliged to point it out. Of course I have no idea of your character in the real world (by that I mean the world beyond this forum; not the one in your head); you may be a decent bloke with whom I could happily share a pint of Banks's and a bag of scratchings. However, the character of the person you present here scares me.

[lucent]

I, like everybody else, can only go by whatever you choose to share here. When I see comments apparently expressing a dismissive attitude to life, combined with wilfully blind devotion to a religion that has been described by some as a death cult, I feel obliged to point it out. Of course I have no idea of your character in the real world (by that I mean the world beyond this forum; not the one in your head); you may be a decent bloke with whom I could happily share a pint of Banks's and a bag of scratchings. However, the character of the person you present here scares me.

I don't have a dismissive attitude towards life. I love life, and I love people. I don't even hurt bugs I find in my house, I put them outside. Yes, I said plants and bacteria are extaneous to the question of Gods judgement upon the Earth. If that frightens you then I can only imagine that you still use a nightlight in your room. What I am presenting is that I think God is a just judge, and that if He judges someone, it is because they are guilty. You obviously don't believe that, but I do, and we can chop that up to difference of opinion. I don't approve of violence, or killing, but I understand that God brings judgement upon this world, and that is His sovereign right. Further, that He would not be just if He didn't bring judgement.

[Cyberman]

I don't have a dismissive attitude towards life. I love life, and I love people.

I'm glad to hear that, and I really mean it. It goes back to what I said about presenting a different character online to their real-world persona.

I don't even hurt bugs I find in my house, I put them outside. Yes, I said plants and bacteria are extaneous to the question of Gods judgement upon the Earth. If that frightens you then I can only imagine that you still use a nightlight in your room.

No, that doesn't frighten me in and of itself. What does frighten me, though, are individuals - or groups - that hold their pet god to be supreme at the expense of the health and wellbeing of real living things here on Earth and then go on to do something about it. If you are not such a person, then fine. There are, and have been, and probably always will be, people who do fit that category. That should frighten any rational person.

What I am presenting is that I think God is a just judge, and that if He judges someone, it is because they are guilty. You obviously don't believe that, but I do, and we can chop that up to difference of opinion.

Indeed we could chalk it up as such, if not for the matter of their representing diametrically opposed positions. This means in practise that one or other of us must be wrong, unless there are other interpretations that render both of us wrong; in two out of those three options, you (or I) are wrong.

I don't approve of violence, or killing, but I understand that God brings judgement upon this world, and that is His sovereign right. Further, that He would not be just if He didn't bring judgement.

Your argument blew up at the first "but".

[Minimalist]

I will not be responding to anyone addressing me as "lucy". I am not female, so this is a derogatory nickname and a personal attack, which is against the forum rules.

I don't give a flying fuck if you respond or not. Frankly, addressing you is pointless but everyone else can have some fun at your expense.

[Cinjin]

I've already addressed this one with you. I have the same answer. When I was a christian, I started researching to find out what was wrong with me. I wanted to know why I didn't get it and my father did. I went out trying to prove the bible true and only found fraud ... tons of it. Piles of it.
I didn't "discover" sin when I was 18 and think, "WHAT'S THIS?!?! IT'S AWESOME" ... and your accusation of this is event in my life is what you need for you to make sense of the actual reality. Funny how that works hmm.

It's not what I need to believe, it's because I know human nature. Your whitewashed version of the events doesn't match the emotional responses you have given me, nor your testimony about your life i general. Whatever you say, it all comes back to sin.

Once again it comes back to what YOU choose to BELIEVE. No problem, as long as you assume to tell me about my life which you know nothing about ... I'll go ahead return the favor. Let me tell you about yours...

You grew up an insecure boy who was picked on by the "cool kids". Your whole life since middle school has been an endurance of humiliation and pathetic attempts at success. You have longed for life to "make sense" and to know that those who have victimized you would pay for your humiliation. You've always longed for an eternal reward because you've never been able to cut it here in the real world. Your parents were wishy washy when it came to religious matters and you've always wanted a parental figure that loved you unconditionally. You happened to be born into a country that was predominantly christian and you found your savior ... not because he found you, but because you are one of the billions of pathetic humans on this planet that can't deal with reality.

Now remember what you said to me when you try to deny my description of your life ... as that will be my response to you. What is it you said to me you arrogant fucker? ... "It's not what I believe, it's because I know human nature. Your whitewashed version of the events doesn't match the emotional responses you have given me, nor your testimony about your life in general."

Deny my description of your life all you want ... I now proclaim myself the rights that you have given yourself. Your life is whatever the fuck I say it is and there's not a god damn word you can say about it.

Are you picking up on the theme of this whole post?!?! You are an arrogant piece of shit to assume you know my life and the relationship I have with my father! My father is a lot like you. He loves his stupid god more than he could EVER love me and my two siblings. The pain that he alone has caused this family is immeasurable.

"My only concern is god"

[lucent]

Once again it comes back to what YOU choose to BELIEVE. No problem, as long as you assume to tell me about my life which you know nothing about ... I'll go ahead return the favor. Let me tell you about yours...

You grew up an insecure boy who was picked on by the "cool kids". Your whole life since middle school has been an endurance of humiliation and pathetic attempts at success. You have longed for life to "make sense" and to know that those who have victimized you would pay for your humiliation. You've always longed for an eternal reward because you've never been able to cut it here in the real world. Your parents were wishy washy when it came to religious matters and you've always wanted a parental figure that loved you unconditionally. You happened to be born into a country that was predominantly christian and you found your savior ... not because he found you, but because you are one of the billions of pathetic humans on this planet that can't deal with reality.

Now remember what you said to me when you try to deny my description of your life ... as that will be my response to you. What is it you said to me you arrogant fucker? ... "It's not what I believe, it's because I know human nature. Your whitewashed version of the events doesn't match the emotional responses you have given me, nor your testimony about your life in general."

Deny my description of your life all you want ... I now proclaim myself the rights that you have given yourself. Your life is whatever the fuck I say it is and there's not a god damn word you can say about it.

Are you picking up on the theme of this whole post?!?! You are an arrogant piece of shit to assume you know my life and the relationship I have with my father! My father is a lot like you. He loves his stupid god more than he could EVER love me and my two siblings. The pain that he alone has caused this family is immeasurable.

"My only concern is god"

It doesn't bother me, Cinjin..my life doesn't match any of your stereotypes. If you spent the rest of your life trying to dream up what I've experienced you still wouldn't come close.

I'll say it again, the reason you deny God is because of sin and nothing else. If you ever decide that the truth is better than sin, God will forgive you. Until then, He is going to let you believe the lie and be content with spiritual poverty.