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RE: Deconverted by theology.
October 27, 2011 at 2:08 pm
(This post was last modified: October 27, 2011 at 2:09 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
Well, the claim that they're here to save our soul rarely pans out. They seem to be here for other reasons entirely. I'd explain but that would rob you of the pleasure of figuring it out by your onesies.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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RE: Deconverted by theology.
October 27, 2011 at 2:27 pm
Welcome aboard!
Q: What time is it in the Bible Belt when it is 1:00 PM in London?
A: 1857
You'd believe if you just opened your heart" is a terrible argument for religion. It's basically saying, "If you bias yourself enough, you can convince yourself that this is true." If religion were true, people wouldn't need faith to believe it -- it would be supported by good evidence.
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RE: Deconverted by theology.
October 27, 2011 at 2:38 pm
Welcome to our slice of atheist heaven.
Even if the open windows of science at first make us shiver after the cozy indoor warmth of traditional humanizing myths, in the end the fresh air brings vigor, and the great spaces have a splendor of their own - Bertrand Russell
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RE: Deconverted by theology.
October 27, 2011 at 2:39 pm
(This post was last modified: October 27, 2011 at 2:42 pm by Ziploc Surprise.)
(October 27, 2011 at 1:56 pm)ElDinero Wrote: So Ziplock, were there any particular moments you can remember? Like, a certain phrase that kind of hit you in the face and made you think 'this is all wrong'?
Either way, welcome to the forums. On the plus side, I'm sure you'll find your experience to be a valuable ally.
Yes there were. In my enthusiastic study of FC, after reading many books I felt I was ready to read the really hard stuff. I read two books concurrently one was a giant horse choker of a book titled "Systematic Theology" by Wayne Grudem the other was called "Old Testament Survey" by a group of authors. I read the Grudem book in the usual manner in which fc's take in information. Counting the hits, (the things that supported belief in the religion) and discounting the misses (the things that did not support beliefs). I started with the foundation stones of the fc religion. These were the infallibility of the Bible and the arguments that support the belief that the bible was divinely inspired (specifically the very words of God). Almost all of the structure of fc resides on these foundation stones.
After a while of counting the hits and stacking the misses in a nice neat column behind me the column began to topple over. The last straw that toppled the stack was the clear and unarguable proof that the Bible was indeed fallible. That it was a concocted thing.
I will quote what was the last straw for me, this is out of the Old Testament book I mentioned above: "The evidence suggests a long history of transmission and development (this is referring to who authored the book of Genesis) a striking number of terms, facts, and remarks require an age later than that of Moses (the character who the fc's believe wrote the first 5 books of the Bible). Statements such as "at the time the Canaanites were in the land" (Gen, 12:6, 13:7) and "the people of Israel ate the manna...till they came to the border of the land of Canaan" (Exod. 16:35) imply tht Israel already occupied Canaan. Gen. 14"14 indicated that Abram pursued Lot's captors as far as Dan (a city), yet the place did not receive this name until the Danites captured it following the Conquest (josh. 19:47; Judg. 18:29).
After reading this I went and verified the evidence in the Bible (I didn't want to be deceived by Satin after all) and there it was in black and white. The OT book had other evidence that the Bible was a concocted thing and not dictated by God to only a few prophets who were specially anointed by God to write scripture. The pile of evidence toppled down on me and I had to acknowledge it's existence.
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RE: Deconverted by theology.
October 27, 2011 at 2:42 pm
You will be a useful ally in defeating fundies.
Even if the open windows of science at first make us shiver after the cozy indoor warmth of traditional humanizing myths, in the end the fresh air brings vigor, and the great spaces have a splendor of their own - Bertrand Russell
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RE: Deconverted by theology.
October 27, 2011 at 2:48 pm
(This post was last modified: October 27, 2011 at 3:02 pm by Simon Moon.)
*removed*
Posted on wrong thread.
You'd believe if you just opened your heart" is a terrible argument for religion. It's basically saying, "If you bias yourself enough, you can convince yourself that this is true." If religion were true, people wouldn't need faith to believe it -- it would be supported by good evidence.
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RE: Deconverted by theology.
October 27, 2011 at 2:49 pm
(This post was last modified: October 27, 2011 at 2:50 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
(October 27, 2011 at 2:42 pm)Faith No More Wrote: You will be a useful ally in defeating fundies.
No more than anyone else who can read. His interpretation, and his facts are as meaningless as the rest of ours to those who wish to defend the indefensible.
"God knew what that city would be called.....I see an example of fulfilled prophecy"
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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RE: Deconverted by theology.
October 27, 2011 at 2:51 pm
(This post was last modified: October 27, 2011 at 2:58 pm by Ziploc Surprise.)
(October 27, 2011 at 2:27 pm)Simon Moon Wrote: Welcome aboard!
Q: What time is it in the Bible Belt when it is 1:00 PM in London?
A: 1857
Funny funny. Yes we are somewhat behind you Londoners in our religious development. Remember many of your religious crazies immigrated to America....and they are still here. 
(October 27, 2011 at 2:49 pm)Rhythm Wrote: (October 27, 2011 at 2:42 pm)Faith No More Wrote: You will be a useful ally in defeating fundies.
No more than anyone else who can read. His interpretation, and his facts are as meaningless as the rest of ours to those who wish to defend the indefensible.
"God knew what that city would be called.....I see an example of fulfilled prophecy"
"An example of fuffilled prophecy." yes that sounds like a likely fc response. I feel like I just slipped in dog shit. It's pretty slippery stuff.
(October 27, 2011 at 2:42 pm)Faith No More Wrote: You will be a useful ally in defeating fundies.
"fundies" used to be a brand name for crotchless underwear -just saying.  or maybe it was edible underwear, I can't remember. Oh well.
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RE: Deconverted by theology.
October 27, 2011 at 3:05 pm
They need crotchless underwear because they're full of shit!
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RE: Deconverted by theology.
October 27, 2011 at 3:09 pm
Ever the blunt one, 5th. 
Welcome, Zip. You're in good hands here.
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