Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance Drinking too much, crashing your car, and living to tell about it does not constitute as proof God exists. Or any other mere coincidences you've experienced in your life.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance And, take it down a few notches. I never meant to imply that you said I didn't live by the golden rule because I'm atheist. Just stating that you don't need God to live by the golden rule.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance I give up arguing this point for the hundredth time. SPP you're always somewhat quick to become a bit offensive and personal when debating, thus it's not much fun debating with you. Watch the videos if you want, don't if you don't want to. Whatev.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder "I give up arguing this point for the hundredth time. SPP you're always somewhat quick to become a bit offensive and personal when debating, thus it's not much fun debating with you." Well, gee, I'd say if anyone was quick to criticize here it would be you. And yeah, I'd suggest you stay away from this topic because it's clear you don't know nearly as much as you think about it.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance Oh, I didn't say I was going to stay clear of this topic, just you in this topic. I've seen you in other threads become very quick to become personally critical when discussing something which is fine, it's just not much fun. You might think you have more answers that I do about this topic, but it's clear that if you're still able to believe in God you are missing some critical pieces of info.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder One of your main problems Constance is you seem to think anyone who believes in God must fit in some of of preconceived box. Simply not true. I believe, but I also believe in evolution. I'm for a woman's right to choose. I'm against the death penalty. I'm for gay marriage. I don't begrudge anyone their organized religion as long as they don't force it on the rest of us. See the Mormons and the Catholics on that one. Then I'm vehemently opposed. As I've said here time and again, if I belong to any church, it's the Church of Me. If God is all he's cracked up to be, he doesn't need the constant reassurance of me showing up somewhere every Sunday to prove I believe to him. I don't think God is that insecure. I also think God leaves a lot of what happens here on this planet to free will. I also believe in an afterlife. I can completely understand why many people need or like going to Church on Sunday. I'd rather sleep in, mow the lawn, or watch football. Doesn't make me or anyone who goes to church any better than anyone else. I don't belittle anyone else's belief in God or call it fantasy or compare it to Santa Claus or bluntly tell them there's no evidence because I try to maintain a certain level of respect for them and the decisions they've made in their lives (except for that forcing it on others thing again). I don't know all there is to know here, no one does, and clearly, especially you.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 I hate to wade into this, but I think some of the more religious posters on here are being a bit unfair to those with less-religious leanings about their views on Christianity. Is it really surprising that some people would lump all Christians into one pot? If you look at it from the outside, it probably looks that way to a lot of people. Sure, there are a lot of denominations, and they all believe slightly different things, but to a non-believer who could care less about all the little details, I'm sure they see many similarities shared by all Christians. So, I'm just saying, maybe people shouldn't immediately get so defensive when "Christians" get classified as sharing a common set of beliefs.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>Oh, I didn't say I was going to stay clear of this topic, just you in this topic.<< Well considering that you have no interest whatsoever in even attempting to understand what people of faith might REALLY believe, feel free to steer clear of all of us. You've proven that your agenda isn't the betterment of Christians, it's reinforcing your own preconceived notions of us. And when we challenge you on it, you get all defensive and angry. >>Post 66<< THIS! And so, g'bye to this topic. Have a blessed athiesm.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>Is it really surprising that some people would lump all Christians into one pot? If you look at it from the outside, it probably looks that way to a lot of people.<< OK, I'm back. I think we all realize that. And all we're saying (well most of us anyway) is "stop lumping." I do, however, take offense at being accused of irrationality because of my faith. CC's only purpose in this topic is to attempt to prove that as a Christian, I'm an idiot. She has no idea, and no interest, in what I really believe.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance On the contrary, I am well aware there are no preconceived boxes that people that believe in god can fit into. I pretty much knew that you felt the way you described above ipertaining to various social sissues that some more extreme religious people would ever believe. I've always thought highly of your particular viewpoints , and i actually believe that if everyone was similar to you and your beliefs religions negative impact on society would be infanitely smaller . I realize this is a sensitive subject for everyone involved, and my intentions were to ask questions that baffle me as far as religious viewpoints are concerned. But I never initially intended to offend you. But i obviously must have at some point.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance Where have I got so defensive and angry? I'm really not angry. Maybe my questions come across that way? Maybe you're assuming I put you all in a box, and I feel happy to criticize others?
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance Post 70 was for SPP And 71 was for Mawnck. I'm on my cellphone, so I can't seee if I'm making typing errors or not by the way. So sorry if my posts are horrendous.
Originally Posted By queenbee I'm agnostic and I found your comments to be very adversarial. Perhaps you can find some common ground because you certainly share one the characteristics of some Christians. You like to preach.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance To be fair, I think it is safe to assume that most people with religious beliefs have their fair share of preconceived notions about atheists.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan The point is to stop going with the preconceived notions and the lumping of people conveniently into these little boxes and to start listening to what they actually say and do. If you operate under the notion that people who have religious faith are delusional right at the outset, then it pretty much discounts anything else they'll have to say about anything. It's pretty much the equivalent of a religious person declaring non-religious people "heathens" or "evil." As conversation starters, those positions are too extreme to really get anywhere with. I've beat this drum before, but it hasn't done a lot of good. But what the heck, I had the extra 2ยข anyway.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance I'm very passionate about my views, And reading my comments they do sound adverSarial at times, probably moreso than intended. But the videos are still worth watching despite your personal opinionS of me.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan I watched the video and, as I said, there's a very condescending tone to them. By cherry picking things out of the bible (a book which some Christians view more as a series of parables than historical record) they can declare any and all who read it to be delusional. Any attempt to answer their question is "rationalization." See also: When you're a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance Delusional is not what i consider christians . I believe a lot of christians are missinformed. which is why i feel the need to spread things like these videos. but you,re right, this drum has been beat. and no matter what i say or you say are minds won,t change. so ill stopp for now ;l and god again im sorry about the typos and horrible punctuation. i can barely see this!
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan The other problem with the videos is that it assumes that in college, all that is taught is rigid logic. What about art? Philosophy? Literature? Those things exist in a more etherial realm of the mind. They're the things that separate us from other creatures. Often, they are illogical, which is part of their charm and value. Logically, a castle at the end of a turn-of-the-century idealized American main street would be ridiculous. It makes no sense. And yet...
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance Which video are you talking about,k2? The 10 questions video I think i think is just making the general assumption that if you graduated college, any degree received would be fine because statistically those with degrees will have higher iqs than those that do not. and its clear to me that most posters here have above average iiqs,degree or no degree, so i felt it would be a good audience for the video. although i like the other 3 videos i posted much better than the 10 questions video which was a bit condecending in its tone, i agree.
