Archived - A thread about nothing....

Hey jeep, Be careful about pointing fingers....when you point a finger at someone else there are three pointed back at you!

God Loves those "Sick Freaks" too. Can you even imagine what it must be like to have to wake up and look at yourself every day knowing the terrible things you have done to youself and to others?

When I was a child my Father always used to warn me "make sure that you can still like yourself, cause every where you go you're going to be there. It's all about doing the right thing when no other person would know it anyway. It helps you to like yourself.

Can you imagine trying to live while trying to hide from yourself? Like most things in life we tend to meate out our own best punishment. Cause and Effect. If you live like this, that will happen to you. If you play with fire you will eventually get burned. I feel sorry for those people, but I feel more sorry for most anyone else first.

[Howard2k]

Hoenestly, I don't think these sicko people are overly concerned about what they've done to others.

So the idea of "self-punishment" in this situation is ludicrous. To a rational mind who might be feeling guilt then sure. But come on.

MyUncle. If someone molested one of you kids, would you be happy in the knowledge that they'd be there in heaven with you, while all the other good people who picked the "wrong" religion (ie muslim, jewish or perhaps athiest or whatever) will be in hell?

Sorry. But people DO get away with this stuff. All they have to do is repent and they're in heaven while those who lucked out on the relgion lottery are damned, regardless of whether they lived the "good life" or not.


As to the pursuit of knowledge being a crime. How does that translate into today's world? Should we all stop pursuing knowledge? Stop sending our kids to school? Is knowlegde of the bible a crime too?


For the old testament, for your religion what parts of the old testament do apply and what do not?

The 10 commandments come from the old testament. You don't have to adhere to those?

[Xyress]

MyUncle, from a skeptic's point of view (myself), it sounds to me like you want the best of both worlds ... you can discredit the crazy stuff from the Old Testament if you want by saying that it isn't relevant or that a particular story is just a parable, while at the same time taking verses from it to prove your point. Do you see the trouble I and others have with this?

I've always found it interesting that Jesus was actually trying to reform the Jewish religion rather than start his own - I wonder what he'd think of Christianity today ... he'd probably be ashamed.

Oh come on guys,
While there are a lot of bad things about any religion you can't say that the world would be a better palce with out christianity. Look at all the good things that get done............oh no wait we are in a CNN world where only bad things are interesting. There are millions of lives that have been improved because of Christianity,,,,,and other religions. Jesus and Mohammend would probably both be disapointed that their teachings have been so perverted by the self serving jackass's of all religions but the basic teachings are good. Can you really think that the ten commandments are bad? Sure the God worship sets some teeth on edge but consdier when they were written. The basic tenents are the builidng blocks of how a good society should function.
I often think that a lot of the "religous" laws that the Jews and otehr religions follow are really good health practice rules that keep disease and sickness from decimating a culture and they have been so ingrained that they can't let go of them.
Any way this whole conversation was suppose to be about yoru believe in an afterlife......not bashing everyone elses belief.
Have a great day and be looking forward to the long weekend....I know I am.

:D

[Howard2k]

Hey Wmrawls,

I haven't seen any relgion bashing. I also said that I DO think that there are benefits of religion in some situations.

But I'm sure that those in the middle east that are being victimised due to their religion would not agree that Christianity makes the world a better place. In fact I think your statement is actually pretty narrow minded and perhaps even selfish.

Christianity makes the world a better for for Christians.

Have lives been improved because of Christianity? Of couse some have. Have lives been destroyed by Christianity? Of course.

I didn't see anyone say that the 10 commendments were bad.

I think someone should take some time out of the long weekend and read the thread properly :)


Even as a Christian you MUST admit that there are so many lives that have NOT been positively affected by Christianity.

[Jwilker]

How long is your weekend wmrawls? It's only wednesday and you're looking forward to it LOL man!

Yeah I am looking forweard to it. And I am not narrow minded nor selfish and I do think I can make points with out having to reference the last thing said by someone else. Nor do I thik I have to resort to attacking what I don't agree with.

Last point this thread was satrted to be be about what happens after you / I die. I have lept up with the post and it went to the pits as these types usually do.

So howard have a nice day.

[Howard2k]

Hi Wmrawls.

I didn't come to the thread to offend anyone and it seems that you're the only one that's offended. I'm really not sure why and if there's one thing that I really dislike it's when I've annoyed someone and they won't tell me why.

Please explain to me where (or if) I've attacked someone else. You even respond defensively saying that you're not narrow minded nor selfish. Did I call you narrow minded? Did I call you selfish?

It's a fact that Christians have killed non-believers en-masse. I guess we'll just have to disagree over whether this was a good thing or not for those that were killed.

I said that Christianity has made the world better for some and worse for others.

I guess that you can only see that Christainity has made the world better. Is that not narrow minded? How can you look at the positives and blindly ignore the negatives?

Finally, you say that

I do think I can make points with out having to reference the last thing said by someone else

.
Part of the process of having a converstation involves listening (or reading) to the the words of the other person, then reacting to them. I'm not sure what you mean by that statement. Do you mean that I should not be replying to someone based on the context of their last statement?

What does intolerant mean?

I freely admit that I have a problem understanding religion. Hence the questions. Are we not allowed to ask questions?

If it's gone to the pits I'm not the one who dragged it down there.


Geneb, MyUncle and JeepfanFL (and Xyress and JWilker). Since this thread looks like it may not be able to continue on an even keel, thanks for providing intelligent and well thought out responses.

[Xyress]

Oh, we're not supposed to quote the person we're responding to? I always thought that made things easier to follow *shrug*

I do disagree with Christianity - but I would never want to prevent people from practicing it. If arguing against the validity of a religion is attacking it, then I guess you can say that's what I'm doing.

In this discussion, I'm just pointing out different opinions and reasons why heaven may be an archaic idea created by man. To discuss what happens after you die, people are going to bring their religious beliefs to the table - and in order for me to say, "I don't think God fearing people go to heaven when they die", it is helpful to point out the flaws in said religion.

As to whether religion is good for mankind? I think it is good only for controlling people and giving unfortunate people hope for a better life after they die. I think it is a travesty that missionaries try to rid "primitive" people of their own cultures and religions.

I guess if I had to come up with a rule, I'd say that religion is only good when it is kept to oneself (no missionaries, no laws based on religion, no killing based on religion, etc.). Society as a whole does not need religion to maintain order any longer. People either have morals or they don't - murderers will still murder and rapists will still rape (whether they're Catholic priests or not - I know, I know, that's a low blow, but seriously think about how religion helped them live a good moral life).

Would bigots still be bigots without religion? Yeah, probably - but they'd have a harder time rationalizing it. But, would you have suicide bombers if there wasn't that promise of the afterlife? They're not dying for their country over there - they're anticipating the 21 naked virgins after they blow themselves up. If you can't look at history to tell that religion is detrimental to society, look at the present!

Originally posted by jeepfaned
heres somethin thats seems odd...why do some people who dont believe in God..when they get mad and cuss..they say God dam--- u know the rest...or they yell Jesus Christ!! whats with that??
if they dont believe in God or Jesus...why say that...seems crazy

just a thought

Sorry, but I'm still on page 7 ;) . This is merely a figure of speech. If you think about half of the things you say on a daily basis, you'll find most of the meaning you put into it isn't even close to the original. I was raised catholic, but have always been atheist. While growing up I always heard these utterances in my house. It's similar to the middle finger. It only has the meaning we give it. So, god damn and Jesus Christ are merely phrases to express a certain emotion.

[jeepfaned]

ive enjoyed this thread,,as mentioned above,i dont think anyone really got ticked off or anything..im just glad we can all write our thoughts and not go to blows about it all. maybe that shows a little maturity between us all.
but...then theres always star50...who just likes to tease and post funny ics of himself!! i personally like the one with the brite red lipstick!!
whew hew!! :) :)

Originally posted by Howard2k
So it's fair to say that there are only a limited number of people on the thread who listen to Marilyn Manson then? :)

He actually put on the best concert I had ever seen :D .

Originally posted by Jwilker
we make no guarantees. Star has been know to go all out ninja style head chopping off crazy when he get's riled up. :)

Check this link
And be sure to browse the site to get the full experience ;) .

Originally posted by Electraglider
It is my considered opinion that the third item is in fact the case and can be proven by opening up any given "box".
But really, we aren't talking about our corporeal selves here. We are talking about that which makes us self aware. As for that part of us, I'm for item number two on the list. But I don't believe we retain any of the essence which makes us self aware. That is lost. But the energy or life force, if you will, that animates this corporeal life form is freed and dispersed throughout the universe like an explosion that expands in all directions and is eventually dispersed with distance into the air.

There, that ought to settle that issue. What's next?

I think you've watched Cocoon and Powder one too many times :p .

Originally posted by Xyress
Oh, we're not supposed to quote the person we're responding to? I always thought that made things easier to follow *shrug*
...snip

:cheers: Very well put.

Finally, all caught up :) .