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Originally Posted by terrazoids
You know what, I've got the feeling that its probably very healthy for you to get a little offended from time to time. Sometimes its good to encounter others with strong opinions and beliefs that help us challenge our own views to strengthen or change.
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On this I agree. Philip Pullman summed it up on the publication of his last book:
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It was a shocking thing to say, and I knew it was a shocking thing to say. But no one has the right to live without being shocked. No one has the right to spend their life without being offended.
Nobody has to read this book. Nobody has to pick it up. Nobody has to open it. And if they open it and read it, they don’t have to like it. And if you read it and dislike it, you don’t have to remain silent about it. You can write to me — You can complain about it. You can write to the publisher. You can write to the paper. You can write your own book.
You can do all those things, but there your rights stop.
No one has the right to stop me from writing this book. No one has the right to stop it being published, or sold, or bought, or read.
And that’s all I have to say on that subject.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by terrazoids
Wow there are all kinds of folks on this thread. I have the feeling that a lot of people who do have strong faith are afraid to speak up about it because of the viscous attacks from some of the more vocal members. Some folks react by pushing their so called awards in front of them to prove their validity and then recommending me to go and read more like school teachers. Others are content to poke fun at thousands of years of philosophy and though with little jibes and funny stories that prove their point. Some folks dig up internet links and encyclopedia articles that I must read before I become 'enlightened' by them.
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Isn't that exactly what you do when you constantly point people towards "The good book".
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Originally Posted by terrazoids
Other folks are selecting passages out of context from the bible and pushing them forward as proof that God is cruel. Yeah we could debate everyone of them but the point is that no one here seems to be able to hold down a debate without becoming totally aggressive and 'offended'. Well thats fine too. I don't mind offending people.
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I'm not aggressive or offended. There have been plenty of reasonable comments and questions many of which you have not replied to.
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Originally Posted by terrazoids
And the image of burning in hell is one which draws powerful reactions and can truly motivate people to think about what they do, if they don't already naturally feel inclined. Satan is ever present in the world and society, and he loves the ones who sound haughty and arrogant. The ones who believe they've got it all worked out. These are the people who place themselves at the center of their universe and begin to take decisions on what to do based on what they perceive their wants to be. What belief in God can do for you is to remove your self as the center of the your world. God will become the center of your belief. Something outside of yourself, and then actions thoughts, everything changes. What I'm curious about is why so many atheists are acting so aggressively to these ideas. Why are you offended? Actually? If youre secure with your belief then theres no need. But thats just it, its impossible to become secure with atheism. Those who convince themselves more and more are forming chains that they can't break out of, and eventually such individuals can become what are termed monsters in society. Thats just what Satans gunning for. Its the best way to bring folks down.
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I'm not offended in the slightest. Neither am I a monster. I'm not good because I fear hell, I'm good because I wish to live a peaceful and happy life within society. If atheists are all so self-centered, how do you explain secular charity?