Atheist zealots a heavy cross to bear

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by sweevo

A fundie once informed me that Satan created the stories of Gilgamesh, Horus, Mithras etc. before the real events happened, to fool us.

along with all of the "planted" dinosaur bones and such no doubt

Originally Posted by ardeegee

Brand new one on the front page of CNN.com tonight:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/09/21/...ex.html?hpt=T1

indeed. just like lemmings to the see fall the mighty bible thumping hypocrites

[Donnageddon]

Originally Posted by terrazoids

This is excellent and illustrates the point. Atheists think that their point of view is the center of the world and thus they can create there own Gods ad infinitum. There's only one God and when youre ready to stop playing games we can talk about him.

For me, this ends the discussion with the esteemed terrazoids. To he/she atheists are closed minded, and in the same paragraph he/she proclaims him/her self closed minded.

Myself, I am a "soft" atheist. I do not believe in any gods (Bacchus included) but have no answers to why the multivese exists, or how.

I do not think anyone does. But there is always the earnest search.

And then we die.

So it goes.

[recluse]

There are also decent, intelligent people in this world who are believers.
Must they pay for the actions of others?

I count family and friends among them. They have done no harm in this world.

[Donnageddon]

Originally Posted by recluse

There are also decent, intelligent people in this world who are believers.
Must they pay for the actions of others?

I count family and friends among them. They have done no harm in this world.

god bless 'em... er.. who was wishing them harm?

[recluse]

It seems to me, forgive me if I am wrong, but there have been some very broad attacks against religon as a whole.
Can't say I'm feeling that "Live and let live" vibe here.

[Donnageddon]

Originally Posted by recluse

It seems to me, forgive me if I am wrong, but there have been some very broad attacks against religon as a whole.
Can't say I'm feeling that "Live and let live" vibe here.

Why do you equate disagreements with religion as a threat to religious people? This is how most fundamentalists see disagreements with their views. I am sure that is not what you mean.

[recluse]

Has I said, forgive me if I am wrong, but there seems to be a great deal of hate.

Hate gets out of control.

And I am an atheist. Singular.
I don't join things.

[Donnageddon]

Originally Posted by recluse

Has I said, forgive me if I am wrong, but there seems to be a great deal of hate.

Hate gets out of control.

And I am an atheist. Singular.
I don't join things.

A "great deal of hate"? I forgive you, but you are, as one atheist to another, wrong.

[recluse]

I am still having problems "reading" people by their posts.
I can accept that I misjudged.

I hope I did not give the impression that it was your post I was reacting to.

[Donnageddon]

I did not think you were reacting to my posts, recluse, but I do not see the "great deal of hate" from any of the posts here. Excepting the one describing atheists "going ... straight to hell"

Perhaps that is what you were thinking of.

[Donnageddon]

To help recall, it was post #82 "to deny the existence of God is a dangerous step that eventually allows people to throw off morality. Obviously this leads to evil actions, and thus straight to .... HELL"

Now that is an obvious threat!

Obvious, benign (hopefully), and shallow.

[weateallthepies]

Originally Posted by PKFFW

There is, of course, a third option....

Simply admit; "hey, we got it wrong and now with greater understanding we are happy to accommodate the known facts into our view of the world."

Which is pretty much what science does when new information proves a previous hypothesis was incorrect.

You know it has been said the cold war arms race was only won when one side walked away. Conflict breeds conflict and it is only when one side or the other walks away that the conflict will end.

Atheists could walk away from the conflict by getting on with understanding the world through science and letting the theists cling to whatever beliefs they like.

Theists could walk away from the conflict by doing one of two things;
1: Accepting scientific understanding and incorporating such into their belief systems by modifying said belief systems or;
2: Clinging to whatever beliefs they feel like but accepting that they can't, and have no right to attempt to, force others to share their views.

So which do you think is going to happen sooner?

The way it's going now I think too many people on both sides are having way too much fun reveling in the conflict to let it go.

Cheers,
PKFFW

If the theists were content to simply believe that might work but many seek to affect society as a whole based on those beliefs. If I became a passive atheist overnight, there would still be unelected bishops sitting in my democratic government, religious groups would still seek to and succeed in opposing scientific research, political leaders would still justify their actions by invoking god. I'm not sure how it would help to simply ignore all these things.

[terrazoids]

Originally Posted by kennyc

I was offended as were others apparently.

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. 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. 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. 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.

[terrazoids]

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

I did not think you were reacting to my posts, recluse, but I do not see the "great deal of hate" from any of the posts here. Excepting the one describing atheists "going ... straight to hell"

Perhaps that is what you were thinking of.

Theres no hate there buddy... just sweet cold reality..

[terrazoids]

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

To help recall, it was post #82 "to deny the existence of God is a dangerous step that eventually allows people to throw off morality. Obviously this leads to evil actions, and thus straight to .... HELL"

Now that is an obvious threat!

Obvious, benign (hopefully), and shallow.

No threat, I'm afraid thats the reality of what happens when you circumvent the word of God and throw off all semblance of humanity. Granted burning in Hell is an extreme state and certainly represents an end point just as heaven does on the other end. The dangerous thing about atheism is that it makes it easier for people to pervert their souls. Don't look to the book... look to modern times and everyday lives to see where people are going wrong. Some people are burning in hell right here on earth. And the soul will continue afterwards if they don't break free and accept God's help.