Atheist zealots a heavy cross to bear

[terrazoids]

Originally Posted by sweevo

So: no evidence. It's your claim, it's up to you to provide the evidence.

So: yes evidence, Its millions of peoples claim, the evidence is all over the place.

[terrazoids]

Originally Posted by sweevo

So: no evidence. It's your claim, it's up to you to provide the evidence.

So have you tried honestly praying? Get down on your knees (try this) and ask God to reveal himself (be sincere)... And I'll pray for you.

....Dear Lord... Please let Sweevo know the truth of your existence... Please let Sweevo see the light that his soul may be saved...

[weateallthepies]

Originally Posted by terrazoids

Yeah but my cartoon image is actually what happened (they say...)

Its good if 'Father' Han helps other people, but the other stuff just wasting time. Its not far different than believing in an alien overlord. I mean Scientologists have these 'centers' where they claim they help other people too. Its actually just brainwashing.

That sounds really familiar, there's a building near me like that. What's it called again...a burch...a furch..it'll come to me eventually.

[sweevo]

Originally Posted by terrazoids

Thats where faith and prayer come in. And you need a bit.

Why exactly do I need faith that the specific god you happen to believe in is real? Remember: there's no evidence.

[sweevo]

Originally Posted by terrazoids

So: yes evidence, Its millions of peoples claim, the evidence is all over the place.

Logical fallacy: appeal to popularity.

Do you know what logical fallacies are?

Do you know why they should not be argued?

[sweevo]

Originally Posted by terrazoids

So have you tried honestly praying? Get down on your knees (try this) and ask God to reveal himself (be sincere)... And I'll pray for you.

....Dear Lord... Please let Sweevo know the truth of your existence... Please let Sweevo see the light that his soul may be saved...

Your prayer has failed, although the bible promises all prayers will be granted.

Of course, if you really believed that, you would have prayed for an end to disease and natural disasters.

[terrazoids]

Originally Posted by weateallthepies

That sounds really familiar, there's a building near me like that. What's it called again...a burch...a furch..it'll come to me eventually.

No no no... churches are an age old institution. And theres no brainwashing. People talk to each other as they are. And it works as a community center, creating cohesion. None of this meditating under a tree stuff... and then being... oh so delighted when you 'attain' enlightenment. Scientologists use electroshock therapy (!!) (hint... evil) to get their way. Buddhists try to hypnotize people. Yeah its not as bad, but still coercive.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by terrazoids

Like I said I'm deeply suspicious of people called Thich Han, why, you might as well be called Han Solo! Anyway. HA! Buddhism! What a waste of time!

People hanging around taking other folks food for free while they apparently spend their whole life trying to gain some 'Enlightenment'. Gee whiz, and when they're done, they're so spaced out they get up from under the tree and stand in the same spot staring into space for 6 days! Oh yeah, and then theres all those Buddhist kingdoms, of which Tibet was one, that regularly practiced serfdom, child slavery, and sick stuff like brothers sharing one wife. I once met a Buddhist monk from Bhutan who used to brag that at night he'd go around sleeping with girls at nightclubs, and in the day wander the forest begging for rice with a rice bowl. Wow. Its funny how people have come to think so highly of Buddhism since a number of hollywood types got involved. While you're at it why not believe in the alien overlord Zeno! And be a scientologist!

Yeah sure... Keep meditating. And become enlightened by reading books by Han Solo! Funny...

This post is out of line. Please stop the ridicule and attacks. If you want to support your position, do it with facts, evidence and respect to others.

[terrazoids]

Originally Posted by sweevo

Your prayer has failed, although the bible promises all prayers will be granted.

Of course, if you really believed that, you would have prayed for an end to disease and natural disasters.

No , you didn't honestly get down on you knees and pray for God. You haven't done what I asked.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by terrazoids

Yeah but my cartoon image is actually what happened (they say...)

Its good if 'Father' Han helps other people, but the other stuff just wasting time. Its not far different than believing in an alien overlord. I mean Scientologists have these 'centers' where they claim they help other people too. Its actually just brainwashing.

What are churches? What are Sunday Schools? How do you justify the time spent praying? How do you justify the time spent singing songs?

My answer to those questions would be that those institutions build a sense of community and the prayer gives time for reflection and gaining an understanding of the correct moral direction to take. The same is true of Buddhist practice and meditation.

Graham

[sweevo]

Originally Posted by terrazoids

No , you didn't honestly get down on you knees and pray for God. You haven't done what I asked.

You haven't done what I asked. You haven't provided any evidence that the god you believe in exists.

It's YOUR claim. You need to back it up with evidence.

[terrazoids]

Originally Posted by sweevo

Logical fallacy: appeal to popularity.

Do you know what logical fallacies are?

Do you know why they should not be argued?

I do know what a fallacy is. But for a fallacy to have any meaning or application in this life you need to first be sure of your premises and include a realistic model to test. You just set up arbitrary rules in your arguments which you know beforehand are going to lead to the conclusion you favor. Sort of like Socrates talking about farmers and so forth to get people to trip up over themselves. Although Socrates aimed for more reality. It sort of like complex mathematics. You can discover amazing truths through the manipulation of numbers but whether they actually have any application to reality is another matter.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by terrazoids

If you choose morality, especially if you did it while questioning God.. well I'd assume that God looks pretty favorably on that, and I can't see why thats part of Satans plan. But don't take my word for it. I do not speak for God... but maybe God speaks through me... just maybe. The above is not the real problem with atheism.

This is delusional talk. To question something presupposes that it exists. There is no proof. Maybe's don't count without evidence, fact, logic to back them up. This is the real problem.

[terrazoids]

Originally Posted by sweevo

You haven't done what I asked. You haven't provided any evidence that the god you believe in exists.

It's YOUR claim. You need to back it up with evidence.

No, its not my claim... its your culture's claim.

[weateallthepies]

Originally Posted by terrazoids

No no no... churches are an age old institution. And theres no brainwashing. People talk to each other as they are. And it works as a community center, creating cohesion. None of this meditating under a tree stuff... and then being... oh so delighted when you 'attain' enlightenment. Scientologists use electroshock therapy (!!) (hint... evil) to get their way. Buddhists try to hypnotize people. Yeah its not as bad, but still coercive.

I was just joshing. I actually agree that lots of churches, particularly local community churches are positive places. Our local church does a lot of good work for the village, and it's populated by exceedingly pleasant people who make nice tea and cakes. I don't attend any kind of worship there but I have been to community events.