Atheist zealots a heavy cross to bear

[sweevo]

Originally Posted by terrazoids

You know... this isn't my show, I'm just the one being attacked and insulted and denigrated all the time by the award winners on this thread. So far you've just told me to go and read the epic of Gilgamesh, as if thats going to somehow educate me to your standard. Then you've spent the rest of the time talking about how famous and smart you are with the intent that I should trust your word. Apart from that I haven't actually seen that you've got the guts to talk about... What you believe... and... Why you believe it.

Again: there is absolutely no evidence any gods exist, let alone the specific one which you claim (without evidence) exists.

And if you acted honestly and admitted that your beliefs were mere beliefs, there would be no need to point it out, or as you call it, "attack you".

[terrazoids]

Originally Posted by sweevo

Again: there is absolutely no evidence any gods exist, let alone the specific one which you claim (without evidence) exists.

And if you acted honestly and admitted that your beliefs were mere beliefs, there would be no need to point it out, or as you call it, "attack you".

No Sweevo... you haven't been doing the attacking.. I have great confidence that my message will get through to you

[sweevo]

Originally Posted by terrazoids

No Sweevo... you haven't been doing the attacking.. I have great confidence that my message will get through to you

The only message you're sending is this:

You have no evidence that the god you believe in exists, but you dishonestly keep misrepresenting your beliefs as facts.

Christianity is causing you to act immorally.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by terrazoids

Why doesn't father Han get on with it and just tell people the plain honest to god truth as he understands it...

Eh? That's exactly what he does do. A lot. His nickname is Thay, meaning "teacher". What's more he writes it down so that you can take it away and consider it in your own good time. He doesn't 'sit around in a circle wondering what's real and what is not'.

Graham

[terrazoids]

Originally Posted by Graham

Eh? That's exactly what he does do. A lot. His nickname is Thay, meaning "teacher". What's more he writes it down so that you can take it away and consider it in your own good time. He doesn't 'sit around in a circle wondering what's real and what is not'.

Graham

Yeah but the problem is what he writes and teaches... But don't worry we've got a couple of missionaries going out that way soon... Yup they'll sort things out.

[terrazoids]

Originally Posted by sweevo

The only message you're sending is this:

You have no evidence that the god you believe in exists, but you dishonestly keep misrepresenting your beliefs as facts.

Christianity is causing you to act immorally.

Atheism causing you to eat your own tail.

[terrazoids]

Originally Posted by Graham

Eh? That's exactly what he does do. A lot. His nickname is Thay, meaning "teacher". What's more he writes it down so that you can take it away and consider it in your own good time. He doesn't 'sit around in a circle wondering what's real and what is not'.

Graham

Hey I just found a quote by youy man Thitch.

"Aware of the suffering created by fanaticism and intolerance, we are determined not to be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology, even Buddhist ones. Buddhist teachings are guiding means to help us learn to look deeply and to develop our understanding and compassion. They are not doctrines to fight, kill, or die for."

Sounds like he just denied his own faith. Hows that for a fallacy. And why wouldn't you die for your faith? If its the living truth... Look I'm not sying Thich is a bad guy (incidentally I think he'd love this thread)

[HarryT]

Please note that the moderating team are keeping a close eye on this discussion. We are happy to let it continue, but only as long as personal attacks are kept out of it. Disagreeing with someone's opinion is fine; making personal attacks is not.

Thank you.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by terrazoids

Yeah but the problem is what he writes and teaches... But don't worry we've got a couple of missionaries going out that way soon... Yup they'll sort things out.

So, having admitted that you haven't read what he's written, and stated that you would never read anything he would write (while ridiculing his name), you now claim that his writings are a problem.

If you read them I think you would find much that accorded to your own moral beliefs.

By the way, I'm surprised to hear that you feel it is necessary to send missionaries to the South of France.

Graham

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Originally Posted by terrazoids

What the atheists don't have in there arguments is fervor... passion... Theres is a gloomy dark, and grim world... There stuck in a cave searching for the light while the damp slowly eats away at there immortal souls. I pray for them....

If it will keep you happy, then I have no objections if you want to pray for me.

I don't see my world as dark, gloomy or grim - it has it's moments of being such, but underneath of all that it is a place of endless wonder and beauty. Personally, I find there to be more beauty and poetry in the theory of evolution than in the belief that god made everything just so. The size of the universe, and just how small and insignificant we are fills me with awe, and makes me realise just how incredibly lucky I am to even be here, sat behind a computer, engaging in a debate as to whether god or gods exist. I mean, seriously, what are the odds?

As an atheist, the only form of life after death I believe in is the nutrients which I want my decomposing remains to give to a small patch of woodland. I find great peace in that. It frees me to try and live my life to the best of my abilities without worrying about being judged afterwards. It frees me to try to act in a way that is consistent with the type of society I want to live in. To be honest, I find the idea of no life after death so peaceful that I can apparently get rather seemingly morbid in my enthusiasm for discussing it. As many people are not very comfortable talking about death and decomposition, I try not to talk about it too much.

Originally Posted by terrazoids

Just to make sure... Does anyone here actually believe that there are warriors hiding in crystal skulls.. just want to know what I'm dealing with here...

No idea about anyone else, but I don't. Unless we're talking hollow skulls that are large enough for a human to hide in as part of an ambush.

Originally Posted by weateallthepies

Sadly there doesn't appear to be any process by which I can vote against the unelected bishops sitting in the House of Lords. Indeed there is not much I can do about the House of Lords unless there is some sort of reform.

Take the Guy Fawkes option?

Originally Posted by terrazoids

I'm making a judgement.. I think kids should all have a good upbringing..

I think they should too.

[pdurrant]

I was uncertain whether terrazoids was sincere or not. I then leaned towards thinking he was sincere.

After a private exchange of messages and his recent posts, I now lean the other way. I think he's been having a lot of fun with us all for his own amusement. But I don't think he'll admit it in public or private.

[terrazoids]

Originally Posted by Graham

So, having admitted that you haven't read what he's written, and stated that you would never read anything he would write (while ridiculing his name), you now claim that his writings are a problem.

If you read them I think you would find much that accorded to your own moral beliefs.

By the way, I'm surprised to hear that you feel it is necessary to send missionaries to the South of France.

Graham

That aint where he's from. Anyway lets get off the subject of Mr. Han. But while we're talking about Buddhism, have you ever noticed that if you want to molest children, the nations were you can do that are all primarily Buddhist nations? So whats up with that, gee sounds like the religion isn't woking too well...

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by recluse

There are also decent, intelligent people in this world who are believers.

Amen to that.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by terrazoids

Hey I just found a quote by youy man Thitch.

"Aware of the suffering created by fanaticism and intolerance, we are determined not to be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology, even Buddhist ones. Buddhist teachings are guiding means to help us learn to look deeply and to develop our understanding and compassion. They are not doctrines to fight, kill, or die for."

Sounds like he just denied his own faith. Hows that for a fallacy. And why wouldn't you die for your faith? If its the living truth... Look I'm not sying Thich is a bad guy (incidentally I think he'd love this thread)

Thanks for looking that up. It's the expression of the comment I made earlier about how one of the first teachings of Buddhism is to question all teachings, including those of Buddhism.

It is a clarion call against fanaticism. He's saying "how can you understand the positions of others if you are not willing to question your own beliefs?"

Thay has a great sense of humour. He would love this thread, but he would call for everyone to be mindful both of what they themselves were saying and above all to try to listen and understand the positions of others. As we all know, that's hard!

Graham

[terrazoids]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I was uncertain whether terrazoids was sincere or not. I then leaned towards thinking he was sincere.

After a private exchange of messages and his recent posts, I now lean the other way. I think he's been having a lot of fun with us all for his own amusement. But I don't think he'll admit it in private or public.

hmm.. trying to cast doubts on my faith aye... I don't think so.. In our exchange I told you to read carefully what I wrote and look into your heart. You should always take people seriously. Thats the only way you can truly consider their ideas.