Faith and Confidence

[Gracchus]

"A confidence trick is an attempt to defraud a person or group by gaining their confidence. A confidence artist is an individual working alone or in concert with others who exploits characteristics of the human psyche such as greed, both dishonesty and honesty, vanity, compassion, credulity, irresponsibility, naivety, and the thought of trying to get something of value for nothing or for something far less valuable."

Confidence trick - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

So, how does one tell religion from a con? I would suggest ... profit. What does religion give you but sops to vanity, the image of compassion, and a balm to the fear of death? If the religion asks for money, it's a con game. Why would God need money?

Question: Is God going to reward you with heaven for being a fool?

 

[GrowingSmaller]

There are other types of confidence. Psychological confidence may result from either from the placebo effect ("I know I am being helped and that maked me feel confident about my chances") or from religions argument or experience ("I am [epistemically] confident God exists").

 

[CTD]

"A confidence trick is an attempt to defraud a person or group by gaining their confidence. A confidence artist is an individual working alone or in concert with others who exploits characteristics of the human psyche such as greed, both dishonesty and honesty, vanity, compassion, credulity, irresponsibility, naivety, and the thought of trying to get something of value for nothing or for something far less valuable."

Confidence trick - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

So, how does one tell religion from a con? I would suggest ... profit. What does religion give you but sops to vanity, the image of compassion, and a balm to the fear of death? If the religion asks for money, it's a con game. Why would God need money?

Question: Is God going to reward you with heaven for being a fool?

For the preaching of the cross isto them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. - I Cor. 1 : 18


Perhaps a set/subset fallacy is the goal this round? None, some, all - simple concepts. If some confidence is misplaced, it does not mean all confidence is misplaced.

How could one so delude oneself as to think himself wiser than his own creator? How might one possibly go wrong following the instruction of one's creator? How could a lesser being be worthy of more confidence than the One who created all?

Mark also the presupposition:

If the religion asks for money, it's a con game. Why would God need money?

The correct question, unless some straw god is being introduced, is "Why would God ask us to give?" We should not presuppose the only reason to give is some need on God's part.

No. God desires that we depart from selfishness, that we become like Him. God is giving. In order that we may grow, He provides us with opportunities to give also. So giving is the Living God that He looks for opportunities and excuses to bless us.

Behold:

[34] Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
[35] For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
[36] Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
[37] Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
[38] When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
[39] Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
[40] And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
- Matt 25

 

[sk8Joyful]

So, how does one tell religion from a con? I would suggest ... profit.

Question: Is God going to reward you with heaven for being a fool?

We either Choose God's personal Relationship with Him: thus Heaven.
or
People choose to REJECT the above, in preference of hell.

And you are right: Satan's religion (& those fools who buy$into him) are a $money-making con$.
How so?
1. We teach children not to mess in the Occult, because
Satan wants us all to go to hell, & be miserable with him.

2. We teach children not to stick their fingers into an electrical Outlet, so they won't fry.
But
there are fools, who think that having their brains fried thru prolonged... Grand Mal seizuring ECTs, is just spiffy.

3. We teach children: do not eat RAT-poison; ie Warfarin/Coumadin
But
there are fools who confidently... eat that same poison for bloodclots;
even as Nattokinase is a Naturally harmless substance
that will destroy the same bloodclots, with NO Adverse complications.

The con, is that some Liar$profits, off of other people's misery, woe, & death.

Beware the con$artists!

 

[Tiberius]

So, how does one tell religion from a con? I would suggest ... profit. What does religion give you but sops to vanity, the image of compassion, and a balm to the fear of death? If the religion asks for money, it's a con game. Why would God need money?

And while we muse on these words, let's pass the collection plate around!

 

[sk8Joyful]

And while we muse on these words,
let's pass the collection plate around!

Yes, the FORCED collection plate:
18.2% Federal personal income tax
10.6% State & local income taxes
10.3% Sales tax
7.65% social security & Medicaid
++7% others (estate tax, fees, licenses, inflation losses, inheritance, gift, & others too numerous to mention.
2.7% property tax
+.6% Fuel/gasoline tax

Tax percentage paid by the above average US citizen, 2005 - 54.4%

Tax percentage paid by the above average US citizen, 2009 - 57.7%

A partial list of the various ways in which citizens of the US are FORCIBLY taxed:

• Accounts Receivable Tax
• Building Permit Tax
• Capital Gains Tax
• CDL license Tax
• Corporate Income Tax
• Court Fines (indirect taxes)
• Deficit spending
• Animal License Tax
• Federal Income Tax
• Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
• Fishing License Tax
• Food License Tax
• Fuel permit tax
• Gasoline Tax
• Hunting License Tax
• Inflation
• Inheritance Tax Interest expense (tax on the money)
• Inventory tax IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)
• IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
• Local Income Tax
• Luxury Taxes
• Marriage License Tax
• Medicare Tax
• Property Tax
• Real Estate Tax
• Septic Permit Tax
• Service Charge Taxes
• Social Security Tax
• Road Usage Taxes (Truckers)
• Sales Taxes
• Recreational Vehicle Tax
• Road Toll Booth Taxes
• School Tax
• State Income Tax
• State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
• Telephone federal excise tax
• Telephone federal universal service fee tax
• Telephone federal, state and local surcharge taxes
• Telephone minimum usage surcharge tax
• Telephone recurring and non-recurring charges tax
• Telephone state and local tax
• Telephone usage charge tax
• Toll Bridge Taxes
• Toll Tunnel Taxes
• Traffic Fines (indirect taxation)
• Trailer Registration Tax
• Utility Taxes
• Vehicle License Registration Tax
• Vehicle Sales Tax
• Watercraft Registration Tax
• Well Permit Tax
• Workers Compensation Tax

GOD HELP us!!

 

[KCfromNC]

Yes, the FORCED collection plate:

Speaking of con, I wonder what game the site where these numbers were stolen from is trying to play. Who knows, since even they admit that the real number is closer to 30% than it is to 50%.

 

[Paradoxum]

But churches need money to run the church and run programmes in the church.

 

[The Nihilist]

What does God need with a starship?