Fundamentalism and Intellectualism

[AV1611VET]

Again, this is personal opinion, but it does not bear relation to the words as defined in a Dictionary. Atheism is the belief that there is no God/gods, and it is not a relative but an absolute.

Agnosticism is the position that there is nothing that can be said one way or another about whether God exists.

I say put them in a foxhole --- the agnostic would probably convert first, the atheist shortly thereafter.

 

[Catherineanne]

I say put them in a foxhole --- the agnostic would probably convert first, the atheist shortly thereafter.

Thank God, I am back in the land of disagreeing with you, AV.

Neither needs to convert to anything. They are already being true to themselves, and that is all that matters.

 

[AV1611VET]

Thank God, I am back in the land of disagreeing with you, AV.

Neither needs to convert to anything. They are already being true to themselves, and that is all that matters.

That's why repentance is one of the steps in converting.

 

[Catherineanne]

That's why repentance is one of the steps in converting.

Nope. Repentence is the first fruit of conviction, not a step towards it.

What you may be forgetting, AV, is that it is the job of the Holy Spirit to convict of sin, not of you or me.

Therefore, we may safely leave everyone on earth in his safe hands, and concentrate on our own personal sins, which no doubt are legion in both cases.

 

[AV1611VET]

What you may be forgetting, AV, is that it is the job of the Holy Spirit to convict of sin, not of you or me.

And it's our job to respond to that conviction, is it not?

 

[Catherineanne]

And it's our job to respond to that conviction, is it not?

Only by God's grace, and in relation to our own sin.

It is not our job to interfere in the work of the Holy Spirit or God's grace with any other person.

 

[AV1611VET]

And it's our job to respond to that conviction, is it not?

Only by God's grace, and in relation to our own sin.

It is not our job to interfere in the work of the Holy Spirit or God's grace with any other person.

I'm sorry --- your answer doesn't fit my question.

 

[Nathan Poe]

I say put them in a foxhole --- the agnostic would probably convert first, the atheist shortly thereafter.

I say history is full of examples of True Believers starting wars for the sole purpose of converting unbelievers.

 

[jpcedotal]

This is why I find both agnostics and atheist rather amusing. I have been around both my whole life and on two separate occasions I have sat by a hospital bed and both times I was asked to pray for them before they died.

Being agnostic and atheist is cool until the end is staring you in the face...but yall keep pretending...

That's fact.

 

[Hespera]

I say put them in a foxhole --- the agnostic would probably convert first, the atheist shortly thereafter.

The smug assumption here is that everyone really does believe but just wont admit it.

Under extreme stress adults may regress and call for their mothers. In the sure and certain knowledge that she wont be there.

The foxhole or hospital bed convert bit it just another demonstration that the whole basis for religion comes from somewhere in the human psyche, nothing more. But, as another poster said, y'all keep pretending / playing star wars, whatever.

Just try not to get too serious and start up the Inquisition or any more crusades again like you would if you REALLY believed in it.

 

[AV1611VET]

I say history is full of examples of True Believers starting wars for the sole purpose of converting unbelievers.

Thomas Malthus would disagree.

 

[AV1611VET]

Under extreme stress adults may regress and call for their mothers. In the sure and certain knowledge that she wont be there.

The foxhole or hospital bed convert bit it just another demonstration that the whole basis for religion comes from somewhere in the human psyche, nothing more.

Have any of these people who called on their mothers at the last minute ever gone through life denying their mothers existed?

Just try not to get too serious and start up the Inquisition or any more crusades again like you would if you REALLY believed in it.

No --- you guys might, but a dispensationalist would not.

Like I'm fond of saying, if you guys ran the world like you interpret the Scriptures, we would be either burning at the stake, hanging from a rope, serving as slaves, or hiding in fear of our lives.

 

[Hespera]

Have any of these people who called on their mothers at the last minute ever gone through life denying their mothers existed?No --- you guys might, but a dispensationalist would not.

Like I'm fond of saying, if you guys ran the world like you interpret the Scriptures, we would be either burning at the stake, hanging from a rope, serving as slaves, or hiding in fear of our lives.

Its ok if you want to pretend that kind of calling out for help isnt regression, keep on pretending.

The more you say that BS about how people would interpret scripture the more you are just trying to put off on other people what the Christians did in the name of their book. When are you going to figure that out? Seems like it would be embarrassing to say such things.

Why dont you ever get it that the bible may seem real to you but to others is just an old book? "We" wouldnt put its sayings into effect any more than we would any other historical novel. That was Christians using the bible as a reason to roast feet, etc. However uncomfortable it may be to admit it.

 

[AV1611VET]

Its ok if you want to pretend that kind of calling out for help isnt regression, keep on pretending.

Regression ≠ Conversion

The more you say that BS about how people would interpret scripture the more you are just trying to put off on other people what the Christians did in the name of their book. When are you going to figure that out? Seems like it would be embarrassing to say such things.

That's not what I'm talking about.

Forget history --- you guys today claim that the Bible supports slavery, and even wonder why we don't have any.

You guys today wonder why we're not out burning witches.

You guys today claim that the Bible supports genocide.

At least the Inquistion would have put us on trial first.

Why dont you ever get it that the bible may seem real to you but to others is just an old book?

Believe me --- I hear that every day.

"We" wouldnt put its sayings into effect any more than we would any other historical novel.

So those who find slavery, genocide, witch hunting, and incest in the Bible, and wonder why we might not be doing it today, are 'lying for Darwin'?

That was Christians using the bible as a reason to roast feet, etc.

Here's the kicker --- did they do it in spite of the Bible, or in respect to the Bible?

Please answer this.

If you say they did it in respect to the Bible, which is what I think you are saying, then that supports my claim that if you guys ran the world today, in respect to how you interpret the Bible, we would all be burning, hanging, slaving, or hiding.

But again --- I'm asking you to please answer that question.

However uncomfortable it may be to admit it.

Yes --- however uncomfortable --- please answer it.

 

[atomweaver]

My agnosticism isn't so much that I don't "know" if there's a God, it's more along the lines of I don't currently care.

If there is a God, and if He wants anything particular from me, then He, in His legendary wisdom, knows exactly what to do to get me the message in terms I would understand and believe. As of yet, it has not happened.

A God who doesn't influence my world in any way weighs in about the same as no God as all.

This

 

[Catherineanne]

I'm sorry --- your answer doesn't fit my question.

Apology accepted.

 

[Catherineanne]

This is why I find both agnostics and atheist rather amusing. I have been around both my whole life and on two separate occasions I have sat by a hospital bed and both times I was asked to pray for them before they died.

Being agnostic and atheist is cool until the end is staring you in the face...but yall keep pretending...

That's fact.

Nothing can be deduced from the fact that vulnerable people ask for help. This does not prove faith, nor disprove atheism as a way of life for those who are not in a vulnerable state.

 

[Hespera]

[..................

 

[Hespera]

.................

 

[AV1611VET]

Hespera --- yes or no --- does the Bible support the burning of witches today?

The fact that you refuse to answer that question, then whine because we 'misinterpret you' is par for the course.

Another good question is: Is the Bible against the burning of witches today?

But if I can't get a straight answer to the first question, I'll withhold asking the second one.