The origins of atheism

[anonymous person]

In this context, "sin" is a religious transgression of some sort that one can consciously decide upon. Is that accurate?

For that you would need one of those mind-readin' hats.

Mind-Reading Hat

• Davian
• Jul 30, 2015

I do not relate to this. Are you speaking from personal experience?

From what I gather, even the concept of genocide can be made to fit through these parameters in the mind of the experienced apologist.

The use of the word "slave" implying that this is not choice. But, your religion requires that it be choice, correct?

In the context of this thread, are you implying that belief - or disbelief - is something we can freely - and consciously - choose?

You know Davian, today, I was encouraged after reading your posts. I was encouraged and my faith was strengthened by not only the things you have written, but the way you have written them. Yes, not only you, but several others here have greatly encouraged me and strengthened me and I want to say I am grateful to God for causing our paths to cross! Have a great weekend!

I am raising a glass of red wine to you in your honor. Here's to you Davian my friend!

 

[Davian]

Inoculate them from love? Is love so deadly and vile a thing to you that you would view it as something to be inoculated from?

Ah, the equivocation game. "When you said you were using the condescending and vitriolic posts in this thread filled with untestable, unfalsifiable, and contradicting religious claims as part of the process of inoculating your children, you didn't mean that you were helping them to develop critical thinking skills that they would carry forward into life, you meant that (queue flowers) you were (queue puppies) inoculating them from (queue kittens) love (queue hearts and rainbows)".

If by "love" you mean a worldview that allows for rapists to go to Heaven, unbelievers to go to hell for things beyond their control, and has holes big enough to drive a genocide through, then yes, it is that thing that I would like my children to view critically.

And yes Davian, you indeed have at a time in your life felt a great injustice had been done. It may not have been a sentiment you reserved for yourself but maybe for a loved one. Many times when those we love die, we feel some kind of way. Especially if they have had to suffer.

I have found in my ministry that this is the case more times than not.

Tell me what that was for me exactly, Mr Myan Reeder.

 

[ScottA]

I explained that there isn't such a thing as "my own proof". It doesn't work that way. If something is proven, then it is demonstrably true. If you can't demonstrate it is true, then you don't have proof.

The key words here are "I" [have] "my" own proof.

 

[Davian]

I know that you guys are just deliberately pig headed. The atheist doctrine of death is their belief that death is the final end of life, that there is nothing beyond, no resurrection. Also known as the doctrine of pessimistic despair.

Is that the heart of it? If there were no God, you would be sad?

 

[quatona]

You know Davian, today, I was encouraged after reading your posts. I was encouraged and my faith was strengthened by not only the things you have written, but the way you have written them. Yes, not only you, but several others here have greatly encouraged me and strengthened me and I want to say I am grateful to God for causing our paths to cross!

It´s cool you now have found the courage to admit that your faith was weaker than you would it be when you wrote the posts (in which you emphasized your unirritable faith) before today. Kudos to you for the newly found honesty. I´m glad our posts had such a great effect!

 

[Davian]

Somewhat off-topic: Is it just me or did this thread suddenly go from 141 pages to 140 pages?

I think it is the funky way the new site software keeps your recent posts on the page you are viewing (rather than them scooting off to the end), and then - at its own discretion - repaginates and resorts the posts, adding any that had been created in the background by others. I often jot down the post numbers so I know where I just was/were.

 

[Davian]

... remain willfully ignorant ...

By "willfully ignorant", do you mean "not accept your beliefs as fact"? What I believe is not subject to my will.

 

[anonymous person]

Ah, the equivocation game. "When you said you were using the condescending and vitriolic posts in this thread filled with untestable, unfalsifiable, and contradicting religious claims as part of the process of inoculating your children, you didn't mean that you were helping them to develop critical thinking skills that they would carry forward into life, you meant that (queue flowers) you were (queue puppies) inoculating them from (queue kittens) love (queue hearts and rainbows)".

If by "love" you mean a worldview that allows for rapists to go to Heaven, unbelievers to go to hell for things beyond their control, and has holes big enough to drive a genocide through, then yes, it is that thing that I would like my children to view critically.

Tell me what that was for me exactly, Mr Myan Reeder.

Nah, I meant just love in the good old fashioned and simple meaning of the term.

 

[anonymous person]

It´s cool you now have found the courage to admit that your faith was weaker than you would it be when you wrote the posts (in which you emphasized your unirritable faith) before today. Kudos to you for the newly found honesty. I´m glad our posts had such a great effect!

My faith is strengthened moment by moment, as I yield and surrender my own will, to the will of Him that loves me and gave Himself for me. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. quatona, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

quatona, I tell you that you of all here have encouraged and strengthened me the most. I thank you.

 

[anonymous person]

By "willfully ignorant", do you mean "not accept your beliefs as fact"? What I believe is not subject to my will.

Nah that is not what I meant.

By willfully ignorant I mean ignorant by choice.

 

[quatona]

quatona, I tell you that you of all here have encouraged and strengthened me the most. I thank you.

Too much undeserved honour. It´s all your own making.

 

[anonymous person]

Too much undeserved honour. It´s all your own making.

in a sense you are right. whether or not i perceive you as a gift from God in the form of an encouragement and one that strengthens my faith is at least in some measure, up to me. I could see you as a thorn in my side. I could see you as my enemy.

I choose not to. I choose to see you as a good gift. I choose to see you as a friend. I choose to see you as an encouragement. I choose to see you as made in the image and likeness of God, and by virtue of that alone, worthy of honor, respect, and love.

 

[quatona]

in a sense you are right. whether or not i perceive you as a gift from God in the form of an encouragement and one that strengthens my faith is at least in some measure, up to me. I could see you as a thorn in my side. I could see you as my enemy.

I choose not to. I choose to see you as a good gift. I choose to see you as a friend. I choose to see you as an encouragement. I choose to see you as made in the image and likeness of God, and by virtue of that alone, worthy of honor, respect, and love.

Yes, of course you are a great guy.
Here´s hoping you won´t switch back to your yesterday´s attitude as suddenly as you switched forth to today´s proclamation of a new attitude.

 

[anonymous person]

Yes, of course you are a great guy.
Here´s hoping you won´t switch back to your yesterday´s attitude as suddenly as you switched forth to today´s proclamation of a new attitude.

The spirit is indeed willing but the flesh is weak. Thank you for calling that to my remembrance!

 

[Davian]

...can't be proven wrong,

or to be of any significance.

which is only one of many reasons I believe in a rational God.

Which god is that?

 

[quatona]

The spirit is indeed willing but the flesh is weak. Thank you for calling that to my remembrance!

Any time.

 

[Davian]

See, that's it!

Let it all out. I'm in error. That's a good one.

Anything else? Anyone?

I'm deceitful, in error, deceptive and.....

Have you posted in these forums under a different account?

 

[Davian]

Most people, and the atheist demanding demonstrable proof,

Well, proof that you have only imagined isn't of much use to anyone else.

cannot go outside the universe in order to make their evaluation. I did. I was take outside and shown.

And you are still there, from what you have said. Who knew they would have internet access out there?

 

[Cearbhall]

Without confirmation, I would too. But that is not the case. And I never said I "think" it happened. I know better.

Fair. I recognize that I can't judge it any further without more details.

I disagree with them and have elaborated as to why.

But that is not really important to me. What is important to me is that I offer you and anyone else that will avail themselves of it, to call me what you will, say what you will and get it all out of your system. I won't be offended and you all can relieve some of that built up anger and stress.

Again, what are you talking about? You seem to be intent on turning a philosophical discussion into a therapy session. What have you read here that makes you think this is what's needed?

 

[Cearbhall]

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