i wonder about this.......(debate starter)

[JNickel101]

Funny how you point out these two things to say that the followers of each religion are killing each other, but if you look at what's happening in Israel, it's not Christians or Jews blowing everyone up or running people down with bulldozers; it's Muslims. If you look back through history, the land where Israel is located has been their's from the beginning. Palestine is actually the word used by the Romans to refer to Israel. Israel is just trying to keep their land. The Muslim countries over there are just trying to blow Israel off the face of the earth. Also, referring to Israel as the "mecca" for Christianity and Judaism is just kind of ignorant. Mecca is the holy land for Islam, not anyone else.

Without religion, the world would have plenty else to fight over. We'd all still come in various colors, languages, locations, ideals, sizes, personalities, aspirations, etc. Pointing the finger at all religion is foolish. Like everyone always tries to say bout the Muslims, not all are bad, just the extremists. Yeah, well, there's gonna be retards in every belief system, be it Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, FSM, or atheist. If there were no religion, we'd likely still be in Iraq, it's not a war on Islam, it's a war to remove a dictator who had a destabilizing effect on the area and now to stabilize the country. It's a war to enforce the cease-fire signed by Saddam, to enforce the UN's right to inspect (even if the UN doesn't want to stand up for themselves). There would be no Muslim radicals, but there would still be radicals. The people who cling to hatred in their hearts will find reasons to hate no matter what.
One good thing thouh would be if there was no religion, this thread wouldn't exist...:doh: Although you'd probably find something else to demonize.

P.S. You probably already figured it out, but I am a Christian and I'm fed up with all the random attacks against Christianity, and really religion in general. You have your belief that there is nothing, I have mine that there is a God. If you're ever interested in hearing more about it, I'm happy to share, but I'm not the type to force it on you. You can believe completely differently from me, and I'll still treat you the same as anyone from my church. Ask Ecksjay, his beliefs are about the exact opposite from me, but we still get along...:cheers:

WAIT.....you're a CHRISTIAN?????

WTF :wierd:

 

[beakie]

What will you feel when there is a war between Israel and a number of other nations
and someone by the name of Jesus comes in the picture and starts kickin A$$ and taking names and you find out its to late to be saved from the most unbelievable turmoil on earth.
You that choose not to believe should study and learn the real truth.
If you want to study something ,Try end time Prophecy.
Its being fulfilled daily.

And for those that have never heard the truth it would be an honor for me to
share it with you.

seriously?

sorry, but from my point of view that's the exact reason I stayed away from religion, and will continue too.

question... why is the storybook you've been reading the "truth" as opposed to the others out there?

 

[Mark WNC]

Obviously faith has something to do with it and the fact that men wrote
about the same events hundreds of years apart from each other that happened way after they were dead and gone.

 

[Cox89XJ]

Non believers won't leave the believers alone.

 

[splendidyj]

I often feel that the atheist is weak of mind and there for doomed to a pitiful existence here on earth. I am a warrior of light. I shall smite the wicked and pity the weak of mind. I shall not guess my actions for my hand is guided by my lord.

 

[98XJSport]

I often feel that the atheist is weak of mind and there for doomed to a pitiful existence here on earth. I am a warrior of light. I shall smite the wicked and pity the weak of mind. I shall not guess my actions for my hand is guided by my lord.

Can you hear it?

That sound in the distance?

War drums?

No, it's the sound of Bible Thumpers, coming to smite or at least insult all of us that don't conform to thier beliefs. :eyes:

Yeah this thread will end up in the dumpster

 

[fscrig75]

Non believers won't leave the believers alone.

I think you got it backwards.

 

[fscrig75]

I often feel that the atheist is weak of mind and there for doomed to a pitiful existence here on earth. I am a warrior of light. I shall smite the wicked and pity the weak of mind. I shall not guess my actions for my hand is guided by my lord.

Really the atheist is weak? Then why is it that you believe something that just helps explain things you don't understand. Death/creation etc..

Your a warrior of light huh? When was the last time you went on a mission to preach the word of your God? My guess is never. You want to be a warrior, pack your bag and take your a** to China or somewhere in the Middle East, get thrown in jail for your God, then maybe you will be warrior of light. Using nifty sounding words, smite/wicked doesn't make you a warrior.

 

[Darky]

I think you got it backwards.

I think you got it backwards. Who started this thread? What is this thread doing? What decisions are consistently being passed down in the courts? Believers of any religion are constantly being attacked, and in particular here in America, Christians are being consistently sidelined and pushed down. Not to start a debate on gay marriage, but here in CA, right now while it's still legal, a church could lose its tax exempt status as a non-profit for saying we don't believe this is right and will not perform these marriages in our church. There was the surgeon who wouldn't artificially inseminate the lesbian due to his religious beliefs, but he did politely refer her to someone who would gladly perform the procedure at no extra cost no extra driving, etc, and she sued him and won. Since when did that make sense? People want you to leave them be, to believe whatever they want, and that's fine with me. Until they then turn around and try to force me to go along with their beliefs. There's a difference between tolerance and acceptance. I will tolerate the beliefs of those who are different from me. Meaning if you believe differently, fine. That's your right and I'm not gonna take it from you. However, if I believe you to be wrong, I will not accept your beliefs; meaning, that I will not condone your actions/beleifs nor tell you you're right. I only ask the same in return. I believe in God, by default, I believe my faith to be in the one true God, and the other gods people believe in therefore to be false. That's just the way belief goes. Ask a Muslim if Allah is the same as Yhwh, ask a Buddhist if Buddha is the same as Shiva or any of the other Hindu gods. They'll all say no and if you ask a Muslim he'll tell you that there is no god but Allah and Mohammad is his prophet.

While most of what splendidyj said is a bit, um, over the top, I can argue for his assertion that atheists may be weak-minded. It takes a strong man to admit there are things he doesn't know, can't know, or that he can't get through on his own, his deeds alone will never be good enough to get to Heaven, or that he may not be in total control of his life, there may be a greater power. It takes a bluffer to say there is no God and I am master of my own destiny. It's like the fake tough guy standing up saying I'm the baddest dude around! Until someone punches him in the jaw and he goes down.

P.S. Smilies inserted to show I am not trying to insult or offend anyone here, like I said, you believe differently, I respect that.

 

[bluejeepkid]

seriously?

sorry, but from my point of view that's the exact reason I stayed away from religion, and will continue too.

question... why is the storybook you've been reading the "truth" as opposed to the others out there?

my thoughts xactly, their is no real proof that your religion is the truth...for all you your religion could be entirely fictional

 

[98XJSport]

I think you got it backwards. Who started this thread? What is this thread doing? What decisions are consistently being passed down in the courts? Believers of any religion are constantly being attacked, and in particular here in America, Christians are being consistently sidelined and pushed down. Not to start a debate on gay marriage, but here in CA, right now while it's still legal, a church could lose its tax exempt status as a non-profit for saying we don't believe this is right and will not perform these marriages in our church. There was the surgeon who wouldn't artificially inseminate the lesbian due to his religious beliefs, but he did politely refer her to someone who would gladly perform the procedure at no extra cost no extra driving, etc, and she sued him and won. Since when did that make sense? People want you to leave them be, to believe whatever they want, and that's fine with me. Until they then turn around and try to force me to go along with their beliefs. There's a difference between tolerance and acceptance. I will tolerate the beliefs of those who are different from me. Meaning if you believe differently, fine. That's your right and I'm not gonna take it from you. However, if I believe you to be wrong, I will not accept your beliefs; meaning, that I will not condone your actions/beleifs nor tell you you're right. I only ask the same in return. I believe in God, by default, I believe my faith to be in the one true God, and the other gods people believe in therefore to be false. That's just the way belief goes. Ask a Muslim if Allah is the same as Yhwh, ask a Buddhist if Buddha is the same as Shiva or any of the other Hindu gods. They'll all say no and if you ask a Muslim he'll tell you that there is no god but Allah and Mohammad is his prophet.

While most of what splendidyj said is a bit, um, over the top, I can argue for his assertion that atheists may be weak-minded. It takes a strong man to admit there are things he doesn't know, can't know, or that he can't get through on his own, his deeds alone will never be good enough to get to Heaven, or that he may not be in total control of his life, there may be a greater power. It takes a bluffer to say there is no God and I am master of my own destiny. It's like the fake tough guy standing up saying I'm the baddest dude around! Until someone punches him in the jaw and he goes down.

P.S. Smilies inserted to show I am not trying to insult or offend anyone here, like I said, you believe differently, I respect that.

Unfortunately most of your points are true, and as much an indication of a failing legal system as well.

Gotta love the screwed up world we live in.

Although I found one of the church signs on the way to work a little odd. Something like:

Tolerance is the sign of a failing society.

Huh?

 

[fscrig75]

darky, I do agree with you that the world seems to be out to get christianity right now, and I don't agree with that at all. both sides are a bit stupid when it comes criticising(sp) the other. All the west coast states are pretty bad about that stuff.

we all can argue all day long about it, there will be no definitive answer till we die, and of course when that happens we can't tell the other they were wrong, damn it. ha ha

I just have a problem with putting so much faith in a book written by man thousands of years ago, and all the non-sense that the church has its followers go through.

Oh and I think the weaker mind is the one that can't accept that there is no answer, but instead believes in some mystical all mighty power. But its all good, I do respect the individuals who can maintain their faith through all the tough times the world has faced.

 

[Jester99]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSSwKffj9o

The man was consistently right all the time.

 

[Jester99]

Not trying to troll here at all or whatever, but I often wonder about 3 things..

Have any of you believers actually sat down and thought at all about how silly the whole thing actually sounds?

Would you be religious at all had you not been born in to it?

Do any of you apply the old saying to your life, " If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is." Keep in mind you can't pick and choose how that term is applied because that would make it irrelevant.

 

[Bent]

Tolerance is the sign of a failing society.


Huh?

True, in a historical context, but I think it went over your head.

 

[Darky]

Not trying to troll here at all or whatever, but I often wonder about 3 things..

Have any of you believers actually sat down and thought at all about how silly the whole thing actually sounds?

Would you be religious at all had you not been born in to it?

Do any of you apply the old saying to your life, " If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is." Keep in mind you can't pick and choose how that term is applied because that would make it irrelevant.

#1 In my opinion the idea that all of this happened by chance sounds even sillier. But then to you it likely makes sense. Different beliefs.
#2 I actually left it for a while all throughout my teen years. Kept going to church with my Mom and all, but didn't at all live it. It wasn't until I was about 20ish and in the Marine Corps that I really started to make a concerted effort. So, yes, I think I would still be here. My brain still put the pieces together and came out with God.
#3 What sounds too good to be true would be living your life in whatever sin or whatever you want without consequences sounds like a much happier idea than being punished for your immoral deeds to me.

Its not an easy life, in fact the Bible guarantees that you will have troubles, and will likely have more problems as a result of your faith, be it from persecution or just struggling against sin. That's really all that belief in God makes you go through. Trying to live up to the standard set in the Bible, knowing you can't. "Religion", yes, that is a problem. Even amongst Christian churches, religion gets in the way. Baptists say baptism is by full immersion only, Episcopalians have all their rituals and whatnot, Catholics are the same with the rituals plus a few extra books and other beliefs, I forget who, but one of em says baptism is by sprinkling. Mormons believe in an entire separate word, and many different beliefs based on that. In the Marine Corps, they ask what your religious preference is to put on your dogtags. I always had Christian - No Denomination. I try my best to base my beliefs strictly on the Bible, not on traditions and rituals made up by man. Before anyone says, "Yeah, but the Bible is written by man", ever heard of dictation? That's the best way I can think to describe how it was by God, through man's hand.

 

[Darky]

Not trying to troll here at all or whatever, but I often wonder about 3 things..

Have any of you believers actually sat down and thought at all about how silly the whole thing actually sounds?

Would you be religious at all had you not been born in to it?

Do any of you apply the old saying to your life, " If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is." Keep in mind you can't pick and choose how that term is applied because that would make it irrelevant.

I think you need to turn these around on yourself and your belief that there is no God as well.

 

[Bent]

Not trying to troll here at all or whatever, but I often wonder about 3 things..

Have any of you believers actually sat down and thought at all about how silly the whole thing actually sounds? I question and test it all the time, as I'm supposed to do.

Would you be religious at all had you not been born in to it? I'm not Jewish so I couldn't be born into it.

Do any of you apply the old saying to your life, " If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is." Yes; to my life and to my faith. Have you not ever been loved by someone?
Keep in mind you can't pick and choose how that term is applied because that would make it irrelevant. VERY true, the path is narrow.

 

[98XJSport]

True, in a historical context, but I think it went over your head.

I get what it means, I meant I was surprised at a religious sign that usually proclaimed faith, tolerance, happiness through god etc. would put something like that up.

 

[Bent]

I get what it means, I meant I was surprised at a religious sign that usually proclaimed faith, tolerance, happiness through god etc. would put something like that up.

Well, maybe they thought putting a little bite to their message would get some peoples attention.