"Yes, and it is absurd to think three can be one."

Okay, so its absurd. But it still affirms the belief in one god.

"Religious classes are for future theologians. I am not a theologian. Anyway, this is irrelevant. Things taught in religious classes reflect a particular belief, not reality."

I wasn't talking about theology classes. Anyway, it is relevant. If the overwhelming number of religious scholars classify Christianity, Islam, and Judaism as monotheistic, then your denial of that fact is nothing but a claim of special pleading.

"How many religious textbooks were written by mathematicians? How many religious textbooks were written by scientists? How many religious textbooks were written by historians? It is you, Layman, who is annoying."

Why would a mathematician's opinion on whether Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are monotheistic be relevant? Oh, I see. You see how stupid it would be to classify them as polytheistic, so now you are trying to convert this thread into a "Does God Exist" issue.

"So, what is he? BTW, I have no belief in Satan, do you?"

Satan is a created spiritual being inferior to God. He is not supreme in any way. In fact, Christianity is explicit that he is a creature of limited power and inferior to God. He is not divine in any sense.

"Let's stick to Christianity and the JC Bible."

Why? By logical extension you have just converted the widely recognized three great monotheistic religions into polytheistic ones. The reasoning applies equally to Judaism and to Islam.

"What are angels, if they are not supreme beings? BTW, I have no belief in them, do you?"

Angels are created spiritual beings inferior to God. They are in no sense divine.

"Yes, guy, and you have shown that your beliefs defy reason, common sense, and natural laws."

Ah, I see that we have once again departed from the defense of your position that Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are polytheistic religions.

Originally posted by Nomad:
And now, as if calling Christians polytheists wasn't enough, Michael wants to argue (based on the words of one group of Muslims) that all other Muslimes are polytheists too! Someone remind me to let Baalthazaq know.

Who is arguing anything?

Layman claimed "I never heard of this" and I said "Guess what! There are muslims who think other muslims are polytheists!"

Given your total inability to read or argue, it isn't suprising you find such things humorous. How else can react, but with nervous laughter?

You know, the irony is this thread started off talking about how hard it is for some atheists to take history seriously, and has now deteriorated into a couple of atheists demonstrating that they can't really take anything seriously.

Nomad[/B]

Michael: So, is, or is not, Xtianity's rise accounted for by mundane reasons listed throughout this thread, or is there some special divine unnatural thing about it? Make
an argument, or bail.

Still bailing, I see.

Michael

Give me a break Turton. Are you a Wahabi?

Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are widely recognized as monotheistic religions. They affirm the belief in one God, but also believe in lesser, created spiritual beings who are not divine in any sense.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Layman:
Give me a break Turton. Are you a Wahabi?

Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are widely recognized as monotheistic religions. They affirm the belief in one God, but also believe in lesser, created spiritual beings who are not divine in any sense.

Layman, you were one who said that it was an absurdity to claim that Islam is polytheist, and then I went and found Muslims who think other muslims are polytheists. Clearly it is not absurd to do so.

This whole discussion confirms what I suspected, that rather that face the question below, you would go off on a tangent.

And you did. Let's regard the (non)polytheistic nature of Xtianity as tangential to this discussion, and focus on the key point below, which Nomad and you have studiously avoided addressing in any systematic way through the 70 posts of this thread.

Once again, I still ask:

Is, or is not, Xtianity's rise accounted for by mundane reasons listed throughout this thread, or is there some special divine unnatural thing about it? Make an argument, or bail.

Michael

[This message has been edited by turtonm (edited April 04, 2001).]

This commentary comes from a man who believes in virgin births and dead people coming back to life.

rodahi

HE SHOOTS HE SCORES!!!!!

Awesome comback Rodahi!!! Devastating and on target. Way to defend your position that Jews, Christians, and Mulsims are actually polytheists who believe that satan is a SUPREME BEING, along with the other SUPREME BEING angels.

LOL!

Oops. You still didn't answer my question rodahi. You claimed to be a Christian once. If you were, surely your church had a position on the subject. So, do you have an answer or not?

Nomad

[quote]<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by turtonm:

Quote:

Layman, you were one who said that it was an absurdity to claim that Islam is polytheist, and then I went and found Muslims who think other muslims are polytheists. Clearly it is not absurd to do so. This whole discussion confirms what I suspected, that rather that face the question below, you would go off on a tangent. And you did. Let's regard the (non)polytheistic nature of Xtianity as tangential to this discussion, and focus on the key point below, which Nomad and you have studiously avoided addressing in any systematic way through the 70 posts of this thread. Once again, I still ask: Is, or is not, Xtianity's rise accounted for by mundane reasons listed throughout this thread, or is there some special divine unnatural thing about it? Make an argument, or bail. Michael [This message has been edited by turtonm (edited April 04, 2001).]

And you are the one who said that Christianity, and by implication Islam and Judaism, were polytheistic because they believe in satan and angels. Now, rather than defend your absurd assertion, you want to bail on it. I don't blame you.

I wondered what a troll was when I heard skeptics bandying the term about here. Now I'm learning. It is someone who makes an absurd claim in passing, and then whines when its challenged and complains that it is just a tangent. Here's a hint: If you want to keep a thread on point, don't drop stupid claims that you know will be challenged. Another hint: It's a disengenous tactic to drop such an absurd, sure to be challenged claim, and then complain that those who challenge you on it are avoiding the subject.

And how does it follow that because a small Islamic sect labels most other Islams as polytheistic, that it is not an absurd thing for you to claim? The former does not prove the latter.

He claims to have been to church?

I am curious too. Which church did you go to that taught that Satan was a supreme being? Or that angels were supreme beings?

Given that the respected Rodahi is also the MODERATOR of this board (no experience necessary?), I don't give these posts much of a shelf life.

Originally posted by Layman:
And you are the one who said that Christianity, and by implication Islam and Judaism, were polytheistic because they believe in satan and angels. Now, rather than defend your absurd assertion, you want to bail on it. I don't blame you.

Who's bailing? I started a whole new thread on the topic.

I wondered what a troll was when I heard skeptics bandying the term about here. Now I'm learning. It is someone who makes an absurd claim in passing, and then whines when its challenged and complains that it is just a tangent. Here's a hint: If you want to keep a thread on point, don't drop stupid claims that you know will be challenged. Another hint: It's a disengenous tactic to drop such an absurd, sure to be challenged claim, and then complain that those who challenge you on it are avoiding the subject.

Yes, I imagine from your position of nigh-on total ignorance, it does look like a troll.

Here's a hint: actually read some history of the world outside first-century Palestine.

And how does it follow that because a small Islamic sect labels most other Islams as polytheistic, that it is not an absurd thing for you to claim? The former does not prove the latter.

A small islamic sect......You mean the State religion of Saudi Arabia?....Oh! That small Islamic sect.

Now, since we have moved polytheism to another thread, we can now focus on the real topic here, which, through 79 posts, Nomad and Layman have studiously avoided....

Once again, I ask:

Is, or is not, Xtianity's rise accounted for by mundane reasons listed throughout this thread, or is there some special divine unnatural thing about it? Make an argument, or bail.

Michael