Freethought & Rationalism Archive

hal9000 · 05-02-2003, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jobar
Well! Rational, I find your honesty refreshing- we see too many around here who try to say that the whole Bible is Ultimate TRUTH and contains nothing imperfect.

I think your POV is the only reasonable one for any believer. I, too, find much of wisdom and admirable ethics in the Bible- few of us here are 'reverse fundies' who say that the *entire* Bible is nothing but evil hogwash.

The thing is- I see no center. There is nothing in the Bible which forms a core around which all who proclaim themselves Christian (or Jewish, or Muslim) can gather. How do you decide what to follow, amongst all the contradictory imperatives to be found in the Bible? Do you think that Fred Phelps (the author of godhatesfags.com) is justified in his beliefs? The verses he quotes against homosexuality *are* in the Bible, you know. How do you claim that Jesus prefers 'love thy neighbor' over 'sell your cloak and buy a sword'?

By your feelings, and by your own personal ethical beliefs? Rational, that is how we skeptics do it!

If you call yourself a Christian, how do you deal with the many others who also name themselves that, and then say and do things which you find evil and disgusting- and say that since you do not believe and act as they do, you are not a *true* Christian?

Do you then say that *they* aren't 'true Christians'?

So much dispute and hatred and war without quarter has been generated by this quandry over the millenia, that Dave can make a strong claim that God (the idea or myth of God, not any actual being, in which he and I do not believe) is the single greatest cause of bloodshed and misery and evil in human history. And I have not seen a single argument in this long thread which weakens his claim.

Nicely said, Jobar.

David M. Payne · 05-06-2003, 12:58 PM

I had a couple of JW's come to the door, a couple of nice ladies intent on recruiting me into their delusion. For the first time since I started this thread, I had a chance to put it into practice with live fundies at my door, and the results were interesting. When I pointed out that their omnipotent God had every choice imaginable to change the behavior he found objectionable within humanity yet he purportedly chose to murder the entire human race save one family, and all the animals save one boatload, for the sin of corruption, they had no answer and scurried off to the next house. It was fun to see the confusion in their faces as they left. Perhaps there is hope for them after all.

David

JBLurking · 05-12-2003, 12:04 AM

Quite an interesting thread you have going here David. I also liked your two articles in the agora.

JB

diana · 05-12-2003, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JBLurking
Quite an interesting thread you have going here David. I also liked your two articles in the agora.

JB

Yes, I suppose you did, David.

This thread has been interesting, true. However, perpetually interesting threads have a way of keeping themselves alive without the author bumping them up under various guises when they happen to fall off the main board.

This thread has been open since 14 Feb 2002--well over a year. Those who had interest in it in the beginning have long since moved on with their lives, married, had children, and developed drinking problems. It's a whole new world since you had your brilliant idea to assert and defend the idea of God as the biggest mass murderer of all time.

This thread has not enjoyed serious, interested discussion for quite some time, but you keep resurrecting it, nonetheless. It's cluttering the forum. It's been done to death.

I'm closing it.

d

05-06-2003, 12:58 PM	#432
David M. Payne Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The land of chain smoking, bible thumping, holy ro Posts: 1,248	Fun with JW's I had a couple of JW's come to the door, a couple of nice ladies intent on recruiting me into their delusion. For the first time since I started this thread, I had a chance to put it into practice with live fundies at my door, and the results were interesting. When I pointed out that their omnipotent God had every choice imaginable to change the behavior he found objectionable within humanity yet he purportedly chose to murder the entire human race save one family, and all the animals save one boatload, for the sin of corruption, they had no answer and scurried off to the next house. It was fun to see the confusion in their faces as they left. Perhaps there is hope for them after all. David

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05-12-2003, 12:04 AM	#433
JBLurking Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: USA Posts: 15	Quite an interesting thread you have going here David. I also liked your two articles in the agora. JB

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