djrafikie

I agree, i can see how JS gets so wound up with him though. Rutchin has told me I'm going to burn in hell and accused me of child molesting previously (I got a mod warning for having a go at him for that, WOULD you believe it???).
He can be frustrating.

Johnny Skeptic

I have debated rhuchin for over a year in three different forums, and most of my arguments have been against God, not him. If you read my post #15 in this thread, you will see that I did not mention rhutchin at all. The God of the Bible is who I mainly direct my attacks against.

I do not argue for the sake of arguing. I have gotten a lot of public and private compliments regarding many of my arguments. Noted skeptic Bible scholar Dr. Robert Price has critiqued a lot of my writings for me, and he has given me some very nice compliments. Since you have chosen to criticize my approach, I will tell you that I consider most of your posts to be of little of no value to anyone except for Christians. If I did not know that you are a skeptic, from reading your posts I would assume that you are a Christian. I have never read a post by you where you got fiesty with a Christian, but I have read some posts by you where you got fiesty with skeptics, including a fiesty exchange that you had with a moderator, I forget which one. It appears to me that either you view this forum as little more than a friendly tea party, or as a covert way to promote Christianity without appearing to promote it. I would not be surprised if the latter is the case. Although I believe in being polite, I most certainly do not view this forum as a friendly tea party. In my opinion, fundamentalist Christians are a threat to society. Many other skeptics agree with me, and a number of liberal Christians do not like fundamentalist Christians. The Bible is a vicious, hostile book. I can quote many vicious and hostile verses for you if you wish. I believe that religion is the most destructive social institution in human history. It divides people much more than it unites them. Some major wars have been between Christians nations. Christians conquered the largest colonial empire in history by far under a single religion. I will not change my approach based upon anything that you have to say. If you want to get involved in fiesty exchanges with me, I assure you that I am easily able to hold my own. We can keep it friendly, or we can be fiesty. It is up to you.

wiccan windwalker

and of course fundamentalist Islamic Jihadists who butcher 3,000 americans in their workplace largely get a rhetorical "pass" from most American atheists, I see very few atheists over on Islamic message boards fighting with Islamists!

Johnny Skeptic

The U.S. is predominantly Christian, so Christians have the greatest influence in political elections. If Muslims comprised the majority of voters, I would primarily debate Islam. You must be unaware that the largest colonial empire in history by far under a single relgion was conquered by Christians.

Getting back on topic, is it your position that the God of the Bible is compassionate?

hatsoff

Fair enough. I don't think Christianity (or any other religion apart from Islam or Scientology) is harmful. But that is not hard fact, so I understand your concern. I just felt like giving a reason why I invaded this thread against you. I would like to keep it friendly. I'd also like to hear a response to my above post (about Romans 9/Exodus 33).

rhutchin

If you think that you will gain entry into heaven when you face God after death, why should you get upset just because you are unable to offer an argument for your faith?

Regarding the child molesting, we both know that you entered a discussion and (I guess purposely) made a comment that was counter to the ongoing discussion and designed to be misconstrued. I obliged and you got upset (for show, apparently). It was contrived by you to do that, was it not?

rhutchin

I have repeatedly encouraged Johnny Skeptic to begin a thread on inerrancy. He has declined the honor so far.

rhutchin

Opining is nice but specific examples work better to make one's point.

rhutchin

Hmmm. We might then conclude that you also have no love for Hitler and his minions who killed many Jews, Gypsies, and others. But you would ssem to have no love for the Allies (US, Britain, etc) who, in retaliation, became mass murderers to erradicate Hitler.

Would you have agreed to mass murder to get rid of Hitler if you were President in the 40's?

hatsoff

Rhutchin, I agree with your position, but I think your arguments are unsound. J.S. was asking about your reconciliation of an omniscient God with selective benevolence. If God damns even one person, how can he be worthy of our love and devotion? Obviously, there are problems with this line of reasoning, but you don't seem to be addressing them. I'm not sure why that is, but if you are to have a coherent conversation with J.S., I urge you to do so.