number3

Why would I want to stop Religous nutcases look less like idiots than they do on their own?

This is a question towards all thesists who claim the Bible and other books tell them to lead their life one way and do the exact opposite.


That is nice to know you don't. But you are not every thesist in the world are you. Which was my point. There is no point in bringing indivdual beliefs into the point. Unless of course you're going to tell me that every thesist thinks you way and the whole church and priest thinng is a big mistake. Er yeah whatever seebs.

Why do you insist on taking this as personal attic. Read the OP.

number3

not sure what a "personal attic" is. A private loft space I guess.

Anyway it was meant to sat "attack"

seebs

Oh, okay.

It seemed like it was directed at Christians in general, so I figured I was included.

My point is just that, just as I am not every theist in the world, neither is Oral Roberts or his congregation.

I guess, the impression I got from it was that this was directed at the question of how religious people feel about the excesses of televangelists. Most of the people I know are torn between a mild sick feeling in the pit of the stomach, outrage, and just closing our eyes and hoping it goes away.

CourtJester

It's exactly this type of attitude which means that these type of people are allowed to get away with such commercialisation and propaganda/brainwashing that puts religion in such a light of disbelief. I'm sure that if there is a God then he wouldnt want to be portrayed in such a manner - riches weren't exactly in his gospel!!

seebs

Well, what would you suggest? Assassination attempts? Laws against people doing what they want with their own money?

I agree that it's a problem, but apart from hoping that these people eventually actually listen to God a little, or read the Bible a little more carefully, I'm not sure what I can ethically do about it.

number3

No this was intended for anyone who has religon that believes they need a place of worship and the funding behind these buildings. I want to here reasons as to why they beleive this to be true.

How do christians justify all the churches?
How do catholics justify the vatican?


A good example is in fact just down the road from where I am now.

There is a mosque - which is obviously a holy building for muslims, but it used to be (a couple of years ago) a synagogue for jews. So is it holy? and is it necessary?

But more importantly should I as a tax-payer be forced to fund other people beliefs. Being an atheist it winds me up that I must pay towards the upkeep.

I think i maybe getting onto a differnet point here........

seebs

I see.

I guess, my point was to observe that some Christians think the churches are not, in general, justified.

FWIW, the conventional argument goes to the story of the woman who annointed Jesus with expensive oil. The disciples were outraged, because that stuff coulda been sold to benefit the poor, but Jesus said that her faith was strong in its own way.

I think this gets overused.

number3

A good start would be to make all religons illegal. Sadly an impossiblity.

"These people" you talk about are your fellow thesists!. So now, correct me if I'm wrong, not only are other religons wrong but also people that follow your religon too. We are running out of people who will be saved.

mecca777

number3, I'm not sure what you're driving at here. seebs has been thoroughly candid with you about his own worship; it's not his responsibility to dictate how other Christians pursue theirs. I don't think that any Xian denomination preaches that the location in which one prays has any bearing on their "salvation" - it's a matter of personal choice. Some people prefer simplicity, others prefer the communal feeling of a crowded megachurch. Some people like watching sport at home on TV, others prefer to go to the pub and watch it on a big screen, or attend the arena and stand in the crowd.

Incidentally, I don't think that churches (at least in the UK) are tax-funded, and US churches aren't tax-funded either; they're built by collections and donations from their supporters, some of whom may be extremely wealthy. Don't forget that many denominations ask for 10% tithes of the income of worshippers; I suspect that that's how the big Godplexes are built.

My personal view is that architecturally important UK cathedrals, such as St Peter's in Sunderland or St Paul's in London, should be granted the same "heritage" status as other listed buildings, including Government money; not because of their religious significance, which means nothing to me, but because they are beautiful works of art in stone and glass which form a part of the country's cultural and historical wealth.

As for making all religions illegal, I don't think that's right. I'd prefer to make "logic and reason" lessons compulsory in primary schools.

seebs

That strikes me as throwing out three half-grown children, your in-laws, and your pets, along with a thimbleful of bath water.

You must have some weird ideas about Christianity. No one is right all the time; people can be saved despite their flaws.

Anyway, I think lots of people are "wrong" on this type of thing, ranging from atheists to Christians to Muslims to Buddhists. So?

Outlawing religion wouldn't keep idiots in suburbia from buying $60,000 trucks that get 7 miles to the gallon just to compensate for tiny penises, and waste is waste.

I don't really see any point here; your goal seems to be to prove that all religion is evil, bad, and wrong, and should be outlawed, and to do this, you're discounting the existence of the quiet majority of religious people, who are not participating in the behavior you so gleefully condemn.