Freethought & Rationalism Archive

ImGod · 04-11-2002, 08:33 AM

Welcome to the board. As some people mentioned, reading up on the subjects is a good idea.

Quote:

Originally posted by True Christian:
I would just like to remind all that regardless of whether I or any other Christian convinces you, we are all still accountable to our Heavenly Father for the choices we've made in life.

Thanks for the warning, but my wife makes all the choices in my life. I'm afraid on the day of reckoning He'll end up having to answer to her too.

Mad Kally · 04-11-2002, 08:34 AM

Quote:

I would just like to remind all that regardless of whether I or any other Christian convinces you, we are all still accountable to our Heavenly Father for the choices we've made in life.

In Christ's Love,

Barbara

I don't believe in your fictional creatures. God is Santa for adults.

edited to add:

Quote:

"Faith cannot move mountains (though generations of children are solemnly told the contrary and believe it). But it is capable of driving people to such dangerous folly that faith seems to me to qualify as a kind of mental illness. It leads people to believe in whatever it is so strongly that in extreme cases they are prepared to kill and to die for it without the need for further justification." Richard Dawkins, The Selfish Gene (New edition, New York: Oxford University Press, 1989), p. 198.

Good luck to you Barbara..

In Santa's Love,
Kally

[ April 11, 2002: Message edited by: Mad Kally ]

hezekiah jones · 04-11-2002, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by True Christian:
I will witness and defend my faith but if I fail to convince you, do not blame our Heavenly Father.

Your Heavenly Father has no cause for concern on that point.

Quote:

It would be my fault, and with much prayer and study of the Scriptures, I would hope to learn from my mistakes.

You really shouldn't be so hard on yourself, Barbara. Especially in advance.

Quote:

... we are all still accountable to our Heavenly Father for the choices we've made in life.

So what's Sky Poppy going to do if He's not impressed with our choice not to worship his schizophrenic caricature?

Wait - I know! Second post, and already we're being threatened - not too shabby! Benny Hinn! Jesus! Sock Puppet!

In Gautama's studied disinterest,

HJ

AspenMama · 04-11-2002, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by True Christian:
I will witness and defend my faith but if I fail to convince you, do not blame our Heavenly Father.

Barbara-- a word of advice-- atheists wouldn't think to blame a non-existent being for anything. I wouldn't think to ask you not to blame the Invisible Pink Unicorn if I couldn't convince you of Her existance.

Quote:

Originally posted by True Christian:
... we are all still accountable to our Heavenly Father for the choices we've made in life.

If you wish to have good dialogue with the members here, do not make sweeping statements and do not state your belief as fact. A better way to make the above statement without offense would be to say "I believe we are...", or "I believe I am..."

Other than that-- folks lets play nice. Remember, this is the Welcome Forum.

[ April 11, 2002: Message edited by: AspenMama ]

Darwin's Finch · 04-11-2002, 11:53 AM

Welcome aboard, True Christian. You wrote that you are called to witness and to defend your faith. You will find that most people here disdain "faith" and will ask you to substantiate your claims. We require reasons for assenting to some proposition, and appeals to the alleged authority of the Bible don't cut it.

But what the hell! Witness if you wish. Soon enough you will be mired in the low road of Christian apologetics. Who knows? You might learn something. Honestly thinking about Christian claims has probably resulted in more deconversions than any other factor.

As for blaming Yahweh, I wouldn't dream of it. I always blame gnomes.

Koyaanisqatsi · 04-11-2002, 12:06 PM

There's also a heavy premium placed on logical consistency as well as fulfilling your respective burden of proof for any unqualified positive claims you may make, so if you intend to simply end every debate with the cult member's favored...

--oh, I consider anyone who calls themselves a christian, especially, a member of a cult and therefore a cult member--

...if you intend to simply end every debate with the cult member's favored erroneous stalemate, "This is what I believe and beliefs need no evidence to support them, so let's just agree to disagree," then, I would politely say that it's better you simply don't post anything at all (unless you simply wish to offer your unsubstantiated opinion, in which case, by all means post away, just qualify it as such while you're doing it and then bow out of the debate as a useless non-participant).

All too often cult members will post positive declarations that carry with them a substantial burden of proof without acknowledging such a burden; attempting to ridiculously (but obstinately) shift that burden; or without simply qualifying their baseless opinions accordingly.

They will then (more often than not) proceed to waste everyone's time by constantly avoiding their burden of proof by saying something fallacious or otherwise irrelevant like, "The atheist also has a burden of proof," as if that alleviates their own.

With that in mind, welcome.

We also tend to use a lot of acronyms, so if you see things like "IMHO" or "AFAIK," it's normally a short hand similar to "LOL."

[ April 11, 2002: Message edited by: Koyaanisqatsi ]

cricket · 04-11-2002, 12:12 PM

Koy, what is AFAIK? (Welcome, True Christian! .. I look forward to your posts, and also look forward to learning the acronyms right along with you! I've been here for over six months, but I'm a slow learner.

)

I hope you enjoy yourself here!

Koyaanisqatsi · 04-11-2002, 12:17 PM

"As Far As I Know"

MadKally · 04-11-2002, 12:46 PM

Quote:

posted by HezekiahJones:
Wait - I know! Second post, and already we're being threatened - not too shabby! Benny Hinn! Jesus! Sock Puppet!

Hallelujah Brother Jones!!!!!!

RufusAtticus · 04-11-2002, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sock puppet:


Hallelujah Brother Jones!!!!!!

Preach it, sister!

04-11-2002, 12:06 PM	#16
Koyaanisqatsi Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Yes, I have dyslexia. Sue me. Posts: 6,508	There's also a heavy premium placed on logical consistency as well as fulfilling your respective burden of proof for any unqualified positive claims you may make, so if you intend to simply end every debate with the cult member's favored... --oh, I consider anyone who calls themselves a christian, especially, a member of a cult and therefore a cult member-- ...if you intend to simply end every debate with the cult member's favored erroneous stalemate, "This is what I believe and beliefs need no evidence to support them, so let's just agree to disagree," then, I would politely say that it's better you simply don't post anything at all (unless you simply wish to offer your unsubstantiated opinion, in which case, by all means post away, just qualify it as such while you're doing it and then bow out of the debate as a useless non-participant). All too often cult members will post positive declarations that carry with them a substantial burden of proof without acknowledging such a burden; attempting to ridiculously (but obstinately) shift that burden; or without simply qualifying their baseless opinions accordingly. They will then (more often than not) proceed to waste everyone's time by constantly avoiding their burden of proof by saying something fallacious or otherwise irrelevant like, "The atheist also has a burden of proof," as if that alleviates their own. With that in mind, welcome. We also tend to use a lot of acronyms, so if you see things like "IMHO" or "AFAIK," it's normally a short hand similar to "LOL." [ April 11, 2002: Message edited by: Koyaanisqatsi ]</p>

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04-11-2002, 11:53 AM	#15
Darwin's Finch Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Gardnerville, NV Posts: 666	Welcome aboard, True Christian. You wrote that you are called to witness and to defend your faith. You will find that most people here disdain "faith" and will ask you to substantiate your claims. We require reasons for assenting to some proposition, and appeals to the alleged authority of the Bible don't cut it. But what the hell! Witness if you wish. Soon enough you will be mired in the low road of Christian apologetics. Who knows? You might learn something. Honestly thinking about Christian claims has probably resulted in more deconversions than any other factor. As for blaming Yahweh, I wouldn't dream of it. I always blame gnomes.

04-11-2002, 12:12 PM	#17
cricket Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: St Louis MO USA Posts: 1,188	Koy, what is AFAIK? (Welcome, True Christian! .. I look forward to your posts, and also look forward to learning the acronyms right along with you! I've been here for over six months, but I'm a slow learner. ) I hope you enjoy yourself here!

04-11-2002, 12:17 PM	#18
Koyaanisqatsi Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Yes, I have dyslexia. Sue me. Posts: 6,508	"As Far As I Know"

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