Beheaded_Goat

Another thing I was going to say to him. DM is, of course, the ambassador of all the True Christians(TM).

[ July 25, 2002: Message edited by: Beheaded_Goat ]</p>

Beheaded_Goat

Well the Army of God would probably say the same type of thing about people like you. They believe that Christians should rebel against the government and promote violence towards abortionists. So they might say you are not by definition a true Christian.

My point is that there are no true Christians. There is no pure form of an idea. Everyone has prejudices and therefore everyone's concept of Christianity is different. This is one of the things that makes me skeptical of theists. If they all have different viewpoints on their religion, how can they say they are more right than we are?

David Mathews

Hello Beheaded_Goat,

David: If you search long enough you will certainly find ignorant hateful bigots in all religions, political parties, philosophies and even atheism.

Love,

David Mathews

David Mathews

Hello Helen,

David: I am a lot more loving than some of these obscene atheistic bigots which formerly populated this discussion board. Helen, you did not make any effort to protect fellow Christians from offensive and unjust attacks by these hateful atheists.

Of course, your Christianity has a lot more in common with atheism than it does with Christianity.

Love,

David Mathews

brighid

David,

You have been asked in other threads to please provide specific examples by specific atheists that can be defined as bigoted. So, enough with the ad hominem attacks and give us some substance.

Helen does a fine job defending herself and Christianity and she is a fabulous representative for the love and tolerance capable in humanity, as well as the potential all theists can aspire to including yourself.

Brighid

David Mathews

Hello brighid,

For example, brighid, in the "Biblical Criticism" forum you will see a thread initiated by the moderator concerning personal attacks. Atheists do engage in personal attacks against Christians and even at times against each other.

I don't see any command in atheism against hate, prejudice, bigotry, obscenity and offensive behavior. Are you aware of any?

Love,

David Mathews

HelenM

Originally posted by David Mathews:

Hello Helen,

Hello David

David: I am a lot more loving than some of these obscene atheistic bigots which formerly populated this discussion board.

Are there some people who just left? Did some people change since you arrived? Why did you say 'formerly'?

Some of the atheists here have showed me more love than you have, based on my definition of love. That's all I can say. I can't judge whether they are 'loving' per se, or not, or whether you are, either.

Helen, you did not make any effort to protect fellow Christians from offensive and unjust attacks by these hateful atheists.

When was that that I didn't? Can you point me to a thread?

I figure that Christians ought to be able to defend themselves. Evidently they suffer from the problem you have overcome yourself, that they are unable to withstand insults and they quit and leave, offended.

It is disappointing to me that people who claim to follow Jesus who didn't quit but persevered even to his own execution (so I have been taught; so the book of Hebrews, chapter 12, says) evidently can't even stand up to a few insults.

However, evidently they couldn't, since they left.

Although, in their own minds they probably left because God revealed to them that no-one here was interested in what they had to say or in God, because they all have hard hearts and are stubbornly resisting God and will be subject to His judgement and punishment for that, one day.

But it seemed to me that they simply couldn't handle a few insults

I suppose I shouldn't be so judgemental, though.

Of course, your Christianity has a lot more in common with atheism than it does with Christianity.

What does my Christianity have in common with atheism, David?

Not my moral principles since you said atheism is a-moral.

It must be something else. I would be interested to know what if you're willing to tell me.

love
Helen

[ July 26, 2002: Message edited by: HelenSL ]</p>

DRFseven

Command? Surely you jest. All peoples' behavioral constraints exist, besides the innate, in the reasoning structures they have formed through life experience (socialization). Some people, such as Chrisitans, have incorporated belief systems through the socialization process that include perceived commands from a god and/or god's agent in their reasoning structures. Of course atheists go by all kinds of rules, as does everyone, including laws and personal moral opinions.

NOGO

David, you are an intelligent person. As such you should know that you have already gotten all the milage that your are going to get out of this idea that Atheists have no command agaist hate etc..

This idea of yours simply does not stick.

The group of people you call atheists is like the group of people who do not believe in the Loch Ness monster. Neither of these groups assemble regularly and define who they are and command their members to do anything.

Neither of these two groups have any commands against hate, prejudice, bigotry, obscenity and offensive behavior.

I am sure that you do not believe in the Loch Ness monster. Logically, then, you should be concerned that you belong to a group which does not have a clear command aagainst hate, prejudice, bigotry, obscenity and offensive behavior.

What are you doing about this, David?

David Mathews

Hello Helen,

David: Those atheists are still here, silent. Their bigotry and hate are still present, though not expressed.

David: That's great. May the day come when all atheists are more loving than me.

David: Perhaps you have ... but I certainly haven't seen any inclination on your part to do so.

David: Spoken like a true atheist.

David: You are mistaken, Helen, and your words reveal your lack of devotion to Christianity and Christians. Those Christians left because they realized that atheists are angry, bitter, obscene, offensive and living in their own personal hell. They did all that they could to help, but they realized that such an effort was a complete waste because people who live in hell don't have the capacity on their own to escape from their own hopeless and helpless bondage.

David: You sound like an atheist, Helen ...

David: The atheists consider you a fellow atheist. Christians consider you a agnostic-Christian. You have displayed no love or devotion to God, you are unfamiliar with the doctrines of your own church and you label yourself an agnostic in some mystical sense.

Love,

David Mathews