Freethought & Rationalism Archive

winstonjen · 07-13-2003, 03:24 PM

In this thread Magus55 wrote:

Quote:

God doesn't do it to get worshipped, He does it for righteous judgement and to follow through with His ultimate plan. Yes, He wants us to worship only Him, but its not to boost His ego. He doesn't need us to worship Him to be satisfied. Its commanded for our own sake, so we stay in line with His will. You are human. Who are you to question The Almighty Creator of the Universes actions?

On top of a self-contradicting post, he claims that non-Christians cannot obey god's orders, because they lack fear and reverence.

This has probably been done to death, but non-theists can lead good lives and stay out of prison much more effectively than Christians, because they actually respect humanity, IMO, instead of engaging in afterlife self-indulgence.

Adrammalech · 07-13-2003, 04:39 PM

Well, why would christians endeavor to stay out of prison if all they must do is geniunely accept god and jesus on their death bed, get the ticket into heaven and have eternal bliss?

Atheists realize they get one shot at life and don't want to spend it rotting in a prison.

I ate Pascal's Wafer · 07-13-2003, 05:19 PM

Yeah, this has been said too many times. The thing is that Atheists think we only have one shot at life. Why would we want to waste the one shot we have at existance on doing something stupid to wind up in prison? Also, why would we waste the one chance we have at being sentient entities by being jackasses to everyone? Rather than waste this opportunity, we are highly motivated to make the most of this life while we have it.

Xians, on the other hand, can simply ask for forgiveness and move on. All is well, and they'll be in heaven soon anyway and it won't matter. They can break laws and be wankers, and all they have to do is repent and be happy. Hell, xians aren't perfect, just forgiven, right? While I will concede that most xians do try to live good lives, they still do not have the same motivation to be good that Atheists have.

-Nick

faust · 07-13-2003, 09:30 PM

They also feel free to destroy the planet, since the "rapture is coming soon!"

Why bother keeping the place nice if you're going to get whisked away to heaven and earth gets destroyed.

Amazing they can think past 5 minutes in the future, or of anyone else at all.

Walross · 07-13-2003, 11:01 PM

Is any Xtian going to actually respond to this? My completely secular prediction is that this thread dies a very quick death, with most of the Xians on this board ignoring it.

Walross

EstherRose · 07-14-2003, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Xians, on the other hand, can simply ask for forgiveness and move on. All is well, and they'll be in heaven soon anyway and it won't matter. They can break laws and be wankers, and all they have to do is repent and be happy. Hell, xians aren't perfect, just forgiven, right? While I will concede that most xians do try to live good lives, they still do not have the same motivation to be good that Atheists have.

Quote:

They also feel free to destroy the planet, since the "rapture is coming soon!"

Why bother keeping the place nice if you're going to get whisked away to heaven and earth gets destroyed.

Amazing they can think past 5 minutes in the future, or of anyone else at all.

I'm sorry, I guess I didn't recognize someone actually wanted a real debate. All I saw was sniping at Christians claiming that we don't have the incentive to try to lead a good life since we are forgiven for all of our sins. Or that we don't care about the planet or believe in real conservation and environmentalism.

Is there a point that needs debating? I assumed this was just a "bash the Christian" thread.

winstonjen · 07-14-2003, 02:30 AM

No, you're looking for archived threads in RRP.

What we are doing is taking the logical conclusion from some viewpoints and motivations that Xians have.

RED DAVE · 07-14-2003, 02:50 AM

Actually, it is a bash the xtians thread.

BASH

BASH

BASH

RED DAVE

Ronin · 07-14-2003, 03:30 AM

On the way to work tonight I drove up on a couple desperately waving traffic around their disabled vehicles (a truck was towing a car when the truck ran out of gas) on a darkened stretch of Highway 90 that has no shoulder.

I pulled in behind them, set off my rear strobes and exited my unmarked police car. The man was beside himself with thanks that I had showed up as he had two close calls with being struck in the fifteen minutes since he had been stranded.

He told me that his friend had left walking up the highway with a gas can, so I radioed for a marked patrol unit to back me up.

While we were waiting for his friend to arrive, a woman pulled up and asked if she could help. The man asked her if she would go look for his friend and give him a ride. She said she would and left to go find him.

The patrol officer arrived and took over traffic control. I then took the man up to the next available gas station with my own gas can as neither the woman nor his friend had returned with the gas. We found them there getting gas and the friend told us that he went up the wrong road when the woman found him and brought him back to the gas station.

The man thanked the woman and asked her if he could do anything for her or get her anything at the gas station. The woman then asked "Are you Christian?"

The man replied, "Yes" and she replied "I only ask that you pray for me" and he said that he would.

She then drove off.

After they got their gas can filled, the man thanked me and asked me the same question.

I replied "I'm an atheist and I would only ask that you remember that all people are capable of being good."

He smiled broadly and shook my hand and said, "You are absolutely right".

I drove them back to their cars and got them going again.

Long ago I chose to become a police officer precisely because there is no evidence that any diety is available to protect and serve humanity.

After all these years, I am more and more convinced that I am correct.

winstonjen · 07-14-2003, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ronin
Long ago I chose to become a police officer precisely because there is no evidence that any diety is available to protect and serve humanity.

After all these years, I am more and more convinced that I am correct.

Very good, Ronin. A deity described in the bible, if he exists, exists only to serve and protect his own interests.

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07-13-2003, 04:39 PM	#2
Adrammalech Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: East Lansing Posts: 72	Well, why would christians endeavor to stay out of prison if all they must do is geniunely accept god and jesus on their death bed, get the ticket into heaven and have eternal bliss? Atheists realize they get one shot at life and don't want to spend it rotting in a prison.

07-13-2003, 05:19 PM	#3
I ate Pascal's Wafer Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 1,460	Yeah, this has been said too many times. The thing is that Atheists think we only have one shot at life. Why would we want to waste the one shot we have at existance on doing something stupid to wind up in prison? Also, why would we waste the one chance we have at being sentient entities by being jackasses to everyone? Rather than waste this opportunity, we are highly motivated to make the most of this life while we have it. Xians, on the other hand, can simply ask for forgiveness and move on. All is well, and they'll be in heaven soon anyway and it won't matter. They can break laws and be wankers, and all they have to do is repent and be happy. Hell, xians aren't perfect, just forgiven, right? While I will concede that most xians do try to live good lives, they still do not have the same motivation to be good that Atheists have. -Nick

07-13-2003, 09:30 PM	#4
faust Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: baton rouge, la Posts: 539	They also feel free to destroy the planet, since the "rapture is coming soon!" Why bother keeping the place nice if you're going to get whisked away to heaven and earth gets destroyed. Amazing they can think past 5 minutes in the future, or of anyone else at all.

07-13-2003, 11:01 PM	#5
Walross Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada Posts: 1,569	Is any Xtian going to actually respond to this? My completely secular prediction is that this thread dies a very quick death, with most of the Xians on this board ignoring it. Walross

07-14-2003, 02:30 AM	#7
winstonjen Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,425	No, you're looking for archived threads in RRP. What we are doing is taking the logical conclusion from some viewpoints and motivations that Xians have.

07-14-2003, 02:50 AM	#8
RED DAVE Banned Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 10,532	Actually, it is a bash the xtians thread. BASH BASH BASH RED DAVE

07-14-2003, 03:30 AM	#9
Ronin Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 5,047	On the way to work tonight I drove up on a couple desperately waving traffic around their disabled vehicles (a truck was towing a car when the truck ran out of gas) on a darkened stretch of Highway 90 that has no shoulder. I pulled in behind them, set off my rear strobes and exited my unmarked police car. The man was beside himself with thanks that I had showed up as he had two close calls with being struck in the fifteen minutes since he had been stranded. He told me that his friend had left walking up the highway with a gas can, so I radioed for a marked patrol unit to back me up. While we were waiting for his friend to arrive, a woman pulled up and asked if she could help. The man asked her if she would go look for his friend and give him a ride. She said she would and left to go find him. The patrol officer arrived and took over traffic control. I then took the man up to the next available gas station with my own gas can as neither the woman nor his friend had returned with the gas. We found them there getting gas and the friend told us that he went up the wrong road when the woman found him and brought him back to the gas station. The man thanked the woman and asked her if he could do anything for her or get her anything at the gas station. The woman then asked "Are you Christian?" The man replied, "Yes" and she replied "I only ask that you pray for me" and he said that he would. She then drove off. After they got their gas can filled, the man thanked me and asked me the same question. I replied "I'm an atheist and I would only ask that you remember that all people are capable of being good." He smiled broadly and shook my hand and said, "You are absolutely right". I drove them back to their cars and got them going again. Long ago I chose to become a police officer precisely because there is no evidence that any diety is available to protect and serve humanity. After all these years, I am more and more convinced that I am correct.

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