I ate Pascal's Wafer

I wasn't trying to suggest that Christians are incapable of living a good life, or that they don't care about the environment. However, the logical conclusion from Christianity is that they don't have to do this. It's a decision they make on their own. Thus the statement that Christians don't have the same incentive that Atheists have to do good and take care of the place.

In effect, we are turning the common argument against Atheism around. Many Christians claim that Atheists have no incentive to do good because there is nothing after death. We can go around and kick kittens and eat babies and we will be in the same place as everyone else after death. This gets tiring after awhile, so we turn the argument around. If it's something you want to debate, then I'm game. If you haven't made the argument that Atheists have no incentive to do good, then I see no reason to discuss this with you because we both probably already agree.

-Nick

Kenneth

hypothetically speaking, if God created our mind, he would have some special purpose for it. Now what in the hell could that be? To Question?

fatherphil

according to Jesus, none of us are good. "chirstians" included.

Charlie

I am good! And I wish more people would be good. What you are saying is that Christianity tells christians that they are not good! I've heard sayings like we are all born with sin... Isn't it possible that some christians take this to believe that since they are already not good, that there is really no harm in being bad now and then.. perhaps doing bad things (only when needed of course)? I can see the indoctrinated child telling himself, "It's OK if I cheat on this test, because I was born to sin.. I can't help myself!"
Charlie

fatherphil

Mark 10:17-21



As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother."
"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."
Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Biff the unclean

So Phil when I look at this part of Mark I see Jesus portrayed as an anti-social nut case who is telling this guy to financially ruin himself and desert his family. He's the kind of person who thinks that nobodies any good.
I can't help but wonder if you ran into this same Jesus at the 7/11 if you would have anything to do with him?

fatherphil

are you kidding biff, i'd probably do what any sane human would do. i'd see to His execution.

winstonjen

My response to Magus' comment would be, "I question to understand. To not question and accept is to walk blindly. Didn't Jesus say something about the blind leading the blind?"

Mageth

If anyone is interested in seeing (or responding to) a classic example of this Christian argument, see Keith's posts on this thread ("Expressing anger at Christians"). In one post, he says:

winstonjen

Strange. What he says we would do is very similar to what the biblical god tells his followers to do.