GeoTheo

Well, I'm a vet, So I put my money where my mouth is.

Starboy

I thank you for your service to our country. I have never served, but for what it is worth my number was called in the last lottery of the Vietnam war, however I was never drafted. I was scared, but ready to go. If my services (such as they are) were needed today I would serve.

Starboy

7thangel

Thanks for the correction. But no thanks.

I am carried away by the fact that blondegoddes really consider us, Christians, idiots.

**Emphasis mine, because the Christian's point is very obvious.**

How come blodegoddess' friends, whom she considers highly intelligent, be without her considering them as idiots by considering them believing in myths? Does that make sense for a highly intellligent Christian?

That is why I told her to look at the mirror. I was saying she does not see herself, who she really is.

HRG

For most protestants, it was freedom for their denomination - certainly not for Jews, Muslims, atheists etc., and quite often not for other Christian denominations either. From what I know of it, early Massachusetts was as much a theocracy as the Papal States. How fast the oppressed can become oppressors!

The idea that freedom of religion encompasses those who think quite different from you is a child of the enlightenment. Protestantism at most contributed to it.

Regards,
HRG.

"Liberty is always the liberty of those who think different" (Rosa Luxemburg - although she criticized oppression by a secular ideology)

beth

Sorry, I am a southerner. We tend to speak in a different manner than the rest of the word does. I even say statements in a questioning manner and ask questions as statements. It was hard enough to do away with the accent....

beth

First off, I think that this is unfair. I do not attack my friend's or my family's faiths. They attack my lack of faith. I do not tell them that I think that their Christianity is a myth. I try really hard to avoid religious topics. When it is discussed, I try to discuss their God as an actual entity, as to not offend. I also try to encourage their faith and praise them for church activities. I even bite my tongue when I get told that I am deceived by Satan and that I am going to hell, etc....

I do see myself as I really am, but I also am beginning to see many other Christians as they really are: prideful, vengeful, self-centered, judgemental, hypocritical, intolerant, etc.

beth

Also, I would like to know what the hell is wrong with me that people(Christians) would want to personally attack my character on this board? I have a few Christian friends in here and they know me better than you and I hardly think they would attack me for my beliefs. If I am bitchy, or whatever, please let me know so I can adjust my personality. *suggestions welcome*

Rhea

This is one of my biggest frustrations. It's not really a self-fulfilling prophesy as much as it is creating strife where there was none.

Some people seems to pick persecution out of thin air and paste it to themselves for the sake of jesus' glory.

And it's so sad because it's a LIE. Not one is persecuting you. And yet they don't just believe this lie they have created, they wallow in it.

It's disgusting.

Of course the bible says you would be persecuted. That's what I'd write, too, if I wanted people to stop thinking about the opponents' arguments and close their ears and sing lalalalal! That's exactly what I'd write to accomplish that.

Very useful ideology. It's stops open contemplation of other ideas in its tracks, doesn't it.

Amaranth

Let's try a new plan: Blondegoddess will print her words, and you'll stick to printing your own. I'm certain she appreciates the help, but I think she can handle it alone.

Rhea

Chuckle. Well done. Two lessons for the price of one.

• EXCELLENT example of reaching out and creating an insult that didn't exist and them smearing it all over yourself and crying "persecution!"
• EXCELLENT example of taking the very existence of Atheism and declaring it to be a direct insult to your beliefs.

Well done!!!!!

So what you're saying is - if anyone disagrees with you, that means they are out to get you. If someone has a different opinion of you, they MUST think you're an idiot.

...why is that?...

Is that because you think of people who are different from you as idiots and therefore that is the only emotion you can imagine?

...learning moment!!...

Other people can look at their friends, see that they disagree, and still like them. Some of us consider this a "no brainer". How sad for you to live in a world where it seems not only is everyone out to get you, but everyone thinks you're an idiot.

But I think, that is what comes from being someone who is out to get everyone and who thinks everyone is an idiot, perhaps.

I like my world better than your world. I'm glad I live in my world, where people who are different are still loved and respected. I feel sorry for you that you don't even know my world exists.

~shrug~