Plebe

Note that Mark claims he's from Russia, in Russia they do not have access to the large volume of scholarship that we in the US and other open societies do.
Below are some links to help Christians to know why Agnostics-Atheists feel Christianity has been thoroughly debunked. I have selected those articles and results of the search engines which cover the history of both Jewish and Christian Bibles and the influence of Zoroastrianism/Mithraism on both which is little known outside of Seminary and scholarly circles. You see, the vast majority of Christians are ignorant from a scholarly perspective and it isn't until they meet up with someone who knows where to find this scholarship that they begin to seriously realize there is verity to their doubts about the key tenets of their faith.
<a href="http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/joseph_wheless/forgery_in_christianity/index.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/joseph_wheless/forgery_in_christianity/index.shtml</a>

<a href="http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/gerald_larue/otll/chap29.html" target="_blank">http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/gerald_larue/otll/chap29.html</a>

<a href="http://www.infidels.org/library/magazines/tsr/1994/4/4zoroa94.html" target="_blank">http://www.infidels.org/library/magazines/tsr/1994/4/4zoroa94.html</a>

<a href="http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/james_still/virgin_birth.html" target="_blank">http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/james_still/virgin_birth.html</a>

http://www.google.com/custom?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&cof=L%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.infidels.org%2Fimages%2 Fsearchlogo2002a.gif%3BLH%3A64%3BLW%3A745%3BBGC%3A %23FFFFFF%3BT%3A%23000000%3BLC%3A%230000FF% 3BVLC% 3A%23800080%3BALC%3A%23FF0000%3BGALT%3A%230000FF%3 BGFNT%3A%23606060%3BGIMP%3A%23FF0000%3BAH%3Acenter %3BS%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.infidels.org%2F%3B&domains =infidels.org%3Bsecweb.org%3Biidb.org&q=zoroastria nism&btnG=Google+Search&sitesearch=infidels.org

Non-tracts re Christianity, Women's rights and slavery can be found at <a href="http://www.ffrf.org" target="_blank">http://www.ffrf.org</a>

In closing, let me leave with a parable:

<a href="http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/alex_matulich/why_i_believe/8_apndx.html" target="_blank">http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/alex_matulich/why_i_believe/8_apndx.html</a>

[ September 03, 2002: Message edited by: Plebe ]</p>

Jesus Tap-Dancin' Christ

Buh-bye.

Mark G.

Gentlemen (and ladies, if they are present)

I didn't call anybody a fool, as many are accusing me of doing. I quoted a verse of a book that don't value or believe in. If you don't believe the rest of it, why do you take offense to it calling you a fool?

Vibr8gKiwi

If someone calls you a fool, either directly or indirectly via a carefully selected verse which expresses that precise sentiment, it's offensive regardless of whether it is believed or not. Obviously we don't believe you when you call us fools, nor do we believe your book. But that doesn't make your behavior non-offensive.

[ September 03, 2002: Message edited by: Vibr8gKiwi ]</p>

David Bowden

Mark, do you agree or disagree with the use of the word "fool" in that book?

MrDarwin

Mark, it's a little disingenuous to complain about your treatment here, given your behavior. Your postings today mark your first since October 2001. Back then you may have engaged in two or three moderately lengthy discussions, but this time you have done little but post biblical quotations, devoid of content or context of any kind (why on earth did you post one of them in the middle of an evolution discussion?), and have failed to respond to serious questions. Is it any wonder you weren't taken seriously?

(edited to say that I just saw that Darwin's Finch made my point before I did, and more effectively.)

[ September 03, 2002: Message edited by: MrDarwin ]</p>

Godless Sodomite

In addition to being a xian, you also seem to be passive/aggressive. Say what you mean, don't hide behind ancient mythology when expedient.

-Jerry

sweep

mark:

mark, first allow me to say that what I am about to say is, in no way, intended to be offensive. If you find something offensive, point it out to me.

first of all- not many people here want to listen to the words of the bible. Perhaps they want to go as far as possible in debunking the words. Why some care so much, I don't know, but I could hazard an educated guess.

secondly, Look at the user profile. If it says atheist on it then they may as well be wearing a big badge stating: 'atheist, and proud of it' I have had a quick look, and there are a lot of them, aside from kind bud, who seems to be an advocate of crowley, who, in my opinion, was a pretentious ass, and got laid a lot- not that anyone asked for my opinion, of course.

thirdly, I suggest that you try to see a persons post as beneficial to you. E.G.

1 " And you are...? And I should be concerned because...?"

kind bud is right- why should we care.

2 "The fool will post a stupid verse we've all heard a hundred times before thinking he's being original."

oh dear- this seems to say more about the person who wrote it. trying to be smart perhaps? I don't find this helpful, no matter how many times I look at it.

Once we find out intentions, things (posts) become a lot clearer. When you posted the thread- only a fool says that there is no god, I agree. Sorry mark, but fools don't listen. Although, threads such as yours seem to be quite popular.

Why would a self-professed atheist want to discuss the existence of god(s) if they didn't care? If that is for certain then, there aren't too many fools around. Just loads of lost lonely people. The worst thing is that people mainly have to find their own way- you won't get anywhere forcing rhetoric down everyones throat. My advice is to help people who need clothing and feeding, not people with full bellies and swelling craniums.

anyway, if you want a discussion then go for it. If people are here to be smart or helpful or disdainful, let it be!

Queen of Swords

Originally posted by Mark G.:
<strong>Infidels (I am sorry, but the word “dear” doesn’t fit here),</strong>

Personally, there's no need for an apology. I prefer it when those who insult me do not subsequently address me as "dear" - it's so much less hypocritical that way.

<strong>From several comments I have gathered that you have heard the arguments I have made before.</strong>

I made the very same arguments when I was a born-again christian.

<strong>&lt;repeated assertions perhaps to convince self of them&gt;</strong>

If this is the best you have, Mark, I suggest you do a great deal more research before you attempt to convert anyone.

<strong> I petty your fate </strong>

While the correct spelling is pity, the Freudian slip is quite amusing : you do indeed come off as petty.

<strong>and will hope that some day you will find the light. </strong>

I'll do the same for you, though quite frankly, I'll hope that you also become a more reasonable person.

And I shall part with the words of Ayn Rand :

"Damnation is the start of your morality, destruction is its purpose, means and end. Your code begins by damning man as evil, then demands that he practice a good which it defines as impossible for him to practice." (Atlas Shrugged)

[ September 03, 2002: Message edited by: QueenofSwords ]</p>

Vibr8gKiwi

That was me, and it wasn't much more than simply returning an insult in kind. I hope you didn't sprain your brain looking for deeper meaning.

Do I win a prize if my posts get selected as examples of what-not-to-do enough times?

[ September 03, 2002: Message edited by: Vibr8gKiwi ]</p>