Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Tercel · 04-28-2003, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Metacrock
I feel blessed if I find an atheist who even understands the difference in historical critical methods, and theology.

You mean there are some atheists who do?
Wow! Who? Where are they?

Quote:

can I have iced tea? I love iced tea, it's a fine drink

Yeah, I like it. It's very very rare here (ie I've had it twice in my life), though I've heard it's fairly common in America. After the first time I tried it and someone else about to try it asked me what it was like, the best I could come up with was "flavoured water" - which they subsequently agreed was a good description. But I think it is quite nice.

PS Tongue was very firmly in cheek during composition of the first part of this post.

Vinnie · 04-28-2003, 10:42 PM

http://www.acfaith.com/qualitative.html

Might as well plug my article.

I need to update that as I've switched from qulitative to natural inspiration. The way I use the Bible has not changed though.

Vinnie

Metacrock · 04-29-2003, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tercel
You mean there are some atheists who do?
Wow! Who? Where are they?

Yeah, I like it. It's very very rare here (ie I've had it twice in my life), though I've heard it's fairly common in America. After the first time I tried it and someone else about to try it asked me what it was like, the best I could come up with was "flavoured water" - which they subsequently agreed was a good description. But I think it is quite nice.

PS Tongue was very firmly in cheek during composition of the first part of this post.

I can't imagine only having iced tea twice in one life. Where are you from? Brit? Aussie?

Tercel · 04-29-2003, 02:20 PM

New Zealand.
For those who failed geography: It's a little bit east of Australia.

Clutch · 04-29-2003, 02:45 PM

Quote:

I also find that many atheists assume that any cliam a christian makes is auotmatically a supernatural claim.

Really -- any claim a christian makes? How many atheists assume this? Could you gives links to, say, one on this board?

Sheesh.

Sci_Fidelity · 04-29-2003, 03:38 PM

Posted by Meta:

Quote:

10) do think that God is working in all cultures and one mystical reality stands behind all relgions

I take it that you consider the Koran to be inspired, then?

Sci_Fidelity · 04-30-2003, 04:40 PM

Paging Metacrock- are you listening?

Goliath · 04-30-2003, 04:57 PM

Sci_Fidelity,

Quote:

Originally posted by Sci_Fidelity
Paging Metacrock- are you listening?

Don't feel too bad...he's apparently ignoring me, too.

Sincerely,

Goliath

Vorkosigan · 04-30-2003, 07:47 PM

I think we have to give Meta and Tercel some credit for these two posts. I have never seen the various ways Christians can regard inspiration laid out so neatly, so I thank Tercel for his fine post.

That said, if Christians can generate five different major ways to view the Bible, and a dozen different HJs, and twenty thousand different denominations irrespective of heresies....never mind. I am sure it is true that Christianity must be the one true religion.

Vorkosigan

Vinnie · 04-30-2003, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vorkosigan
I think we have to give Meta and Tercel some credit for these two posts. I have never seen the various ways Christians can regard inspiration laid out so neatly, so I thank Tercel for his fine post.

That said, if Christians can generate five different major ways to view the Bible, and a dozen different HJs, and twenty thousand different denominations irrespective of heresies....never mind. I am sure it is true that Christianity must be the one true religion.

Vorkosigan

Don't you mean Christianities are the one true religion? Its kind off like the Trinity

I don't think Meta or Tercel would say Christianity is the one true religion in that sense. Meta is pretty open about people of other faiths. I am sure both would probably consider Christianity the "best religion" but maybe not the only "true" one. The purpose of a religion is not to "define doctrine accurately" IMO so I define "true" as "experiencing God" or "producing authentic faith". In that sense, Christianity certainly does not have the God market cornered.

I wtote this in an article on my site:

Quote:

[3] Those of other faiths who profess love for God are hell-bound. This is a big problem today as more and more people are increasingly becoming aware of religious pluralism. Many people of different faiths see the Christian claims about Jesus as "problematic" on an intellectual level. Am I to believe that a pious Jewish woman who prays and loves God with all her heart, mind and soul is going to spend her eternity separated from God and all that is good because she grew up in a different religious tradition and could not accept certain "problematic" statements as factually true? Should I further believe without ANY good evidence that she has intellectual difficulties with Christian doctrine because she is evil and that it is her wickedness which suppresses the truth? A friend of mine described this situation well:

"How would you like it if I came up to you and said "You know, I don't think you truly know what loving your wife is really all about. I however, through the depth of my love and faith do know how to love your wife properly. I'd like you invite you to learn to love your wife with all the depth and passion that I have."2

It is a slap in the face to tell those devoted and sincere adherents of other religious faiths that they do not love God or that they do not accept the factuality of Christian dogma because they are evil. Furthermore, true love creates solidarity! So if they love God then there is absolutely no reason for them to be excluded from his kingdom!

The citation from my friend was absolutelyt brilliant when he first said it on a message board.

Basically, you can believe in inaccurate facts and still love God. The logic is quite simple but don't tell that to the conservatives who intepret all those Johannine sayings so literally. You don't believe the facts like them because you are evil.

Vinnie

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04-28-2003, 10:42 PM	#12
Vinnie Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Waterbury, Ct, Usa Posts: 6,523	http://www.acfaith.com/qualitative.html Might as well plug my article. I need to update that as I've switched from qulitative to natural inspiration. The way I use the Bible has not changed though. Vinnie

04-29-2003, 02:20 PM	#14
Tercel Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,315	New Zealand. For those who failed geography: It's a little bit east of Australia.

04-30-2003, 04:40 PM	#17
Sci_Fidelity Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 595	Paging Metacrock- are you listening?

04-30-2003, 07:47 PM	#19
Vorkosigan Contributor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Barrayar Posts: 11,866	I think we have to give Meta and Tercel some credit for these two posts. I have never seen the various ways Christians can regard inspiration laid out so neatly, so I thank Tercel for his fine post. That said, if Christians can generate five different major ways to view the Bible, and a dozen different HJs, and twenty thousand different denominations irrespective of heresies....never mind. I am sure it is true that Christianity must be the one true religion. Vorkosigan

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