simian

I suppose here is a good place to pop up with a story I have. I had two friends (well, one friend and one annoyance) who were dating. Things were not going well. They are both Christians (one Protestant, one Catholic), and decided to pray to god for guidance. It seems god was unable to give consistent advice (perhaps it is due to the overwhelming number of requests he receives) - he told one to give up on the relationship and the other to hang in there.

Anyone else have similar stories?

Simian

Undercurrent

Can't you just check it with God's published RSA public key? Any message that verifies either came from God, or some malicious daemon who knows how to efficiently factor large integers.

m.

Panta Pei

LISSsssonnnnnn TOooooo MEEeeeeeeee, STannnnnn, Thuuuuhhhhh BEEeeeechBummmmmmmm...THisssss IZzzzzzz GAwwwwwwwdddd SPEEEkeeennggggg...Husssstle Thine ASsssss Downnnnnn Tooooo ZelllllllWoodddddd...Theyyyyyy Missssssst A Luvvvvvleeeeeee BBaaatchhhhhh O' Wackeee Tuhbackeeee...Calllll Baaaaaaaaack Sooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn...Fooorrrr Furrrrthuurrrr Commmmmannnndmintzzzzzzzzz...

Goliath

Speaking of terrible advice that the Christian god supposedly gives, let's not forget things found in the bible, such as:

1. Jesus telling his followers that they must hate their families and themselves before they can follow him.

2. The advocating of self-mutilation (specifically the advocation of cutting off one's hands and ripping out one's eyeballs).

3. Jesus sets a bad example as a kind, tolerant god by throwing the occasional hissy fit (the example that springs to mind right now is that Jesus once supposedly cursed a fig tree because it wasn't producing figs out of season).

Sincerely,

Goliath

PS I can find scripture quotes, if anyone would like them. However, they can all be found <a href="http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com" target="_blank">at this website that also serves as a wonderful anti-biblical weapon.</a>

skuwiph

Well, I guess you're in good company (well, mine at least
)... My mother has long claimed that she's seem ghosts and suchlike, as has my sister.. Being the open-minded non-skeptical type that I am, I've put myself through ouija (sp?) board sessions, gone to supposedly haunted places, and seen..

Nada. Not one 'paranormal' happening. My mother's response: 'some people are sensitive'... Now, as I have cried while watching Bambi, how much more 'sensitive' do I need to be?

Feck. If ghosties and goddies can't detect how sensitive and nice I am, then there's obviously no hope for me...

Ian the ungodly and obviously too insensate for anything to appear to... <img src="graemlins/boohoo.gif" border="0" alt="[Boo Hoo]" />

skuwiph

...But is that Allah's, Jehovah's, or Ganesh's private key? Which signing authority should I trust?

...Yours in pantheistic confusion,
Ian...

Queen of Swords

Pfft. You had to actually watch Bambi in order to cry?

A real sensitive would have broken down in sobs at the mere mention of a deer. Upon hearing the word "Bambi", the sensitive would have curled into the fetal position, racked in misery.

No wonder you didn't hear nothin'.

NOGO

Get real.
When theists say "God told me" it is end of story for who can question God.
When rationalists say "this is the most rational choice" one can always ask "how so?", "explain the rational behind it?"

Also the rationalist at least take responsibility for his actions. He does not pass the blame on someone else.

How can these two things be called the same?
They are like night and day.

seebs

I dunno, maybe you know people who are better at really being rational than the ones I know. I know a lot of "rationalists" whose arguments are about as coherent to the outside world as "God said so", and who deny any personal "responsibility", by claiming that their actions were "necessary" or "rational", and thus not matters of personal opinion.

Meanwhile, many theists I know take direct personal responsibility for everything, and will happily show how their beliefs tie into their basic premises.

I'd say the positions are functionally equivalent; you'll always end up believing whatever you want, and acting the way you want, and there will never be any shortage of reasons.

ishalon

God told me to post this letter. A.