Bible thumping teenagers

[Aeglos]

like a blind man in a dark room looking for a black cat... that isn't there

[Spawn's dad]

the WHY doesn't really matter. catholicism is full of hypocrites and people who pick and choose which rules they want to follow, and then use the act of contrition to excuse themselves from the half that they don't care to follow. also, you can really only date catholicism back to about 300 ad, so take that for what it's worth.

 

 

everything is full of hyporcites including atheism. It's how you live your life and where you heart is that matters. In this thread you're doing the exact same thing you're complaining about.

[Lammycat]

i'm sorry, but any religion based on Jesus and the love of Mary the "Mother of God" that started 300 years after this so called prophet existed are just comical to me. the religion should at least have the roots that actually go back to the man they so adore.

The "religion" didn't start 300 years after the death of Jesus (who, btw, supposedly died in very early A.D.). Catholicism is a splinter church from Christianity. There are many splinter "churches" from the religion of Christianity and the Catholic church is the dominant (most populated) church.

 

Christianity, a religion, began with the apostles of Jesus immediately after Jesus was believed to have risen from death to instruct them to spread his beliefs/teachings. Eventually conflict ensued as it often does with beliefs and people separated to form other churches that still have a basis in Christianity, just particular subtleties that make them unique.

[ikol]

I don't think shooting heroin vs. wearing a condom (for example) is a valid comparison.

My point is: churches can and DO change (or 'reform') over time in response to the changing needs of it's congregation or various other reasons.

 

The heroin was just an example of a rule that doesn't change. Sure, churches reform, but some things don't get changed. I think the problem is that you see them as just making arbitrary rules that they can change whenever they want. That may or may not be true, but they believe those are God's rules.

 

 

But they'd be old enough to make decisions for themselves, some I might not agree with

 

So are the members of the Church.

[Guest Alan]

everything is full of hyporcites including atheism. It's how you live your life and where you heart is that matters. In this thread you're doing the exact same thing you're complaining about.

1. give me an example of hypocricy in atheism, or nontheism.

 

2. what have i done other than express my beliefs? i haven't told anyone that they don't, or shouldn't have the right to believe in anything they wan't. my main problem with religion is when it is brought into everyday life and forced down my throat, or when it is used by our leaders as a reason for their actions. i don't see how i've done any of the things that i'm complaining about.

[Venus]

I think the problem is that you see them as just making arbitrary rules that they can change whenever they want. That may or may not be true, but they believe those are God's rules.

 

I haven't said anything about how I view them--just commenting on what they're capable of and what they've done.

[Sweet Papa Crimbo]

1. give me an example of hypocricy in atheism, or nontheism.

 

2. what have i done other than express my beliefs? i haven't told anyone that they don't, or shouldn't have the right to believe in anything they wan't. my main problem with religion is when it is brought into everyday life and forced down my throat, or when it is used by our leaders as a reason for their actions. i don't see how i've done any of the things that i'm complaining about.

 

Santicmoniusness is not an attractive trait for theists or atheists.

[ikol]

1. give me an example of hypocricy in atheism, or nontheism.

An atheist (let's call him "Alan") complains about Christians forcing their religion down his throat and yet continues to force his atheism down their throats by being condescending (religion was invented by ignorant cavemen, believe whatever fairytale you want, etc.) and advertising for his favorite atheist preacher Sam Harris.

I haven't said anything about how I view them--just commenting on what they're capable of and what they've done.

Fair enough. I just thought that was your view given the fact that you were saying they could just change their position.

[Guest Alan]

An atheist (let's call him "Alan") complains about Christians forcing their religion down his throat and yet continues to force his atheism down their throats by being condescending (religion was invented by ignorant cavemen, believe whatever fairytale you want, etc.) and advertising for his favorite atheist preacher Sam Harris.

you really can't see the difference between religion interfering in the lives of american citizens, and my posting in this thread, which you CHOOSE to read? WAHH i'm condescending WAHHH

[Atticus]

I would like to see pics of this alleged "bible thumping" please.

[ikol]

you really can't see the difference between religion interfering in the lives of american citizens, and my posting in this thread, which you CHOOSE to read? WAHH i'm condescending WAHHH

 

You forgot to tell me to check out Sam Harris.

[Guest Alan]

You forgot to tell me to check out Sam Harris.

is this what you've been reduced to? guess we are done.

[ikol]

Lighten up.

[cryptique]

Calm down.

Good bit.

[tblair]

I think this is getting a little out of context with the original post.

 

BUT..... from where we stand in Europe, and putting in this in the context of how a lot of the world is now percieving America, with George Bush telling us that he hears voices (God I believe is who he says is talking to him) telling him what to do, it IS a bit scary. I'm sure Bush is on the side of 'God's Warriors', and these people do come across as a little more than extreme.

For me, any criticism of the Bible thumping teenagers, and more importantly the people who are running the show, is not connected with others who have their beliefs, and get on with their life without having the need to try and convert the rest of the world.

We've had at least a couple of thousand years of groups of people running round the world telling everyone else how they should live their lives. Iraq is just the latest in a bloody long run of examples. I know this one is supposed to be in the name of democracy, but it's being driven by narrow-minded people (and yes, my namesake has to take some of the blame) with the backing of God.

[Hi my name is Lee]

People have to realize that faith isn't strict adherence to Church dogma. When you see evangelicals on Fox News or the Daily Show or whatever, I don't think anyone has the right to call them Christians, but rather extremists.

 

Many people who have problems with Christianity or organized religion construct their judgments based on this flawed logic. It's not my fault Hitler used Christianity for evil purposes, nor is it my fault either that our neo-conservative president feels the need to play off the good faith of the American people for political ends.

 

When people seem to have a problem with my faith, I tell them to go to the Bible and find ONE argument Jesus makes (philosophical, not theological) that they could disagree with.

 

From there on, it's just a matter of a leap of faith that seperates someone of faith from an atheist.

[ikol]

We've had at least a couple of thousand years of groups of people running round the world telling everyone else how they should live their lives.

 

The problem is that the bigger the government gets, the bigger its role in telling us how to live our lives. Whether it be how much of our income we get to keep, what drugs we can and cannot do, or how we plan our retirement, the government keeps assuming a larger role. My problem is not so much with whether the guy in charge is religious but rather the fact that he gets so much power.

[tblair]

The problem is that the bigger the government gets, the bigger its role in telling us how to live our lives. Whether it be how much of our income we get to keep, what drugs we can and cannot do, or how we plan our retirement, the government keeps assuming a larger role. My problem is not so much with whether the guy in charge is religious but rather the fact that he gets so much power.

I'm not just referring to governments though. There was the Christian Crusades, Christian missionarys taking previously unknown diseases to remote places in the world, etc... (don't put too much importance on the examles being Christian...)

I don't think the amount of power the 'messenger' has is of any relevance. Who is anyone to tell someone else how to live their life, providing they're not harming anyone?

[bjorn_skurj]

The problem is that the bigger the government gets, the bigger its role in telling us how to live our lives. Whether it be how much of our income we get to keep, what drugs we can and cannot do, or how we plan our retirement, the government keeps assuming a larger role. My problem is not so much with whether the guy in charge is religious but rather the fact that he gets so much power.

And I can't think of a more intrusive role for government than telling a woman she has to have a baby she doesn't want to have.

[tblair]

There's quite an amusing (well I laughed!) thread on the (only) other forum I spend any time on. It's kind of related...

 

thread here

[bjorn_skurj]

There's quite an amusing (well I laughed!) thread on the (only) other forum I spend any time on. It's kind of related...

 

thread here

[ikol]

And I can't think of a more intrusive role for government than telling a woman she has to have a baby she doesn't want to have.

 

Unless you believe the baby has rights.

[bjorn_skurj]

Unless you believe the baby has rights.

Until the cord is cut, the mother's rights prevail.

[ikol]

Until the cord is cut, the mother's rights prevail.

 

So even when the baby is viable, the mother still has the right to kill it?

[Reni]

Required Reading: "Are Mothers Persons? Reproductive Rights and the Politics of Subject-ivity" by Susan Bordo

 

This is in her book Unbearable Weight and I am having trouble finding it by itself online......but it's a really enlightening read about women, the legal system, rights and Western culture.