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Author Topic:   Atheistic preacher?
One_Charred_Wing
Member (Idle past 6156 days)
Posts: 690
From: USA West Coast
Joined: 11-21-2003


Message 1 of 53 (154430)
10-30-2004 1:40 PM


Lam and others have asked me what it would take for them to convince me that there is no God, so I may stop 'wasting my time'. I realize the non-biblical, nonscientific arguements regarding whether or not God exists are already being covered in other threads and not getting anywhere, but I think this might be a little more interesting. This is not about His existence, but one stupid kid's belief in Him. It already sounds like a kickass movie starring Wesley Snipes as the young minister, so I think we should try this experiment.
Here are the rules: No scripture, no science. Only those who want to 'convert' me. No devil's advocates. No holds are barred in the sense that you may use attacks on my faith, my beliefs, and even personal lowblows(assuming you somehow have dirt on me). I'll look forward to seeing why you knuckleheads think I should be doing something else with my life .

God is far more powerful than what most have in mind. Imagine God as best you can. Now zoom out from that picture in your mind and imagine a God above the previous one, even more powerful than the first. Zoom out further and imagine an even greater God. Now do that endlessly. That, my friend, is but a glimmering sliver of God.
Xanga 2.0 is Here! (WARNING:EXPLICT LANGUAGE)

Replies to this message:
 Message 3 by Phat, posted 10-30-2004 4:22 PM One_Charred_Wing has not replied
 Message 5 by coffee_addict, posted 10-31-2004 2:58 AM One_Charred_Wing has replied
 Message 48 by Tusko, posted 11-02-2004 6:33 AM One_Charred_Wing has replied

  
One_Charred_Wing
Member (Idle past 6156 days)
Posts: 690
From: USA West Coast
Joined: 11-21-2003


Message 4 of 53 (154561)
10-31-2004 1:59 AM


Calling all Lams
Lam, I'm callin' you out. You wanted to try and change my mind, here's your chance. Especially considering I'm about to fall asleep in my chair. It's midnight, err, 11 due to time lapse.Must...wait for friend to call...

  
One_Charred_Wing
Member (Idle past 6156 days)
Posts: 690
From: USA West Coast
Joined: 11-21-2003


Message 10 of 53 (154605)
10-31-2004 1:36 PM
Reply to: Message 6 by Buzsaw
10-31-2004 9:21 AM


Buz, I appriciate your attempt, but please leave this to me.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 6 by Buzsaw, posted 10-31-2004 9:21 AM Buzsaw has replied

Replies to this message:
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One_Charred_Wing
Member (Idle past 6156 days)
Posts: 690
From: USA West Coast
Joined: 11-21-2003


Message 12 of 53 (154608)
10-31-2004 2:02 PM
Reply to: Message 5 by coffee_addict
10-31-2004 2:58 AM


(1)The bible says so.
I don't agree with this arguement either. The bible also says a 'morally perfect' diety lied, murdered and ordered his servants to pillage. I don't believe God is like how the Bible describes.
(2)Common sense.
May I remind you that common sense tells us that the sun orbits the earth.
Agreed, but common sense also tells you that touching fire might get you burned. It sounds like you're trying to generalize that all common sense will be wrong. This is not true.
(3) Nature reflects god's plan.
Most people who say this don't understand it any more than you do. Really, nature's pretty cut-and-dry savagery if you happen to be a little fly caught in a spiderweb.
(4) "I just know it... I spoke to me... personal evidence..."
You can't really argue either way with this.
(5) Everything must have come from something,
Not according to the updated version of 'A brief history of Time'.
the universe had to have come from something, and that something is god.
I agree with this statement, but I didn't get my reasoning without some hard thinking.
Well, here's just part of my reasoning: The world sucks. Everything about it is savage and dangerous. Granted, nature itself is good. Dangerous and savage, but it's good. Survival of the fittest etc.
One thing I've noticed is that the whole 'turn the other cheek' and being a servant to your fellow man really works. This is not just my personal experience; a lot of people made the transition from being hot-tempered and forceful to being patient and (somewhat)kind and noticed a difference.
Now here's the thing: By the very laws of nature, that's not supposed to work. The oppressive alpha male dominates, period. So how is it that a kind word and gentle reasoning have gotten me what I wanted?
The point is that although the Bible's depiction of God doesn't do Him justice(remember that basically the entire old testament is a compilation of fictional stories with morals anyway) there are some good points, especially in the new testament.
I believe in a God that is by His very essence absolute perfection both in power and morality. If He is perfectly moral, then He wouldn't send somebody to hell for being homosexual or for calling God by the name of Vishnu or something. I don't know whether or not the supreme diety would dislike these things or not, but if He has infinite mercy then I suppose he could let those slide?
Christians always say to me "Who are you to say what's truly right or wrong?" especially when I mention the above statement about homosexuality.(I've noticed those homophobe choir boys are usually the most flamboyant men I've ever met. Kinda makes you wonder.) But to counter their arguement, the Bible even says that when Adam and Eve ate the fruit they became like Gods in the sense that they could understand what good and evil are. So even according to Genesis we have the potential and capacity to fully understand right and wrong.
That's probably the reason I'm going the way of the Christian church: Their stories do have meanings that I agree with, and lessons that need to be learned.
Look, I've rambled for a reason: I wanted you to have a little more understanding about what I believe in before you assume me to be a Bible Bumper. All I know is that those things about loving thy neighbor, which simply contradict what will help you survive in nature, somehow work. You get what you want that way. Things may suck, but if I were God I certainly wouldn't make the universe much different. It'd be boring as hell(heh heh) if everything always ended nice and peacy all the time. If life's not savage and challenging once in awhile, it's no fun. It sure looks like God realizes that too.
Any question so far?
Yes. How am I 'wasting my time' by doing my best to give people hope, try to get other preachers to make sermons and youthgroup services better, and by trying to get those more frugal denominations off your nuts? That and more are on my to-do list once I get ordained; even if you don't believe I'm trying to do my best to get everyone all enlightened and in heaven, at least you could hopefully appriciate some of those things that'll help people on earth?
(EDITED IN)
If you haven't checked my new site, you should. Particularly I think you should read "The World is Mine(as in, not yours)". You'll like it.
This message has been edited by Born2Preach, 10-31-2004 02:05 PM

God is far more powerful than what most have in mind. Imagine God as best you can. Now zoom out from that picture in your mind and imagine a God above the previous one, even more powerful than the first. Zoom out further and imagine an even greater God. Now do that endlessly. That, my friend, is but a glimmering sliver of God.
Xanga 2.0 is Here! (WARNING:EXPLICT LANGUAGE)

This message is a reply to:
 Message 5 by coffee_addict, posted 10-31-2004 2:58 AM coffee_addict has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 13 by CK, posted 10-31-2004 2:36 PM One_Charred_Wing has replied
 Message 15 by coffee_addict, posted 10-31-2004 3:05 PM One_Charred_Wing has replied
 Message 22 by purpledawn, posted 10-31-2004 4:48 PM One_Charred_Wing has replied

  
One_Charred_Wing
Member (Idle past 6156 days)
Posts: 690
From: USA West Coast
Joined: 11-21-2003


Message 14 of 53 (154610)
10-31-2004 2:39 PM
Reply to: Message 13 by CK
10-31-2004 2:36 PM


It's fine in many situations to turn the other cheek and all that, but in some it's inviting suicide. If you are walking home and someone high on drugs tries to knife you to death, turning the other cheek is not really recommended.
You're right, I agree. I should've been more specific. The point was that in little arguements I've learned that I got more out of it by just reasoning than punching somebody in the jaw(the latter is still more fun, though).

This message is a reply to:
 Message 13 by CK, posted 10-31-2004 2:36 PM CK has not replied

  
One_Charred_Wing
Member (Idle past 6156 days)
Posts: 690
From: USA West Coast
Joined: 11-21-2003


Message 23 of 53 (154638)
10-31-2004 5:24 PM
Reply to: Message 15 by coffee_addict
10-31-2004 3:05 PM


Don't patronize the Preach
This is strawman for one very good reason: you are basically implying that atheists go by what "nature" tells them to do.
Before you reply to any more posts, I am not implying anything about atheists. I never said what you say I'm implying. I don't think that either. I'm just saying nature goes by nature.
Ijust want to mention the fact that I consider my sense of moral standards far far far far higher than most christians I know, including buz and other christians who preach hate on this board.
I agree that atheists are typically better with moral reasoning, but you return-fire the hate-preaching enough to be in line with them, it would seem.
Jesus wasn't talking about passifism. He was talking about being firm to your belief... if you have good reason for it. When someone slaps you on the cheek and you are firm in your belief with good reasons, you should symbolically "turn the other cheek" to tell the other person that you are firm in your belief. Passifism will one day get you killed.
Charles Knight tagged me for the same thing. I know that you have to keep pacifism(passifism isn't a word) in moderation. I should've been clear on that.
Well, I've recently read some of the Koran and I've studied Taoist philosophy. I can assure you that there are some things in them that are just as "good" as the NT.
Okay. In fact, I actually like the Koran's idea that man and woman are equal, as opposed to the Biblical teaching that women are just servants. I hope I'm not coming off as ignorant, because you certainly seem to be patronizing me like I'm 12 years old and stupid or something.
At this point, you stopped using reason and started ranting on your unsupported beliefs.
Okay, we'll just ignore that then.
You speak as if I go by what nature tells me to do. When was the last time you saw me kill my dog and eat it?
Flippin' crying out loud, I DIDNT SAY THAT!!!! Are you trying to irritate me or something? I feel like I'm arguing with Syamsu!
People still have savage instincts, I don't claim to be an exception. Unless you are going to say that atheists somehow shed their survival instincts completely, I'd say you guys have them just as much as we theists do. In fact, your arguements against an accusation that I didn't make makes you the guy attacking the straw man. Leave that poor scarecrow alone!
You are wasting your time because you are telling them that there is something better in the great beyond rather than telling them to help make this world and this life a better thing.
Who says preachers don't tell 'em both? You ever noticed how much community service gets done by church groups? That's a bold, generalizing, and ignorant accusation of what I will do as a minister and what other ministers already do.
If you really want to not waste your time, I suggest you start preaching about the importance of recycling (I'm an environmentalist).
I know LOTS of churches that promote recycling, it's just that we're not preaching sermons about it.
Christians are some of the worst people when it comes to environmental health.
Unsupported accusation. Evidence, please. Let's see a concensus saying that the majority of Christians treat the environment poorly. Again, most church groups do lots of recycling and other community service.
If you really want to not waste your time, I suggest you start preaching about the importance of education and promotion of science.
That's not my job. Leave that to professors. I will definetly preach that science is a good thing and is not some kind of enemy of Christ, but promoting it during sermons would definetly be doing somebody else's job and not mine. A preacher is one who preaches.
People live a lot longer these days than ever before simply because of science.
Now you're clearly patronizing me. I can't help but wonder if you would assume I knew this if I was atheist. You know that I'm not an idiot. Don't talk to me like I'm one.
You can preach about the importance of tolerance of others that are different than you rather than say that god wants this and that.
Did you even read my last post? That's what I said I was going to do! When I said I'd get them off your nuts, I meant I'd try and get them to stop giving homosexuals a hard time! It was in the part where I was, as you put, 'ranting on about my unsupported beliefs'.
You can preach about a whole number of other things that are more important than hope for something in the great beyond.
Importance is relative, wouldn't you say? Just because it's not important to you doesn't mean it's not important to others. Yeah, I'll work at getting people to be more tolerant, but there's a message of hope I'm here to preach. You don't like it? Tough shit. God bless ya.
Like I said, christians are some of the worst environmentalists out there. Just look at Bush and his supporters
I don't support Bush. And that had nothing to do with what you quoted.
I have.
Good. Then hopefully you understand that I'm taking a lot of flak standing up for your punk ass while some of my superiors-to-be still wish it was legal to burn you guys at the stake.

God is far more powerful than what most have in mind. Imagine God as best you can. Now zoom out from that picture in your mind and imagine a God above the previous one, even more powerful than the first. Zoom out further and imagine an even greater God. Now do that endlessly. That, my friend, is but a glimmering sliver of God.
Xanga 2.0 is Here! (WARNING:EXPLICT LANGUAGE)

This message is a reply to:
 Message 15 by coffee_addict, posted 10-31-2004 3:05 PM coffee_addict has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 33 by coffee_addict, posted 11-01-2004 3:21 PM One_Charred_Wing has replied

  
One_Charred_Wing
Member (Idle past 6156 days)
Posts: 690
From: USA West Coast
Joined: 11-21-2003


Message 24 of 53 (154639)
10-31-2004 5:36 PM
Reply to: Message 22 by purpledawn
10-31-2004 4:48 PM


Re: Why Do You Believe There is a God
That pretty much negates the claims of the NT then.
What are you basing your belief in God on within the Christian religion?
Not too much except that the universe was created by an omnipotent, all-knowing, all-loving God. Just that, because a lot of God's other alledged actions in the Bible completely contradict that statement.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 22 by purpledawn, posted 10-31-2004 4:48 PM purpledawn has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 32 by purpledawn, posted 11-01-2004 3:14 PM One_Charred_Wing has replied

  
One_Charred_Wing
Member (Idle past 6156 days)
Posts: 690
From: USA West Coast
Joined: 11-21-2003


Message 34 of 53 (155061)
11-01-2004 6:54 PM


To Buz
Hey Buz, I appriciate the input but could you please take your discussion to another thread? It's quite off topic. Thanks.

Replies to this message:
 Message 43 by Buzsaw, posted 11-01-2004 10:32 PM One_Charred_Wing has replied

  
One_Charred_Wing
Member (Idle past 6156 days)
Posts: 690
From: USA West Coast
Joined: 11-21-2003


Message 35 of 53 (155064)
11-01-2004 7:02 PM
Reply to: Message 32 by purpledawn
11-01-2004 3:14 PM


Re: Why Do You Believe There is a God
As a preacher, people will look to you for answers and take your word as truth. A careless answer can send someone into a spiritual crisis.
But you guys aren't looking to me for spiritual guidance, unless there's something you guys are holding back from me. When that time comes, I'll spring into action. Trust me.
Since you have thrown out the OT (which is the source that says God exists) and negated the NT by doing so, on what do you base your belief in God?
Direct answer:I was traditionally a formal Christian, but before I even went to church or was told about God I always felt like something was watching over everyone, and whatever it was had good intentions. I guess when I was brought to church it kind of reinforced the idea. Don't ask me why I felt it from the start, but I always have. Still do.
Follow up:Even though I'm not an orthodox Christian anymore, I still have that feeling. And honestly, even when I was going through a spiritual crisis about this time last year, I never really lost it. I just felt like maybe God wasn't what I understood him to be. Now I realize that the preceeding concept isn't a bad thing.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 32 by purpledawn, posted 11-01-2004 3:14 PM purpledawn has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 38 by purpledawn, posted 11-01-2004 8:39 PM One_Charred_Wing has replied

  
One_Charred_Wing
Member (Idle past 6156 days)
Posts: 690
From: USA West Coast
Joined: 11-21-2003


Message 37 of 53 (155069)
11-01-2004 7:25 PM
Reply to: Message 33 by coffee_addict
11-01-2004 3:21 PM


Re: Don't patronize the Preach
Okay, the reason I mentioned the dark savage instincts which all of us humans possess was that I've noticed a lot of the 'serve your fellow man' priniciples often found in the NT honestly work favorably for people. Yet our 'dark instincts' would dictate just the oppposite. You're right that it wasn't relevant, but it's an interesting observation.
Well, I don't hate. I'm just angry, and I have good reasons to be angry.
You certainly do. Once I get enough years at the pulpit under my belt for some of the more conservative types to take the tolerance idea seriously I'll do my best to put a lid on that reason. Keep in mind that some of those people won't listen to anything but a preacher in issues like that.
I wasn't patronizing you. I just wanted to point out that there are other texts that have just as good, if not better, ideas than the bible. If you know that there are good points in other religious texts as well, more power to you.
Okay, the point is well taken. Sorry if I sounded(or, typed) like I was annoyed.
Ok, I must admit that I was talking using my own personal experiences. For that, I apologize.
Hey, no worries. It's good that we can get a fired-up discussion like this, anyway. Es bueno por la brain.
That's the point. I'm trying to change your mind about becoming a preacher. You're wasting your time.
Check it out: According to you, I'm wasting my time. According to anyone who believes that there's something divine out there, I'm not. If you think about it, being a preacher is anything but wasting time.
1.I do the work of most social workers by setting up community service activities with my youth group.
2.I do the work of counselors by helping people of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds. Unlike conselors, though, I don't get paid $70 an hour to talk to them.
3.I do the work of daycare professionals after church should I participate in the junior youthgroups.(That's what my old church called youthgroup for ages 4-10. I don't know if that's what many others call them) But I don't get paid to have them hang around; at least not in cash. **After looking at what I just typed, I realized a sick-minded person could get a really disgusting priest joke out of that. Get your mind out of the gutter!**
4.I do the work of party planners when I set up a Halloween party for the teens, or any event other than sunday services at that. Lots of stuff to plan.
5.Lastly, I do the work of a spiritual guide. This is what I get paid for, albiet it's not a million dollar day job. Some people will look to me for answers on what's right and what's wrong. That anti-homosexual thing can come from preachers. If I preach tolerance, I know I'll influence at least one regular member of the congregation. Maybe that'll change somebody's perspective and as such his or her whole outlook on life. In fact, most of these that I listed could really change someone's life.
People look to us preachers for guidance. Even if you think the afterlife bit is a bunch of BS, you can't deny how much influence I might wind up having on people's outlooks; some people get all their morals from what the ministers say. I don't like that idea seeing as I could be wrong and believe people should find the truth on their own, but some people will look to me for answers nevertheless. If the mindsets of however many people are in my hands, I don't think I'm wasting time at all. I think I've got a very important job ahead of me.
Oh, and two more things: If I get promoted a share or two, and play my cards right, I'll be able to change some regulations and maybe get those guys off your nuts and get more denominations to at least learn about other religions before they mark them as blasphemy and wait for them to burn in hell.
Second, since you can't prove that afterlife is true nor false, there is some chance that it exists. If there is an afterlife, give the people something to look forward to. If there isn't, give 'em something to look forward to. Not like they're gonna know once they get there anyway. (Sorry, bad joke )
By the way, thanks for the eProps.

God is far more powerful than what most have in mind. Imagine God as best you can. Now zoom out from that picture in your mind and imagine a God above the previous one, even more powerful than the first. Zoom out further and imagine an even greater God. Now do that endlessly. That, my friend, is but a glimmering sliver of God.
Xanga 2.0 is Here! (WARNING:EXPLICT LANGUAGE)

This message is a reply to:
 Message 33 by coffee_addict, posted 11-01-2004 3:21 PM coffee_addict has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 44 by coffee_addict, posted 11-02-2004 1:06 AM One_Charred_Wing has replied

  
One_Charred_Wing
Member (Idle past 6156 days)
Posts: 690
From: USA West Coast
Joined: 11-21-2003


Message 39 of 53 (155075)
11-01-2004 8:53 PM
Reply to: Message 38 by purpledawn
11-01-2004 8:39 PM


Re: Why Do You Believe There is a God
You've got a harsh web site that represents you and you have no idea who you are affecting. Do you care?
Let's start with this. Yes, I do care. However, the name 'Bad Preacher' does not imply a good example. I did that on purpose. I even state in one post that my complaints are exxagerated way beyond proportion,and that I don't really wish that any harm comes to anything that I insult on my site.
Also, if people are taking to heart what some stupid kid writes on his web page(I have my birthdate on it, so one could do the math and tell I'm 17, as if my stupid complaints wouldn't reveal it anyway), then you have to wonder how long this person would've been 'uncorrupted', if you will, anyway.
Like I said, I realize what I write on that webpage is not nice. It's not meant to be nice, it's meant to be funny. So far my friends' feedback suggest that its doing its job.
That's providing you know when the time comes. You have openly put yourself out there as a preacher-to-be. People looking for spiritual guidance don't always schedule a meeting.
There's a reason it's in my profile, and why I'll openly state that I am if someone asks. I've had a few people read my profile and then IM me to ask a serious question. I do my best to answer their question thoughtfully. I want to help people.
But laughter is also a wonderful medicine, and as far as that goes my site's mission is to provide a wonderful medication.
If you don't hold to the tenets of Christianity, what do you plan to preach or teach people?
Maybe I wasn't clear on this one.
Just because I don't believe OT events happened doesn't mean the stories don't have wonderful teachings. I can still teach the messages even if I don't believe the events happen, you know. After all, Jesus liked teaching in parables.

God is far more powerful than what most have in mind. Imagine God as best you can. Now zoom out from that picture in your mind and imagine a God above the previous one, even more powerful than the first. Zoom out further and imagine an even greater God. Now do that endlessly. That, my friend, is but a glimmering sliver of God.
Xanga 2.0 is Here! (WARNING:EXPLICT LANGUAGE)

This message is a reply to:
 Message 38 by purpledawn, posted 11-01-2004 8:39 PM purpledawn has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 40 by crashfrog, posted 11-01-2004 9:10 PM One_Charred_Wing has replied
 Message 49 by purpledawn, posted 11-02-2004 1:05 PM One_Charred_Wing has replied

  
One_Charred_Wing
Member (Idle past 6156 days)
Posts: 690
From: USA West Coast
Joined: 11-21-2003


Message 41 of 53 (155079)
11-01-2004 9:19 PM
Reply to: Message 40 by crashfrog
11-01-2004 9:10 PM


I'm speechless
In a good way, and I don't mean it literally because I don't talk when I type anyway.
But seriously, when I read 'Crashfrog has replied to your topic' I thought you were out to kick some serious ass like you always do, but instead I recieve some serious encouragement from someone who I have learned is honest enough to point out any mistakes.
I really appriciate the encouragement. I've been told I'm not ashamed to be what I am, and I'd like to think so. Part of the reason I wanted to start this thread is because if I'm honestly doing something wrong, I want to know. This site has actually played a small part in giving me an idea of what I need to do.
Thanks a billion, Crash. If I'm ever preaching in your area, and if we're both still on the website by then, I'll be sure to let you know.

God is far more powerful than what most have in mind. Imagine God as best you can. Now zoom out from that picture in your mind and imagine a God above the previous one, even more powerful than the first. Zoom out further and imagine an even greater God. Now do that endlessly. That, my friend, is but a glimmering sliver of God.
Xanga 2.0 is Here! (WARNING:EXPLICT LANGUAGE)

This message is a reply to:
 Message 40 by crashfrog, posted 11-01-2004 9:10 PM crashfrog has replied

Replies to this message:
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One_Charred_Wing
Member (Idle past 6156 days)
Posts: 690
From: USA West Coast
Joined: 11-21-2003


Message 45 of 53 (155124)
11-02-2004 1:37 AM
Reply to: Message 43 by Buzsaw
11-01-2004 10:32 PM


Whoops
You're right, I should've checked more carefully. Thanks for being a good sport.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 43 by Buzsaw, posted 11-01-2004 10:32 PM Buzsaw has not replied

  
One_Charred_Wing
Member (Idle past 6156 days)
Posts: 690
From: USA West Coast
Joined: 11-21-2003


Message 46 of 53 (155128)
11-02-2004 1:59 AM
Reply to: Message 44 by coffee_addict
11-02-2004 1:06 AM


Re: Don't patronize the Preach
You know, that is the most depressing thing I've heard all day... all week... heck all month. If you need a preacher to tell you what's moral and what's not, you are no different than a child. You have no principles and no logic.
Agreed, but they still have the right to vote
It might be true that people who believe that there's something divine out there. However, what I am saying is that you are wasting your time because there is no evidence for the divine. It's like believing in an immaterial pink unicorn. You can't disprove it but it's kinda silly to believe in something that has no evidence.
Just as silly as it is not to, eh? Maybe there is an immaterial pink unicorn in my room. Can't say for sure that there isn't, so I won't.
It's just that God's a little more significant in human interests.
Please don't tell me you intend to brainwash the mental vulnerable.
It sounds like you're suggesting that conseling by someone who happens to be a theist is automatically brainwash. I hope not?
I am glad you have a social life. The thing is I did all of that, and more, when I was in high school and I was already an atheist.
The 'blah blah blah' thing makes it hard to tell what you're responding to. Please make that clear.
Rather than preaching to people how to deal with certain situations, why not learn to teach people how to think?
I said I was preaching tolerance and openmindedness, as well as that whole Christian Love thing that people don't do anymore.
Not to be pessimistic, but I'm willing to bet 100 bucks that one day when you are grey you will preach some kind of message of hate and you will be convinced that whatever it is is evil even though it's really not.
Uh huh, sure. Simply because I'm a preacher, I automatically preach hate one way or another, right Nietzsche?
If that's what you're implying, you're not helping my case that atheists are openminded people who don't often make generalizations because of their state of mind.
My problem with preaching is that it makes people depend to much on the preachers. When a new situation comes up they will not be able to deal with it. History have shown us over and over that your message of love just doesn't work. Who knows, may be one day, like buz, you will preach of hatred against aliens or something.
Don't point fingers at me. 'My' message of love? I haven't been around for most of history. No, history has shown us over and over that the message of love is forgotten and people decide to hate instead. It's not the message's fault, it's the fault of the people who forget it. You're apparently scapegoating the doctrine just because its followers do bad things. That's not right.
And again, you're making completely unsupported assumptions about what I will preach simply because I'm preaching. That's a generalization and a stereotype; you're smart enough to know that.
This is why human reason, I think, is superior to any form of preaching out there. When you go to college, make sure to take as many philosophy classes as they offer and you will see that most of tolerance that we see today came from the various humanist philosophers rather than religious zealots. In fact, religious organizations have always been on the forefront of intolerance of every kind
But most people don't listen to humanist philosophers, do they? More listen to preachers at this point. And again, just because someone else used religion for hate doesn't mean I will.
Actually, now that I think about it, I'm convinced that if we ever make contact with an alien race that religion is going to be on the forefront of anti-alien policies.
Not if I can help it. I'm no superman, but you never know. If this scenario does happen I know lots of my peers will do stuff like that, and I promise I'll do everything within reason to pacify that obvious danger of religion-based prejudice just like I'll be doing before said aliens arrive.
By the way, so far all you've done is said 'religion does this, religion does that'. You've made hardly an acknowledgement that I intend to do things differently. If you think just because I'm preaching that I'll be just like them, then you've made a direct, unsupported, and narrowminded insult aimed at me who is TRYING TO HELP YOU BY GETTING THOSE BASTARDS OFF YOUR BACK. You're smarter than this, Lam. I've seen you do much better.
Thanks for the offer, but no thanks. The decision has already been made. An engineered virus will be released soon. The virus is designed to only target those that preach hate toward homosexuals. It will erase every trace of their human sexuality and turn them into beastiality addicts. However, there are those of us among the high rankings of our secret organization that think those homophobes will just turn around and start preaching hate against sex between 2 human beings of any kind.
Yeah, cute. Go off in la-la land. In the meantime I'll be back here standing up for you and your fellow nontheists .
Just a notice, though. You've been preaching(zing!) about preachers being hateful and this and that. I've been trying to stick up for you guys; I've reminded you of that several times and you continue with your accusations toward religion. Judging by our conversation, do I seem like I'm preaching hate?
Immaterial pink unicorns are far more powerful than what most have in mind. Imagine an immaterial pink unicorn as best you can. Now, zoom out from that picture in your mind and imagine an immaterial pink unicorn above the previous one, even more powerful than the first. Zoom out further and imagine an even greater immaterial pink unicorn. Now, do that endlessly. That, my friend, is but a glimmering sliver of immaterial pink unicorns.
Cool. Awesome; I hope to meet one of these pink unicorns someday. But pink unicorns didn't create the universe nor do that have any salvation in mind.

God is far more powerful than what most have in mind. Imagine God as best you can. Now zoom out from that picture in your mind and imagine a God above the previous one, even more powerful than the first. Zoom out further and imagine an even greater God. Now do that endlessly. That, my friend, is but a glimmering sliver of God.
Xanga 2.0 is Here! (WARNING:EXPLICT LANGUAGE)

This message is a reply to:
 Message 44 by coffee_addict, posted 11-02-2004 1:06 AM coffee_addict has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 47 by coffee_addict, posted 11-02-2004 2:31 AM One_Charred_Wing has replied

  
One_Charred_Wing
Member (Idle past 6156 days)
Posts: 690
From: USA West Coast
Joined: 11-21-2003


Message 50 of 53 (155294)
11-02-2004 8:09 PM
Reply to: Message 47 by coffee_addict
11-02-2004 2:31 AM


Re: Don't patronize the Preach
You know, I appriciate the compliment and sadly there is some truth to what you say about thick-skulled people. Their other arguements are usually "it's not natural" or "A man and man can't create a child". Hey morons, an infertile male and female couple can't either and yet you let them get married!
I can actually try that challenge in another thread if you want, as soon as this one dies down.
I still have a year to vote, but if I had to choose my poison between these two knuckleheads tonight I'd pick Kerry.
Abortion's still iffy for me, but stem cell research and getting religion out of the government sounds good to me. Too bad I live in a hardcore-Bush town.

God is far more powerful than what most have in mind. Imagine God as best you can. Now zoom out from that picture in your mind and imagine a God above the previous one, even more powerful than the first. Zoom out further and imagine an even greater God. Now do that endlessly. That, my friend, is but a glimmering sliver of God.
Xanga 2.0 is Here! (WARNING:EXPLICT LANGUAGE)

This message is a reply to:
 Message 47 by coffee_addict, posted 11-02-2004 2:31 AM coffee_addict has not replied

  
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