The experience of converting

This was sometime during my junior year in high school. For a period of many weeks, I spent almost every moment of my waking hour thinking about myself and my religion. After the whole ordeal, I was presented with 2 choices: (1) continue to be as religious as I was or (2) stop being religious.There was a problem with choice 1. I thought for a very long time and very hard and I couldn't figure out how to continue being the way I was (I was raised catholic) and not be ignorant, selfish, and condeming.Before you say anything, let me explain. By that time in my life, I had come to certain realizations that I accepted as absolute. By such standards, being christian is down right evil. In other words, I either had to force myself to be what I defined as evil or abandon the faith and live a moral life.The transition itself was somewhat gradual. It wasn't something that was over night. Believe you me, I struggled for the longest time trying to figure out how to be a christian and not be evil (no offense to Jar and the rest of our resident christians here).Over time, as I began to explore other religions, I also came to realize that no matter what I try, evil (by my standard) is destined to spawn. Another reason why I would define myself as a militant atheist.Now, the hard part is having a wedding without a priest looking down on me... or have a wedding at all.

The so-called invisible/immaterial pink unicorn dilemma is probably the most well known among everyone who has ever dealt with philosophy.This message has been edited by GAW-Snow, 07-05-2005 05:08 PM

It's a dilemma because it implies something much greater than just that horsey like creature that has a horn. So, are you saying that it is possible for immaterial and invisible unicorns to exist and are now roaming the streets? Well, according to our current official definition of the word faith, it is an unsupported belief in something, not unsupported disbelief. Otherwise, every human thought could be considered as faith. Get my drift? Well, good for you.

I should also note that I used the word "evil" as a relative term to my standard of moral codes. This reminds me of a movie I recently saw. Wil Smith starring in 'I, Robot'.The three laws are perfect, yet there can only be one logical conclusion that can be drawn from them. I'm not going to spoil the movie, so if you want to know what I'm talking about but haven't seen the movie, just go out and rent it.2 good doesn't always result in an ultimate good.Added by edit:Oh yeah, one more thing. My love for my fellow humans are too great now for me to become a christian.This message has been edited by GAW-Snow, 07-21-2005 12:46 PM

Do you consider yourself to be dumb, rat? Because according to my moral standard, you are awefully close to being evil... at least your opinions so far on these boards.Heck, I have a friend who is currently on a mission trip. That in itself I consider evil.I'll tell you this much, he is a very devout christian who believes just about the opposite of what I believe in almost every subject. Sure he believes that stealing is wrong, but his christian values doesn't prevent him from believing that stealing from my tax dollars is wrong. I'll tell you this much right now. He just stole 200 dollars of my tax dollars.Just because it's not green doesn't mean it's not money!

I love my fellow human beings too much to destroy their cultures, takes rights away from the, etc.

This process is called brainwashing of children, and I heard that christians are particularly good at it. Heck, just go to any anti-gay protest and you are bound to see a few signs that say "god hates fags" and "gay people are evil" being held by 7 yr olds, and I'm sure that 7 yr olds know everything about gay people

For the last time, people, it ain't matter if it's a choice or not. So what if a consenting adult chooses to fly an airplane, work with computers, go to the movies every Saturday night, etc.? Are you guys saying that you have to be genetically programed to do these things in order to do these things legally?The gene argument is silly at best.

I think you should just stop worrying with people like the rat and Tal. They've been ignoring my gay penguin info. Sure, if it's really a choice, then perhaps these animal are capable of choice and we should start treating them like choice making people.