13 Feb 07
Originally posted by whodeyAn outstanding interpretation of the bible, in my opinion.
I think every Christian has struggled with the God of love who is also a God of judgement. How can he love and punish at the same time? However, you know that if you are a parent and do not punish your child when needed, you are doing your child no favors and, in fact, you are doing far more harm to them by not punishing appropriatly than by demanding that ...[text shortened]... in any form and he sees it as repugnant and ultimatly something that brings death.
13 Feb 07
Originally posted by jammerWell, no. Not at all. I've had a pretty good life.
At one time I was that mad at God too.
It was Christmas 1955 and I didn't get that pony I asked for and i wasted 3 weeks being good too.
It was God that did it to me. I was sure of it. I had prayed for that pony .. hard.
It's always Gods fault when things go bad ... all the good stuff I deserved so God wasn't responsible for that.
Everything wrong ...[text shortened]... I want a pony.
My lifes not perfect .. so screw God.
................
sound familiar?
I left my faith for philosophical reasons. It didn't seem like a rational or coherent belief system when I examined it on my own, outside the influence of other Christians.
Sorry to disappoint you, but I generally don't get mad at fictional characters.
13 Feb 07
Originally posted by jammerNo, I don't acknowledge that God exists. My method is reductio ad absurdum, or an attempt to show that biblical claims about God lead to absurdity when taken to their logical conclusion.
You seem to acknowledge that God exists.
He just hasn't done things the way you think he ought to. Hasn't loved you enough, hasn't provided you with a perfect life.
Sounds like a bitter pill to swallow .. having God not live up to your expectations.
I understand perfectly, the prick never sent the pony either.
Maybe if you go in the corner and hold your breath God will recognize just what a fine human you really are.
13 Feb 07
Originally posted by jammerThis makes the a priori assumption that God exists.
At one time I was that mad at God too.
It was Christmas 1955 and I didn't get that pony I asked for and i wasted 3 weeks being good too.
It was God that did it to me. I was sure of it. I had prayed for that pony .. hard.
It's always Gods fault when things go bad ... all the good stuff I deserved so God wasn't responsible for that.
Everything wrong ...[text shortened]... I want a pony.
My lifes not perfect .. so screw God.
................
sound familiar?
13 Feb 07
Originally posted by BigDoggProblemThat is exactly the case with me. I can understand you perfectly.
I left my faith for philosophical reasons. It didn't seem like a rational or coherent belief system when I examined it on my own, outside the influence of other Christians.
13 Feb 07
Originally posted by BigDoggProblemNo, nothing about God is "rational" .. I agree.
Well, no. Not at all. I've had a pretty good life.
I left my faith for philosophical reasons. It didn't seem like a rational or coherent belief system when I examined it on my own, outside the influence of other Christians.
Sorry to disappoint you, but I generally don't get mad at fictional characters.
I believe in God, but don't ask me why, I couldn't give a rational answer.
The Bible is a whole different ballgame. If you read it literally God will come off as one mean SOB I agree. Turn the page and it will contradict itself.
God loves you ... but kill your children if they talk back .. stuff like that.
When I read the Bible the only part that makes any sense at all is the part printed in RED .. I ignore the rest.
That Jesus guy was on to something IMHO.
Don't know that He was God incarnate, but believe His words lead to the right path in life.
..........................
" Sorry to disappoint you, but I generally don't get mad at fictional characters"
Reread your two posts above then see if you still want to reassert that.
I guess you could split hairs and say you're only mad at organized religion, not God .. but that would be disingenious on your part IMO.
13 Feb 07
Originally posted by scottishinnzTrue.
This makes the a priori assumption that God exists.
Much like science makes ...
Dr. Richard Lewontin, the Alexander Agassiz Professor of Zoology at Harvard University, put it like this: "It is not that the methods and institutions of science somehow compel us to accept a material explanation of the phenomenal world, but, on the contrary, that we are forced by our a priori adherence to material causes to create an apparatus of investigation and a set of concepts that produce material explanations, no matter how counterintuitive, no matter how mystifying to the uninitiated."
http://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/does-god-exist-c.htm
The difference being .. you think you're smart and I know i'm not.
13 Feb 07
Originally posted by jammerYou know you are stupid, but you still try to come across as a know it all!!!
True.
Much like science makes ...
Dr. Richard Lewontin, the Alexander Agassiz Professor of Zoology at Harvard University, put it like this: "It is not that the methods and institutions of science somehow compel us to accept a material explanation of the phenomenal world, but, on the contrary, that we are forced by our a priori adherence to material caus ...[text shortened]... g/does-god-exist-c.htm
The difference being .. you think you're smart and I know i'm not.
You are the real phoney jammer. If you really think you are dumb, you would not always feel able to judge others.
Sadly in order for everything to fit into your simplified world, you have to ignore rational thought. It doesn't surprise me that your belief system is the same as your approach to the world.
To quote a zoologist as the representative scientific view of the universe goes a long way to support your argument of being an idiot, well done.
13 Feb 07
Originally posted by petrosianpupilCould be worse .. I coulda been born you.
You know you are stupid, but you still try to come across as a know it all!!!
You are the real phoney jammer. If you really think you are dumb, you would not always feel able to judge others.
Sadly in order for everything to fit into your simplified world, you have to ignore rational thought. It doesn't surprise me that your belief system is the ...[text shortened]... fic view of the universe goes a long way to support your argument of being an idiot, well done.
I try not to judge others, but in your case i'll make an exception.
You do OK as long as you stick with the cut and paste BS. It when you try using your brain that you always step on your dick exposing yourself as a simpleton.
" To quote a zoologist as the representative scientific view of the universe goes a long way to support your argument of being an idiot, well done."
To ignore the content of the quote and attack the man (a Prof. at Harvard) shows what a fool you really are petrosianputz .. but then, I knew that already.
13 Feb 07
Originally posted by jammerThat's where I get off the bus. I can't follow a belief system if I know it's irrational.
No, nothing about God is "rational" .. I agree.
I believe in God, but don't ask me why, I couldn't give a rational answer.
The Bible is a whole different ballgame. If you read it literally God will come off as one mean SOB I agree. Turn the page and it will contradict itself.
God loves you ... but kill your children if they talk back .. stuff like that. ...[text shortened]... mad at organized religion, not God .. but that would be disingenious on your part IMO.
You're still mistaking my strong skepticism about God and the bible for anger.
13 Feb 07
Originally posted by BigDoggProblemI'm past that now and see your point (I think) clearly.
That's where I get off the bus. I can't follow a belief system if I know it's irrational.
You're still mistaking my strong skepticism about God and the bible for anger.
Someone said that if God did not exist it would be neccessary to invent Him (or sompin like that) and that makes sense too in light of how the name of God has been used by men for millinium for the sole purpose of controling and manipulating mens minds.
The problem with God is His spokespeople on earth .. those that claim to know Gods meaning and to speak for Him.
Most of 'em don't know chit from shineola IMHO.
That .. and His book, which it turns out isn't His book at all
Is their a more ambigious book ever written?
God is .. or isn't, it's that simple.
We're either divine beings, created with a purpose in mind or we're simply really smart apes blundering along with no bigger purpose than to follow our instincts.
It's a lifelong quest to "know" God, the alternative is to just give it up out of frustation, claiming, ' if I can't see, touch, or hear it .. it doesn't exist.'
We can't prove God exists and we can't prove he doesn't .. we're stuck on Earth with the ability to reason and questions that can't be answered by logic.
13 Feb 07
2 edits
Originally posted by jammerThat's all we can really do: believe, or not believe, in a god or gods, based on which possibility we feel is the most likely. I would not fault someone for making their own determination. My main dispute is with the dogmatists who believe their path is the right one for everybody (especially if their philosophy is rife with irrationality and contradiction).
It's a lifelong quest to "know" God, the alternative is to just give it up out of frustation, claiming, ' if I can't see, touch, or hear it .. it doesn't exist.'
We can't prove God exists and we can't prove he doesn't .. we're stuck on Earth with the ability to reason and questions that can't be answered by logic.