Originally Posted by nalkin (Post 206381)

I agree with what Chanus said above.

I only find there are 2 times religion becomes an issue and that is when it is taken as fact to make decisions about important things, and the way religion is presented as truth to children (who for no reason of their own should question its authenticity). In either of these cases I feel like it is ok to make a polite reminder on how their religion is not founded on any evidence or logical reasoning.

Otherwise there is no reason anyone should be restricted in believing whatever they want.

Originally Posted by chtulu (Post 206380)

There is no real thing as free will. It's a paradox.

Originally Posted by chtulu (Post 206390)

What about how religion encroaches on civil rights? Modern example; gay rights. What about all the horrible things done IN THE NAME of religion? When was the last time you heard of a mass cleansing in the name of atheism?

Originally Posted by boboo (Post 206373)

My Uncle is a christian, and has a somewhat similar outlook than you (softer tone, contempt for corruption). He said to me this summer "These frauds have it all wrong, all you need to do to go to heaven is beleive in god". But still that left me this question: What kind of loving god would send me to burn in hell for eternity because I did not beleive in him?

Originally Posted by chtulu (Post 206390)

What about how religion encroaches on civil rights? Modern example; gay rights. What about all the horrible things done IN THE NAME of religion? When was the last time you heard of a mass cleansing in the name of atheism?

Originally Posted by john_savage1982 (Post 205985)

There is a word I currently use...for all of you...people. You people type in the same "I'm intelligent, I know things, I'm above religion, blah blah blah...I mock the world cause I'm insecure" tone yet most of you probably attended something like a second or third tier state college (or never attended college) and read book from people like Richard Dawkins while thinking "I'm so logical and above the rest and if people don't agree with me then they must be wrong." If you didn't attend college you've probably invented reasons like "I'm anti-establishment" to justify why you have any semblance of legitimate knowledge.

The funny part is while most of you denounce religion and go on about ideas of science/logic/evolution/whatever, most of you probably have just as vague idea about the intricacies of these subjects as you do about the intricacies of religion. This is perhaps the saddest part in all of this. The come back here will be "I have a degree in blah blah blah, I know things." All I will do is laugh if I see them.

There is a difference between religion and the organization/politics surrounding religion. Further, while you stand firm against religion, you might not realize that ideas of morality in the western world is strongly based in judeo-christian ethics. Call whatever your idea of morality whatever you want - it's likely most of these ideas are rooted in religion. Consider - why be moral? State will punish you if you don't? If you stop yourself from being immoral - what brings you to act correctly? What you call "I am in control of my mind, i do what is right, blah blah blah," I happen to call "indoctrination by the state." The stat ein return gets the indoctrinating ideas from religion.

Now, the word I call you folk. Neckbeards. You're all god dang neckbeards. Full of yourselves yet total idiots.

[IMG]http://pugetsoundblogs.com/bremertonbeat/files/2008/10

Originally Posted by RocketMoose (Post 206396)

See, the problem I see there, is God isn't choosing to send you to Hell. He's given you the ability to make your own decisions, and if you choose by your actions that you're going to Hell that's up to you. It's not like He's trying to trick you or He wants you to fail. God isn't some kid in the Cosmos just waiting to zap you with His wand every time you screw up.

God also didn't make us robots who are all going to just conform to loving Him because He made us to do so, where would the satisfaction be in that?

So, it's not really God sending you there, He made the rules easy to find, and they're really not outlandish, it's just some people have a problem with authority I think. But God doesn't want to be separated from you, not at all, I can assure you of that. But He also can't have any part with sin. He couldn't even look on His own son when He took on the sins of the world and was crucified.

That's where the "fire and brimstone" guys give the wrong impression I think.

Originally Posted by chtulu (Post 206390)

What about how religion encroaches on civil rights? Modern example; gay rights. What about all the horrible things done IN THE NAME of religion? When was the last time you heard of a mass cleansing in the name of atheism?