a question for the Atheists..

[Rogean]

Originally Posted by phacemeltar [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

but when someone else uses the term "God", what imagery does this invoke for you? as in what do you think others believe "God" to be? when someone says "God Bless America" describe what entity you imagine that they are referring to.

I don't make an assumption of what their deity looks like, because it is theirs. I simply think of it as the entity they believe / have faith in. I do not share their views, but nor would I try to push my views upon anyone else, which is a major problem among religions nowadays ("It's not god I have a problem with, it's his fan club I can't stand.").

[Raavak]

Originally Posted by Rogean [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I do not share their views, but nor would I try to push my views upon anyone else, which is a major problem among religions nowadays ("It's not god I have a problem with, it's his fan club I can't stand.").

qft

[Raavak]

Originally Posted by Rogean [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

("It's not god I have a problem with, it's his fan club I can't stand.").

Whether or not you believe in Jesus, just look what he taught:

Love each other.
Let he who is without sin punish the sinner (i.e. no one).
Help people in need, no matter who they are.
etc.

Aren't those good messages?

What sucks is the people who take this and use it for their own goals (inquisitions, persecution, controlling knowledge & education, crusades, etc).

[Pyrion]

Originally Posted by Raavak [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Whether or not you believe in Jesus, just look what he taught:

Love each other.
Let he who is without sin punish the sinner (i.e. no one).
Help people in need, no matter who they are.
etc.

Aren't those good messages?

What sucks is the people who take this and use it for their own goals (inquisitions, persecution, controlling knowledge & education, crusades, etc).

Yes, the new testament has some nice messages. Of course all other major religions basically have the same messages. Or most other ideologies as well. BUT: The new testament actually introduced hell (its absent in the old one), so it's not all niceties.

[Orruar]

Originally Posted by Raavak [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Whether or not you believe in Jesus, just look what he taught:

Love each other.
Let he who is without sin punish the sinner (i.e. no one).
Help people in need, no matter who they are.
etc.

Aren't those good messages?

3 "good" messages out of several thousand pages of bad messages does not make a person good. And I'd take exception with that second "good" message. If nobody can punish a sinner, we should live in a society without courts and jails? It makes no logical sense, but it plays to people's emotions to think nobody else can pass judgment upon them.

And he also taught us that we're all born with sin. So god creates us and the default position is eternal agony and torment for his creations? Does that really sound like a kind and loving god?

Also, isn't jesus basically god in the form of a man? So that means god sacrificed himself, to himself, to save us all from himself. Very logically solid foundation for a religion if you ask me.

Finally, can anyone answer this one simple question in a clear and concise way: What exactly is the holy spirit?

[Cecily]

Originally Posted by Orruar [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Finally, can anyone answer this one simple question in a clear and concise way: What exactly is the holy spirit?

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[runlvlzero]

Originally Posted by Cecily [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

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LOL

[runlvlzero]

Originally Posted by Orruar [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

3 "good" messages out of several thousand pages of bad messages does not make a person good. And I'd take exception with that second "good" message. If nobody can punish a sinner, we should live in a society without courts and jails? It makes no logical sense, but it plays to people's emotions to think nobody else can pass judgment upon them.

And he also taught us that we're all born with sin. So god creates us and the default position is eternal agony and torment for his creations? Does that really sound like a kind and loving god?

Also, isn't jesus basically god in the form of a man? So that means god sacrificed himself, to himself, to save us all from himself. Very logically solid foundation for a religion if you ask me.

Finally, can anyone answer this one simple question in a clear and concise way: What exactly is the holy spirit?

A feeling. Which some people believe in more than others.

[Orruar]

Originally Posted by runlvlzero [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

A feeling. Which some people believe in more than others.

Concise, but not clear.

[phacemeltar]

Originally Posted by Orruar [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

What exactly is the holy spirit?

the holy spirit is very specific to religion, which i wanted to stay away from in starting this thread. please start your own thread where you can discuss this.