Former pastor: I don't think God exists

[Disgustipated]

Did God tell you that you are a moron? Did the angels sing it to you?

 

[Kitty]

Lots of Hell-bound people around. I love the smell of people shitting themselves. Ahhh.

 

[FGB]

Did God tell you that you are a moron? Did the angels sing it to you?

Never heard an angel sing...yet

I did hear God laughing at me once softly, a distant sound on the wind and in my mind, he was laughing at my antics, he had me a spitting and a sputtering because the rascal was messing with me.

Three times in a row I asked for something and three times I received it. Things had been put in motion before I ever asked, triggered when I realized I had done everything a man could do except pray and did so.

Caught me flat footed and unprepared and at one point outraged.

As my ex-wife calls him "Your Friend God"

Yes, God has a sense of humor.

I have written about this before.

Mock all you want...it's your ass.

 

[Disgustipated]

Post #19 of this thread?

 

[Que]

I don't need faith in the nonexistence of God to be an atheist. I just don't bother believing in God.

How about the Egyptian gods? Greek gods, Roman gods, Norse gods, and so on. People lived and died devoted to them and devout in their belief. They were all wrong, every one.

This is a very reasoned response. Nothing at all intellectually inconsistent and the way I think I will feel about it if i ever make it from agnosticism to atheism. Seems like it should be fairly effortless not to believe.

The only thing I would maybe add is "likely" There remains a minor possibility that all gods except, say the Norse ones are wrong. Which is more or less what every religion thinks.

If there is a god or gods, he or they can hardly fault one for picking the wrong ogd in good faith with so many to choose from. If that is true, then it follows picking none would be equally acceptable.

 

[PoppingTom]

The trouble you have with Christians is the same as the Romans had.

We serve a LIVING GOD.

No. Your belief is no problem. Your religion is.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

It always makes me laugh when folks who cant multiply fractions are experts on cosmology.

 

[Que]

No. Your belief is no problem. Your religion is.

Ah...so "believe what you wish, just don't put it into practice." How very German of you.

 

[Ulaven_Demorte]

Ah...so "believe what you wish, just don't put it into practice." How very German of you.

I believe it's more along the lines of "Believe what you wish, just don't push your religious beliefs onto others through legislation". i.e "Gawd says Homosexual marriage is a sin so you shouldn't be allowed."

 

[Que]

I believe it's more along the lines of "Believe what you wish, just don't push your religious beliefs onto others through legislation". i.e "Gawd says Homosexual marriage is a sin so you shouldn't be allowed."

No he was pretty clear. Belief is fine, religion is not.

 

[Ulaven_Demorte]

No he was pretty clear. Belief is fine, religion is not.

Actually, it very possible to have belief in and a relationship with God and refuse to have "religion". The two aren't inexoriably tied together.

After all, fundamentally Christianity and Islam are worshiping the same God, share the same Holy places, use the same books and share some of the prophets. But the religions couldn't be more different.

 

[Que]

Actually, it very possible to have belief in and a relationship with God and refuse to have "religion". The two aren't inexoriably tied together.

After all, fundamentally Christianity and Islam are worshiping the same God, share the same Holy places, use the same books and share some of the prophets. But the religions couldn't be more different.

I person can certainly choose to worship or not, separate or with others. One can found one's only religion if one wants to. I have an aunt that did. I assume it died out when their high priestess did. Hers was a blend of new age, psychology and Christianity lite.

It is also not very "tolerant" to allow others their views but excoriate the free exercise of their religion. Which is what he is doing. "Your beliefs are fine, your religion is not."

 

[PoppingTom]

I believe it's more along the lines of "Believe what you wish, just don't push your religious beliefs onto others through legislation". i.e "Gawd says Homosexual marriage is a sin so you shouldn't be allowed."

The problem with religions is exactly this.

 

[Que]

The problem with religions is exactly this.

The excuse for denigrating all religion and calls for religious persecution is exactly this, bigot.

 

[PoppingTom]

It is also not very "tolerant" to allow others their views but excoriate the free exercise of their religion. Which is what he is doing. "Your beliefs are fine, your religion is not."

Well, when it comes to tolerance, no religion I know so far aims for it. People are tolerant, religions not much. And that's a problem.

You can believe what you want and follow your religion. But don't think that your religion has no impact on your decisions. And I'm no fan of religious influenced decisions.

 

[PoppingTom]

The excuse for denigrating all religion and calls for religious persecution is exactly this, bigot.

Well, you know, that's exactly religious logic: I say "your religion is a problem", you understand "I want to forbid your religion and persecute all you believers".

I'm not that kind of stupid gangster who kills anybody he don't trust.

 

[Que]

Well, when it comes to tolerance, no religion I know so far aims for it. People are tolerant, religions not much. And that's a problem.

You can believe what you want and follow your religion. But don't think that your religion has no impact on your decisions. And I'm no fan of religious influenced decisions.

So again, "believe, just do not put those beliefs into practice."

 

[someoneyouknow]

The excuse for denigrating all religion and calls for religious persecution is exactly this, bigot.

Considering the amount of denigration and persecution religion, in all its forms, has been heaping on the human race for the last several thousand years, it's just a matter of following Luke 6:31, "Do to others as you would have them do to you."

If you don't like being denigrated or feeling as if you're being persecuted, don't do it to others.

 

[PoppingTom]

So again, "believe, just do not put those beliefs into practice."

No, I would never demand what's impossible, and this is.

It's all about tolerance: if you are as tolerant as me, we can find a compromise. I respect your religion, and you respect me being non-religious.

If you aren't tolerant, you'll become a threat of my life, sooner or later.

The rest is a matter of trust.

 

[about_average]

Atheist certainly have faith in gravity else they cold not function.

Faith is believing in something without empirical proof.

I suspect most people would say that there is proof of gravity.
Just like there is ample proof that most rockets work as planned, most parachutes work as planned and most planes work as planned.
Arguing otherwise is to claim that every action is an act of faith, that when you take a step you have faith you won't trip and fall, which is a ludicrous premise.

 

[unregistered]

 

[tributemisty]

Does god exist

No he doesn't

 

[Ulaven_Demorte]

KO must have taken to the hills with his weak argument.

Hell, it was tough to decipher what the fuck you were even on about with that non-sequitur. It took you 24 hours to come back to dredge this up. people lose interest and don't go back to read 2 pages back. People have lives outside of Lit.. You know, OTHER people, not you of course.

As for your "question".

To further your analogy, those pre-Socratic philosophers could be easily compared to the blind faith of modern Christians. They too held steadfastly to their beliefs with the blind faith of the fanatical even when evidence was presented that contradicted their beliefs.

You are the authority on "taking to the hills" when your argument fails, so I guess I'll concede to your superior knowledge of running away when an argument is shown to be hot air and bullshit.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Faith is believing in something without empirical proof.

I suspect most people would say that there is proof of gravity.
Just like there is ample proof that most rockets work as planned, most parachutes work as planned and most planes work as planned.
Arguing otherwise is to claim that every action is an act of faith, that when you take a step you have faith you won't trip and fall, which is a ludicrous premise.

Every anticipated action requires faith as nothing is guaranteed and everything is liable to failure.

 

[Ulaven_Demorte]

I see JBDumbass is still confusing everyday faith and the expectation of familiar outcomes based on past history with the Blind Faith of the religious.