Okay one last response and then I'm done (probably). My sincerest apologies to those who come on this thread for a serious conversation and have it ruined by my idea of poking fun (that includes Darth_Ender).
Darth_Ender I seriously apologize for personally insulting you. Most of the comments below are just poking fun although I do admit I tend to poke a little harder than what is appropriate. In my circle of friends we may joke that you guys are believing in a load of nonsense but that is not appropriate to say to you, your people, and especially not in this thread.
However, I think you need to have some thicker skin, especially on the internet. You can't control what dicks like me are going to say, you can only control how you respond (something I'm not great at either). I am rarely typing angry on the internet and only Ferris has managed to ruffle my feathers on OT. I don't hate you (or Ferris for the record).
Let me just defend some of my comments because I think you are taking some of them to heart, when it's not necessary.
darth_ender said:
walkingdork said:My only idea is that maybe Noah taught all the animals to row during the flood, but even then it's an impossible trek. Unicorns probably died off because they had to get out and push. :)I’m sure you feel your smiley makes this innocent, but in conjunction with other statements, it comes off as rude. I am already aware of the complaints against the idea that the Garden of Eden is in America, and don’t need you to continually poke fun at it.
First of all this isn't even an original joke. There are countless images, posters, t-shirts, video clips of unicorns missing the boat, falling out of the boat, etc. I can only see the humor and I'm sure you must understand that these stories cannot be taken serious by nonbelievers.
If I wanted to prove your religion wrong, I would start with the easy stuff like "snakes can't talk" and "virgins can't get pregnant." :P
Again, I see a little tongue face, so I’m sure you feel it was all in good fun. However, you don’t really understand my religion. However literally or figuratively you wish to interpret the Bible, this statement does nothing but make you come off as a jerk. “Oh really? Snakes don’t talk? Didn’t know that! Virgins can’t get pregnant?! That’s it, I quit!” There are various interpretations of things like this anyway, but the primary thing to remember is that most religions accept that God works miracles, wherein our understanding is defied. Your oversimplification appears quite condescending.
Again you can't be surprised if nonbelievers think this is a ridiculous notion...and you can't be surprised that I pointed it out. But yeah, I'm being a dick about it. What I don't understand is why you are so sensitive about it. I don't get wild when people tell me that it's impossible to imagine humans evolving from apes or even if they think I'm an idiot for believing it. We all believe different things and things that make sense to me look foolish to others I'm sure.
I hear what you are saying. I still think it's all made up bullshit, but I hear what you are saying. Like the universe is big enough to account for the possibility that there is a mountain in the sky where gods of many talents toy with the human race. And maybe one of those gods bangs a human chick and the son grows up to fight monsters like a slithery snake chick with snakes for hair.
I know I'm being shitty about it, (and I really do feel what you are saying), but I think there is a difference between infinite possibilities and moral fairy tales/parables told for generations. I do realize however that you were just pointing out the possibility of a talking snake and not advocating for them.
Do you think that’s not condescending and insulting, regardless of it being directed at Bingowings? It’s not like religious persons could not say equally diminutive remarks. Even if you think it’s made up, you don’t have to say things the way you do. It is truly rude, and considering my efforts to be respectful every time you made statements like this, you could at reconsider your style. You oversimplify something important to others and then mock your simplistic representation…bravo, that’s an intelligent thing to do. This coming from the guy who clearly is no bigot.
First of all I don't know why this is a bad statement. I made a shitty statement, pointed out my shitty statement, and continued with my point. I also personally apologized to Bingowings.
And how can you say that the story of Mount Olympus and Greek mythology isn't real? Maybe Zeus is still sitting at his thrown pissed off at the notion of Monotheism. :)
I know I'm not helping, but relax it's meant to be funny.
I know there is no absolute proof that a god/creator does or does not exist. We debate about how the universe started but the why is unclear. I could be agnostic but the idea that somehow someone has managed to map out the whole history of creation by a god in fine detail is such a turn off. I might believe in the possibility that some deity flipped the switched and started the universe but (like Hawking and other physicists) the idea that a god temporarily changes the law of physics to create miracles or bring upon his will is too much.
@darth_ender
I know, I know. More conversation that should be in the religion thread. Well it's too late! Click.
When I clearly asked for respect and proper behavior in this thread in the beginning, you apparently don’t respect those wishes. I don’t mind diverting off topic, but to do so while being disagreeable and, er, “crappy” about it…you could have just moved your thoughts to another thread, or at least not shown your disregard for my wishes in such an uncouth manner.
This statement was still part of my response to Bingowings and I think it's an honest and candid explanation of my lack of faith. No jokes even.
And my last comment was recognizing that I was off the subject so you wouldn't get pissed. Didn't work...but that was my intent.
So Mormons...we joke about the "magic underwear," but what is it actually all about?
Yeah, we Mormons aren’t the butts of jokes a lot already. I haven’t already put my religion and my ability to defend it on the line. You have to point out that everyone jokes about it, despite the level of sacredness I hold for it.
That is the term that nonbelievers use because "protective underwear" or "spiritual underwear" sounds the same. Any underwear that does anything other than keep my parts from rubbing directly on my jeans is "magic" to me.
I agree, Mormon's beliefs are just a silly as other Christian beliefs, but he should still be allowed to be President.
Yes, it's true that atheists think that believing in talking snakes and shrubs, splitting seas, and fitting 2 of every animal (does that include the millions of insect species?) into a giant boat is ridiculous. And yes they believe that those things defy common sense and critical thinking.
So our beliefs are “silly,” but of course you make no pretense at being more intelligent than Mormons or other Christians. You clearly are greater at critical thinking and therefore do not fall for the fairy tales we simpletons believe in. No, you hardly ever come off as arrogant or of greater intelligence.
I'm not smarter, I just depend on what seems logical verses what seems impossible. Call it lack of imagination or faith, that's just what I believe. I'm sure you've heard a story before that you just couldn't believe. I caught a fish "this big." That's just how I think of religion. I wasn't there, I don't think those things are possible and some of them even sound silly.
You also left out the nice things I said about Mitt Romney.
And finally:
This statement could not be more arrogant and is exactly why nonreligious people can't stand some religious people. So people have to accept Christ to go to heaven, but if you don't it will just be forced on your name when you die.
May your corpse be raped and dismembered, sir!
Uh, how was that anything but crossing a line? Did you not read what I’d said before? Did I not say that I understood their reasoning and that the problem was corrected? And you called me, personally, arrogant, in spite of no such stance. Instead, I presented why my church does what it does, the reasoning behind it, and my reason why I would not be offended under similar circumstances. However, that is just me. We never have forced anything down anyone’s throat. Raping and dismembering my corpse? How is that anywhere equivalent?
I was pointing out that you are doing something against a dead person's wishes and without the ability to defense his/herself. That kind of offends me. I feel like it is similar to baptising a nonbelievers baby or something, but of course I had to say it in my "taking it too far" way. I don't actually want to your corpse to be raped or dismembered.
Oh, I almost did forget:
You can forward all your complaints to my inbox, I'll not be posting on these subjects any longer. I've seen all I need to see.
This sounds to me like a generalization, either about “good Christian boys” or perhaps just Mormons. Either way, don’t let one bad apple ruin your experience or you're simply being the bigot you claim not to be.
Where's the generalization? I think we've both had enough of each other and I'm guessing Frink has probably had enough of me as well since he's correcting my grammar (or maybe I'm misinterpreting that). So I'd figured I'd walk away and if you were truly pissed or if someone felt they needed to call me on something they could do it personally instead of making a bigger scene (which we are continuing to do).
BTW, how am I doing so far, TV's Frink? :D
On top of that, virtually every comment you make is crass and crude. That’s fine and dandy for so many other threads, but why bring it here?
I was curious about Mormons and I happen to be crass.
Look, you can hate me all you want.
I don't. It's not my style to hate people.
I know I can overreact at times, especially given that we’ve already had a little argument in the politics thread, and therefore I’m more cautious when reading your comments. But honestly, you cannot sit there and tell me you think you have not been disrespectful.
I know it's disrespectful, but I assumed that we'd all have thick enough skin to tolerate it and have a laugh. Please poke back everyone, I can take it. I just don't understand why it is taken so personally. Don't get emotional, just throw it back.
And if you read through all my comments, you simply cannot believe that I have an "I already know I'm right so don't question me" attitude. How could I start such a thread with that mindset? I know of much of the criticism leveled at my faith and at religion in general, and chose to take it head on in order to clarify. I'm not trying to convince anyone that I'm right about anything (except maybe that there are cultures we currently know nothing about in spite of the likelihood that they once existed right where we stand).
Statement retracted. I apologize, that was completely of of line.
As I’ve said, I can be a hot head. I want you to know that you are still welcome to comment here, and I will try not to get angry so easily. That said, I ask you to consider your words more carefully, in spite of what you may be smoking. I should not have made either the divorce comment or the myspleen comment. I truly apologize.
Apology accepted. I think I'll tone it down and we can both try not to be personal. Hopefully I haven't further insulted anyone, and if I have...well then I don't know what to do. I don't mean to hurt people's feelings I just mean to push a few buttons and stir it up a little. It's almost never personal.
PS forgive the bizarre format, as it was difficult gathering all these quotes together and getting the quotes right.
I'll see your bizarre format and raise you an even more ridiculous format. What's the record for longest post?