RicOlie_2

Leonardo said:

mrbenja0618 said:

[Dissertation about the Grand Canyon]

Yeah, but you really can't compare a finite hole in the ground (no matter how big) to an infinite Deity, can you? Even if you never ever ever leave the house, you're still going to somehow have the experience of a hole in the ground.

However, I still think it's impossible to disprove God's existence.

You don't know everything either. I could even ask if you know half of everything, and you would probably tell me no. You couldn't know half of everything, just like I couldn't. But let's just say for the sake of discussion that you do know half of everything. But, alas, you still do not know everything, so I ask you. Is it possible that this Jesus/God/Heaven thing could exist on the other half of the stuff you haven't learned yet?

I'll tell you, I don't know a quarter of everything. But to use a poker analogy, if I may, by looking at the cards I have in my hand, I can tell you, I'm pretty sure the rest of the deck is cards. There's not gonna be a blue whale in it.

Yes, but in that case, you already have experience with decks of cards and know that the rest of the deck will also consist of cards. If you are given two chests of unknown objects, and look in one, but only get a glimpse of the contents of the other, you won't be able to say whether or not the second chest contained certain objects or not. Some people, however, may have opened both chests (or just the second one) and told you the contents (and others may have repeated it based on the testimony of those who actually saw the contents). You could believe it, or you could disbelieve it, not having seen it for yourself.

Still an imperfect analogy, but somewhat more accurate.

Sorry I couldn't either. I had a basketball tournament today.

Sx5a

LOL

Thanks SilverWook.

mrbenja0618 said:

mrbenja0618 said:

....

 And after writing that long post I realized I referenced the wrong person. Sorry Ric. This is actually for you Leonardo. Sorry guys. Got my wires crossed. :/

 No problem, I was just going to point that out. :)

TheBoost said:

RicOlie_2 said:

Neglify said:

Picked up this free little book at the train station today. 222 pages, made by Jehovah's Witnesses. Read a little bit, interesting stuff. Maybe I'll also get around to finally reading that Bible book people are so up in arms about.

 Just be aware that the Jehovah's Witnesses have a different interpretation of the Bible than just about everyone else. 

 You mean as opposed to the 5,000,000 other Christian sects who all interpret it the same? 

 There are numerous interpretations of the Bible, all similar in most respects, but with variations. Some variations are kind of weird, and some people take the entire Bible literally. I don't believe the Genesis creation story is literal, and do not think there is any reason for taking it that way, but many do and reject the theory of evolution because of it.

He's planning something dramatically anticlimactic to disappoint us all. Either that, or he has something big coming, like his completed "Ridiculousness of the Sith". :)

Also LOL.

You sneaky Frinky. :P

I'm glad to hear it. :)

Ryan McAvoy said:

In all seriousness, I'd like to ask...

What is the point of Religion?

I've never understood what the practical benefit is of believing in something that by default has no proof behind it (That's what faith is). I'd be genuinely interested in how and what it adds to life that many consider it worth spending time, effort and money on?

 Alright, let's assume there is no evidence either for or against religion (I think this is slightly unfair because I believe that there is evidence for my beliefs, but there is so much room for debate in that area that I will ignore that for now). So, what could possibly be good about it? I'll list some reasons in point form (the numbers have nothing to do with importance):

1. Hope: religion often provides hope in an afterlife.

2. Happiness: religion and prayer have been shown to increase happiness in multiple studies.

3. Explanation of the supernatural. This is a reason people adhere to religion, though it may not really belong in this answer.

4. Unification: this is debatable, but in theory, if everyone followed one religion there would be a lot fewer problems in the world, depending on the religion.

5. Community: by sharing beliefs and meeting every so often, communities of people are formed and people have a chance to meet with people who share their beliefs.

6. It explains the origins of the universe (science does this, but it doesn't give a very satisfactory answer).

EDIT: I forgot a big one:

7. Religion gives life meaning and purpose in a way that cannot be without religion.

I could continue were I allowed to take things as they are and not ignoring evidence for and against religion.

Neglify said:

Picked up this free little book at the train station today. 222 pages, made by Jehovah's Witnesses. Read a little bit, interesting stuff. Maybe I'll also get around to finally reading that Bible book people are so up in arms about.

 Just be aware that the Jehovah's Witnesses have a different interpretation of the Bible than just about everyone else. They believe that only 144,000 people can get to heaven or something like that. Makes you wonder why they even bother.

I suggest you don't make too quick a judgement on the Bible. Like any book, it needs to be taken in context. There are many different books in the Bible with many different genres, including histories, proverbs, hymns, allegories, prophetical works, apocalyptic works, letters, love poems, etc. so don't take everything literally, because not everything in it should be read as literal.

TheBoost said:

RicOlie_2 said:

TheBoost said:

EyeShotFirst said:

 

In an ideal society, Christians would follow all the rules of the bible and not just the ones that they like.

 That would be a terrible and insane society.

You cant both love your neighbor, and kill witches. You can't turn the other cheek, and kill men who sleep with menstruating women. 

 As I have said before, killing people is no longer required. That was a requirement for the Israelites living in a theocracy. I am a Christian living in the same world and country as non-Christians, so we can't apply those rules anymore. There were reasons for those laws, but most of them are either not applicable or applicable to a lesser degree now. The primary rule of the Bible is LOVE God and YOUR NEIGHBOUR. What is so wrong with that? Perhaps you might find loving God objectionable, but the loving your neighbour bit should be less of a problem.

 So it would be an ideal society if all Christians followed your particular interpretation of the Bible? And they ignored the ones that you ignore. 

Cool.

 The interpretation I just gave is held by most Christians, as far as I am aware. The goal towards which all Christians should strive is love of everyone. I'm sure most Christians would agree with me (except those who don't practice their religion--there are agnostics who call themselves Christians).

DuracellEnergizer said:

Ryan McAvoy said:

In all seriousness, I'd like to ask...

What is the point of Religion?

I've never understood what the practical benefit is of believing in something that by default has no proof behind it (That's what faith is). I'd be genuinely interested in how and what it adds to life that many consider it worth spending time, effort and money on?

When travelling in a car, I'd rather there by someone behind the wheel to steer the damn thing than for the front seat to be empty and the car to be headed on a course straight off the edge of a cliff.

Of course, this analogy applies to theism more than religion specifically.  

 Of course the problem with that is that atheists or other agnostics might say that a better analogy would be the choice between driving the car, knowing where you are going, and letting someone else drive it, not knowing where they are taking you.

TheBoost said:

EyeShotFirst said:

Bingowings said:

As Christians, Christians should A) apply the laws to themselves and not worry about what other people are doing more than what they do and B) do not judge others because you aren't equipped for the task or risk the outcome of Matthew  7:1-3.

You are 100% correct.

In an ideal society, Christians would follow all the rules of the bible and not just the ones that they like.

 That would be a terrible and insane society.

You cant both love your neighbor, and kill witches. You can't turn the other cheek, and kill men who sleep with menstruating women. 

 As I have said before, killing people is no longer required. That was a requirement for the Israelites living in a theocracy. I am a Christian living in the same world and country as non-Christians, so we can't apply those rules anymore. There were reasons for those laws, but most of them are either not applicable or applicable to a lesser degree now. The primary rule of the Bible is LOVE God and YOUR NEIGHBOUR. What is so wrong with that? Perhaps you might find loving God objectionable, but the loving your neighbour bit should be less of a problem.

That's a good question, Ryan, and one that I will do my best to answer this evening.

Saying that it has no proof is a gross misrepresentation though. There doesn't seem to be much evidence against it though. If you can give the supposed evidence against it before the end of the day, I will try to give counter-evidence/arguments.

Warbler said:

Finally, when you call:

(Christianity)

• the most important thing in my life
• a thing people like me have died for
• a thing  I and some of my family would be willing to die for,
• a thing that is the reason for living for many
• a thing that defines who I am
• a thing that is my reason for believing that all my loved ones are in heaven
• a thing where I believe a totally innocent and perfect person suffered and died for things I did

 Let me ask you, Bingowings, is your homosexual sex life the most important thing in your life? Would you be willing to die before giving up gay sex? How many homosexuals live for being homosexual and if they, theoretically, had the option to become heterosexual, would rather cease living than change their sexual attractions? Does your homosexuality define who you are? If so, why your sexuality and not something else about you?

Warbler said:

p.s. if there is anyone here showing fascism tendencies, its you.  After all which one of us is wishing death(and making it clear they mean it) on people just for saying what they believe?

 No kidding. You think almost half the world's population (I'm just guessing here--there are no reliable statistics for this and most Christians and Muslims don't actively practice their religion) should be dead. No Christian I know (or know of, though I am sure their are some wacko fanatics out there) wishes death on homosexuals regardless of whether they have sex with others of their gender. I think you're a bit over the top in this area Bingo. No one should be treating you or any homosexual the way so many (like your partner) are and have been treated, as that is most definitely not Christian. If you think it is Christian, then you have seen the wrong side of things and I am truly sorry for that.

January 17:

A.D. 1377: Pope Gregory XI moves the Papacy back to Rome from Avignon.

A.D. 1562: The Huguenots gain recognition in France under the Edict of St. Germain.

Star Wars, being a fantasy, contained a lot of symbolism. Traditionally, evil is given a physically ugly appearance in such works, while good is portrayed as beautiful or good-looking (hence the "good" in the latter). Of course the idea that one shouldn't judge things by their appearance can be portrayed symbolically with good guys being ugly and bad guys being good-looking, but in Star Wars the first was employed, so we have ugly bad guys and handsome/pretty good guys/girls.

G-3a

B-5a

I wrote that those responses were unmerited, and you responded by saying she should have expected that. It was badly worded on your part if you didn't mean she should have expected anger, but not that much.

What, that twooffour was a sock of his?

He's right here, lurking in the shadows.

That's what I figured. I wasn't sure though. I ought to know better. :P

And as I wrote, who's to say she didn't expect an angry response? I'm sure she's smart enough that she did. But the types of comments there and the number of them are probably what caused her to delete her Youtube channel.