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#41 |
Cythraul Enfys
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 57,086
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You would be amazed at how many articles many of us do not read for good reason - but in my earlier days I read much on it and made very logical distinctions and decisions based on such - as well as observing the actions and speech of many religious. I tend to avoid articles (etc.) that are essentially special pleading or arguments from credulity (and /or incredulity).............
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There is no problem so great that it cannot be fixed by small explosives carefully placed. Wash this space! We fight for the Lady Babylon!!! |
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#42 |
Cythraul Enfys
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 57,086
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There is no problem so great that it cannot be fixed by small explosives carefully placed. Wash this space! We fight for the Lady Babylon!!! |
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#43 |
Student
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Colorado
Posts: 40
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I know a ton of great Christians. I even love some of them. Most Christians are not a problem EXCEPT they are the only ones that can fix the problems of the far right's intrusion into our lives and politics. We (atheists) can not. We can point out the problems, explain our issues and make sure we are visible but we hold no power as atheists in the political arena. We are the enemy to some, an annoyance to others and understood by a few.
This doesn't depress me too much as the tide is slowly changing. Patience is our friend and (my opinion) being overly confrontational puts up too many walls. Who was more effective in obtaining civil rights? Martin Luther King or Malcolm X? Both confronted the problems but their styles were miles apart. Believe me, I am not suggesting we shut up and take it but we need to be very aware of how we sound. Yeah, we shouldn't have to tippy toe around the religious all the time but if we focus on the long game, we will have to tippy toe...often. For me, the long game is like much of Europe. No gives a flying rip what your religious beliefs are and it has zero influence or impact on the politics. That's my heaven. |
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#44 |
Not a doctor.
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 15,263
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#45 |
Cythraul Enfys
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 57,086
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__________________
There is no problem so great that it cannot be fixed by small explosives carefully placed. Wash this space! We fight for the Lady Babylon!!! |
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#46 |
Cythraul Enfys
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 57,086
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And, relax, fight the compulsion to hurry back!!!!! Work on your tan!!! Try some surfing and some surf and turf!!!
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There is no problem so great that it cannot be fixed by small explosives carefully placed. Wash this space! We fight for the Lady Babylon!!! |
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#47 |
Elf Wino
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,078
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I wonder if there is some regional influences on arthwollipot's experiences? When I lived in the South East, the horrible types were much more common than the kind arthwollipot describes in his first post.
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#48 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 6,237
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#49 |
Illuminator
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Brisbane, Aust.
Posts: 3,513
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#50 |
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,726
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Southern Baptists. if there is a more horrible form of Xtians, then I haven't seen them...yet. The whole Southern Baptists Religion was founded during the time of the American Civil War as a way to justify Slavery. Does that not suck...or what?
With such bad beginnings, it is no wonder that Southern Baptists are such rotten people. Every one of them. |
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#51 |
Student
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Colorado
Posts: 40
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#52 |
Observer of Phenomena
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Location, Location
Posts: 56,736
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"This quote was taken out of context." - Randall Munroe |
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#53 |
Disorder of Kilopi
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: State of Flux
Posts: 7,016
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@OP I'd rather encourage believers to see religious history as the (1) track record of humans attempting to codify morals/ethics, what has consistently (2) caused problems is when single interpretations of any particular persuasion go absolutist and swing clubs or swords, and (3) so the best thing is to drop it all and focus on becoming better people. Once the meme that there is a source for foundational fixed authority dies, maybe this will help people to stop attempting to use such nonsense in politics as well.
God-given rights or duties lead to god-mandated trouble. |
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#54 |
Miss Schoolteacher
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 15,221
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When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes - Desiderius Erasmus "Does [A'isha] want to end up in a gas chamber, I wonder? Because this is where the whole thing will end" - McHrozni |
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#55 |
Illuminator
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Brisbane, Aust.
Posts: 3,513
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Thinking is a faith hazard. |
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#56 |
Observer of Phenomena
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Location, Location
Posts: 56,736
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Which all supports my belief that a majority of Christians are actually nice, but the nasty ones get all of the attention. You notice the ones that stand out, but you don't notice the ones that are just standing quietly in the background not bothering anybody.
The thing is, the ones that stand out are a tiny minority, and we shouldn't be basing our opinions of all of them on the behaviour of that minority. |
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"This quote was taken out of context." - Randall Munroe |
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#57 |
Schrφdinger's cat
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Malmesbury, UK
Posts: 10,226
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"If you trust in yourself ... and believe in your dreams ... and follow your star ... you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things" - Terry Pratchett |
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#58 |
Deleterious Slab of Damnation
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: The Biggest Little City in the World
Posts: 29,551
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"Oh god...What have you done, zooterkin? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!?!?!" - Cleon |
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#59 |
Observer of Phenomena
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Location, Location
Posts: 56,736
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First: you're still blaming the majority for the behaviour of the minority. Blaming them for their inaction, but you're still holding them responsible for bad activities when they aren't.
Second: even if they did do more to counter and dispute the nasty activities, you still wouldn't notice them. Because... Third: they do. |
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"This quote was taken out of context." - Randall Munroe |
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#60 |
Miss Schoolteacher
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 15,221
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When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes - Desiderius Erasmus "Does [A'isha] want to end up in a gas chamber, I wonder? Because this is where the whole thing will end" - McHrozni |
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#61 |
Illuminator
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Brisbane, Aust.
Posts: 3,513
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Well no argument with that as I have observed it many times myself. Many self indentify with political parties and churches, with scant knowledge about the stance of the party or church on many issues. They just listen to the speeches or sermons and say aye or amen at the end. I just find it interesting that some can just move through life, and almost shield themselves from knowledge. |
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Thinking is a faith hazard. |
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#62 |
Observer of Phenomena
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Location, Location
Posts: 56,736
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"This quote was taken out of context." - Randall Munroe |
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#63 |
Illuminator
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Brisbane, Aust.
Posts: 3,513
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__________________
Thinking is a faith hazard. |
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#64 |
Observer of Phenomena
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Location, Location
Posts: 56,736
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"This quote was taken out of context." - Randall Munroe |
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#65 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,401
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In general, the kindness of Christians seems to inversely proportional to how vocal they are about being Christian.
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#66 |
Student
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Colorado
Posts: 40
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This!
I know so many great people that also happen to be Christian / Republican / Muslim / Tech Specialists / outside my tribe. The obnoxious ones tend to be vocal. The rest just quietly live their worldview. I hope they feel the same about atheists like me. I tend to quietly live my worldview, too, when the obnoxious ones let me. |
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#67 |
Observer of Phenomena
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Location, Location
Posts: 56,736
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"This quote was taken out of context." - Randall Munroe |
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#68 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 14,232
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Exactly my experience too.
In fact there are several passages in the New Testament commanding true Christians to not be bombastic about being Christians: "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven" "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." Not to mention passages such as: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves" "Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love." "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere" |
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#69 |
Observer of Phenomena
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Location, Location
Posts: 56,736
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On the other hand, there's Matthew 28:18-20.
Quote:
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"This quote was taken out of context." - Randall Munroe |
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#70 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,401
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A minor part though. I've never met someone who brought Jesus into normal non-religious conversation and didn't turn out to be a nasty person. Plenty of nice normal people I've met I later incidentally learned were Christians because when I asked them where they were going one day, they said "Church", or something like that.
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#71 |
Miss Schoolteacher
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 15,221
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To which many of the Christians I know would respond with the words often attributed to St. Francis, "Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary."
Or, as better explained in his actual words: It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching. ...As for me, I desire this privilege from the Lord, that never may I have any privilege from man, except to do reverence to all, and to convert the world by obedience to the Holy Rule rather by example than by word. |
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When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes - Desiderius Erasmus "Does [A'isha] want to end up in a gas chamber, I wonder? Because this is where the whole thing will end" - McHrozni |
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#72 |
Muse
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 628
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List of 'nice' things the church I belong to does:
Makes 200 meals a month for poor kids at a local school who turn up without lunch. Raised $40,000 to build a classroom for a school in Timor Leste. Provides food and assistance for poor and homeless people who turn up regularly at the front door. Provides financial assistance and emotional/practical support to victims of domestic abuse who come to the church to attend playgroups. Fixes up houses and yards for older folk in the area who no longer have the capacity to properly look after their property. This is off the top of my head, and does not include all the individual things that church members are doing to help their community. This is from a 'smallish' church of around 150 people. Of course, non of this ever makes the 'news'. |
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"Every line of serious work I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic Socialism, as I understand it." George Orwell, 'Why I Write' |
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#73 |
Muse
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 628
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If you delved into Christian culture you would find that there is plenty of disputation.
The issue is what the media finds newsworthy in relation to Christianity. For example, gay marriage - the media will nearly always find Christians opposing this and give them airtime. Abortion, the same. On the other hand, when was the last time you saw the media invite a Christian commentator on to speak about economics, injustice, or the poor, even though they are issues that are at the heart of both the Old and New Testaments? |
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"Every line of serious work I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic Socialism, as I understand it." George Orwell, 'Why I Write' |
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#74 |
Master Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 2,011
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#75 |
Miss Schoolteacher
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 15,221
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__________________
When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes - Desiderius Erasmus "Does [A'isha] want to end up in a gas chamber, I wonder? Because this is where the whole thing will end" - McHrozni |
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