I would argue that had Jesus not resurrected I do not think his teachings would have had as much bearing as they did. — Josh Vasquez
Yes, while all formal systems (religious or political) around the world don't allow preaching OPENLY (via satellites for example) many Jesus teachings 'as clear as He did', no one of them dares considering the printing of the Gospel (as hard copies or eBooks) as a crime that deserves punishment. — KerimF
Also I can humiliate and destroy almost anyone in debate — GodlessGirl
I just posted an interesting story that I think you will enjoy. Follow this link if you would like to read it. A Letter to My Sisters — Mapping the Medium
I will bow out of this one. Best to you :) — Mapping the Medium
I don't understand this question. Reformulate? — 180 Proof
I liked saying that in case a typical atheist is not supposed to have favourite thinkers/philosophers to guide him in his life (as theists have certain God's stewards on earth), he has to depend on himself only (his mind) to discover the best path(s) for him; in other words, be a philosopher for himself. — KerimF
ABSOLUTELY! Please see my last post in the Lounge. — Mapping the Medium
I used wondering if, for a typical atheist, his favourite philosophers are, as guidance in life for him, equivalent somehow to the favourite prophets/saints for a theist. — KerimF
In this case, could we say that a typical atheist is somehow an individual philosopher? — KerimF
Of course not — 180 Proof
I agree. We always compare ourselves to others, while also taking good ways to act to our own ways of acting. We are ever evolving species with unlimited thirst for knowledge. Some knowledge is good, but some knowledge can be harmful as well. This is why it is important to learn what kind of actions are good from a very young age. Sadly some humans are forced to grow under bad influence, which then affects their future choices. — Yozhura
All the reasons you give can be more really about the attitudes of people who want to maintain society. You exist because at some level, people think it is okay to bring more people into the world and thus, de facto, work at maintaining the institutions to maintain society and bring about more people who will do so. It is just that over and over. Your feelings on the matter are irrelevant, unfortunately. You either get with the program, try to hack it in the wilderness and die a slow death or die a fast death through suicide. Getting with the program means using the institutions of a given society to get your deprivation needs met of survival, comfort, entertainment. — schopenhauer1
How often do you hear of Christians forgiving the person who has murdered their son, for example. — david plumb
Lawless is Satan who obeys no-one other than himself and he is the lawless one. — david plumb
Vengeance is mine saith the Lord. — david plumb
You're confusing the human laws to right a wrong, which would not be needed were we all to love each other as God commands, with God urging us to be righteous and love each other regardless. — david plumb
Where did Jesus reveal that God is lawless? Are you talking about Satan? — david plumb
An “absolute fact” as I would best define it is a fact that can be regarded/ verified as true independently of or consistently through time. — Benj96
How fortunate you are to be able to read the Bible in Arabic. I have found one language does not easily translate to another. Also, the Romans could not accept the Greek understanding of the trinity until they invented a new word to hold an understanding that could be expressed in Rome. I hold the idea, that people who know of Buddhism have a totally different understanding of Jesus than in the more materialistic West. — Athena
I think it is easier to have agreement with scientific thinking than religious thinking? Religious people disagree and yet each is sure their different understanding are God's truth is the right one. That fact of life is what made me turn away from Christianity when was a 8 years old and a Sunday school teacher could not give a good explanation of why there a Protestants and Catholics and not agreement on God's truth. Later I found out there are many more religions, all believing they have truth and willing to kill each other over who has the better truth. That is not moral. — Athena
What that led me to conclude was that there certain facts which are consensus, including ones including personal ones like, date of birth, country and some of the structures of one's life. — Jack Cummins
All I can say in response is the finite can't grasp the infinite. — TheMadFool
What do you mean by a ruling god? I only recognise the term God. — david plumb
Hardly adopted as He either exists or He doesn't — david plumb
One free will? Free will is free will, it is surely not sub-divided. — david plumb
It hardly matters whether they have any interest or not but just turning your head is an effect of your free will to turn your head. Are you talking about consequences? For a consequence of your free will to happen you need your free will to create an action, surely? — david plumb
Pre-programmed instincts? Your free will is outside of everything, it is simply your ability to choose for yourself at the moment of decision. The decision may well be as a consequence of other factors. — david plumb
Equally there are so many in this world who would say : " A life that is guided by the question: "What will God think of this?" is an unfulfilled life. Hence the problems that "we" get ourselves into due to selfish needs and behaviours. — david plumb
Christianity is actually about what you call "magical salvation" .... It's all meaningless — Gregory
I have not studied the bible so I am not sure what the sacrificing is about but I think it has something to do with being on God's good side. — Athena
Nobody, but that’s more a question about institutional knowledge and epistemic authority than the topic of this thread which is individual knowledge. — Pfhorrest
But our own personal views for what works for us do not necessarily work for others. I think you realize that too. It has been great to converse with you. =) — Philosophim
You shouldn’t focus on happiness. — Lokii
But this I have understood for a long time: to seek happiness is to make a hole in the water. If you seek happiness you will be unhappy, so it is better to seek victory, self-assertion, strength, etc. At this point, you are past the stage of the pursuit of happiness. — Lokii
There is no peace and happiness in this world, it is a valley of tears. — Lokii
Another point that differentiates the Christian religion from the others is the miraculous events that are abundant. The true God is the one who acts in his religion. — Lokii
In a word: A life that is not guided by the question: "What will God think of this?", is an unfulfilled life. — Lokii
"As I recall well".............you did? Stranger and stranger.
"No-one asked me"..........that would be a tad difficult before you existed?
"I had no free will, at all, concerning my birth in this world".............not surprising considering you — david plumb
As such, we can shape it into something with foresight and thought, instead of the blunt result of chemical forces. — Philosophim
With intelligence, we can create more "existence" then what is merely here. — Philosophim
We just must not forget that we are a part of this universe, and respect the rest of existence around us as well. — Philosophim
I hear ya. To be clear, I have no interest in demonizing scientists. We hire them to develop knowledge, and they do a good job of performing the service we asked them to perform. — Hippyhead
I think a person like yourself who is polite, listens, and wants to ask questions is always welcome! You have caused no harm, and it has been nice chatting with you. — Philosophim
Mmmmmmm..................you expect free will before you exist? That's a first or is that a result of the choice consumerism that you have been a victim of? — david plumb