Religious/Philosophical discussion, your thoughts Options

[Spectatrix]

if you don't believe he exists why do you even bother to discuss him as if he was real?

i don't get it... non-believers are always criticizing followers of religion for attempting to convert, for ramming their religion down others throats, but honestly, i'm getting sick of all the righteous assholes who put down religious people for their beliefs. what do you guys get out of it?

Not being able to refer to God as a real entity in a hypothetical sense puts me at a disadvantage in debates. If I can't discuss things from a Christian's point of view, there's going to be a serious disconnect between what I'm saying and what my presumably Christian opponent is saying.

As for the rest... I guess my language has been a bit off-putting. I don't hate Christians or think that they or any other religious people are stupid for having religious beliefs. I DO hate far right fundie evangelicals like the lovely folks from Westboro Baptist and the two people who were proselytizing with a bullhorn here at UNM a few weeks back. I DO think that God, as depicted in the Old Testament, is not a merciful, loving God, and even if I believed he were real, I don't think I could bring myself to worship him.

[Mommy]

Not being able to refer to God as a real entity in a hypothetical sense puts me at a disadvantage in debates. If I can't discuss things from a Christian's point of view, there's going to be a serious disconnect between what I'm saying and what my presumably Christian opponent is saying.

As for the rest... I guess my language has been a bit off-putting. I don't hate Christians or think that they or any other religious people are stupid for having religious beliefs. I DO hate far right fundie evangelicals like the lovely folks from Westboro Baptist and the two people who were proselytizing with a bullhorn here at UNM a few weeks back. I DO think that God, as depicted in the Old Testament, is not a merciful, loving God, and even if I believed he were real, I don't think I could bring myself to worship him.

You posted that at 4:20 you fucking pot head

[FORSAKENR320]

if you don't believe he exists why do you even bother to discuss him as if he was real?

dammit, i forgot which book this quote came from, but i thought about it while reading this thread.

"a man was out on the corner, preaching and screaming that god did not exist.... i have never before seen a man so desperate to be proven wrong"

[TetraGrammaton C...]

I would say simple things that merely identify your beliefs (crosses, whatever) are always acceptable (america's freedoms), except maybe prison where freedoms are taken away. I think when you are getting to the point of causing a religious debate by what you are wearing (or displaying) then its inappropriate. I wouldn't think any normal person would find a cross, as a peice of jewlery, something that would distract from normal life and cause a huge debate in any environment.

what do you think about public figures, such as politicians, entertainers, etc.? Should they be allowed to use their place in the public eye as a platform for religious propaganda? what would be overstepping one's place as a public figure?
should these people be endorsed? how long until basketball players are getting paid to promote some sort of new cult religion?

[Spectatrix]

You posted that at 4:20 you fucking pot head

It was 3:20 here.

[Mommy]

It was 3:20 here.

DAMMIT MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME.... HOW I HATE YOU... YET LOVE YOU SO MUCH

was great traveling back in time 5 minutes when flying from Lubbock to El Paso

[impala454]

"if you don't believe he exists why do you even bother to discuss him as if he was real?"
if this thread bothers you, then why do you even bother to read it?

i'll read the rest of your post tomorrow at work if i get time, but to answer your question: the title of the thread is "Religious/Philisophical discussion", not "Lets make fun of Christians". So either you mis-titled the thread, or you're being an asshole.

[Trespass]

what do you think about public figures, such as politicians, entertainers, etc.? Should they be allowed to use their place in the public eye as a platform for religious propaganda? what would be overstepping one's place as a public figure?
should these people be endorsed? how long until basketball players are getting paid to promote some sort of new cult religion?

Well entertainers are private citizens, and can (like everyone else) do whatever they want. I would still say some things could be asshole moves, but the public can choose not to buy that persons stuff anymore (like the crack whore chixs). So i don't think they have any kind of different standard.

As for politicians i think that we have the ability to not vote for them if we don't like what they are saying. I guess the flip side is that we elect them for those very same views, so unless the actual politicians are violating the constitution by trying to establish a church of the United States i dont really see much of a problem.

So overstepping to me would be taking away the ability of others to stop listening or get rid of them for that propaganda. I mean, i also think on a decency basis they shouldn't ram it down peoples throats, but its pretty much the same standard as anyone else... just dont be an asshat.

[impala454]

what do you think about public figures, such as politicians, entertainers, etc.? Should they be allowed to use their place in the public eye as a platform for religious propaganda? what would be overstepping one's place as a public figure?
should these people be endorsed? how long until basketball players are getting paid to promote some sort of new cult religion?

what kind of a stupid question is this? why would you suppress anyone's religious views if they want to discuss them?

politicians- they're people, just like everyone else, they're elected, if you want to vote for politicians based on their religious views, that's your american born right (albeit a pretty stupid way to vote).

entertainers- same thing, it's pretty funny that they think people give a damn what they have to say. there's more and more of them coming out and trying to make political statements during award ceremonies. let them say whatever they want. if your religious/political views are swayed by lindsay lohan i suppose that's your american born right too

kids in school- you said something about should kids be allowed to wear clothes that display what religion they are? why the hell would this not be allowed? you gonna let a kid endorse nike but not buddha? and how the hell would you wear clothes that indicate "you don't practice any religion"? you gonna start censoring history books and act like religion had nothing to do with certain parts of history?

you guys seem to want separation of church & state to be literal, as in, loser liberal people wanting to spend taxpayer money to remove old statues. separation of church & state means there's no Church of the USA, and that Joe-Bobs-Church-of-Duct-Tape has no say in laws. it doesn't mean all politicians have to be devoid of religion or use their beliefs in their decisions. it doesnt mean you have to remint the whole nation's currency because it has the words "in God we trust" on it. it simply means that no religious entity is in control of or is a branch of our government.

[Spectatrix]

Heh... impala, I don't think anyone here is espousing those kind of views. Jared, I'd wager, is just trying to make people think more deeply about the issues discussed here. Playing Devil's Advocate, ya know.

This post has been edited by Spectatrix: Dec 11 2006, 06:19 PM

[Mommy]

I like to play devil's advocate...not for the sake of creating interesting discussion, but rather for being the asshole.

I have a feeling im not the only one that does that.

[impala454]

Heh... impala, I don't think anyone here is espousing those kind of views. Jared, I'd wager, is just trying to make people think more deeply about the issues discussed here. Playing Devil's Advocate, ya know.

i was just answering his questions /shrug