A lovely new group on facebook- "Let's hate christianity because they believe in something different - General

Posted on their wall, and I don't think the point of the group is to attack theists. Some people there, sure, might want to do so, but at least the one person I spoke to on there isn't there to do that. [editline]24th October 2011[/editline] Oh, and here is an interesting argument to the "why believe" argument. Why not? I mean, think about it: If you're wrong, then you're dead anyway and it doesn't matter. But if you're right... then you get eternal life and paradise. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain. So why not?

[QUOTE=S31-Syntax;32939316]You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain. So why not?[/QUOTE] Because your argument can be used against you. If you believe and you're wrong, then you've potentially wasted many opportunities in life because your fear of the will and laws of something that has no proof of existence, prohibited you from enjoying life in whatever manner you please. Religion tells you how to live your life, atheism tells you that you are in charge of how you live your life. Religion tells you that if you're good, there will be a better life for you after death. Atheism tells you that there is no knowing that there is a life after death, and that you should treat this like the only life you'll have.

-snip stupid post-

[QUOTE=Simski;32939412]Because your argument can be used against you. If you believe and you're wrong, then you've potentially wasted many opportunities in life because your fear of the will and laws of something that has no proof of existence prohibited you from enjoying life in whatever manner you please. Religion tells you how to live your life, atheism tells you that you are in charge of how you live your life. Religion tells you that if you're good, there will be a better life for you after death. Atheism tells you that there is no knowing that there is a life after death, so it's better to live a good life now.[/QUOTE] Religion suggests how you live your life, there is a difference. In my head, I interpret the Bible as essentially a self help book. It gives suggestions and pointers on ways that they think are a good way of life. Things like the 10 commandments are for the most part a solid set of laws regardless of religious status. I do not believe that the Bible is to be interpreted literally, as it is full of holes, contradictions, and was written by a number of people over a long period of time, some of it probably derived from legends and oral history and translated between several languages and not written by God. Additionally, it sure as hell ain't a basis of Government. Its a self help book with some interesting stories, and thats just about it.

[QUOTE=S31-Syntax;32939316]You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain. So why not?[/QUOTE] I hear this all the time, and it's not that simple. I don't wake up everyday thinking what a great day it is to give the finger to god. I don't believe in a god, and I can't start believing in something I don't think exists even if I wanted to. Sort of like Santa Claus, no matter how overused that comparison might be. Besides, "just in case" is not a good reason to believe in a god, because that means you would be doing it out of fear, which is not a good reason to worship anything, real or not.

My family is entirely christian on my father's side. They all cried for an hour when I told them of my lack of faith and they feared for my life, suggesting that my decisions would change "later in life" or that I'm too young to "lose my way down the christian path". They also associated atheists with being satanists or devil worshipers. They are all church-flocking republicans as well -- and every time I visit them I get looked down at and it feels like they don't like my presence. Yeah they voted McCain and bought themselves Palin glasses. Christians like this slow down the progress of modern society simply because everyone has to cater to their pseudo bible bullshit and be overly politically correct just for them. These people are known to be: 1. Racist 2. Anti-government 3. Wealthy but wont spend a penny extra on anything. (my grand mother would throw a shit fit at a kfc if they so much as looked like they charged one cent extra than she thought was necessary. She would get out of the drive through and walk inside and argue for 45 minutes until they give her compensation) 4. Seriously illogical, irrational, and unwilling to bend from childhood tradition or rituals 5. Over protective and emotional and have an in-general "we gotta save the world/spread the christian word or the second coming will happen" attitude even though they themselves are shitty people on the inside. 6. They're fake and pretend to be more important than they are - they enjoy making people envy them by wearing their most expensive jewelry EVERYWHERE, the older women usually don't like their spouses and control his money/have their name put on everything (and they don't divorce because it's a sin) so they treat each other like shit 7. just control freaks tbqh

[QUOTE=S31-Syntax;32939605]Religion suggests how you live your life, there is a difference. In my head, I interpret the Bible as essentially a self help book. It gives suggestions and pointers on ways that they think are a good way of life. Things like the 10 commandments are for the most part a solid set of laws regardless of religious status. I do not believe that the Bible is to be interpreted literally, as it is full of holes, contradictions, and was written by a [b]number of people over a long period of time, some of it probably derived from legends and oral history and translated between several languages[/b] and not God. Additionally, it sure as hell ain't a basis of Government. Its a self help book with some interesting stories, and thats just about it.[/QUOTE] fixed that for you [editline]24th October 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Stick it in her pooper;32939911]My family is entirely christian on my father's side. They all cried for an hour when I told them of my lack of faith and they feared for my life, suggesting that my decisions would change "later in life" or that I'm too young to "lose my way down the christian path". They also associated atheists with being satanists or devil worshipers. They are all church-flocking republicans as well -- and every time I visit them I get looked down at and it feels like they don't like my presence. Yeah they voted McCain and bought themselves Palin glasses. Christians like this slow down the progress of modern society simply because everyone has to cater to their pseudo bible bullshit and be overly politically correct just for them. These people are known to be: 1. Racist 2. Anti-government 3. Wealthy but wont spend a penny extra on anything. (my grand mother would throw a shit fit at a kfc if they so much as looked like they charged one cent extra than she thought was necessary. She would get out of the drive through and walk inside and argue for 45 minutes until they give her compensation) 4. Seriously illogical, irrational, and unwilling to bend from childhood tradition or rituals 5. Over protective and emotional and have an in-general "we gotta save the world/spread the christian word or the second coming will happen" attitude even though they themselves are shitty people on the inside. 6. They're fake and pretend to be more important than they are - they enjoy making people envy them by wearing their most expensive jewelry EVERYWHERE, the older women usually don't like their spouses and control his money/have their name put on everything (and they don't divorce because it's a sin) so they treat each other like shit 7. just control freaks tbqh[/QUOTE] I'd like to know why people think these kind of people are Christian? Most of what you said goes against the teachings of Christ which is a [i]slightly[/i] important part of Christianity. People like that just give Christianity a bad name and are probably the main reason that 'evangelical atheism' (as I call it) is growing so fast.

[QUOTE=st0rmforce;32940126]fixed that for you [editline]24th October 2011[/editline] I'd like to know why people think these kind of people are Christian? Most of what you said goes against the teachings of Christ which is a [i]slightly[/i] important part of Christianity. People like that just give Christianity a bad name and are probably the main reason that 'evangelical atheism' (as I call it) is growing so fast.[/QUOTE] Thanks for the clarification there aaaaaand... I love you. Just saying.

[QUOTE=Alex_DeLarge;32937723] All Christians are angry, defensive and violent if you really sit down and talk with them. Some just hide it better.[/QUOTE] Yeah, this is totally true, I've talked to every christian in the world and they're all dumb and assholes when you start being unfriendly and an ass.

[QUOTE=GoDong-DK;32940330]Yeah, this is totally true, I've talked to every christian in the world and they're all dumb and assholes when you start being unfriendly and an ass.[/QUOTE] I am every christian in the world and I really hate it when people talk to me. Stupid shits. stop talking to me and let me thump my bible some more.

I live right next to a pair of Christians (well, one now, the father left) and lemme tell ya: The wife is the biggest bitch you'll ever meet. I'm fairly certain she abuses her child, she scowls at me and my mother when she sees us, yet in public she plays all nice and wholesome. Good family values, suburban life, shit like that. She caters to everyone and they believe she's the nicest thing on the planet. The father, however, was the sweetest guy. He was nice, kind, forgiving, the very basis for what Christianity is meant to make a man. I haven't seen him recently. It seems he's left the wife. Not sure if he'll be back for the kid. This is why I reckon Christianity is both bad in general and seems, from the outset, a great idea. You can get both kinds of people: the ones who twist their beliefs to themselves, and the ones who twist themselves to their beliefs. The only problem is, there's no way to distinguish the first from the second from a religious standpoint. And because of that, I think it's a terrible idea because it lets bad people get away without confronting themselves and their issues, but paints the ones who genuinely do use religion to model themselves and not the other way around as either equally bad or equally good. All it does is cloud the water with bullshit and it's dumb and flawed.

[QUOTE=S31-Syntax;32939316]Posted on their wall, and I don't think the point of the group is to attack theists. Some people there, sure, might want to do so, but at least the one person I spoke to on there isn't there to do that. [editline]24th October 2011[/editline] Oh, and here is an interesting argument to the "why believe" argument. Why not? I mean, think about it: If you're wrong, then you're dead anyway and it doesn't matter. But if you're right... then you get eternal life and paradise. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain. So why not?[/QUOTE] This stupid argument is known as [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal's_Wager]Pascal's Wager[/url] The problem is that you're only considering that there is either no god, or there is the Christian God. If you believe in the Christian God, but some other god exists (one which nobody has even conceived of) instead then you're fucked anyway and you get to go to that God's "hell". [editline]24th October 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=HitlerisRonPaul;32935645]And [I]you[/I] have a PhD in Biology?[/QUOTE] No, because I'm not disagreeing with the people who do have PhD's. I acknowledge that they know more than I do, so I can feel comfortable in accepting what they have to say. On the other hand, if you want to refute their arguments with Christian bullshit you should probably go to school.

[QUOTE=Cone;32940509]I live right next to a pair of Christians (well, one now, the father left) and lemme tell ya: The wife is the biggest bitch you'll ever meet. I'm fairly certain she abuses her child, she scowls at me and my mother when she sees us, yet in public she plays all nice and wholesome. Good family values, suburban life, shit like that. She caters to everyone and they believe she's the nicest thing on the planet. The father, however, was the sweetest guy. He was nice, kind, forgiving, the very basis for what Christianity is meant to make a man. I haven't seen him recently. It seems he's left the wife. Not sure if he'll be back for the kid. This is why I reckon Christianity is both bad in general and seems, from the outset, a great idea. You can get both kinds of people: the ones who twist their beliefs to themselves, and the ones who twist themselves to their beliefs. The only problem is, there's no way to distinguish the first from the second from a religious standpoint. And because of that, I think it's a terrible idea because it lets bad people get away without confronting themselves and their issues, but paints the ones who genuinely do use religion to model themselves and not the other way around as either equally bad or equally good. All it does is cloud the water with bullshit and it's dumb and flawed.[/QUOTE] A good point, but this can be said of any belief structure. There are people that take their beliefs and use them as excuses to do what they please, and then there are those that take them and reflect upon them and actually follow them the way they were meant to be followed.

[QUOTE=Kalibos;32936450]what the fuck are you even talking about no it's not a fact to say that the abrahamic god does not exist b/c you can't know that and at humans' present level of ability to attain knowledge nobody can possibly know that and probably won't be able to for a long, long time. shut up [/quote] I don't meant to say that Christianity is 100% false, but it's so close to zero probability of being correct that you can round it down to zero. If you're looking at it as being either there is the Christian God or there is no god, then you are totally wrong. The only real argument is "is there [b]a[/b] god or no god." And in the "a god" category there are infinite possibilities, so what makes your one specific god any more likely than the Flying Spaghetti Monster? [quote] and why are you even talking about evolution? everyone that's even slightly reasonable and not completely stupid knows evolution has been proved over and over again. why even bring it up. shut up [/quote] I think I remember reading that more than 40 or 50% of Christians in the US deny evolution. [quote] and uh no you don't need a degree in something in order to have a weighing opinion on a subject. shut up[/QUOTE] If you want to refute any arguments coming from Richard Dawkins or someone similar then yes you do need a degree. Otherwise anything you say is invalid.

[QUOTE=PvtCupcakes;32940736]This stupid argument is known as [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal's_Wager]Pascal's Wager[/url] The problem is that you're only considering that there is either no god, or there is the Christian God. If you believe in the Christian God, but some other god exists (one which nobody has even conceived of) instead then you're fucked anyway and you get to go to that God's "hell". [editline]24th October 2011[/editline] No, because I'm not disagreeing with the people who do have PhD's. I acknowledge that they know more than I do, so I can feel comfortable in accepting what they have to say. On the other hand, if you want to refute their arguments with Christian bullshit you should probably go to school.[/QUOTE] Thanks asshole, I was adding a lighthearted argument to a conversation that was primarily about Christianity anyway. [editline]24th October 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=PvtCupcakes;32940849]I don't meant to say that Christianity is 100% false, but it's so close to zero probability of being correct that you can round it down to zero. If you're looking at it as being either there is the Christian God or there is no god, then you are totally wrong. The only real argument is "is there [b]a[/b] god or no god." And in the "a god" category there are infinite possibilities, so what makes your one specific god any more likely than the Flying Spaghetti Monster? I think I remember reading that more than 40 or 50% of Christians in the US deny evolution. If you want to refute any arguments coming from Richard Dawkins or someone similar then yes you do need a degree. Otherwise anything you say is invalid.[/QUOTE] Degrees don't give you bragging rights over anything. Its a symbol that your opinion might be a little more constructed than someone elses.

I mostly dislike Religion for the fear it puts in people. Fear of gods wrath, fear of hellfire, fear of the devil. My parents didn't teach me those things, but a child that pays attention can still pick up the bits and pieces. My parents are mostly agnostic and likely it is that they were simply never troubled by these thoughts in the same way as me, but school taught me about religion none the less. School taught me, the Internet taught me, television taught me, and you'd be surprised just how well simple curiosity of a young boy can piece things together just from paying attention. Until I was 13 I spent my life fearing hellfire, fearing gods wrath for doing the wrongs things, and not believing or believing in the wrong god. I did all this while still feeling whatever thing out there did not acknowledge my existence and had likely abandoned me. When I realized there was no reason for me to believe in any of that, I felt free like I had not felt before. I spent a few years of being agnostic, but all until I was completely relieved of my belief it was only fear of gods wrath if I was wrong that I felt. This is the absolute main reason I hate religion, because I feel it is inhumane to teach another man, and especially someone as easily manipulated as a child, about something that can make them feel this kind of fear. I don't think anyone should be taught to fear what happens after death, I don't think anyone should be taught that punishment is the only reason you should be a good person, I don't think that anyone should not be allowed to question anything.

[QUOTE=PvtCupcakes;32940849] [QUOTE]and why are you even talking about evolution? everyone that's even slightly reasonable and not completely stupid knows evolution has been proved over and over again. why even bring it up. shut up[/QUOTE] I think I remember reading that more than 40 or 50% of Christians in the US deny evolution. [/QUOTE] And your point is... ? :v:

[QUOTE=S31-Syntax;32940870] Degrees don't give you bragging rights over anything. Its a symbol that your opinion might be a little more constructed than someone elses.[/QUOTE] Umm... you're saying that having a PhD and spending the majority of your life studying the origin of species and the universe only makes your opinion [b]only a little[/b] stronger? So the opinion of Joe Sixpack who says "My daddy taught me bout Jesus" is only slightly less credible than Richard Dawkins who has studied the subject at a very high level for more than 40 years, has been published in academic journals, and has written books?