I'm thinking about joining Christianity, should I? - General

I think this is your decision, not facepunch's

[QUOTE=evilweazel;19166915]There is no proof that there are animals on this earth we haven't discovered, but most scientists think there are.[/QUOTE] That's based on the fact that we keep discovering new animals. Trends are important in science.

[QUOTE=NoShogun;19166879]I have atheist friends, I respect what they believe in (or don't believe in, rather) and I've never once tried to force my beliefs on them. I can see why atheists believe what they do, I just choose not to believe the same thing. Is it so wrong for me to want my beliefs to be respected as well?[/QUOTE] If I was to repeatedly assert that the moon was made of cheese, would you respect my belief? (I'm not trying to offend by using that as a comparison, I'm just trying to make a point that religion is, for whatever reason, immune to criticism.)

[QUOTE=HumanAbyss;19166889]Most christians(From observation) Think it's wrong to be gay, think it's wrong to believe there is no god, etc, so much so, that it's not okay. They give the fundamentalists a place to belong. [editline]09:46PM[/editline] No. It isn't. I don't expect my beliefs to be respected because out of experience, no one is going to. If you respect your friends, then more than likely, that's because they are your friends. A random persons beliefs are not going to be respected.[/QUOTE] I beat the hell out of this other Christian kid in school because he was making fun of this atheist kid and waving a bible in his face. I didn't know the kid who I was defending.

[QUOTE=windwakr;19166935]You guys should take this to the religion forum: [url]http://www.facepunch.com/forumdisplay.php?f=330[/url] Oh yes, Christian == Dumb Catholics[/QUOTE] They are usually the same thing

Although sir, to be completely honest, I don't think you should let Facepunch inform you on such. I usually refrain from the topic of religion on these boards. In my opinion though, yeah, it could be one of the best decisions in your life.

[QUOTE=NoShogun;19166940]Yeah, I can see that, but he seems to think that that's the fault of the religion. The people make those choices just like anyone else, the religion doesn't force them to do anything.[/QUOTE] Sure, because the religion in question(Christianity) doesn't tell you, kill the gays, kill the disobedient children, kill the heretics, etc. Right. I forgot that all those sections of the book that you call gods word aren't the part you pick and chose to believe in.

[QUOTE=Faren;19166957]If I was to repeatedly assert that the moon was made of cheese, would you respect my belief? (I'm not trying to offend by using that as a comparison, I'm just trying to make a point that religion is, for whatever reason, immune to criticism.)[/QUOTE] That's actually a really good point, but I can counter it. We can prove your statement (the moon being made out of cheese) incorrect. While we have not found evidence for God (that's why it's faith-based) no one has proven that a god does not and can not exist.

[QUOTE=NoShogun;19166879]I have atheist friends, I respect what they believe in (or don't believe in, rather) and I've never once tried to force my beliefs on them. I can see why atheists believe what they do, I just choose not to believe the same thing. Is it so wrong for me to want my beliefs to be respected as well?[/QUOTE] As the Christian, you are hardly the persecuted minority.

[QUOTE=Majache;19166757]Fuck you bubba. I'll hate whatever I want no matter what I believe.[/QUOTE] :golfclap: I'll just translate and quote something I used to say to Arab atheists that share your attitude: [quote]When you leave a certain party/convoy/group, your goal is to race them on the path of progression and civilization, and when you turn your back to the road and start walking backwards only to spit insults and hatred at their faces, your destiny is to fall into the pit of ignorance.[/quote] Rough translation, have a nice landing. :tiphat:

[QUOTE=NoShogun;19167020]That's actually a really good point, but I can counter it. We can prove your statement (the moon being made out of cheese) incorrect. While we have not found evidence for God (that's why it's faith-based) no one has proven that a god does not and can not exist.[/QUOTE] How about the fact there's a unicorn behind you. It's invisible. You can't touch it either. Oh, and it has no heat signature. But it's there. I know it is. I believe it.

[QUOTE=Faren;19166545]I fixed it for you.[/QUOTE] Now, why was I rated dumb for this? Are you actually implying that there is evidence for the existence of a god?

[QUOTE=HumanAbyss;19167032]How about the [b]fact[/b] there's a unicorn behind you. It's invisible. You can't touch it either. Oh, and it has no heat signature. But it's there. I know it is. I believe it.[/QUOTE] Then I can choose whether or not to believe in it. And you said that it was a fact. I don't state my beliefs as fact, I state them as beliefs.

Well OP, if you really are compelled by it, do it. What's to stop you? If you really think there is a heaven and hell, then go for it. There is nothing to lose. I'm an Agnostic Theist myself, I'm Roman Catholic, but, still not really sure. But, there's nothing to lose if someway, somehow, it's true. Athiests are silly sometimes, just believing when you die, you die. Remember the old saying, "There ain't no Atheist in a foxhole." Gotta have faith in something, somewhere. So yea.

I'll clear some things up 1 - The Bible is excerpts from different people and sometimes they do stumble over each other and commit hypocrisies. The bible is a teaching tool and a moral code. Yes you can in fact choose what parts to believe in because the bible is left to [b]YOUR[/b] interpretation of it. 2 - Christians and other members of certain religions sometimes think of women as lower class. This is complete bullshit and isn't backed up by the Bible at all. It was the [b]TREND[/b] during the time the bible took place that women were lower class. All the way up into the present where they are still somewhat second class. (The women basketball league?) So don't think just because the cavemen in the bible did it means that God wants you to. 3 - There is no black and white line of Theism - Agnosticism - Atheism. People who believe so are usually idiots who think it's "hip" to be atheist. I can't classify exactly what I believe. I believe in the moral code of the bible while I don't believe in or take stock in certain parts of it. I think that there is a power out there that isn't understood that influences us and is divine. Do I think he's/it's watching me while I take a shit? No. He's probably got better things to do like arguing with physicists. You can call me agnostic because I don't truly take part in any religion but I do think there is "something" divine out there. Which places an element of theism. 4 - whatever you become, please don't come on this forum and try to argue it's better than everyone elses beliefs. Like Faren here, don't be him. He's just as bad as the dumbass christians who think that they alone have any real basis of belief. Don't be a super cool atheist hero trying to save us from spending our lives believing in something. Because your wasting time I could be spending believing in something. That is all for now.

[QUOTE=SHoGuNN3R;19167060] Remember the old saying, "There ain't no Atheist in a foxhole."[/quote] I'm sure there are plenty. [QUOTE=SHoGuNN3R;19167060]Gotta have faith in something, somewhere.[/quote] Or you can lead a rational life.

[QUOTE=NoShogun;19167020]That's actually a really good point, but I can counter it. We can prove your statement (the moon being made out of cheese) incorrect. While we have not found evidence for God (that's why it's faith-based) no one has proven that a god does not and can not exist.[/QUOTE] I'm going to bust out a ridiculously overused quote If I were to suggest that between the Earth and Mars there is a china teapot revolving about the sun in an elliptical orbit, nobody would be able to disprove my assertion provided I were careful to add that the teapot is too small to be revealed even by our most powerful telescopes. But if I were to go on to say that, since my assertion cannot be disproved, it is an intolerable presumption on the part of human reason to doubt it, I should rightly be thought to be talking nonsense. If, however, the existence of such a teapot were affirmed in ancient books, taught as the sacred truth every Sunday, and instilled into the minds of children at school, hesitation to believe in its existence would become a mark of eccentricity and entitle the doubter to the attentions of the psychiatrist in an enlightened age or of the Inquisitor in an earlier time.

[QUOTE=NoShogun;19167020]That's actually a really good point, but I can counter it. We can prove your statement (the moon being made out of cheese) incorrect. While we have not found evidence for God (that's why it's faith-based) no one has proven that a god does not and can not exist.[/QUOTE] Thought you'd say that. How about I use this example someone in another one of these threads used: He said he had a stable of unicorns tended to by magical gnomes. All of these creatures, as well as the stable, are completely invisible and undetectable by any means we are capable of. However, I believe without the slightest bit of doubt and with the utmost faith that these creatures, along with the stable, exist.

[QUOTE=Aaronn;19167085]The bible is a teaching tool and a moral code.[/QUOTE] No, it is the word of a perfect god. And somehow, a perfect god let out some imperfect words. Funny thing that

[QUOTE=NoShogun;19167059]Then I can choose whether or not to believe in it.[/QUOTE] But you can't disprove it. This is what God is in my eyes. It's not disprovable yet, it's not provable either though. Yet, I'm still attacked at regular for my lack of belief in him. That's fucking great, huh?

[QUOTE=SHoGuNN3R;19167060]Well OP, if you really are compelled by it, do it. What's to stop you? If you really think there is a heaven and hell, then go for it. There is nothing to lose. I'm an Agnostic Theist myself, I'm Roman Catholic, but, still not really sure. But, there's nothing to lose if someway, somehow, it's true. Athiests are silly sometimes, just believing when you die, you die. Remember the old saying, "There ain't no Atheist in a foxhole." Gotta have faith in something, somewhere. So yea.[/QUOTE] no yuo don't sorry

[QUOTE=Tippmann357;19167096]I'm going to bust out a ridiculously overused quote If I were to suggest that between the Earth and Mars there is a china teapot revolving about the sun in an elliptical orbit, nobody would be able to disprove my assertion provided I were careful to add that the teapot is too small to be revealed even by our most powerful telescopes. But if I were to go on to say that, since my assertion cannot be disproved, it is an intolerable presumption on the part of human reason to doubt it, I should rightly be thought to be talking nonsense. If, however, the existence of such a teapot were affirmed in ancient books, taught as the sacred truth every Sunday, and instilled into the minds of children at school, hesitation to believe in its existence would become a mark of eccentricity and entitle the doubter to the attentions of the psychiatrist in an enlightened age or of the Inquisitor in an earlier time.[/QUOTE] I rated you heart. You have the heart I don't have to type out that whole argument.

stay agnost.

[QUOTE=HumanAbyss;19167104]But you can't disprove it. This is what God is in my eyes. It's not disprovable yet, it's not provable either though. Yet, I'm still attacked at regular for my lack of belief in him. That's fucking great, huh?[/QUOTE] Logic is not about blind faith until you can prove it. That's the opposite of logic, in fact.

[QUOTE=HumanAbyss;19167116]I rated you heart. You have the heart I don't have to type out that whole argument.[/QUOTE] It's called copy pasting [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell%27s_teapot[/url] Also [QUOTE=HumanAbyss;19167104]But you can't disprove it. This is what God is in my eyes. It's not disprovable yet, it's not provable either though. Yet, I'm still attacked at regular for my lack of belief in him. That's fucking great, huh?[/QUOTE] [img]http://godlesspaladin.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/logic.jpg[/img] Fuck this is so true

[QUOTE=HumanAbyss;19167104]But you can't disprove it. This is what God is in my eyes. It's not disprovable yet, it's not provable either though. Yet, I'm still attacked at regular for my lack of belief in him. That's fucking great, huh?[/QUOTE] I'm not the one attacking you. If you want to talk about how it's wrong that atheists are harrassed for being nonreligious (and it sure is wrong), I'd be happy to, but it's not fair to say that Christianity is evil because some misled followers attack you for your lack of belief in God. [editline]01:01AM[/editline] [QUOTE=Faren;19167098]Thought you'd say that. How about I use this example someone in another one of these threads used: He said he had a stable of unicorns tended to by magical gnomes. All of these creatures, as well as the stable, are completely invisible and undetectable by any means we are capable of. However, I believe without the slightest bit of doubt and with the utmost faith that these creatures, along with the stable, exist.[/QUOTE] That's pretty much it, although most religons have some sort of text, something concrete, that they can use to connect with the diety they believe in. Part of the effect of what you're saying is to make religion sound ridiculous, which is why unicorns and gnomes are used. I believe in a magical omnipotent man in the sky. There, I said it.

[QUOTE=NoShogun;19167177]I'm not the one attacking you. If you want to talk about how it's wrong that atheists are harrassed for being nonreligious (and it sure is wrong), I'd be happy to, but it's not fair to say that Christianity is evil because some misled followers attack you for your lack of belief in God.[/QUOTE] My point is that the religion is saying it's ok to do so. It's not the fuckballs in the religion, but the religion itself.

[QUOTE=Aaronn;19167085]I'll clear some things up 1 - The Bible is excerpts from different people and sometimes they do stumble over each other and commit hypocrisies. The bible is a teaching tool and a moral code. Yes you can in fact choose what parts to believe in because the bible is left to [b]YOUR[/b] interpretation of it. 2 - Christians and other members of certain religions sometimes think of women as lower class. This is complete bullshit and isn't backed up by the Bible at all. It was the [b]TREND[/b] during the time the bible took place that women were lower class. All the way up into the present where they are still somewhat second class. (The women basketball league?) So don't think just because the cavemen in the bible did it means that God wants you to. 3 - There is no black and white line of Theism - Agnosticism - Atheism. People who believe so are usually idiots who think it's "hip" to be atheist. I can't classify exactly what I believe. I believe in the moral code of the bible while I don't believe in or take stock in certain parts of it. I think that there is a power out there that isn't understood that influences us and is divine. Do I think he's/it's watching me while I take a shit? No. He's probably got better things to do like arguing with physicists. You can call me agnostic because I don't truly take part in any religion but I do think there is "something" divine out there. Which places an element of theism. 4 - whatever you become, please don't come on this forum and try to argue it's better than everyone elses beliefs. Like Faren here, don't be him. He's just as bad as the dumbass christians who think that they alone have any real basis of belief. Don't be a super cool atheist hero trying to save us from spending our lives believing in something. Because your wasting time I could be spending believing in something. That is all for now.[/QUOTE] [B]1)[/B] Then the Bible is not truly the word of god, is it? [B]2)[/B] If it's written in the Bible, then it should be followed. If you don't follow one part of the Bible, why should you follow any other part? [B]3)[/B] Of course there is a gradient of beliefs. By the way, I think that anyone who thinks that there could not possibly be a god is completely ignorant. The only logical option when it comes to the existence of god is doubt. I'm not sure there is no god, but I think that the chances are pretty slim so I might as well get on with my life. [B]4)[/B] I'm not really sure how to respond to a personal attack on myself. Do you see me calling anyone an idiot or swearing at anyone? I'm not trying to be a "super cool atheist hero", I'm just trying to correct people in their posts where they've made some mistakes in the hope that they might start to look at things logically instead of faithfully. I'd rather teach people how to think than what to think.

[QUOTE=Zeke129;19167119]Logic is not about blind faith until you can prove it. That's the opposite of logic, in fact.[/QUOTE] I'm on your side citing something ridiculous.

Fuck no.