Why does anyone care what rstrick believes in? He is going to hell and us heroes/angels are going to Heaven.
Random Acts of Kindness
- Thread starter FatPhilM
- Start date
I'm an atheist and my friends and I have certainly insulted hundreds of people for their respective religious beliefs - just not always right to their face.
Proselytizing is extremely annoying and christian pro-lifers, southern baptists, mormons, tea party people - all of them need to be called out for that.
There would've hardly been a Mafia presence in this country if it hadn't been for that idiot women's temperance movement in the 20s which was heavily influenced by religion and spawned prohibition.
Proselytizing is extremely annoying and christian pro-lifers, southern baptists, mormons, tea party people - all of them need to be called out for that.
There would've hardly been a Mafia presence in this country if it hadn't been for that idiot women's temperance movement in the 20s which was heavily influenced by religion and spawned prohibition.
I just keep my beliefs to myself. I think everyone should. Then again when I see someone praying I don't go over and tell them they are wrong. Now that would be the true mark of a psycho
Let me get this straight. It's OK for you and your friends to insult people for their religious beliefs but not OK for them to express their beliefs. How about live and let live!
NickleDimer
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That in itself is a belief. Stop cramming it down our throat.
I never really said that. Religion embodies more values of a time and place. The Christian religions are generally closer aligned with contemporary Western values than most other religions. That doesn't necessarily make it better but the message is more peaceable. The humanist movement is probably most closely aligned with contemporary Western values but you can't really call it a religion. We have certainly become softer and more compassionate as a species and like to do are killing from farther away.
NickleDimer
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(1) Bro, Christians have been killing in the name of Christ for a loooong ass time.
(2) That's the industrial military complex just making more efficient tools. Not a compassionate decision at all.
NickleDimer
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We are also "doing our killing farther away" because our enemies are one step ahead from reading our secretary of state's unsecured emails for years.
As much as I appreciate the debate going back and forth about religion in this thread, I figured I'd chime in with something on topic. Over the past year I've found that when I'm frustrated, angry, or in a bad place emotionally that if I focus on doing something good for someone else that I can quickly get through whatever is bothering me. Instead of ranting on facebook, or even on a news group, or responding back to a crappy baiting text in anger, I'll send someone an email or text about what they mean to me and how much I appreciate them. If I'm out in public I'll do something kind for a stranger - the pay for someones coffee behind me, pay a toll, buy a homeless person water and food, go out of my way to hold the door for someone, stopping to talk to someone who is down, even just looking in someone's eyes and saying thank you can go a long way.
My son loves to go to the Hallmark store to see either the Christmas decorations or these itty bitty stuffed animals. We were in there on Tuesday night and I noticed a woman in her early 30's sitting on the floor of the one aisle (and no, she wasn't good looking), reading a book, and crying. So of course my son decides to go down that aisle and I was got close he asked me whey she was crying. So I walked over and asked her if she was ok and she explained that she just found out that her father was diagnosed with terminal cancer and she was trying to find a motivational book to give to him. I told her I was sorry to hear that, that I'm sure whatever book she picks will be the right one, and to enjoy the time she has with him. It genuinely made her smile. So as we said goodbye and walked past her I grabbed a copy of the book she was reading, went and paid for it, and gave it to her before we left. She was speechless and couldn't stop thanking me.
This world can be a real sh***y place and it is easy to get trapped in everyday trappings. It isn't that hard to be polite, courteous, and to go slightly out of your way for a stranger. All it takes is a little effort to make a difference, even minor, in someone's life.
My son loves to go to the Hallmark store to see either the Christmas decorations or these itty bitty stuffed animals. We were in there on Tuesday night and I noticed a woman in her early 30's sitting on the floor of the one aisle (and no, she wasn't good looking), reading a book, and crying. So of course my son decides to go down that aisle and I was got close he asked me whey she was crying. So I walked over and asked her if she was ok and she explained that she just found out that her father was diagnosed with terminal cancer and she was trying to find a motivational book to give to him. I told her I was sorry to hear that, that I'm sure whatever book she picks will be the right one, and to enjoy the time she has with him. It genuinely made her smile. So as we said goodbye and walked past her I grabbed a copy of the book she was reading, went and paid for it, and gave it to her before we left. She was speechless and couldn't stop thanking me.
This world can be a real sh***y place and it is easy to get trapped in everyday trappings. It isn't that hard to be polite, courteous, and to go slightly out of your way for a stranger. All it takes is a little effort to make a difference, even minor, in someone's life.
Great stuff. To me, that is how to practice religon. Not the stuff about worshipping squirrels.
1) That's obviously true but it is another subject. I'm talking about the actual story and message.
2) People obviously still act out violently but things like genocide are generally frowned upon today. Despite UFC fans like yourself, most people in the western world would be offended by gladiator fights, stonings, public executions and other common acts of violence in earlier times. Most people are offended by collective punishment and unnecessary civilian casualties in times of war. You are being disingenuous suggesting otherwise.
NickleDimer
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NickleDimer
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Eh.... One man's public stoning cruelty is another man's mass incarceration of minorities.
I think that we have a major political party leading candidate with some policy ideas that lean towards collective punishment and torture.
Lean towards?!? He said he would bring back torture and waterboarding. Why? Because f*ck them, that's why!
I think it's undeniable that religion is a universal thing because it is in our genetic and social wiring to look to something bigger than ourselves. Sure, we don't need the same tools to survive today that we did 10,000 years ago when our ancestors prayed to the sun god Ra before dying at the age of 25 - but there's something to be said for the sense of purpose and belief that said ancestor probably had to rely on for what was a much tougher life to deal with than ours are.
I believe we as a species used religion as a comfort device. Being the only animal that is truly aware of its surroundings and life events, we had to find a way to cope.
Sure, I don't necessarily believe in the stories and the preaching and the "you're going to hell" possibilities. But I do see a lot of value in recognizing that you yourself aren't in control. Having some sort of higher power to hand your destiny over to is valuable - because when we try to make things the way we want them to be through sheer force of will, we either break down mentally or see things not come to fruition and blame ourselves or others. If I look at my own (mostly agnostic) life, and at the lives of the religious, I can see the benefits and dangers of both.
What I don't see is why we have to draw a line and say "they are the wrong ones". That's simple thinking in a complex world. I think if you are one who takes a hardline stance in either direction, you are A) foolish because it's obvious people won't change based on your internet persuasion B) driven by your ego which may make you feel better, but doesn't necessarily make you happier - so what's the point?
I believe we as a species used religion as a comfort device. Being the only animal that is truly aware of its surroundings and life events, we had to find a way to cope.
Sure, I don't necessarily believe in the stories and the preaching and the "you're going to hell" possibilities. But I do see a lot of value in recognizing that you yourself aren't in control. Having some sort of higher power to hand your destiny over to is valuable - because when we try to make things the way we want them to be through sheer force of will, we either break down mentally or see things not come to fruition and blame ourselves or others. If I look at my own (mostly agnostic) life, and at the lives of the religious, I can see the benefits and dangers of both.
What I don't see is why we have to draw a line and say "they are the wrong ones". That's simple thinking in a complex world. I think if you are one who takes a hardline stance in either direction, you are A) foolish because it's obvious people won't change based on your internet persuasion B) driven by your ego which may make you feel better, but doesn't necessarily make you happier - so what's the point?
You are interchanging the message with individual people. The Pope was actually correct in saying that Trump's views on immigration are not Christian. The Catholic church offers prayers every Sunday for the abolition of the death penalty. The book of Matthew suggests that visiting those imprisoned as well as feeding and clothing the poor is honoring God. The Sermon on the Mount provided guidance to who is blessed: peacemakers, the meek, the merciful. Let's have some intellectual honesty.
For the record, as stated above, I am not religious. I think Christianity has a nice, feel-good message at its core. I am not even convinced that it is better for the world but I respect the message. You obviously are more Christian leaning than I am as I am okay with mass imprisonment and greater restrictions at our borders. Christ's message was too idealistic to be practical in a lot of situations. It runs counter to a lot of natural impulses and ideas of strength. That makes it somewhat groundbreaking historically but it also ignores the value of strife to the process of evolution. I never said I was an adherent, I only said that I appreciated the story and the accompanying art. High art is often not practical.
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NickleDimer
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You're just regurgitating platitudes at this point.
Western society's driving principle is capitalism, not Christianity. Here's a "socialist" Villanova professor on the topic:
"Chrapitalism: the lucrative merger of Christianity and capitalism, America's most enduring covenant theology"
http://www.booksandculture.com/articles/2013/mayjune/love-stronger-than-debt.html?paging=off
NickleDimer
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Riiiiight. Away from free-market capitalism and towards a softened capitalism that serves the same masters - the plutocracy!
If you read the Book of Matthew for fun, you're PROBABLY at least a little bit religious....just sayin'.
NickleDimer
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What else are you supposed to read while you wait for the next Game of Thrones book? Not many options.
What does that have to do with the Christian message? Are you saying that the New Testament encourages capitalism? If anything, it tends toward socialism. This has gotten pretty far away from the difference between being Catholic and worshipping squirrels.
I think you are attributing value judgements to me that I never made. I said that I appreciate the sentiment and spectacle of Catholicism but that I am not a practicing Catholic. That somehow is relevant to you disdain for Donald Trump?
I think you are attributing value judgements to me that I never made. I said that I appreciate the sentiment and spectacle of Catholicism but that I am not a practicing Catholic. That somehow is relevant to you disdain for Donald Trump?
NickleDimer
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The message IS socialist. Rather it's even stronger - communist. But few, if any, christian groups actually care about that. They tailor it to fit the goals of their true master - capitalism.
I live by the teachings of Jesus as much as I can although I have a long track record of failing. Jesus said "Take up your cross and come follow Me." If the historical Jesus was as good, holy and forgiving as all the writings portrayed H im, than why not try to mimic those qualities in your daily life? Isn't that really what this thread is all about. "Do unto others as you would have them do to you." Just imagine how the world would be if we all followed that example.
It's not for the shock value. When you don't believe and spend your life taking a hard look at things, the concept of religion grows more and more strange each year. I know for myself, you start feeling extremely confused how more people don't see things the way you do.
So you're just trampling on the separation of church and state and mixing everyone/all things together. Not your best work.
So he is appealing to those with stone age views of the world. Those less enlightened.
That I agree with. I agree at least to the extent that a lot of people will tie themselves in knots trying to reconcile their self-interested actions with the morality that they project.
The truth, though, is than any code of morality is too inflexible to function practically in the real world.
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NickleDimer
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NickleDimer
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You might want to sit this one out, slugger. We'll tag you in if we need advice on impending indictments or Ted Lerner anecdotes.
Right, sorry I'll let you get back on this soap box filled with overly broad generalizations.