I grew up atheist for 16 years. I had always kept an open mind towards religion, but never really felt a need to believe in it. My sister started going to a Wednesday night children's program at a church. Eventually, I was dragged into a Christmas Eve service. Scoffing, I reluctantly went, assuming that this was going to be a load of crap, but when I went, I felt something. Something that I've never felt before. I felt a sense of empowerment and a sense of calling. Jesus called upon my soul, just like he did with his disciples. he wanted me to follow him. Now, my life is being lived for Christ. He died on the cross for my sins, and the sins of everyone who believes in him. He was beaten, brutalized, struck with a whip 39 times, made to carry a cross up to the stage of his death. This I believe to be true, and I can never repay him for what he has done. I still have my struggles with Christianity, but I've found this bit of information most useful. Religion is not comprehensible in the human mind, because we cannot comprehend the idea of a perfect and supreme being, a God, but we can believe it in our heart, and that's the idea of faith. Faith is, even though everything rides against me believing in Jesus, I still believe in him because I know that it's true in my heart. I invite my fellow Brothers and sisters of the LORD to talk about how Jesus has helped you in your life. No atheists and no insults please
I fully agree that it's the minority, but even a small minority that goes around killing random civillians and innocents is more than tolerable. I too have never met a Muslim that is an extremist, although I have met Christian extremist.
I don't like the Christian extremists. They give everyone a bad name.
Also, I apologize doe throwing you under the bus. I don't recall you being prejudice. I wasn't referring to you specifically but the 'you' was more of a general 'atheists I have debated with'. Also prejudice isn't the exact word I'm thinking of, that's too extreme, I want to say ignorant but that word means nothing here and I don't like using it because of it's overusage... Hmm, I suppose I should find a thesaurus.
Also, I agree its nearly impossible to get a real answer around here.
I don't think Hilter was, but that wqs just because the pope, I forgot his name, didn't want to set him off into another killing spree, being as unstable as Hilter was
Actually, we don't when you get right down to it. The statistics are so minuscule it's hilarious. There never was an Atheist crusade, Atheist jihad or the ilk. Oh and before you say hitler or stalin, those two were roman catholic and eastern orthodox respectively.
And you think we all just agree with the crusades and praise them? I hate the crusades, they were a waste... I admit the church was messed up, along with most of the world back then. We've learned from the mistakes of corruption.
I admit the church was messed up, along with most of the world back then. We've learned from the mistakes of corruption.
We haven't learned a single thing from history except how to kill people better. Oh we've learned this and that, but the subtleties of corruption and oppression remain.
the 'you' was more of a general 'atheists I have debated with'. Also prejudice isn't the exact word I'm thinking of, that's too extreme, I want to say ignorant but that word means nothing here and I don't like using it because of it's overusage... Hmm, I suppose I should find a thesaurus.
How about, Critical? In general when you're debating, it's a good idea for the opposing side to hit hard, so even a small incident (or not so small) can be used as yet another example for their point.
Also, I agree its nearly impossible to get a real answer around here.
I never really expected one from an internet forum on a flash game site in the first place :P
I admit the church was messed up, along with most of the world back then. We've learned from the mistakes of corruption.
Well here's the major crux of the problem. You acknowledge that, but yet, still use a holy text that says all of that is okay. If it was okay back then, and it was supposedly from god, then why is it not okay now? You've already said that you don't think that stuff is okay, but you can't just pick and choose, it's either the word of god or not.
We haven't learned a single thing from history except how to kill people better. Oh we've learned this and that, but the subtleties of corruption and oppression remain.
The mmodern world obviously hasn't but that's not what I'm talking about. The modern world is way more messed up than past times. People always remember what people did bad rather than good though, eh, I have no interest in this topic rigt now, there was a massive thing on this a few months ago, or whenever I was on last, I don't think it's ready to be recycled
Well here's the major crux of the problem. You acknowledge that, but yet, still use a holy text that says all of that is okay. If it was okay back then, and it was supposedly from god, then why is it not okay now? You've already said that you don't think that stuff is okay, but you can't just pick and choose, it's either the word of god or not.
I fully believe it is the word of God. The bible had already been selected and formed way before the crusades and all the screw ups of the church. The bible did not say to go and kill all other people. That was the idiot pope pope at the time who said 'love you neighbor, but only if hes Christian, kill everyone else' Now obviously the bible doesn't say that but he interpreted it that way.
Well, it's more like I know what the quote is, but have to google to find the exact page number. Like I know the quote of going into your closet and pray is a sign of a good christian is in matthew, just not the exact chapter and verse off the top of my head.
Hah then you're far more familiar with it than me. I've read through it once when I was about 10-11 years old, now 6-7 years later, I don't really remember specific quotes unless I see them.
It is talking to the Jewish people instructing them on taking the promise land.
It's still telling them to kill. There's plenty more quotes that I could find (I think they are already on this thread somewhere actually) about how the bible says it's okay to ****, so long as you marry afterwards, have slaves, beat your servants/slaves so long as it's not a permanent injury, and all sorts of things.
It's still telling them to kill. There's plenty more quotes that I could find (I think they are already on this thread somewhere actually) about how the bible says it's okay to ****, so long as you marry afterwards, have slaves, beat your servants/slaves so long as it's not a permanent injury, and all sorts of things.
Of course this is all in the old testament and was the culture of that time. I suppose if the bible were written in today's age and read 2000 years from today, things we do now would probably be viewed as wrong that we consider ok today. I'm not futureseer person and my bracket was awful tuis year for the NCAA so I have no specific examples, but regardless, it was acceptable at that time.
Congrats on the 1000th post btw and I'll see you all tomorrow, maybe. I'm watching all three lord of the rings extended editions all in a row with some friends and I'm totally psyched for it! !
