Official Atheists/Agnostics Thread
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You guys have probably already posted this site somewhere in this thread, or elsewhere, but i can't be bothered looking through 14 pages (and i think 'FAQ' is too short to search).
You guys have probably already posted this site somewhere in this thread, or elsewhere, but i can't be bothered looking through 14 pages (and i think 'FAQ' is too short to search).
My mom called me crying saying my 5 year old nephew spilled melted (really hot) candy apple on him and he's burnt really bad (she is just a melodramatic person, realistically it wasn't bad at all, just an inch on his hand and another inch on his foot)
So I walk in to my moms house and I see her with her head bent over, crying, holding the hand of one of her hands.
They were praying (my mom is not super religious but she considers herself Christian). My nephew had already left in an ambulance (3 ambulances in the drive way btw, REALLY overdone. Mom probably told them the same story she told me).
"blah blah blah God help him and heal his hand blah blah blah"
Then her friend stopped and said "my friends daughter burned her shoulder really bad with some boiling water and she prayed about it and you can barely tell anything happened".
All the time I'm sitting there thinking to myself;
"Why would a god give 2 shits about your friends kid or my nephew when there's a genocide in Darfur right now and about to be one in Georgia".
My nephew isn't a demon child, but he certainly isn't no angel either. He has done things EASILY condemnable (which doesn't take much being a child or a woman on second thought) by the bible's standards that would merit his death.
I really wanted to say something but I held my tongue for my moms sake.
But is that not a thought that they've never even had? Are they blinded by faith? Is the fact that they've never pondered about that on a deep level make them selfish at an ethical and moral level?
Even IF a god did exist -- and it was the christian god -- wouldn't it be selfish to only pray to him when you need something? Albeit, I know it was a moment of extreme emotion but still.
Maybe I'm just thinking too critically, as usual, and judging a bit too harshly under these particular circumstances. However this wouldn't be the first and it's certain not the last time I've seen self proclaimed christian's talk to god when they want something.
I do not want this whole topic to be about this particular situation however. I want to ponder about this on a bigger level.
Just like when someone dies, why does everyone of their religious relatives believe they went to heaven? A family certainly can't bat 100% with christians can they?
Or why do they never condemn the actions of an old testament god, at the same time not hesitating to say it is not "good" today based on our moral standards, or it's just different time periods.
All comments welcome.
P.s. Just got a mass syndicated video email my grandpa sent out to get people to pray for my nephew (vomit).
__________________
Prayer: How to do nothing and still think you're helping.
I know you might be upset that I am replying but I will anyways, if you are disgusted with Christianity then look away...
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My nephew isn't a demon child, but he certainly isn't no angel either. He has done things EASILY condemnable (which doesn't take much being a child or a woman on second thought) by the bible's standards that would merit his death.
you probably are sick of hearing this but ill offer what I believe anyways,
I dont think it matters what past problems this kid has had in his life, We are all in the same boat, Im a sinner just like every human that has ever lived...and for that you are correct we all deserve death but since Jesus came (the only human ever to set foot on the earth completely free from sin) and died for mankinds sin we have the option of life, we all deserve death but Christ died in our place. He paid the penalty of breaking the Law of God which should have fallen upon us. He satisfied the law of God the Father by dying on the cross. And because of that we can choose eternal life or death,
Being Good/Bad is relative, and all that I know for sure is that we all are sinners and that we all need Christ.
there...I did it...im expecting a bit of hostility in the following posts but I guess ill live
Quote:
All the time I'm sitting there thinking to myself;
"Why would a god give 2 shits about your friends kid or my nephew when there's a genocide in Darfur right now and about to be one in Georgia".
Even IF a god did exist -- and it was the christian god -- wouldn't it be selfish to only pray to him when you need something? Albeit, I know it was a moment of extreme emotion but still.
Maybe I'm just thinking too critically, as usual, and judging a bit too harshly under these particular circumstances. However this wouldn't be the first and it's certain not the last time I've seen self proclaimed christian's talk to god when they want something.
No I dont think it is selfish to pray for minor events such as injuries even deaths when issues such as the one in darfur ect are going on, it is selfish however not to pray for the larger scale issues...
Quote:
Just like when someone dies, why does everyone of their religious relatives believe they went to heaven? A family certainly can't bat 100% with christians can they?
ahh American Christianity....there are many things that frustrate me with it, and this problem ranks pretty high up there...no they cannot know...its between the person who died and God...mostly people IMO say that just to comfort themselves...
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Or why do they never condemn the actions of an old testament god, at the same time not hesitating to say it is not "good" today based on our moral standards, or it's just different time periods.
the actions of an OT god? im not exactly sure what you mean here...please elaborate...
I know you might be upset that I am replying but I will anyways, if you are disgusted with Christianity then look away...
you probably are sick of hearing this but ill offer what I believe anyways,
I dont think it matters what past problems this kid has had in his life, We are all in the same boat, Im a sinner just like every human that has ever lived...and for that you are correct we all deserve death but since Jesus came (the only human ever to set foot on the earth completely free from sin) and died for mankinds sin we have the option of life, we all deserve death but Christ died in our place. He paid the penalty of breaking the Law of God which should have fallen upon us. He satisfied the law of God the Father by dying on the cross. And because of that we can choose eternal life or death,
Being Good/Bad is relative, and all that I know for sure is that we all are sinners and that we all need Christ.
there...I did it...im expecting a bit of hostility in the following posts but I guess ill live
So before Jesus died it was morally ethical to kill women for not being a virgin on their wedding knight and to stone children to death for back talk, and after he died it become morally repugnant. Right?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phillysoul11
ahh American Christianity....there are many things that frustrate me with it, and this problem ranks pretty high up there...no they cannot know...its between the person who died and God...mostly people IMO say that just to comfort themselves...
Not just Americans.
Thanks for the concern, I'm not upset though other then the fact my nephew had to go through that. I feel like I'm the only realist in my family, my nephew will be fine.
__________________
Prayer: How to do nothing and still think you're helping.
So before Jesus died it was morally ethical to kill women for not being a virgin on their wedding knight and to stone children to death for back talk, and after he died it become morally repugnant. Right?
If you wish I would love to discuss the issues you have brought up but I think it is only fair to inform that what we will be discussing comes in direct contact with the Lex Talionis or the law of retaliation, I only say this as I may have an unfair advantage seeing as my father spent 8 years writing his dissertation on the subject and seeing as how I have read the 400+ page book more times than I can bear (along with other papers, books ect.) I have done quite a bit of study on it...
If you would like to discuss the issue then please provide me with the verses you would like me to respond to...
You have plenty to pick from...there are plenty good ones in Leviticus that critics love to throw out as well as Deuteronomy, or maybe you are interested with Psalm 137:8-9 where it talks about How blessed it will be for the one who seizes and dashes your little ones Against the rock. whatever your choices I only ask that you pick no more than 3 as I do have limited time and will try to make my replies as thorough as possible...
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Not just Americans.
you are correct, I guess I said American Christianity because it is so frequent here in America and while it does happen in other parts of the world I think we here in the US feel the need to do it the most...Also I have the bad habit of Labeling western society as American I dont know why
If you wish I would love to discuss the issues you have brought up but I think it is only fair to inform that what we will be discussing comes in direct contact with the Lex Talionis or the law of retaliation, I only say this as I may have an unfair advantage seeing as my father spent 8 years writing his dissertation on the subject and seeing as how I have read the 400+ page book more times than I can bear (along with other papers, books ect.) I have done quite a bit of study on it...
If you would like to discuss the issue then please provide me with the verses you would like me to respond to...
You have plenty to pick from...there are plenty good ones in Leviticus that critics love to throw out as well as Deuteronomy, or maybe you are interested with Psalm 137:8-9 where it talks about How blessed it will be for the one who seizes and dashes your little ones Against the rock. whatever your choices I only ask that you pick no more than 3 as I do have limited time and will try to make my replies as thorough as possible...
you are correct, I guess I said American Christianity because it is so frequent here in America and while it does happen in other parts of the world I think we here in the US feel the need to do it the most...Also I have the bad habit of Labeling western society as American I dont know why
I asked you that question already knowing the answer.
It was both morally repugnant then and it is now. Just as a lot of the NT is just a repugnant as it's father figure.
For my three I pick....Lev 21:9 Deut 13:13-19 and Exodus 21:7-11
I have a feeling that I'm going to get the same kind of answers as the ones the Vatican gave for questions like how many angels survived the war and what happens to babies after they die.
I hope you disappoint me.
__________________
Prayer: How to do nothing and still think you're helping.
Caribbean Poker
1. 
I dont know why