Does God exist?

I am an atheist. I was just pointing out that all of you seem to be repeating the same propaganda used by many others to say that the religious are all mindless drones, sticking to the beliefs handed down to them and viciously attacking anyone who disagrees. Now, if your post isn't a prime example of that, then I don't know what is. I can only judge you based on the posts you make on this forum, which I have done. By attacking me on opinions you assumed that I held you have shown yourself to be as intolerant and prejudiced as any minister who condemns gays for their way of life. It is a sad symptom of the human psyche to lump all those who hold similar opinions into one group, which I try to avoid. That is why I will not attack anyone else for being prejudiced against someone just because they disagree with them, because, so far, you are the only one who has shown those specific qualities.

 

My post may well have appeared to support your opinion but you have misjudged what was behind it. I responded to what I perceived as an attack on me- albeit an indirect one.

Not all religious people behave the same way but my observation is that the vast majority do. By saying that I'm just repeating propaganda and droning a tired opinion is an attack from my perspective when what I post here is a reflection of what I've experienced and observed. It's not entirely prejudice.

Clearly we are in very different camps on this issue... you're not going to be able to dissuade me from my stance and I'm not going to try to change your mind either so this debate, an offshoot of the original topic, can't possibly achieve anything very constructive if either of us pursue it as we have to this point.

We both are entitled to our opinions. The topic was offered up and I responded as I did, otherwise I would keep my point of view about religion sheathed lest I offend. I have a number of good friends who happen to be quite religious- one in particular, who gives me CD copies of the messages delivered by her minister that she feels a need to share with me. I've listened to them and deal with this patiently and take the effort to open my mind. I've actually listened to the sermons... the messages have been pretty typical theist propaganda purporting that words written by man and spoken by man constitute irrefutable proof.... and so on and so forth... I will not attack her faith as I don't feel that it's my place to do so.

My experience with those who fervently try to evangelize others says that those who are aggressively imposing their beliefs onto others hold a certain level of disrespect for them. The individual sovereignty of one's ideas has been breached when a well-meaning but (in my opinion) woefully ill-advised converter tries to save my soul. It is a jaded perspective that is behind my words and not hollow parroting of someone else's tired prejudice. Yes, my words will ring with anger from time to time.

Pointing out intolerance and prejudice as you see it and calling it fact accomplishes exactly what? Do you anticipate that I will "see the light" and magically acquiesce? I would assume that someone as intelligent as you are hoping that we think you are would realize the futility of that goal and leave the debate where it is. My experience with religion is that its most fervent enrollees aggressively disrespect my system of beliefs (as well as yours). I'm not going to be too motivated to express a lot of respect for that.

 

Nor will I be motivated to express respect for a blanket statement made about a group of people, or someone who refuses to accept things that do not go along with their beliefs, such as that anyone who disagrees with them must be religious and hold nonsensical views (Do you anticipate that I will "see the light" and magically acquiesce?). We agree to disagree.

 

It wasn't INTENDED as a blanket statement but sometimes things will be received different from the intent.

You posting history is more than a little provocative to say the least. Are you provoking for the sake of ruffling feathers or are you looking for a good debate? Your word choice seems calculated to produce a type of response for which you appear to have a ready attack for. I'm curious as to the end result of your interjecting such a point of view without first introducing yourself and giving some sense of who you are. I see quite a bit of what appears to be argument for the sake of argument with people who you presumably have no previous knowledge of or relationship with. I am given to be prejudiced toward someone who aggressively seeks to be argumentative with strangers.

 

So no response to the fact that you still spoke of me as religious after I said I was atheist? I didn't expect one anyway.

 

You wording seemed calculated to get me to assume as much- whether or not that was your intent is beside the point. It is natural for one to assume a religious leaning of one who will defend religion from perceived attacks and otherwise point out all the good deeds done in the name of religion. This is a natural enough conclusion that I'm forced to question your agenda that you would point out my "failure" to address that point on the assumption that you were owed an explanation after casting yourself as an apologist for religions. You seem very intent on pointing out holes in my reasoning and characterizing my views as being empty prejudice when I've explained the rationale for my points of view... though clearly not to your satisfaction.

You have a total of seven posts on this site and there appears to be an uncivil air about your approach to this community. Why exactly have you chosen to join this site? I've tried very hard to be conciliatory while holding a belief that will differ from what you've expressed. You're "agree to disagree" post struck me as being steeped in disrespect and contempt.

My conclusions are a result of accounting for wording per my own interpretations of what you've posted and as such do not constitute prejudice in my mind. I welcome a civil correction in the event that I've misread you. I am human and will err from time to time and welcome the genuine intent to enlighten.

 

if god existed, i'd have all the no-calorie cherry limeade i want

 

This doesn't explain why you insinuated I was religious after I said that I wasn't. Great evasion.

 

You appear to be trolling.

I've re-read both of our posts and the only insinuating I see on my part after you're coming out as an atheist is you as an apologist for religions- not as a religious person. You are choosing to use your power of inference to put words in my mouth to further your own attack on the point of view I've chosen to express.

At this point I owe you no further explanation as it has been offered already. If you don't understand why one will assume you to be religious after your opening post in this thread then I regret that you have this basic misunderstanding of where I'm coming from. I did not intend to imply you to be religious but you seem intent on forcibly interpreting my post in order to further your own attacks on my point of view.

I evaded nothing. I still wonder what your agenda is for being here. I don't get the sense that you have any constructive intent.

 

Proves you are lying. Also, calling my telling you I am an atheist "coming out" seems like a very trollish way to describer it.

 

It doesn't "prove" a damned thing. Word choice is word choice and I can suspend disbelief to allow you the inference but there was no intent to imply. I regret your mistake. You choose to be offended by my word choice when I see you trolling elsewhere purporting your theories as to the origins and causes of homosexuality to be science? Isn't that a bit like the pot calling the kettle black? Do correct me if I'm wrong- I'm sure you won't hesitate regardless.

 

I smell an alias.

 

Kinda keeping my suspicions to myself in that category but yeah- methinks this is not quite a stranger in a new land but the second coming of......



someone.

 

The Official God FAQ: http://www.400monkeys.com/God/

 

if people want to believe in a spooky father figure who doesnt give a shit...let them...

 

nah. Its a spooky mother duh
....

 

i don't KNOW what does or does not exist. i don't think anybody does. but i'm pretty sure it isn't up to us anyway, so why loose sleep over something that isn't?

(especially when there's so much that is, that we're screwing up, that we totally don't have to be)

i think there's something though. little spirits down by the creek. invisible friends great and small. something big and wishing us well that may or may not have created anything but is close enough to a god for me.

i wonder what the op means by what he thinks is "normal"? personally normal is one of the things i don't believe in their being any such thing as.

i mean other then not making a pain in the ass of oneself, and staying out of trouble by avoiding calling too much negative attention to oneself. as long as you've got those two down, the rest is pretty much small stuff.

=^^=
.../\...