Why Are You A Christian?

Discussion in 'Christianity' started by TheSamantha, Mar 5, 2016.

  1. TheSamantha

    TheSamantha Member

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    Mr. Writer, maybe *you* like to have religious music without the religion, but some people are spiritual/religious and would rather include that. What's the big deal? It's freedom of religion! It's completely innocuous and it makes atheists look bad to harp on minutiae rather than focusing on larger problems like Islam, such that when they actually *do* focus on problems like Islam, no one takes them seriously and people extremely dislike them.

    Since you like to interrogate Christians and destroy anything and everything they hold dear that happens to be different from you, I have a question for you: how do you justify a belief in natural rights?
     
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  2. Asmodean

    Asmodean Slo motion rider

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    Islam is a problem on itself? LOL/sigh :p

    Or where you quick to respond and ment islamic fundamentalism/extremism?
     
  3. guerillabedlam

    guerillabedlam _|=|-|=|_

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    Apparently, Islam is a religion too.
     
  4. Asmodean

    Asmodean Slo motion rider

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    The religion of peace even :-D
     
  5. BlackBillBlake

    BlackBillBlake resigned HipForums Supporter

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    You're entitled to think so. Personally, I'm finding this rather uninteresting as conversations go, and I can't really be bothered to argue.
     
  6. BlackBillBlake

    BlackBillBlake resigned HipForums Supporter

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    Maybe 'would like to destroy' might be better wording. In actuality it makes no difference - nothing is destroyed, nothing is changed. Nobody changes their views or their religion or lack of it on the basis of any of this. Seems some people have been upset - not much else.
     
  7. guerillabedlam

    guerillabedlam _|=|-|=|_

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    Thanks for the permission :rofl:
     
  8. Mr.Writer

    Mr.Writer Senior Member

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    Um, I'm an atheist, and I have experienced Brahman first hand subjectively. I'm also not "dogmatic" against the existence of god as you suggest; that's actually a minority of atheists so small that I've literally never met one.

    I call myself an atheist because it means "No Belief In Personal God". I have not been convinced of the existence of Yaweh, or any of the countless personal gods concocted throughout history; that makes me an atheist.

    Brahman, the way I understand it through monist non-dualist philosophy, is nothing like any of that.





    Don't confuse my argument against religion for me trying to take away the civil liberties of people to believe in religions. I have never once made a statement in that regard; I'm not in the business of depriving people of their cognitive liberties. This is another assumption you've made based on a terrible stereotype of atheists. We are engaged in a conversation; it is extremely psychologically interesting that there is such a threat felt in the presence of this conversation, a threat which makes people clutch to their religions even more firmly and irrationally. I'm especially confused by your own position, since you are not christian, yet seem to believe all the dogma that comes with it regarding arguments for religion.

    How do I justify a belief in natural rights? I don't know, do I believe in natural rights? Show me where I've said I do.
     
  9. BlackBillBlake

    BlackBillBlake resigned HipForums Supporter

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    I'm glad you've clarified that Mr.W.

    But I'd add in passing that there have been a few, a very few, Christians who had some similar concept of God, for example Miester Eckhart (declared an heretic at one time but now rehabilitated I believe).

    The notion that God the Father is a personal being is BTW one of the many reasons I'm not a Christian.
     
  10. Asmodean

    Asmodean Slo motion rider

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    You did, at least on here. Probably irl too, but maybe you weren't aware of it ;) (after all, often it has to be expressed in order for the other one to be sure. It's not like we can smell it :p)

    I have met many myself. And also many that could just as easily fit the agnostic label if we would nitpick or really care about such an identification (I find it wise not to lean too strong or primarily identify yourself with either the label atheist or agnost in the end anyway, unless of course one would really find it defines their being/life :))
     
  11. Karen_J

    Karen_J Visitor

    Maybe it's due to exposure to a lot of liberal Christianity and social Christianity at Duke University; the kind of religion that unites much more than it divides. Duke is quite a liberal utopia. Even moderate conservatism is not socially tolerated. Their seminary has some of the most liberal Christian professors in the US. Due to their reputation and clout, high profile leaders on the far left, from all over the world, regularly speak in Duke Chapel on Sunday morning.

    It's a United Methodist denomination private school; one of the most liberal Christian denominations in the US. People I've known who grew up in one of those churches, especially in the city, are quite secular in every way, not much different from those who didn't grow up going to church at all. Many of their members only go to church a few times a year, mostly for socializing, and like to be able to use a nice building for weddings and funerals.


    The problem with focusing on the positive attributes of liberal Christianity is that it continues to shrink while fundamentalist denominations continue to grow. When liberal churches present a positive image of Christianity to the world, it indirectly helps fundamentalist churches advance their mean-spirited and divisive political agenda.
     
  12. TheSamantha

    TheSamantha Member

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    I still attend an Anglican church. I try to do Lent (trying to give up alcohol, so far have slipped up once). I do it because I think it's a useful exercise in gratitude and not taking stuff for granted, rather than because God says so. I celebrate Christmas, Easter, Passover, and sometimes Ash Wednesday too. I just enjoy it on a spiritual level.


    I don't use any labels anymore, not even black. Only woman because that's innate.
     
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  13. Karen_J

    Karen_J Visitor

    :dizzy2: :bomb:
     
  14. TheSamantha

    TheSamantha Member

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  15. Asmodean

    Asmodean Slo motion rider

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    'Woman' is not really a label? Just guessing.

    Imagine a woman who doesn't call herself or other women a woman because of the principle that its a label :p
     
  16. TheSamantha

    TheSamantha Member

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    Well on the one hand I think a woman is just an "adult female human." On the other hand, gender is fake. For example, high heels were designed for men.

    He wears high heels, makeup, lace, and wigs. Drag queen? No, Founding Father :p

    I used to be extremely uncomfortable with the label woman because I'm not cisgendered. I believe most people are transgendered. I don't like how the transgendered movement perpetuates the notion that there are male brains and female brains and that you have to match your gender with your sexual organs by getting a sex change to be "who you really are." That's annoying.

    I'm highly sexed, not very emotional, and rational. So am I woman?
     
  17. Karen_J

    Karen_J Visitor

    I don't know, you're just somebody I would probably fuck. My husband would too. He hasn't had black pussy yet. I highly recommend it.
     
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  18. TheSamantha

    TheSamantha Member

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    LOL! I'm down :)
     

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