Lars

Simon you are failing to distinguish between two things. One being the ability to have absolute certainty. The other one being default skepticism vs. Cultural-motional-conditioning. In no system ever used could you prove anything absolutely is as you say so. Its an annoying yet true thing. We don’t and so at cannot know everything. A tiny sliver…[Read more]

Simon Paynton wrote:
What does a religious person mean, when they say that atheism is like a religion?

They mean that religious knowledge, scientific knowledge and critical thinking are equal in terms that they all require a belief in that which lacks at least some certainty.

This is wrong for several reasons. The clearest being that religious…[Read more]

@popebeanie It depends if it’s tax exempt.

jakelafort wrote:
“So it appears to me that the one who works in mysterious ways is standing here before me in living and mysterious color.”

+1

Some people respond to the “drastic punishment by God” if he…say…destroys the world per evil… with the argument that, as children our parents may restrict us and even spank us because they lovingly know that it is for our protection, education and development as a person. And yes…it really does come from love. We should note that  many…[Read more]

Would you like to annotate that statement, Jake?  After all, this is a discussion, not a card game 🙂

I would find Tolkien’s Middle Earth and all its critters more credible than any religions. At least the sacred text is non contradictory.

I also think that a common denominator in the religions I can bring to mind, is that all of them appear to have an unprovable belief that is alleged to be objective, ie that others joining the group can learn a…[Read more]

No. No it is not.

@clearsky wrote : One drawback is that in the G.R ask one to treat others as we would like to be treated.

I think the more primitive issue is who we consider to be ‘others’.  Sexist, racist, misogynist- all acceptable states for a person as long as they are considered outside the group, and therefore not the ‘others’ in the Golden rule as a…[Read more]

Predator in the sky:

It amazes me that they have absolutely no idea how ridiculous they sound to almost anyone not of their particular cult. Does any of this doorknocking actually work?

Theyre all ridiculous. Look at the Mormons. Magic underwear. I can’t….. I just can’t.

Yes. An undeniable yes. It is the most perfect description of the monster and mobster of the old testament.

A more interesting question is: Was Jesus a predator? Is he now in whatever bizarre form he has in heaven…a predator?

Amazing!