Can you explain why you don't have faith? (1 Viewer)

[johnjohn]

I honestly believe a lot of people don't believe in god because of liberal brainwashing and/or afraid of being bashed for being a "moron that believes in the magic spaghetti monster in the sky"

How do you explain liberal Christians? Check and Mate.

Clearly I didn't say say all liberals are atheists doing the brainwashing, but the majority of liberals with power (be it news media or school professor / entertainment (director / writer) etc) use that power to constantly brainwash

^

Now if you would have written: "but the majority of people with money/power use that money/power to constantly brainwash..." I could have gotten on-board. Brainwashing isn't an act that is exclusive to the liberals or the conservatives. And I've been subjected to at LEAST as much false witness and brainwashing from the Right over the years. Brainwashing isn't limited to "God vs. no God." Brainwashing ALSO encompasses things such as a white Jesus, transubstantiation, 6,000 year old Earth, prayer to Mary and the Saints, purgatory, needing a priest as an "intermediary" to confess one's sins to God......

Brainwashing and societal pressure have been on religion's side for thousands of years.

not sure how that relates to the present ?

also "Brainwashing isn't an act that is exclusive to the liberal"

It isn't but its a fact liberals has control over almost every form of media(and most college professors that have control over your future are liberal) so for the purpose of real talk I'll say liberals.

 

[johnjohn]

I honestly believe a lot of people don't believe in god because of liberal brainwashing and/or afraid of being bashed for being a "moron that believes in the magic spaghetti monster in the sky"

How do you explain liberal Christians? Check and Mate.

Clearly I didn't say say all liberals are atheists doing the brainwashing, but the majority of liberals with power (be it news media or school professor / entertainment (director / writer) etc) use that power to constantly brainwash

How do you explain powerful liberal Christians? Double Check and Mate.

simply the exception to the rule

 

[McGarnicle]

 

[AAABatteries]

So, let's grant there is a God who bears no resemblance to religious text and doesn't give a crap about us. What is the practical difference between believing that and atheism?

None that I can see.

 

[Nipsey]

What God/religion/faith is to me is a tool for humans to rationalize the inevitability of death and frame it as a pleasurable event. It's logical to think the only species with the knowledge of their own inevitable demise would invent something to cope with that knowledge. But what if death was not inevitable? If there was a way to live indefinitely would religion still have it's same place in the world? What if science discovered a way for consciousness to live on after the death of the body? We know so little about the brain. If humans could replicate an individual's brain using certain tiny parts of it, if they could transfer consciousness from one's body to another vessel, wouldn't that be circumventing death? If grandma's consciousness was transferred from her "deathbed" body to a newly grown body, isn't that still grandma? Soldiers come back from wars missing limbs. Are those people no longer themselves? Of course they are. Once science finds a way to transfer consciousness, "faith" will no longer be needed to cope. It's certainly possible the human race will be wiped out by the religious before that happens. Once it does happen though, The Bible will no longer be bible.

To me, "believing" is a cop-out. You've let people who lived thousands of years ago answer life's big questions for you. We're all driving down an infinite highway toward the destination of knowledge and what you've done just a few miles into the drive is pull off into a rest stop because someone who lived during the Dark Ages told you that's the destination. You've chosen to stop driving or even worse, you drive around the rest stop in circles believing you're still on the highway.

 

[Eminence]

What God/religion/faith is to me is a tool for humans to rationalize the inevitability of death and frame it as a pleasurable event. It's logical to think the only species with the knowledge of their own inevitable demise would invent something to cope with that knowledge. But what if death was not inevitable? If there was a way to live indefinitely would religion still have it's same place in the world? What if science discovered a way for consciousness to live on after the death of the body? We know so little about the brain. If humans could replicate an individual's brain using certain tiny parts of it, if they could transfer consciousness from one's body to another vessel, wouldn't that be circumventing death? If grandma's consciousness was transferred from her "deathbed" body to a newly grown body, isn't that still grandma? Soldiers come back from wars missing limbs. Are those people no longer themselves? Of course they are. Once science finds a way to transfer consciousness, "faith" will no longer be needed to cope. It's certainly possible the human race will be wiped out by the religious before that happens. Once it does happen though, The Bible will no longer be bible.

To me, "believing" is a cop-out. You've let people who lived thousands of years ago answer life's big questions for you. We're all driving down an infinite highway toward the destination of knowledge and what you've done just a few miles into the drive is pull off into a rest stop because someone who lived during the Dark Ages told you that's the destination. You've chosen to stop driving or even worse, you drive around the rest stop in circles believing you're still on the highway.

Do you think animals know they're eventually going to die? Like my dog, does he have the brain power to understand he wasn't here at one point? Or that he won't be here one day?

 

[Otis]

Nipsey is so much deeper than I ever realized. Which is why I'm pretty sure he swapped logins with someone.

 

[datonn]

What God/religion/faith is to me is a tool for humans to rationalize the inevitability of death and frame it as a pleasurable event. It's logical to think the only species with the knowledge of their own inevitable demise would invent something to cope with that knowledge. But what if death was not inevitable? If there was a way to live indefinitely would religion still have it's same place in the world? What if science discovered a way for consciousness to live on after the death of the body? We know so little about the brain. If humans could replicate an individual's brain using certain tiny parts of it, if they could transfer consciousness from one's body to another vessel, wouldn't that be circumventing death? If grandma's consciousness was transferred from her "deathbed" body to a newly grown body, isn't that still grandma? Soldiers come back from wars missing limbs. Are those people no longer themselves? Of course they are. Once science finds a way to transfer consciousness, "faith" will no longer be needed to cope. It's certainly possible the human race will be wiped out by the religious before that happens. Once it does happen though, The Bible will no longer be bible.

To me, "believing" is a cop-out. You've let people who lived thousands of years ago answer life's big questions for you. We're all driving down an infinite highway toward the destination of knowledge and what you've done just a few miles into the drive is pull off into a rest stop because someone who lived during the Dark Ages told you that's the destination. You've chosen to stop driving or even worse, you drive around the rest stop in circles believing you're still on the highway.

Some scientists will tell you that we're roughly thirty years away from achieving exactly what you have asked 'What if?' Think not so much about transferring one's mind/consciousness from one body into another, and think more about no longer needing a body at all. Without a body, you will not age. You will not develop diseases (as long as you're not surfing pron, LOL). Limitations currently facing humans (the need to breathe oxygen, the limits to the amount of g-forces our bodies can withstand, the need to eat and stay hydrated, et al) disappear. You could travel anywhere in the universe at essentially the speed of light. Without the need for a space craft.

My question is how would one "see?" Talking isn't a problem. Hearing isn't an insurmountable problem. Smell and taste probably go away...but we wouldn't need them anyway. I couldn't imagine visiting distant worlds without being able to "see" what I'm visiting, however.

Anyway, long story short? We're a lot closer to not needing physical bodies than many/most might assume.

 

[Eminence]

What God/religion/faith is to me is a tool for humans to rationalize the inevitability of death and frame it as a pleasurable event. It's logical to think the only species with the knowledge of their own inevitable demise would invent something to cope with that knowledge. But what if death was not inevitable? If there was a way to live indefinitely would religion still have it's same place in the world? What if science discovered a way for consciousness to live on after the death of the body? We know so little about the brain. If humans could replicate an individual's brain using certain tiny parts of it, if they could transfer consciousness from one's body to another vessel, wouldn't that be circumventing death? If grandma's consciousness was transferred from her "deathbed" body to a newly grown body, isn't that still grandma? Soldiers come back from wars missing limbs. Are those people no longer themselves? Of course they are. Once science finds a way to transfer consciousness, "faith" will no longer be needed to cope. It's certainly possible the human race will be wiped out by the religious before that happens. Once it does happen though, The Bible will no longer be bible.

To me, "believing" is a cop-out. You've let people who lived thousands of years ago answer life's big questions for you. We're all driving down an infinite highway toward the destination of knowledge and what you've done just a few miles into the drive is pull off into a rest stop because someone who lived during the Dark Ages told you that's the destination. You've chosen to stop driving or even worse, you drive around the rest stop in circles believing you're still on the highway.

Some scientists will tell you that we're roughly thirty years away from achieving exactly what you have asked 'What if?' Think not so much about transferring one's mind/consciousness from one body into another, and think more about no longer needing a body at all. Without a body, you will not age. You will not develop diseases (as long as you're not surfing pron, LOL). Limitations currently facing humans (the need to breathe oxygen, the limits to the amount of g-forces out bodies can withstand, the need to eat and stay hydrated, et al) disappear. You could travel anywhere in the universe at essentially the speed of light. Without the need for a space craft.

My question is how would one "see?" Talking isn't a problem. Hearing isn't an insurmountable problem. Smell and taste probably go away...but we wouldn't need them anyway. I couldn't imagine visiting distant worlds without being able to "see" what I'm visiting, however.

Anyway, long story short? We're a lot closer to not needing physical bodies than many/most might assume.

Brain matter is pretty much irreplaceable though. You're going to be suffering from some pretty steady dementia. Being the center of consciousness, that is the one thing that will truly prevent people from living forever.

 

[timschochet]

Most of the posts in here have been very thoughtful and illuminating. But I really wish we didn't have to deal with Eminence and johnjohn.

 

[Eminence]

Most of the posts in here have been very thoughtful and illuminating. But I really wish we didn't have to deal with Eminence and johnjohn.

Explain what you dislike about what I've posted in this thread, thanks in advance.

 

[timschochet]

Most of the posts in here have been very thoughtful and illuminating. But I really wish we didn't have to deal with Eminence and johnjohn.

Explain what you dislike about what I've posted in this thread, thanks in advance.

No thanks. I don't want to be any ruder than I've been.

 

[Eminence]

Most of the posts in here have been very thoughtful and illuminating. But I really wish we didn't have to deal with Eminence and johnjohn.

Explain what you dislike about what I've posted in this thread, thanks in advance.

No thanks. I don't want to be any ruder than I've been.

You have nothing.

 

[Henry Ford]

What God/religion/faith is to me is a tool for humans to rationalize the inevitability of death and frame it as a pleasurable event. It's logical to think the only species with the knowledge of their own inevitable demise would invent something to cope with that knowledge. But what if death was not inevitable? If there was a way to live indefinitely would religion still have it's same place in the world? What if science discovered a way for consciousness to live on after the death of the body? We know so little about the brain. If humans could replicate an individual's brain using certain tiny parts of it, if they could transfer consciousness from one's body to another vessel, wouldn't that be circumventing death? If grandma's consciousness was transferred from her "deathbed" body to a newly grown body, isn't that still grandma? Soldiers come back from wars missing limbs. Are those people no longer themselves? Of course they are. Once science finds a way to transfer consciousness, "faith" will no longer be needed to cope. It's certainly possible the human race will be wiped out by the religious before that happens. Once it does happen though, The Bible will no longer be bible.

To me, "believing" is a cop-out. You've let people who lived thousands of years ago answer life's big questions for you. We're all driving down an infinite highway toward the destination of knowledge and what you've done just a few miles into the drive is pull off into a rest stop because someone who lived during the Dark Ages told you that's the destination. You've chosen to stop driving or even worse, you drive around the rest stop in circles believing you're still on the highway.

I believe that the religions that are most worthwhile really translate as philosophy more than religion. I personally consider myself a Taoist, and it's primarily because I think that the idea of an interconnected existence fits with what we now know about everything from electron sharing to the basic tenets of human consciousness. But the most important part of a religion is its applicability to life. And I think a flexible philosophy of interesting, interpretable ideas is most helpful.

 

[ummich10]

For my viewpoint, I consider religion, spirituality, faith, and personal relationships with higher powers to be all the same. If God, Jesus, Allah, or any supernatural being is part of your life, I consider that religious, regardless of the extent of the practices you partake in. I don't have faith in this kind of higher power because the basis of the Judeo-Christian-Islamic religion is divine revelation and what I think someone called the "personal witness of the holy spirit". Sorry, but this is a declaration of a subjective exerience and not something that provides evidence of anything except that people have experiences that often feel mystical or spiritual. Evidence for me is important, not in the sense of the usual "believing without evidence, we all have faith in something, etc" argument, but because when presented with competing superatural claims, how are you supposed to determine which one is true? For example, I could be having a debate with someone else. The other person holds the traditional view that Jesus died for our sins, and through Him we will be forgiven and have eternal life, etc. I, on the other hand, live life as an atheist, when all of a sudden I have a divine revelation and a different higher power tells me I'm doing what he wants, living my life as if he doesn't exist, being a good person (whatever that entails) just for its own sake, without any threat of punishment or promise of reward from him. How is a third person supposed to determine who is correct? Which higher power exists?

I do have faith in Buddhist teachings more so than Christian teachings. I realize I've probably been exposed more to a modern, Westernized version of Buddhism than the more traditional versions infused with great amounts of Asian culture, but I find the basic stories, lessons, etc. easier to accept because any supernatural claims are much less central to the overall message. Take away Jesus's divinity, it seems he's another nice guy promoting social change (I mean no disrespect here), and he's not the only person that ever said to be nice to your neighbor. Take away any supernatural claims people have heaped onto Buddha, and I still have teachings and practices that have helped me through some rough periods in life.

Finally, I have faith in our natural world and our scientific community, as far reaching as that community it is. I don't mean science as in lab experiments, but more of the scientific method and mindset. While science won't prove or disprove the existence of a higher power (or maybe it will one day), I think it's been good in explaining how we think about religious matters, which is another reason I don't have faith in religious higher powers.

Sorry if this rambles, it's getting late, and this is good therapy for me to write about things that have bothering me for years.

 

[ummich10]

What God/religion/faith is to me is a tool for humans to rationalize the inevitability of death and frame it as a pleasurable event. It's logical to think the only species with the knowledge of their own inevitable demise would invent something to cope with that knowledge. But what if death was not inevitable? If there was a way to live indefinitely would religion still have it's same place in the world? What if science discovered a way for consciousness to live on after the death of the body? We know so little about the brain. If humans could replicate an individual's brain using certain tiny parts of it, if they could transfer consciousness from one's body to another vessel, wouldn't that be circumventing death? If grandma's consciousness was transferred from her "deathbed" body to a newly grown body, isn't that still grandma? Soldiers come back from wars missing limbs. Are those people no longer themselves? Of course they are. Once science finds a way to transfer consciousness, "faith" will no longer be needed to cope. It's certainly possible the human race will be wiped out by the religious before that happens. Once it does happen though, The Bible will no longer be bible.

To me, "believing" is a cop-out. You've let people who lived thousands of years ago answer life's big questions for you. We're all driving down an infinite highway toward the destination of knowledge and what you've done just a few miles into the drive is pull off into a rest stop because someone who lived during the Dark Ages told you that's the destination. You've chosen to stop driving or even worse, you drive around the rest stop in circles believing you're still on the highway.

I believe that the religions that are most worthwhile really translate as philosophy more than religion. I personally consider myself a Taoist, and it's primarily because I think that the idea of an interconnected existence fits with what we now know about everything from electron sharing to the basic tenets of human consciousness. But the most important part of a religion is its applicability to life. And I think a flexible philosophy of interesting, interpretable ideas is most helpful.

I like this post. I've had the same thoughts about interconnected-ness (I hope that's a word).

 

[Henry Ford]

What God/religion/faith is to me is a tool for humans to rationalize the inevitability of death and frame it as a pleasurable event. It's logical to think the only species with the knowledge of their own inevitable demise would invent something to cope with that knowledge. But what if death was not inevitable? If there was a way to live indefinitely would religion still have it's same place in the world? What if science discovered a way for consciousness to live on after the death of the body? We know so little about the brain. If humans could replicate an individual's brain using certain tiny parts of it, if they could transfer consciousness from one's body to another vessel, wouldn't that be circumventing death? If grandma's consciousness was transferred from her "deathbed" body to a newly grown body, isn't that still grandma? Soldiers come back from wars missing limbs. Are those people no longer themselves? Of course they are. Once science finds a way to transfer consciousness, "faith" will no longer be needed to cope. It's certainly possible the human race will be wiped out by the religious before that happens. Once it does happen though, The Bible will no longer be bible.

To me, "believing" is a cop-out. You've let people who lived thousands of years ago answer life's big questions for you. We're all driving down an infinite highway toward the destination of knowledge and what you've done just a few miles into the drive is pull off into a rest stop because someone who lived during the Dark Ages told you that's the destination. You've chosen to stop driving or even worse, you drive around the rest stop in circles believing you're still on the highway.

I believe that the religions that are most worthwhile really translate as philosophy more than religion. I personally consider myself a Taoist, and it's primarily because I think that the idea of an interconnected existence fits with what we now know about everything from electron sharing to the basic tenets of human consciousness. But the most important part of a religion is its applicability to life. And I think a flexible philosophy of interesting, interpretable ideas is most helpful.

I like this post. I've had the same thoughts about interconnected-ness (I hope that's a word).

The named is the mother of ten thousand things.

 

[BustedKnuckles]

I AM A GOLDEN GOD

 

[Nipsey]

Nipsey is so much deeper than I ever realized. Which is why I'm pretty sure he swapped logins with someone.

Would have been an unbeatable, #1 all-time shtick. I blame myself though. I couldn't sell it.

 

[seahawk 17]

I would classify myself as agnostic. There are solid arguments for both sides. I'll decide when I am dead.

Definitely think that organized religion is a joke.

 

[cstu]

Theory of Evil

This makes me hope there isn't a God.

The most that would make sense to me that there is a some sort of 'energy' in the universe (i.e. Buddhism) but a God who is directly involved in peoples' lives and still allows bad things to happen is something I hope isn't true.

 

[lakerstan]

I've always wondered why so many "miracles" happened so long ago. Does God speak to people today through burning bushes, they notify the media, and nobody believes them? How many people actually saw Jesus when he was alive? A couple thousand? Maybe 10k?

There are 1000's of reported UFO, Bigfoot and ghost sitings each year and people dismiss those as unreal. Actually a lot of those people are considered mentally unstable.

Most recent miracles by Popes, Saints and those in the running, tend to be of the faith healing kind. Example Link:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2608402/Costa-Rican-celebrity-certified-miracle.html

Being an atheist, color me a little skeptical when a picture of the Pope in the newspaper speaks to you and heals your brain aneurism. But this is considered to be a genuine miracle and recognized as such by the Catholic Church.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

Faith is based on emotion. Think with your head, not your heart.

 

[matuski]

Most of the posts in here have been very thoughtful and illuminating. But I really wish we didn't have to deal with Eminence and johnjohn.

Explain what you dislike about what I've posted in this thread, thanks in advance.

No thanks. I don't want to be any ruder than I've been.

You have nothing.

I'd point to these two posts right here as easy enough to start with, and clue you in that the feeling is damn near unanimous. It is what it is.

 

[Otis]

Nipsey is so much deeper than I ever realized. Which is why I'm pretty sure he swapped logins with someone.

Would have been an unbeatable, #1 all-time shtick. I blame myself though. I couldn't sell it.

Why the hell didn't you PM me.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Someone may have said this already but I never understood why most atheists always say they don't believe in God because the Bible (or insert religious text) is ridiculous and impossible to be real. Why does god or God have to be one of those gods? Seems to me that there's at least a small chance that some supreme being exists but doesn't give two craps about any of us or what we do or don't do.

ETA - I shouldn't say most atheists. Rather a good portion of vocal atheists that I've personally heard have used this argument

Sure, there could be. But what proof do we have of it? Why should we put into faith into it?

 

[mr roboto]

Theory of Evil

This makes me hope there isn't a God.

The most that would make sense to me that there is a some sort of 'energy' in the universe (i.e. Buddhism) but a God who is directly involved in peoples' lives and still allows bad things to happen is something I hope isn't true.

The problem discussed in your link is a big one. The source in your link is a joke.

 

[hxperson]

Most of the posts in here have been very thoughtful and illuminating. But I really wish we didn't have to deal with Eminence and johnjohn.

I don't really get the hate for them on this board, however. It is pretty clear that those two post primarily looking for self affirmation rather than intelligent discourse. Best to ignore them and move on.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Most of the posts in here have been very thoughtful and illuminating. But I really wish we didn't have to deal with Eminence and johnjohn.

I don't really get the hate for them on this board, however. It is pretty clear that those two post primarily looking for self affirmation rather than intelligent discourse. Best to ignore them and move on.

Acting like a 16 year old girl and threatening suicide is what brought the hate.

 

[hxperson]

Most of the posts in here have been very thoughtful and illuminating. But I really wish we didn't have to deal with Eminence and johnjohn.

I don't really get the hate for them on this board, however. It is pretty clear that those two post primarily looking for self affirmation rather than intelligent discourse. Best to ignore them and move on.

Acting like a 16 year old girl and threatening suicide is what brought the hate.

Sorry missed that - I presume it was in that never ending thread that got kiboshed?

 

[johnjohn]

Most of the posts in here have been very thoughtful and illuminating. But I really wish we didn't have to deal with Eminence and johnjohn.

I don't really get the hate for them on this board, however. It is pretty clear that those two post primarily looking for self affirmation rather than intelligent discourse. Best to ignore them and move on.

Acting like a 16 year old girl and threatening suicide is what brought the hate.

Actually, lets set the record straight. It was the hate that made Em even consider it and I know he says he was just joking but I believe he actually meant it. Em is a good guy, good guys can sometimes have sad thoughts when being picked on constantly.

Actually, let's set the record straight. You were banned under a different alias, so you're violating the terms of service here. You should not be posting at all. You add nothing to any serious discussions and you are universally regarded as a useless troll. Please leave.

Actually if you read my posts they aren't trolling but are considered conservative for the most part and being this is the internet when liberals see my super conservative posts they have the courage to attack me... because its the internet.

I have a feeling if this was a discussion in person instead of online very few people would attack me or Em the way they are doing here.

http://www.todayonline.com/widgets/voices/current-cloak-online-invisibility-gives-courage-insult-impunity

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Most of the posts in here have been very thoughtful and illuminating. But I really wish we didn't have to deal with Eminence and johnjohn.

I don't really get the hate for them on this board, however. It is pretty clear that those two post primarily looking for self affirmation rather than intelligent discourse. Best to ignore them and move on.

Acting like a 16 year old girl and threatening suicide is what brought the hate.

Actually, lets set the record straight. It was the hate that made Em even consider it and I know he says he was just joking but I believe he actually meant it. Em is a good guy, good guys can sometimes have sad thoughts when being picked on constantly.

Actually, let's set the record straight. You were banned under a different alias, so you're violating the terms of service here. You should not be posting at all. You add nothing to any serious discussions and you are universally regarded as a useless troll. Please leave.

Actually if you read my posts they aren't trolling but are considered conservative for the most part and being this is the internet when liberals see my super conservative posts they have the courage to attack me... because its the internet.

I have a feeling if this was a discussion in person instead of online very few people would attack me or Em the way they are doing here.

http://www.todayonline.com/widgets/voices/current-cloak-online-invisibility-gives-courage-insult-impunity

If this were real life, we'd just find less tedious people to talk to.

 

[johnjohn]

Most of the posts in here have been very thoughtful and illuminating. But I really wish we didn't have to deal with Eminence and johnjohn.

I don't really get the hate for them on this board, however. It is pretty clear that those two post primarily looking for self affirmation rather than intelligent discourse. Best to ignore them and move on.

Acting like a 16 year old girl and threatening suicide is what brought the hate.

Actually, lets set the record straight. It was the hate that made Em even consider it and I know he says he was just joking but I believe he actually meant it. Em is a good guy, good guys can sometimes have sad thoughts when being picked on constantly.

Actually, let's set the record straight. You were banned under a different alias, so you're violating the terms of service here. You should not be posting at all. You add nothing to any serious discussions and you are universally regarded as a useless troll. Please leave.

Actually if you read my posts they aren't trolling but are considered conservative for the most part and being this is the internet when liberals see my super conservative posts they have the courage to attack me... because its the internet.

I have a feeling if this was a discussion in person instead of online very few people would attack me or Em the way they are doing here.

http://www.todayonline.com/widgets/voices/current-cloak-online-invisibility-gives-courage-insult-impunity

If this were real life, we'd just find less tedious people to talk to.

great thing here is you can ignore me if you find my thoughts to be tedious / whatever else you don't like.

 

[hxperson]

This thread derailed quickly...

Anyways, going back to the topic, some of the responses about religion being an easy way to cope with the finality of death had me thinking. If we were to somehow develop a way to prolong the human life substantially, or at least the human spirit/brain, via some scientific discovery, do you think this discovery would be welcomed by the dedicated religious or condemned?

My first thought would be the latter, given how religion implies traditionalism, which is generally against progress, but I find it hard to fathom that people would be opposed to something so universally good for the human race.

 

[McGarnicle]

Most of the posts in here have been very thoughtful and illuminating. But I really wish we didn't have to deal with Eminence and johnjohn.

I don't really get the hate for them on this board, however. It is pretty clear that those two post primarily looking for self affirmation rather than intelligent discourse. Best to ignore them and move on.

Acting like a 16 year old girl and threatening suicide is what brought the hate.

Actually, lets set the record straight. It was the hate that made Em even consider it and I know he says he was just joking but I believe he actually meant it. Em is a good guy, good guys can sometimes have sad thoughts when being picked on constantly.

Actually, let's set the record straight. You were banned under a different alias, so you're violating the terms of service here. You should not be posting at all. You add nothing to any serious discussions and you are universally regarded as a useless troll. Please leave.

Actually if you read my posts they aren't trolling but are considered conservative for the most part and being this is the internet when liberals see my super conservative posts they have the courage to attack me... because its the internet.

I have a feeling if this was a discussion in person instead of online very few people would attack me or Em the way they are doing here.

http://www.todayonline.com/widgets/voices/current-cloak-online-invisibility-gives-courage-insult-impunity

Your posts are mostly short, poorly constructed statements with very little supporting content, thus they are easily dismissed as lacking any intelligent reflection. And when they are refuted, your responses are again one or two sentences with little content, if there is a response at all. The pigeon/chess analogy is perfect in your case.

Also it is laughable to talk about real life discussion. If this were a dinner party there would be roars of laughter every time you spoke. You would be well advised to lurk & learn for a while, and post much less.

 

[JuniorNB]

Most of the posts in here have been very thoughtful and illuminating. But I really wish we didn't have to deal with Eminence and johnjohn.

I don't really get the hate for them on this board, however. It is pretty clear that those two post primarily looking for self affirmation rather than intelligent discourse. Best to ignore them and move on.

Acting like a 16 year old girl and threatening suicide is what brought the hate.

Actually, lets set the record straight. It was the hate that made Em even consider it and I know he says he was just joking but I believe he actually meant it. Em is a good guy, good guys can sometimes have sad thoughts when being picked on constantly.

Actually, let's set the record straight. You were banned under a different alias, so you're violating the terms of service here. You should not be posting at all. You add nothing to any serious discussions and you are universally regarded as a useless troll. Please leave.

Actually if you read my posts they aren't trolling but are considered conservative for the most part and being this is the internet when liberals see my super conservative posts they have the courage to attack me... because its the internet.

I have a feeling if this was a discussion in person instead of online very few people would attack me or Em the way they are doing here.

http://www.todayonline.com/widgets/voices/current-cloak-online-invisibility-gives-courage-insult-impunity

Are you implying you're way too tough for that to happen?

 

[timschochet]

This thread derailed quickly...

Anyways, going back to the topic, some of the responses about religion being an easy way to cope with the finality of death had me thinking. If we were to somehow develop a way to prolong the human life substantially, or at least the human spirit/brain, via some scientific discovery, do you think this discovery would be welcomed by the dedicated religious or condemned?

My first thought would be the latter, given how religion implies traditionalism, which is generally against progress, but I find it hard to fathom that people would be opposed to something so universally good for the human race.

Interesting question. Given the religious opposition to stem cell research and cloning, you may have a point.

 

[johnjohn]

This thread derailed quickly...

Anyways, going back to the topic, some of the responses about religion being an easy way to cope with the finality of death had me thinking. If we were to somehow develop a way to prolong the human life substantially, or at least the human spirit/brain, via some scientific discovery, do you think this discovery would be welcomed by the dedicated religious or condemned?

My first thought would be the latter, given how religion implies traditionalism, which is generally against progress, but I find it hard to fathom that people would be opposed to something so universally good for the human race.

it was going good until timschochet/McGarnicle decided to trash Em and I for no reason, so lets remember that, but I agree, lets get back on track.

You know whats kind of weird ? People that don't believe in god treat science as a religion and sometimes I feel like thats one reason why so many atheists are so quick to insult people until they don't believe in god.

Science is great but when it comes to stuff like the evolution theory people need to admit to themselves they are displaying faith, just like us "silly religious folks" and maybe if they did they would treat us with a little more respect and not insult us

 

[timschochet]

This thread derailed quickly...

Anyways, going back to the topic, some of the responses about religion being an easy way to cope with the finality of death had me thinking. If we were to somehow develop a way to prolong the human life substantially, or at least the human spirit/brain, via some scientific discovery, do you think this discovery would be welcomed by the dedicated religious or condemned?

My first thought would be the latter, given how religion implies traditionalism, which is generally against progress, but I find it hard to fathom that people would be opposed to something so universally good for the human race.

it was going good until timschochet/McGarnicle decided to trash Em and I for no reason, so lets remember that, but I agree, lets get back on track.You know whats kind of weird ? People that don't believe in god treat science as a religion and sometimes I feel like thats one reason why so many atheists are so quick to insult people until they don't believe in god.

Science is great but when it comes to stuff like the evolution theory people need to admit to themselves they are displaying faith, just like us "silly religious folks" and maybe if they did they would treat us with a little more respect and not insult us

I'm forced to admit that there are times when I encounter certain people who do make me question human evolution.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

Most of the posts in here have been very thoughtful and illuminating. But I really wish we didn't have to deal with Eminence and johnjohn.

Oh, the irony

 

[NCCommish]

Em's lack of accountability is staggering. You did it to yourself.

And the flurry of posts of people insulting my character have no bearing on the situation? Again, there were people insulting my intelligence, my career, my body, my life.

We all have our history. In my younger days I stated in a thread that I could hold my own in a bar fight against a 125lb Pacquiao, it follows me . I have my history and stalkers in the religious threads.

If you can't handle the fact that you threatened to sue people and kill yourself on this board, you should find another. Because you did threaten to kill yourself and you did threaten to sue people. It happened and it will always be who you are here.

Remember it well, good thread.

 

[NCCommish]

This thread derailed quickly...

Anyways, going back to the topic, some of the responses about religion being an easy way to cope with the finality of death had me thinking. If we were to somehow develop a way to prolong the human life substantially, or at least the human spirit/brain, via some scientific discovery, do you think this discovery would be welcomed by the dedicated religious or condemned?

My first thought would be the latter, given how religion implies traditionalism, which is generally against progress, but I find it hard to fathom that people would be opposed to something so universally good for the human race.

it was going good until timschochet/McGarnicle decided to trash Em and I for no reason, so lets remember that, but I agree, lets get back on track.

You know whats kind of weird ? People that don't believe in god treat science as a religion and sometimes I feel like thats one reason why so many atheists are so quick to insult people until they don't believe in god.

Science is great but when it comes to stuff like the evolution theory people need to admit to themselves they are displaying faith, just like us "silly religious folks" and maybe if they did they would treat us with a little more respect and not insult us

So full of fail. When you're God has been rigorously tested and passed every time we'll talk.

 

[johnjohn]

Em's lack of accountability is staggering. You did it to yourself.

And the flurry of posts of people insulting my character have no bearing on the situation? Again, there were people insulting my intelligence, my career, my body, my life.

We all have our history. In my younger days I stated in a thread that I could hold my own in a bar fight against a 125lb Pacquiao, it follows me . I have my history and stalkers in the religious threads.

If you can't handle the fact that you threatened to sue people and kill yourself on this board, you should find another. Because you did threaten to kill yourself and you did threaten to sue people. It happened and it will always be who you are here.

Remember it well, good thread.

i think both of you have a lot to learn from this clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJebTWuT3Z0

 

[JuniorNB]

Can someone give me a real quick backstory on the two guys everyone seems to dislike?

I'm taking it that Eminence threatened to sue people and kill himself. But why?

Also, who is this johnjohn dude? Is he always a troll or does he occasionally offer something to the board?

Thanks

 

[johnjohn]

Can someone give me a real quick backstory on the two guys everyone seems to dislike?

I'm taking it that Eminence threatened to sue people and kill himself. But why?

Also, who is this johnjohn dude? Is he always a troll or does he occasionally offer something to the board?

Thanks

Explain how I am a troll? Don't believe the hype, I am definitely not a troll.

I don't want to speak for Em, but I believe he did those things because people trashed him non stop

 

[Mjolnirs]

Why dont I have faith? I dont know. I just dont.

I was raised in an Episcopal church and we went fairly regularly. I attended Sunday School, was an Acolyte and went through Confirmation. Did I ever have faith? Thinking back I dont think so. It was what I was raised to do and I did it. Everything was just by rote.

I fell into the agnostic camp early on and just kept it to myself. My wife was raised Southern Baptist and we were married in a Baptist church. I attended church and Sunday School with her. I actually enjoyed Sunday School because often times it was open discussion and I could sit and listen to other peoples interpretations of what they were reading and hearing. To this day if she wakes up on Sunday and wants to go I will go with her. Who knows, maybe one day the light will come on. Thats her hope.

When I decided I was definitely a non-believer it hit my wife hard. When we dated and married she didnt know this about me, but to be fair, neither did I. On occasion the subject comes up and she gets very sad. It saddens her to think I wont be with her in Heaven, and it saddens me that it saddens her.

Having faith would be very comforting and thats the draw. In the past people from the church would come to visit and talk with me and I told them I simply didnt believe. Nothing you read to me or say to me is making me believe. So far nothing has.

As a father I didnt see it as my place to instill or inhibit religion in my kids. Rather it was to let them find it or not for themselves. My wife wanted them in church and I was ok with that. Both kids were Christened in the Episcopal church when they were born. This made my parents happy. (their handling of my lack of faith is for another day) They attended Baptist Sunday School and when they decided they were ready, both were Baptized. One of the worst times of my life was when there was a Revival Week at the church. Both kids went and were swept up in it. They came home crying because I was going to hell. This was brutal. They are both adults now and are on their own paths. My daughter is devout, attends a Baptist college and her boyfriend plans on being a preacher. My son, well if you keep a decent notebook you know his opinions already.

There are some great things done by religious people and in the name of religion. There are also some horrible and stupid things done too. You can say the same thing about humanity as a whole.

Why dont I have faith? I dont believe. I just dont.

 

[lod01]

Can someone give me a real quick backstory on the two guys everyone seems to dislike?

I'm taking it that Eminence threatened to sue people and kill himself. But why?

Also, who is this johnjohn dude? Is he always a troll or does he occasionally offer something to the board?

Thanks

Explain how I am a troll? Don't believe the hype, I am definitely not a troll.

I don't want to speak for Em, but I believe he did those things because people trashed him non stop

I'll vouch for johnjohn. This guy is never at the weekly troll meetings.

 

[JuniorNB]

Can someone give me a real quick backstory on the two guys everyone seems to dislike?

I'm taking it that Eminence threatened to sue people and kill himself. But why?

Also, who is this johnjohn dude? Is he always a troll or does he occasionally offer something to the board?

Thanks

Explain how I am a troll? Don't believe the hype, I am definitely not a troll.

I don't want to speak for Em, but I believe he did those things because people trashed him non stop

And why is that? Didn't like his name? If the members turned on him, there was a reason.

 

[squistion]

Can someone give me a real quick backstory on the two guys everyone seems to dislike?

I'm taking it that Eminence threatened to sue people and kill himself. But why?

Also, who is this johnjohn dude? Is he always a troll or does he occasionally offer something to the board?

Thanks

Explain how I am a troll? Don't believe the hype, I am definitely not a troll.

I don't want to speak for Em, but I believe he did those things because people trashed him non stop

And why is that? Didn't like his name? If the members turned on him, there was a reason.

See McGarnicle post #116.

 

[dozer]

Can someone give me a real quick backstory on the two guys everyone seems to dislike?

I'm taking it that Eminence threatened to sue people and kill himself. But why?

Also, who is this johnjohn dude? Is he always a troll or does he occasionally offer something to the board?

Thanks

Em is just a young guy who thinks the internet revolves around him, kind of like most young people these days.

Johnjohn is an alias for someone who got banned.