Snakefoot Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 I thought about something I never mentioned earlier, and that is, why is altruism good? Why would any kind of "worldview" be judged by altruism? The old testament doesn't promote it, rather the opposite. God commanding genocide because there is some greater good (according to Christians). So which is it? Obey God and kill people, or do good to everyone? Would a Christian help a dictator who is asking them for help? Would a Christian support a serial killer because they're supposed to be good to everyone? I don't think so. They most likely would not. I see a contradiction here. God commanding genocide because some tribe (supposedly) sacrificed babies. Instead of helping understand and see their faulty ways, God just kill them all (including women and children). Then Jesus comes as tell people they should love their enemies and give them their coat, even walk with with an extra mile. So which God is the good God? The one who commands murder or the one who commands supporting enemies? Word. Word? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shyone Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 I thought about something I never mentioned earlier, and that is, why is altruism good? Why would any kind of "worldview" be judged by altruism? The old testament doesn't promote it, rather the opposite. God commanding genocide because there is some greater good (according to Christians). So which is it? Obey God and kill people, or do good to everyone? Would a Christian help a dictator who is asking them for help? Would a Christian support a serial killer because they're supposed to be good to everyone? I don't think so. They most likely would not. I see a contradiction here. God commanding genocide because some tribe (supposedly) sacrificed babies. Instead of helping understand and see their faulty ways, God just kill them all (including women and children). Then Jesus comes as tell people they should love their enemies and give them their coat, even walk with with an extra mile. So which God is the good God? The one who commands murder or the one who commands supporting enemies? Word. Word? It's a populist shortcut to say, "I completely and totally agree with all you have said." Also sometimes expressed as "Word Up." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ouroboros Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Yo, 4 real I just wish I had proof read my post before submitting it. It could have been slightly easier to read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shyone Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Yo, 4 real I just wish I had proof read my post before submitting it. It could have been slightly easier to read. Word. (just kidding) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snakefoot Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Word. Word? It's a populist shortcut to say, "I completely and totally agree with all you have said." Also sometimes expressed as "Word Up." Ah, okay. Going back into the cave now. Darn kids.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotBlinded Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Word. Word? It's a populist shortcut to say, "I completely and totally agree with all you have said." Also sometimes expressed as "Word Up." Ah, okay. Going back into the cave now. Darn kids.... I know, right? (A new one to me that my daughter uses and I just used myself somewhere around here today!) That stuff rubs off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ContraBardus Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 This thread is still here? You'd think booting the OP for intentional stupidity would have killed it by now. Ah, okay. Going back into the cave now. Darn kids.... I know, right? (A new one to me that my daughter uses and I just used myself somewhere around here today!) That stuff rubs off. A new one? You must not know any Jews. That's almost Yiddish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george caitlin Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 This thread is a broken record. "Amazed" says that he cannot understand how atheists can do good. You all have spent a great deal of time (50+ pages) and thought patiently explaining to him how and why you, as atheists, help people. After a dozen or so posts, he repeats the same statement again. With great respect for your efforts, I say quit wasting your time on him. He is not listening. If his posts were at least well-though-out it might be stimulating for you to debate with him - but they're not. His responses typically consist of him shaking his head and saying "No, I can't see why atheists would want to be charitable." After spending a couple of hours reading, I believe him - he really can't see why anybody would do good if there was nothing in it for them personally. You are trying to lead an unwilling horse thru a closed barn door. All you get for your efforts are a sore head from banging it against the closed door. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ouroboros Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 Eh, uhm, George, I booted Amazed several days ago... slowpoke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george caitlin Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 Good. (I quit reading after about page 16.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotBlinded Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 A new one? You must not know any Jews. That's almost Yiddish. Okay...I'm going to join Snakefoot in his cave now. Maybe it's a little bigger than mine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snakefoot Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 A new one? You must not know any Jews. That's almost Yiddish. Okay...I'm going to join Snakefoot in his cave now. Maybe it's a little bigger than mine! Ceiling's kinda low, so you have to duck. Oh, and careful not to trip over any of the animal carcasses or skulls piled near the entrance. Bring your own bearskin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotBlinded Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 A new one? You must not know any Jews. That's almost Yiddish. Okay...I'm going to join Snakefoot in his cave now. Maybe it's a little bigger than mine! Ceiling's kinda low, so you have to duck. Oh, and careful not to trip over any of the animal carcasses or skulls piled near the entrance. Bring your own bearskin. Well, being 6'3" I'm used to ducking. Can it be a faux bearskin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snakefoot Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 A new one? You must not know any Jews. That's almost Yiddish. Okay...I'm going to join Snakefoot in his cave now. Maybe it's a little bigger than mine! Ceiling's kinda low, so you have to duck. Oh, and careful not to trip over any of the animal carcasses or skulls piled near the entrance. Bring your own bearskin. Well, being 6'3" I'm used to ducking. Can it be a faux bearskin? Only if you are not Jewish. Otherwise it has to be a bear faux skin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotBlinded Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 A new one? You must not know any Jews. That's almost Yiddish. Okay...I'm going to join Snakefoot in his cave now. Maybe it's a little bigger than mine! Ceiling's kinda low, so you have to duck. Oh, and careful not to trip over any of the animal carcasses or skulls piled near the entrance. Bring your own bearskin. Well, being 6'3" I'm used to ducking. Can it be a faux bearskin? Only if you are not Jewish. Otherwise it has to be a bear faux skin. But... Huh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snakefoot Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 A new one? You must not know any Jews. That's almost Yiddish. Okay...I'm going to join Snakefoot in his cave now. Maybe it's a little bigger than mine! Ceiling's kinda low, so you have to duck. Oh, and careful not to trip over any of the animal carcasses or skulls piled near the entrance. Bring your own bearskin. Well, being 6'3" I'm used to ducking. Can it be a faux bearskin? Only if you are not Jewish. Otherwise it has to be a bear faux skin. But... Huh? "faux" pronounced "foe"; e.g. faux pas is "foe pah", hence "foe skin" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 so it seems to me that many of you left christianity because god did not give you a sign. Are you sure you were not already showed but then your faith was weak and thats when you fell? I just can't understand how you could leave something that had brought so much joy to your lives. I do not believe that when you were first commited to christianity you did not feel any great emotions like a slightly awkward sense of joy and you didnt really know how but you had seen evidence in your life but you could honestly say you complatelt believed in god. I would like all atheists to answer if you wouldnt mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight-mindwanderings Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Suggestion: close this thread or I might go insane. Start a new one Jake this one is waaaayyy to long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snakefoot Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 so it seems to me that many of you left christianity because god did not give you a sign. Are you sure you were not already showed but then your faith was weak and thats when you fell? I just can't understand how you could leave something that had brought so much joy to your lives. I do not believe that when you were first commited to christianity you did not feel any great emotions like a slightly awkward sense of joy and you didnt really know how but you had seen evidence in your life but you could honestly say you complatelt believed in god. I would like all atheists to answer if you wouldnt mind. I had an emotional experience as you describe, but the more I "grew" in xtianity, the less plausible it all became. As I matured emotionally, believing in and patterning my life on a fairytale became increasing embarrassing and indefensible. The more I learned about the babble, xtianity, and the entire concept of a gawd, the more unanswerable questions arose. It was my sincere quest to find answers to those questions that led to the realization that gawd and all appurtenances thereto were simple superstitions bolstered by institutions founded on greed and power hunger among its leadership. That, in a gnats thumbnail, is why I am an EX-xtian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Moderator florduh Posted December 4, 2009 Super Moderator Share Posted December 4, 2009 I would like all atheists to answer if you wouldnt mind. Atheists and other ex-Christians have answered many times to many apologists who wander in here. If you'll look around here a bit you will see how people end up as atheists, or otherwise ex-Christian. One primary reason people leave the faith is studying the entire Bible (not just the sanitized sermon sound bytes). Other reasons are learning about the Bible's history, the church's history, science and ancient/world history. Unanswered prayers (everyone has prayed for more faith at some time) and lack of answers from clergy ("Ya just gotta have faith!" isn't good enough.) Please look at some posts in the testimonies and you will see many struggles to keep believing and the reasons faith was ultimately lost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdp Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 I don't mind as such, per se, I just don't feel any particular inclination to do so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ouroboros Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 so it seems to me that many of you left christianity because god did not give you a sign. Yeah. Kind of. 30 years is a long time to wait for a sign. Any kind. Anything would have been good. But nothing. Even Thomas who doubted got a sign. But waiting 30 years for just one single little fraction of a sign but not get any? Why? Are you sure you were not already showed but then your faith was weak and thats when you fell? Sure. Then wouldn't God know that my faith was weak and help me build it up again? I asked him for it. I asked God to help my doubt and strengthen my faith. It would have been a sign good enough for me if that at least had happened--but it didn't. I just can't understand how you could leave something that had brought so much joy to your lives. The last couple of years it didn't bring me any joy, that's part of why I lost hope and faith. I didn't feel anything. And I truly needed to feel something, but I didn't. And I asked God for the feelings, but they never came. I do not believe that when you were first commited to christianity you did not feel any great emotions like a slightly awkward sense of joy and you didnt really know how but you had seen evidence in your life but you could honestly say you complatelt believed in god. Actually I did feel a lot when I first converted to Christianity. I felt many things many times thereafter. But here's the strange thing. When I de-converted, i.e. lost my faith, the next few days I felt the same kind of overwhelming joy and awe. Life took a new turn and I got the feelings back, after leaving Christianity. I would like all atheists to answer if you wouldnt mind. Well, you got my answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ouroboros Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Suggestion: close this thread or I might go insane. Start a new one Jake this one is waaaayyy to long. Sure. I'm closing this thread, and Jake, you can start a new thread with your question(s). This one is far too long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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