I see.

Yes, sorry, to me it is idiotic to start the same kind of discussion which aeryk and the others of the JU Inquisiion enjoy. It isn't going to matter whose perspective the original blog is from, it is an invitation to do their usual bland junk.

All you do by aping them is encourage their combative behavior.

Yes, sorry, to me it is idiotic to start the same kind of discussion which aeryk and the others of the JU Inquisiion enjoy. It isn't going to matter whose perspective the original blog is from, it is an invitation to do their usual bland junk.All you do by aping them is encourage their combative behavior.

If you don't want to continue the debate, walk away. I wasn't really to let it end, so I continued it. Don't call me idiotic because of it.

I'm beginning to think that the actual, underlying purpose of these confrontational articles on both sides (whether the creators of them are conciously aware of it or will admit it or not), is to rack up JU points. Was that obvious? I'm new here, you know. Is it something that everyone knows but doesn't talk about? Is it a revelation? (pun intended.)
None of my three articles have that intent and they're not getting many replies. (How's that for a subtle plug?) hahahaha I've seen others that are the same.

Typical woman, her face always in food.

That's funny!

I'm beginning to think that the actual, underlying purpose of these confrontational articles on both sides (whether the creators of them are conciously aware of it or will admit it or not), is to rack up JU points. Was that obvious? I'm new here, you know. Is it something that everyone knows but doesn't talk about? Is it a revelation? (pun intended.)None of my three articles have that intent and they're not getting many replies. (How's that for a subtle plug?) hahahaha I've seen others that are the same.

This isn't so in my case. If you look at my body of work, you'll see that I write as much useless garbage as I do confrontational stuff.

The first two questions are more or less unanswerable. If the best smarty men the world has produced in three thousand years have been unable to eliminate the need for faith in spiritual matters, JoeUser isn't going to close that gap anytime soon. Sorry, guys. I don't mean any offense, and I applaud your valiant efforts, but that's just the way it is.

But the third question is trivial to answer. If there is a God of some kind, who by its very being defines Good and Evil, then anyone who seeks a sincere relationship with such a being is by definition morally superior to anyone who rejects the Ultimate Good. In fact, Christinity defines morality in precisely this way. Those who love the Good, and seek it out, and devote their lives to it are morally superior to those who reject Good and seek out Evil instead.

I mean, duh.

The first two questions are more or less unanswerable

This is my point exactly.

then anyone who seeks a sincere relationship with such a being is by definition morally superior to anyone who rejects the Ultimate Good. In fact, Christinity defines morality in precisely this way

Having a relationship with God should not matter when it comes to morality. Regardless of what one believes, if you are a good person, you should be recognized as such. There are atheists who do no wrong, just as there are religious individuals who lead bad lives.

This isn't so in my case. If you look at my body of work, you'll see that I write as much useless garbage as I do confrontational stuff.

Look iconoclast, philomedy and I go back a long way. We have argued tooth & nail about a lot of issues..... the only difference between us is that my stuff is not "useless garbage" it has eternal consequences.

Except a man be born again, he can not see the Kingdom of God.

preacherman

Look iconoclast, philomedy and I go back a long way. We have argued tooth & nail about a lot of issues..... the only difference between us is that my stuff is not "useless garbage" it has eternal consequences.

I don't know that you meant to highlight my response here, but just to clarify, I was not referring to your posts as useless garbage. I was referring to my posts that don't have any real points, like the one about condoms that I just put up, or the one with my picture. I apologize for any misunderstanding. But...you wouldn't be implying that all of my stuff is useless garbage, would you?

Serenity,

Can I get an Amen

Amen

I believe I have faith. My faith isn't derived from a particularly religion or particular reading. I'm probably what some would call an Agnostic. But my faith is strong and anyone who condemns me without knowing me I can only consider narrow-minded and judgmental.

I don't need proof of God's existence to believe. I am not uneducated, a moron, dense, weak-willed, a follower, or anything else similar because of my belief. Likewise, I am no better than anyone else just because of my faith. Also, I have no issue with anyone who believes differently from me, whether that be another faith or even an athiest.

I agree completely and firmly believe those that want to know will seek out answers themselves. Having someone else try shoving religion, politics or whatever down my throat is only going to make me gag.

Those who love the Good, and seek it out, and devote their lives to it are morally superior to those who reject Good and seek out Evil instead.

You seem to think everything is black and white. You wish. It would make your life a lot simpler, wouldn't it? No one is 100% good or 100% evil. Some religious people have done terrible things. Such as the preacher and some church members in Pennsylvania who smothered an epileptic boy to death when they tried to "help" him. Epilepsy used to be considered proof of demonic possession. Most people know better now, but there are some superstitious people who would rather believe in the supernatural than science. Some parents allow their seriously ill children to die because they would rather pray for the child instead of take him or her to a doctor or hospital.

Having someone else try shoving religion, politics or whatever down my throat is only going to make me gag.

That's very good. Do you mind if I use it?

Firstly, this is an extremely funny thread, it's so disappointing that you had a serious point behind it. It's much more fun just mocking aeryck.

Secondly, I doubt your faith is based purely on faith. But it's an interesting, timeless debate. Before Descartes (a scientist/philosopher/religious man for those who don't know), the church advocated faith based purely on faith. Descartes wanted them to change to including rational, logical, scientific thought as a way to prove the existence of God. He was promptly called a heathen, but the Church later retracted and agreed with him. So this one has been going on for centuries. But never in such a funny way as this forum.

Iconoclast

That's very good. Do you mind if I use it?

Thank you and please, feel free to use it. Hopefully, it will make people laugh but will also get the point across.

Cheers,

Maso

Firstly, this is an extremely funny thread, it's so disappointing that you had a serious point behind it.

Well, you know me and my never ending quest to do both.

Secondly, I doubt your faith is based purely on faith.

I can agree with this, as my faith stems from the fact that I don't think something can come from nothing. I believe there had to be a creator, and so I believe in God.

Hang on, but you believe God can come from nothing so obviously you do believe something can come from nothing.

Hang on, but you believe God can come from nothing so obviously you do believe something can come from nothing.

This is only assuming that I believe God is a "thing," not a spiritual absolute that always was.

I'm familiar with your argument, and I've already presented it to myself, and I agree with you that it makes a lot of sense. However, the logical continuation of the argument leads you into a labyrinthine tautology where everything must have something before it, with your final conclusion being that nothing is, because nothing could have been.

I can go back to Bloomington, Indiana, today and meet people who refuse to believe that I have changed my life

Some people just can't accept the idea of evolution, huh?

This is a good example of how one person making a jerk out of themselves will enevitably cause people on the other side to do the same.

Maybe we have to lower ourselves to his level so he will understand.