Christ

[Erik C]

I see. So what you meant to say was "The stupidity of the average religious person is a disgrace. Their inability to deal with reality is appalling."

I also assume you meant to say "the religious nonsense that infects the minds of most humans" correct?  

You weren't suggesting that religious folks have an infestation of insects in their heads were you?  Or were you?

Hmm, insects in their heads? Well, cobwebs at least.

[Man of Steel]

Erik C is quickly becoming one of my favorite posters!


Great posts all around my friend.

LOL...the backup arrives

[The True Adonis]

I see. So what you meant to say was "The stupidity of the average religious person is a disgrace. Their inability to deal with reality is appalling."

I also assume you meant to say "the religious nonsense that infects the minds of most humans" correct?  

You weren't suggesting that religious folks have an infestation of insects in their heads were you?  Or were you?  You mentioned a computer virus so maybe you were.

I can assure you that believers don't have bugs in their heads.....maybe some have lice.

Actually, there may be something wrong in the brain that causes one to want to believe such nonsense.

http://blog.al.com/wire/2014/01/religious_brains_function_diff.html

Is an atheist's brain the same as a believer's? New research says religious and non-religious minds work differently

[muscleman-2013]

Actually, there may be something wrong in the brain that causes one to want to believe such nonsense.

http://blog.al.com/wire/2014/01/religious_brains_function_diff.html

Is an atheist's brain the same as a believer's? New research says religious and non-religious minds work differently

Are you saying our ancestors the Jews had something wrong upstairs?  Do you think maybe it was a result of the sister/brother sexual unions?

[The True Adonis]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10914137/What-God-does-to-your-brain.html

[Man of Steel]

Actually, there may be something wrong in the brain that causes one to want to believe such nonsense.

http://blog.al.com/wire/2014/01/religious_brains_function_diff.html

Is an atheist's brain the same as a believer's? New research says religious and non-religious minds work differently

Agreed, there are absolute differences and scripture suggests this:

1 Corinthians 2:14
14 But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.

I don't mean for this to be insulting either, but I can attest to this notion as I've stood on both sides of it.   

[Erik C]

Agreed, there are absolute differences and scripture suggests this:

1 Corinthians 2:14
14 But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.

I don't mean for this to be insulting either, but I can attest to this notion as I've stood on both sides of it.   

Atheists understand that spiritual means, lack of intellect, mental illness, brain injury, or some combination there of.

[Man of Steel]

Atheists understand that spiritual means, lack of intellect, mental illness, brain injury, or some combination there of.

You're a real class act Erik.....way to represent the atheist community.

[Erik C]

You're a real class act Erik.....way to represent the atheist community.

Thank you, however I represent myself, not any atheist community. Your biblical quote shows how some weak minds can be indoctrinated into religious beliefs. You take someone who is stupid and tell them that they're not stupid, they're actually spiritual! And that people who question "spirituality" don't understand (without saying that they don't understand, because they're not as stupid as you are), and that makes you special and chosen and saved or whatever. There's a sucker born every minute.

[muscleman-2013]

Thank you, however I represent myself, not any atheist community. Your biblical quote shows how some weak minds can be indoctrinated into religious beliefs. You take someone who is stupid and tell them that they're not stupid, they're actually spiritual! And that people who question "spirituality" don't understand (without saying that they don't understand, because they're not as stupid as you are), and that makes you special and chosen and saved or whatever. There's a sucker born every minute.

The way you write it sounds like you are describing yourself at some point.

[Man of Steel]

Thank you, however I represent myself, not any atheist community. Your biblical quote shows how some weak minds can be indoctrinated into religious beliefs. You take someone who is stupid and tell them that they're not stupid, they're actually spiritual! And that people who question "spirituality" don't understand (without saying that they don't understand, because they're not as stupid as you are), and that makes you special and chosen and saved or whatever. There's a sucker born every minute.

Actually the scripture is discussing the idea of discernment.  Those that choose to reject God will not be able to discern the things of God.  They perceive the things of God as ridiculous, foolish or stupid.

It has nothing to do with intelligence.  There are plenty of unintelligent theists and atheists.

[Erik C]

Actually the scripture is discussing the idea of discernment.  Those that choose to reject God will not be able to discern the things of God.  They perceive the things of God as ridiculous, foolish or stupid.

It has nothing to do with intelligence.  There are plenty of unintelligent theists and atheists.

There is no god. Therefore, anyone who believes in a god, is at best, practicing self deception, and that is being stupid. Intelligent people do not go about spouting nonsense. There are no "things of god" except as figments of your broken mind.

[Man of Steel]

There is no god. Therefore, anyone who believes in a god, is at best, practicing self deception, and that is being stupid. Intelligent people do not go about spouting nonsense. There are no "things of god" except as figments of your broken mind.

Given the absolute nature of your statements I can only assume that you've humbled yourself and surrendered to the will of God according to his terms.  That you genuinely desired to enter into a relationship with God, that you admitted your sin, you accepted Christ as Savior and asked that he reveal himself to you and you experienced absolutely nothing, correct?

Tell me more about that experience.  I'm interested to understand your perspective.....I've actually never heard of someone experiencing that before.

[Erik C]

Given the absolute nature of your statements I can only assume that you've humbled yourself and surrendered to the will of God according to his terms.  That you genuinely desired to enter into a relationship with God, that you admitted your sin, you accepted Christ as Savior and asked that he reveal himself to you and you experienced absolutely nothing, correct?

Tell me more about that experience.  I'm interested to understand your perspective.....I've actually never heard of someone experiencing that before.

I've never had any desire to pretend that there is a god.

[The True Adonis]

You're a real class act Erik.....way to represent the atheist community.

He`s correct though.

[Man of Steel]

I've never had any desire to pretend that there is a god.

So on what grounds do you base your opinion?  It can't be experience.  It can't be direct knowledge.  I'd also assume it's based on something far more concrete than the uninformed, inexperienced opinions of similar atheists.

[Man of Steel]

He`s correct though.

Don't worry TA, I'm fully aware that you support his opinion.......every member of this board is aware......I'd wager every guest/lurker over the last 5 years is aware.

[Teutonic Knight]

why does the vatican keep 50 miles of books hidden from public

Because they have gold coins, Cuba is the latest example 

[Automation]

You're all fools, wasting your time. Just smoke some DMT, or do some ayahuasca. You'll see whats really going on.

[Erik C]

So on what grounds do you base your opinion?  It can't be experience.  It can't be direct knowledge.  I'd also assume it's based on something far more concrete than the uninformed, inexperienced opinions of similar atheists.

I base my opinions on reality and STEM. Since there is no evidence for a god, and religious types have had thousands of years to present any such evidence, if it existed, and they haven't presented one piece of evidence to prove their case, the only intelligent opinion anyone can arrive at is that there is no god.

[SF1900]

I base my opinions on reality and STEM. Since there is no evidence for a god, and religious types have had thousands of years to present any such evidence, if it existed, and they haven't presented one piece of evidence to prove their case, the only intelligent opinion anyone can arrive at is that there is no god.

That is why its called, "Faith." Most pastors/ministers will tell you that is why you need faith to believe in a god, since the existence of a god cannot be proven in a lab. Unfortunately, faith is not good enough to make me into a believer. For some people, it is enough. Not for me.

[Man of Steel]

logical fallacy. you do not know the experiences of every atheist.

Tell that to the many atheists who were raised in strict religious homes. Matt Dillahunty from the Atheist Experience was studying to be a pastor for over 20 years.

dont make generalizations about atheists, because trust me, there are many generalizations about theists.

No logical fallacy because I purposefully said "uninformed, inexperienced opinions of similar atheists".........those similiar to Erik....not all atheists.

I've watched Matt Dillahunty and crew for years and he's admitted he never fully believed.  He also did not study to be a pastor for 20 years.  He was raised in a home of believers for about 20 years and during the end of that time he briefly pursued the seminary, but he couldn't get past his disbelief (I'm paraphrasing here).

Certainly Matt participated actively in church activities for all of his youth and I belief he gave it his all....I truly do.  The difference I see is that he never surrendered to God and he never experienced the Holy Spirit.  He's stated that he attended church events in which others around him experienced the presence of God and that he would close his eyes and try, but didn't.....again that nagging disbelief held him back and hence he could not discern the things of God.

Matt is a bit of an anomaly in the atheist circle, but certainly not irreconcilable in terms of theism.  His works and disbelief certainly vet his supposed faith.

[Man of Steel]

That is why its called, "Faith." Most pastors/ministers will tell you that is why you need faith to believe in a god, since the existence of a god cannot be proven in a lab. Unfortunately, faith is not good enough to make me into a believer. For some people, it is enough. Not for me.

You and I have discussed this before also:

There's nothin to be sorry about.

Again, the body of believers sharing their divine experiences is not aligned with scientific evidence, but that doesn't negate it as evidence.  It just doesn't meet your standard of criteria in that you want scientific, natural methods of man to prove out the transcendant and divine. 

Can't produce God in a test tube and centrifuge or even the Hadron Collider.

Yes, you can use use sociology and anthropology to make a case for the history of religion...no argument. 

[Erik C]

That is why its called, "Faith." Most pastors/ministers will tell you that is why you need faith to believe in a god, since the existence of a god cannot be proven in a lab. Unfortunately, faith is not good enough to make me into a believer. For some people, it is enough. Not for me.

When you have "faith," you have nothing at all.

[James28]

I always find it interesting how you continually ridicule and dismiss believers and yet the username selected for your account that berates believers is fully biblical and establishes the foundation for how to treat others.

James 2:8
8 Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Haha, you're seeing your ghost everywhere. My name is James, and I was 28 when I joined the forum. I certainly didn't get my forum name in a children's book aimed at adults