Comments on: Behold The Power Of Faith http://religiousfreaks.com/2007/02/20/behold-the-power-of-faith/ Have faith in yourself Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:12:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Kurt http://religiousfreaks.com/2007/02/20/behold-the-power-of-faith/#comment-124489 Kurt Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:05:57 +0000 http://religiousfreaks.com/2007/02/20/behold-the-power-of-faith/#comment-124489 Indiana (history: corn and hogs) here, Irishthunder. Although we have the best children's museum in the world (not a dinosaur-riding cowboy statue in the whole building), a truly outstanding senator (Dick Lugar), and a couple of very cool cities (our capital and college towns), the boonies can get very, well, boonie-ish. I too have learned that drink and discussion only goes well when everyone agrees. And brick walls don't negotiate worth a damn. Indiana (history: corn and hogs) here, Irishthunder. Although we have the best children’s museum in the world (not a dinosaur-riding cowboy statue in the whole building), a truly outstanding senator (Dick Lugar), and a couple of very cool cities (our capital and college towns), the boonies can get very, well, boonie-ish. I too have learned that drink and discussion only goes well when everyone agrees. And brick walls don’t negotiate worth a damn.

]]> By: irishthunder http://religiousfreaks.com/2007/02/20/behold-the-power-of-faith/#comment-124474 irishthunder Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:03:59 +0000 http://religiousfreaks.com/2007/02/20/behold-the-power-of-faith/#comment-124474 sweet, another bible belter, im stuck here in north carolina(sid's somewhere around here too). as far as hyrocket goes, you couldnt be more right, debating a fellow like him is like trying to tackle a brick wall.(i say that, having attempted both, after heavy drinking of course) sweet, another bible belter, im stuck here in north carolina(sid’s somewhere around here too). as far as hyrocket goes, you couldnt be more right, debating a fellow like him is like trying to tackle a brick wall.(i say that, having attempted both, after heavy drinking of course)

]]> By: Kurt http://religiousfreaks.com/2007/02/20/behold-the-power-of-faith/#comment-124471 Kurt Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:46:49 +0000 http://religiousfreaks.com/2007/02/20/behold-the-power-of-faith/#comment-124471 Oh, I'm sorry, irishthunder. I was actually responding to Jayman. I guess I need to address my posts more clearly! I've lurked here for a month or so, and I am well aware of hyrocket. Living in a Bible Belt state, I long, long ago (gee, what, 28 years or so ago, I guess) learned about the "keep repeating, keep repeating" school of discourse; I've developed techniques to not let it get under my skin unless it gets personal. Thank you, though, for your post. I've admired a great deal of what you have written here, and appreciate your sense of humor. Particularly your support of others when faced with that kind of thing. Oh, I’m sorry, irishthunder. I was actually responding to Jayman. I guess I need to address my posts more clearly! I’ve lurked here for a month or so, and I am well aware of hyrocket. Living in a Bible Belt state, I long, long ago (gee, what, 28 years or so ago, I guess) learned about the “keep repeating, keep repeating” school of discourse; I’ve developed techniques to not let it get under my skin unless it gets personal. Thank you, though, for your post. I’ve admired a great deal of what you have written here, and appreciate your sense of humor. Particularly your support of others when faced with that kind of thing.

]]> By: irishthunder http://religiousfreaks.com/2007/02/20/behold-the-power-of-faith/#comment-124467 irishthunder Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:39:11 +0000 http://religiousfreaks.com/2007/02/20/behold-the-power-of-faith/#comment-124467 Kurt, let me introduce you, this is hyrocket, and this is basically the only thing he can say in a post. Kurt, let me introduce you, this is hyrocket, and this is basically the only thing he can say in a post.

]]> By: Kurt http://religiousfreaks.com/2007/02/20/behold-the-power-of-faith/#comment-124463 Kurt Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:31:10 +0000 http://religiousfreaks.com/2007/02/20/behold-the-power-of-faith/#comment-124463 I never said she was a saint, I merely said that helping the poor is a good thing. She most certainly created hospitals. That is a good thing. And I have never said that a "good act = must be religion inspired." Quite the contrary. I merely point out that the converse is not universally true (which would be a "bad act = must be religion inspired," for those keeping score). Religous types and non-religous types cannot be painted with a single stroke of the brush. Each must be judged according to acts. I merely point out that there have been people of all faiths, and of no faith, who have been "good folk," doing the best they could to help improve the world by helping others. Others have been complete turds. I never said she was a saint, I merely said that helping the poor is a good thing. She most certainly created hospitals. That is a good thing. And I have never said that a “good act = must be religion inspired.” Quite the contrary. I merely point out that the converse is not universally true (which would be a “bad act = must be religion inspired,” for those keeping score). Religous types and non-religous types cannot be painted with a single stroke of the brush. Each must be judged according to acts. I merely point out that there have been people of all faiths, and of no faith, who have been “good folk,” doing the best they could to help improve the world by helping others. Others have been complete turds.

]]> By: hyrocket http://religiousfreaks.com/2007/02/20/behold-the-power-of-faith/#comment-124444 hyrocket Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:04:07 +0000 http://religiousfreaks.com/2007/02/20/behold-the-power-of-faith/#comment-124444 Let us give the Glory in everything we do in this life for the Glory of God. The faith we have is in Jesus and by His grace we are saved. "she was certainly no saint!!" that is true and we all fall and are sinners. We all fall short of the Glory of God.cyberdude! Let us give the Glory in everything we do in this life for the Glory of God. The faith we have is in Jesus and by His grace we are saved.
“she was certainly no saint!!” that is true and we all fall and are sinners. We all fall short of the Glory of God.cyberdude!

]]> By: Jayman http://religiousfreaks.com/2007/02/20/behold-the-power-of-faith/#comment-124420 Jayman Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:04:16 +0000 http://religiousfreaks.com/2007/02/20/behold-the-power-of-faith/#comment-124420 Of course, but having read some of Mother Teresa's actual words, I think a lot of people who think she was this saint on earth may change their minds about her! Despite this 'aura' built around her, she was certainly no saint!! I mean, how many of us actually know anything about her beyond the 'image' or cliched references to her 'being a good person' etc etc etc? I think the sooner we can break the stranglehold view that 'Good act = Must be religion inspired' the better. Of course, but having read some of Mother Teresa’s actual words, I think a lot of people who think she was this saint on earth may change their minds about her! Despite this ‘aura’ built around her, she was certainly no saint!! I mean, how many of us actually know anything about her beyond the ‘image’ or cliched references to her ‘being a good person’ etc etc etc?

I think the sooner we can break the stranglehold view that ‘Good act = Must be religion inspired’ the better.

]]> By: Kurt http://religiousfreaks.com/2007/02/20/behold-the-power-of-faith/#comment-124379 Kurt Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:26:22 +0000 http://religiousfreaks.com/2007/02/20/behold-the-power-of-faith/#comment-124379 I would agree that encouraging poverty to be "pious" is nonsense, as with the case of the "back to nature" types who don't understand what a loss of all technology would actually entail. But Sidfaiwu and Alcari both touch on my point: helping others is a good thing, whether from religious or humanistic reasons. Of course, such help should be more along the lines of "teaching a man to fish" rather than "giving a man a fish." The more educated and more prosperous we can make the world, the better it will be. I would agree that encouraging poverty to be “pious” is nonsense, as with the case of the “back to nature” types who don’t understand what a loss of all technology would actually entail. But Sidfaiwu and Alcari both touch on my point: helping others is a good thing, whether from religious or humanistic reasons. Of course, such help should be more along the lines of “teaching a man to fish” rather than “giving a man a fish.” The more educated and more prosperous we can make the world, the better it will be.

]]> By: alcari http://religiousfreaks.com/2007/02/20/behold-the-power-of-faith/#comment-124367 alcari Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:50:59 +0000 http://religiousfreaks.com/2007/02/20/behold-the-power-of-faith/#comment-124367 I read (in some popular science mag, don't quote me on it) that the percentage of charitable* european christians is significantly lower then the percentage of christians in society as a whole. The reverse was true for atheist and buddhists though. * charity workers, large donators, volunteers etc Although such things don't really matter. It's often the case that religious people (especially christians) make it seems that only religion can make you do good. And that's just a blatant lie, just because you don't see atheist hospitals (they're called <i>hospitals</I>) doesn't mean that atheists are the scum of the earth. I read (in some popular science mag, don’t quote me on it) that the percentage of charitable* european christians is significantly lower then the percentage of christians in society as a whole. The reverse was true for atheist and buddhists though.

* charity workers, large donators, volunteers etc

Although such things don’t really matter. It’s often the case that religious people (especially christians) make it seems that only religion can make you do good. And that’s just a blatant lie, just because you don’t see atheist hospitals (they’re called hospitals) doesn’t mean that atheists are the scum of the earth.

]]> By: sidfaiwu http://religiousfreaks.com/2007/02/20/behold-the-power-of-faith/#comment-124305 sidfaiwu Mon, 11 Feb 2008 15:53:44 +0000 http://religiousfreaks.com/2007/02/20/behold-the-power-of-faith/#comment-124305 Sure, but that misses Kurt's point. There are good people that are also religious (most of them, most of the time, actually). I'd go further and say that some are inspired to do good by their religion. Denying or obscuring these facts is futile and can be counter-productive. What I argue for is recognition that most non-religious people are good as well. And that many are inspired by non-religious things to do good. From their I might point out the harm that some aspects of religion cause and try to persuade the believer to re-evaluate and/or reinterpret those aspects of their religion. Sure, but that misses Kurt’s point. There are good people that are also religious (most of them, most of the time, actually). I’d go further and say that some are inspired to do good by their religion. Denying or obscuring these facts is futile and can be counter-productive. What I argue for is recognition that most non-religious people are good as well. And that many are inspired by non-religious things to do good. From their I might point out the harm that some aspects of religion cause and try to persuade the believer to re-evaluate and/or reinterpret those aspects of their religion.

]]>