Comments on: SOS Call From David… HELP!

By: sidfaiwu

sidfaiwu — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 00:36:35 +0000

Hello Rob,

I think you are referring to my comment. If so, I appreciate the compliment. I only wish I could always be so civil.

Happy New Year to you as well.

By: rob

rob — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:49:51 +0000

For the record, I am Christian… but the initial response in this thread was spot-on excellent, in this theist’s view.

Just thought I would comment, as I was actually very surprised at the civility. :)

Best regards and Happy New Year…

By: irishthunder

irishthunder — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 02:34:43 +0000

“Divisions within Christian believers does not represent Christianity”

I was reading your labored essay until I got to that line, which might be the most idiotic statement Ive heard in a while. So following your logic ANYONE from ANY religion can do ANYTHING they want because that person is only one person in the group.

“Evolutionists are also a religious body, as they too believe in a theory which is based on faith and not on substance.”

Have you taken any middle school science class? If you had, or paid attention, you would understand the difference between Scientific Theory and making shit up from your imagination. Even though a theory is not a law(few things are), it is still open in the scientific community for study and review, not too mention it already has evidence to support it, otherwise it would have already been thrown to the wayside.

Please, if your gonna say something, know something about what your talking about.

By: DogPatch

DogPatch — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 22:07:54 +0000

I think it is good advice to show respect to others as was the response written above; because most issues evolve from people being unreasonable about any subject. However, before any one should pose an idea as fact; as in what is real and what is not real; that same person needs to study their own beliefs to see whether they are knowledgeable enough on the subject to be a true representative of it; as in a religion or anti-religious belief. Posting a reply that says Christians are not knowledgeable of their own religion based own your own experience with one group or a denomination does not qualify you as expert enough to do so. Divisions within Christian believers does not represent Christianity; it only represents those groups who are separate from one another. An atheist will unwittingly say they have no religion while in fact they do; they belief in nothing above human intellect hence they believe in only human logic and as such they have faith in their own human thinking. To be religious means one has faith in something more powerful and greater than one’s self and atheists believe in the greatness of the human reasoning power be it logically scientific or creatively artist. They may never admit it to be religious in its content because they argue that they do not worship, yet they do because they esteem it, respect it, are convinced of it being able to save us all through the logical power it holds. Evolutionists are also a religious body, as they too believe in a theory which is based on faith and not on substance. For any one to chose either of these alternative religious beliefs that person needs to research the facts on each before posting their opinion as to their accuracies or otherwise they too fail just as they believe a Christian has failed to prove their belief. Accurate posting would require you to do authentic research and not to just post a biased opinion based on another person’s ideals.

By: gary

gary — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 01:37:55 +0000

Condescension, insults, and obstinance are ineffective tools.

Obstinance seems to be a pretty good way for the religions to harvest potential followers… why not apply it in reverse?

By: NoReligionIsPeace

NoReligionIsPeace — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 20:05:11 +0000

David,
I’d suggest being very cautious. Religious roommates can make one’s life close to Hell (hehehe). It’s fine to engage and discuss with someone you don’t have to live with. But roommates… It’s best to sweep the religious differences under the carpet or lock them away for now, and not to respond at all to any openings about the subject. It’s not their business, and it’s very dangerous grounds. Religious people are very likely to be irrational. Do you want to have an argument with an irrational person?

Politely but firmly objecting to the loudness of the music is fine. Mentioning or hinting about its religious nature isn’t going to help.

By: alcari

alcari — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:54:53 +0000

I to like to start the discussion with christians on how society should work, instead of just getting along

But I also prefer not to get angry and/or insulted every time I see my roommate.

By: irishthunder

irishthunder — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:11:23 +0000

“I did not pursue the matter much further. I would have liked to ask him what he meant by that.”

In my experience the best approach is to just not get to serious about it in conversations. Otherwise you might start looking like the “militant” atheist, and it’s hard to stay even-headed and reasonable with that looming over your head, think “angry black man”. To be honest I really don’t care about converting anyone, but I’m always ready to paint my picture of a world without religion.

By: sidfaiwu

sidfaiwu — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 14:45:45 +0000

So Religionists = Slave Owners. Riiiiiight. By implication Atheists = Slaves?!? While atheists are being discriminated against, I don't think they are persecuted (at lest in the Western World) and certainly not to the extent that slaves were. Your analogy is unbalanced. I'm afraid you are missing the point. We are all quite well aware of and alarmed by the evils that result from irrational beliefs (religion is just the most common cause of irrational beliefs). We agree that the world would be better off without religion and work towards that ultimate goal. How we differ from you and many other atheists is on tactics; on how we are to achieve this goal (or more realistically, approach this ideal). Condescension, insults, and obstinance are ineffective tools. Take careful note here. I am not writing about whether these things are justified or not in light of the dangers of religious zeal. I'm only claiming that they do nothing towards the goal of reducing the influence of religion on society. In fact, they can be quite counter-productive and increase religions grip on society.

By: David

David — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 14:29:19 +0000

Irishthunder,

“i just mentioned off-hand that I was an atheist. He just stopped in mid-sentence and asked if I was kidding. He was surprised that I was an atheist andâ€¦normal.”

Hah, that amusing thing is that I’ve had almost that exact situation occur. Then add in “But you don’t seem like an atheist.” I did not pursue the matter much further. I would have liked to ask him what he meant by that.