How to get depressed and then have a laugh and get depressed again

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but I have one for myself, and will pray for those who believe as I cannot see how it can do any possible harm, if it does no good...

Quite right Fredrik, if only everyone of religion felt the same.
Can we put this to bed now please?

I am sorry but when someone 'comes out' on these forums, I have ever so slightly less respect for them.

That you tube vid, I am feeling a bit silly because I thought he was a comedian and this was a joke. Is it a joke?

I think Fredrik that there are millions of people in this world, the vast majority, who are able to reason for themselves and can ackowledege the horror we see everyday for what it is, no matter what any leader tells them. I agree that religious leaders need to do more to distance themselves from violence, and with respect, the Christian Church made it's views on the war pretty well known. Many people took to the streets in protest. Don't underestimate the good in 99.999999% of people, and those that are not good are only so usually because of baggage and they are damaged.
It really isn't all bad.
I'm not a subscriber myself, but I believe in peoples choice to believe what they like.
It's Friday afternoon again, isn't it.

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That you tube vid, I am feeling a bit silly because I thought he was a comedian and this was a joke. Is it a joke?

No, it was'nt a joke and yes it was a joke; if you see what I mean. Opiate of the masses I say.

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It's Friday afternoon again, isn't it.

Ah-ha that explains it

I think i will wait till i am pissed later, before becoming more verbose.

BB

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Originally posted by Nigel Cavendish:

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Originally posted by Andrew Randle:
Sure, nothing is for free...Going back to TV - it's likely you've been exposed to a lot of vested-interest atheist views...

Andrew

I don't think atheist TV asks me to give them money though...

TV License, and it is compulsory...

Andrew

quote:

Originally posted by David Legge:
What is God?

Serious question. Anyone?

/dl

The "thing" that this universe originated from.

The Bible also says that "God is love" (1 John 4:8).

Andrew

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Originally posted by Howlinhounddog:
Guys, I'm beginning to feel uncomfortable now. Your frightening me. Please, please let's not get all hung up on religion in here. If you want to believe in a "supreme being" then knock yourselves out. I personally don't believe that any other person in this world has more worth than ME, apart that is from YOU. Kings, Queens, Popes, Immams etc, none have any more worth than YOU or ME.

Hey, we're all in the same pea-soup of cr*p and light together. On our own, you're no more/less "worthy" than me - particularly in the eyes of our creator (God). Everyone has slipped-up and fallen short in God's eyes at sometime or other - whether it is our words, actions or even our thoughts. We're all the the same boat and need a lifeline.

The big question is - how do we get accepted? How can we live in perfect harmony in the after-life? That's where forgiveness comes in. A) We have to forgive EVERYONE, or spending eternity with a grudge is going to be Hell (pun not intended). B) We're going to have to be of perfect spirit (e.g. be trusted by our creator not to slip up) - that's where Christ's death comes in, and how we are truely sorry that God had to make a point in this way by sacrificing the ONE (and only one) who "made the grade".

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The merit they appear to have is that they pedal this myth that their position is God given and from the first day of school (for many before that)we are continually told this as truth. O.K. so believe me, you don't want to hear the rest of my diatribe on religion.

9/10 when Christianity is taught at schools they probably fail to say why it is the truth - and I can go into that at some other stage.

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My question to the religious fanatics(of all persuasions). WHY THE F*** DO YOU THINK I HAVE TO LISTEN TO YOURS. (insert foaming at the mouth smiley). If I've got it wrong then I take the red hot pokers shoved up my wassiname. NOT YOU. On that, may your God bless you ...and leave me the f*** alone. Amen

I don't think you're really talking about this thread here, but talking in general. Like the guy on the street (e.g. "Winners & Sinners" guy in London) doing his shouting. That can really make many of us Christians cringe for a number of reasons, including:

a) it's really abrupt and can be anti-social
b) many of them don't really get it. It's not about condemning people (as some of them do), it's about showing that God really does love us

God Bless you too,

Andrew

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Originally posted by Andrew Randle:
[QUOTE]



The Bible also says that "God is love" (1 John 4:8).

Love as drowning everyone in a great flood except Noah and his family? Love as in parting the red sea and drowning the Egyptians? Love as in destroying Soddom and Gomorrah and all it's inhabitants?

I can't be bothered to list all 'God's atrocities which are to be found in the unimpeachable 'word of God' Bible but if anyone is interested there is a selection here

This is the problem in quoting the Bible - there is always another quote to contradict it. No doubt I will burn in hell for pointing out God's own words - I will just have to think that God moves in strange ways and give up ever trying to understand.

Andrew

The problem with entering into an argument with a christian (like yourself) is that there is simply no hope of ever persuading said christian to your own arguments. The christian will simply believe that the person arguing with them is wrong - no matter how good their points are. Unless you agree with said christian you are wrong and will continue to be wrong until you agree with them - there's not even any hope of meeting halfway.

In short - christians are close-minded.

Deane

To acad.

Yep, that's what's known as giving wrong-doers a smacked-bottom.

But then.. God still loves us even though you may shout "it's unfair! He kills us all in the end!" (i.e. everyone's limited lifespan).

Love is eternal, but is also a 2-way street.

Andrew

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Originally posted by Andrew Randle:
To acad.

Yep, that's what's known as giving wrong-doers a smacked-bottom.

But then.. God still loves us even though you may shout "it's unfair! He kills us all in the end!" (i.e. everyone's limited lifespan).

Love is eternal, but is also a 2-way street.

Andrew

Maybe if God (who created the entire universe and would therefore find this a doddle)had decided to show his face in the skies above Soddom & Gomorrah and lectured the inhabitants in a big booming voice they might have changed their ways - oh well I guess God knows best...if only he had sent Jesus earlier or better still Ted Haggard..

'Love is eternal, but is also a 2-way street'. Oh dear, are you saying God's love is conditional?

Well shit Deanne we do have something in common.

I must admit sometimes I am jealous that I cannot find the simplicity of religion, it sure stops you have to be responsible for anything I guess.

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Originally posted by Deane F:
The problem with entering into an argument with a christian (like yourself) is that there is simply no hope of ever persuading said christian to your own arguments.

True, but it goes both ways, and more importantly: why does everyone want to persuade everyone else to think like they do? Why can't we all just have our own beliefs and respect others for theirs?

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I think i will wait till i am pissed later, before becoming more verbose

Hope so BB, I'll be here and I'll be pissed too.
I love this stuff, I really do. I'm sure there's something seriously wrong with me.

Dear Andrew,

Your wrote:

"9/10 when Christianity is taught at schools they probably fail to say why it is the truth - and I can go into that at some other stage."

Why wait for later for this?

I would love to read an explanation this evening if you have the time to explain why it's the truth.

No Christian has ever bothered to explain this to me yet. They just asked me to accept what they said was true, and not to try to hard to apply logic to it. At that point I felt I was being asked to accept something which if one applied Occam'a Razor to it would soon be shown as not the simplest explanation. Bertrand Russell explained the Universe should be accepted as a brute fact, and so far I have found no simpler explanation, which the evidence at least does not disprove.

Please do explain it if you have the time and inclination. I would be delighted if you do for all that, as I think it is a fairly tall order I am asking. I would guess that I would be a lot easier to convince than Russell!

Kindest regards from Fredrik

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Originally posted by Fredrik_Fiske:

They just asked me to accept what they said was true, and not to try to hard to apply logic to it.

(I think christians prefer to distance themselves from logic - it has a tendency to blow up in their faces if pushed too far...)

That's a very sweeping statement Deane F. and an interesting "angle of attack".

I'll listen to you, but reserve the right to correct any misconceptions about the Bible and Christianity.

Not so long ago I was probably more anti-Christian than even acad - (but maybe a bit more creative and original with my arguments - sorry that wasn't nice ).

But I am ALSO open minded and rebelled against this contempory egotistical "I am ME, so I am better than God" or "stuff morals, pure-logic is the way" way of thinking I had. Picked up the Bible, started at a good Church and gave it a shot. Lo-and-behold I discovered it was saying the same things I held true, and more besides.

Now I will listen to you, if I didn't then I wouldn't bother replying. But please don't say that defending one's religion and being open-minded can not mutually exist. If you know of any other means of how our entire lifetime and total nature can be held up as an acceptable example for perfect God, then I'm all ears (eyes) - seriously!

Andrew

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Originally posted by Deane F:

quote:

Originally posted by Fredrik_Fiske:

They just asked me to accept what they said was true, and not to try to hard to apply logic to it.

(I think christians prefer to distance themselves from logic - it has a tendency to blow up in their faces if pushed too far...)

Coincidentally you use the word "logic" - where I used to believe that logic could solve the problems of the world.

Can logic solve all the ills of the world driven when we have varying degrees of being self-centred, and varying abilities to apply logic (particularly in the heat of the moment)?

Andrew

Right im piseed yourr mi best mate you r Fred and all of what you lot is in this CRAzEE cosmos,that Carl Sagan i had a drink with im once hic zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Dear Andrew,

I have no axe to grind. As I said earlier, I even pray to the Christian God, for my Christain friends, but I don't for myself - I cannot see what possible harm can come of it, and I am under no delusion that it will actually do any good, but I could be wrong...

Can you explain why Christianity is true. as suggested above.

Indeed if there are any Christians who want to join in and explain why the Bible and Christianity are true, I am ready to read and accept it if there is logic behind it.

I was brought up in a Chritian house and have asked two priest why it is true. Still no answer as yet...

Kindest regards from Fredrik

Shit, he is not only religious, he is a new found religious type. Kind of like an x smoker in reverse.

I am out of this thread.

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Originally posted by Andrew Randle:


Coincidentally you use the word "logic" - where I used to believe that logic could solve the problems of the world.

Can logic solve all the ills of the world driven

Logic is just an abstract system of symbols. It doesn't work for a lot of things.

Knowledge, understanding and wisdom might solve the problems of the world.