Religion thread...

[E_D_Guapo]

I feel ya but you said it yourself: "I have questions that can't be answered by the bible or any other christian I have ever talked to, including my dad." None of those questions are going to be answered in this thread or anywhere else. It comes down to faith. You don't have it. I don't have it. The people that do have it believe with all their being. You and I don't buy what we consider to be a myth.

It can be fun to discuss, I've just been over and over and over it since I was a young man. I'll chime in here and there in this thread if you really want to get it going but I'm going to try to pick and choose my spots. One thing I do want to say for clarity is that I am not an atheist. I think I am probably perceived that way and for good reason, but it's really not true. It's definitely true that I don't even remotely buy into any organized religion, but I don't know what else is out there and I'm comfortable with that.

Anyway, I know that there are a lot of really smart people of faith. Many, many. That being the case, even though I don't understand how they buy into what seems like nonsense to me I can not be so arrogant to believe that they don't have good reason to believe and feel what they believe and feel. It is a struggle for me though because religion all seems so obviously contrived to me. But it works for a lot of people so good for them. I just get irritated when people insist that they "know" when the reality is that they "believe". They might believe so strongly that they think they know, but they don't (IMO, of course). They believe. And those are the types of discussions I can not be involved in because I tend to lose civility and that's what I'm trying to avoid.

 

[VA Cowboy]

You son of a beech!

I can't think of any biblical reason against other possible life out there.

Having said that, mr science man...why hasn't your fancy science people found the yet?

C'mon man, they're looking!

 

[Cotton]

I feel ya but you said it yourself: "I have questions that can't be answered by the bible or any other christian I have ever talked to, including my dad." None of those questions are going to be answered in this thread or anywhere else. It comes down to faith. You don't have it. I don't have it. The people that do have it believe with all their being. You and I don't buy what we consider to be a myth.

It can be fun to discuss, I've just been over and over and over it since I was a young man. I'll chime in here and there in this thread if you really want to get it going but I'm going to try to pick and choose my spots. One thing I do want to say for clarity is that I am not an atheist. I think I am probably perceived that way and for good reason, but it's really not true. It's definitely true that I don't even remotely buy into any organized religion, but I don't know what else is out there and I'm comfortable with that.

Anyway, I know that there are a lot of really smart people of faith. Many, many. That being the case, even though I don't understand how they buy into what seems like nonsense to me I can not be so arrogant to believe that they don't have good reason to believe and feel what they believe and feel. It is a struggle for me though because religion all seems so obviously contrived to me. But it works for a lot of people so good for them.

Damn, post of the thread so far. Obviously, I agree with everything you are saying here, but I specifically want to point out that I am also not an atheist. I think they are lazy. It's really easy just to dismiss with your chin in the air and walk away arrogantly. I search daily for how I feel. I ask questions. I want to know just as bad as everyone does. Faith allows you to stop that hunt. I can't do that. The only thing I have faith in is the fact that I don't know the answers, and the related fact that no one else does either.

 

[Cotton]

C'mon man, they're looking!

Now we're cooking. They are looking and haven't found anything yet. You think there is anything out there?

 

[E_D_Guapo]

I am also not an atheist. I think they are lazy.

Lazy and arrogant. But they feel the same way about, say, fundamentalist Christians. Both sides are have a strong case in feeling that the other side is lazy and arrogant.

 

[Cotton]

Lazy and arrogant. But they feel the same way about, say, fundamentalist Christians. Both sides are have a strong case in feeling that the other side is lazy and arrogant.

Oh, no doubt. But, I actually have to side with christians over atheists over that point. At least christians study the bible and show some dedication to their belief. Atheists (generally) just discredit and move on with their life without any further work.

 

[Cotton]

wut

i'm starting the pitbull thread

Get it.

 

[skidadl]

Hopefully I can bring some compelling thoughts to the thread at some point. I've got a few things stirring that I will pounce on you guys ninja style when I get some time and concentration to lay it down. It should be epic in such a way that you will be instantly converted.

 

[L.T. Fan]

wut

i'm starting the pitbull thread

The singer?

 

[Cowboysrock55]

To all the above. There is no absolute answers everyone will accept or agree on. I believe because I choose to believe. That should take care of it for me.

LT would just like to wait and see on this matter...

 

[Cotton]

LT would just like to wait and see on this matter...

 

[Cotton]

Hopefully I can bring some compelling thoughts to the thread at some point. I've got a few things stirring that I will pounce on you guys ninja style when I get some time and concentration to lay it down. It should be epic in such a way that you will be instantly converted.

~taps foot impatiently~

 

[L.T. Fan]

LT would just like to wait and see on this matter...

I was the first to jump in the pool.

 

[L.T. Fan]

i'll contribute this. human babies are defenseless, vulnerable and high-maintenance for parents for years. on the flipside, animal offspring like horses are running and leaping hours after birth.

i believe the human species have survived against god's will

That is so loaded but I will exercise restraint.

 

[Cotton]

i'll contribute this. human babies are defenseless, vulnerable and high-maintenance for parents for years. on the flipside, animal offspring like horses are running and leaping hours after birth.

i believe the human species have survived against god's will

Damn, Phil bringing it strong to the rim.

 

[Angrymesscan]

This is not going to end well...

 

[fortsbest]

Oh yee of little faith!

 

[fortsbest]

Where in the Bible does it ever preclude life anywhere else but Earth. It says God created the Heavens and Earth and that he made man in his own image. It doesn't say God only created life here. I am of faith, but am still learning and if it does say those things someone would have to point them out to me.

 

[Cotton]

Where in the Bible does it ever preclude life anywhere else but Earth. It says God created the Heavens and Earth and that he made man in his own image. It doesn't say God only created life here. I am of faith, but am still learning and if it does say those things someone would have to point them out to me.

You're right. It's very vague in it's teachings. I will have to expand upon my thoughts later as I'm right in the middle of something.

 

[skidadl]

Where in the Bible does it ever preclude life anywhere else but Earth. It says God created the Heavens and Earth and that he made man in his own image. It doesn't say God only created life here. I am of faith, but am still learning and if it does say those things someone would have to point them out to me.

The bible doesn't really address that. One of the most frustrating things about discussing/debating the bible is that you first have to wade through the muck of bad biblical teaching before you can even begin the dicussion. There are so many extra doctrines and tradtions that various denimonations have come up with it is crazy. Most are working from a foundation of misconception when debating the bible. Lots of it is stuff that some dude said and then it becomes a doctrine that people spend years debating about. Somehow it works it's way into discussion with people who are using bad doctrine to debate against the bible. That is pure frustration because at that point you aren't debating sound biblical references. You are simply debating religious teachings. Thankfully there are still good sound bible churches who are textual teachers.

Example: somebody hears some baptist dude say some thing like, dem damn people crazy talkin but dem aliens and stuff...can't be cuz the bible says they ain't nun. The some other dude comes along and is like, the bible can't be true because there is no way in hell we are the only life in the universe (not a proven fact, simple conjecture) and the bible says we are the only life form here (again, not true at all). So you end up having someone trying to prove that the bible is not correct by using someting that isn't proven (life forms other places) and bad theology. Sheesh...where to even start with that. None of it makes sense. Not even to a non-believer if he's honest with himself.