If you have an email ending in @hotmail.com, @live.com or @outlook.com (or any other Microsoft-related domain), please consider changing it to another email provider; Microsoft decided to instantly block the server's IP, so emails can't be sent to these addresses.
If you use an @yahoo.com email or any related Yahoo services, they have blocked us also due to "user complaints"
-UE
Helping others is socialism!
Comments
Let's see your proof.
Skeptics Annotated Bible
Oh, that explains it.
"God says "don't allow this" it's probably a good idea to not allow it."
That's
all well and good for Christians, but to an atheist, or a Buddhist, or
anyone who doesn't believe in the Christian God, that's like saying you
better be good because Santa said so.
First of all:
"Because God says so" is NEVER an acceptable reason for ANYTHING. You can claim your invisible friend in the sky says it's wrong all you like but that doesn't make your claim any more valid than my (or anyone else's) claim that MY invisible friend in the sky says the exact opposite. "Because God says so" is an EMPTY statement, worth even less than the thin air it materialised from. "
Only to you. To the theist, it is extremely important. God may be a space fairy to you, but to me and Turtle, he is the ultimate arbiter of truth. You're viewpoint is no more objectively correct that ours.
Now, Turtle, I have this to say to you:
You scare the living fuck out of me.
It's people like you who destroy the reputation of Christianity and religion. I'm ashamed to worship the same god as yoy (even though I don't worship him, it's more "acknowledge" and "respect". There are many secuar reasons not to commit crimes lime theft and rape--because they harm society and other's happiness. Most humans aren't dicks. We don't enjoy making others suffer. Which is why we don't commit crimes. Atheists don't commit any more crimes that Christians. And Christianity has much blood on its hands as well.
But overall: People are naturally and without any assistance from a diety inclined towards good, and not evil.
Secondly, as much as I'd love to keep talking about this... actually, no, I wouldn't. Having to debate against pretty much the whole forum is not doing my mental and emotional health any favors. Now, if humans were open-minded, then it might be for a reason. But the simple fact is that no matter what I say, I'm never going to convince anyone here that I'm right. God Himself could come down from heaven and back me up here but it wouldn't matter. But then, it's just in a man's nature to want to make himself his own god.
Third: Now that Turtle has left in a huff, does anyone still want me to continue?
I find this stuff somewhat interesting, so sure I would like you to continue if that is what you want to do. Do you have criticisms of parts of the Qur'an as well?
On the original subject, I agree that socialism is used as a buzzword decently frequently in American political discourse, but I wonder if the negative reaction against it is explained more by a distaste for large government than anything else. I am not sure though since I am not an expert on public opinion on such topics.
Same goes for the Quran and the Book of Mormon, since I also have them on hand. I just don't have things like the Talmud or other stuff.
Open minded =/= instantly changing our morality systems to agree with you
God Himself could come down from heaven and back me up here but it wouldn't matter.
Actually, that probably would convince me.
But then, it's just in a man's nature to want to make himself his own god.
Atheism =/= making yourself/humanity a god
Why am I still here?
People in urban areas are more used to sharing resources and getting along with their peers. If you live close to your neighbors, you kinda hafta do that.
Discuss.
Y'know, I think I might have an explanation for why suburbs tend to be
less progressive/liberal or more conservative than urban areas.
People
in urban areas are more used to sharing resources and getting along
with their peers. If you live close to your neighbors, you kinda hafta
do that.
Discuss.
I think that might be true for suburbs, but I do not think that really explains why rural areas and small towns tend to be less liberal/progressive than urban areas. My understanding is that many small towns are vary close-knit and people feel free to share things with each other in them. One example I can think of is a neighbor coming over to ask to borrow some flour or something like that.
That might be a somewhat outdated view of rural areas, but I also think that some people believe that those in urban areas (such as Paris and New York City) are too impersonal and rude. I am not sure what that means for ideology though.
I have to object to this. First of all, half the bible is allegory in tye first place. Allegory makes little sense taken literally.
I'd advocate that the Bible should'nt be basis of Christianity. It can have some good things, yes, but you can't simply get the word of an ultimate diety down into writing. Too many things have been lost in translation.