Matty, you sound so much like Hitch. Also, I really want someone to address Matty's post. I have popcorn at the ready.
you voided your entire argument with that. It reinforces what i said. You believe that those versions of christianity are wrong, those who believe in said views believe you are wrong. There are so many accounts of events in christian belief and so many conflicting passages that it breaks the religion down entirely. it is not exclusive to christianity however. T There are several if not hundreds of passages that just cannot agree on events and some which are completely ignored. For someone to decree that one account is true while another isn't when they don't have a shred of proof pointing either way is preposterous! Your own statement furthermore reinforces my point about fragmented religion. Catholicism has plenty of hypocritical statements, that is true, but protestantism still relies on the bible as a crutch, especially the new testament. Throughout the new testament - the gospels in particular - important events are wholly contradictory, with the whereabouts of events taking place in entirely different places, or not even occurring whatsoever! This has lead to many christians feebly calling the word of the bible 'metaphor' - simply because they cannot persecute those with questions.
I don't want you to give up, i want you to argue your point or question your very self. I'm not here to bash you believe it or not, i'm trying to enlighten.
^ yup, if you've exhausted your defence against the points made then you should question your reasons for theism.
There are far too many misconceptions about religion, or Christianity at least, floating about this thread. Too many to address, frankly. I would encourage any of the atheists here to talk to me some time about the specific points of contention you have with a given religion. Perhaps I can clarify some areas to offer a better perspective. I am personally indifferent to what side you take in such matters, but I do hate to see such major decisions made based on misinformation or misunderstanding.
Thanks, but my opinions are my opinions. You did enlighten me though. I considered the ten commandments to be one of those last life-lines that clung me to Christian based faith... -sigh- but you destroyed them entirely... I don't know why QKT, but your way of debating annoys me... Rather because I guess you debate like me... With opinions... Tsk tsk, I'm a hypocrite to I guess...
funny, because they're aren't opinions. they're all formed from similar sources as matty's arguments. you clearly dont understand the meaning of hypocrite too.
No, Matty actually gathers and puts it all together with facts, and things that are easy to google if there is any speculation. You don't do any of that... You just throw in what a Christian would throw in... Things they've heard others say.
you really are bad at arguing if you just cited the bible as your fact source, you know, being on the atheist side
the same goes for all religions really. its why im not agnostic at all anymore. Science has competing theories like religion has competing beliefs. However, as soon as one can be proved or disproved, they are affirmed and kept or immediately thrown out. for example, newtonian physics is refuted by some because of the way theoretical physics is today. the fact that any religions cherry-pick pieces just leads to confusing and in my opinion wholly untrustworthy.
In Radiant's defense, he's saying he doesn't follow the Catholic Church. You can't give a hate filled rant about the Catholic Church when it is another denomination Radiant is apart of though always fun to hear about how the Catholic Church sucks. This part was unfortunately mostly wrong. Protestantism is the oldest non-Catholic Christian denominations. It came into existence well after the Crusades during the Protestant Reformation in the late 15th century to early 16th century. Most "religious" based wars as Radiant have pointed out were either completely caused by Catholicism or Catholics were the instigators of the conflict. However, rain is in error to say the other sects haven't done a thing. There have been a **** ton of wars fought over Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Irish Protestant terrorism acts, the Salaam Which trials (that was all Protestants), as well as many acts of prejudice towards other people because that is how people acted at the times. Mind you that doesn't excuse Christianity at all since Protestantism is Catholicism sans a pope.
here's a recent example of figure heads in protestantism: BBC News - Archbishop urges state not to 'dictate' over marriage
Actually, early cavemen might have died out if it weren't for rape and incest, and evolution favoured groups of early humans that worked together instead of murdering and eating each other (which would be mutually assured destruction), natch. "Essence of humanity and human solidarity" is a little dressy for "genetic disposition".
im fairly certain (no real evidence here though) that society at the time would still have been in a way that bigotry was commonplace and have a somewhat pack mentality/heirarchy. its really just selfishness in the form of extending one's progeny am i on the right track there?