Atheism

[SquirleyWurley]

Elluminati,

I do not say that believers are pretending to be sincere, lying to themselves.

I hope you don't think atheists are insincere or lying to themselves.  I hope you are saying rather that atheists just "don't see" correctly or "don't recognize what they are seeing" or something like that.  To say otherwise would seem to imply some psychic power to read the minds of atheists, and you have no basis for arguing that, even if you quote scripture to try to prove "why" unbelievers unbelieve.

I do think imagination and misunderstanding of reality is involved in belief -- but then I also believe this is involved to some degree or other in EVERYONE's mental/emotional life, atheists included, so it's not some big slam except in the case of certain individuals on a case by case basis.

So, while I'm fine with everyone saying the other is 'wrong about reality' or 'believing a falsehood', I'm not fine with these quick pat explanations 'well you are lying to yourself'.  There may be cases where people really do seem to be lying on themselves (as believers or skeptics), but I'd think we'd have to be pretty familiar with the person and have some specific examples which seem to indicate some kind of self-deception process, it isn't so simple to say for sure, people are complicated.

[Adrian1197]

Is there a point?

People are jerks.

Christianity's exclusivism and some members' arrogance inevitably push would-be-converters away. It did me. The impudence of some people... Did you know pride is one of the seven deadly sins?

[Acumen]

Yes, pride is a serious problem.  One of the greatest sins, if sins can be rated in that sort of way.

[Thorolf]

Is there a point?

People are jerks.

Christianity's exclusivism and some members' arrogance inevitably push would-be-converters away. It did me. The impudence of some people... Did you know pride is one of the seven deadly sins?

Yes.

Did you know that lying caused the boy who cried wolf to have his whole flock eaten?

[Acumen]

LOL, I needed a good laugh to wake me up.  Better than coffee.

[jacknky]

Acumen,
That's pretty sinister lighting you have in your picture. It doesn't make you look very inviting. If you'd like, I'll give you a tutorial on three point lighting.

[Adrian1197]

Adrian,

Regardless of whether or not you have had bad experiences with certain Christians or not, they will not be the reason why you choose freely to deny Jesus Christ.  That will be all you.

That should be true. But, sadly, it isn't. The same "Christians" who said all those nasty things reiterated that very sentence. Personally, I think it's merely a excuse used to omit any responsibility from Christians while they blatantly offend anyone who disagrees them without fear of consequence, leaving all the "soul-saving" to God. No doubtedly making his job harder.

[Adrian1197]

Is there a point?

People are jerks.

Christianity's exclusivism and some members' arrogance inevitably push would-be-converters away. It did me. The impudence of some people... Did you know pride is one of the seven deadly sins?

Yes.

Did you know that lying caused the boy who cried wolf to have his whole flock eaten?

Oh, please. If you're going to rant about your nonsensical accusations once again, atleast come up with something original. You're insults are less offending than a baby kitten.

[Thorolf]

Umm... that wasn't an insult, or an accusation.


Feeling paranoid?

[Adrian1197]

Umm... that wasn't an insult, or an accusation.


Feeling paranoid?

Umm... then why did you say it? And weren't you the one who was trying to track down where I live? Seriously, if your sources say New York, then I think you need some new informatives. I really shouldn't be that hard to find.

[Thorolf]

 

I don't expect you to understand.