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Trish
SFN Addict
USA
2102 Posts |
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Piltdown
Skeptic Friend
USA
312 Posts |
 Posted - 01/05/2002 : 23:30:26 [Permalink]
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Wow! That is very bold for a major media outlet. I especially liked this passage:quote:
One of the most annoying arguments I've ever heard from believers is that actually, deep inside, everyone really does believe in God. And so back-at-cha: No one really "can" believe it. Deep in your heart, you know it's false.
This was my own experience with religion. I finally became an agnostic when I woke up one morning and decided to quit kidding myself. It was as easy as that. There really is a kind of "naked emperor" quality to most religious groups. Sometimes, especially at really hard-core fundy services, I got this eerie feeling that perhaps nobody there truly believed, they all just believed that everyone else did.
Abducting UFOs and conspiring against conspiracy theorists since 1980.
Edited by - Piltdown on 01/05/2002 23:31:22 |
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rickm
Skeptic Friend
Canada
109 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2002 : 23:59:39 [Permalink]
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It seems to me that it is always the Christians who are "on top" that seem to give the most thanks, disregarding all the troubles and adversities that other Christians or non Christians alike face. As if they are such good Christians that god provides them personaly with a shield of protection, whilst others in the world suffer greatly. How arrogant, and egotistical.
Some Christians have even pointed out to me that all the good things in my life have come because god was looking out for me, even though I do no believe in him. While Still, many other believers suffer quite miserably.
The most absurd thing I have heard from a Christian is, "god works in mysterious ways". When all else fails make up excuses for your spiritual superman.
As skeptics we need not worry, afterall god is looking out for all the ones who are willing to help themselves. He does not seem to care too much about the desolate and the suffering people of the world irregardless of their faiths or beliefs.
"Let me off the plane,I am no missionary, I don't even believe in Jebus..... Oh Jebus please help me." Homer J. Simpson
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Trish
SFN Addict
USA
2102 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2002 : 00:48:52 [Permalink]
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quote:
Wow! That is very bold for a major media outlet. I especially liked this passage:quote:
One of the most annoying arguments I've ever heard from believers is that actually, deep inside, everyone really does believe in God. And so back-at-cha: No one really "can" believe it. Deep in your heart, you know it's false.
This was my own experience with religion. I finally became an agnostic when I woke up one morning and decided to quit kidding myself. It was as easy as that. There really is a kind of "naked emperor" quality to most religious groups. Sometimes, especially at really hard-core fundy services, I got this eerie feeling that perhaps nobody there truly believed, they all just believed that everyone else did.
Abducting UFOs and conspiring against conspiracy theorists since 1980.
Edited by - Piltdown on 01/05/2002 23:31:22
Yeah, that's one of the points I liked best about the article. I really was shocked about the second paragraph that the LATimes had published this editorial. It was definitely a refreshing read though.
It is by the goodness of God that in our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either of them. -Mark Twain |
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2002 : 06:04:09 [Permalink]
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I too, am somewhat taken aback from seeing this in a major newspaper.
I have no doubt that they and Mr. Sartwell are being railed at even as we speak. No religon allows disent and fundies can get pretty rabid about it.
Wow!
f
The more I learn about people, the better I like rattlesnakes. |
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James
SFN Regular
USA
754 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2002 : 08:39:45 [Permalink]
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Beautiful.
Thank you, Trish. 
"Necessity may be the mother of invention, but laziness is usually the father." -Bailey's First Law |
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Badger
Skeptic Friend
Canada
257 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2002 : 13:50:13 [Permalink]
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From one who has Jehovah Witnesses in the family, I say BRAVO!
The only other explanation is that God is a 15 year old boy. If you have one around your house, you'll know what I mean.
Just because we're hypnotized, that don't mean we can't dance. - Tonio K. |
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NubiWan
Skeptic Friend
USA
424 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2002 : 14:50:20 [Permalink]
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Been thinking for some time, we just need a new and improved, religion. Personally, am not willing to delegate my relations with (?) god, to the current choices. From the micro to the macro, the universe has, well, outgrown the gods of the estabished religions, they seem too small for today's known universe. Can see and understand, how people came to accept these belief's within the context of their times. Thanks to the fundamentalists influence, they seem locked into a cosmology millenniums old and hopelessly outdated. They wrote their beliefs "in stone," unchanging for all of time, however time does change most things. Yet, the "Golden Rule" remains as valid today, as of days of long ago. Would like to find a framework, that would perserve a sense of wonder and awe, me feels when contemplating the universe. As well as the feeling of sacred reverence and responsibility, for our, humanity's, position within this reality, we find ourselves. You and I, from the void of non-existance, are here, aware of ourselves and this universe, that sprung from a microscopic point, to this, stretching billions of light years in every direction, perhaps without end. To me, my friends, this is nothing less than a true miracle!
Doubt am alone in having these feelings. Where there a place to enjoy fellowship and mutual inspriration, of like minds, would be a good thing. Yes, me thinks we need a new religion.
"If we believe absurdities, we shall commit atrocities." -Voltaire |
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James
SFN Regular
USA
754 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2002 : 16:39:42 [Permalink]
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quote:
The only other explanation is that God is a 15 year old boy. If you have one around your house, you'll know what I mean.
Hey! Watch it. I resembled that remark.
Six years ago. And I wasn't that bad.
"Necessity may be the mother of invention, but laziness is usually the father." -Bailey's First Law |
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Mespo_man
Skeptic Friend
USA
312 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2002 : 09:05:47 [Permalink]
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quote:
The only other explanation is that God is a 15 year old boy. If you have one around your house, you'll know what I mean.[Badger]
As I recall, that's when Joseph Smith, founding poobah of the Mormons got started. Not bad for a kid who invented a religion with Bibical justification of polygamy to get into the skirts of so many different women.
(:raig |
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Xev
Skeptic Friend
USA
329 Posts |
Posted - 01/15/2002 : 20:01:09 [Permalink]
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The link isn't working for me.
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people. People with no minds rewrite inspirational e-mail and send their new versions out over the Internet. -The Brothers Grinn.com |
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Randy
SFN Regular
USA
1990 Posts |
Posted - 01/15/2002 : 21:05:14 [Permalink]
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I missed it too. Bet the paper has a limit to view of just a few days or so. Anyone save the article to post here?
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Tokyodreamer
SFN Regular
USA
1447 Posts |
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Xev
Skeptic Friend
USA
329 Posts |
Posted - 01/17/2002 : 11:17:50 [Permalink]
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Thanks Tokyodreamer.
Nice article!
"If anyone can show me, and prove to me, that I am wrong in
thought or deed, I will gladly change. I seek the truth, which
never yet hurt anybody."- Marcus Aurelius |
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babthrower
New Member
Canada
10 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2002 : 12:22:08 [Permalink]
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quote:
Where there a place to enjoy fellowship and mutual inspriration, of like minds, would be a good thing. Yes, me thinks we need a new religion.
I belonged to the Unitarian Fellowship (a.k.a. Universalist) once. There was no minister and we met in a rented room once a week. It was neat. We could discuss values or politics or whatever we wanted, and celebrate the truly marvellous fact of our existance -- against all odds! (That we exist, I mean.) Then I moved to a city and tried the Unitarian church there. They had a minister. Way too churchy. Quit.
"If we believe absurdities, we shall commit atrocities." -Voltaire
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babthrower
New Member
Canada
10 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2002 : 12:36:41 [Permalink]
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Sorry, I included my own comments to the quote above (in my last post). Not used to this site yet.
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