I've always wanted to ask this, for the believers on here. Please don't jump on me

[hbquikcomjamesl]

In my experience, some of the most Christian people I know, i.e., those who most fully live out the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, are Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, and yes, even stone Atheists.

And some of the very worst Christians I've ever met, who act like they wouldn't know an authentic Christian teaching if Jesus himself were to appear to them and personally drop it in their lunch, are people who are particularly vocal about identifying themselves as Christian.

St. Francis of Assisi is said to have said it best: "Preach the gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words."

I rarely have any reason to use words, myself.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

And atheism is a religion: like any other, it is a belief system, without any unambiguous evidence to support it, concerning a supreme being or beings (in the case of atheism, a devout belief in the nonexistence of such beings).

No, that's untrue.

You didn't have to go there, but you did. The reply is: Nope.

Additionally, your final statement, "The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence," while itself true, is a non sequitur, because your previous statements are mischaracterizations.

In no way, shape, or form is the lack of belief in something for which there is no evidence itself a "belief system."

 

[1001001]

No, that's untrue.

You didn't have to go there, but you did. The reply is: Nope.

Additionally, your final statement, "The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence," while itself true, is a non sequitur, because your previous statements are mischaracterizations.

In no way, shape, or form is the lack of belief in something for which there is no evidence itself a "belief system."

I agree with everything you said.

But this is exactly what I was afraid of when the topic was started. This is not the forum for religious debates.

 

[scotpens]

I agree with everything you said.

But this is exactly what I was afraid of when the topic was started. This is not the forum for religious debates.

Agreed. Perhaps this thread should be moved to Miscellaneous or TNZ?

 

[1001001]

Agreed. Perhaps this thread should be moved to Miscellaneous or TNZ?

We don’t move threads to TNZ, for a variety of reasons.

I think if one wanted to start a new thread in Miscellaneous to discuss religion it would be okay (although I don’t predict it ending well).

The question of how religious people view Star Trek isn’t necessarily a bad one, but I see how fast this turned to a discussion about religion with no connection to Star Trek, and I definitely don’t want that.

With apologies to the OP, I’m just going to close this one, and anyone wishing to debate religion can start a new one in Miscellaneous.

Thanks all.