... . You know, it's one thing to attack other people's belief systems, but please leave McDonalds alone. I like eating their destructive and disgusting garbage and take great offense to your analogy.
I've known decent atheists. I've known decent Christians. But there are jerks in both camps and those are the ones that seem to get the attention. If you want proof that there are still uber-superstitious Christians, check out this: http://www.squidoo.com/Amphibious-Aliens And this: http://www.squidoo.com/StolenCar I'm not saying Etiole is real, but then, I'm not saying he's not, either. I'm just saying this girl got a lot of shit from superstitious LDS people because of her "invisible friend."
C.S. Lewis made the comment about what people call themselves sometimes being deceiving. It's driving me nuts since I'm at work and don't have my book on me to look it up, but he does state it in Mere Christianity. Your phrasing is so close to the real quote that it's driving me crazy that I can't seem to Google it up! Lewis was (once you actually dig down into his work) actually very humble in his beliefs on salvation compared to most people in modern day, and in my opinion a very good example for Christians to follow in that regard.
Why can't they get along? Well, the answer to this is hinted at in the way that each might answer the following question: "What if you're wrong?" The religious person, well, is clearly not wrong. They've asserted it, and everything supports ther assertion. However, the scientist will accept that he or she is wrong, and, if prompted, will go back to the drawing board. However, a good scientist can only be swayed with evidence and reasoned argument, not to appeals of emotion.
Iguana: No. It was not meant to be insulting but as a heart felt comparison of how things are. Let's say someone has a bad addiction to something that you know is going to destroy their lives (possibly even kill them) if they don't change it soon. Of course that person (who is under the addiction) is going to be insulted or offended if I tell him that there is a better way. But the person trying to help him is not trying to insult him. He is simply trying to help that person. Sometimes it works. Other times it doesn't. But there was no cruelty (or intent to insult anyone) within my message or post. I did not insult anyone's character directly or to tell them to shut up or anything like that. It is not my intent to insult in any way. And I do know what I meant by my statement. But if you read into it differently. I apologize. That was not my intent to insult you or anyone in any way. And if this argument gets spun into a debate of what I meant or not, then clearly there is something going on here on the topic we are discussing than just a simple discussion. There is something going on here that is unseen that you cannot see. It may seem that way to you, but believe me my friend. The reason why you think that is because I know this isn't just some mere divergence of beliefs, but rather a battle for men's souls. That is why everyone is getting so worked up over my belief in God's Word in the first place. "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword." ~Matthew 10:30-34 http://kingjamesbible.com/B40C010.htm No. I am not, my friend. I want nothing but the best for you and everyone here. I have told you my belief and my testament. If you don't believe my personal witness that is up to you. And the fact that I have gone to great lengths to be kind and explain myself (while not insulting you directly like others have towards me in this thread) suggests that I am not being cruel or insulting. I am simply telling the truth in the best way I know how with love and care. Miss Chicken: Yes. But it is redundant to study something you already know the core beliefs about. I have already read from different sources on the belief systems of these religions. And they do nothing but either attack the Bible or offer no return on investment (like any normal thing in life that has value). I mean, from my perspective that is like saying... "Don't knock it until you try it" attitude. But as you know: that doesn't really apply in all cases. Cause obviously I am not going to indulge in any addiction of some kind that could cause me or anyone else bodily harm. Why? Because you can see the destruction that a particular addiction can cause in a person's life in the physical world. This is a destruction that is not seen. It is something that I can see. But you cannot see. But lets say I am right and I am telling you the truth. Then these other religions can effect you in ways that you don't even realize. Plus, when this life is over, you could be risking a great deal if you don't believe what God says in His Word (and not some twisted version of it or some other secondary God that goes by another name (and not God)). You only have my word to go by because in order to believe you need to take that first step of faith (in order to see). "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." ~ 2 Corinthians 4:18 http://kingjamesbible.com/B47C004.htm
"Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand." Matthew 13:9-13 http://kingjamesbible.com/B40C013.htm
LutherSloan -- I wish I'd hung on to an e-mail I received a couple of weeks ago that pointed out loads of conflicting bible verses; however, I can tell you're one of those so blinded by your beliefs that you'll ignore the proof staring you in the face. I could start with asking why you pick and choose what you believe, at which point you would tell me that you don't. I would then counter that you do, because you aren't practicing what the bible preaches. Again, you would counter that claiming I am in the wrong, at which point I would ask you when you're going to attend the next stoning of someone who works on the Sabbath -- at which point it will just get ugly.
John Picard: I already was aware of this a long time ago. This is an exhaustive online defense behind supposed Biblical contradictions... http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/bible.htm#INDEX The thing is that Christians have actually been killed for their belief in the Bible. Anyways, just to let you know: I am wishing love and peace unto you all my friends. I pray that you look more into the Bible and take God at His Word. I know that if you do. It will be an amazing thing.
"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is The Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee." Ezekiel 25:17
Yep. Plug your fingers into your ears and very loudly shout, "LA LA LA LA I CANNOT HEAR YOU LA LA LA LA". I notice what I posted went right over your head. It's like this: The New Testament is supposed to replace the Old Testament; well not exactly, because we're supposed to review the OT as it's relevant; yet in the OT we're encouraged to own slaves and concubine; oops, we don't believe that anymore; OT lays out rules for punishing people who work on the Sabbath, wear clothing of mixed threads, etc; oops, we don't believe that -- then some idiot like myself comes along and says you pick and choose what to believe --
Yeah. For example: OT: "eye for an eye". NT: "turn the other cheek". What do you follow? Why did the Almighty even have to change his mind?
I get it. You believe in the Christian Bible and God because you're going to GET something for it. Because doing the Right thing in life isn't as important as being REWARDED in the After Life. Sorry. I try to do the Right thing in life because it's the right thing, I don't expect to GET anything because of it.
And I would say that I feel the same way about your brand of Christianity. I know its core beliefs which believe are harmful to society. Also I can not see how any can say that religions like Buddhism attacks the Bible. Buddhism is an inclusive religion that see other religion as just different path. The Dalai Lama has the greatest respect for Jesus. Buddhism certainly has more value to me than your brand of Christianity. And you still haven't answered me about your opinion of Quakerism which is considered to be a Christian religion.