i've decided to devote my life to the lord

so a guy is at the store and he is feeling really light headed. He sits down and a couple that he knows comes up to him and asks whats going on. He tells them that he is very light headed. They ask if he would like to pray with them. he says yes. they pray and he starts to feel better.
(true story)

praise jesus!
 
I'm curious to see how I may effect people's view on the stereotypical Christian. Some people here express the view that a Christian appears to have a lack in judgement, intelligence, reason, thought, etc. However, ya'll still talk to me and may agree that I'm quite intelligent given my topics of choice. .
Actually, smart ones frustrate me more than the average ones, as they're capable of reasoning and separating belief and rationality, but rarely apply it to their own theistic models in a serious and calculated model. And the ones like Ben Stein I class as dangerous, because they probably DID and it changed nothing about them. I saw him on the 700 Club the other night. I shall never again trust him.
 
Hey, nobody could forebode that this would end in serious discussion. It's still the Neverboard in the end. So you're guilty but innocent.

yeah, but religion... it's just a bad topic to tread on, even here. the neverboard is still mixed company. there's a difference between debating and just being disrespectful, but even debating is useless as the ultimate goal of a debate is to change someone's mind and you can't do that with religion and you're foolish to think you can.

also - john, stop being dumb, plz.
 
yeah, but religion... it's just a bad topic to tread on, even here. the neverboard is still mixed company. there's a difference between debating and just being disrespectful, but even debating is useless as the ultimate goal of a debate is to change someone's mind and you can't do that with religion and you're foolish to think you can.

also - john, stop being dumb, plz.
i dont think this is a debate so much as a discussion
 
I don't really know why you guys are getting antsy about this discussion. There hasn't been any flaming, everyones been pretty polite and respectful. It would seem we're actually mature enough to carry on this discussion (its not really a debate, we all know we won't change anyones mind edit: ninja'd by neal). Who knew.
 
jesus-eats-large-sammiches-lol.jpg
 
I don't really know why you guys are getting antsy about this discussion. There hasn't been any flaming, everyones been pretty polite and respectful. It would seem we're actually mature enough to carry on this discussion (its not really a debate, we all know we won't change anyones mind edit: ninja'd by neal). Who knew.

Shut up, butthead.
 
Okay, so here's the problem with Christianity (and more broadly, religion in general). The only "source" available is the Bible, which is FULL of contradictions and a bunch of petty bullshit about sacrificing cattle, as well as promoting slavery, child abuse, rape, etc. Claiming that God (a supposedly PERFECT being) wrote the Bible is obviously flawed and not a valid argument.

One of the main reasons religion exists at all is that people need answers to the mysteries that they see. The Catholic Church used to torture and execute those who considered that a force besides God might be responsible for the physical world. But as the Church gradually admitted that no, the sun does not revolve around the earth, it became acceptable to state that natural laws were governing the planet. I think that eventually, the evidence will be undeniable, and many will either abandon religion or use it only as a moral code.

Speaking of which, Christians are no more moral than atheists and I hate hearing that more than anything. Christians follow blindly, and if you're taught to question, you're still following but now you get a false sense of control over your understanding. Those without religion choose their own values, and if we choose to act like "good" people it's because we really want to, not out of the fear of some eternal punishment.

And I do see the need for religion as a sign of weakness. Kind of like people who need to be in relationships all the time. They're not confident in their ability to be themselves or in this case, to attempt to understand the universe without somebody else's help.

I am an ATHEIST, not an agnostic. There is zero proof to support the existence of any sort of God. I can't believe in something that not only has no evidence, but has no claims that can even be tested. And that's why it's utterly ridiculous to claim that Creationism is science. Christianity presents two options: believe that an omnipotent diety created the universe, or don't. Science is not stagnant like that. It acknowledges that it is not perfect, but only the best understanding humanity has at this present moment. Why should I be open to the possibility of a God? Because a lot of people think that one exists?

I'm not being closed minded, I'm drawing a conclusion based on the facts I see in the world. If I ever see any evidence that legitimately supports the existence of a creator or a higher being, then I'll consider being an agnostic.
 
Wow you guys made a lot of posts while I was typing that.

If you don't want to hear about religion, don't read this thread. And if people challenging your religion bothers you, you might want to think about how strong your faith really is.