Westboro baptist church

[josh9mille]

Originally Posted by Fast5sRevo88

Well religion and denomination are man-made things and therefore are not of God which leads to war and destruction. I take Jesus as my Lord and Savior and believe every Word in the Bible, outside of that I have no use for denomination and their so-called religion.

The bible is a man made/written thing. Just sayin.

[TexasSP]

Originally Posted by josh9mille

The bible is a man made/written thing. Just sayin.

Divinely inspired/influenced, just sayin.................

[crazyjr]

Suicide, you hit the nail on the head, Those who believe are in some ways the true hypocrites. I for one do not yet believe, I say that as i do not know what the future brings, but for now i can't believe. I was raised with "Believe only half of what you see and nothing of what you hear", This came from my God fearing father, He believed i took it too far. When i was younger i was sent to sunday school by my parents, so i could have a base in religion. My family is a baptist based and fiercely religious, you can imagine thanksgiving and Christmas. I just developed my own opinions freely. I just think the fanaticism, of some religious sects, even christian, are either worthless or, so far out of reality, That they need to be re-examined

Suicide, I saw the second one down a few years ago. Kind of confirmed to me, That others feel the same as i do

My belief, Is, If people would spend more time doing right, than praying, the world would be a much, MUCH better place

I also believe, that the bible was written by Man, to keep Mankind in it's place.

[josh9mille]

Originally Posted by TexasSP

Divinely inspired/influenced, just sayin.................

inspired/influenced.....yup that sounds about right. It was written by man back when we were more gullible and dumb than we are now

Originally Posted by crazyjr

I also believe, that the bible was written by Man, to keep Mankind in it's place.

Exactly! Kinda reminds me of the the movie "The invention of Lying" Still cracks me up when I think about that movie.

[PBO]

The lunatic fringe will always be there...it's just a question of how much lunacy is extolled when compared to the average

Not religious myself, nor are my family & we have an interesting situation at my childrens school...the debate over whether ethics should be taught as an elective alternative to religious studies

My daughter chooses to visit the school library instead of attending the classes - which is fine as she's a librarian but she wants to attend ethics classes. My son visits different religious classes depending on which one he thinks will be most fun or gives him the best rewards for attending (here's my first issue). There has been an ethics class trialed at the school & it went well by all accounts however the religious voice dominated subsequent post trial discussions & the insipid school administration caved in to their demands

So the first issue I have is with my son being given vouchers for McDonalds or similar junk food places - why is a bribe required or offered? I can't understand the arguments offered to prostitute religion

Second issue is with the simmering fear that so many religious people appear have when alternatives are put forward. We are supposed to live in a tolerant society, that accepts people of any race, creed, belief etc

The situation surrounding this ethics debate, in my view puts the religious element at the school into the wacko, paranoid set & this damages the values they try & promote. My daughter especially is developing an unhealthy disrespect for religion in general because she sees the hypocrisy in the situation & she sees the parents & the school promoting it. Sad times for religion

[TexasSP]

Originally Posted by josh9mille

inspired/influenced.....yup that sounds about right. It was written by man back when we were more gullible and dumb than we are now



Exactly! Kinda reminds me of the the movie "The invention of Lying" Still cracks me up when I think about that movie.

You basically have no argument here just snide remarks. You also offer no evidence or proof of your argument.

If you don't believe, then why does it matter to you so much? If you believe people are free, then why not let them be free?

You also seem to be on some kind of attack path since this was also brought up in another thread by you. In that thread it had nothing to do with any of the posts, you just sort of sprang it up out of the blue. Why? After all it's a tech thread about motors overheating.......

Originally Posted by PBO

The lunatic fringe will always be there...it's just a question of how much lunacy is extolled when compared to the average

Not religious myself, nor are my family & we have an interesting situation at my childrens school...the debate over whether ethics should be taught as an elective alternative to religious studies

My daughter chooses to visit the school library instead of attending the classes - which is fine as she's a librarian but she wants to attend ethics classes. My son visits different religious classes depending on which one he thinks will be most fun or gives him the best rewards for attending (here's my first issue). There has been an ethics class trialed at the school & it went well by all accounts however the religious voice dominated subsequent post trial discussions & the insipid school administration caved in to their demands

So the first issue I have is with my son being given vouchers for McDonalds or similar junk food places - why is a bribe required or offered? I can't understand the arguments offered to prostitute religion

Second issue is with the simmering fear that so many religious people appear have when alternatives are put forward. We are supposed to live in a tolerant society, that accepts people of any race, creed, belief etc

The situation surrounding this ethics debate, in my view puts the religious element at the school into the wacko, paranoid set & this damages the values they try & promote. My daughter especially is developing an unhealthy disrespect for religion in general because she sees the hypocrisy in the situation & she sees the parents & the school promoting it. Sad times for religion

I really have no understanding or frame of reference for what you are talking about here. What does Mc Donald's have to do with it? Not trying to be combative, just trying to understand/clarify? I have family from Melbourne who were visiting with us the other day while on their vacation and even while on the subject this never came up. My cousin has been in Australia for 12 years and his wife is a native born Australian.

It's funny but many of us have explained that religion is of no use to us. Being a Christian has nothing to do with religion in any form. Religion itself is actually counter to what the Bible teaches. Most specifically Jesus ranted more against religion and zealotry than anything else.

If anyone would do a little research instead of trying to lump everyone together you would understand this. WBC is nothing more than some family members and close friends who have formed a hate club together under the guise and protection of being a "church". The daughter is a lawyer whose sole purpose is to insure their activities fall under the full protection of the law at all times. So the actual church has nothing to do with it for them other than offering them the cover of legal protection the need to propagate their hate. It is not the only method WBC uses to cover themselves legally. Of course we have a counter to this which is the Patriot Guard whose sole purpose is to legally counter the activities of WBC and others like them. This is the motorcycle group which travels to soldiers funerals and blocks access of the funerals and proceedings from WBC and their members as well as others who seek to protest soldiers' funerals. I have seen them in action locally and they are quite effective.

My curiosity can't help to make me wonder why so many on that claim to be Atheist claim the science on this is closed. Many physicists and other scientists completely disagree with the argument and have evidence of their theories as well. To me shutting a book and saying that's that in the science world is counter to what science is and stands for.

No different than people misinterpreting writings in the bible and refusing to understand it properly. To understand the nature of God you have to speak with God first and foremost. The Bible is secondary to that. Too many seem to think that the Bible dictates God and how he is to behave and act while it is God who dictated the Bible. Christianity is about a relationship first and foremost between an individual and God. Each one is as unique as any other relationship. Getting wrapped into rules and religion puts a rift in that relationship. God sets no rules about how you approach him. He gives you guidelines for living and helps direct your life but again that comes as part of the relationship not vise versa.

Of course what many of you don't understand is most of us who believe came into a relationship on our own terms in our own way. We did not get their because of what the Bible said or someone else did but because of who God is and because we chose to give ourselves the chance to have the relationship.

When I am confused about it I go straight to the source which is God himself. I would bet that I actually have more issues with religion than most Atheists.

How many of you who make claims against religion have ever tried to honestly seek the chance that God could be real? I am not talking in fully believing but just allowing the chance that he is real? Isn't good science about allowing for all possibilities?

I think many of you just assume I and others never allowed for other possibilities, which in my case is the opposite from the truth.

I also think it is assumed that people like me just ignore science, which again, is the opposite of the truth. In fact quantum physics flat out excites me! The fact the the existence of a single atom affects the entire universe and how things would be different it did not exist. Science just further reaffirms my beliefs and faith.

[josh9mille]

Originally Posted by TexasSP

You basically have no argument here just snide remarks. You also offer no evidence or proof of your argument.

If you don't believe, then why does it matter to you so much? If you believe people are free, then why not let them be free?

You also seem to be on some kind of attack path since this was also brought up in another thread by you. In that thread it had nothing to do with any of the posts, you just sort of sprang it up out of the blue. Why? After all it's a tech thread about motors overheating.......

You are right, I have no proof to back up my argument, but then again neither do you....on anything. But then again saying that the bible was written by man is a pretty safe assumption, and man makes mistakes and have inaccuracies when remembering things as they write them down. And im sorry my remarks have offended you. The one in the thread about motors was just a joke, Im sorry you dont share my sense of humor. I just find it humorous that most of the population has been scared into believing something, and if they dont believe then bad things will happen to them. What kind of a god would be so mean?

I completely agree with Tex and i go by what God wants and if i need it explained, i look up and FIND an explaination in the Bible. And Josh, I have a great since of humor until someone insults my faith and especially my God, every comment you have made has been uncalled for which i don't understand sense u dont believe anyway. If you aren't worried, then why so combative? And i'm not worried about God doing something to me, i am worried what the devil may do to me if i dont have God on my side.

[TexasSP]

Originally Posted by josh9mille

You are right, I have no proof to back up my argument, but then again neither do you....on anything. But then again saying that the bible was written by man is a pretty safe assumption, and man makes mistakes and have inaccuracies when remembering things as they write them down. And im sorry my remarks have offended you. The one in the thread about motors was just a joke, Im sorry you dont share my sense of humor. I just find it humorous that most of the population has been scared into believing something, and if they dont believe then bad things will happen to them. What kind of a god would be so mean?

What exactly am I scared of? Fear is certainly not what motivates my faith.

As for the argument it was one you started, not me. I only interceded with my perspective. I can't force anyone to believe anything based on faith. This is the nature of faith, going beyond what you can simply experience physically.

I talk with atheists and agnostics quite often (one of my brothers is agnostic), mutual respect is what allows us to have good conversations. We don't have to even respect each others beliefs, we just have to respect each other. I don't tell them I think they're going to hell and they don't tell me I believe in fairy tails. It's quite simple. I actually find discussions with those of beliefs that differ from mine quite interesting. But again, mutual respect must be shown.

I have friends from all different cultures, backgrounds, and faiths as well of those that have no faith. It's interesting what can be talked about when respect is first and foremost and we put the insults and stereotypes aside.

[PBO]

Originally Posted by TexasSP

I really have no understanding or frame of reference for what you are talking about here. What does Mc Donald's have to do with it? Not trying to be combative, just trying to understand/clarify? I have family from Melbourne who were visiting with us the other day while on their vacation and even while on the subject this never came up. My cousin has been in Australia for 12 years and his wife is a native born Australian.

The McDonalds reference is simple, my son receives a free food voucher for McDonalds each time he attends the scripture classes taught be a certain religion. I've never had a sensible answer to my questions directed at the 'teacher' or the school as to why they are given out. In my view it's a blatant bribe & one I'd prefer not have in school or my house

A point I didn't explain is that if my kids do go to the library during scripture classes they aren't permitted to read or write - they are expected (& in theory supervised) to just sit quietly. My daughter refuses to just sit & does her librarian duties however this is a clear form of punishment in my view & little wonder my son wanders through the different scripture classes looking for bribes. A pathetic & easily changed situation if approached with respect - there's little of that from the religious element in the school though

I'm with Brian - treat everyone as you would want them to treat you. If you stuff that up, you deserve what's coming & if distilled down to a simple point, this is what my kids are taught

Originally Posted by PBO

The McDonalds reference is simple, my son receives a free food voucher for McDonalds each time he attends the scripture classes taught be a certain religion. I've never had a sensible answer to my questions directed at the 'teacher' or the school as to why they are given out. In my view it's a blatant bribe & one I'd prefer not have in school or my house

A point I didn't explain is that if my kids do go to the library during scripture classes they aren't permitted to read or write - they are expected (& in theory supervised) to just sit quietly. My daughter refuses to just sit & does her librarian duties however this is a clear form of punishment in my view & little wonder my son wanders through the different scripture classes looking for bribes. A pathetic & easily changed situation if approached with respect - there's little of that from the religious element in the school though

I'm with Brian - treat everyone as you would want them to treat you. If you stuff that up, you deserve what's coming & if distilled down to a simple point, this is what my kids are taught

I agree that no one should be forced or bribed into being a Christian, it has to be freewill. Also i used to go to churches that made me feel like i was being punished, but since then i have got in a church that actually believes and allows us to get excited an make "noise" for Jesus.