I am a Christian

[gearylutz]

Aug 12, 2014 16:25:27 GMT -5 @muely said:

I'm one of those pesky athiests you were describing. I'm non-militant (most of us are we just don't like being preached too the same as religious people don't like being preached to by athiests). Bascially, I'm not going to de-rail the thread!

I would ask you don't all lump us into the same box though. Like most things, it's the few who shout loudest that tend to form others opinions of a particular group of people.

You make a great point, as I really hate when CNN makes reference to "fundamentalist" (basically their code word for anyone who believes in all that crazy Bible stuff... you know, like the Church has for 2 millenia...) Christians and then lump everyone together with the Westboro Baptist Church (the only true word in their title is that they are in fact in Westboro, but they are most definitely not Baptist and they are not a Christian Church...).

I try not to lump Atheists together as if they are all the disciples of Richard Dawkins, but as with Christianity, there are core beliefs--or lack of beliefs in the atheist's case--which all hold in common. It's at that point which I try to address my Atheist friends. There are some underlying beliefs that one brings to the God discussion which need to be acknowledged if honest conversation is the goal.

That being said, you seem like a very respectable person, and it seems your brand of Atheism is something far more like "eh, don't care" than the "God doesn't exist; and I hate him" version of Barker, Dawkins, or Hitchens.

[cardinals507]

Aug 12, 2014 18:32:44 GMT -5 gearylutz said:

Aug 12, 2014 16:25:27 GMT -5 @muely said:

I'm one of those pesky athiests you were describing. I'm non-militant (most of us are we just don't like being preached too the same as religious people don't like being preached to by athiests). Bascially, I'm not going to de-rail the thread!

I would ask you don't all lump us into the same box though. Like most things, it's the few who shout loudest that tend to form others opinions of a particular group of people.

You make a great point, as I really hate when CNN makes reference to "fundamentalist" (basically their code word for anyone who believes in all that crazy Bible stuff... you know, like the Church has for 2 millenia...) Christians and then lump everyone together with the Westboro Baptist Church (the only true word in their title is that they are in fact in Westboro, but they are most definitely not Baptist and they are not a Christian Church...).

I try not to lump Atheists together as if they are all the disciples of Richard Dawkins, but as with Christianity, there are core beliefs--or lack of beliefs in the atheist's case--which all hold in common. It's at that point which I try to address my Atheist friends. There are some underlying beliefs that one brings to the God discussion which need to be acknowledged if honest conversation is the goal.

That being said, you seem like a very respectable person, and it seems your brand of Atheism is something far more like "eh, don't care" than the "God doesn't exist; and I hate him" version of Barker, Dawkins, or Hitchens.

I agree with this but when you say aethists say "I hate God." They don't believe in God so how can they hate something that doesn't exist? (Got this from movie God's Not Dead)

[apaulo13]

Aug 12, 2014 22:38:47 GMT -5 cardinals507 said:

Aug 12, 2014 18:32:44 GMT -5 gearylutz said:

You make a great point, as I really hate when CNN makes reference to "fundamentalist" (basically their code word for anyone who believes in all that crazy Bible stuff... you know, like the Church has for 2 millenia...) Christians and then lump everyone together with the Westboro Baptist Church (the only true word in their title is that they are in fact in Westboro, but they are most definitely not Baptist and they are not a Christian Church...).

I try not to lump Atheists together as if they are all the disciples of Richard Dawkins, but as with Christianity, there are core beliefs--or lack of beliefs in the atheist's case--which all hold in common. It's at that point which I try to address my Atheist friends. There are some underlying beliefs that one brings to the God discussion which need to be acknowledged if honest conversation is the goal.

That being said, you seem like a very respectable person, and it seems your brand of Atheism is something far more like "eh, don't care" than the "God doesn't exist; and I hate him" version of Barker, Dawkins, or Hitchens.

I agree with this but when you say aethists say "I hate God." They don't believe in God so how can they hate something that doesn't exist? (Got this from movie God's Not Dead)

yes that's is something they would say. How can they hate something they don't think exists. I hear that a lot

[guineapirates]

Aug 12, 2014 22:38:47 GMT -5 cardinals507 said:

Aug 12, 2014 18:32:44 GMT -5 gearylutz said:

You make a great point, as I really hate when CNN makes reference to "fundamentalist" (basically their code word for anyone who believes in all that crazy Bible stuff... you know, like the Church has for 2 millenia...) Christians and then lump everyone together with the Westboro Baptist Church (the only true word in their title is that they are in fact in Westboro, but they are most definitely not Baptist and they are not a Christian Church...).

I try not to lump Atheists together as if they are all the disciples of Richard Dawkins, but as with Christianity, there are core beliefs--or lack of beliefs in the atheist's case--which all hold in common. It's at that point which I try to address my Atheist friends. There are some underlying beliefs that one brings to the God discussion which need to be acknowledged if honest conversation is the goal.

That being said, you seem like a very respectable person, and it seems your brand of Atheism is something far more like "eh, don't care" than the "God doesn't exist; and I hate him" version of Barker, Dawkins, or Hitchens.

I agree with this but when you say aethists say "I hate God." They don't believe in God so how can they hate something that doesn't exist? (Got this from movie God's Not Dead)

If they hate God, wouldn't that make them followers of Anton LaVey?

[apaulo13]

Aug 12, 2014 16:53:41 GMT -5 guineapirates said:

Aug 12, 2014 16:25:27 GMT -5 @muely said:

I'm one of those pesky athiests you were describing. I'm non-militant (most of us are we just don't like being preached too the same as religious people don't like being preached to by athiests). Bascially, I'm not going to de-rail the thread!

I would ask you don't all lump us into the same box though. Like most things, it's the few who shout loudest that tend to form others opinions of a particular group of people.

Let me be clear: my angst against atheists is reserved for those that act in a very condescending and militant manner.  I have an engineering degree and went to a highly technical school, where the majority of students are atheist or agnostic.  Thus, I have had many conversations with friends (roommates, dorm residents, classmates, etc.) about the subject.  With some I have had very stimulating conversations, talking about cosmology and the origins of the universe and other philosophical thought (solipsism, pantheism, panentheism, etc.). With others, I have been assaulted with the wrongs of religion and how religion is the cause of so many deaths worldwide, etc.

I am particularly opposed to Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens. Their brand of atheism is brash and condescending to the point of derision for me. However, I have very few qualms with Neil deGrasse Tyson, who is more for the expansion of scientific thought even though some of his presentations on the new series of "Cosmos" leaves me with some questions. There is certainly always room for discussion and if we could allow cooler heads to prevail, I think this world would be a better place. However, militants of any creed (or lack thereof) piss me off. 

have you heard of the iOS app ifunny? That's pretty much run by militant atheists who call themselves AU or Atheists United. It really gets on my nerves since the app is called iFUNNY and not iATHEIST

[vitalogist]

Jul 31, 2014 17:24:32 GMT -5 gearylutz said:

Nice! Can we get a little more manly Jesus on the card though? Maybe the flipping tables in the Temple scene as a "Men of Action"? (I'm a Christian too, btw, not poking fun...). Either way, I really like this post! Multiply that trade by about infinity, and that's what that one card is worth!

I demand "Jesus Fired Up."

[Deleted]

Aug 12, 2014 18:32:44 GMT -5 gearylutz said:

Aug 12, 2014 16:25:27 GMT -5 @muely said:

I'm one of those pesky athiests you were describing. I'm non-militant (most of us are we just don't like being preached too the same as religious people don't like being preached to by athiests). Bascially, I'm not going to de-rail the thread!

I would ask you don't all lump us into the same box though. Like most things, it's the few who shout loudest that tend to form others opinions of a particular group of people.

You make a great point, as I really hate when CNN makes reference to "fundamentalist" (basically their code word for anyone who believes in all that crazy Bible stuff... you know, like the Church has for 2 millenia...) Christians and then lump everyone together with the Westboro Baptist Church (the only true word in their title is that they are in fact in Westboro, but they are most definitely not Baptist and they are not a Christian Church...).

I try not to lump Atheists together as if they are all the disciples of Richard Dawkins, but as with Christianity, there are core beliefs--or lack of beliefs in the atheist's case--which all hold in common. It's at that point which I try to address my Atheist friends. There are some underlying beliefs that one brings to the God discussion which need to be acknowledged if honest conversation is the goal.

That being said, you seem like a very respectable person, and it seems your brand of Atheism is something far more like "eh, don't care" than the "God doesn't exist; and I hate him" version of Barker, Dawkins, or Hitchens.

Thank you. Though I would point out that to be an athiest you kinda have to be of the view that no God or Gods exist. It is opinion though and has always been my natural state of mind. As far as I'm concerned, religion in the western world gives people peace, comfort, strength and a sense of community and regardless of whether I believe in the religion, I think that's fantastic.

Only time I've got mad about this stuff is when someone told me that they hate all atheists and said that they trust Muslims more because "at least they believe in a God." Then proceeded to tell me that I couldn't be a moral person because of my lack of belief.

[gearylutz]

Aug 12, 2014 22:38:47 GMT -5 cardinals507 said:

Aug 12, 2014 18:32:44 GMT -5 gearylutz said:

You make a great point, as I really hate when CNN makes reference to "fundamentalist" (basically their code word for anyone who believes in all that crazy Bible stuff... you know, like the Church has for 2 millenia...) Christians and then lump everyone together with the Westboro Baptist Church (the only true word in their title is that they are in fact in Westboro, but they are most definitely not Baptist and they are not a Christian Church...).

I try not to lump Atheists together as if they are all the disciples of Richard Dawkins, but as with Christianity, there are core beliefs--or lack of beliefs in the atheist's case--which all hold in common. It's at that point which I try to address my Atheist friends. There are some underlying beliefs that one brings to the God discussion which need to be acknowledged if honest conversation is the goal.

That being said, you seem like a very respectable person, and it seems your brand of Atheism is something far more like "eh, don't care" than the "God doesn't exist; and I hate him" version of Barker, Dawkins, or Hitchens.

I agree with this but when you say aethists say "I hate God." They don't believe in God so how can they hate something that doesn't exist? (Got this from movie God's Not Dead)

The statement was a bit tongue in cheek. Somewhat along the lines of the unicorn blog, why war against the absurd? It kinda tells of a bit of a deeper hostility. If you read most of their works, it's not just that they don't believe in God, they don't want their to be any god at all. That's where the "I hate him" part comes in.

[cardinals507]

Hey guys. I know you don't actually know me but you guys are kinda like a group of friends. Anyway just pray for my family if you think about. Thanks and God Bless.

[pirates4ever123]

I am a Christian as well