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not really. too many people rely on knocking off people with "that's just an opinion". There are claims that are clearly more valid than others.
Yes, belief systems that are clearly self-contradictory are not valid. There may be truths within the belief system, but the system as a whole does not hold up under scrutiny.
Yes, belief systems that are clearly self-contradictory are not valid. There may be truths within the belief system, but the system as a whole does not hold up under scrutiny.
Status:
"I don't understand. But I don't care, so it works out."
(set 1 day ago)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Arach Angle
not really. too many people rely on knocking off people with "that's just an opinion". There are claims that are clearly more valid than others.
Here's my observation, about when "in my opinion" should be used in an internet discussion. Your opinion may differ. ;D
You do NOT need to use "In My Opinion":
When the disagreement is a matter of fact, not opinion. "No, the HEB on 1st street doesn't sell cooked crawfish"
When you're not contradicting someone: "Wow, you're going to Hot Springs for vacation? Be sure to check out Lake Ouachita, the prettiest lake in the state".
You DO need to state In My Opinion when:
You're disagreeing with someone about a matter of opinion. "You think Lake Hamilton is the prettiest lake in Arkansas? It isn't. The prettiest lake is Lake Ouachita"? or "The God you believe in doesn't exist".
WELL...I'm still a newbie at this place. I really was, originally, a "Casual Visitor".
At least, after this, I have my first original post under my belt...for better or worse, I'm at least not a TOTAL newbie here. *nods*
I chose this title to leave it reasonably wide open...and, I chose it because the "Why Christians hate Atheists" (or something like that) was where I first posted in this place.
I guess I'll open with this...If I may...
I've visited several threads and done some reading. I've seen some immense intelligence. Yes, for real. There are a few, what I would call, brilliant minds here.
Having said that, I've also noted one other thing...and I see it often. Arrogance, Pride, Conceit is rampant. I've seen rudeness, I've seen lambasting and abusing, I've seen something, at least, approaching hatred.
I've seen it from atheists and...I've seen it from those identifying themselves as Christians.
And, that will be my first pointed comment.
Christians...if you are truly a Christian...simply put--grow up and go back to Scripture. Your arrogance, pride, "holier than thou" attitude is an abomination.
Jesus did NOT teach this in the least. In fact, if you do study Scripture, you'll see He often came down on the religious leaders of His day--the Pharisees--more harshly than anyone else. He called them a brood of vipers, white washed tombs, the blind leading the blind...they were prideful, arrogant, conceited, know it alls...they worshiped---themselves.
I don't see dead people...but, I do see...modern day Pharisees.
Further, Paul was clear in Romans 12, for example..."do not think more highly of yourself than you ought..." Read and heed.
I am a Christian. Jesus is the Lord and Savior of my life. I am not perfect...I fall and fail...but my hope, my prayer, my heart's desire is to--on this topic--respect and love other's as I love myself. I may disagree with their life choices, I may disagree with their thinking...but, I'll still strive to honor and respect them.
I'm rambling, so I'll stop...I suffer from "run off" of the keyboard.
Since you left it "wide open"...I will address Christians vs. Atheists from the most significant aspect relative to "how this world is".
In "The Arena of World Merit and Influence"...Christians vs. Atheists is like The Red Sox vs. A Little League team with a losing record.
Well, actually that is an insult to Little League teams with losing records...but most will be hip to the reality of it.
Yes, belief systems that are clearly self-contradictory are not valid. There may be truths within the belief system, but the system as a whole does not hold up under scrutiny.
yuppers ...
no system holds up under every condition. the best we can hope for rare ones that hold up under more conditions. only literalness think they have the solution for every case. The rest of us hope that we don't hurt to many people.
even contradictory claims can be supported if we open if we are open and honest. for example, where did life start?. on the planet or in space? only people with an agenda would use those as contradictory claims. Both are valid when based on the information we have. Both come together when it is understood ...
Here's my observation, about when "in my opinion" should be used in an internet discussion. Your opinion may differ. ;D
You do NOT need to use "In My Opinion":
When the disagreement is a matter of fact, not opinion. "No, the HEB on 1st street doesn't sell cooked crawfish"
When you're not contradicting someone: "Wow, you're going to Hot Springs for vacation? Be sure to check out Lake Ouachita, the prettiest lake in the state".
You DO need to state In My Opinion when:
You're disagreeing with someone about a matter of opinion. "You think Lake Hamilton is the prettiest lake in Arkansas? It isn't. The prettiest lake is Lake Ouachita"? or "The God you believe in doesn't exist".
yeah, jesus died and rose for our sins vs he did not ... isn't like deciding the prettiest lake in the land.
Since you left it "wide open"...I will address Christians vs. Atheists from the most significant aspect relative to "how this world is".
In "The Arena of World Merit and Influence"...Christians vs. Atheists is like The Red Sox vs. A Little League team with a losing record.
Well, actually that is an insult to Little League teams with losing records...but most will be hip to the reality of it.
No, it's a much more intimate and passionate issue.
Thus, more deserving of the respectful: in my opinion.
In my opinion, it's a really silly notion all round.
It's absurd that an Omni-God Thing would make so many mistakes and then come up with this stupid, convoluted notion that his son - who is really himself, only different - has to pretend to commit suicide and then clamber back up into heaven on the 2nd or 3rd day (depending on which anonymous scripture writer you're reading) in order to make it easy for people who said the Magic Words To Jesus to go to heaven when they died, even if they were total knobs during their earthly sojourn.
You couldn't sell that premise to Fox TV today. And they'll show anything.
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