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I didn't bother answering at all for the simple reason that your questions didn't come across to be as a sincere interest in gaining new information. I've learned over the years that you can't take all "questions" at face value.
Good insight, and the response you were replying to surely proved your assumption in that regard. It's always an interesting view into someone's character when you see how they respond to receiving replies to something that they floated - responses that don't conform to the kind of replies they thought their inquiry was setting up.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TroutDude
Which is what prevents you from becoming all that you can be. And will ultimately consign you and your ilk to a tiny footnote in history.
We'll all ultimately be consigned to a tiny footnote in history, and deluding one's self into thinking otherwise is not necessarily "better" or "worse" in the grand scheme of things, when taken in isolation. Blind, unsubstantiated faith doesn't especially correlate with personal misery. The crux of the issue is the impact that "prevention" from "becoming all that you can be" you referred to has on other people, i.e., the extent to which concentrations of blind, unsubstantiated faith has a deleterious impact on others.
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Originally Posted by Mr5150
The problem with your line of thinking is the 2000 year old (and counting) track record of Christanty.
Christianity doesn't have a 2000 year track record. Christianity, despite its recurrent, fervent efforts to remain unchanged, is dragged forward through history like a derailed caboose of a runaway train. Today's ultra-conservative Christians would have been considered heretics by the ultra-conservative Christians of 500 years ago, and today's liberal Christians, even those Unitarian Christians and Universalist Christians whose belief systems resemble my own more than yours, will perhaps be viewed as conservatives 500 years from now. Christianity's longevity stems not from any special status for its belief, but rather stems from how readily the brand has been co-op'ed over and over again through time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr5150
Your opinion is fine. I however, am no fundie. I just figure the Bible is true.
Except you don't, not really. You've adopted this year's issue of selective interpretation of the Bible as truth. See the interchange with Vizio to realize just how a more fervent interpretation fares in the light of the crucible of actual truth.
And don't get me wrong: There's nothing wrong with joining a popular club. In the end, it all comes down to how you behave as a member of the popular club: Do you wear your popularity like a tiara and lord over those who have made other choices? Or do you regard those other choices as legitimate and worthy of respect as you expect to be afforded your choice?
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Originally Posted by TroutDude
Your lack of self-confidence is noted.
I know you meant it as a joke, but you're actually right on-target. It's easy to please people with what one says when one spends most of the time talking about petty matters like cars and money, and providing useful insights in that regard, but the fact that one does so lends no legitimacy to one's comments on other matters. Moreover, pleasing people with what one says, even when one is talking about more weighty matters like justice and the human condition, isn't correlated with credibility, but rather with popularity. The two shouldn't be confused with each other.
The problem with your line of thinking is the 2000 year old (and counting) track record of Christanty. Your hope that this religion will just fade away in a 100 years, but current trends say otherwise.
Government forced religion and death to those that are not bilievers.
Wonderful religion you had no free will to believe in.
1. Why do you care? My beliefs do not affect your life.
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