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My point is why ask the question at all? A poster's post should speak for itself. If one chooses to reveal their belief, fine, but for any debate, what you argue is what counts.
I agree with Tesaje asking a question like that is irrelevant, what difference does it make?
I have found it unsettling and irrelevant when in the midst of any thread someone asks "What religion are you?" or "How beautiful are you" or "How much do you weigh?" and "Do you get asked out a lot?" or "What race are you?"
What it says to me when someone asks those questions, is that person likes to "categorize" in their mind who or what a person is, and that to me speaks of judgment and stereotyping and labeling, which to me are offensive, oftentime because they are disparaging in their views.
That is the beauty of a board like this, it brings us face to face with how we interact with others and how quickly or not we go to those "crutches" like race, gender, age, appearance, religion, whatever, in accepting or dismissing other people, rather than listening and trying to understand who another person is and what they are saying
All those labels do is create blurriness and distance between people. I would rather talk heart to heart person to person without the preconceptions and judgements.
I agree with Tesaje asking a question like that is irrelevant, what difference does it make?
I have found it unsettling and irrelevant when in the midst of any thread someone asks "What religion are you?" or "How beautiful are you" or "How much do you weigh?" and "Do you get asked out a lot?" or "What race are you?"
What it says to me when someone asks those questions, is that person likes to "categorize" in their mind who or what a person is, and that to me speaks of judgment and stereotyping and labeling, which to me are offensive, oftentime because they are disparaging in their views.
That is the beauty of a board like this, it brings us face to face with how we interact with others and how quickly or not we go to those "crutches" like race, gender, age, appearance, religion, whatever, in accepting or dismissing other people, rather than listening and trying to understand who another person is and what they are saying
All those labels do is create blurriness and distance between people. I would rather talk heart to heart person to person without the preconceptions and judgements.
Here's the thing.
The poster was responding to my posts on how Jesus reacted to others.
It is relevant in the discussion whether that person is a Christian or not, although not mandatory, I was curious.
If someone starts telling us what Buddhists(or should I say b-dists) believe, then wouldn't it be relevant if that person was a Buddhist or not?
Obviously the person I questioned was not offended, and again, it was for clarification on what perspective the poster was coming from.
An atheist telling me how Jesus reacted and a Christian telling me how Jesus reacted is relevant when it's being discussed.
Sounds like a big fat argument from authority to me. None of us here can claim to be Jesus so all we can do is make educated guesses based on the way he reacted to events depicted in the bible.
Inside most people there's a feeling of being separate, separated from everything.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alpha8207
Obviously the person I questioned was not offended, and again, it was for clarification on what perspective the poster was coming from.
An atheist telling me how Jesus reacted and a Christian telling me how Jesus reacted is relevant when it's being discussed.
Much thanks to accelerator for understanding.
That's ok.. I thought you deserved some credit for making this forum possible.. and in general there is a good atmostphere here........ considering that no one's perfect.
A bit of friction is normal.
Anyway.. any one who argues with me is friend for life.. :-)
No I wasn't offended.. I just avoid labels because they only seem to serve to create an illusion of us being separate.. when we are not..
Feeling separate.. is all in the mind.
It's an illusion.
Have you seen the film.. Powder.. ?
----
Powder: My grams and gramps had it, the spot where they thought they were disconnected from everything.
Lindsey: So that's what they'd see if they could?
That they're really connected?
Powder: And how beautiful they really are.
And that there's no need to hide, or lie.
And that it's possible to talk to someone without any lies, with no sarcasms, no deceptions, no exaggerations or any of the things that people use to confuse the truth.
Lindsey: I don't know a single person who does that.
-
Lindsey: What are people like, on the inside?
Powder: Inside most people there's a feeling of being separate, separated from everything.
Linsey: And?
Powder: And they're not. They're part of absolutely everyone, and everything."
The Bible twice calls atheists "fools" for not believing in God. LOL!!! If we called believers that (well on this board) it would be bannanization (my word).
The Bible twice calls atheists "fools" for not believing in God. LOL!!! If we called believers that (well on this board) it would be bannanization (my word).
1.I respect the rights of others to practice different religions rather then my own.
2.I respect the history and traditions of other religions (many of them are beautiful).
3.Since I believe that my religion is the right one (Otherwise I wouldn't have chosen to be a part of it), I do not feel obligated to have respect for beliefs of other religions.
In all honesty, I love learning about other religions but I don't really have a formed negative or positive opinion about them, thus never really thought if I respect them and don't feel obligated to.
Also - I do not feel the need to argue with people who practice different religions then my own, unless I am to defend my own faith when it's under attack.
On another note, I believe that a person can never be happy and content within himself if he cannot live in HARMONY with other people's faith. If a person cannot stop thinking how wrong everyone is, he cannot be at peace with his own faith.
Find peace and harmony within yourself and you will be content with others.
I think that religions( Judaism, Christianity, Islam ,.... ) as personel beliefs should be respected . It is good to discuss and express our points of view, but we should do it without hurting the others feelings.
I believe respect springs from humility.
When I'm aware that I don't possess a monopoly on the truth, I'm better able to respect others.
I do find it impossible though, to respect anyone who willfully harms another.
"The fool says in his heart,
"There is no God."
They are corrupt, and their ways are vile;
there is no one who does good."
It doesn’t sound like David is talking about atheists at all to me..
Do you consider atheists to fit this description.. i.e.. fool.. corrupt.. vile.. never doing good to anyone.
I have never known an atheist like that.. have you.. ?
The Psalms are kind of poetic songs.. and are therefore open to some poetic exaggeration.. to express how the writer feels.
Of course.. the occasional Christian might grow horns.. and quote the verse out of context to an atheist.. but if they do.. then they are misleading.. and abusing scripture.. rather than teaching it.
The central theme that runs throughout the bible.. is that those in power were ignoring the law of righteousness.. and instead were mistreating people.. and misleading them.. and thereby enslaving them (controling their minds with lies)
All the judgments in the bible are aimed at such people.. leaders.. judges.. priests.. hypocrites.. etc.. and has nothing to do with atheism whatsoever.
The judgments are still valid.... down to this day..and we can still employ them to examine our system.
When David writes: “The fool says in his heart,
"There is no God."
He means people.. such as these apostates.. believe they can live evil lives and not suffer the consequences of their evil deeds.
David is saying they are fools.. because they cannot escape.. “the justice of God”.
When the verse is read in context.. it makes more sense than if it is quoted in isolation..
It is better to read the chapters before and after..
But to know the entire bible makes it even clearer.
----
“The righteous will see and fear;
they will laugh at him, saying,
"Here now is the man
who did not make God his stronghold
but trusted in his great wealth
and grew strong by destroying others!"
“ Will the evildoers never learn—
those who devour my people as men eat bread
and who do not call on God?”
-
Conclusion..
Definitely not talking about atheists.
Just the "evil doers"
And that the righteous will mock them (back on topic).
-
Last edited by accelerator; 08-06-2008 at 07:22 PM..
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Inside most people there's a feeling of being separate, separated from everything.
