Would you like to know the benefits of being a Christian?

[Fe 26]

I do not, however, believe that he was really the son of God, nor do I believe he ascended to heaven.

And why is that? Is it like I said before, that you have not felt anything that says "Hey yo, its me, Jesus" ?

I don't see how someone like sethez could be considered having been given a chloise. He has never felt the presence of God to choose him.

[sethsez]

And why is that? Is it like I said before, that you have not felt anything that says "Hey yo, its me, Jesus" ?

I don't see how someone like sethez could be considered having been given a chloise. He has never felt the presence of God to choose him.

If I was ever given proof that there is in fact a God, then you can bet your ass I'd get on my knees.

But I've never seen proof of any diety, from any religion. So I don't believe in any of them.

[g0zen]

And why is that? Is it like I said before, that you have not felt anything that says "Hey yo, its me, Jesus" ?

I don't see how someone like sethez could be considered having been given a chloise. He has never felt the presence of God to choose him.

What you don't seem to understand is that people like sethez and myself just don't believe in the supernatural aspect of religion. Even if I were 'called' by God, my first reaction would be that I was having a psychological episode and I would check myself into mental clinic long before I'd go to church.

Why? Well, for me it's because I have been raised in a rational world that has no place for antiquated concepts like mysticism or religion. For me to believe there is more than just the remote possibility for God existing, I'd need something that no one has yet been able to provide; cold hard facts and solid evidence.

[Vasteel]

[/QUOTE]At any rate I don't why I keep getting caught up in these pointless debates.
You are never going to sway me or my faith (I seen too much and too many of God's works to be rattled by worthless intellectualism) and I'm not going to change your mind about anything anyway. Let's just agree to disagree and be done with this.[/QUOTE]

It is not so much your faith I seek to sway, as it is your (apparent) belief that your faith invalidates, or has superiority over others'.
No one appreciates being told they're going to hell, y'know
Anyway, I agree.

[Fe 26]

If I was ever given proof that there is in fact a God, then you can bet your ass I'd get on my knees.

But I've never seen proof of any diety, from any religion. So I don't believe in any of them.

See, I don't think people like you should go to hell. I don't think you have been given a choice. I think the choice you got was

"hey, you want to have faith in what all these slightly fucked up dead people thought? regardless of how much it goes against the reality you live in?"

[Lucifer]

No one appreciates being told they're going to hell, y'know

Racist.

[arjue]

LAWL

[Fe 26]

Why? Well, for me it's because I have been raised in a rational world that has no place for antiquated concepts like mysticism or religion.

You're not born and raised in TN are you?

[g0zen]

You're not born and raised in TN are you?

Yes, I was.

Raised Methodist if that was your next question. Sunday school, bible camp, the works. It just didn't take. By sixteen I had 'renounced' God.

[The_Meach]

I'd need something that no one has yet been able to provide; cold hard facts and solid evidence.

In which case...what's the point?

W/o faith, religion isn't any different from science.

One of the interesting things about faith as a concept (and I"m saying all of this in an academic sense - this is true of all religions) is that it requires the supplicant to rest on the power of their particular deity to be saved/rescued/whatever. This validates/affirms the power/necessity of the deity.

If there were just a couple of facts that could be pointed out to unbelievers and *voila* they suddenly believed...well, that sort of takes the deity out of the equation. The once-unbelieving believer could always claim, "Hey, Deity, lucky for you I'm so smart and decided to believe in you."

Many aspects of human existence are dependent on facts/figures/hard stuff (physics, chem, bio). Many involve an element of...mystery (for lack of a better term) including music, the arts and love. I used to buy into the facts/figures - ALONE style. Until I took a Shakespeare class that really opened my mind to the (intricate) vagaries of life.

Thank goodness the sum of our existence cannot be reduced to a mere collection of facts.