Let me ask a question: Which is more of a 'circle jerk': Scientists discussing reality or the religious discussing myths/an-old-book/call-it-what-you-want?
Neither. The fact that people like yourself are so pompous that you call it "reality" and putting down other persons' belief systems as based on "an old book" is the attitude I refer to as the circle-jerk mentality.Socrates and/or Plato and/or whoever-recorded-them wrote "an old book," and it is still widely taught in psychology classes today.
I'm sorry to say you are [most-likely] a brainwashed person. It's sad that you were [probably] not given the opportunity to think for youself (I'm guessing your parents were/are religious).
For your information I was not brought up in a particularly religious household. I acquired my faith, the true version, only a few short years ago and I have been through some rough times with it, but all the best things in life are a roller coaster (faith, love, amusement park rides, etc).
I know your not going to change your mind, as from experience with discussions like this you tend to get angry and I can understand that. In fact I wouldn't want to derail you from your believe system as it can have dire consequences for somebody who has based their lives on such things*
Please. The only thing that is making me angry is you talking down to me like I am an inferior human being. I've been to philosophy class; I've debated with myself and others. What I believe is what I believe; why would you care anyway? This is what I am talking about with the circle-jerking. Unlike yours, my faith requires me to try to spread Christ's love to others. I try to do so as well as I can. However, what does your faith (and yes, it is one) reward you for denouncing the evils of faith in God?
All I ask is that you don't even SAY things like homosexuality is sinful...especially if you have/ever-have children. THAT would pyscological abuse...just as bringing children up to live by any false believe system.
I will teach my children what I want. You will teach your children what you want. As a rule, in later life, mine will turn out atheist and yours chock full o' faith. Blame it upon the rebellious nature of today's generations. Homosexual
acts are a sin. Homosexual
feelings are not. We are taught, however, that it doesn't matter, because Christ died for all of our sins. That goes for homosexuality, sexual promiscuity, rape, murder, substance abuse (
abuse, not
use), armed robbery, public urination, and stealing cookies from the cookie jar. We are human; God realised this, and sent someone to fix it. That's what I believe. Please don't call it false without supporting evidence. You're doing that pompous, circle-jerking thing again.
I have children and I wouldn't dream of telling them WHAT to think. Simple/golden rule is: Do unto others as you would have them do to you. You really need very few other rules in life.
You wouldn't be plagiarising the Catholic Church there, would you? Why not give credit where credit is due? Anyway, you can't tell kids how to think. It's the one thing you cannot do. They will do what they want, given the time. The best thing I can do is teach them the basics and they will find what they believe on their own.
I do try and inform my kids HOW to think - Use logic, don't take things on face value, and most importantly THINK.
I challenge you to take your kids to a church (preferably an Assembly of God, but I'm not picky; any house of faith will do), without telling them what to think first or after. Without giving them a diatribe on why it is all a made-up story, let them decide what they believe for themselves. I bet you can't do it-- because you are just as closed-minded as the fundies.
Thank you for the entertainment and God bless. If you'd like some further conversation (I would be delighted), kindly stop
derailing this thread and PM me, for Science's sake (see what I did there?).
