Ah, we must have gotten our wires crossed. OP was saying that freedom of religion is something only "dickless idiots" support, whereas I was saying it's something that needs to be upheld by everyone.
I don't blame you for getting confused by his rambling manifesto, though. I sure was.
I feel like everyone believes in some supernatural element, regardless of how "enlightened" they are. My mom, for example, is a staunch atheist, but she believes in jinxes, the evil eye and highway prayers for good travel.
As far as I can tell being an atheist in no way implies you only have "rational" beliefs . The amount of "woo", a lot of it pseudo-spiritual New Age crap, that purpoted atheists believe in is pretty funny. Then there's other stuff like alien life having come in contact with humanity, dumb alarmist opinions on nuclear power, belief in ghosts, dumb alarmist opinions on vaccines, belief in completely retarded cures and medicines (fucking homeopathy being the most socially acceptable, but no less retarded one), it's endless.
"An old man in the sky" What is it with euphorics and their insistence that God is an old man/fairy/invisible friend in the sky? Literally no one believes that 1.) God is actually located in the sky or 2.) He has a physical body. Even in the Bible, God is portrayed as a metaphysical, abstract force of nature.
To be fair, there are some non-Trinitarian Christian groups which do believe that God has a physical person, even if it may not necessarily be anything like our physical forms. They're a distinct minority, though - mainstream Christianity labeled that a heresy pretty early on.
"An old man in the sky" What is it with euphorics and their insistence that God is an old man/fairy/invisible friend in the sky? Literally no one believes that 1.) God is actually located in the sky or 2.) He has a physical body. Even in the Bible, God is portrayed as a metaphysical, abstract force of nature.
These are probably the same eejits who think all Christians believe in happy white angels in white robes with fluffy wings. I mean, there's a reason an angel's opening line is always some variation of "Be not afraid."
These are probably the same eejits who think all Christians believe in happy white angels in white robes with fluffy wings. I mean, there's a reason an angel's opening line is always some variation of "Be not afraid."
Yes, but the actual source material doesn't portray God as humanoid. Although you're right, that's probably where euphorics get the "old man in the clouds" image from.
From my experience, most people who consider themselves Christian, do at least to some degree believe in the 'old man in the sky'. And I think that has a lot to do with older imagery portraying him as such. Just like people believe their dead relatives become angels.
It's terrifying to me that I (as an atheist) know more about, and practice a more Christian lifestyle than people who call themselves Christian.
And I am not talking about anyone here. I mean people I know irl. People here tend to be more educated.
From my experience, most people who consider themselves Christian, do at least to some degree believe in the 'old man in the sky'. And I think that has a lot to do with older imagery portraying him as such. Just like people believe their dead relatives become angels.
It's terrifying to me that I (as an atheist) know more about, and practice a more Christian lifestyle than people who call themselves Christian.
And I am not talking about anyone here. I mean people I know irl. People here tend to be more educated.
When someone says this, I know immediately you are talking complete crap mate.
Do you give more to charity than the average person?
How about have you participated in giving entire weeks to your time to helping communities?
In what ways do you provide counsel to those in grief over various things in your community?
Do you regularly attempt to try and help anyone going through a spiritual or existential crisis?
Education has nothing to do with how you follow the Bible. All you are telling me is that you haven't been in a fair discussion offline about your religion.
I really don't care if you are an atheist. I care when you say "Oh hur de dur. Lookit me, I'm soooo much better at following God's word than others that claim to follow him". Cause that is complete crap. Sure there is a very tiny chance you are a habitat for humanity volunteering philanthropist son of a gun, but I really doubt that considering how you are on here of all places.
I'm not saying I'm a great Christian, I'm pretty crap at it. But when an atheist says "I get your religion soooo much better." they are either Zombie Christopher Hitchens or they are a Joe Six-pack with an additional Fedora.
@Womacker
First off, you seem super defensive over this. I wasn't trying to offend anyone.
I never claimed I was better than a religious leader, which seems to be what you are basing a lot of this off of. I am saying your typical person who claims to be religious.
So since I am already getting powerlevel ratings, I may as well powerlevel.
ETA: I don't really care what anyone here thinks, so don't bother clicking the spoiler unless you want to see it.
I did donate to charities when I had more disposable income. And I intend to again.
I have both donated to and volunteered at a local food pantry for some time. And although I can't right now due to health issues, I do plan on volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, actually. I've also thought about trying to do Big Brother, Big Sister. Both of which are difficult for me because I've got a pretty good dose of anxiety. But I am trying to work on it.
And again, since I am talking about the average person here, the typical response to grief seems to be an 'amen' or a standard 'you are in my prayers' over facebook. But no, I do not go out of my way to help grieving people, because it is difficult for me. But if someone comes to me, or it is someone I care about, yes, I do my best to console them.
I'm going to say yes about helping people with crises, but I won't powerlevel more than that.
And I have had many discussions offline, when it comes up. I do not bring it up unless asked and pressed about it. Because I don't think it is really something that defines me. I also attended church and bible study at least twice a week for many years.
I have no idea who Christopher Hitchens is, nor do I care. I assume he is some prominent atheist or something, but I don't follow atheists. Because it isn't a religion, and I don't care. I know what I know and that is fine.
Frankly, I don't care what religion (or lack of) you are. If you truly believe in something, great. One of my biggest complaints about Christianity is that if you don't believe in it, you don't get into Heaven. If I have otherwise lived a good, respectful life, why does that matter?
@Womacker
First off, you seem super defensive over this. I wasn't trying to offend anyone.
I never claimed I was better than a religious leader, which seems to be what you are basing a lot of this off of. I am saying your typical person who claims to be religious.
So since I am already getting powerlevel ratings, I may as well powerlevel.
ETA: I don't really care what anyone here thinks, so don't bother clicking the spoiler unless you want to see it.
I did donate to charities when I had more disposable income. And I intend to again.
I have both donated to and volunteered at a local food pantry for some time. And although I can't right now due to health issues, I do plan on volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, actually. I've also thought about trying to do Big Brother, Big Sister. Both of which are difficult for me because I've got a pretty good dose of anxiety. But I am trying to work on it.
And again, since I am talking about the average person here, the typical response to grief seems to be an 'amen' or a standard 'you are in my prayers' over facebook. But no, I do not go out of my way to help grieving people, because it is difficult for me. But if someone comes to me, or it is someone I care about, yes, I do my best to console them.
I'm going to say yes about helping people with crises, but I won't powerlevel more than that.
And I have had many discussions offline, when it comes up. I do not bring it up unless asked and pressed about it. Because I don't think it is really something that defines me. I also attended church and bible study at least twice a week for many years.
I have no idea who Christopher Hitchens is, nor do I care. I assume he is some prominent atheist or something, but I don't follow atheists. Because it isn't a religion, and I don't care. I know what I know and that is fine.
Frankly, I don't care what religion (or lack of) you are. If you truly believe in something, great. One of my biggest complaints about Christianity is that if you don't believe in it, you don't get into Heaven. If I have otherwise lived a good, respectful life, why does that matter?
I have similar answers to what you have said for charity except in the past. Currently in college so I can only do service currently.
This whole thing comes down to a massive theological debate in the end because I could make the same argument back (Why would you bother doing the hard parts of life when literally step one is just saying "Okay sure I believe that") and it's really tedious and autistic sounding to argue on a message board. I apologize for sounding defensive, I just hear that far more than acceptable from any discussion on the issue and frankly it grinds my gears.
My point is just don't say you are a better Christian than Christians. I don't really mind what you believe but thinking you are better at what some strive their whole lives to achieve shows an incredible level of smugness, intentional or not. If you want to be taken seriously in any religious conversation, throw that phrase into the firepit and burn it away because that's only going to derail any point you have to "Le edgy fedora tip bruh".
In oxford Xtianity is a long a cepted abbreviation for christianity. I assume it began as a way of presenting oneself as educated and cultured (like the fedora/trilby) and has slid into obnoxiousness since.
