Posts by DJS

174

The Bible is NOT Error-Free

by FusionTheism in

for many christians, the bible is viewed as the 100% error-free, perfect book straight from god, where every single word was carefully chosen by god for a reason.

but, usually, when you have a discussion on the topic, these christians will end up saying that only the original copies written directly from the hands of the prophets and apostles were error-free, and all manuscript copies since then are subject to copyist mistakes and other errors.. since zero original copies are in existence, how do we know the originals were error-free?

why should we think the originals should be error-free to begin with?

DJS

FUNNY STUFF!!! LOL Funny.

174

The Bible is NOT Error-Free

by FusionTheism in

for many christians, the bible is viewed as the 100% error-free, perfect book straight from god, where every single word was carefully chosen by god for a reason.

but, usually, when you have a discussion on the topic, these christians will end up saying that only the original copies written directly from the hands of the prophets and apostles were error-free, and all manuscript copies since then are subject to copyist mistakes and other errors.. since zero original copies are in existence, how do we know the originals were error-free?

why should we think the originals should be error-free to begin with?

DJS

Viv,

I'm assuming 'shear' is a metaphor (please, please, please be a metaphor).

23

Are Jehovah's Witnesses Christian or Cult, Do JWs Offer Solutions for Local and Global Problems of life?

by skepticSam in

the awake on "hope for the homelessness" was one of the worse illustrations how the cult has no love for anyone that can't provide donations to further this spiritual ponzi scheme!

the premise of this awake made no sense, i've read many books and took classes on social issues affecting mankind, the awake does not help fix the problem.

what did this magazine offer those who are suffering the humiliation of living out of their cars or "tent city" or under a bridge?

DJS

To answer your OP: a. The Dark Tower is a Cult; and b. The Dark Lords can't help anyone with anything. As for the rest of your OP, it is sprinkled with truths. However, a lot of homeless people have brought their situation on themselves. That isn't lacking compassion and it doesn't mean they all have, but to ignore that many have caused their plight is to also bury one's head in the sand, which also won't help their condition.

62

Christians not knowing the Bible

by Viviane in

last night a young man in a bar struck up a conversation with me.

our town is having our pride parade soon and he brought it up, the bible and how it's against the bible.

me being me, i said that i couldn't care less that it was against the bible and that it was a horrible guide for morality anyway.

DJS

Viv,

I'm on vacation in CA (Big Sur, Monterrey), which I believe is your lovely state. I've ignored this site as a result but your girl on girl created a disturbance in the force. It also caused a disruption in that Star Wars Lucas Jedi Knight thing-ey.

We could trade stories, you and i. Simon would kill us. We would die with smiles on our faces.

You all keep this thread alive until my return. It's a keeper. Like Viv.

81

The incredibly white NAACP leader

by Simon in

this is a bizarre story.. there is a woman who is the local leader of the naacp who is obviously trying to mislead people into believing she is black who is actually white.

very white.. she obviously gets a tan regularly but looks more orange.

yes, orange really is the new black!.

DJS

A sad story. I don't know the complete issues with her parents, but she states that she is alienated from them. I don't know why the parents were in front of a camera; perhaps they were drawn into it. If they wanted to be interviewed, that reeks of just trying to hurt their alienated daughter.

The only real problem I see for her is if she deliberately deceived the NAACP. One of their leaders stated yesterday that being black wasn't a requirement for her position, which was the correct thing to say and likely the legal thing to say.

But if she has lied on documents she could suffer consequences.

Sad, really.

141

Schoolyard bully mentality

by FusionTheism in

i'm not naming names, but i just want to encourage people on here or on reddit or twitter, and tell you that you do not have to tolerate people who act like schoolyard bullies in the way they speak to you online.

i think anonymity is a big part of it.

they feel like there is zero accountability so they can be a bully all they want.. i recommend just ignoring or blocking anyone who is verbally abusive or treats you like schoolyard bullies treated you.. life is way too short to spend any time dealing with those kinds of people..

DJS

Frank,

Your response to 1 Corinthians is often found amongst x-tians, but it is also not the approved response amongst the majority of x-tian religions. Lots of x-tians continue to justify hatred of gays by the bible's hate filled verses, including apparently Rev. Graham. It isn't just Paul or 1 Corinthians.

Remember Leviticus 18 and 20 and Romans 1? So much hatred is contained in the bible, and these types of verses have been used by x-tians for centuries to kill, imprison, sterilize, and shun gays. Frank, you can't spin these verses, and you can't deny the carnage these types of hate filled verses have caused and continue to cause. The Rev. Graham would evidently wish for the good old days, when gays knew their places and the church could treat them accordingly, including influencing government leaders to treat gays with hatred and discrimination.

Those are the facts, and they are not pretty.

141

Schoolyard bully mentality

by FusionTheism in

i'm not naming names, but i just want to encourage people on here or on reddit or twitter, and tell you that you do not have to tolerate people who act like schoolyard bullies in the way they speak to you online.

i think anonymity is a big part of it.

they feel like there is zero accountability so they can be a bully all they want.. i recommend just ignoring or blocking anyone who is verbally abusive or treats you like schoolyard bullies treated you.. life is way too short to spend any time dealing with those kinds of people..

DJS

HMTM,

The wedding included a very beautiful reading of 1 Corinthians 13 (Love never fails). I couldn't help but think, if they turned their bibles back a few pages, they would find themselves in a bit of a quandary. Paul said some very direct, unloving things about gays at 1 Corinthians 6. Therein lies the dilemma for x-tians. Cherry pick verses and admit that much of it is nonsense - and therefore NOT inspired - or stick to the hate-filled lessons and rules that the bible also teaches.

141

Schoolyard bully mentality

by FusionTheism in

i'm not naming names, but i just want to encourage people on here or on reddit or twitter, and tell you that you do not have to tolerate people who act like schoolyard bullies in the way they speak to you online.

i think anonymity is a big part of it.

they feel like there is zero accountability so they can be a bully all they want.. i recommend just ignoring or blocking anyone who is verbally abusive or treats you like schoolyard bullies treated you.. life is way too short to spend any time dealing with those kinds of people..

DJS

HMTM,

That's excellent; and as I noted, x-tianity is evolving. Last week I attended a gay wedding in an Episcopal church in the city where I live. It was their first gay wedding, very well attended and very confirming that x-tianity has hope. The minister was great, and he briefly re-counted the internal struggles and conversations he had with his church to make this happen.

Everyone in attendance was supportive; no one seemed to be faking it. Having said that, however, this was a fairly liberal x-tian church in an upscale area of the city where about 90% of the members are college grads.

Now let's send Rev. Graham an email. Theists, like it or not, will evolve to resemble atheists. And HMTM, outside of this forum, which can be caustic at times, I would imagine that every theist and atheist is a nice, decent person.

141

Schoolyard bully mentality

by FusionTheism in

i'm not naming names, but i just want to encourage people on here or on reddit or twitter, and tell you that you do not have to tolerate people who act like schoolyard bullies in the way they speak to you online.

i think anonymity is a big part of it.

they feel like there is zero accountability so they can be a bully all they want.. i recommend just ignoring or blocking anyone who is verbally abusive or treats you like schoolyard bullies treated you.. life is way too short to spend any time dealing with those kinds of people..

DJS

HMTM,

"In the U.S. most Christians live quiet lives, go to church on Sunday, and do not force their religion on anyone. They give toward whatever charity their church is supporting."

I agree. But those same x-tians will silently or vocally support hatred and discrimination towards gays and lesbians, for example, just as they once did against blacks and the indigenous populations in this country and others. X-tians are evolving, but as I mentioned to FT, you can't hide behind your past when your past is still your present (see Rev. Graham's hate filled comments and actions towards gays in this morning's news).

Organized hatred is a religious thing, and specifically an x-tian thing. Atheists have no reason to develop an organized hatred for anyone, including the religious. Religion and belief in a hate filled death dealing god is required for organized hatred.

141

Schoolyard bully mentality

by FusionTheism in

i'm not naming names, but i just want to encourage people on here or on reddit or twitter, and tell you that you do not have to tolerate people who act like schoolyard bullies in the way they speak to you online.

i think anonymity is a big part of it.

they feel like there is zero accountability so they can be a bully all they want.. i recommend just ignoring or blocking anyone who is verbally abusive or treats you like schoolyard bullies treated you.. life is way too short to spend any time dealing with those kinds of people..

DJS

FT,

Of course I'm not saying that. No one should be bullied. But there are times, as others have pointed out, that what you and other theists view as bullying is hurtful only because you can't respond in a rational manner with evidence. And FT, the bible isn't rational nor is it evidence - other than for the atheists' views.

Sometimes you and other theists are bullied and some comments are un-called for; I agree. Of course there are intelligent theists and theists who have done great things and stupid, immoral atheists. But these types of debates about atheist/theist morality and intelligence began by theists routinely posting that atheists were baby killing, god hating, soul-less, unethical, lying, cheating whores. We pushed back. Hard. And we have the evidence to prove otherwise.

I use sarcasm at times (talking about slow moving zombie theists, for example), but everyone on this site knows I am using sarcasm and humor to make points. As a newbie you may not have understood that. That's how I'm drawn.

I have lots of theist friends I would die for; they are smart and decent and educated.