i'm NOT christian... and proud of it!!!

[rehmwa 2]

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What should we call the thing behind the voices we hear?

Probably a good idea to call it "God." If you call it anything else then it might be considered as pathology.

"pathology" you mean like Quincy M.E.? My voice don't really tell me to do that.

(Sorry, for you kids that would be C.S.I. - the wierd yet likeable doctors that cut up the cadavers.)

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[Shotgun 1]

I'm old enough that I watched Quincy as a kid. I can't do the C.S.I. thing though; if I'm gonna watch tv nowadays, it's either comedy or non-fiction. Well, unless the voices tell me to watch one of those adult channels...

[Mockingbird 0]

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90% of the population considers itself christian?

This is funny. I mean, "Christian" by what definition? Followers of Christ? "Born-again"? Church-goers? Can't be even one of those three possible definitions.

Where'd you get the 90% statistic? Did it define "Christian"?

Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird
"Why is there something rather than nothing?"

[unformed 0]

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90% of the population considers itself christian?

This is funny. I mean, "Christian" by what definition? Followers of Christ? "Born-again"? Church-goers? Can't be even one of those three possible definitions.

Where'd you get the 90% statistic? Did it define "Christian"?

I'm gonna take a shot in the dark here, but I would venture to guess it's people who signed "Christian" on a survey.

This ad space for sale.

[Mockingbird 0]

Here's a "5 minute Introduction to Buddhism" if anyone's interested in what "it" is.

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/5minbud.htm
It starts out saying it's a religion, then kinda' transitions into being a philosophy.

And this http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html ranks the major world religions (including buddhism). Isn't an official, gov't-researched and -run webpage, but it gives a general idea.

Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird
"Why is there something rather than nothing?"

[Mockingbird 0]

Windcatcher, see post above.

Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird
"Why is there something rather than nothing?"

[hairyjuan 0]

every shared belief system is a religion, islam, judaism, buddhism, hinduism, christianity, etc. the catholic church's records prove that jesus and buddha are identical in nearly every way. being 'born, of a virgin, various miracles, death as atonement for sins, and all else. i, in many ways agree with your 'atheism' but i would kindly suggest that you acquire a copy of the book i have listed many times and have offered to provide to a couple of 'christians' posting here. it thoroughly explains and identifies the similarities between Chrishna, buddha, and christ. the plain and simple truth is that all three are myths. an excellent read!

we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively


wishers never choose, choosers never wish

[Mockingbird 0]

Yes, but these are Conservative-held views (as well as Christian values). Politics. Not organized church-sponsored special interests.

But I'm not gonna' get into discussing politics. I'll stick to Christianity and the bible. I don't want to get angry.

Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird
"Why is there something rather than nothing?"

[Mockingbird 0]

P.S. Not all Christians even agree on the views represented on your list. So you can't call those "Christian views" as tho' they represent all of Christianity. Christianity isn't an organized religion, altho' certainly some of the denominations are. Christianity is made up of a diverse group of people with different opinions, ranging from "We need to be a force for good in the world" to "We need to share the good news of Jesus Christ with whoever will listen" to "Let's all just mind our own business." What they DO have in common (I'm talking about real Christians, as defined by the bible) is one God, one Savior (Jesus Christ), and the eagerness to follow and please Him.

Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird
"Why is there something rather than nothing?"

[SpeedRacer 1]

hey look, it's the hairyjuan-bot again. It took it 1 1/2 pages to re-post this time. And gosh, those links look familiar.

Speed Racer
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[jakee 1,280]

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This is funny. I mean, "Christian" by what definition? Followers of Christ? "Born-again"? Church-goers? Can't be even one of those three possible definitions.

Where'd you get the 90% statistic? Did it define "Christian"?

I didn't get it from anywhere, you'll notice I phrased it as a question not a statement.

The specific point of my reply is that the large majority of people in the states consider themselves to be christian - as in believing christ existed and was in some way divine. Now correct me if I'm wrong but these people are going to be very unlikely to agree with the statement 'Jesus is a myth'. Therefore windcatchers assertion that people in modern America are more likely to defend Buddha than Christ is, well, more than a little odd.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[Mockingbird 0]

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The idea behind government is to protect the people from which it derives it's power. The potential (and already realized) benefits of stem cell research far outweight the cost of terminating either:

A. an unwanted pregnancy
B. a cloned and relatively unparented embryo

There are millions of people in the world that can benefit from stem cell therapy. Some of these people are your relatives and friends. Yet conservative christian pro-lifers are doing their best to prevent that from happening. In the context of working towards the greater good, conservative christian agendas are the enemy.

Research this some more. Christians aren't against stem cell research. They believe it should be privately funded, not federally funded. They are not your enemy, shaiziel.

By the way, "terminating an unwanted pregnancy" is otherwise known as killing a baby.

But I'm not getting into politics. I'm not, I'm not, I'm not.

Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird
"Why is there something rather than nothing?"

[Mockingbird 0]

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In conclusion, these are only 2 very important ways that your beliefs and subsequent actions (instigated by those beliefs), like voting in approval of the agendas and people who support them, have REAL, TANGIBLE effects on the everyday lives of those who do AND don't share those beliefs.

I hope that answered the question.

Please see my P.S. to nightinggale.

Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird
"Why is there something rather than nothing?"

[Mockingbird 0]

Does anyone know what Quincy's first name was? It's been puzzling my sister and me for years...

Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird
"Why is there something rather than nothing?"

[Shotgun 1]

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Does anyone know what Quincy's first name was?

Doctor.

[jakee 1,280]

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Research this some more. Christians aren't against stem cell research. They believe it should be privately funded, not federally funded

Odd. What does religious belief have to do with economics?

Oh, and may I refer you to the other current religious thread, Vatican excommunicates stem cell researchers.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[Mockingbird 0]

I don't keep tabs on the vatican.

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Odd. What does religious belief have to do with economics?

Nothing that I know of. But you know how those horrible Conservatives are--- always thinking of themselves, not wanting to be forced to share their hard-earned money on a cause, those nasty capitalists.

Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird
"Why is there something rather than nothing?"

[jakee 1,280]

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Nothing that I know of. But you know how those horrible Conservatives are--- always thinking of themselves, not wanting to be forced to share their hard-earned money on a cause, those nasty capitalists.

Well I was just wondering why, since 'christians' don't think stem cell research is wrong, they concern themselves with where the money to fund it is coming from?

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[Nightingale 0]

At thanksgiving dinner a few years back, we had five catholics, three christians, two mormons, two homosexual agnostics, three pagans and an athiest. Nobody had any issues at all, and we even talked politics. We actually had some laughs over the odd mix. The key was that everyone was able to respect everyone else and their right to make their own choices, even if they may not agree with those choices. I think that's the key to different religious groups getting along.

I have absoltely no problem with the christians that are happy to live their lives and let me live mine. However, I do have a problem with the christians, such as the christian coalition and focus on the family, that believe that everyone must live their life according to that group's moral code. Like you said, not all christians agree with the stuff on my list. However, those groups represent that they speak for christians as a whole, and that is wrong.

I don't find the concept of christianity threatening at all. I do, however, feel threatened by groups that wish to demand that I live my life according to their own narrow interpretation of that book, especially when there's so much disagreement about what the book actually means. I feel even more threatened when these groups attempt to make their interpretations into law.

As Americans, we have (or are supposed to have) a lot of freedom to make our own choices. With that freedom comes the responsibility to make the right choices for ourselves. There are choices the government should make for us (don't murder) and choices we should make for ourselves (whether to watch porn at primetime or smoke pot). I cringe every time I see a law curtailing activities that harm nobody but the people willingly involving themselves. The job of the government should be to protect our lives and property from other people, not to protect us from ourselves.

[Rebecca 0]

Guys, this is really pretty simple. If you get it, you got it, if you don't, you'll want to try.

You don't have to define yourself or anyone else in any way. You don't have to go to church. You don't have to do what anyone or anything tells you to do, and you shouldn't if the message is based on fear of hell or judgement on earth.


All you have to do is love yourself with your whole heart. You do have to forgive yourself. You do have to accept that you have very special gifts and abilities. You do have to accept that you already know what is right - you know it every time you make a choice whether you realize it or not.


Everything good will follow. Once you know that love, you also know how to share it and more than that, you want to share it.


You don't even have to have heard of Christ or the Bible or the church or any other version of this truth to know it. This message applies regardless.


That's how I know it's real.

edit: Oh, and I'm not "Christian" - I just love you.

you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel loquacious?' -- well do you, punk?

[hairyjuan 0]

a joke----------------------------------------------------

this old zulu medicine man asked the missionary one day, "i,ve heard that if you have never heard the 'word of god' you can NOT be sent to hell, is this true" To this the missionary replied, "yes, that is true". the medicine man then asked, "why did you tell me."

The article on astro-theology at www.jordanmaxwell.comis irrefutable proof that all religious 'god-men' are myths. i challenge everyone to go read this website. there is also documentation that the government has been planning the cleansing of the planet starting sept 17, 2001, it is staight out of the Congressional record from april 19, 1940

we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively


wishers never choose, choosers never wish

[shropshire 0]

Nice post.

It's true. Lumping all Christians together is like lumping all skydivers together... it's daft, but [we] tend to do it through laziness, mostly.


.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[shaiziel 0]

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Research this some more. Christians aren't against stem cell research. They believe it should be privately funded, not federally funded. They are not your enemy, shaiziel.

I said, in the context of working towards the greater good, they are the enemy. They are the opposition of progress. And your caveat to "Christians aren't against stem cell research" is in the omisison of the word "embryonic". There is pretty much only one other way to harvest stem cells and that is from the nose. Of course our fantastic FDA won't approve the procedure though it's already helped the people with enough money to have it done in another country. We are talking letting people walk who had, what at one point or another was considered, terminal paralysis.

Doesn't matter though. You're playing games of semantics. "We like stem cell therapy, so long as it doesnt come from embryos."

And as far as the "killing a baby" comment goes...
Using unwanted embryos for stem cell therapy is about like squashing bug eggs. Except that in the case of stem cell therapy, a benefit to mankind is provided. The sacrifice of one for the benefit of many is a justified sacrifice indeed. And don't throw it back at me saying "What if we wanted to sacrifice you?" The difference between me and a lump of cells is that I have a consciousness.

EDIT: BTW, as far as I'm concerned using government funding for embryonic stem cell therapy activity is on par with a national highway system and social security (when it works.)

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6.8% - Almost there!

[stoneycase 0]

I'm waaay late to the party, but I thought this would be a great place to throw up an oldie but a goodie (and one of my favorites)

"Shake off all the fears of servile prejudices, under which weak minds are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear." --- Thomas Jefferson, 1787

IMHO, the greatest 'faith' one can have, is not in God, or Christ, or any other deity. The greatest faith one can have is in yourself.

Does whisky count as beer? - Homer
There's no justice like angry mob justice. - Skinner
Be careful. There's a limited future in low pulls - JohnMitchell

[Royd 0]

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Look, in America today about, what, 90% of the population considers itself christian? So at the very most you're looking at about 10% who are ever going to agree with the statement that Jesus is a myth. Why does that 10% bother you so much? They are certainly not 'Most people' as you seem to believe.

It's amazing that we could get all of the unbeleivers together on one website.