Religion

[Sukunai]

"One cannot prove or disprove religion/religious faith with science because: 1) it isn't observable with the 5 senses, 2)as you said it isn't repeatable, so someone can't just repeat a prayer and see its results again every time, 3)you can't do a scientific experiment on a soul.
Also, if you have an article or some such proof that a Christian has ever come out in the scientific community claiming his faith as fact, I'd love to read it. Seriously, I would."

You don't get it do you.

I am not required to prove a soul exists, they/you are required to prove it does.

Now when you're ready, stop pretending that your capacity to copy paste text illustrates you have a capacity to think.

Science has been my life for decades, stop pretending you can play in my ballpark until you understand how the game works.

[Sukunai]

"Because I could care less to actually read the whole thread and bother getting into arguments about religion (I get enough of that shit with my family) I'm just going to answer the op's question. "

You wasted your time posting if you haven't actually a clue what is being discussed.

[Sukunai]

I might as well just go back to enjoying Japanese school girls drawn with overly large breasts, overly short skirts, overly visible lingerie and inaccurate hair.

Believers will continue to believe until their last breath at which point they can't go back and change anything.

So it's pointless me continuing the conversation.

I'd get a better conversation from a handful of dirt.

Ciao people. I'm out of the conversation.

[The Origonal Head Hunter]

I am not required to prove a soul exists, they/you are required to prove it does.

And I said that it can't be proved scientifically, so you'll never be satisfied with an explination. I can't prove it to you, you can't disprove it to me. Further discussion is pointless, now I'm going to go have breakfast.

[AquaSky]

See ? That's exactly what I meant about people with a persecution complex. Get over it.

You cry about people trying to influence your beliefs, but you think you have the right to push yours on others ? Hypocrite.

Assuming that was directed at me, I am not "pushing" beliefs on anyone.

I have never "believed" in anything I have said in this topic.

I don't allow "belief" to rule my existence.

be·lief (bĭ-lēf') n.
Mental acceptance of and conviction in the truth, actuality, or validity of something.

Your prior assertions are your belief. The word "belief" isn't intrinsically religious. You can't worm your way out of the hole you've dug yourself into using semantics.

[inthesto]

Aqua, because I'm such a good friend, I'm going to suggest things you could do instead of try to argue with Sukunai:

*Pet a kitten
*Eat an apple
*Cook some curry
*Run yourself over with a car
*Cut your spleen out and light it on fire

All of the above are vastly more productive and intellectually stimulating than talking to an individual of Sukunai's mental caliber.

[guy07]

.... so no ones satanic huh ...?

Now I'd like to argue a point (and try not to sound like a jackass while doing it): Most religions can be traced back to a period in time when they were established. None of them were around since the dawn of time or whatever. So how would you go about explaining that? One could say that they were started 'out of thin air', or you could argue that it just took us a while to realize that the big guy exists. One could even go as far to argue that we became smarter over time and eventually became 'enlightened' to the presence of god, which would also explain why we didn't know about him 4,000 years ago. Sorry if i'm throwing people off track, i just thought i'd try to see things from the other side of the debate.

EDIT: Thanks to whoever fixed the thread name >_<

[Fall_Child42]

The amount of stupid in this thread has proved there is a god and it hates us all.

[CodeZTM]

"Christianity is about accepting people for who they are, and refraining from judging others. It's about accepting Jesus as our Savior, and realizing that He died for our sins, all in order for us to get into Heaven. Not only that, but by living by the Bible and Its Word."

Sounds all nice and warm and fuzzy.

Then you are forced to remember things like, these same people refuse to leave their religion at home.

They insist on enacting laws slanted in their favour.
Death penalty, I'm for it, they are not. Why are they not for it? Oh it's their religious beliefs.
Abortion, oh you can bet their religion will show up for this one.
Gays getting married, yep, they will impose their will on that too.
Age of majority, this is also a religiously driven decision.
Legality of doing weed, heck they even show up here.

These non judgmental Christians are simply incapable of being non judgmental.
They will claim nearly anything in order to get their way.
And they usually do, because in a democracy, the most votes wins.
Which I think is why they are so scared of Islam, as those Muslims are breeding like rabbits while the Christian world is in decline. Heck there are more and more Muslims showing up, even though they have a fondness for killing their young off in Jihads (you never see old suicide bombers for some reason).

The only way to sell Christianity, in a fashion that holds true to the message, is to make it so appealing, that I demand you let me have it too.
Telling me I'm going to hell for being a sinner" yeah that's really great marketing.
Stomping all over my rights? yeah pissing me off is a good way to influence me.

Actually STOP telling me how to run my life, and I might believe you don't actually want to.

Well, I'm not going to argue with ya. You're entitled to your beliefs, and I respect you for them. But I would like to clear up some misconceptions stated.

Well, you are quite correct when Christians are trying to move legislation. I'd love to say that I'm morally opposed to the lengths that these people go, but I'm not really. Then again, this is America (I think you're in Canada), and I'm not sure how they act up there, so I really can't say much. However, Christians are targeted for discrimination just the same as all the other religions. People are suing the Churches for insane things. We're not allowed to say what we believe. The world is slowly silencing our beliefs.Our youth are being forced to practice other religious rites that we don't believe in, and are punished for not doing so.

Also, it's another common misconception that Christians think that all non-Christians are going to Hell. In fact, it's a common debate among the churches about the method to getting into Heaven. Some believe that only by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and believing in God can get us into Heaven. Others believe that by doing good deeds can one get into heaven, but only by never saying that God does not exist. Some are even of the belief that as long as one doesn't disregard God, one can get into heaven. The Bible has different verses for different things. In the end, I just believe that God will let happen what He wants to happen.

And yes, it's true, Christians (even myself) try to tell people how to live their lives. Keeping sex until marriage, outlawing abortions, condemning homosexuality. It's not because we want everybody to be a Christian, and it's not because we want the world to behave just like what we want it to. It's because we care about people, and don't want them hurt. Now, I know that's hard to believe (trust me, I see the same news in disgust when Christian radicals do something stupid), but it the truth.

Now, onto Guy's comment!

Now I'd like to argue a point (and try not to sound like a jackass while doing it): Most religions can be traced back to a period in time when they were established. None of them were around since the dawn of time or whatever. So how would you go about explaining that? One could say that they were started 'out of thin air', or you could argue that it just took us a while to realize that the big guy exists. One could even go as far to argue that we became smarter over time and eventually became 'enlightened' to the presence of god, which would also explain why we didn't know about him 4,000 years ago. Sorry if i'm throwing people off track, i just thought i'd try to see things from the other side of the debate.

Another great debate in Christianity! There are evolutionist Christians, there are creationist Christians and everything in between. But you see, here's where I believe. God created Adam and Eve and threw them out of paradise for committing the original sin. Over time Adam and Eve's children and their children's children grew to resent God and eventually forgot about him. Thus, God sent his Son, Jesus, to the world in order to bring the world back into the light of our Lord. Not only to spread the Word of God, but to also die for our sins so that we may go into Heaven. It was only after His death that the church had a chance of establishment. Even then, a lot of things got seriously screwed up. People began to debate the Bible, and thus all the denominations got set up (Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, ect).

I hope that answered your question, from my perspective anyway.

[purplepolecat]

To clarify, though, I am an atheist as well. And I despise organized religion fiercely. However, I think the problem with it is the "organized" part. Groups of people who use their religion as a moral highground to undermine the natural rights of others is a plague and a cancer eating at the intestines of society.
Even so, I don't think every person who believes in god should instantly be condemned if their faith is what gets them through the day without gouging their own eyes out with a letter opener.

Agree 100%

However, Christians are targeted for discrimination just the same as all the other religions. People are suing the Churches for insane things. We're not allowed to say what we believe. The world is slowly silencing our beliefs.Our youth are being forced to practice other religious rites that we don't believe in, and are punished for not doing so.

This really gets my goat. These Christian businesses are not being discriminated against, they are being punished for breaking laws against discrimination, which exist for a good reason. Christian citizens can express their beliefs whenever they want, and frequently do. Unless someone is taking away your Bible, or stopping you going to church, or forcing you to be gay, or forcing you to have an abortion, your freedom of religion has not been compromised.