If you leave the [ quote ][ /quote ] tags it should be fine..

Thanks. Yay it worked, now I can be one of the cool kids.

Nice!! A nod to FSM, me likey

Yes. The reason millions of people share it is because of religious dogma and brainwashing inherent in society. Millions of people can quite easily be wrong, you know. I don't dislike you for your beliefs, and I'm not causing offence for the sake of it. But I do think your beliefs, which, if you applied rational thought and reason to, you would find are irrational and unreasonable, are stupid. That makes you stupid by association, I guess. Perhaps I shouldn't have voiced that opinion in the first place, but it's far too late to change that, and I'm not going to retract it, because my opinion hasn't changed.
Oh, also, newsflash: this is a public forum. I can join any discussion I want, and call you anything I want, and be subject to the consequences of it. Hey, if you like you can even get someone to censor it, probably.I don't think it does have all the answers. I think it probably never will. But I will say one thing: it's generated a whole lot more answers and better explanations for what we see around us than religion ever has, and continues to do so.I apologise if I've offended you that much, and I really hope it doesn't discourage you from posting on plime. I was probably too caustic, but it wasn't a personal attack; or at least, though the comment was directed at you, it wasn't an attack on you personally, but rather on every theist's beliefs. Admittedly though, it wasn't exactly constructive criticism.
Thank you, for an entertaining discussion, and I apologise again for any personal offence you've taken.

Haha, welcome to the cool kids who can use quotes club:)

Thats a bit dramatic. No ones attacked you personally, they may have disagreed or challenged your beliefs but no one has attacked you as a person.

I know religion likes martyrs but theres no martyrdom needed here.

Yeah I guess when phunky called me stupid that wasn't a personal attack, just an attack on my beliefs.

Round of applause for finally working out the quote system.

One person said you were stupid, one! Which I said was out of order too. Phunkey also explained his reasons for saying that and he apologized if you took offense to it. One person saying you are stupid does not constitute or warrant a dramatic comment about being attacked.

Good night and FSM bless.

You are stupid, really really stupid, and do you know what makes you most stupid? You don't even realise how stupid you are!

And if you're offended, then answer me this: how much do I care?

I don't belong to any religious organization, as I think a majority of them only function to manipulate and distract people through guilt and rituals. Too many, many religious people are caught up in the debate over the simple discrepancies in their writings and the "true" interpretations that they soon block out the PRIMARY purpose of being religious, Spiritual Enlightenment. Spirituality is the direct effect of Believing in God. Wether you take that as proof of God or not is where the issue lies. Those that have felt it, rely on their intuition to guide them. Those that have not, have not taken the time to seek out the truth. (There is absolutely no way to convince you of this, without you willing to experience it yourself)

That said, I have no problem with atheists, having been one myself for quite a long time. I believe that being skeptical is a very good thing, as I wouldn't have arrived to the conclusions I now have without a bit of incredulousness. But, that ever present "void" that haunted me was never satiated with anything our heavily left-brain-thinking society could provide me with. So I sought out answers and I found them. God has provided me with a bit of unconventional path.

Everyone is in control of their own destiny, belief serves as a steering wheel, at least those are my thoughts. And as long as you're alive and breathing you are entitled to your own. Wether you believe in God or not, we've been given a very beautiful gift, the choice to live your life how you want to live it.

I realise you're being sarcastic, but nonetheless, that's exactly how I meant it, and I'll clarify: you are not necessarily stupid in general. Lots of bright people are religious. I do think your beliefs are stupid, and I think your failure to analyse those beliefs and realise they're stupid is stupid. Not a huge improvement, admittedly, but at least it's not an unjustified assertion, like calling you stupid outright.

And that's it from me. G'night.

Actually, Dawkins doesn't insist that there's proof on earth that disproves God. You're *almost* right, but not quite.

Dawkins actually just disproves theist theories in order to show the ludicrousness of God.

For example, many point to creationism and young-earth as proof of God. Dawkins points out how silly such beliefs are. It's just not unreasonable at that point to watch the house fall down after you've whipped out the foundation.

I think a better tactic from the religious teachers would be to stay out of worldly facts. It's hard for the atheists and the scientists to discredit them if they stick to the metaphysical.


To quote 2Man who was quoting someone else:

"If you imagine two baskets and in one put everything that is explained by God. In the other put everything that can be explained by science (without God). Thousands of years ago all of the worlds knowledge belonged in the God basket. Over the years, things slowly were removed from the God basket and were put into the Science basket (such as what causes lightning etc).

Not once. Ever. Has anything gone from the science basket to the God basket."

Yes one person said straight out that I'm stupid and now Sencerd makes two. I'm not saying that I am not going to make a comment ever again, but that I'm not going to express any feelings or beliefs in my comments. Phunky, you and chinook have this condescending tone that makes me not want to participate in this anymore. I'm not trying to be a drama queen, but if you could read some of the notes I have received from other Christians saying not to argue cause it only gets worse, then you would realize how many people are not making comments because of the unfriendly tone you three have created. I thought that Plime was a place to share your opinions and beliefs, but I guess that is only if you agree with the majority or just the people who have time to make multiple comments throughout the day.

Blansettbabe: You'll find that most of us around here are genuinely nice folk. Yes, there's some asshats in here on both sides of the fence. If you don't poke them, they're generally harmless.

Please don't stop commenting in here. I personally love the chat and Plime would be DULL if everyone agreed.

I've never noticed Chinook and Tundra to be purposefully condescending. I guess it's just when you're so convinced in your learning you're a little bemused when people seriously take opposing views. In the same sort of way as if a grown man sincerely told me that he still believed in Santa. I'd probably start by asking if he's serious (with a smile on my face), and then as it dawns on me that he is I'd try to point out the flaws in his logic (like how Santa can't get to everyone's house in one night). I'm sure that to someone who really believes in Santa, someone saying it's silly to believe could sound condescending and offensive.

I too thought Plime was a place to offer and share your opinion but from what your saying you make me feel like I'm wrong for doing that because to share and voice my opinions is upsetting you and all the Christians who are pm'ing you.

I guess I can only voice my opinion if it doesn't upset the Christians, eh?

I would bet my bottom dollar that you've had no more than one person pm you.

They are not being condescending, they are just expressing their beliefs in a well-thought out, intelligent manner. Everytime you are confronted with logic you resort to the "oh please just leave me alone" defense. To be honest, I could care less if you participate, because having read ALL your comments I don't think you have contributed anything to this discussion.

OK the bit about jesus riding a pink pony to work was funny.

So rather than add my name to the list of people that are "condescending" and are the reason that you don't participate anymore, why don't you try and defend/explain your beliefs? You say you are Christian, to me that says a lot more than just "I believe in god". How do you defend the crazy ideas (the ark, 6000 year old earth) that are found in the bible?

If you are not a Christian then maybe you don't understand. It is one thing to question someone's belief in Santa Claus, It is quite different to call someone unreasonable for believing in God. I base my life on this belief and to be called stupid, unreasonable, or illogical for that isn't very nice. I didn't call anyone names because they believe unquestioningly in the infallibility of science. I guess the existance of God is just something that you have to feel. I just wish that more people could feel that presence. It's great really.

athiests: convince me.

I used to be Christian.

Trouble was, Christianity put up too many "you must believe this" statements for me to remain Christian. So... I continue to have a great, moving relationship with God - just without the middleman (the church or Jesus). It's genuinely liberating and very fulfilling. I converse with God on a fairly regular basis and most of my ethics and beliefs come from that.

You should give it a whirl, it's great.

Actually it was 3 and that is three less people who will share their thoughts on any religious debate because they don't want to get into a huge argument. If we keep this up then you non-believers can host a one sided argument with yourselves because the rest of us don't want to participate. Have fun with that I'm sure it will be incredible for everyone to agree.