MTSuper7 Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 If you don't know, then you are not a believer. If you can't grasp that concept, its kind of pointless. My point is that the term atheist has become so demonized (and misunderstood) that people will go through great lengths (see above) in order to avoid it. Yeah... Though about this some more and realize that I do get what you're saying. You either believe or you don't. If you're not sure, that means you don't believe. Fair enough. And I think you're right about people's opinion on the word atheism. Then again, some people have a similarly skewed opinion on the word Christian. You say that word to some people, they immediately think of the "Jesus Freak" who shouts out bible verses in the courtyard between buildings on a college campus. FWIW, I am a theist. I have my moments where I question it, but I generally believe God exists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isleseeya Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Christian and believer ...thankful and blessed that i am Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Jim Jones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeR Posted January 7, 2011 Author Share Posted January 7, 2011 Just wanted to add that I didn't explain the terms because I didn't think it necessary as there are commonly understood definitions of them. If someone takes them differently, oh well. Either way looks like a lotta Catholics here, had no idea. Maybe FF makes people pray more? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polksalet Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 I'm what ussed to be termed a "Stoneite". It was the same group that Muck's people and a couple others here sprang from. From wikipedia. It was basically the opposite of organized religions. The cornerstone for the Stone movement was Christian freedom, which led them to a rejection of all the historical creeds, traditions and theological systems that had developed over time and a focus on a primitive Christianity based on the Bible.[5]:104,105 While restoring primitive Christianity was central to the Stone movement, they saw restoring the lifestyle of the early church as essential, and during the early years "focused more . . . on holy and righteous living than on the forms and structures of the early church.[5]:103 The group did also seek to restore the primitive church.[5]:104 However, due to concern that emphasizing particular practices could undermine Christian freedom, this effort tended to take the form of rejecting tradition rather than an explicit program of reconstructing New Testament practices.[5]:104 The emphasis on freedom was strong enough that the movement avoided developing any ecclesiastical traditions, resulting in a movement that was "largely without dogma, form, or structure."[5]:104,105 What held "the movement together was a commitment to primitive Christianity."[5]:105 Another theme was that of hastening the millennium.[5]:104 Many Americans of the period believed that the millennium was near and based their hopes for the millennium on their new nation, the United States.[5]:104 Members of the Stone movement believed that only a unified Christianity based on the apostolic church, rather than a country or any of the existing denominations, could lead to the coming of the millennium.[5]:104 Stone's millennialism has been described as more "apocalyptic" than that of Alexander Campbell, in that he believed people were too flawed to usher in a millennial age through human progress.[12]:6,7 Rather, he believed that it depended on the power of God, and that while waiting for God to establish His kingdom, one should live as if the rule of God were already fully established.[12]:6 For the Stone movement, this had less to do with eschatological theories and more about a countercultural commitment to live as if the kingdom of God were already established on earth.[12]:6,7 This apocalyptic perspective or world view led many in the Stone movement to adopt pacifism, avoid participating in civil government, and reject violence, militarism, greed, materialism and slavery.[12]:6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilthorp Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Flawed poll. There is no: None of your F'n Business and no Puddy. Lame Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiegie Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Until he comes down and taps me on the shoulder and says "Hey I'm real"" then I'll believe. So what am I? hell-bound? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaP'N GRuNGe Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 I'm what ussed to be termed a "Stoneite". It was the same group that Muck's people and a couple others here sprang from. From wikipedia. It was basically the opposite of organized religions. The cornerstone for the Stone movement was Christian freedom, which led them to a rejection of all the historical creeds, traditions and theological systems that had developed over time and a focus on a primitive Christianity based on the Bible.[5]:104,105 While restoring primitive Christianity was central to the Stone movement, they saw restoring the lifestyle of the early church as essential, and during the early years "focused more . . . on holy and righteous living than on the forms and structures of the early church.[5]:103 The group did also seek to restore the primitive church.[5]:104 However, due to concern that emphasizing particular practices could undermine Christian freedom, this effort tended to take the form of rejecting tradition rather than an explicit program of reconstructing New Testament practices.[5]:104 The emphasis on freedom was strong enough that the movement avoided developing any ecclesiastical traditions, resulting in a movement that was "largely without dogma, form, or structure."[5]:104,105 What held "the movement together was a commitment to primitive Christianity."[5]:105 Another theme was that of hastening the millennium.[5]:104 Many Americans of the period believed that the millennium was near and based their hopes for the millennium on their new nation, the United States.[5]:104 Members of the Stone movement believed that only a unified Christianity based on the apostolic church, rather than a country or any of the existing denominations, could lead to the coming of the millennium.[5]:104 Stone's millennialism has been described as more "apocalyptic" than that of Alexander Campbell, in that he believed people were too flawed to usher in a millennial age through human progress.[12]:6,7 Rather, he believed that it depended on the power of God, and that while waiting for God to establish His kingdom, one should live as if the rule of God were already fully established.[12]:6 For the Stone movement, this had less to do with eschatological theories and more about a countercultural commitment to live as if the kingdom of God were already established on earth.[12]:6,7 This apocalyptic perspective or world view led many in the Stone movement to adopt pacifism, avoid participating in civil government, and reject violence, militarism, greed, materialism and slavery.[12]:6 Man, you guys have no fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PPIchamp Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Well, with more than 1/3 of the forums consisting of Atheists and Agnostics, I see more clearly now why so many people get talked down to and treated like sh*t around here. ....what percentage of that 1/3+ are left wing nuts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
untateve Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Well, with more than 1/3 of the forums consisting of Atheists and Agnostics, I see more clearly now why so many people get talked down to and treated like sh*t around here. Followed by this: ....what percentage of that 1/3+ are left wing nuts. Either this is an amazing lack of insight into oneself or clever sarcasm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAYER Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 hell-bound? but there is no hell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clubfoothead Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 So here's my religious perspective. Nobody knows. I live my life by a particular moral code that is comfortable for me. At times when I deviate from that code, me and myself sit down and have a conversation about it. If there is a heaven and that does not get me in, then I don't want to spend eternity there anyways. What choice is that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Cid Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Followed by this: Either this is an amazing lack of insight into oneself or clever sarcasm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Cid Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 (edited) Are all babies Atheists because they haven't made a positive statement of belief in God? The answer is yes, not because of them not making a positive statement but because we are all atheists until taught differently, either by our parents or by an organization. This is clearly not relegated solely to the realm of religion as any child has no concept of any power that exists in the physical, spiritual or cultural world until exposed to these things. All of these things are taught at some level and not all of the lessons learned are correct. Edited January 7, 2011 by Kid Cid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuke'em ttg Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 if i write a Christian song, would Jimmy Cocktail add the music Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cre8tiff Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 I refuse to believe that there is a higher being that is so vain and jealous that a person who led a good life, was kind to others and followed what most would say was a just and moral life would be conscripted to some endless burning hell simply because that kind and generous person didn't swear fealty to this vain and jealous god. If God/Allah/Yahweh exists, He doesn't care if you go to church. He doesn't care of you pay homage to Him. He doesn't care if you give money to keep your preacher in $1,000.00 suits. He doesn't want you to kill or ostracize anyone who doesn't believe. Those are all trapping of the Church, created by human beings, not divinity. He would only care that you were a good member of humanity. That is it. Whether you believe in Him or not is immaterial.And I have known PUH-LENTY of folks who claim to be believers, yet cheat, lie steal and in general do not lead good lives as if somehow going to church absolves them of the other 99% of their lives. The church is pure hypocrisy, and I personally refuse to fund it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTSuper7 Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 I refuse to believe that there is a higher being that is so vain and jealous that a person who led a good life, was kind to others and followed what most would say was a just and moral life would be conscripted to some endless burning hell simply because that kind and generous person didn't swear fealty to this vain and jealous god. If God/Allah/Yahweh exists, He doesn't care if you go to church. He doesn't care of you pay homage to Him. He doesn't care if you give money to keep your preacher in $1,000.00 suits. He doesn't want you to kill or ostracize anyone who doesn't believe. Those are all trapping of the Church, created by human beings, not divinity. He would only care that you were a good member of humanity. That is it. Whether you believe in Him or not is immaterial.And I have known PUH-LENTY of folks who claim to be believers, yet cheat, lie steal and in general do not lead good lives as if somehow going to church absolves them of the other 99% of their lives. The church is pure hypocrisy, and I personally refuse to fund it. Don't hold back next time... If you can't open up to your fellow Huddlers, who can you open up to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cre8tiff Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Don't hold back next time... If you can't open up to your fellow Huddlers, who can you open up to? I AM holding back, believe me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
electricrelish Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 I refuse to believe that there is a higher being that is so vain and jealous that a person who led a good life, was kind to others and followed what most would say was a just and moral life would be conscripted to some endless burning hell simply because that kind and generous person didn't swear fealty to this vain and jealous god. If God/Allah/Yahweh exists, He doesn't care if you go to church. He doesn't care of you pay homage to Him. He doesn't care if you give money to keep your preacher in $1,000.00 suits. He doesn't want you to kill or ostracize anyone who doesn't believe. Those are all trapping of the Church, created by human beings, not divinity. He would only care that you were a good member of humanity. That is it. Whether you believe in Him or not is immaterial.And I have known PUH-LENTY of folks who claim to be believers, yet cheat, lie steal and in general do not lead good lives as if somehow going to church absolves them of the other 99% of their lives. The church is pure hypocrisy, and I personally refuse to fund it. Wow, you really put God on a pedestal. Why can't God be vain? Why can't God want to be praised? Why can't God have WR diva attributes? I mean it's God for God's sake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cre8tiff Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Wow, you really put God on a pedestal. Why can't God be vain? Why can't God want to be praised? Why can't God have WR diva attributes? I mean it's God for God's sake. So you are saying that Ochocinco is the face of divinity on earth? Hmmmm, you may be on to something... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuke'em ttg Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 anybody hear from Deacon Bill lately? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 anybody hear from Deacon Bill lately? Nope, he is gone from here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Cid Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 if i write a Christian song, would Jimmy Cocktail add the music Absolutely. I've got magic in my fingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Square Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Followed by this: Either this is an amazing lack of insight into oneself or clever sarcasm. Good ol' PPI. Hilarious even when he isn't trying to be funny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
untateve Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 I refuse to believe that there is a higher being that is so vain and jealous that a person who led a good life, was kind to others and followed what most would say was a just and moral life would be conscripted to some endless burning hell simply because that kind and generous person didn't swear fealty to this vain and jealous god. If God/Allah/Yahweh exists, He doesn't care if you go to church. He doesn't care of you pay homage to Him. He doesn't care if you give money to keep your preacher in $1,000.00 suits. He doesn't want you to kill or ostracize anyone who doesn't believe. Those are all trapping of the Church, created by human beings, not divinity. He would only care that you were a good member of humanity. That is it. Whether you believe in Him or not is immaterial.And I have known PUH-LENTY of folks who claim to be believers, yet cheat, lie steal and in general do not lead good lives as if somehow going to church absolves them of the other 99% of their lives. The church is pure hypocrisy, and I personally refuse to fund it. Have fun in Hell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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