tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77418087023296092862024-03-05T01:35:35.257-08:00I is for IgnosticWe don't profess to say there is no god--we just provide the logic that makes god unlikely.A is for Atheisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06707383740611116793noreply@blogger.comBlogger8613tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741808702329609286.post-80741384418676099702015-07-14T09:54:00.000-07:002016-04-09T12:43:13.466-07:00Rebuttal to Scott M. Sullivan's Claim that Atheist Don't Think Christians Should Evangelize (Objection #4)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Scott M. Sullivan claims in how to answer a Jesus Critic that atheists :<br />
“ ...don’t care what Christians believe, they just don’t think they should try to evangelize others.”<br />
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As an Ignostic Atheist, I have no objection to evangelizing, as this is how I too, 'spread the word' of logical reasoning and knowledge. I understand the Bible, so for example, when Jehovah's Witness's knock on my door, I invite them in and then illustrate to them just how nonsensical their beliefs are using logic and reasoning. I find it very entertaining to hear them stutter over their words, but I am sure 'Dr.' Sullivan probably would object to my form of 'evangelizing'. I use the same tactics when I see evangelists on the streets. It's very entertaining to watch them squirm when they cannot come up with a logical answer.<br />
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'Dr.' Sullivan tells us that Christians believe that it is very important to help others come to know Christ and follow his teachings. I would argue it is very important to teach people knowledge, facts, science, philosophy, etc, and to present arguments for any hypothesis you may have. In this manner, we are able to eliminate hypotheses which do not follow the H-D (scientific) method of reasoning. (Christianity as a whole fails this method) Christians on the other hand, have argued against knowledge since the dawn of its origin. In fact, this is why the Dark Ages took place and the library of Alexandria was burned. During that time, learning out of the scope of religious teachings was frowned upon. Gullible sheep are much more inclined to believe nonsense than those that have been taught logic, philosophy, science and the art of deductive reasoning, which Dr. Sullivan admits himself as he tells us 60-90 % of Christians who enter university, lose their faith. Universities teach logic and how to apply the H-D method--which may be one of the main reasons why Christians lose their faith in droves while attending school. Why, it even states in the Bible that Yahweh would 'destroy wisdom'--a clear indication that wisdom is a threat to their belief system.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">"For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." 1Cor. 1:19</span><br />
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'Dr.' Sullivan goes on to say that:<br />
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"If Christianity is true, then surely there is nothing wrong with helping others come to know this truth. If Christianity is true, then helping others to see this fact is the most loving thing one can do for them. So the issue is not really about evangelism, but whether or not Christianity is true."<br />
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Let's replace Christianity with science, and see how it reads:<br />
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"If science is true, then surely there is nothing wrong with helping others come to know this truth. If science is true, then helping others to see this fact is the most loving thing one can do for them. So the issue is not really about evangelism, but whether or not science is true."<br />
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Scientific hypotheses have been shown to be true, as they follow the H-D method of deduction, however, Christianity has NOT been shown to be true using the H-D method.<br />
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Logic (I hope 'Dr.' Sullivan can grasp this.)<br />
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If scientific hypotheses have been shown to be true using the H-D method of deduction, then these scientific hypotheses are true.<br />
Scientific hypotheses have been proven to be true using the H-D method of deduction.<br />
Therefore these scientific hypotheses are true via the H-D method.<br />
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If Christianity has been shown to be true using the H-D method of deduction, then Christianity is true.<br />
Christianity has not been proven to be true using the H-D method of deduction.<br />
Therefore, Christianity has not been proven to be true via the H-D method.<br />
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See how simple that is. Christianity is faith based--not knowledge based. Knowledge is power. Faith just creates sheeple who will follow the herd and do as their masters command without thinking, and to believe without question. My advice however, is to question EVERYTHING. That is the only way you will be able to catch a glimpse of the world for what it truly is. Evangelize TRUTH--not superstition.<br />
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A is for Atheisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06707383740611116793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741808702329609286.post-29687366765058037552015-07-13T07:01:00.000-07:002015-07-14T06:48:30.337-07:00A Christian Dared ask These Questions on Gay Marriage--so I Answered Them<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Recently, I came upon this <a href="http://www.churchpastor.com/2015/07/10-questions-for-those-in-your-congregation-who-support-gay-marriage/" target="_blank">web page</a> that asks Christians to ask themselves the hard questions (excuse the bad pun) concerning homosexual marriage, so I thought I would answer them from the viewpoint of someone that doesn't share their </i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Open Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><i>belief system. </i></span></span><br />
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<i>1. How long have you believed that gay marriage is something to be celebrated?</i></div>
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFiwC2d6U-TwrelftXkAMCN5uVDaHlIP_AreLWQgZ86EizXNyQ3YuApj-paAk3BHVengSXlBB0tFUGHkjxyvVtaXrBv-FWey-pMTcydLmnSIlhjWC090DdkdJCPyV_gSw-T4d3gWmdEB6/s1600/jesus-loves-gays.jpg-4a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFiwC2d6U-TwrelftXkAMCN5uVDaHlIP_AreLWQgZ86EizXNyQ3YuApj-paAk3BHVengSXlBB0tFUGHkjxyvVtaXrBv-FWey-pMTcydLmnSIlhjWC090DdkdJCPyV_gSw-T4d3gWmdEB6/s320/jesus-loves-gays.jpg-4a.jpg" width="256" /></a></i></div>
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All unions between consenting loving adults should be celebrated. What loving, consenting adults do in private is none of my business.</div>
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<i>2. What Bible verses led you to change your mind?</i></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Open Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">The fulfillment passages of Matthew 5:17-20 states that all the laws must be obeyed until heaven and earth pass away. Nowhere does Jesus differentiate between dietary, moral, or legal laws, and he makes it clear that his followers are to follow ALL of these laws if they want to see heaven. Christians twisted his words using Humpty Dumpty semantics to get out of that responsibility, but Jesus was clear. Jesus said ALL of them were to be obeyed by his followers until heaven and earth pass away, and if believers 'relax' on even the least of these laws--they are out of luck. Therefore, Christians need to follow all of the laws, or abandon their religion altogether, because according to Jesus, a Christian won't likely go to heaven anyway if they eat shrimp or wear clothing made of various fibres, or lie with a man, etc,--interesting that it says nothing about women lying together in the OT. Note that Jesus said, "</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished"</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Open Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">. This doesn't mean only some of laws --it means ALL of them.</span><i style="line-height: 24px;"> </i><span style="line-height: 24px;">According to the Bible, Christians can't pick and choose which laws to obey and which no long apply because their god told them ALL of them apply--even the least of them.</span></span><br />
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: super;"> </span><span class="words-of-christ" style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For truly, I say to you, </span><span class="words-of-christ" style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> </span><a data-datatype="bible+esv" data-reference="Matthew 5:19" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7741808702329609286" rel="milestone" style="display: inline-block; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; height: 1em; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;"></a><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: super;"> </span><a data-resourcename="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Mt%205.18-19#footnote2" rel="popup" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: super;">t</span></a><span class="words-of-christ" style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Therefore whoever relaxes </span><a data-resourcename="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Mt%205.18-19#footnote3" rel="popup" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: super;">u</span></a><span class="words-of-christ" style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least </span><a data-resourcename="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Mt%205.18-19#footnote4" rel="popup" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: super;">v</span></a><span class="words-of-christ" style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great </span><a data-resourcename="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Mt%205.18-19#footnote4" rel="popup" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: super;">v</span></a><span class="words-of-christ" style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">in the kingdom of heaven.(Matt 5-18-19)</span></div>
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3. <i>How would you make a positive case from Scripture that sexual activity between two persons of the same sex is a blessing to be celebrated?</i></div>
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Jesus did not condemn homosexuality, even when confronted by a Roman who asked him to heal his 'pais' (male slave). This is significant because pederasty was still practiced at that time, and men kept boys and spread their 'knowledge' via male on male sex. If he found anything wrong with this practice, I am sure he would have spoken against it. Perhaps, Jesus himself was a homosexual as passages of the Bible seem to indicate. Polygamy was also practiced in Biblical times and long after. The 'rules' we practice today, came much later when church wanted to wrest more control over its flock. Before that, marriage was more of a civil union. See <a href="http://aisforatheist5760.blogspot.ca/2013/05/how-jesus-views-on-marriage-proves.html" target="_blank">this post</a> for details.</div>
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4. <i>What verses would you use to show that a marriage between two persons of the same sex can adequately depict Christ and the church?</i></div>
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Luke 6:31 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.'</div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica, arial;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 28px;">According to the Bible, Jesus doesn't differentiate between hetero and homosexual love. Any kind of love is good. Love is love.</span></span></span></div>
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5. <i>Do you think Jesus would have been okay with homosexual behavior between consenting adults in a committed relationship?</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Open Sans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Jesus said nothing against homosexual love, and I won't put words in his mouth. In fact, he may have been homosexual or bisexual himself as the Bible itself alludes to. </span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Biblical references to Jesus being in the company of "naked boys" appear in the scriptures of Mark when he is in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is in this Garden that Jesus is arrested by the Romans after supposedly being betrayed by Judas, and it is in this Garden that we also find a young, naked, unnamed boy. This boy was "a young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment," and “was following Jesus." When the Romans seized Jesus, the young boy "fled naked, leaving his garment behind" (Mark 14:51). Apologists attempt to claim that this boy was Mark himself, and elaborate on the shame he must have felt at abandoning his Lord, but this cannot be the case as Mark was not written by the apostle Mark. Mark's author is unknown. A better explanation via Ockham's razor, would be that Jesus could have been indulging in the practice of pederasty, and the unknown Greek who actually wrote the gospel thought nothing of it because pederasty was considered normal, so he included it in his narrative.</span></span></div>
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<i>6. If so, why did he reassert the Genesis definition of marriage as being one man and one woman?</i></div>
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There was no mention of 'marriage' in the Garden of Eden. There is only a union joined by God, and if God is everywhere as Christians tell us, then he is with the gay couples that are being married as well. <a href="http://aisforatheist5760.blogspot.ca/2013/05/how-jesus-views-on-marriage-proves.html" target="_blank">Marriage, after all, had always been a civil agreement, and not a religious one</a> until about the 13th century. In fact, within the entire Old Testament polygamy was a normal practice all the way from Kings (said to be the oldest book of the Bible) to the New Testament and beyond. Marriage as an entity isn't spoken of very often in the Bible, and many times it is spoken of disparagingly (As when Paul mentions you should only get married if you <a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/7-9.htm" target="_blank">can't control your own lust</a>) In the New Testament (<a href="http://biblehub.com/context/matthew/19-1.htm" target="_blank">Matthew 19:1-12</a> ) Jesus was approached with a question concerning divorce, but these questions were in reference to the Old Testament, in which polygamy was allowed. He did not condemn the practice of polygamy, just like he did not condemn the practice of homosexuality.</div>
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7<i>. As you think about the long history of the church and the near universal disapproval of same-sex sexual activity, what do you think you understand about the Bible that Augustine, Aquinas, Calvin, and Luther failed to grasp?</i></div>
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I think about the long history of persecution where homosexuals were tortured, killed, and their properties confiscated by the church. This is what was promulgated from the doctrines of Augustine, Aquinas, Calvin and Luther. This is also how the church became so extremely wealthy. This is not love. I don't think Jesus would approve.</div>
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<i>8. What arguments would you use to explain to Christians in Africa, Asia, and South America that their understanding of homosexuality is biblically incorrect and your new understanding of homosexuality is not culturally conditioned?</i></div>
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I would argue that the changing doctrines of the Bible itself have been 'culturally conditioned' as the Biblical laws have been changed by Christians over the centuries. Until only recently, women couldn't become pastors, or even vote because of how the Bible views women. Women of course, changed all of that, and at long last, we are now making changes that gives everyone equal rights under the law to be married regardless of their sexual orientation. Christians claim they no longer have to follow the laws, as Jesus redeemed them from laws of the OT --which isn't true as stated above in the passages of Matthew 5:17-20. According to these Christians however, all you need is love, and if two people love each other, that is all that matters. If they think otherwise, they would be hypocrites.</div>
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9. <i>Should your brothers and sisters in Christ who disagree with homosexual practice be allowed to exercise their religious beliefs without fear of punishment, retribution, or coercion?</i></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Open Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">It's a free country. Christians have the right of free speech to voice their opinion and practice their religion--without fear of persecution and without persecuting others who do not share their beliefs. Other people who do not have those same beliefs should also have the right to exercise their beliefs without fear of persecution and without persecuting others. What Christians do </span><i style="line-height: 24px;">NOT</i><span style="line-height: 24px;"> have however, is the right to tell two consenting adults how to live their life according to THEIR beliefs. As mentioned above, marriage was a civil arrangement until the church became involved in about the 13th century or so. Since there are thousands of different religions, and different customs associated with these religions-- legal marriage is a CIVIL practice. After all, church and state are SEPARATE entities--let's keep it that way.</span></span></div>
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<i>10. Will you speak up for your fellow Christians when their jobs, their accreditation, their reputation, and their freedoms are threatened because of this issue?</i></div>
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As an Ignostic Atheist, I would speak up for anyone that is being persecuted for what they believe in--Christian, homosexuals, women, Muslims, etc. Everyone has a right to believe whatever they want to believe, but if those beliefs are shown to be contradictory, and causes harm, then believers would be wise to accept the valid arguments against them and change their beliefs. I see no harm in a loving homosexual marriage. </div>
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A is for Atheisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06707383740611116793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741808702329609286.post-27537158121408941982015-07-08T08:17:00.001-07:002015-07-09T05:21:33.341-07:00On the Question of Whether or Not Christians are Hypocrites -- - A Response to Scott M Sullivan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In my previous post, I began with Sullivan's second counter to nonbelievers 'objections' to his religious beliefs. Now, I will start at the beginning of his little book titled "<a href="http://sacredheartjesus.com/documents/2014/8/JCritic1.pdf" target="_blank">How to Answer a Jesus Critic</a>" with the first objection that, "Christians are a bunch of hypocrites."<br />
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Definition of 'hypocrite - <span class="oneClick-link">a</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">person</span> <span class="oneClick-link">who</span> <span class="oneClick-link">pretends</span> <span class="oneClick-link">to</span> <span class="oneClick-link">have</span> <span class="oneClick-link">virtues,</span> <span class="oneClick-link">moral</span> <span class="oneClick-link">or</span> <span class="oneClick-link">religious</span> <span class="oneClick-link">beliefs,</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">principles,</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">etc.,</span> <span class="oneClick-link">that</span> <span class="oneClick-link">he</span> <span class="oneClick-link">or</span> <span class="oneClick-link">she</span> <span class="oneClick-link">does</span> <span class="oneClick-link">not</span> <span class="oneClick-link">actually</span> <span class="oneClick-link">possess,</span> <span class="oneClick-link">especially</span> <span class="oneClick-link">a</span> <span class="oneClick-link">person</span> <span class="oneClick-link">whose</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">actions</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">belie</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">stated</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">beliefs.</span><br />
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<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available"> The key word here is 'pretend' because that is what Christians MUST do if they claim to be virtuous and have morals, because their religion teaches them that </span>all of humanity are BORN SINNERS. i.e., they are taught
they can't help themselves from doing bad things. They are going to do bad things no matter what, because according to their teachings, their human nature is INNATELY BAD. This means they are taught they have NO CHOICE--
i.e,. They have no free will to choose to do the right thing every time. Yes, I mean every single time. I'm happy to say I don't believe that philosophy, so I do choose to do what is right every time, but if I make a mistake, I own it. I do not consciously rape, murder, steal etc. and use the excuse that "I'm only human." This is the domain of the Christians. Their religion expects them to be bad so they will continue to come to the church seeking absolution. It's a vicious circle of sin, repent, sin, repent, repeat when necessary, which results in women being beaten to death, children being raped, and a host of other 'sins' being repeated over and over again--and churches lining their pockets with the guilt of these so-called 'sinners.'<br />
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That being said, these same Christians who profess to be virtuous, and moral while doing heinous acts are Christians because they believe Jesus supposedly took the blame for all their misdeeds on his shoulders. If this was true, this would be the most immoral action ever, as it absolves perpetrators of their crimes. No responsibility. 'Christians' do commit heinous acts--and are expected to. <br />
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He goes
on to say that, "A religion should be judged on what it professes, not
on the failings of those who do not live in accord with its teachings."<br />
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<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">My response to him is that I DO judge on what Christianity professes which results in heinous actions based on those teachings. I object to this philosophy as it promotes the notion of humanity being born innately flawed-- but it's ok, because Christians somehow don't have to take responsibility for their actions based on those flaws--unless, of course, the secular courts have anything to say about it. I'm actually judging Christianity ON its teachings and the consequences of those teachings. As the ancient Christian saint and philosopher Pelagius said long ago, this philosophy leads to 'moral laxity.' It teaches its followers to 'keep trying' to be good, but they are also taught the will continue to fail because, well, they're 'born sinners. As long as they say 'sorry to Jesus,' however, everything will be fine for them. Unfortunately, there is no compensation for the child that was raped, or the mother that was murdered by these same Christians. </span><br />
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<span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">For this reason, in a world dominated with people who are Christian, we are subjected to a planet inundated with rapists, murderers, thieves,wife beaters, etc., who believe they can't help themselves from being rapists, murderers, thieves, wife beaters, etc. </span><br />
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Christians must believe that they ARE virtuous and at the same that it is IMPOSSIBLE to be virtuous which goes against the law of <a href="https://carm.org/dictionary-law-of-non-contradiction" target="_blank">non-contradiction</a>. This means Christians can conclude ANYTHING from the teachings of the Bible. They are hypocrites and they are not hypocrites at the same time. More to follow on this subject at a later time.<br />
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A is for Atheisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06707383740611116793noreply@blogger.com1