OMG, Stairway to heaven is Satanic, Proof, Listen and read the lyrics

[Son of David]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger


Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Islam.

We also have Ra, Odin, Zeus/Jupiter, Voodoo beliefs, and a whole mess of religions that you don't even know.

I was, of course, referring to religions that use the Bible. All of them also require interpretation of the Bible, thus meaning that the Bible is almost never taken wholly literally by any Bible-believing faith.

Now, do you think I'd be enough of a silly-billy to suggest that religions not believing in the Bible would rely on interpretations of it?

[Flip McWho]

SoD,

I think thats based on a misunderstanding between the two of you. Especially considering you said one specific faith that doesn't rely on the bible. You should be clearer in what you say.

And in case of my reference, where does the interpretation stop and how do you decide between the various interpretations?

Elok,

The biggest example of superstition in Christianity is
a) believing God created the world (through ID or creationism)
b) believing in the resurrection of Christ and his assorted miracles that were preformed.

Also natural law doesn't have to be religious driven.

[Flip McWho]

Also if you take genesis literally then a day would mean an earth day which considering that the entire universe back in the time of the writing of genesis was in fact earth its not hard to think that maybe the writer was meaning one earth day and talking about the creation of earth in seven earth days not the universe.

[Saras]

Originally posted by BlackCat
About Stalin - well, he was actually treated as any other common prophet, but he probably rotates in his grave every time he is seen upon as a such.

Stalin is a prophet.
Stalin is a prophet.
Stalin is a prophet.
Stalin is a prophet.
Stalin is a prophet.
Stalin is a prophet.
Stalin is a prophet.
Stalin is a prophet.
Stalin is a prophet.
Stalin is a prophet.
Stalin is a prophet.
Stalin is a prophet.
Stalin is a prophet.
Stalin is a prophet.

[Son of David]

Originally posted by Flip McWho
And in case of my reference, where does the interpretation stop and how do you decide between the various interpretations?

That's where you'll find me agreeing with Protestants - it's up to the individual person to decide that. Many (Bible-believing) religious people let their milieu decide for them, simply believing what they were raised with. Many others slip away from a faith they are raised in, because this world puts extreme pressure on people to do so. In fact it's almost impossible to be a high-roller unless you are an atheist, even if not in fact but certainly in deed. The world is very cruel and unforgiving when it is robbed of its God.

I have read and studied 'The Origin of Species' by Darwin and I intend to study 'Descent of Man' at some later time. But here's what I essentially gleamed from Darwin which is relevant to this discussion: either you believe in God, and a special purpose for human beings, or you believe that millions of years hence no humans will be left, no records of our existence left, and a constant cycle of dominant-species being replaced as the Earth goes through periods of extreme climate and geographical change.

In other words, here we are asking ourselves a fundamental question, which Nietzsche put in 'Beyond Good and Evil', 'Why not rather untruth?'

It brings tears to my eyes to think that beautiful young people are being brought up simply to live a few decades, struggle through life, die, and then that's it. It is truly horrifying to think that all humanity is really only a successor dominant-species to the dinosaurs and will go the way of them. It is terrible to think that humans are simply animals with a miraculously-developed soul and consciousness.

No evolutionist has ever shown how, going from apes and primitive beasts, a being could arise that be so highly conscious of itself and things around it; could create magical works of art, death-defying heroism, astounding pieces of music, and a sublime conception of a loving God.

The whole universe potentially lies at our finger-tips. Who knows? perhaps we humans will find a way to migrate to other planets, so that when Earth undergoes violent changes, the human race could escape certain death and live forever.

But again, I say, evolutionist theory does far more to dehumanize, bestialize, and degrade the human race than it does to enlighten and enhance it. Evolutionism is profoundly evil, it is ghastly, and it is no surprise that only evil and cynical people support it.

We need to love God, and we need to love ourselves, and we need to love our own kind - that is the most valuable lesson the Bible teaches us. The Bible teaches us how to be human, how to live, and how to stay alive. By their fruits shall ye know them ....

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Son of David
Oh really?

Fun game, innit?

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Son of David
We need to love God, and we need to love ourselves, and we need to love our own kind

You sure do the latter

Could you please get back to your hatred toward Muslims? It makes you more entertaining. kthxbye.

[Elok]

Okay, Flip, what exactly are you using as your definition of "superstition" here? If you mean "belief in the possibility of supernatural occurences/miracles," you're using the word in a very different sense from the one I do.

[SpencerH]

Too bad I missed most of this. Just how does a backward subliminal message work exactly? Buncha religious ****nuts.

As for a subliminal message by Dimmu Borgir, would anyone understand it if there was one? Hell, I have a hard time distinguishing the english from the norwegian.

[germanos]

Originally posted by Son of David

It brings tears to my eyes to think that beautiful young people are being brought up simply to live a few decades, struggle through life, die, and then that's it. It is truly horrifying to think that all humanity is really only a successor dominant-species to the dinosaurs and will go the way of them. It is terrible to think that humans are simply animals with a miraculously-developed soul and consciousness.

The alternative seems to be that people should not be happy with simply who they are and the life they can live. They should embark on an endless voyage to reach god. To get there it is apparently best to do without most (if not all) pleasures this life and planet gives you. And even then, when you have done well, then perhaps the reward will only lie waiting for you in death.

[Son of David]

Originally posted by germanos

They should embark on an endless voyage to reach god.

The alternative being to embark on a constant voyage of earning more money and groping your way through life's carnal pleasures.

And then you can lie down on your death-bed, surrounded by relatives who are secretly eager for you to die off as soon as possible, and console yourself that you'll go off to meet the great god mammon, that mammoth 'pie in the sky'.

[Saras]

earning more money and groping your way through life's carnal pleasures -

[Traianvs]

Originally posted by Son of David






I have read and studied 'The Origin of Species' by Darwin and I intend to study 'Descent of Man' at some later time. But here's what I essentially gleamed from Darwin which is relevant to this discussion: either you believe in God, and a special purpose for human beings, or you believe that millions of years hence no humans will be left, no records of our existence left, and a constant cycle of dominant-species being replaced as the Earth goes through periods of extreme climate and geographical change.

You are having the perception that there should always be a dominant species. That's not really true. That humans dominate this world for example can be compared to one split second in the lifecycle of life on our planet. Before that, what do you think was "the dominant species"?

There were times when pre-hominids were lower on the foodchain than large predators such as lions and the like (that can archaeologically be proved), but that doesn't mean those lions were dominant. They were simply on top of the foodchain seeing they were the most dangerous hunters. You can't really talk of a dominant species because if you did then a lot of species would be dominant at the same time. Ants for example, for what they are, are dominant as well. Humans would never be able to get rid of them if they wanted that. Unless of course the entire eco-system crashes down in a matter of years, but even then it'd be absurd. Your view that we humans are so great and powerful should be mitigated.

It brings tears to my eyes to think that beautiful young people are being brought up simply to live a few decades, struggle through life, die, and then that's it. It is truly horrifying to think that all humanity is really only a successor dominant-species to the dinosaurs and will go the way of them. It is terrible to think that humans are simply animals with a miraculously-developed soul and consciousness.

Likewise it brings tears to my eyes to think that beautiful young people are being brought up simply to believe in a God simply because they have to, simply because they are taught he's there and that there is a trinity, that simply because they 'believe' they can make a projection of their own wishful thinking that God is real, then die, and live on happily in an ethereal world where everything is good and fine without any notion of time whatsoever.

Not my cup of tea

No evolutionist has ever shown how, going from apes and primitive beasts, a being could arise that be so highly conscious of itself and things around it; could create magical works of art, death-defying heroism, astounding pieces of music, and a sublime conception of a loving God.

Archaeologists can on the other hand, help you a long way. The line from apes to humans is perfectly traceable, although of course many things are uncertain. On the whole though it's nigh impossible that the evolutionary line to human is false.
By the way: art is not magical, and death-defying heroism, astounding pieces of music and a sublime conception of a loving God are all purely subjective. Besides these are obviously consequences of our improved brains. It's absurd that you connect this with a God, in fact believing in God pertains to other things than that.

But again, I say, evolutionist theory does far more to dehumanize, bestialize, and degrade the human race than it does to enlighten and enhance it. Evolutionism is profoundly evil, it is ghastly, and it is no surprise that only evil and cynical people support it.

Again, it's your opinion that these people are cynical. For people with other stands they aren't cynical at all. You're not giving constructive criticism there.

We need to love God, and we need to love ourselves, and we need to love our own kind - that is the most valuable lesson the Bible teaches us. The Bible teaches us how to be human, how to live, and how to stay alive. By their fruits shall ye know them ....

You are free to love your God no problem, and sure we need to love and appreciate ourselves (we might differ in the reasons for that however) but that we need to love our own species is again very self-centred, but that's because I believe we are not a chosen species, that we're not destined to rule the world as it is stated in the bible.

Oh and PS: The bible tells us many things, and many positive things. But it's not the only guidebook. Only following that particular book makes you have a contorted view on the world. After all it's no wonder everybody dislikes fundamentalists who live by the bible, koran, or whatever religous book. That is because seeing different viewpoints is healthy and good!

[Arrian]

It brings tears to my eyes to think that beautiful young people are being brought up simply to live a few decades, struggle through life, die, and then that's it. It is truly horrifying to think that all humanity is really only a successor dominant-species to the dinosaurs and will go the way of them. It is terrible to think that humans are simply animals with a miraculously-developed soul and consciousness.

Translation: You believe in God because you find it comforting to do so. The alternative is something you find scary, or sad.

Ok, fine by me. But leave off your whining/insulting crap about atheists.

-Arrian

[germanos]

Originally posted by Son of David




The alternative being to embark on a constant voyage of earning more money and groping your way through life's carnal pleasures.

And then you can lie down on your death-bed, surrounded by relatives who are secretly eager for you to die off as soon as possible, and console yourself that you'll go off to meet the great god mammon, that mammoth 'pie in the sky'.

If that's the only alternative you see, then you seriously lack perspective.
There are plenty of other ways then
a: god
b: mammon

Oh, and could you please explain genesis 1 and 2 to me?