There is no evidence for God, so why do you believe?

[Sheldon]

You haven’t lied or cheated?

On a partner or spouse? No.

Well haven’t you ever had 2 females on the line, or you were faithful to that girl only that you were having sex with? Doubt it. Let’s hear the justifications

How many different ways would you like me to say this? I could care less what you doubt, though it's almost a relief to learn you're capable of doubt, even if it is misplaced in this instance.

 

[ElishaElijah]

I think piously judgmental Christians who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, and they should be more concerned about the plank in their own eye than worry about the speck of dust in someone else's eye. Maybe these Christians think that the "do not judge" commandment is more of a suggestion than an actual commandment.

Who is pious, the person who was the chief of sinners?

 

[ElishaElijah]

Kindly keep your preaching and proselytizing to yourself. If you want to preach about your Christian beliefs, then go to church where there are people who want to hear it. Religious Forums isn't a soapbox for you to lecture and proselytize non-Christian members.

The OP was asking the question, but thanks for the lecture

 

[Polymath257]

Yeah sickening, yet what’s the difference with what you do or think? Like you never talked trash, bragged about pick-up lines and how you got girls into the sack with your buddies? Or were jealous of the guys that did and could. Get real brother and honest with yourself. We were all crude some still are, if not you wouldn’t be into pornography.

No, I have never done that. I find guys that do to be disgusting and disrespectful of the women they are with.

Ethical non-monogamy doesn't work like that. It is based on respect and caring, not about conquest and humiliation.

 

[Polymath257]

Promiscuity is immoral, and you don’t determine morality. Are you saying you determine morality now?

Having multiple sex partners is not immoral in and of itself.

Breaking promises to partners is immoral. Lying is immoral.

But it is possible to have multiple partners and not lie or break promises.

And yes, ALL of us should be making moral judgements: thinking about our actions and how they affect people and caring about the consequences of what we do.

 

[ElishaElijah]

You were replying to me in your other post and not to the OP. Kindly stop trying to shove your Christian beliefs down my throat. And you've also been preaching about your Christian beliefs to Sheldon and to It Ain't Necessarily So in response to their posts as well.

Already know where you stand and terrible what you went through but I’m not going to stop talking about how great God has been to me. Satan tried to destroy me, God saved me and am happy about that.

 

[ElishaElijah]

You are free to share it whenever you want elsewhere, but proselytizing and preaching about your Christian beliefs violates rule 8 of Religious Forums. I'm not going to stop mentioning rule 8 because of the Christians who continuously thumb their nose at this rule.

Sharing my testimony is not breaking that rule, also when the OP asks for why a person believes in God or what the Bible says on certain issues. Maybe when people share what God has done for them, people should just accept that instead of trying to convince otherwise, that would seem to be proselytizing.

 

[ElishaElijah]

In the end, it will be the site staff to determine whether you "sharing your testimony" violates rule 8 or not.

You share yours

 

[ElishaElijah]

No, I have never done that. I find guys that do to be disgusting and disrespectful of the women they are with.

Ethical non-monogamy doesn't work like that. It is based on respect and caring, not about conquest and humiliation.

I didn’t know any guy like that from 13-30 except the Christian guys and another couple guys but wasn’t sure but his family were military and an Italian guy who tried to keep me from the drugs. I didn’t understand those guys but good for you for being one of those. I wasn’t and neither were my friends or Hollywood who pushed that image.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

What excuses, are you saying that consensual sex is as immoral as lying or cheating on a partner or spouse?

What, cheated or lied, no?

What about it, did you have something to recommend?

I don't believe in the superstition of sin, and I already explained all morality is subjective, it cannot be otherwise, and you keep accusing me of behaving the same as you or Trump, on what basis exactly? It sounds to me like you're projecting some pretty serious guilt, did you do something more than just sleep around?

I don't believe in any deity, so this is a rather silly thing to tell me.

Consequences for what? Why do you keep assuming I have behaved as you did? Whatever guilt you couldn't cope with, that forced you to turn to the crutch of superstition, that's your business, but I am able to control my behaviour without the delusional fear of hell, or the saccharine promise of heaven. I don't consider consensual sex to be immoral, the rest is just projection on your part.

I disagree. I just showed you some of your problem there with your inability to distinguish between sexual predation and promiscuity, which, of course you failed to acknowledge much less rebut. I told you how that goes. That debate is over. It ended as soon as one of us made a plausible argument that was not successfully rebutted. I could go on with your moral failings, but I really don't want to except the times you claim moral superiority.

I consider your behavior in this thread immoral, and those you are arguing with and calling immoral to be running circles around you in that regard.

I don't think you do. How could you? Your source isn't adequate. Do you need to me spell out the many ways that it falls short for 21st century life?

I don't have the ability to determine what is moral? What should I think of the system of morals that generates people who feel comfortable demeaning the morals of others while holding what many outside their religion consider inferior values themselves?

And who do you think you are to be giving life advice to anybody else? You make this so difficult. I really don't want to denigrate you, but you keep assuming some kind of superiority. Sorry, but that's not my view of you.

I don't consider you morally superior as I just indicated. I don't consider you a moral equal. I said that you present an air of unearned moral superiority. You still are, which is why I feel comfortable letting you know how you actually appear. You'd be wise to keep those judgments to yourself. You are not respected for making them, nor is your religion.

You have no truth. You just have the teachings of an ancient people that didn't know where the rain came from.

Now, would you like to work on your manners? I really don't like writing posts like this. Recall the writing style of dybmh, which you praised, and who was treated respectfully by every atheist present? He was polite and humble. You, on the other hand, have turned everybody against you. If you quit judging others, I predict they'll quit judging you. If you treat others with respect, even if you feel none, they will do the same for you.

I'm very glad to see you both standing up for yourselves like this. Well done.

 

[ElishaElijah]

I'm very glad to see you both standing up for yourselves like this. Well done.

Completely agree well done for speaking up wouldn’t be any good if people couldn’t do that on here.

 

[Sheldon]

Already know where you stand and terrible what you went through but I’m not going to stop talking about how great God has been to me. Satan tried to destroy me, God saved me and am happy about that.

The belief may have helped you to create a change in your life and behaviour, but this does not validate the belief.

 

[ElishaElijah]

The belief may have helped you to create a change in your life and behaviour, but this does not validate the belief.

From your perspective because you weren’t there, but from where I was what you’re suggesting is impossible. My belief and faith that God was there caused me to cry out to Him and He answered and delivered me. That’s what happened, you know how many times I prayed before that and that didn’t happen? Many times and this time He showed up, I didn’t ask why, I just wanted to know Him and kept seeking till I was introduced to Jesus Christ, repented and believed the Gospel and He gave me the Holy Spirit, He is real and that’s who I was looking for in all those other things. He satisfied me fully and I was changed. That’s what happened in summary.
So whether anyone accepts this or whatever is not my call or responsibility, but when someone says God doesn’t exist, well He does and this is my story.

 

[Sheldon]

From your perspective because you weren’t there, but from where I was what you’re suggesting is impossible. My belief and faith that God was there caused me to cry out to Him and He answered and delivered me. That’s what happened, you know how many times I prayed before that and that didn’t happen? Many times and this time He showed up, I didn’t ask why, I just wanted to know Him and kept seeking till I was introduced to Jesus Christ, repented and believed the Gospel and He gave me the Holy Spirit, He is real and that’s who I was looking for in all those other things. He satisfied me fully and I was changed. That’s what happened in summary.
So whether anyone accepts this or whatever is not my call or responsibility, but when someone says God doesn’t exist, well He does and this is my story.

That's not what I said, I said that this change would not in itself validate the belief, I mean in any objective way of course, and this is demonstrated here, as you have returned to a subjective anecdotal claim. I have also pointed out that others make this claim for different religions and deities, and are just as convinced as you, of the validity of their beliefs based on their perception of that experience.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Yeah sickening, yet what’s the difference with what you do or think? Like you never talked trash, bragged about pick-up lines and how you got girls into the sack with your buddies? Or were jealous of the guys that did and could. Get real brother and honest with yourself. We were all crude some still are, if not you wouldn’t be into pornography.

No. I haven't. Just because you may have in the past or you have known people that have done that in the past does not mean that everyone has done this. Being "crude" was never my style. And every normal person watches pornography at times. Often with a sexual partner. I do not know why you have such a bee in your bonnet over that. Yes, your religion has a false ban on that, but some of the highest consumption of porn occurs deep in the Bible Belt.

If you realize that consensual sex is not a sin, and that "conquest" is not the goal, that is actually a religious idea based upon women as property, then you may have healthier attitude towards sex.

Trump was evil in this regard because he was and probably feebly still is into conquest. He is clearly not into sex for love. Sex can be done for love. Sex can be done for entertainment. There is nothing wrong with either one if all sides agree. But sex as conquest is not all that different from rape.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

And every normal person watches pornography at times. Often with a sexual partner. I do not know why you have such a bee in your bonnet over that. Yes, your religion has a false ban on that, but some of the highest consumption of porn occurs deep in the Bible Belt.

For the record, 68% of Christian men (including pastors) are addicted to pornography.

Porn Addiction Statistics
The statistics for Christian men between 18 and 30 years old are particularly striking:

• 77 percent look at pornography at least monthly.
• 36 percent view pornography on a daily basis
• 32 percent admit being addicted to pornography (and another 12 percent think they may be).

The statistics for middle-aged Christian men (ages 31 to 49) are no less disturbing:

• 77 percent looked at pornography while at work in the past three months.
• 64 percent view pornography at least monthly.
• 18 percent admit being addicted to pornography (and another 8 percent think they may be).

Even married Christian men are falling prey to pornography and extramarital sexual affairs at alarming rates:

• 55 percent look at pornography at least monthly.
• 35 percent had an extramarital affair.

Source: Is Porn Addiction a Problem in Your Church?

 

[Subduction Zone]

For the record, 68% of Christian men (including pastors) are addicted to pornography.

Porn Addiction Statistics
The statistics for Christian men between 18 and 30 years old are particularly striking:

• 77 percent look at pornography at least monthly.
• 36 percent view pornography on a daily basis
• 32 percent admit being addicted to pornography (and another 12 percent think they may be).

The statistics for middle-aged Christian men (ages 31 to 49) are no less disturbing:

• 77 percent looked at pornography while at work in the past three months.
• 64 percent view pornography at least monthly.
• 18 percent admit being addicted to pornography (and another 8 percent think they may be).

Even married Christian men are falling prey to pornography and extramarital sexual affairs at alarming rates:

• 55 percent look at pornography at least monthly.
• 35 percent had an extramarital affair.

Source: Is Porn Addiction a Problem in Your Church?

And I am very wary about misusing the word "addiction". I don't know of anyone that goes through withdrawal pains if they cannot see porn on a regular basis. Also your studies are only of people that admit to looking at porn, Also your site looks as if it more than a bit biased since it uses phrases like "falling prey to porn".

This site is far less biased and its reports are on who watches porn and where. The author was surprised that 25% of porn watchers are female:

Surprising New Data from the World’s Most Popular Porn Site

As to the ridiculous claim of "68% of Christian men are addicted to porn" that is one that even this anti-porn site does not claim. They only claim 200,000 men are addicted:

Internet Pornography by the Numbers: A

That could be. There may be a very small percentage of men that have to watch porn or have serious issues.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

And I am very wary about misusing the word "addiction". I don't know of anyone that goes through withdrawal pains if they cannot see porn on a regular basis. Also your studies are only of people that admit to looking at porn, Also your site looks as if it more than a bit biased since it uses phrases like "falling prey to porn".

This site is far less biased and its reports are on who watches porn and where. The author was surprised that 25% of porn watchers are female:

Surprising New Data from the World’s Most Popular Porn Site

As to the ridiculous claim of "68% of Christian men are addicted to porn" that is one that even this anti-porn site does not claim. They only claim 200,000 men are addicted:

Internet Pornography by the Numbers: A

That could be. There may be a very small percentage of men that have to watch porn or have serious issues.

The Christian-oriented sites I chose to post on were a couple of the ones mentioned in a sermon I heard at a church I attended with my family. The sites were mentioned by one of the deacons in his sermon after the pastor was forced to resign when it was revealed to the congregation that he was watching pornography on a regular basis and that he was having an emotional affair with the church secretary. It was quite a scandal, and some members left the church. I suppose I should have posted statistics like the secular one you posted, but I chose to post statistics that were from a Christian perspective since my post was about Christians watching porn.

 

[Subduction Zone]

The Christian-oriented sites I chose to post on were a couple of the ones mentioned in a sermon I heard at a church I attended with my family. The sites were mentioned by one of the deacons in his sermon after the pastor was forced to resign when it was revealed to the congregation that he was watching pornography on a regular basis and that he was having an emotional affair with the church secretary. It was quite a scandal, and some members left the church. I suppose I should have posted statistics like the secular one you posted, but I chose to post statistics that were from a Christian perspective since my post was about Christians watching porn.

I understand that choice. One of the problems of Christianity is that they often discourage sex outside of marriage. This is a huge mistake and is reflected by the much higher divorce rate for Christians vs. that of atheists. Sexual compatibility is a huge part of a successful marriage and one often does not if that exist or not without more than a few "test drives".

 

[Riders]

And I am very wary about misusing the word "addiction". I don't know of anyone that goes through withdrawal pains if they cannot see porn on a regular basis. Also your studies are only of people that admit to looking at porn, Also your site looks as if it more than a bit biased since it uses phrases like "falling prey to porn".

This site is far less biased and its reports are on who watches porn and where. The author was surprised that 25% of porn watchers are female:

Surprising New Data from the World’s Most Popular Porn Site

As to the ridiculous claim of "68% of Christian men are addicted to porn" that is one that even this anti-porn site does not claim. They only claim 200,000 men are addicted:

Internet Pornography by the Numbers: A

That could be. There may be a very small percentage of men that have to watch porn or have serious issues.

I am a porn addict, many women are porn and sex addicts these days. As a member of a 12-step recovery program for porn and or sex, it is true there are many Christian male sex and or porn addicts. However, I think it's because there are a lot of Christians in America. There are a few good Christian guys not interested in porn. Porn issues can cause addiction to masturbation, a loss of interest in intimacy with your partner, sleeplessness, and a downturn in performance at work.