Why do people believe what they believe?

[Tony B]

Of course you do -- you take orders from the humans who wrote the words god is supposed to have said.

You're incredibly wide of the mark there, I don't take orders, I have free will, and I freely choose to accept Christ as my saviour and try to live a less sinful life based on the teachings of God written by men divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit. In my experience this is infinitely preferable to aligning myself to some fluffy ideals built on a base of sand and with no actual defined morals or ethics other than some vague notions fed down by the inherently corrupt UN.

 

[Tony B]

In Christianity, how has that worked out so far? Persecution, conversion by the sword, crusades, schism, more crusades, more schism, witch hunts, wars, Naziism? Not great, is it?

You see, two can play that game, and you're losing.

You either haven't read the bible or didn't understand it. It's quite clear we live in a fallen world, governed by the powers and principalities of darkness ( an evening in front of the TV is all it takes to verify this ). So I'm stood under my umbrella, in my wellies, and you've helpfully told me it's raining. God does not promote the wickedness in this world, nor do genuine Christians...

Matthew 7:20
So then, by their fruit you will know them.


Thanks Comical Ali...

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

A child, or a life, is created at the moment of conception, you can play semantics if you like, but we both know what I'm referring to. Murdering children at whatever stage is a sin in God's eyes for obvious reasons. At what point do you humanists decide a life was created, how many weeks from conception do you ignore reality? The term 'humanist' obviously being incredibly ironic in this context.

Well Humanists do support the alphabet mafia, so yes you do support everything they stand for, so tell me, where do humanists go with MAP considering their stance in support of these fanatics? because obviously this is where all that is going. How are those fluffy ideals going to stand up to that?

You support the UN Agendas so you should know, the incessant materialism which tells women (in particular) that they can have it all a career be a mum, have a the flash car, big house etc etc, how's that working out for everyone?

I think a 97% failure rate is pretty terrible, and if I should ever get cancer I know exactly how to treat it without submitting myself to any laughably named 'health system', but I was also referring to the scam that is quackcinnes, and the laughable 'science' around those.

No illnesses are being cured by injections, the historical data clearly demonstrates higher living standards, better food and sanitisation all cured the conditions you refer to. This is completely demonstrated in the excellent tome 'Dissolving Illusions' using US and UK Governments own data. Autism rates are through the roof and exponentially increasing (spare me the laughable, we're better at diagnosis nonsense), ADHD, obesity (caused by promoting sugar and high carbohydrates and demonising saturated fats for 40 years), Alzheimers caused aluminium loaded toxic injections, statins and terrible diets, I could go on, your 'science' is bought and paid for by the biggest criminal rackets in history, big pharma, but don't take my word for it, look at the biggest corporate fines in history (A mere drop in the ocean for these criminals in reality) and take heed who's getting them. Only this week we have the announcement of an injection for obese people to lose weight which has already been demonstrated to be toxic to people who use it, and actually makes the situation long term far worse.

'Progressivism' is simply is a word designed to convince very naïve people that anything new is immediately 'good' and 'better', well some things might be, but as I've just pointed out, an awful lot isn't, demonstrably so.

Oh, dear. Peddling dangerous books by quacks, pretending to know how to treat cancer. Not to mention that as a gay man, I guess I'm a member of your "alphabet mafia." By the way, about 30% of all pregnancies terminate naturally on their own, most before awareness of pregnancy, so life obviously isn't quite so sacred to your "god" as you thought.

Thanks for letting me know who you are. We'll have no need for more dialogue.

 

[George-ananda]

I believe what my best logical assessment of the evidence and argumentation leads me to believe is most likely.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

I believe what my best logical assessment of the evidence and argumentation leads me to believe is most likely.

I feel the same way, which is why I am no longer a Christian.

 

[Tony B]

Oh, dear. Peddling dangerous books by quacks,

You could always try and debate the actual facts and data, provided by Governments' own sources that prove the case, instead of dismissing it without even having read it., that would be a start.

pretending to know how to treat cancer.

I don't pretend, Cancer has been cured in various ways for over a hundred years, though to be fair it was very rare in days gone by, not the 1:2 ratio we see now. There are well known remedies for it, unfortunately there so much money to be made from people dying of it that this is hidden from most people and you will be persecuted if you so much as attempt to promote any genuine cures, as has been the case many times. This is the fallen world the Bible tells us about of course.

Not to mention that as a gay man,

With all due respect, your sexuality is not my concern, that's between you and God, but I would not persecute you because of it, for what it's worth, though other people may lie about that of course.

I guess I'm a member of your "alphabet mafia.

That is only defined by whether you support these people or not, and as a humanist I guess you do, that's your choice.

By the way, about 30% of all pregnancies terminate naturally on their own,

They don't 'terminate' naturally, pregnancies can fail, because we live in a fallen world.

most before awareness of pregnancy, so life obviously isn't quite so sacred to your "god" as you thought.

We pay the price for original sin, it's all in the Bible, but it in due course God will make the world right again for those that accept Christ.

Thanks for letting me know who you are. We'll have no need for more dialogue.

No need to thank me, I never hide who I am, there's no need to.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

And I suppose you think it's going so much better in theocracies -- like Saudi Arabia and Iran? How many one-handed people does the world need, after all?

Speaking of religious theocracies, I shudder to think about a conservative Christian theocracy taking over in the United States or anywhere else in the world for that matter. I'd rather not live in a religiously oppressive nation that resembles the Republic of Gilead. I say this because I've overheard many conservative evangelical Christians over the years express their desire to impose their evangelical version of Christianity on other Christians and non-believers if they ever came into significant power in the federal government. So I can envision these overzealous conservative Christians wanting to establish an evangelical Christian theocracy in the United States at some point. In my opinion, a conservative (evangelical) Christian theocracy would be the absolute worst catastrophe to ever happen to this country. I think it would be a total disaster and the end of democracy as we know it if conservative Christians were solely in charge in America. Let's face it, Christians in general can't even agree on the fundamental tenants of their dogma and doctrines.

They can't even agree on biblical interpretations. So I seriously doubt they will agree with each other on how to properly govern an entire country. I think that their overt bigotry toward LGBTQ+ individuals should also be mentioned because they seek to deprive these people of equality and civil rights. I will refrain from delving into their religious crusade, which aims to forcibly restrict a woman's autonomy over her own body. As a former evangelical, I'm well aware of how conservative Christian men typically view women. Throughout the years of my marriage, I encountered many conservative Christian men who held this misogynistic attitude toward women. I've encountered it. I'm grateful that my sweet husband is not like these men. He treats me as his equal.

 

[firedragon]

Only in the sense that both preferences are subjective.

If everything is subjective, how are you imposing an objective theology upon people? That's hypocrisy and how do you not understand that? Please do explain that reconciliation.

 

[firedragon]

I say this because I've overheard many conservative evangelical Christians over the years express their desire to impose their evangelical version of Christianity on other Christians and non-believers if they ever came into significant power in the federal government.

But that's an anecdotal fallacy.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

Humanists do not "dismember babies." A baby is DEFINED as having been born, and that would be murder. Humanists don't do that. We also don't redefine words to suit our egenda, as you have just done. We do, however, permit a woman to make her own healthcare decisions -- and yes, that includes whether to carry a pregnancy to term.

Nor do humanists tell men they can have babies, unless it be through adoption. And let's be perfectly accurate, even in a straight family adopting a child, one of those adopters is a man -- and after adoption he is called a father. And there is no scientific bar to two men adopting a baby either, your prejudices aside.

I have no idea what you mean by men and women "having it all."

We regularly inject poisons into humanity, that's true. Most of the time it's called chemo-therapy, and it can help rid a body of cancer. Perhaps you think that's a bad thing, so let's hope you don't become a cancer victim.

And do you really think we're seeing "the wor[st] health outcomes in human history?" We replace failing organs and missing limbs. We cure illnesses that used to be death sentences. We can immunize people for life against viruses that used to kill or disable us. We are living longer than at any time in human history. We are helping the deaf to hear and the blind to see.

Humanists do not suppose we will be replaced by machines, and many are leary of the potential dangers of Artificial Intelligence. But you also include "progressivism" in your rant, which is odd, to me. You think making progress is bad? Do you see yourself with nothing but a flock of sheep to tend, and beating your laundry against the rocks in the local stream? Well, each to their own.

Blessed be, my friend. Peace.

 

[Trailblazer]

People don't like the truth, so what's new?

Whose truth?

 

[Trailblazer]

You either haven't read the bible or didn't understand it.

There is another possibility. He read the Bible and he does not care what it says.

 

[Trailblazer]

Yes, that is a very big problem, but we all have free will, I just explain the consequences and why it is so.

What you believe are the consequences and why it is so.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

I find Humanism works perfectly well in all those respects -- and without the need for supernatural mumbo-jumbo. Humanism is a non-theistic view centered on human agency, and a reliance on science and reason rather than revelation from a supernatural source to understand the world. Humanists tend to advocate for human rights, free speech, progressive policies, and democracy. That's not a bad stance to be going on with -- and we can do it without all those "thee's and thou's."

Yes, embracing all the good is meritorious and a great thing to do, the issue is even that path needs structure and control to move forward in a meaningful way. Not everyone will want to do the right thing, nor will they want peace, there will always be an element of humanity that choose the dark elements of life.

I would offer that the only Ones that know what is best for all humanity, draw that knowledge from the source of creation. It does not have to be mumbo jumbo, but it does take dedication to the stated path that will ensure the peace and security of all humanity.

Also thee's and thou's are only a translation into King James English, no Scriptures have been revealed in King James English. In the Mother Tongue, the Message is far more richer and meaningful.

I have offered before, people that embrace Humanism are also wanting the best for humanity, there is no use fighting with those that also want the best for all humanity, who also offer love, peace and a global outlook for the good of all humanity. I added global outlook, as one can see what evils unbridled Nationalism has reeked upon humanity.

Regards Tony

 

[Trailblazer]

I don't take orders from anyone but God,

Neither do I, but I don't take orders that were doled out in the Bible since those orders to not apply to the present age.

Dispensation

• the divine ordering of the affairs of the world.
• an appointment, arrangement, or favor, as by God.
• a divinely appointed order or age:

e.g. the old Mosaic, or Jewish, dispensation; the new gospel, or Christian, dispensation.

Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words

The world's leading online dictionary: English definitions, synonyms, word origins, example sentences, word games, and more. A trusted authority for 25+ years!

www.dictionary.com

I believe that the Christian dispensation is over, so divine ordering of the affairs of the world is no longer through Jesus Christ.

 

[Trailblazer]

Thank you for probably saving Carl's life.

I may have saved his life since the husband was about to take him to the shelter when the wife brought him to me.
Allegedly he had certain problems like not using the litter box, but he never had those problems after I adopted him.

 

[Trailblazer]

If everything is subjective, how are you imposing an objective theology upon people? That's hypocrisy and how do you not understand that? Please do explain that reconciliation.

If everything is not subjective, some things are objective since they are facts.
I am not imposing any theology upon anyone.

 

[teage]

Because if they knew, there would be nothing to "believe" in the first place.

If it turns out right, it's the greatest story ever told, if it turns out wrong, it's the greatest story ever told.

 

[Alien826]

I may have saved his life since the husband was about to take him to the shelter when the wife brought him to me.
Allegedly he had certain problems like not using the litter box, but he never had those problems after I adopted him.

The typical cause of cats' "missing" the litter box is that the owners don't clean the box regularly. That would fit with a family that was not fully committed to having the cat, and let me say that having a pet requires a wholehearted commitment to that creature's well being. If someone does not feel that, then they should not have a pet, and that is not a criticism, pets are not for everyone. Lucky Carl to have found a real home.

Of course I'm only surmising about something for which I have no evidence.

 

[Tony B]

Whose truth?

There is no version of the truth, just THE truth, 'My truth' is simply a nonsensical statement.