Why there is no such thing as an atheist

Originally Posted by choSenfroZen

I don't know if you have seen the TV ad, it plays in Canada,
and it is a fictional wildlife spot, with a Marlin Perkins type quietly describing calm feeding pictures of House Hippo's, they describe how these mini hippos live in dust bunnies and eat dog food crumbs and peanut butter.
It is a very well done piece of film. Although I knew it was a spoof, it has caught others, the advert was paid for by concerned advertisers in an attempt to teach rational thinking. It is something you need to learn and then practice here,
and then you might get less flack.

Here's the YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBfi8OEz0rA

I want a house hippo.

Originally Posted by meezly

I really believe Christian Soldier is not being intentionally hostile. There is nothing wrong with asking provocative questions, but I don’t think he realizes how his judgmental approach can come across like an attack on us. There was definitely a way for him to ask the same questions he asked, but with a more constructive attitude that would have provoked a dialogue rather than an emotionally defensive response.

Yes, there is nothing wrong with provocative questions. As I said, I enjoy being challenged. I'm afraid I won't stand for proselytizing, however, as it is not provocative or challenging, but simply a low-brow attempt to recruit converts for that ideological belt notch. Anyway, what kind of idiocy compels someone to insist to an atheist that if they only believed, they would then begin to believe, and that the proof of the beliefs are the beliefs themselves? Or that if they only had faith, they would accept the tenets of faith, and that faith itself will lead to having faith? It's this kind of mental lameness, this kind of intellectual flaccidity that isn't laughable anymore, just stupid and tiresome.

I appreciate your attempt to encourage civil discourse, but I quite frankly think it's a lost cause with this type.

Originally Posted by Blondin

You presume an awful lot about people you know nothing about and you project your own limitations of insight and imagination on us.

We've tried to tell you but you just don't seem to be listening: we've been there, considered the arguments and rejected the proposition. Instead of playing word games and rehashing the same old trite and tired nonsense either produce some evidence or shut the fuck up.

Honestly, how can you possibly think your pathetic efforts could have any effect against the kind of lucid, logical, reality-based reasoning of people like Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Carl Sagan, Bertrand Russell, Isaac Asimov, etc, etc...

I second that!

Originally Posted by meezly

I really believe Christian Soldier is not being intentionally hostile. There is nothing wrong with asking provocative questions, but I don’t think he realizes how his judgmental approach can come across like an attack on us. There was definitely a way for him to ask the same questions he asked, but with a more constructive attitude that would have provoked a dialogue rather than an emotionally defensive response.

Meezly,
For one who does not wish to be hostile, Christian SOLDIER is certainly good at it. Why do you think he chose the word "soldier" for his username? He wants to overthrow our forum and win us all to Jesus' camp. That's what Christian soldiers do. "Onward Christian soldiers marching as to war with the blood of Jesus going on before."

From experience I believe I can safely state that CS sees this as a war against principalities and evil, against Satan. Our opinions and thoughts are wicked and evil and anathema to Christians such as CS. He is interested only in winning us over to his religion. His "questions" are nothing more than ploys to facilitate his preaching, such as faith healers call out, "Do you want to be heal-led?"

I feel for the poor kid as I recognize the brainwashing that fills every reply he posts. He has no thoughts of his own. They are all scripted by his church and the Bible.

For a while now I have had the impression that christian soldier is not who he is in terms of what he told us who he is.
I have come to doubt if he really is only 14 years of age and attending grade 9.
There is something about his endurance, something about the depth of his conviction, something about his knowledge and literacy of the subjects addressed,
something - which is in defiance of his age.
The capacity in which he expresses himself on this forum may 'perhaps' be of a person in grade 9, but conceptually speaking, he is well beyond - to a point.
I suspect manipulation.
And the same counts for christianrockdrummer's postings as well.

It seems to me that the two might be a co-operative almost, a pact perhaps, doing their duty, taking their shifts in well timed intervals, keeping us occupied with nonsensical arguments and forcing us into taking positions where we exhaust ourselves for little gain - in the process, keeping gaiety out too.

Early-on in the life of this forum a character who registered under the name of Essene was expelled for posting messages which were incoherent and just too weird for common acceptance. Perhaps the same criteria could be used for the fate of CS and CRD, before more of us folks with normal intelligence decide - to be done - here on this forum.

Essene's posts were very coherent.

They made too much sense for the atheists - they started to question their own beliefs. Or non-belief.

So Essene was banned. As I was banned (for a time) But I am back and ready to talk about what many of us believe "God" is and is not.

God is not a man living in the sky.

God lives in you. God is a concept. And he is unknowable.

So the atheist is correct to say there is no "god" becasue God is unknowable.

Now we can start the discussion.

Originally Posted by melki-zadok

God is a concept. And he is unknowable.

Since a concept is a thing that only exists when known, you've made your God a bit of a contradiction there, haven't you?

Originally Posted by melki-zadok

They made too much sense for the atheists - they started to question their own beliefs. Or non-belief.

You unwittingly hit the nail on the noggin. Like duh, that's usually how folks end up being atheists or skeptics. They question beliefs/non-beliefs, themselves and everyone else's all the time.

Originally Posted by melki-zadok

Now we can start the discussion.

It's kinda hard to have a discussion with someone who tends to talk more to himself than to others. Y'know what I'm sayin?

Originally Posted by Rationella

For one who does not wish to be hostile, Christian SOLDIER is certainly good at it. Why do you think he chose the word "soldier" for his username? He wants to overthrow our forum and win us all to Jesus' camp. That's what Christian soldiers do. "Onward Christian soldiers marching as to war with the blood of Jesus going on before."

yes I also got the denotation of his name. as you can see thru his posts, he lacks a definite sense of self-reflection and doesn't know what he's talking about 99% of the time. he's on a mission from God for sure, and he devises strategies to get us riled up, but ultimately his intentions are completely misguided. it doesn't mean we have to go be at war with people of his ilk. I'd rather not see myself sink to his level, intentional or not.