Thread: For An Intelligent Conversation On Spirituality/Religion

Originally Posted by jockeys

actually, jms, I think many of the posters here are very good at expressing themselves. the problem stems from a basic flaw in humanity, demonstrated by the following conversation:

person A: I believe X
person B: cool, I believe Y. agree to disagree.
person A: (to self) I'm going to convert him or die trying. the fact that he believes Y somehow threatens my belief in X, and I won't stand for it.

when you think about it, that's pretty much the cause of at least 99% of human conflicts.

Not quite, but perhaps the cause of 99% of disagreements about religion.

99% of human conflicts I would say go like this:

person (or community) A: I have this stuff
person (or community) B: I want that stuff
person/community A: Do I wait until he tries to take my stuff, or do I suckerpunch him before he gets the chance?

Originally Posted by Chris L

Your second "person A" exchange is interesting. I would argue that a true Christian for example, wouldn't feel threatened by another's belief system. They absolutely would believe their belief system is true but being threatened by opposing belief, nihilism, athiesism? No, quite the opposite.

Chris L

and yet I've never had a nihilist or atheist ring my doorbell and threaten me with hellfire and damnation if i don't come to their church and give them money. funny how that works.

Originally Posted by jockeys

and yet I've never had a nihilist or atheist ring my doorbell and threaten me with hellfire and damnation if i don't come to their church and give them money. funny how that works.

At which you agree to disagree, I'm sure.

Chris L

Originally Posted by Chris L

At which you agree to disagree, I'm sure.

Chris L

I have people stop by my house to tell me about the spirit in the sky and where i will go when i die on occasion.

As long as they dont start spouting fire and brimstone or get personal I usually let them say say their sales pitch and say, "Thanks for the offer(to attend their church), but i'm good".

Originally Posted by Chris L

At which you agree to disagree, I'm sure.

Chris L

eh, usually i try and think of elaborate ways to offend them and/or scare them off, but sometimes when I'm tired I just tell them I don't buy into their stuff. the polite ones will leave, but the more persistent ones usually require blasphemy/veiled threats before they give up.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Not quite, but perhaps the cause of 99% of disagreements about religion.

99% of human conflicts I would say go like this:

person (or community) A: I have this stuff
person (or community) B: I want that stuff
person/community A: Do I wait until he tries to take my stuff, or do I suckerpunch him before he gets the chance?

Yeah, but you forgot that Person A noticed that person b believed in Y and not X. So person a uses that as a reason to convince the masses that they need to go to war with person b

Glen Theories on life and spirituality

The golden rule, yeah that one you learned in Kindergarten, pretty much serves you the rest of yer life, anything else is pretty much useless info....

Honor is everything, if you don't have it, you're pretty much doomed in my eyes....

You have the right to swing your arm around as much as you want or need, right up until you swinging that arm, connects with my nose, at that point your rights ended... (wow, philosophical huh??)

The thought that we are the only privileged ones living here on this infinitesimal bit of dust in the whole entire universe, is one of the most egotistical things I have ever heard....

The thought of a true atheist being bothered by the Patriotic statement of "One Nation Under God" "In God We Trust" or any other, tells me they are not true atheists....

The thought of any one religion thinking that their way is the only way is also egotistical... and to war or kill in the name of your God is the most abhorrent thing I have ever heard of...

The thought of any religion being in political power scares me to death...

If you want to pray, worship, dance, sing, play with snakes, be a whirling dervish, I have no problem, just don't expect me to join in... I am happy, your happy, but leave me to swing my arm in peace....

Originally Posted by jockeys

and yet I've never had a nihilist or atheist ring my doorbell and threaten me with hellfire and damnation if i don't come to their church and give them money. funny how that works.

Nihilists or atheists may instead resort to threatening you with a gun or knife instead!

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Nihilists or atheists may instead resort to threatening you with a gun or knife instead!

???

i don't get it.

Originally Posted by jockeys

eh, usually i try and think of elaborate ways to offend them and/or scare them off, but sometimes when I'm tired I just tell them I don't buy into their stuff. the polite ones will leave, but the more persistent ones usually require blasphemy/veiled threats before they give up.

I found that answering the door on a Saturday morning in nothing but my boxers got the job done.

Jordan