Richard Dawkins: Islam is Bad

[Seitonjin]

Basically, children, there is a lesson to be learned:
You can disagree with someone, and you can even debate them, without being a cockle.

Hehe, you said cockle.

[Luveria]

Here's a tip. Try doing it in a nicer way. If you're trying to persuade someone, being an asshole off the bat doesn't get you far.

I'm rough on NSG. I don't flame people, I just criticize beliefs. I wish people would actually debate instead of getting angry and spending pages upon pages calling me an asshole and saying I'm a a bigoted authoritarian assholedouchedick.

I get that. People get defensive if you come off as hostile, and then they will ignore any valid criticism you have. It's how people are. Try observing it sometime.

[The Steel Magnolia]

Basically, children, there is a lesson to be learned:
You can disagree with someone, and you can even debate them, without being a cockle.

Indeed, it happens all the time.

You just need respect, first. And you can't have that if you literally think what you're arguing against is evil.

Now, sometimes I believe that's justified. I offer no mercy, no quarter to homophobes, to transphobes, to misogynists. I actually give anti-theists quite some slack, since it's a far more understandable, albeit not justifiable, belief.

But the situations I think respect is undeserved are not universal, and you can't have a mutual conversation without respect.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

It can make some uncomfortable. It makes me uncomfortable. I don't however begrudge people for praying. It just makes me iffy.

I can honestly say that I don't understand that. *shrugs*

You don't have to understand it, though.

I do believe that aside from praying, one should do other things too. For example, pray for the sick. Ok, that's wonderful. But couple that with, I don't know, something more tangible, like cleaning the sick person's house or taking them to see the doctor.

Prayer is fine. Don't get me wrong. I just think that one shouldn't leave it at just that. IIRC, God helps those who help themselves. You know what I mean?

[Frisivisia]

I'm rough on NSG. I don't flame people, I just criticize beliefs. I wish people would actually debate instead of getting angry and spending pages upon pages calling me an asshole and saying I'm a a bigoted authoritarian assholedouchedick.

I get that. People get defensive if you come off as hostile, and then they will ignore any valid criticism you have. It's how people are. Try observing it sometime.

I just did. For quite a long time. The entire thread was in an uproar about my plans to genocide all the religious people because people saw "religion bad" and stopped reading.

[Nationalist State of Knox]

The funny thing is, Jesus would actually be excommunicated from the Church for his beliefs, considering how his image and teachings have been corrupted by the Church over the centuries.

The Church is more Paul than anyone else.

No, it's not even Paul. The idea of the Trinity and the Incarnation didn't enter the Church until the 4th Century AD. The Apostles would have regarded the idea of Jesus being divine utterly blasphemous.

[Frisivisia]

Basically, children, there is a lesson to be learned:
You can disagree with someone, and you can even debate them, without being a cockle.

Indeed, it happens all the time.

You just need respect, first. And you can't have that if you literally think what you're arguing against is evil.

Now, sometimes I believe that's justified. I offer no mercy, no quarter to homophobes, to transphobes, to misogynists. I actually give anti-theists quite some slack, since it's a far more understandable, albeit not justifiable, belief.

But the situations I think respect is undeserved are not universal, and you can't have a mutual conversation without respect.

Yes, yes, Joe's a bigot, yeah yeah.

[The Steel Magnolia]

Define open prayer? because if it's at like, a congregation, I don't see the issue.

Openly praying outside of a congregation.

Like, just by yourself or making a huge scene? Because if it's the former I don't see a problem with it - prayer is a fantastic way to relieve stress and we all have our methods. the latter's a bit douchy though.

[Blasveck]

1. I never said it did.
2. Alright then
3. I do get prayer. My problem is that I never...felt anything? (I hope you get me)

1. Then why get annoyed by it?
2. Wee. Agreement!
3. it does vary from individual to individual, too. I have prayed before, and sometimes I felt something, sometimes I didn't. Same thing with meditation, which I still do often. But, I get you.

1. I don't. Parkus does. I don't. Ya get me?
2. YAAAAY!
3. Like most things, it comes down to personal experience. Of which I've never really had one. If there is a God, he/she/it doesn't really seem to have impacted my life in any sort of noticeable way.

[Seitonjin]

Jesus is not amused with some modern Christians.

I am lel.

And then get excommunicated for being a heretic and thereby pissing him off to the point he becomes the founder of Christianity Version 2.0

The funny thing is, Jesus would actually be excommunicated from the Church for his beliefs, considering how his image and teachings have been corrupted by the Church over the centuries.

Paulisms. They do that.

[Frisivisia]

The Church is more Paul than anyone else.

No, it's not even Paul. The idea of the Trinity and the Incarnation didn't enter the Church until the 4th Century AD. The Apostles would have regarded the idea of Jesus being divine utterly blasphemous.

He built the Church upon rock (and roll). C'mon.

[Hathradic States]

Why, though?

Same reason a lot of things do, from the world "hella" to skinny jeans.

Ahhh. I can somewhat see it, now that I have thought about it, but I don't think it can annoy me (likewise with the jeans and "hella". The only thing that annoys me is the French language, for reasons I can't fathom)

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

The Church is more Paul than anyone else.

No, it's not even Paul. The idea of the Trinity and the Incarnation didn't enter the Church until the 4th Century AD. The Apostles would have regarded the idea of Jesus being divine utterly blasphemous.

Trinitarian doctrines were adopted from pagan religions. Triad gods and goddesses and all that jazz.

[Frisivisia]

Same reason a lot of things do, from the world "hella" to skinny jeans.

Ahhh. I can somewhat see it, now that I have thought about it, but I don't think it can annoy me (likewise with the jeans and "hella". The only thing that annoys me is the French language, for reasons I can't fathom)

Hi, my name is Jean and I'm hella cool. Omelette du fromage.

Angry yet?

[Torcularis Septentrionalis]

Indeed, it happens all the time.

You just need respect, first. And you can't have that if you literally think what you're arguing against is evil.

Now, sometimes I believe that's justified. I offer no mercy, no quarter to homophobes, to transphobes, to misogynists. I actually give anti-theists quite some slack, since it's a far more understandable, albeit not justifiable, belief.

But the situations I think respect is undeserved are not universal, and you can't have a mutual conversation without respect.

Yes, yes, Joe's a bigot, yeah yeah.

We WeRe NoT AdDrEsSiNg YoU.

[The Parkus Empire]

Jesus is not amused with some modern Christians.

Jesus would denounce the entire Church if he were around today.

It's pretty disconnected from anything he said, other than the bit about accepting his sacrifice, which he might not even have said, so....

[Hathradic States]

1. Then why get annoyed by it?
2. Wee. Agreement!
3. it does vary from individual to individual, too. I have prayed before, and sometimes I felt something, sometimes I didn't. Same thing with meditation, which I still do often. But, I get you.

1. I don't. Parkus does. I don't. Ya get me?
2. YAAAAY!
3. Like most things, it comes down to personal experience. Of which I've never really had one. If there is a God, he/she/it doesn't really seem to have impacted my life in any sort of noticeable way.

1. Now I do. (See kids, this is how you handle misunderstanding)
2. WOOOT!
3. I'd like to think it was God impacting my life, but I am also well aware it could have just been luck. I am one lucky person, no two ways about it.

[Frisivisia]

Yes, yes, Joe's a bigot, yeah yeah.

We WeRe NoT AdDrEsSiNg YoU.

My family-sized ego says different.

Plus it seemed obvious.

[Nationalist State of Knox]

No, it's not even Paul. The idea of the Trinity and the Incarnation didn't enter the Church until the 4th Century AD. The Apostles would have regarded the idea of Jesus being divine utterly blasphemous.

He built the Church upon rock (and roll). C'mon.

Christianity is an insult to the True Faith^TM anyway.

[The Parkus Empire]

Same reason a lot of things do, from the world "hella" to skinny jeans.

Ahhh. I can somewhat see it, now that I have thought about it, but I don't think it can annoy me (likewise with the jeans and "hella". The only thing that annoys me is the French language, for reasons I can't fathom)

The French language is a bitch to learn how to read and pronounce properly. But French ladies are sexxxxxxxxxHEY

[Hathradic States]

Ahhh. I can somewhat see it, now that I have thought about it, but I don't think it can annoy me (likewise with the jeans and "hella". The only thing that annoys me is the French language, for reasons I can't fathom)

Hi, my name is Jean and I'm hella cool. Omelette du fromage.

Angry yet?

Yeah, you totally did not truly comprehend what I said. Only French annoys me, and only when spoken.


Besides, I don't get angry anymore.

[The Steel Magnolia]

Yes, yes, Joe's a bigot, yeah yeah.

We WeRe NoT AdDrEsSiNg YoU.

To my dearests Torcularis Septentrionalis

the pigeon carrying my last letter to you was shot down outside the city gates by a vengeful ex! I fear that our relationship will soon be told to the public! Quickly, we must flee the city!

TSM

[Hathradic States]

Ahhh. I can somewhat see it, now that I have thought about it, but I don't think it can annoy me (likewise with the jeans and "hella". The only thing that annoys me is the French language, for reasons I can't fathom)

The French language is a bitch to learn how to read and pronounce properly. But French ladies are sexxxxxxxxxHEY

I have to agree with you there.

[Luveria]

I get that. People get defensive if you come off as hostile, and then they will ignore any valid criticism you have. It's how people are. Try observing it sometime.

I just did. For quite a long time. The entire thread was in an uproar about my plans to genocide all the religious people because people saw "religion bad" and stopped reading.

It wasn't that. It was how you compared all religion to Nazism. That's when you crossed the line and atheists started defending the religious side.

[Seitonjin]

Same reason a lot of things do, from the world "hella" to skinny jeans.

Ahhh. I can somewhat see it, now that I have thought about it, but I don't think it can annoy me (likewise with the jeans and "hella". The only thing that annoys me is the French language, for reasons I can't fathom)

Tarbarnac mon ami.