Why do/don't you believe in a higher power? (Any HP)

[Tarsonis]

God "Do this and you go to heaven."
Human: *Actively doesn't do that thing*
God "Sorry, you can't come in you didn't do the thing."

Also God: "Hey, let's make you either biologically or physically incapable of doing that thing!"

Not Christian doctrine. Stop projecting.

Also God: "Hey, let's make you either biologically or physically incapable of doing that thing!"

God Again: "Let's also make a thing people are born with and have no control over a sin!"

Not Christian doctrine. Stop projecting.

[Tarsonis]

One of these statements is true, one of these statements is false.

Yup, and every Christian and every Muslim agrees with you there. So why do you think you're on the right side of the coin, and does it not unsettle you that the likely reason you're on that side of the coin is because of what continent you were born on?

No, because I'm a convert to my religion. I chose it, and not in a vacuum from all others. (I have a Bachelors in comparative religious studies, and a Masters in Systematic Theology) I rejected Islam for its (perceived) falsehoods, and embraced Christianity. As an intellectual I must admit the possibility that I am wrong, but I have faith that I am not.

[Tasuirin]

Yup, and every Christian and every Muslim agrees with you there. So why do you think you're on the right side of the coin, and does it not unsettle you that the likely reason you're on that side of the coin is because of what continent you were born on?

No, because I'm a convert to my religion. I chose it, and not in a vacuum from all others. (I have a Bachelors in comparative religious studies, and a Masters in Systematic Theology) I rejected Islam for its (perceived) falsehoods, and embraced Christianity. As an intellectual I must admit the possibility that I am wrong, but I have faith that I am not.

So what convinced you of that religion over others?

[The New California Republic]

As an intellectual I must admit the possibility that I am wrong, but I have faith that I am not.

Started out well, but it stumbled at the finish.

[Tarsonis]

No, because I'm a convert to my religion. I chose it, and not in a vacuum from all others. (I have a Bachelors in comparative religious studies, and a Masters in Systematic Theology) I rejected Islam for its (perceived) falsehoods, and embraced Christianity. As an intellectual I must admit the possibility that I am wrong, but I have faith that I am not.

So what convinced you of that religion over others?

Christian resonates as truth to me, while other religions did not. To explain it in detail would be an epic essay I'm not really prepared to write right now.

[New Legland]

Oh yes, because not believing in him (among many other ridiculously petty things) warrants eternal punishment. No dictator has ever given a punishment so grave, and no such punishment is ever justified for anything. Except, you know, eternally torturing billions of people.

God "Do this and you go to heaven."
Human: *Actively doesn't do that thing*
God "Sorry, you can't come in you didn't do the thing."

I'm waiting for a response on this:

There's a difference between denying entrance to Heaven and sending to eternal punishment. If God supposedly only denied people entrance to Heaven, I wouldn't have made that argument in the first place.

[Tarsonis]

As an intellectual I must admit the possibility that I am wrong, but I have faith that I am not.

Started out well, but it stumbled at the finish.

Well, can't say you've even had that much, so guess I'm winning there.

[The Supreme Magnificent High Swaglord]

So what convinced you of that religion over others?

Christian resonates as truth to me, while other religions did not. To explain it in detail would be an epic essay I'm not really prepared to write right now.

Please forgive any impoliteness I may be expressing, but I would very much like to read such an essay. I think it would be fascinating to hear your perspective.

If you're not prepared to do so at this time, that's fine. But eventually, I'd like to read it some day.

[Tarsonis]

God "Do this and you go to heaven."
Human: *Actively doesn't do that thing*
God "Sorry, you can't come in you didn't do the thing."

I'm waiting for a response on this:

There's a difference between denying entrance to Heaven and sending to eternal punishment. If God supposedly only denied people entrance to Heaven, I wouldn't have made that argument in the first place.

I don't even know what your point is supposed to be.

[The New California Republic]

Started out well, but it stumbled at the finish.

Well, can't say you've even had that much, so guess I'm winning there.

I'd like to know what you are looking at to make that comment. But I'd say I have had the decent head start on you tbh.

[Andsed]

I'm waiting for a response on this:

I don't even know what your point is supposed to be.

That it is fucked up that god sends say atheist or gays to hell for eternal punishment.

[Tasuirin]

Christian resonates as truth to me, while other religions did not. To explain it in detail would be an epic essay I'm not really prepared to write right now.

Please forgive any impoliteness I may be expressing, but I would very much like to read such an essay. I think it would be fascinating to hear your perspective.

If you're not prepared to do so at this time, that's fine. But eventually, I'd like to read it some day.

I second that. The lack of anything substantial to benefit Christianity over other religions was one of the things that led to me becoming an atheist. It's love to hear that there is some higher level of truth to it when compared to other religions.

[Tarsonis]

Well, can't say you've even had that much, so guess I'm winning there.

I'd like to know what you are looking at to make that comment. But I'd say I have had the decent head start on you tbh.

We'll I'm not allowed by the rules to say my original comment, so I figured I might as well point out that you've never once held any position of any convincing quality to me. And your arrogance is entirely un earned.

[Tasuirin]

I don't even know what your point is supposed to be.

That it is fucked up that god sends say atheist or gays to hell for eternal punishment.

I'd agree with this. Were I a father, and my child says "I don't believe you exist", the logical thing for me to do would be to prove, in no uncertain terms, that I do, in fact, exist. The not-so-logical thing would be to send them to their room for eternal "time out" for the same.

[Andsed]

I'd like to know what you are looking at to make that comment. But I'd say I have had the decent head start on you tbh.

We'll I'm not allowed by the rules to say my original comment, so I figured I might as well point out that you've never once held any position of any convincing quality to me. And your arrogance is entirely un earned.

Well, can't say you've even had that much, so guess I'm winning there.

I'd like to know what you are looking at to make that comment. But I'd say I have had the decent head start on you tbh.

Can you guys stop your little dick measuring contest? I mean honestly you guys are acting like children. Grow up and actually fucking debate.

[Tarsonis]

I don't even know what your point is supposed to be.

That it is fucked up that god sends say atheist or gays to hell for eternal punishment.

I don't know where the gays figures into that comment, but God doesn't send atheists to hell for being atheists. Atheists go to hell for rejecting God's gift of salvation.

[Page]

That it is fucked up that god sends say atheist or gays to hell for eternal punishment.

I'd agree with this. Were I a father, and my child says "I don't believe you exist", the logical thing for me to do would be to prove, in no uncertain terms, that I do, in fact, exist. The not-so-logical thing would be to send them to their room for eternal "time out" for the same.

That, and a good father would physically restrain their child from climbing onto a hot stove rather than letting the child get third degree burns, but God seems to think letting ignorant beings that know far less than he does suffer those consequences is just. Except in the case of hell, it's not like God letting the child climb on the hot stove it's more like picking up the child and putting them there.

[The New California Republic]

I'd like to know what you are looking at to make that comment. But I'd say I have had the decent head start on you tbh.

We'll I'm not allowed by the rules to say my original comment, so I figured I might as well point out that you've never once held any position of any convincing quality to me.

Well we have had very little in the way of direct interaction, so that is hardly surprising really.

And your arrogance is entirely un earned.

And yours is?

[Tarsonis]

We'll I'm not allowed by the rules to say my original comment, so I figured I might as well point out that you've never once held any position of any convincing quality to me. And your arrogance is entirely un earned.

I'd like to know what you are looking at to make that comment. But I'd say I have had the decent head start on you tbh.

Can you guys stop your little dick measuring contest? I mean honestly you guys are acting like children. Grow up and actually fucking debate.

It won't happen. NCR is a Dawkinight in the worst possible way.

[Tasuirin]

That it is fucked up that god sends say atheist or gays to hell for eternal punishment.

I don't know where the gays figures into that comment, but God doesn't send atheists to hell for being atheists. Atheists go to hell for rejecting God's gift of salvation.

When you don't know you're actually being given a gift, and express doubt that the one giving the gift exists, since they continually refuse to prove their existence, the difference between those two paradigms you mention is minimal at best.

[The New California Republic]

Can you guys stop your little dick measuring contest? I mean honestly you guys are acting like children. Grow up and actually fucking debate.

Yeah it's cool.

[Tarsonis]

We'll I'm not allowed by the rules to say my original comment, so I figured I might as well point out that you've never once held any position of any convincing quality to me.

Well we have had very little in the way of direct interaction, so that is hardly surprising really.

And your arrogance is entirely un earned.

And yours is?

In this case, yes. I wasn't the one who initiated contact in the manner as such as a completely insufferable asshole.

[The New California Republic]

It won't happen. NCR is a Dawkinight in the worst possible way.

Surprising, since I don't really like Dawkins.

[Andsed]

I don't know where the gays figures into that comment,

Christianity considers homosexuality a sin does it not?

but God doesn't send atheists to hell for being atheists. Atheists go to hell for rejecting God's gift of salvation.

First off well excuse us atheist for not simply blindly believing when god gives us little to no evidence. And second how does that warrant eternal tortue. I mean you could be a great person but still get sent to hell for not believing in god? Apparently heaven´s justice system is more fucked up than the american one.

[Tasuirin]

I'd agree with this. Were I a father, and my child says "I don't believe you exist", the logical thing for me to do would be to prove, in no uncertain terms, that I do, in fact, exist. The not-so-logical thing would be to send them to their room for eternal "time out" for the same.

That, and a good father would physically restrain their child from climbing onto a hot stove rather than letting the child get third degree burns, but God seems to think letting ignorant beings that know far less than he does suffer those consequences is just. Except in the case of hell, it's not like God letting the child climb on the hot stove it's more like picking up the child and putting them there.

Well, I get your argument, but there's always the argument of learning from mistakes. But with god, there isn't any of that. You get one chance to believe in him, and then get sent to hell if you don't. No learning from your mistakes, no chance even to logically assess the possibilities, just "believe in me without any real reason to do so on Earth, or you go to hell forever".