Religion & Morality

[Duncan]

http://youtu.be/D4Y1itusHCY

Heaven, I'm in Heaven...............sing along Duncan and S2M you two need to get that burr out of your butts. Maybe a happy song and a little Ginger and Fred will lighten your Debbie Downer moods.



Besides Heaven is more inviting than your worm food ending. Happy worm day!

Not to me it's not.

Nothing down about my mood Ginger.

What does Happy worm day mean?

Are you predicting my death today?

I have absolutely no problem with being worm food, but when I die I have donated any useful organs to medicine and if that is no good I have donated my body to the university for the benefit of the medical students. If they don't want me, or when they have finished with me my body is to be cremated and the ashes disposed of without a funeral or ceremony. Not going to be much left for the worms.

If your not down then stop being condescending to others. It is not a very good reflection on who you are as a person. As for Happy Worm day, I was not wishing for your demise at all. Just saying you have so much to look forward to when your life ends.

Oh really? Have a look at yourself sometime. In fact just read your posts on this page and finish by reading your last sentence above.

Give me a break...Ginger is about the least offensive and condescending person on this entire forum. Rip has pointed that out on more than one occasion here.

Oh ok, I'll just tap dance right off while plucking the burr out of my ass while there's still time to enjoy the rest of my worm food day.

[verslibre]

The promise of heaven is a carrot, dangled in front of people to make sure they stay in line. Again, i keep going back to Carlin's quote, 'Is this the best he could do?' Why make imperfect beings with freewill - then send down a tablet of 10 commandments WELL after the fact?

Also, is there a missing tablet? You know, the one filled with exceptions, and loopholes. Thou shall not commit murder is pretty cut & dried. I saw no exception in times of war. He never mentioned in self defense. He thought us dumb enough to send down 10 rules, but left us enough leeway to interpret his 'word'? Not buying it....

A rerun? Running out of original material?

[verslibre]

If your not down then stop being condescending to others. It is not a very good reflection on who you are as a person. As for Happy Worm day, I was not wishing for your demise at all. Just saying you have so much to look forward to when your life ends.

Oh really? Have a look at yourself sometime. In fact just read your posts on this page and finish by reading your last sentence above.

Surely, you jest. And yes, I called you Shirley.

[S2M]

The promise of heaven is a carrot, dangled in front of people to make sure they stay in line. Again, i keep going back to Carlin's quote, 'Is this the best he could do?' Why make imperfect beings with freewill - then send down a tablet of 10 commandments WELL after the fact?

Also, is there a missing tablet? You know, the one filled with exceptions, and loopholes. Thou shall not commit murder is pretty cut & dried. I saw no exception in times of war. He never mentioned in self defense. He thought us dumb enough to send down 10 rules, but left us enough leeway to interpret his 'word'? Not buying it....

A rerun? Running out of original material?

Well the original got buried under all that other stuff.....lol

[conversationpc]

Oh ok, I'll just tap dance right off while plucking the burr out of my ass while there's still time to enjoy the rest of my worm food day.

I hear McDonald's used to put that in their burgers.

[S2M]

Imagine what this was like....lol



The Concordat of Worms

[artist4perry]

I find it tragic that you can't wait to die. It seems that the purpose and value I find in this life is far greater than your own.

I think a Believer feels they aren't going to "die" as it were, but have everlasting life that has been promised them beyond the physical . I think it is far sadder for someone like yourself that believes in the end that they are nothing but worm food. But to each their own...

It all comes back to evidence. I would rather live this life to the full based on the evidence that this is the one shot we get than spend my life being subserviant to a god, for whom no evidence exists, in the hope that I might go to heaven. In any event I'm not so sure the concept of heaven is all that appealing anyway.

Sense of humor ........get one. The worm food was in reference to this conversation with RVR....... And as for not knowing the difference between joking around with someone and insulting their intellect, I will respond from here on out to those who know the difference.

I had already explained that it was not wanting your demise........and if you cannot get that when one uses an emotiocon of a wink and a laugh that maybe, just maybe they were joking and trying to get you to lighten up.

[majik]

The promise of heaven is a carrot, dangled in front of people to make sure they stay in line. Again, i keep going back to Carlin's quote, 'Is this the best he could do?' Why make imperfect beings with freewill - then send down a tablet of 10 commandments WELL after the fact?

Also, is there a missing tablet? You know, the one filled with exceptions, and loopholes. Thou shall not commit murder is pretty cut & dried. I saw no exception in times of war. He never mentioned in self defense. He thought us dumb enough to send down 10 rules, but left us enough leeway to interpret his 'word'? Not buying it....

A rerun? Running out of original material?

A sure sign this thread has run its course.

Its just a laugh guys lighten up, the dance of life.

[Angel]

A sure sign this thread has run its course.

About 47 times over.

[Rip Rokken]

...or condemn other to Hell simply for not believing the same things they do.

Since you don't believe in God or Christ...then obviously you don't believe in Hell...so why do you CARE if some Christian somewhere "condems" you to hell??? In your belief system it would functionally be the same as someone saying that they are condeming you to have to eat 3 meals a day at Waffle House.

Personally, words don't offend me, and quite I can't remember the last time any believer told me I was headed for Hell. I've asked a few quite directly, and they usually skirt the issue, or place my fate back on God's shoulders. In their evasiveness, they won't even admit that they agree with God. I think the psychology is very revealing -- it's obvious that even they find the concept of eternal torture as punishment for the peculiar infraction of disbelief incomprehensible, and can't bring themselves to voice it.

Now why do I care? Because I feel compassion for those of lesser mental constitution who might become even more tormented and anxiety-ridden with the thought that this fate might await them. God tends not to heal those people, and barring good and effective medication, they will most likely struggle under that fear for the rest of their lives.

I find it tragic that you can't wait to die. It seems that the purpose and value I find in this life is far greater than your own.

I think a Believer feels they aren't going to "die" as it were, but have everlasting life that has been promised them beyond the physical . I think it is far sadder for someone like yourself that believes in the end that they are nothing but worm food. But to each their own...

It depends on what's important to you, and we're talking about two different things here. What I'd like to believe about my eternal destiny is not nearly as important as my desire to live according to the truth. In other words, I'd feel much less satisfied living according to a lie than I would dying according to the truth. Actually, in that, we believe the same, but our standards for "truth" are just a little different. I can't even comprehend eternal life, nor would I want it. The thought doesn't give me hope -- it actually creates anxiety. So who cares if we are "worm food" in the end? That's just a phrase coined to devalue or debase the prospect of returning to the Earth. In reality, whether worms consumed us or not, all it means is that we become a part of the circle of life. Our consciousness may not go on, but part of us does in another form.

Now you know I love you Stu, and I think very highly of you. If you really want to debate faith with me, I'm happy to do that with the understanding that it won't get personal.

[Rip Rokken]

I think a Believer feels they aren't going to "die" as it were, but have everlasting life that has been promised them beyond the physical . I think it is far sadder for someone like yourself that believes in the end that they are nothing but worm food. But to each their own...

It all comes back to evidence. I would rather live this life to the full based on the evidence that this is the one shot we get than spend my life being subserviant to a god, for whom no evidence exists, in the hope that I might go to heaven. In any event I'm not so sure the concept of heaven is all that appealing anyway.

And this is the rub. Supposedly, Christians are willing to set aside cares for this life in favor of the life to come. It's a nice thought, but let's be serious. If you examine the lives of the majority of believers, you get the strong hint that they value their enjoyment of this life immensely, at the expense of what's to come. Just like saving for retirement... it's because it's not in our face just yet, and we fool ourselves into thinking we "have plenty of time" to sort it all out. I challenge any believer here to tell me how much they actually spend thinking about God, or especially in intimate communication via prayer with God during the day. And be honest.

I got invited to a church Christmas party last Friday, and accepted the invite. It was a Southern Baptist study group. Had some people wondering what kind of fireworks or mischief might ensue, and I predicted absolutely zero. I was right... aside from blessing the food (which I politely bowed my head for and even said "amen" along with the others), I didn't hear one single mention of Jesus the rest of the night. It was a wonderful group of people, all of whom I'd be honored to know as friends or neighbors, and as expected, the biggest laughs of the night came from a few opportunistically risque quips -- an example was during Dirty Santa, when someone got a little ornament of a house with an elf on it, and he had little springs for legs with feet on the bottom. The person tweaked the legs to make them dangle back and forth, and someone said, "Are you sure those are feet?". Tremendously well-timed comedic delivery, and best laugh of the night. Not necessarily "holy" though...

For the majority of believers, their living on behalf of Christ is quite shallow. Actually, they are just human, nothing less, and obviously nothing more. No matter what they convince themselves of in their minds, their living here on earth is a different matter altogether. So to all you believers, I issue a simple challenge... tell us what your daily routine is in regards to fellowshipping with the Almighty. I'm not talking about doing good deeds... I'm talking about fostering this love affair that we were taught God wanted to have with us. Quality, personal, one-on-one time. It's supposed to be just like a marriage... so how much time do you spend together?

[Rip Rokken]

And here we go... Question #2... How many of you believers actually believe this claim? If you do, please tell us why. If you don't (and I suspect most if not all don't), then tell us why you don't believe it.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/world/8000323-418/polish-catholics-say-communion-wafer-spot-is-jesus-heart-tissue.html

Polish Catholics say communion wafer spot is Jesus’ heart tissue

By VANESSA GERA Associated Press October 2, 2011 8:44PM

WARSAW, Poland — Roman Catholics in Poland gathered Sunday for a special Mass celebrating what they see as a miracle: the appearance on a communion wafer of a dark spot that they are convinced is part of the heart of Jesus.

The communion wafer in question developed a brown spot in 2008 after falling on the floor during a Mass in the eastern Polish town of Sokolka. Two medical doctors determined that the spot was heart muscle tissue, church officials have said.

Bialystok Archbishop Edward Ozorowski said during the Mass that in history, the “substance of Christ’s body or blood has become available to the human senses, and this also happened in Sokolka.”

“For God, nothing is impossible,” Ozorowski said.

The dark-spotted wafer was carried aloft in a reliquary by a golden-robed priest in a procession and was put on display in the town’s church of St. Anthony as about 1,000 faithful looked on.

Though some believers consider the object miraculous, the Vatican is still examining the matter and has not yet officially decided whether to declare it a miracle, church spokesman Andrzej Debski said.

AP

BTW, a friend of mine posted this on Facebook, and got reamed by a few folks simply for calling it a "cracker"...

[majik]

Its dead Rip, its over, its all been said already, same story over and over. Ya just fanning the FLAMES for ya own Ego!. And life dances on.

[S2M]

Its dead Rip, its over, its all been said already, same story over and over. Ya just fanning the FLAMES for ya own Ego!. And life dances on.

Congratulations!!!! You are the 23,000,000 visitor to MR. You win a free copy of:

[Angel]

And here we go... Question #2... How many of you believers actually believe this claim? If you do, please tell us why. If you don't (and I suspect most if not all don't), then tell us why you don't believe it.

I'm a believer and I don't believe this claim. Although I can't believe I am even responding again in this ridiculous thread....I don't believe it because I believe that Christ's body was resurrected and he has a perfect, immortal body of flesh and blood so he's using his heart tissue-not giving it away for consumption.

Now, my question to the "non-believers" (in fact a question I've asked a few times but still haven't seen an answer to). How does this hurt you at all that I believe this? For the sake of discussion, let's say I'm totally wrong and Jesus Christ was just a good citizen that roamed the earth some 2,000 years ago and God is non-existent....how does it hurt you that I believe otherwise??

[majik]

Its dead Rip, its over, its all been said already, same story over and over. Ya just fanning the FLAMES for ya own Ego!. And life dances on.

Congratulations!!!! You are the 23,000,000 visitor to MR. You win a free copy of:

Hahaha!!! never one anything before. Did you recycle this one too.
With over 11,200 posts to YA name Ya must have, same ol' story bro'.

[Rip Rokken]

Its dead Rip, its over, its all been said already, same story over and over. Ya just fanning the FLAMES for ya own Ego!. And life dances on.

Dangit, I missed it... who won?!?

[S2M]

And here we go... Question #2... How many of you believers actually believe this claim? If you do, please tell us why. If you don't (and I suspect most if not all don't), then tell us why you don't believe it.

I'm a believer and I don't believe this claim. Although I can't believe I am even responding again in this ridiculous thread....I don't believe it because I believe that Christ's body was resurrected and he has a perfect, immortal body of flesh and blood so he's using his heart tissue-not giving it away for consumption.

Now, my question to the "non-believers" (in fact a question I've asked a few times but still haven't seen an answer to). How does this hurt you at all that I believe this? For the sake of discussion, let's say I'm totally wrong and Jesus Christ was just a good citizen that roamed the earth some 2,000 years ago and God is non-existent....how does it hurt you that I believe otherwise??

It hurts me just like anything hurts me that is wrong. Have you ever corrected somebody? Taught somebody something? Saw somebody doing something wrong, and you just felt compelled to let them know that they were wrong?

[Angel]

It hurts me just like anything hurts me that is wrong. Have you ever corrected somebody? Taught somebody something? Saw somebody doing something wrong, and you just felt compelled to let them know that they were wrong?

Nearly everytime you post, sweetheart....but I just let it go. You should try letting it go, it'll do you good.

[verslibre]

Have you ever corrected somebody? Taught somebody something? Saw somebody doing something wrong, and you just felt compelled to let them know that they were wrong?

Nearly everytime you post, sweetheart....but I just let it go.

Boomerang!

[Rip Rokken]

And here we go... Question #2... How many of you believers actually believe this claim? If you do, please tell us why. If you don't (and I suspect most if not all don't), then tell us why you don't believe it.

I'm a believer and I don't believe this claim. Although I can't believe I am even responding again in this ridiculous thread....I don't believe it because I believe that Christ's body was resurrected and he has a perfect, immortal body of flesh and blood so he's using his heart tissue-not giving it away for consumption.

Now, my question to the "non-believers" (in fact a question I've asked a few times but still haven't seen an answer to). How does this hurt you at all that I believe this? For the sake of discussion, let's say I'm totally wrong and Jesus Christ was just a good citizen that roamed the earth some 2,000 years ago and God is non-existent....how does it hurt you that I believe otherwise??

Nat, I really, really commend you for answering question #2. Most of my stuff just gets ignored, I'm guessing out of denial. My side of the fence, we don't duck any questions.

To answer yours, your belief neither offends nor threatens me. If you were willing to hurt others or kill over your beliefs, then it would cross the line. You don't... you have nothing to worry about. Unfortunately, there are those of your faith who do. There has to be a voice of reason to counter this.

What do you think of my question #1 - how much time do you spend one-on-one with the Almighty? In prayer, in church, reading the Bible, preaching the Gospel - all these things count.

[S2M]

It hurts me just like anything hurts me that is wrong. Have you ever corrected somebody? Taught somebody something? Saw somebody doing something wrong, and you just felt compelled to let them know that they were wrong?

Nearly everytime you post, sweetheart....but I just let it go. You should try letting it go, it'll do you good.

Nope.....I don't give up. You prove that god exists, and I'll shut my cake-hole. deal?

[majik]

Its dead Rip, its over, its all been said already, same story over and over. Ya just fanning the FLAMES for ya own Ego!. And life dances on.

Dangit, I missed it... who won?!?

And its the other half of the atheist tag team. To answer your question, nobody won, there is no one here its squiggles on a screen.

Don't be anxious about eternity its only a story just like the Jack and Jill.

[majik]

Have you ever corrected somebody? Taught somebody something? Saw somebody doing something wrong, and you just felt compelled to let them know that they were wrong?

Nearly everytime you post, sweetheart....but I just let it go.

Boomerang!

I believe in Angels, Doh!!

S2M lookout, angels on your shoulder.

[Angel]

To answer yours, your belief neither offends nor threatens me. If you were willing to hurt others or kill over your beliefs, then it would cross the line. You don't... you have nothing to worry about. Unfortunately, there are those of your faith who do. There has to be a voice of reason to counter this.

Those who are willing to hurt or kill over their beliefs are not "of my faith." My faith does not commend this type of behavior. We live our lives in the way we feel is in accordance to our beliefs but we also respect the beliefs of others-if their beliefs interfere with ours then we distance ourselves from it-we do not seek to hurt or kill them.

What do you think of my question #1 - how much time do you spend one-on-one with the Almighty? In prayer, in church, reading the Bible, preaching the Gospel - all these things count.

Sorry, I must have missed question #1.....I can't really say that I can give you an exact number but I pray at a minimum twice a day but most days it's far more. I pray morning and night and thank God for those blessings I've seen during the day. I pray whenever I encounter challenges or questions. I pray before every birth I attend and ask God to be with me and direct me to help the mother and baby to be safe. I read scriptures for about 30 minutes per day-somedays more some less. I spend 3 hours in church every week and I spend an hour preparing for the children's class that I teach each week. Now, having said that-I recognize the role God plays in every aspect of my life everyday so in one sense or another he is always with me. ...and I just spent about 5 minutes typing all of this out-does that count?

[Angel]

It hurts me just like anything hurts me that is wrong. Have you ever corrected somebody? Taught somebody something? Saw somebody doing something wrong, and you just felt compelled to let them know that they were wrong?

Nearly everytime you post, sweetheart....but I just let it go. You should try letting it go, it'll do you good.

Nope.....I don't give up. You prove that god exists, and I'll shut my cake-hole. deal?

I can't prove to you that God exists, it's something you have to prove to yourself. You are obviously not in a place to be open to that. I've proved it to myself and that's what's important to me. If you choose not to believe in God that's OK by me, I have no desire to beat a dead horse by trying to make you believe-when you're ready you'll seek him and learn for yourself-it's not something I can do for you.

[S2M]

It hurts me just like anything hurts me that is wrong. Have you ever corrected somebody? Taught somebody something? Saw somebody doing something wrong, and you just felt compelled to let them know that they were wrong?

Nearly everytime you post, sweetheart....but I just let it go. You should try letting it go, it'll do you good.

Nope.....I don't give up. You prove that god exists, and I'll shut my cake-hole. deal?

I can't prove to you that God exists, it's something you have to prove to yourself. You are obviously not in a place to be open to that. I've proved it to myself and that's what's important to me. If you choose not to believe in God that's OK by me, I have no desire to beat a dead horse by trying to make you believe-when you're ready you'll seek him and learn for yourself-it's not something I can do for you.

But that's the whole point. Their is no VALID evidence for his existence. So the fact that you've based a whole life philosophy on him, with no evidence is scary. What 'evidence' have you used to come to the conclusion he exists, other than the usual, 'I was brought up that way'?

[Rip Rokken]

And its the other half of the atheist tag team.

No tag team here... S2M only works alone, like the bad half of a buddy cop movie. But he's a great guy to have around.

To answer your question, nobody won, there is no one here its squiggles on a screen.

So it's a tie between religion and secular humanism? I'd think the Almighty get an edge... if he had anything to do with the conversations. Now man vs. man... a tie I can understand.

[Angel]

But that's the whole point. Their is no VALID evidence for his existence. So the fact that you've based a whole life philosophy on him, with no evidence is scary. What 'evidence' have you used to come to the conclusion he exists, other than the usual, 'I was brought up that way'?

I've seen evidence time and time again but it's MY evidence so MY evidence will not be YOUR evidence and it won't convince you. I can't put into words on a message board how or why I know God exists-nor will I attempt to-I have no interest in trying to convince you to believe as I do-and nothing you, or anyone else, says will change my mind either.

[majik]

And its the other half of the atheist tag team.

No tag team here... S2M only works alone, like the bad half of a buddy cop movie. But he's a great guy to have around.

To answer your question, nobody won, there is no one here its squiggles on a screen.

So it's a tie between religion and secular humanism? I'd think the Almighty get an edge... if he had anything to do with the conversations. Now man vs. man... a tie I can understand.

Your the man and labels do not apply to that which I Am. Try again

Edit spell correction it should read you're, now where is dat prize!! cause dis spell and grammar check is f...ked up.