Dave yup, christian beliefs are silly we get it
9 hours ago · Like ·  1 person

Brian  This is not specific to any religion, just theism in general. Don't get mad, get science!
9 hours ago · Like ·  1 person

Dave  I mean ragging on people beliefs and rubbing it in their faces is such an accomplishment. Congrats you have a different view on things.
9 hours ago · Like ·  1 person

Brian  You don't have to read it if you don't like it. No one says you have to be my facebook friend or read my posts. I will continue to fight the good fight while religions push their agenda on the world I will try to push back, especially since most people will be too lazy to do anything. Gotta start somewhere.
9 hours ago · Unlike ·  1 person

Dave Franklin glhf dying of old age before anything happens
9 hours ago · Like ·  1 person

Brian  Hard to understand why you seem to think not trying at all is the best option.
9 hours ago · Like

Dave  Because tossing one stone with no weight does nothing. Go big or go home. You and I can agree on this til the cows come home, but unless we actually do something then nothing happens. I don't believe any more than you do in God or any form of higher intelligence, but talking about it on facebook with a small group of people doesn't do anything.
9 hours ago · Like

Brian First off, you cannot judge whether it was effective in changing anything or not. Even if it helps once person become a free thinker then I am happy. Secondly, perhaps I am just sharing an interesting link with my friends who will enjoy giving this a read. The analogy is a good one and I got a laugh out of it.
9 hours ago · Like

Dave  Religion does not choke someone's being to the point that they cannot think for themselves. Some people run with it way farther than others, like anything people can take to an extreme.
9 hours ago · Like ·  1 person

Brian  Religion does stifle the ability to objectively look at things though. When obvious scientific information is ignored in favor of a thousand year old book written by ignorant men, then yes it does do that.
8 hours ago · Like
Dave Franklin It only does these things if you let it. Just like how anyone can run with anything. Kierkegaard was a Christian philosopher and often criticized how people worshiped and ran the religion. People are the same everywhere.
8 hours ago · Like

Brian  If you claim to be of a religion that believes in a book, and do not follow it, you are either A) a hypocrite or B) confused as to what your beliefs really are.
8 hours ago · Like

Logan  I think it's not so much Religion as it is Cognitive Dissonance. People will choose to shut out information that doesn't mesh with their worldview, regardless of whether or not it has a theology backing it. It's human nature to search for confirmation of one's core beliefs. So the flaw isn't restricted to any belief system, it's inclusive of all human beings.
8 hours ago · Like

Logan To elaborate on the cognitive dissonance point. people will also avoid information which reveals the conflicts in their own beliefs. It's selective hearing on a personal level.
8 hours ago · Like

Dave  That's not the issue. You are saying that religion stifles the ability to look at things objectively. This is only as true as people let it be. The bible is a guideline to follow. Realistic preachers will tell you that you can never be perfect you only need to use the stories and parables as guidelines for how to live, but that is beside the issue.
8 hours ago · Like ·  1 person

Brian  This is true, this goes into the whole mental models thing and how we interpret/perceive information. This does not take away from the fact that certain religious teachings are adamantly against scientific teachings and will balk at any evidence against their beliefs.
8 hours ago · Like

Brian  The bible says it is the literal word of god, others choose to say it is not. People are just picking and choosing from these stories to make up their own system of beliefs.
8 hours ago · Like

Dave  And whats wrong with believing in a lifestyle of not being an asshole? This is just nitpicking now.
8 hours ago · Like ·  1 person

Dave  And fyi thats the entire point. Taking the bible word for word is impossible
8 hours ago · Like ·  1 person

Brian  Yet people do it regularly. That is my point. You do not need religion to live a good and moral life.
7 hours ago · Like

Dave  Nobody said you did implicitly or otherwise
5 hours ago · Like

Brian  ‎" And whats wrong with believing in a lifestyle of not being an asshole?" - You. I assumed by asshole you meant being a decent human being. You don't need to believe in anything to be good.
4 hours ago · Like

Dave You misconstrue what I meant about that. I was referring to people picking and choosing what to believe of the bible. I.e. certain sects of christianity not adhering to certain parts of the bible not relative to this time period, and not ta...
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4 hours ago · Like ·  1 person

Brian
That is being a hypocrite though, if you are going to subscribe to a religion, you are supposed to follow it. Like I said, they are just confused. Organized religion is meant to follow a set of rules, not to pick and choose which ones you want. The verse escapes me at the moment, but it is about being lukewarm (referring to the bible not any other monotheistic beliefs) and that being as bad as not believing.
2 hours ago · Like

Dave Literally every sect of religion involving JC is choosing how they want to adhere to the bible. You can't expect people to do every single thing the bible says. Oh well, people don't feel the need to sacrifice animals because we are living in a different time. You are reaching with this hypocrisy thing as if its relevant.
2 hours ago · Like

Brian How is it not relevant? If they can condemn millions of people to an eternity of pain and suffering for not following their rules, how can they not be expected to follow their chosen book of worship?
2 hours ago · Like

Dave  Jesus did not expect perfection from any of his followers, because they are human. You are really reaching with this stuff about following 100% of the Bible or being a hypocrite.
2 hours ago · Like

Brian  It is not reaching anything. Revelation 3:16 - "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth". The reason you cannot take the bible 100% literally is because it is fiction and also an evil bo...
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2 hours ago · Like ·  1 person

Dave  Wow, way to take a canned argument and run with it. You sound just like the people you dislike. Hate-mongering bigotry towards a group of people, but you are entitled to your beliefs. Like anyone else. You talk about the bible preaching the...
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about an hour ago · Like

Dave  people's right to believe what they want without being attacked and made fun of for it
about an hour ago · Like

Dave  but at the same time I'm not trying to piss you off, because I'm not arguing emotionally and I don't want you to hold all this against me I see you commented on my post in the group and I can only attribute that to you being angry with me. Not my intent in this dicussion
about an hour ago · Like

Brian Seeing as how you started this post off with anger it is only fair that I get to be that way. Also, a religion is made of people, not of some magic dust in the air. Who else is there to be upset with and attack? The people make the rules and act on them. You are defending religion and the people that choose to act that way. How is it bigoted to want proof for something and not allow others to influence how the country is run or what people are required to learn in schools. If you desire to be ignorant of what is going on around you and would rather let others get their way with no regard to the repercussions that are inflicted on other's beliefs that's fine. I won't though, which was your original point in the first place, other than being butt-hurt about a link I posted that I found to be an interesting view-point on why things need to have proof.
22 minutes ago · Like

Dave I didn't start off with anger, you are completely projecting that. Nor was I butthurt. Butthurt is posting on another facebook post being petty and childish about something posted here. I am just tired of this bandwagon edgy look at me I think religious people are dumb kick. It's so passe and high school angsty. You would think someone who subscribes to Sagan and Dawkins wouldn't be petty about this stuff and instead would seek enlightenment and not waste energy on attacking people about their beliefs, but what do I know I'm agnostic. Nobody makes agnostic shirts making fun of any creed or religion.