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Author Topic: What kind of a message is this?  (Read 7619 times)

ArKFallen

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What kind of a message is this?
« on: May 18, 2011, 05:51:25 pm »

  The topic is a website seemingly dedicated to disproving Christianity. It says it gives "50 simple proofs" as to why God is a sham and 10 examples to how the Bible is repulsive. Now I don't have a religion myself, but looking at some of these proofs and examples got me thinking. Do people actually believe this type of thing? Is this a joke or some pro-{Some Religion} campaign? I just really don't know.
  What I'd really like to know from Bay12 is what your stance is on this website? Is its message actually the obvious one or more obscure? Joke or no? How would you answer/respond to some of the things it points out (silly or serious, but not too threatening). Discussion shouldn't wander onto a completely different topic for too long and really obvious trolls will be shot down.
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Angel Of Death

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Re: What kind of a message is this?
« Reply #1 on: May 18, 2011, 05:55:08 pm »

Heh, it's that website again.

Honestly, I find it to be utter bullshit. I didn't see any proof on that website, only "GAWD IS EVVOOOOL!". I'm not 100% if it's serious, though.

[EDIT] I didn't find any proof, but I didn't actually scroll through too many of that stuff.
« Last Edit: May 18, 2011, 06:13:00 pm by Angel Of Death »
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Svarte Troner

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Re: What kind of a message is this?
« Reply #2 on: May 18, 2011, 06:09:30 pm »

I've seen this before. It's pretty Richard Dawkins-esque. What the author doesn't know (knows?) is that it is pretty much impossible to argue over religion. It's nigh impossible to change someone's mind over something as personal (it should be) as religion.

Although he does make some good points, no offense.
« Last Edit: May 18, 2011, 06:13:51 pm by Svarte Troner »
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MetalSlimeHunt

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Re: What kind of a message is this?
« Reply #3 on: May 18, 2011, 06:20:13 pm »

I can't really take the time to read through all 50 articles, but I selected a few and read all of the titles, and it has fairly good arguments. Most of them aren't actually "proofs" in the technical sense though, they're refutations of theistic "proofs". So, ArkFallen, what specifically do you object to?
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ArKFallen

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Re: What kind of a message is this?
« Reply #4 on: May 18, 2011, 06:25:56 pm »

I can't really take the time to read through all 50 articles, but I selected a few and read all of the titles, and it has fairly good arguments. Most of them aren't actually "proofs" in the technical sense though, they're refutations of theistic "proofs". So, ArkFallen, what specifically do you object to?
The prayer thing in refutation (nice word I'll use it) #1. I can see how Jesus' words could be used against him but the guy speaks in riddles(parables) taking anything absolutely literally seems somewhat far fetched.
I could accept some of it until I watched the video... It just made me feel repulsed and not even at the Bible of all things.
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Cthulhu

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Re: What kind of a message is this?
« Reply #5 on: May 18, 2011, 06:26:33 pm »

If I had a dollar for every guy who puked Richard Dawkins all over me when I mentioned God, I'd have enough money to build a barrier to protect me from Richard Dawkins regurgitation.
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Leafsnail

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Re: What kind of a message is this?
« Reply #6 on: May 18, 2011, 06:31:18 pm »

Honestly, I find it to be utter bullshit. I didn't see any proof on that website, only "GAWD IS EVVOOOOL!". I'm not 100% if it's serious, though.
This is a fair point.  If we leave aside the misuse of "proof" (none of the articles seem to be written as proofs at all, the page would be better named as "evidence") it still doesn't change the fact that most of these arguments don't argue against the existence of God at all.  For instance, pointing out contradictions in the Bible only shows that there are contradictions in the Bible (assuming that they can't be explained in some other way, of course), not that the being that's described doesn't exist.  Similarly, even if you could completely prove that prayer doesn't work, you'd only prove that... prayer doesn't work.

I guess a few of the points could challenge a literal reading of the Bible and some interpretations of it, though.
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MetalSlimeHunt

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Re: What kind of a message is this?
« Reply #7 on: May 18, 2011, 06:34:59 pm »

I can see how Jesus' words could be used against him but the guy speaks in riddles(parables) taking anything absolutely literally seems somewhat far fetched.
Many of the Jesus lines are riddles, yes, but not all of them. Like this:
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"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."
That seems very clear cut to me. Anyone who has faith can ask for anything in Jesus's name, and Jesus will do so. Yet, as the site points out, God seems quite reluctant to do much of anything in the name of prayer, such as the classic example of healing amputees.
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I could accept some of it until I watched the video... It just made me feel repulsed and not even at the Bible of all things.
Could you give me a timestamp for a part you disliked?

I guess a few of the points could challenge a literal reading of the Bible and some interpretations of it, though.
I think that's far closer to the site's actual purpose. Destroy the Bible's credibility, and you destroy a good deal of the justification for believing in its deity, or changing the world in the way the Bible demands.
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Megaman

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Re: What kind of a message is this?
« Reply #8 on: May 18, 2011, 06:42:03 pm »

HEATHEN! BURN THE HEATHEN!!!!
Religion is very important, only now are people doubting THE GOOD LORD. Without a God figure to state what to do, or not to do, people will do whatever they want. SURE, LETS ALL HAVE SEX WITH OTHER WOMEN (or men, for you ladies) THAT WE AREN'T MARRIED TO! EVERYONE STEAL! EVERYONE GET DRUNK AND BECOME UNPRODUCTIVE! Religion keeps people in line, and gives them hope. Religion used to be a big deal because the common man didn't have too much to live for, the figure of god is more important than proving he exists. Really, arguing about religion defeats the purpose.
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Jackrabbit

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Re: What kind of a message is this?
« Reply #9 on: May 18, 2011, 06:44:02 pm »

Sites like this bother me, because I see no point in trying to disprove Religion, but rather think that we should try and fight injustices committed in the name of Religion. Half the people I know are religious and they're jolly good people, but there's an AIDS epidemic in Africa and children are being molested and people are getting away with it. Surely fighting this is more important? Fighting it by combating the people, not the idea? Because trying to disprove God isn't going to stop people doing horrible things in the name of X.
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Megaman

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Re: What kind of a message is this?
« Reply #10 on: May 18, 2011, 06:45:17 pm »

Because trying to disprove God isn't going to stop people doing horrible things in the name of X.
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The name of God is an excuse, everything done in religion's name would be done under another garb if it didn't exist
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Cthulhu

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Re: What kind of a message is this?
« Reply #11 on: May 18, 2011, 06:46:42 pm »

It's not even "religion," it's Christianity.  It's always Christianity, to the point where atheists will assume theists are Christian and argue as such.
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Jackrabbit

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Re: What kind of a message is this?
« Reply #12 on: May 18, 2011, 06:47:08 pm »

Religion isn't the cause, it's the excuse and we'd do much better by targeting the people, not the religion.

It's not even "religion," it's Christianity.  It's always Christianity, to the point where atheists will assume theists are Christian and argue as such.

To be fair, that's mostly because it's the only religion both sides are knowledgeable about. Well, mostly knowledgeable.
« Last Edit: May 18, 2011, 06:49:39 pm by Jackrabbit »
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Megaman

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Re: What kind of a message is this?
« Reply #13 on: May 18, 2011, 06:50:59 pm »

Christianity thrived in Europe. Europeans, historically, were rather un-nice overall.
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Bauglir

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Re: What kind of a message is this?
« Reply #14 on: May 18, 2011, 06:52:05 pm »

Europeans, historically, were rather un-nice overall.

Pretty much like everyone else. They just invented effective firearms first, greatly increasing the efficiency of the aforementioned un-niceness.

In other words, I find the relevance of your post suspect.
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