Note the lack of critical thinking. Note the lack of ability to associate truth with morality. Note the lack of comprehension when the words of a belief system are questioned.

As Belushi stated, it makes sense that most follow their belief out of fear but then have to CREATE an explanation to justify thier beliefs, their actions.

I asked a psychology professor exactly how fanatical does a person have to be, before they are considered metally unstable or mentally ill. Of course taking into consideration the DSM-IV-TR (diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Version IV, Text Revision) manual.

For all those who think they are constantly bashed - let it be known that the APA (American Psychological Association)itself is considering this question and has actually set up a whole field devoted to understanding the role of religion on the mind and body. So at this time they hold rigidly, probably more so than usual, where the diagnosis of the deeply religious is concerned, to the manual.

Obviously is it a concern, and all of those I have spoken with have the same basic opinion. This life is about experiencing everything within our human capacity. Any thinking, or belief that hinders that experience, takes away from the growth of the mind and can vastly harm one's ability to concentrate, to be brave and strong, to think critically and logically and to rise above bias and prejudice.

These things are not an illness, according to APA, but they harm millions upon millions of people in this world every day.

Why is it that your God would ask you to be afraid, not to experience, not to grow, but to be biased, to hate, in his name?
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Yes, as Belushi stated, it makes sense that most follow their belief out of fear but then have to CREATE an explanation to justify their beliefs, their actions.

Note the insults and ridicule. Note the questioning of everything. You ask and search always looking to find a means to justify a lifestyle that is contradictory to the mainstream and the teachings of the Lord. Something that will disprove what disagrees with the lifestyle you have chosen.

In every post you make this motivation shines through like a lighthouse beam to warn passing ships of danger.

Y'all take one passage, limit it to what meaning you wish to project, twist it to fit into a context that will let your own mind believe that your belief system is superior to Christianity and justify your sins as something they aren't.

The passage that Belushi has posted and refers to is not complete, tells nothing of what the Amalekites did to the Israelis, and takes place at a time shortly after the exodus from Egypt.

A time when God had made a covenant with the Jews specifically and was using them as a teaching between good and evil, those who follow god and those who deny him. If you read the whole bible you will see times when he also punished the Jews for falling from his graces as well.

The bible is not a single passage but a novel of gods teachings. It is full of stories of good, bad, and warnings of people who will try to disclaim it to justify their personal spiritual failings.

Ask and he will forgive. This is part of his covenant made to all men when he sent Jesus Christ to save us!

Hey, if you need to be forgiven for your pathetic life of sin, more power to you and your path. I really don't care what you want to believe anymore.

I have other things to do now. I have wasted enough time with this futile and pointless effort of attempting to help delusional people come out of the darkness and into the light of reason.

So I bid you farewell.

I have been curious yes, about why people seem to need religion. I don't "bash" anybody. I have questioned them deeply and I can't get what I consider to be any reasonable answers about hard questions concerning the Biblical history of Christianity. It puzzles me why they believe it.

I have recently realized that I am asking the wrong people. Christians themselves don't really have the answers and when you ask the questions, they feel like you are "bashing" them. Maybe I saw it as challenging them to think, but it's not my business to do that anyway. It's not my job.

I know now what draws people to religion. I have no need to question them anymore. So you will probably not see me on these forums much any more. I have the answer I was looking for.




I mistakenly thought these forums were for the purpose of discussion and debate but most people get offended by the most logical or reasonable debate, especially when it comes to religions.

They don't have a philosophy category, and I like to discuss ideas and metaphysics and have done so a lot on this club, but it had to be done in the "religion" forum.

You can rest easy now, all of you, because I leave you to your own discussions on your religious topics. They are no longer my business or my interest anymore.

JB

nice edit.

Thank you.
I will not be posting in the forums again. Trying to help people is too painful.