Not for me. I just want to build a bridge to understanding.
I want to understand the other person. And I want to present myself as honestly and strait forward as I can so that I can be understood.

don't try to push your kumbaya rhetoric on me...

No, I wanna kick some a$$!

Just kidding....

I need Ben n Jerry's.I'm a simple soul.

You are too funny! You steal my thunder.

Bingo!~

you got it Kid.

Now if someone would get over that and listen to what I have been saying myself, it wouldn't be coming down like that.

fresh look

fresh word

Is someone playing Bingo in here?

Pass the popcorn and give me ten cards please.

You guys, see...this is the problem. You have no shame. You are breaking rule #9 (with YashaFox leading the way! Great example you are making, really proud!)

Argument (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/argument)


As I have already explained, when I said "argument", I meant defintion #2. If you pay attention to the context, it becomes clear. When someone says "Making an argument..."...that's defintion 2. When someone says "Stop this argument!"...that's defintion 3. It's not hard folks, prove that you are more that children on a playground.

Yasha, I would just send this in an email, but I'll say it here so there is no question. I think it's sad that you feel you need to get little jabs and shots in at my expense. I know you are simply trying to get a little "street cred" with the non-Christians, but it's still not cool. Your conscience told you that to begin with, but that's between you and God.

Spider, I read you post and agree. There are a few people that post in the religious forum that do not take other peoples beliefs into consideration when they post. I also get the impression that sometimes they are trying to insult, confuse, and mislead intentionally. It is one reason I am not quite as active in the religious forum anymore.

I find theological debates very interesting, but only when both sides have mutual respect.

Mutual respect can only exist when both sides are willing to consider the possibility that they could be wrong and are willing to look at evidence that contradicts their core belief system.

This is not likely to happen on either side.

So you have to accept the fact that a forum on religion is going to be heated. Politics ... the same thing.

That's life. Some people can't handle the heat, some don't like the heat, some love a good argument.

Each to his own.

This is the God’s honest truth for anyone who is interested in truth.

I don’t go around insulting people and anyone who truly knows me knows that that I don’t.

I state reasons why I don’t belief the biblical picture of God. And people consider that to be a personal insult.

But wait a minute! Let’s all see if we can be adult enough to face the real truth here.

People come onto the forums and start proselytizing or preaching Christianity. They start thread specifically for this purpose. Not for open discussion.

They often give a sermon in the OP and then end it with something like, “Just ask Jesus to come into your heart right now and you’re life will never be the same”

So, what do I do???

I begin by SHARING MY REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE.

I say, “I have asked Jesus to come into my life and nothing happened”

Then they start to argue that I didn’t have enough faith or whatever.

So then I explain my story which is that I have studied the biblical picture for over 40 years of my adult life and I am totally convinced that it can’t possibly be true. And here’s why,….

Then I begin to give a detailed explanation of why I don’t believe it is true.

So what happens next?

I get bombarded with personal insults against my character. People start following me around claiming that I have no respect for anything and that I’m a completely contemptible uneducated moron who just likes to start trouble.

People start running through the forums sprinkling fairy dust and praising the Lord Jesus Christ in boldfaced print, like as if the whole world will be doomed if he isn’t quickly appeased for my obvious rebellious nature.

When all I’m trying to do is explain why it doesn’t make any sense to me.

And then continue to post proselytizing literature and religious advertisements and more sermons. And no one want to address the actual issues like Spider claims he wants to do. They are totally rejecting that notion altogether. They would rather distract from religious conversations altogether until they crucify the character of this obviously non-believer or discredit him.

No one should ever dare suggest that the Bible might be wrong. How dare they! How insulting! Destroy them. Throw them to the lions!

If you don’t want to accept Christianity just shut up and move on. We don’t want to hear why you don’t believe it! That’s totally insulting! How dare you explain why you don’t believe it!

How dare you! You have no respect for anything sacred! How dare you!

Spider needs to start his own site and set his own rules for his patrons huh?

Spider's Christianity Revisited Forums of Joy, might work

Not true in the least. Wow, you make this illogical arguments instead of just admitting someone else has a good point.

I have a friend at work who is a Muslim. He and I have never discussed religion. I respect him and he respects me. The fact that you can't respect someone unless he or she is willing to admit that their beliefs are wrong seems...strange to me.

Hi Jax

Bryers mint chocolate chip work?

You know, Yasha harms no one. It's just not right to pick on him. He has no obligation to follow your rule #9 or any thing else you choose to post.

You do not make the rules here. You need to be clear on that.

Well, there is a difference between a heated discussion and trying to prove to someone that their religious beliefs are flat out wrong. I have seen that in this forum.

If you can not have a debate with mutual respect then you should not be in the debate in the first place.

the world isn't all rainbows and lollipops son and neither are debates about the existence of god.They get heated especially when people think they have to defend Jesus.Jesus does not need your sinner behind to defend him,he needs you to show some tolerance,turn the other cheek and follow the golden rule.to basically tell me to shut up because i don't believe in something is just asinine and childish.
I believe in God and Jesus but I love to read others points of view .Its how you learn.

Sarcasm doesn't pass as a valid argument either.

These aren't rules for this forum! Oh no, the forum already has rules. These are the rules we all live by in adult society. Those people I have known who would break these rules were usually corrected by everyone present. You already know all that, just read the rules and show me a single one that doesn't have a place in polite society.

Harry !! i'll take it.

That is not what I said. I am talking about a debate in a religion forum. I am not talking mutual respect for someone as a person outside of a debate.

Sure if you don't discuss religion or politics you could probably have a lot of friends.

That's a no brainer.

JB