A Open Letter To All Volconvo Members

[Gorgo]

Quote by: dotcoma have more people who would simply not give a damn about killing, robbing, etc

No reason to think that, in fact, most people in prison believe in god(s).

[dotcoma]

^Gorgo..and they also believe that they can be forgiven. I was saying that more people would not give a damn without religion.

[Starboy]

Quote by: Samildanach Hehe...a psychoactive allergic reaction....now I have heard it all...

Just listen to them. One of the major things they do constantly is ask god to intercede for them and they are constantly reminding adherents to stick to the deal made with god and god will honor the contract. And of course those that do not stick with the contract will suffer extreme penalties. It is insane.

Starboy

[Gorgo]

Quote by: dotcoma I was saying that more people would not give a damn without religion.

And I was saying that there is no reason to think that. Look at George Bush. Religion gives him an excuse for his crimes.

[dotcoma]

Quote by: Gorgo And I was saying that there is no reason to think that. Look at George Bush. Religion gives him an excuse for his crimes.

Get off your obsession and grow. Realize that Bush can justify the war in his mind by thinking of the benefits if Iraq is transformed. And do not turn this into a quibble over that. Just realize that people can justify their actions no matter how wrong you think they are.

[Gorgo]

Quote by: dotcoma Get off your obsession and grow.

Don't give me your condescending shit. People can justify their actions or not regardless of religion, as you seem to agree in your last sentence. Belief in the supernatural is not a positive in and of itself. It is a rejection of reality, which itself is a negative.

[dotcoma]

You missed what I was saying Gorgo. I was just pointing out how the religious can view what they do as justified, and not feel as though they are committing sins.

Oh and sorry to sound condescending but it is true. You are a predictable person. Your debates and your comments are all the same regurgitated anti-bush anti-religion obsession. Instead of sitting on a soap-box all day why not actually think and talk about the stuff here lol. It gets boring.

[Gorgo]

Quote by: dotcoma I was just pointing out how the religious can view what they do as justified, and not feel as though they are committing sins.

That's what I said. Religion has nothing to do with anything. It does not deter crime.

Quote by: dotcoma It gets boring.

Your decision to be bored is yours, and has nothing to do with me.

[dotcoma]

Quote by: Gorgo That's what I said. Religion has nothing to do with anything. It does not deter crime.

Gorgo, there are prisoners who justify their crimes, but there are also families who discourage violence because of their strong fear of God. You must not talk to people out in the real world-otherwise we would not be debating that simple fact.

[Gorgo]

Quote by: dotcoma You must not talk to people out in the real world-otherwise we would not be debating that simple fact.

Yes, you're the only one who knows anything, and your topics are the only ones that are interesting.

What you just told me is that religion doesn't make a difference. Some people use it to justify their crimes, some use it to justify their so-called goodness.

[fedfem]

Quote by: dotcoma Gorgo, there are prisoners who justify their crimes, but there are also families who discourage violence because of their strong fear of God. You must not talk to people out in the real world-otherwise we would not be debating that simple fact.

Do you think fear of God is the only good reason to follow our nation's laws? Do you think that those who only obey out of that fear are normal?

[dotcoma]

No, another good reason is a fear of prison, but for some people even that is not enough. I think most people live a decent life because they are afraid to just do whatever they please. In the back of most people's minds is that fear.

[Nono]

Quote by: Starboy I would say that supernatural religion is a reaction to reality ...

I'd agree with all that except the notion that you somehow have a better handle on "reality" than everybody else. What makes you think that your concept of what's real contains any less illusion that anybody else's?

[Technosoul]

Liberate emotions from the debates. Some passion for your point of view is okay but if you get mad or hostle it is time to for you to find a way to make a substainable attitude adjustment. The first truth we might encounter on the spiritual journey is the truth about our own faults, do not depend on the forgiveness of others for that. Do not seek an easy way out of the pain of being wrong but let it hurt you until you pull back your hands from the fires of hatred and become wise enough not to burn your fingers again. We are in charge of creating our own brand of hell or heaven here on earth, let your creation begin in love and peace, and respect for others. And faint not nor stray from the that avenue.

Technosoul.

[Cephus]

Quote by: Nono IWhat gets me is the attitude -- exemplified by Starboy and Poops -- that if (say in connection with another discussion) you show the slightest willingness to even consider the possibility that just maybe some sort of "sky fairy" could conceivably exist, you're summarily condemned as out to lunch.

Unfortunately, that's not our problem. I'm find with the possibility that some sort of "sky fairy" could exist. It's possible. It's also possible that unicorns could exist. I'm not going to put any money on it though

However, many theist debaters simply assume, without support, that their "sky fairy" is real and then base everything they say on that assumption. Their line of thinking is:

1) I believe in God.
2) Because the existence of God is therefore established, everyone should do X.

They kind of forget all the steps between #1 and #2. They completely fail to establish that God exists, that God matters even if he does exist, or that anyone should change their mind if this God person is actually out there. Unfortunately, they have no arguement outside of "God says so, so there".

[Cephus]

Quote by: dotcoma Get off your obsession and grow. Realize that Bush can justify the war in his mind by thinking of the benefits if Iraq is transformed. And do not turn this into a quibble over that. Just realize that people can justify their actions no matter how wrong you think they are.

But it's not an obsession, it's just a response to Bush's own words. He's the one who says he's out talking to God and following what God says. For most people, we'd call that insanity. Bush is no different than that crazy guy down on the street corner talking to invisible friends, Bush just has the power to do what those invisible friends tell him to do.

[Nono]

Yes, Cephus, but don't you see that Starboy's and Pooeypant's (two name but two) attitude is a mirror image of what you describe? They too are blindly devout, and eager to shove their personal devotion down our throats in the form of an atheist harangue.

Like you, I have no personal convictions on the subject. They sure as hell do.

[Gorgo]

Actually, what we atheists here have done is talk about something on a discussion forum. What theists do is try to dominate all areas of life. We're just responding to that. We're supposed to take it and say that it doesn't matter and say that we're glad that they're doing such a wonderful thing as believe in god0. It isn't a wonderful thing. It's an insane thing. Why should I say something different on a discussion forum? If they don't want to talk religion with me, they don't have to, and most don't.

[Nono]

Quote by: Gorgo We're just responding to that.

I know what you mean. But that isn't the case of Starboy and Pooeypants (to harp yet again on those two). Look at the thread I mentioned, Gorgo. No politics there -- just bigotry on their part.

[Gorgo]

Quote by: Nono No politics there -- just bigotry on their part.

Okay. I scanned it but didn't see what you're talking abourt. Take your word for it.