I can't believe. (moral, hell, bible, point of view, faith)

[mball1297]

Originally Posted by Random

That's good philosophy, but poor science. After all, if there are purely physical processes which gave rise to Man and no-thing else that is transcendent or immanent, such as the soul, then I'm afraid organisms are empirically indistinguishable from machines. That's why an Atheist has no option but to identify with the body; that's all there is in their own view. I AM MY BODY and MY MIND IS MY BRAIN, and nothing else exists. Ergo, you are a machine.

Actually, I'm an atheist, and I don't believe that my mind is my brain. Just because I don't believe in God doesn't mean that I can't see anything other than a physical body.

[Draka]

Originally Posted by Random

That's good philosophy, but poor science. After all, if there are purely physical processes which gave rise to Man and no-thing else that is transcendent or immanent, such as the soul, then I'm afraid organisms are empirically indistinguishable from machines. That's why an Atheist has no option but to identify with the body; that's all there is in their own view. I AM MY BODY and MY MIND IS MY BRAIN, and nothing else exists. Ergo, you are a machine.

Hmm, well, we do require fuel. We are made up of complex parts that need maintenance and routinely break down and need fixed or replaced. Sometimes those parts can't be and hence the whole machine stops working. There is usually some pollutant output to machines...and we have that covered in abundance. Not to mention the scrap that is left behind littering the planet. Like a computer, our brains perform complex functions and are "wired" a certain way and glitches in that wiring can cause malfunctions in the programming itself. Physical evidence does seem to support that view. So what's the problem?

[Super Universe]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Nice sermon. What does it have to do with the OP?

Maybe if you didn't cut out the other three paragraphs of my post you would have seen something that addressed the OP?

But to answer your question, which was "What do two sentences (out of a three paragraph post) have to do with the OP?" Uh, just as much as your two sentences do.

[Father Heathen]

Originally Posted by stephenw

I don't think it's about cultural subjugation.

Well, they do seem awfully eager to impose their believes upon others through the government and the education system. They also seem pretty hostile towards any views other than their own appearing in the public eye.

[Sunstone]

Originally Posted by Super Universe

Maybe if you didn't cut out the other three paragraphs of my post you would have seen something that addressed the OP?

But to answer your question, which was "What do two sentences (out of a three paragraph post) have to do with the OP?" Uh, just as much as your two sentences do.

Of course, I read your complete post. Of course, I didn't find anything in your complete post that seemed to me to address the OP. Otherwise I would not have asked you what your post had to do with the OP. If you don't want to answer my post, then simply don't answer it. But good grief, to alleged I didn't even bother to read your post comes across to me as silly, dense, or evasive.

[Lucian]

Originally Posted by Yes Man

I'm not sure where to put this but I'll just put it here.

I was talking with a friend lately and our subject of conversation managed to wander into religion. Me and her are both non-religious and I was saying how unfair some religions (or religious people) are to people like me. I simply can't place faith in a higher power because I have no way of being entirely sure that there is a god, divine entity, whatever. Yet certain religions are fit to condemn me to a hell because of this. I guess I'm ranting but I just wanted to hear some input.

If you want my thoughts: Never let fear of eternal torment in some other plane of existence force yourself to believe something as truth, telling yourself (conciously or subconciously) to believe this or that. Experience tells me that that is no way to live, and if God wills it, then "never again".

What is in my opinion better is to seek the truth with all you can. I think that is one of the most noble causes in existence. Studying a lot brings uncertainty, but it also brings a kind of enlightenment. I have learned to abandon things that just are not right and to continue the path that opens up, and my advice is to do that, but I've also learned to let others believe if that is their heart's desire. Though if someone asks me what I think, then I'll be honest! Generally, the "live and let live" is a good rule to go by.

I'd like to stress though that these are just my thoughts, they may not be applicable to some people since there are so many different kinds and I am only me.

[Sk8Joyful]

Originally Posted by Father Heathen

Well,
they do seem awfully eager to impose their believes upon others through the government and the education system.
They also seem pretty hostile towards any views other than their own appearing in the public eye.

sounds like 'atheistic communism' I got to leave that, PRAISE! GOD.

[Fat Old Sun]

Originally Posted by .lava

the only reason for me being away from religion was religious people, how they treat people around them. i did not want to be like them because they were loveless. they were even insulting their mates, children cos of mistakes they make, had greed over disbelievers and even had greed over animals because they are animals, looking at people as they were victims who belong to hell and they, themselves, were absolutely heavenly people with their dark faces, with their eyes without spark in it. yea...that's what i've seen my entire life my friend.

I see you have met my grandmother.

[DallasApple]

Yes Man sympathise with you...

If it helps you at all its not just becasue you are "non religeous"...(only in your case)..But I am judged not only by other religions but within my own relegion because I have my own views that dont match up to thiers.

I wasnt flat out told I was condemned to hell..but just yeasterday and today I (and any woman who has had an abortion) was compared to a human flesh eating,rapist,pediphile,hitler like person who also likes to deliberately set fires (an arson)...And that was by "religous" folk..Then I was told "not to take it personally"...

So you just hang in there..Im a Christian and I do not believe you are condemned to hell.Which in many Christian circles would qualify me as an "unbeliever".

Blessings

Dallas