The Hazards of Belief

Mark Hamill

philologos wrote: »

I'm not following? Are you telling me after all that we've been through that I'm not a Christian? :pac: I'd like to say I'm not hurt Mark, but I can't!

You said that getting to know people just for being christian is not getting to know them for who they really are, implying, imo, that they aren't really christian. If someone is a christian then knowing that about them is knowing who they really are, as being christian is the most important thing to them, the thing that most makes up who they are.

Turtwig

Mark Hamill wrote: »

You said that getting to know people just for being christian is not getting to know them for who they really are, implying, imo, that they aren't really christian. If someone is a christian then knowing that about them is knowing who they really are, as being christian is the most important thing to them, the thing that most makes up who they are.

Says the Non Christian.:pac:
Also Jakkass philologos why did you ask the question if you already knew the answer?:pac:
oooh double pacs.:D

philologos

Mark Hamill wrote: »

You said that getting to know people just for being christian is not getting to know them for who they really are, implying, imo, that they aren't really christian. If someone is a christian then knowing that about them is knowing who they really are, as being christian is the most important thing to them, the thing that most makes up who they are.

I said that in befriending people (in general) I like to know about who they are. I can relate to many friends of mine who are Christians through other interests rather than just through what we have in common in Christ. Although that makes talking about some personal things much easier in that they can relate to my beliefs (I.E they don't think I'm insane :pac:). I can also relate to my friends who are non-Christians precisely by the fact that we have other things in common. Of course I believe sharing with my friends about who I am in Christ is important, but I find it important to get to know people for who they are important too (in reference to non-Christians).

In short: There is more to Christians than their Christian faith (there is more to me also) although this is a huge part of who they are. In relating with non-Christians its important to know and appreciate who they are also.

Mark Hamill

philologos wrote: »

I said that in befriending people (in general) I like to know about who they are. I can relate to many friends of mine who are Christians through other interests rather than just through what we have in common in Christ. Although that makes talking about some personal things much easier in that they can relate to my beliefs (I.E they don't think I'm insane :pac:). I can also relate to my friends who are non-Christians precisely by the fact that we have other things in common. Of course I believe sharing with my friends about who I am in Christ is important, but I find it important to get to know people for who they are important too (in reference to non-Christians).

In short: There is more to Christians than their Christian faith (there is more to me also) although this is a huge part of who they are. In relating with non-Christians its important to know and appreciate who they are also.

But surely your christianity is the most important thing to you and about you, it completely defines your life and your actions?

philologos

Mark Hamill wrote: »

But surely your christianity is the most important thing to you and about you, it completely defines your life and your actions?

It is. I'm merely saying that I have other commonalities with people. As a result, my Christianity doesn't alienate me from non-Christians.

Turtwig

An analogy if I may, to a loving husband his marriage and family is by far the most important thing to him. That doesn't necessarily mean he has to centre his entire life around his marriage and family. Think of this as the Christian's relationship with God and following God's word.:)

philologos

Malty_T wrote: »

An analogy if I may, to a loving husband his marriage is by far the most important thing to him. That doesn't necessarily mean he has to centre his entire life around his marriage. Think of this as the Christian's relationship with God and following God's word.:)

See the thing is, I do centre my life to a degree around my relationship with God. It is just that many of my interests can help me to relate with other people. My relationship with God can inspire how I choose to work, or how I choose to relate to other people even if I don't speak to them about this relationship 24 hours a day.

Links234

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6yF7EqGvPc

Canis Lupus

I r disappoint. I wanted to see the incident

liamw

"We're just preaching the Bible"
"Oh why didn't you say so! Apologies, carry on pulling people out of wheelchairs"

Morons.

cavedave

Apple causes ‘religious’ reaction in brains of fans, say neuroscientists

5uspect

But but Dawkins has a mac!

The Mad Hatter

I'm more curious as to what else causes those reactions. I imagine there are probably similar reactions when people talk about music, books or films they love.

Also, enjoyed this comment:

Step 1) Start with a hypothesis that average Mac fans are overly committed to Mac.
Step 2) Select someone with a MORE than average dedication to the Mac Brand. Examine this person's brain to find that the abnormal behavior is backed up by abnormal reactions in the brain.
Step 3) Announce non-finding that average people react to Apple the way the Ultimate Fanboy subject does.

Is there any science here?

(And yes, I'm a Mac geek...)

Dades

5uspect wrote: »

But but Dawkins has a mac!

And Stephen Fry and Douglas Adams is/was mad for them too!

Links234

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2011/05/standard_small_town_saga.php

cavedave

The Mad Hatter

I'm more curious as to what else causes those reactions. I imagine there are probably similar reactions when people talk about music, books or films they love.

I am pretty dubious about these MRI scans in general. They seem a sort of modern phrenology to me. For example Scanning Dead Salmon in fMRI Machine Highlights Risk of Red Herrings. But I am not a neuroscientist and have not seen this program yet I do not have much I can argue about on it.

Links234

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Vj8-_jhFAA

robindch

John Gielgud does Joyce's hellfire:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xidesn_sir-john-gielgud-as-father-arnall-in-portrait-of-the-artist-as-a-young-man_creation

The Mad Hatter

robindch wrote: »

John Gielgud does Joyce's hellfire:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xidesn_sir-john-gielgud-as-father-arnall-in-portrait-of-the-artist-as-a-young-man_creation

That was a very good moment in a not-great film. I'm pretty sure the speech was cut down for the film, too.

Links234

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Man+found+dead+in+church+on+doomsday+/-/1056/1166930/-/hvpqpfz/-/

The Mad Hatter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV2hXjHzmPQ

robindch

Scientology in Israel Turns Nasty:

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/05/scientology_in_1.php

mikhail

http://people-press.org/2010/06/22/section-3-war-terrorism-and-global-trends/

41% of Americans think that Jesus will probably return within 40 years.
If you only count those who've graduated from college, the number drops to 19%.

Suddenly, I'm all for the number of NUI and Trinity seats in the Seanad being expanded.

GLaDOS

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/%E2%80%98judgement-day%E2%80%99-celebration-tragedy-for-us-boy.html

A US teenager who leapt into a fast-flowing river to celebrate the world not ending is presumed dead.

Anthony Johnson jumped into the river with a group of friends when an outlandish ‘Judgement Day’ prediction made by preacher Harold Camping fell flat on Saturday evening.

[Story: Apocalypse not: doomsday prediction falls flat]

The missing 17-year-old was reportedly ‘overwhelmed by the current’ and cried for help as he was swept away by the Kalamazoo River in Comstock's Merrill Park, Michigan.

According to reports, Johnson’s friends warned him not to jump because he wasn’t a good swimmer.

Search and rescue teams were deployed on Saturday evening but there was no sign of him.

Police said yesterday that their search has now turned into a recovery operation as they believe that they will not find him alive.

Kalamazoo County Undersheriff Pali Matyas said: “Think of it as like a super rip tide. There's nothing you can do. This is probably worst-case scenario in terms of recovery.”

He also added that search efforts were threatened by the river's strong current, flowing at about 15 knots, or 20 mph.

Anthony’s friend, Jordan Skinner-Knapp – one of the last to see him alive - told the Kalamazoo Gazette that he and a group of five of his friends were excited the world didn’t come to an end as predicted and wanted to celebrate by jumping off the bridge.

Speaking of the ordeal, he said: “The current overtook him and I tried to pull him out but he kept trying to pull me down and I couldn’t get him out of the river.”

A two-year-old boy was safely pulled out of the river hours earlier at the same spot.

Evangelical priest Harold Camping issued an apocalyptic prediction for 21 May 2011, claiming that 3% of the world’s population would be raptured.

robindch

Brazilian government tries to do something about homophobia in schools. Christian group goes ballistic. President stops distribution of anti-homophobia material:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13554077

The Beeb wrote:

President Dilma Rousseff has suspended the distribution and production of sex education films for schools in Brazil.

President Rousseff believes the footage is not suitable for youngsters. The education packs contain gay and lesbian video scenes and are supposed to combat homophobia. However, evangelical church groups and their allies in Congress threatened to block any upcoming legislation unless President Rousseff halted the films.
'Anti-homophobia kits'

A government spokesman said President Rousseff had viewed the material personally and decided to suspend its distribution. "She didn't like what she saw," Gilberto Carvalho said.

He said President Rousseff was unhappy with the footage and believed it did not offer an objective picture of homosexuality. The "anti-homophobia kits", as they are known in Brazil, were about to be rolled out by Brazil's ministry of health and the ministry of education. Several members of Brazil's chamber of deputies with strong evangelic Christian beliefs said the sex education packs encouraged homosexual behaviour.

Gay and lesbian rights campaigners have expressed serious concerns. A leading rights campaigner and congressman, Jean Wyllys, said the decision called into question President Rousseff's commitment to human rights.

"I voted for her in the last elections," he said, "because I thought she would defend the rights of lesbian, gay and bisexual citizens." "If she doesn't do a U-turn and change her mind, I will urge all gay people not to vote for her again."

Galvasean

Seriously, wht do they obsess about the gays so much?

robindch

Galvasean wrote: »

Seriously, wht do they obsess about the gays so much?

Plays well to the home crowd.

Zillah

Galvasean wrote: »

Seriously, wht do they obsess about the gays so much?

Y'know, I had grown so used to it that it had stopped occurring to me: It is pretty damn weird that religious beliefs involving magic and immortality seem to pre-occupy themselves primarily with who other people want to have sex with.

Turtwig

Galvasean wrote: »

Seriously, wht do they obsess about the gays so much?

Because they're an bunch of hypocrites with a superiority complex who gain a sense of self justifications by pointing out the immoral acts of gays who they deem to be less human than themselves. Despicable little swines who purport to be in a position to help make the world a better place.

vibe666

particularly when all of their highest authorities on earth aren't even allowed to have sex and even thinking about it is a sin.

actually, come to think about it, no wonder they're so obsessed with it! :pac:

forbidden fruit maybe?