rbtvgo
Member
- Location
- Absecon, new jersey
and you still make no sense
I am an Atheist and always have been.
- Thread starter Bretrick
- Start date
rbtvgo
Member
- Location
- Absecon, new jersey
Is this about the freedom to believe what you want. If so, then believe what you want.
Gardenlover
The world needs more love
I guess labels help some people. I am, me, myself and I. A happy old soul that enjoys a happy dance from time to time.
You do you and let me do me - while being happy for one another.
You do you and let me do me - while being happy for one another.
JustDave
Well-known Member
@Kir7 Granted a world with god does strongly resemble a world without a god, which may help you sort out the character of the god you say you don't believe in. But it almost sounds like you are not sure what you believe. I've been there, and it led me to a deeper search into myself. I do believe there is a reality I live in, and I can hold my own in that reality, God or no God.
Oddly, my closest friends where I have been living the last 15 years are a fundamentalist Christian couple, while I'm confidentially an atheist. We accept each other as we are and don't even comment about it. These are not a set of rules that we had to adopt. It was something that we all did automatically from the start. That won't work with many theists, but ours is a very satisfying and fulfilling relationship.
Oddly, my closest friends where I have been living the last 15 years are a fundamentalist Christian couple, while I'm confidentially an atheist. We accept each other as we are and don't even comment about it. These are not a set of rules that we had to adopt. It was something that we all did automatically from the start. That won't work with many theists, but ours is a very satisfying and fulfilling relationship.
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Mitch86
Senior Member
- Location
- Connecticut, USA
I like to listen to Christian music for many hours each day. However, I never read the Bible and do not really believe in one God, Jesus, who can help so many people. Thus, I am a believer in Christian MUSIC but not in a "god" who can take care of billions of people. I believe "god" is in our minds and that is where He will always stay.
JustDave
Well-known Member
When I'm watching a movie where a character does something that results in a spiritual uplift for himself, I sometimes have a pleasant reaction. It depends on how well and subtle it's done. If it's a ham fisted preacher praising the mighty Father, it won't work for me. But if it cultivates a soothing fantasy, I can enjoy it as much as the excitement of a good Sci Fi film.
Messy
Member
In the 90s my brother translated videos from English to Dutch. He does that for work for a christian small company. Transformations it was called, about cities that got transformed. One was Kiambu in Kenya. There were only tiny churches with 30 people and nobody was interested. They prayed first for 6 months. A few years ago I saw that they are online. Preachings on youtube, but also prayer every day and you can just pray along with them, so that's what I do now, since I can't find a good church here.
I did find an African church in my city. They also prayed a lot, great music, preaching, everything great until their 30 some year old son preached. Well preached, barked. Move it. I have no time for that nonsense. His mother translated him and he couldn't even wait for her, meanwhile accusing the listeners. Bye. Last time I came. And he talked like a money preacher. I have zero patience for that.
So I just listen to the Muthees. I pray along with his wife. I thought: She looks different. It's another one. They killed his first wife. Dangerous place, but a great church and I can just watch and pray from the comfort of my own room.
The Sentinel Group Archives - Page 3 of 6 - BEAUTIFUL FEET
This one was also great. They got giant vegetables.
I did find an African church in my city. They also prayed a lot, great music, preaching, everything great until their 30 some year old son preached. Well preached, barked. Move it. I have no time for that nonsense. His mother translated him and he couldn't even wait for her, meanwhile accusing the listeners. Bye. Last time I came. And he talked like a money preacher. I have zero patience for that.
So I just listen to the Muthees. I pray along with his wife. I thought: She looks different. It's another one. They killed his first wife. Dangerous place, but a great church and I can just watch and pray from the comfort of my own room.
The Sentinel Group Archives - Page 3 of 6 - BEAUTIFUL FEET
This one was also great. They got giant vegetables.
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MACKTEXAS
Well-known Member
I've never understood your belief(s):
"I am also age 90 and used to listen to Jimmy Swaggart on TV on Sundays. I hope I will meet him in Heaven when Jesus comes for me!"
[posted 07/02/25]
"I like to listen to music about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I listen to hundreds of these songs . . . " [posted 04/15/25]
"My only consolation is the knowledge all pain and impairment will disappear as Jesus calls me Home." [posted 07/12/24]
"I also listen to a lot of Christian music to remind me that Christ takes us all in the end."
[posted 06/03/23]
gruntlabor
Well-known Member
- Location
- Last Frontier, Age 83
I think many people are on the fence about their faith in God.
Sometimes it takes that rock bottom fall, to bend that knee
VaughanJB
Scrappy VIP
I too listen to religious music. If you listen to roots type music (as opposed to huge choirs), it can be quite affecting. The performers are so heartfelt, their belief so sincere, it's a special kind of human connection that can come through in the music.
That said, I see/feel it as a HUMAN feeling/impression. There is equally some special music in religions other than christian. In fact, music itself is very special in the way it can make us feel and think.
"I am, me, myself, and I." Given this impressive trinity of personalities, you might have a special insight into this topic. Perhaps you know this other fellow that is purported to be three entities in one, you know... the father, the son, and the holy ghost?
gruntlabor
Well-known Member
- Location
- Last Frontier, Age 83
"Me" is the id, "myself" is the superego, "I" is the ego, maybe?"I am, me, myself, and I." Given this impressive trinity of personalities, you might have a special insight into this topic. Perhaps you know this other fellow that is purported to be three entities in one, you know... the father, the son, and the holy ghost?
EDIT:
Maybe not three entities, but three aspects of the Godhead? The Father as he sits on his throne, the Son as He walked among us, and the Holy Spirit as He lives within us, maybe?
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Warrigal
SF VIP
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
I might say something similar, but I would express it differently.
I place my faith and trust in the teachings of Jesus, even when belief is lacking.
Gardenlover
The world needs more love
I believe, for the most part, people could care less what we believe, unless we believe the same way they do.
I've been holding my tongue on your snarky comment, but I will say that only people I respect can "bruise" me. Not someone who acts like they have all the answers, discredits or talks down to others. You may raise some good points, but there is something outside of pure science, called Emotional Maturity, that allows one to respect others' opinions and read the room before responding. That trait is more important than all the "book knowledge" in the universe. Thanks, but I didn't need to do any research to figure that one out.
David777
Well-known Member
- Location
- Silicon Valley
Well you provoked me into bothering to skim / re-read the whole 19 pages. So just went through reading posts from page 1 and suggest others having an interest do so.
At a shallow level, especially per the OP's post that offered his comments where he stood about religion and god were fine as well as those that expressed themselves addressing that. However after the thread had run its course over a few pages, others increasingly used the thread to talk about religion and god more generally including a few posts that began posting thinly veiled humorous attacks on those with religious leanings. I'll suggest you go back and read all the threads from the beginning to understand how some members instead of addressing the topic the way they probably wanted to, posted veiled humor and sarcasm, especially images and videos.
Although there hasn't been any emotional attacks on the thread, thank you, a few people seem determined to make thinly veiled attacks using humor and then jumping in strongly whenever someone takes their bait, as an excuse to write what they really want to say.
On page 5 post #111, not addressing any other's post, I made an independent list of many reasons people have been moving away from religion that goes to the core of the topic. But the thread went into religious people being pressured in religion by other including anecdotal personal experiences that is fine. And then that baited a person to respond that some non-religious people do the same thing that is of course a reason the last POTUS election went that direction.
@MACKTEXAS nicely address that on page 7 #151 but that encouraged numbers of religious separation of church and state political responses. The thread soon went downhill as humor began being replaced by what they really wanted to state.
@Rakaia nicely blurted out on #170 as another person feeling the thread was being taken where is ought not be going:
@Bretrick It looks like canned worms are on the menu this Easter, thanks for opening it.
This has got to be the mother of all threadjacks.
@seadoug correctly addressing the OP, made an excellent personal anecdotal post on page 8 #176., but that was immediately followed by the one person intent on moving the thread to religious separation of church and state political responses.
And @Betrick the OP wrote "It really fascinates me when any post that mentions religion gets out of control. Most times it can be traced back to one post. Someone trying to assert their "correct" interpretation."
On page 10 I again posted a long input #224 not addressing other's inputs, that goes to the core of the subject of reason people believe or not. No one continued discussion on political aspects.
After that the thread went into doubting the reliability of the Bible, so on page 15, #351 I addressed what members could do if they seriously wanted to understand the Bible including a nice summary link. Then on post #367 again addressing the original OP post, I summarized why I can lean towards the possibility of eternal life that is key to reasons I choose to have religion.
Then inputs diffused until on page #17, given that a couple members felt my input on researching was a bit strong, my input was attacked and I replied "utter garbage" that it was. Basically was an opening for the new member that obvious does not like some things I post on this thread and others.
Then @MACKTEXAS responded that I had baited the above person in the process of my generalized post. And I responded in kind in post #417 and do think it was appropriately stated that has nothing to do with what that might mean for our wide range of individual members. The fact I used the term "bruising" is trivial.
Your statement "...but there is something outside of pure science, called Emotional Maturity, that allows one to respect others' opinions and read the room before responding." was not well considered if one bothers to read back on how this thread has run. I did read the room and though I disagreed with a lot of inputs, refrained from directly addressing any of them. Zero.
So unless one considers "researching religious scholarly work to be able to intelligent discuss some of these matters, as "not respecting" other's opinions" as having something to do with "emotional maturity", there is little to have such a strong reaction that is much stronger than anything I've written in this thread. So yeah, read the room".
At a shallow level, especially per the OP's post that offered his comments where he stood about religion and god were fine as well as those that expressed themselves addressing that. However after the thread had run its course over a few pages, others increasingly used the thread to talk about religion and god more generally including a few posts that began posting thinly veiled humorous attacks on those with religious leanings. I'll suggest you go back and read all the threads from the beginning to understand how some members instead of addressing the topic the way they probably wanted to, posted veiled humor and sarcasm, especially images and videos.
Although there hasn't been any emotional attacks on the thread, thank you, a few people seem determined to make thinly veiled attacks using humor and then jumping in strongly whenever someone takes their bait, as an excuse to write what they really want to say.
On page 5 post #111, not addressing any other's post, I made an independent list of many reasons people have been moving away from religion that goes to the core of the topic. But the thread went into religious people being pressured in religion by other including anecdotal personal experiences that is fine. And then that baited a person to respond that some non-religious people do the same thing that is of course a reason the last POTUS election went that direction.
@MACKTEXAS nicely address that on page 7 #151 but that encouraged numbers of religious separation of church and state political responses. The thread soon went downhill as humor began being replaced by what they really wanted to state.
@Rakaia nicely blurted out on #170 as another person feeling the thread was being taken where is ought not be going:
@Bretrick It looks like canned worms are on the menu this Easter, thanks for opening it.
This has got to be the mother of all threadjacks.
@seadoug correctly addressing the OP, made an excellent personal anecdotal post on page 8 #176., but that was immediately followed by the one person intent on moving the thread to religious separation of church and state political responses.
And @Betrick the OP wrote "It really fascinates me when any post that mentions religion gets out of control. Most times it can be traced back to one post. Someone trying to assert their "correct" interpretation."
On page 10 I again posted a long input #224 not addressing other's inputs, that goes to the core of the subject of reason people believe or not. No one continued discussion on political aspects.
After that the thread went into doubting the reliability of the Bible, so on page 15, #351 I addressed what members could do if they seriously wanted to understand the Bible including a nice summary link. Then on post #367 again addressing the original OP post, I summarized why I can lean towards the possibility of eternal life that is key to reasons I choose to have religion.
Then inputs diffused until on page #17, given that a couple members felt my input on researching was a bit strong, my input was attacked and I replied "utter garbage" that it was. Basically was an opening for the new member that obvious does not like some things I post on this thread and others.
Then @MACKTEXAS responded that I had baited the above person in the process of my generalized post. And I responded in kind in post #417 and do think it was appropriately stated that has nothing to do with what that might mean for our wide range of individual members. The fact I used the term "bruising" is trivial.
Your statement "...but there is something outside of pure science, called Emotional Maturity, that allows one to respect others' opinions and read the room before responding." was not well considered if one bothers to read back on how this thread has run. I did read the room and though I disagreed with a lot of inputs, refrained from directly addressing any of them. Zero.
So unless one considers "researching religious scholarly work to be able to intelligent discuss some of these matters, as "not respecting" other's opinions" as having something to do with "emotional maturity", there is little to have such a strong reaction that is much stronger than anything I've written in this thread. So yeah, read the room".
Thank you for your response. It was clearly thought out, even if it seems you have too much time on your hands. Even if you thought my post was appropriate, I am here for my fellow SF members and don't tolerate seeing their opinions denigrated. Maybe I am altruistic, but I am open to all opinions.
Now, bye bye. I don't need to hear any more from you.
Now, bye bye. I don't need to hear any more from you.
There's that special insight I mentioned!
MACKTEXAS
Well-known Member
Regarding the above (in bold red): It does not match what is stated. For any members who may be in doubt about that, here is my post you're referring to -> post 408. Please do not take the liberty of paraphrasing or misquoting my posts. I don't do that. My post 408 contained an exact quote of something you had actually written previously.
Regarding the above (in bold black): In the first paragraph of your post 417, it appeared to me you were attempting to soften the tone of your earlier post - maybe so, maybe not - but I am not clear on what you're trying to convey in your 2nd paragraph of post 417.
And for the record, I have read all the posts in this thread since it's inception. I do not need to go back and read 19 pages again.
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Knight
Well-known Member
Well here it is.
All life on Earth comes from one single ancestor. And it's so much older than we thought.
Here’s what you’ll learn when you read this story:
All life on Earth can be traced back to a Last Universal Common Ancestor, or LUCA.
A study suggests that this organism likely lived on Earth only 400 million years after its formation.
Further analysis also shows that this life form likely sported an early immune system, which means it was probably fighting off viruses.
Life on Earth had to begin somewhere, and scientists think that “somewhere” is LUCA—or the Last Universal Common Ancestor. True to its name, this prokaryote-like organism represents the ancestor of every living thing, from the tiniest of bacteria to the grandest of blue whales.
MSN
Everyone knows that LUCA isn't right It's Adam
All life on Earth comes from one single ancestor. And it's so much older than we thought.
Here’s what you’ll learn when you read this story:
All life on Earth can be traced back to a Last Universal Common Ancestor, or LUCA.
A study suggests that this organism likely lived on Earth only 400 million years after its formation.
Further analysis also shows that this life form likely sported an early immune system, which means it was probably fighting off viruses.
Life on Earth had to begin somewhere, and scientists think that “somewhere” is LUCA—or the Last Universal Common Ancestor. True to its name, this prokaryote-like organism represents the ancestor of every living thing, from the tiniest of bacteria to the grandest of blue whales.
MSN
Everyone knows that LUCA isn't right It's Adam
gruntlabor
Well-known Member
- Location
- Last Frontier, Age 83
OFF TOPIC, go ahead, slap me, but you can't, can you?
In real life, when people speak or behave in a way that I don't care for, I THUMP my cane on the floor, hard. I learned it from Bruce Lee (who stomps his foot). Scares the hell out of people, I don't know why.
So I do it all the time, just for fun.
In real life, when people speak or behave in a way that I don't care for, I THUMP my cane on the floor, hard. I learned it from Bruce Lee (who stomps his foot). Scares the hell out of people, I don't know why.
So I do it all the time, just for fun.