Ask a Christian anything.

Quote from: Sean on March 13, 2010, 09:20:21 PM

Can God make 2 hats that are cooler than each other?

This is at least the third time this concept has been brought up in this thread.

God cannot do things that defy his nature, or the laws by which the universe he created operates (EDIT: in philosophical terms).

Quote from: Space Cowgirl on March 13, 2010, 03:59:08 PM

It also says in there somewhere that you have to "believe" in Jesus in order to get into heaven, I don't think the scripture you quoted means that people who have never heard of Jesus are gonna get in.

The only argument for that is that "God is fair and understanding" ect. ect. since it is not clearly put forth in the Bible.
However, if this really were the case, than wouldn't we be better off if no one had ever heard of the bible?

Quote from: Areweonfiya on March 13, 2010, 05:11:54 PM

Quote from: Space Cowgirl on March 13, 2010, 03:59:08 PM

It also says in there somewhere that you have to "believe" in Jesus in order to get into heaven, I don't think the scripture you quoted means that people who have never heard of Jesus are gonna get in.

The only argument for that is that "God is fair and understanding" ect. ect. since it is not clearly put forth in the Bible.
However, if this really were the case, than wouldn't we be better off if no one had ever heard of the bible?

The what?

Something just occurred to me.  When I first saw this thread, I thought it was pointless and watched with mild interest as a few obvious questions were thrown up along side some more interesting ones.  I even tossed in a couple questions once I saw a 'checkmate scenario' present itself.  However, as more and more questions were answered by self-proclaimed Christians, two things became obvious.  This was a fertile thread to spread Christian propaganda -- something that I did see coming -- and that nearly all the answers provided are based entirely on conjecture -- something that I should have seen coming.  Things like, "God cannot do things outside of its nature," or "Angels possess a different form of free-will than mankind," or perhaps most important is the notion that the answerer(s) have a strong enough knowledge on the subject to even be answering.  The two former paraphrases are things that can never, nor will ever, be able to be answered without literally evoking deus ex machina.  Yet they are presented as factual; as if they satisfy the question entirely.  This is where my thought occurred to me that I mentioned in the first sentence.

This thread serves no purpose but to give religion credence where none should exist.  By asking questions and having them answered, whether they are truthful answers or not, gives the impression that religion has all the answers.  There is no point in trying to corner a Christian with logic, they can always fall back on saying that their deity operates outside the confines of the laws of nature that govern us, or that they cannot pretend to understand the will of an omnipotent being.  And while those answers are wholly weightless, they still give the illusion of being answered.  After all, the chances of trying to use logic to dissuade a Christian from their faith is extremely difficult.  By definition, faith is something that a person must embrace despite any amount of reason, logic, or facts presented to the contrary.

So people, pose your questions wisely.

Why would god create aliens and then have them probe us anally if he is so against anal sex?

Why would God make more than 1 universe? (assuming there is more than 1)

Quote from: Canadark on March 14, 2010, 05:21:49 PM

Quote from: Sean on March 13, 2010, 09:20:21 PM

Can God make 2 hats that are cooler than each other?

This is at least the third time this concept has been brought up in this thread.

God cannot do things that defy his nature, or the laws by which the universe he created operates (EDIT: in philosophical terms).

So god CANNOT make 2 hats that are cooler than each other.

My question was not answered by the OP.

Why would god create aliens and then have them probe us anally if he is so against anal sex?

I took all 16 pages of this thread and put it through Wordle. It created a word cloud based on which words were mentioned most often:

I have no doubts about any this. Christianity is faith, not science, but if you think that I am trying to convert people by creating this thread, you have been mislead, I only want to clear up misconceptions people have about faith, as exemplified by many of the other posts on the lower boards. I have repeatedly stated that my belief in God is based entirely on my own inner convictions, and I expect nobody to agree with the points I make unless they share this common belief. My point is that Christianity can be rationalized, but it presents a different paradigm than atheism, agnosticism, or any other perspective for viewing the universe. It REQUIRES the existence of God in order to be credible. It allows for more than just naturalistic explanations because within the Christian worldview, God is an independent agent acting according to his own will. My answers have and will continue to be grounded on this assumption, which is essentially the base concept behind theism.

So no apologies here.

Quote from: parsec on March 14, 2010, 09:30:14 PM

My question was not answered by the OP.

My apologies. Which question was that?

Is Jesus Christ on the Earth now?

Quote from: Areweonfiya on March 13, 2010, 05:11:54 PM

Quote from: Space Cowgirl on March 13, 2010, 03:59:08 PM

It also says in there somewhere that you have to "believe" in Jesus in order to get into heaven, I don't think the scripture you quoted means that people who have never heard of Jesus are gonna get in.

The only argument for that is that "God is fair and understanding" ect. ect. since it is not clearly put forth in the Bible.
However, if this really were the case, than wouldn't we be better off if no one had ever heard of the bible?

The what?

You are in fact divinely charged to convert as many people as you possibly can.  So you will forgive me when I don't believe that you say you aren't trying to convert people while simultaneously proclaiming yourself a Christian.  Unless of course, you are are acknowledging that you are choosing to ignore parts of the written word of God.  Which wouldn't sound very Christian at all.

Also, this sentence is insane, "My point is that Christianity can be rationalized, but it presents a different paradigm than atheism, agnosticism, or any other perspective for viewing the universe."  And this is why... http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rationalize  The very fact that you need to rationalize it at all, let alone admit to doing so, should send up little red flags in your brain.

I like hoe "sex" was one of the most used words in this thread.

Quote from: Canadark on March 15, 2010, 07:04:05 AM

Quote from: parsec on March 14, 2010, 09:30:14 PM

My question was not answered by the OP.

My apologies. Which question was that?

Quote from: parsec on March 02, 2010, 11:12:42 PM

Is Jesus Christ on the Earth now?

Quote from: parsec on March 02, 2010, 11:12:42 PM

Is Jesus Christ on the Earth now?

No.

Who did Adam and Eve's kids reproduce with?

What's wrong with early abortion and stem cell research? 

Quote from: parsec on March 02, 2010, 11:12:42 PM

Is Jesus Christ on the Earth now?

No.

Quote from: Canadark on March 03, 2010, 12:17:31 AM

Quote from: parsec on March 02, 2010, 11:12:42 PM

Is Jesus Christ on the Earth now?

No.

Thank you op. That clarified a long lasting concern I had.

So what do you think of people that promote the "abstinence only" approach?

I don't have any problem with schools teaching safe sex, so long as I'm not being forced to have safe sex.

Quote from: Chris Spaghetti on March 16, 2010, 01:18:03 AM

Quote

I don't have any problem with schools teaching safe sex, so long as I'm not being forced to have safe sex.

I think it's mainly Catholic schools who force the kids into any kind of sex...

In PSE I'm always chosen for demonstrations

Are you saying that I shouldn't treat Christianity in a rationalistic manner?

Quote from: Canadark on March 15, 2010, 07:02:42 PM

Are you saying that I shouldn't treat Christianity in a rationalistic manner?

rationalize /= rationalism  (though close)

rationalism:
1.  the principle or habit of accepting reason as the supreme authority in matters of opinion, belief, or conduct.
2.  [a Philosophy definition]
3.  Theology. the doctrine that human reason, unaided by divine revelation, is an adequate or the sole guide to all attainable religious truth.

I'm saying that you do not treat Christianity in a rationalistic manner.

verb (used with object)
1.
to ascribe (one's acts, opinions, etc.) to causes that superficially seem reasonable and valid but that actually are unrelated to the true, possibly unconscious and often less creditable or agreeable causes.
2.
to remove unreasonable elements from.
3.
to make rational or conformable to reason.
4.
to treat or explain in a rational or rationalistic manner.
5.
Mathematics. to eliminate radicals from (an equation or expression): to rationalize the denominator of a fraction.
6.
Chiefly British. to reorganize and integrate (an industry).

Christianity is... logical dead-ends and contradictions

Quote

Christianity is... logical dead-ends and contradictions

Truer words were never spoken.