This is the first time I've ever responded to something like this - to Conspiracy Theorists, Fringe Believers, Hoax Believers, etc. I want to make it count, so this is my attempt. I know that in the long run, it's most likely an exercise in futility. People will believe what they want to believe. Very well, but I cannot just let something stand by like this without throwing in my two cents in. Note that I do not plan to hang around this place much after I have posted this. If the argument turns childish or does not present it's own logic, then I will not bother to respond. My time actually means something to me, and I will not choose to waste it.
Okay, first of all, I want to make a few notes: First of all, I heavily disagree with almost everything applied in here. I am not a Christian, but I am not an Atheist - I am an agnostic, and I give every view point it's fair share of thought. I've thought out Christianity, decided I didn't like it and didn't trust it, and moved on. Second of all, however, though I disagree with this site, I have seen things I can respect in it's own small way. The moderator of this forums seems to be a fair person, as he said something to effect that without two sides to the issues presented in these forums, things wouldn't be fun. Or something like that (sorry if I misquoted horribly).
As well, I've seen you've been SAed (Something Awfuled), and have had people insulting you in rather childish ways. I wish to apologize for this, and wish to note that they do not represent all skeptics. A few in Something Awful are known for childish methods of attack, including posting up gay or bukake porn to overflood a messageboard. I know, I was part of a messageboard they attempted to bring down once, merely because the interests of those involved were a little unusual. I do not approve of this behavior in any way, shape, or form.
Well, there are a lot of problems I have with the ideas of the Flat Earth - but I haven't done a whole lot of research into scientific standpoints, so I couldn't stand up for long (especially with the tactics used by Believers) when it comes to the science of it. However, the main core of belief behind the Flat Earth relies on conspiracy. By your claims (If I'm not mistaken?), NASA and the government have covered up that the world is really flat, and there were no astronauts sent into space. I assume that, by this standpoint, many astronomers are also bought off, to act as disinformation agents?
Well, there's some issues I have with that. For one - why would the government work so hard to cover that up? However, you have an answer for that already, and it's probably been stated already. However, I wish to state some things first, that probably have not been brought up, before I ask that question again.
Now, when humanity was first starting out, we all discovered religion, tales, beliefs. Things we told our children, ways to try to explain the phenomena of our surroundings. Where the usual animal merely accepted all these facts, we worked hard to try to explain them. And thus, while we were developing our first hunting tools, we were also making the first hallmarks of our beliefs. A plethora of beliefs throughout the world - and often, when civilizations would dominate for supremacy, their beliefs would also become supreme.
Now, knowing this, everyone now knows that Monotheism reigned supreme to today. This had to do with how monotheist beliefs were coming about - Spain and Portugal spread their beliefs, believing in their Manifest Destiny - that they would control the world, and thus, the world would fall under their beliefs. Well, many believers in conquering went about, and long story short, catholicism, christianity, etc., became supreme. They worked hard to convert every "lost soul" across the world, and they succeeded.
This brings me to my point: The pope, and the churches of these beliefs, had a ton of power. They were closely intertwined with the government. Add in how the Vatican are very secretive with the "artifacts" they have stored in their church. Then I want you to ask yourself something - how can you trust so solely in this Bible? (Note that this is ignoring the fact that the bible has been translated and retranslated throughout time, originally from a language that was mostly dead! - which is it's own issue, but still a good point. You can't take literally what has a LOT lost in translation).
The Bible is recorded and distributed. Not solely within the US, of course, but in the US, they do make these bibles. Now, if the United States was such a big conspiracy group, why would they publish, print, and distribute bibles that make their own viewpoint look bad? I mean, if they were a huge conspiracy group, it would've been a piece of cake to shut down the printing presses that wouldn't print what they wanted to, and then print their own version of it. Now, add in the fact that government has always had a major role in government. How are you so sure this still isn't the case? If that's true, then the very bible you hide behind as if it were a shield might be a lie.
You question my personal belief that the government isn't THAT bad (I do not like a lot of decisions they make, and I do not like a lot of what the government does, but I do not believe that they have had any part of any conspiracies that have caused mass murder or a lie to the extent that is claimed here), yet you hide behind your bible in sheer power of belief.
Now, there are those of you that say that the Earth must be flat, and can't be round, and do not believe in Christianity. That's okay, I still disagree vehemently, but I'm afraid I don't have much to offer except that... for the government to cover something up like that, that's a lot of people that would have be bought off. Experts on the subject, people that have done much research. If what you claim is true, then a great number must have realized this. But then the government would've had to buy them off, would've had to keep them silent. Let's assume, for a moment, that people have been murdered to keep this a secret (which is what a lot of conspiracy theorists claim).
Then, we are led into a new category: Why is this forums still standing? Why hasn't it been collapsed? Why are you still all able to spread this viewpoint that's supposed to shake the very CORE of the government and it's proposed belief system throughout the US? Don't think that you're secure - especially if you read up on what the NSA can do. They have a secret "back door" to almost any OS that hasn't been custom-created by the individual, and can use it to slide right into your computer, destroy it, and know your home address! This is what I think to be true (I might be wrong! - I haven't researched into the subject as much as I could have) - and if it is, then as a conspiracy group, they would have had a LOT more power that they wouldn't want you to believe.
Hell, if the government was a huge conspiracy group that wanted to control YOU and YOUR thoughts/beliefs... then why not just take over the internet in the United States? It's very possible, after all - China did it with their own ISPs, and they get away with it. As well, if the US Government is responsible for half of what is claimed of them - then why haven't they just taken half of their conspiracies a step further and turn the US into one giant Police State? It's within their powers and abilities.
That's about all I have to say. There's a lot more I can say, but if you don't give any credit to all of this, then you'll never give any credit to anything I say anyways. Least I can't say I didn't try
