Unfortunately Rizza, you have almost completely misjudged me. I meant my comment in all earnesty, with no sarcasm whatsoever. I am a realist, and as such, a seeker of truth. I like to see things exactly as they are, with no exaggeration or holding back of the complete truth. I myself also abhor the people who if they could not force their beliefs on someone, took it upon themselves to end their lives in the most horrific, sadistic, painful way possible, such as before the Reformation. I am watching a series as we speak of King Henry and the events leading up to and through the Reformation and in the series they re-enacted the horrors of the Catholic clergy of the time in burning alive the early Lutheran believers and those who did not believe beyond question the supremacy of the Roman Catholic Church. They also showed the boiling alive of a person. Granted, this is only a tv show and they are distorted and also many times merely a work of fiction. However, I have studied this time in history and the horrors and genocide the catholic church committed are in no way ever shown to their full extent to the average man who has not studied that dark time. However, there have been many tyrants and murderers who have done evil deeds in the name of something other than "God." This you must acknowledge. Now, I am a Christian in the purest form, meaning I believe without reservation what the original unrevised Bible written by the ancient men of God such as Moses, the prophets, and his apostles wrote down in the Greek and Hebrew. The reason I believe the Bible, is I have found it's contents to be true in every aspect. Now, the reason you are gravely mistaken about me is this: it is well known around here that I believe the Bible because it has not been shown to be false, if anyone here can show me where the Bible is blatantly wrong in any way, I will throw mine away and continue seeking the truth, whatever that may be. I do not condemn or damn any of you here, for whatever reasons or things you practice which I may personally believe to be wrong. My very continual presence for the past 2 and a half years here confirms this. Another thing well known is I do not believe in "religion," as you say. Religion is man-made, however, those who observe different religions may do as they wish without discrimination from me, this is why I love my America so much. I personally do not hold to religious traditions, whatever they may be, only those things I have read directly from the Bible, except for holidays such as Christmas and Easter, which I think you will agree are harmless. I do not "hate" homosexuals or middle eastern people, or much of anything you just stereotyped me as. I am very tolerant of whatever you're personal beliefs may be, and everyone here can back me up on that. The other things you listed, such as killing of homosexuals, abortion doctors, and etc, you must also acknowledge happens everywhere for a multitude of other reasons than you just listed, religious or otherwise. Others are killed for land, others control, and some just for the pleasure of killing, religious fanatics are not solely to blame. Much in this world is evil. I am a very open minded person and greatly love to discuss many philosophical, logical, or interesting ideas anyone may have. I hope you understand me better now my friend. =)
Jesse, i do consider you to be a good, rational person. You are very committed to your faith, but you are still a respectful person. i was not attacking you personally.
and America, yeah land of opportunity and freedom and all that...most of the time.
I love America for its ideals, but i'm a little suspicious of Americans.
Post 9/11 America wasnt too friendly to people of Middle Eastern dissent.
WWII America wasnt too friendly to Japanese people.
But thats another story.
I would read the bible, but (no offense) i dont think i would be able to get through half of it. So i cant make any attempts to disprove it.
But i do know there are numerous arguments against it's validity, just as is the case with most religious texts.
I wont get into that, i dont think i can make those arguments very well.
I would make another really long post, but i think i'm starting to annoy some of you.
I'll say this.
Religious beliefs are good. They provide people with a purpose, a set of guidelines, a sense of rightousness.
Organized Religion is bad. It provides people with a reason to argue, fight, kill, etc.
Soccer. We all love soccer. i love playing it. Not too much a fan of watching it.
But let me compare soccer to religion.
About a week ago, there was a very important World Cup qualifying game between Egypt and Algeria.
Now, the fans from both sides took what was supposed to a fun game to watch, and turned it into a deadly rivalry.
In the weeks following the game, there were many conflicts between Algerians and Egyptians, many of them leading to murders. Algerian soccer fans made youtube videos, in which they threatened Egyptian soccer fans with violence. There were numerous threats by Algerians to blow up Egypt's public buses.
It was basically shit talking, elevated to a very real stage.
Over what? a soccer game?
Religion is something that is very much like soccer.
It gives people a reason to live, a reason to be hopeful, it makes people happy.
Now dont take a soccer game, and turn it into a rivalry.
Dont stick so closely to your religion, that you end up hating those of different beliefs.
