The Concept of God
Comments
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 Some feel that Atheism is about faith, just like religion is. I.e. we have faith that God doesn't exist. I personally think there is a fairly big logical flaw in this theory, although understand what they mean by it. Some even take the extra step of actually calling Atheism a religion, which I completely disagree with.FoxyRedLa said:Hugh is there anything else you can think of that you have Faith in that no one else can explain? Anything not even religious. Just throwing it out there.
 With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata0
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 Interesting concept. Immediately I thought of angry people.PJ_Soul said:
 Some feel that Atheism is about faith, just like religion is. I.e. we have faith that God doesn't exist. I personally think there is a fairly big logical flaw in this theory, although understand what they mean by it. Some even take the extra step of actually calling Atheism a religion, which I completely disagree with.FoxyRedLa said:Hugh is there anything else you can think of that you have Faith in that no one else can explain? Anything not even religious. Just throwing it out there.Oh please let it rain today.
 Those that can be trusted can change their mind.0
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 Pardon? Why did you think of angry people?FoxyRedLa said:
 Interesting concept. Immediately I thought of angry people.PJ_Soul said:
 Some feel that Atheism is about faith, just like religion is. I.e. we have faith that God doesn't exist. I personally think there is a fairly big logical flaw in this theory, although understand what they mean by it. Some even take the extra step of actually calling Atheism a religion, which I completely disagree with.FoxyRedLa said:Hugh is there anything else you can think of that you have Faith in that no one else can explain? Anything not even religious. Just throwing it out there.
 With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata0
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            Just all the hate about organized religion.Oh please let it rain today.
 Those that can be trusted can change their mind.0
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 Well... just so you know, a comment like that about Atheists is about equivalent to someone saying that all religious people are stupid (and that religious people aren't angry or hateful, for that matter, which we all know is very far from being the case, lol).FoxyRedLa said:Just all the hate about organized religion.
 Post edited by PJ_Soul onWith all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata0
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            FYI Foxy, to put your comment into some sort of context, studies shows that America distrusts Atheists more than they do rapists. So perhaps that mindset you just contributed to isn't so great, considering the facts.
 Post edited by PJ_Soul onWith all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata0
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 there is a lot of anger towards organized religion, not religion itself. I don't even know if I'd use anger as the right word. Maybe "contempt". the reason for that can be seen throughout history, all the pain and strife organized religion, particularly the catholic church, has reigned down on people over the centuries is well documented. They STILL protect known pedophiles.FoxyRedLa said:Just all the hate about organized religion.Your boos mean nothing to me, for I have seen what makes you cheer0
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 That's why there are missionaries. My aunt has a friend and her husband who spent 10 years in New Guinea attempting to bring God's Word to them and their tribes. And the stories they told me about their time there are fascinating and inspiring.HughFreakingDillon said:and of course anyone with resources can find god. but why does no one from an undiscovered tribe somewhere in africa have no relationship with god? why wouldn't he show them the path?0
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 ..... Many would say that they spent 10 years attempting to destroy yet another culture in favour of their own. The history of missionary work is a horribly sad and depressing one, involving a lot of death and misery.RYME said:
 That's why there are missionaries. My aunt has a friend and her husband who spent 10 years in New Guinea attempting to bring God's Word to them and their tribes. And the stories they told me about their time there are fascinating and inspiring.HughFreakingDillon said:and of course anyone with resources can find god. but why does no one from an undiscovered tribe somewhere in africa have no relationship with god? why wouldn't he show them the path?
 With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata0
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 which is why I can't give money to the christian's children's fund. "send us money under the pretense of helping poor people and we use it for indoctrination".PJ_Soul said:
 ..... Many would say that they spent 10 years attempting to destroy yet another culture in favour of their own. The history of missionary work is a horribly sad and depressing one, involving a lot of death and misery.RYME said:
 That's why there are missionaries. My aunt has a friend and her husband who spent 10 years in New Guinea attempting to bring God's Word to them and their tribes. And the stories they told me about their time there are fascinating and inspiring.HughFreakingDillon said:and of course anyone with resources can find god. but why does no one from an undiscovered tribe somewhere in africa have no relationship with god? why wouldn't he show them the path?Your boos mean nothing to me, for I have seen what makes you cheer0
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 And there is the boomerang that just came back and hit me in the face. That's what I love about you PJ soulPJ_Soul said:
 ..... Many would say that they spent 10 years attempting to destroy yet another culture in favour of their own. The history of missionary work is a horribly sad and depressing one, involving a lot of death and misery.RYME said:
 That's why there are missionaries. My aunt has a friend and her husband who spent 10 years in New Guinea attempting to bring God's Word to them and their tribes. And the stories they told me about their time there are fascinating and inspiring.HughFreakingDillon said:and of course anyone with resources can find god. but why does no one from an undiscovered tribe somewhere in africa have no relationship with god? why wouldn't he show them the path? 
 The two missionaries that I know personally said nothing about death and misery there in New Guinea. But they did bring back and give me a bow and arrow that new guinean people use down there. Its hanging on the wall above my wood stove. Pretty awesome.Post edited by RYME on0
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 I am sorry - I know your heart is in the right place. I just gotta say what I gotta say - I believe these things as strongly as you believe in God. I guess we both just have to keep expressing what we think!RYME said:
 And there is the boomerang that just came back and hit me in the face. That's what I love about you PJ soulPJ_Soul said:
 ..... Many would say that they spent 10 years attempting to destroy yet another culture in favour of their own. The history of missionary work is a horribly sad and depressing one, involving a lot of death and misery.RYME said:
 That's why there are missionaries. My aunt has a friend and her husband who spent 10 years in New Guinea attempting to bring God's Word to them and their tribes. And the stories they told me about their time there are fascinating and inspiring.HughFreakingDillon said:and of course anyone with resources can find god. but why does no one from an undiscovered tribe somewhere in africa have no relationship with god? why wouldn't he show them the path? 
 With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata0
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            HughFreakingDillon said:
 which is why I can't give money to the christian's children's fund. "send us money under the pretense of helping poor people and we use it for indoctrination".PJ_Soul said:
 ..... Many would say that they spent 10 years attempting to destroy yet another culture in favour of their own. The history of missionary work is a horribly sad and depressing one, involving a lot of death and misery.RYME said:
 That's why there are missionaries. My aunt has a friend and her husband who spent 10 years in New Guinea attempting to bring God's Word to them and their tribes. And the stories they told me about their time there are fascinating and inspiring.HughFreakingDillon said:and of course anyone with resources can find god. but why does no one from an undiscovered tribe somewhere in africa have no relationship with god? why wouldn't he show them the path?
 I can agree with that.0
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 That's what keeps it fun for me. I keep swinging for the fence, but I keep fowling balls off. Some go all the way over the wall but hang a right or a left past the big yellow pole.PJ_Soul said:
 I am sorry - I know your heart is in the right place. I just gotta say what I gotta say - I believe these things as strongly as you believe in God. I guess we both just have to keep expressing what we think!RYME said:
 And there is the boomerang that just came back and hit me in the face. That's what I love about you PJ soulPJ_Soul said:
 ..... Many would say that they spent 10 years attempting to destroy yet another culture in favour of their own. The history of missionary work is a horribly sad and depressing one, involving a lot of death and misery.RYME said:
 That's why there are missionaries. My aunt has a friend and her husband who spent 10 years in New Guinea attempting to bring God's Word to them and their tribes. And the stories they told me about their time there are fascinating and inspiring.HughFreakingDillon said:and of course anyone with resources can find god. but why does no one from an undiscovered tribe somewhere in africa have no relationship with god? why wouldn't he show them the path? 
 There are good apples and there are bad apples. There are good Christian Missionary programs, and there are sucky ones that suck money and profit for no good reason.Post edited by RYME on0
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 Okay.... TBH, I happen to think that there aren't any good missionary programs because I've never heard of any that don't intend to convert non-Christians. "Spreading the good word" is not a positive thing to me. It's a negative thing.RYME said:
 That's what keeps it fun for me. There are good apples and there are bad apples. There are good Christian Missionary programs, and there are sucky ones that suck money and profit for no good reason.PJ_Soul said:
 I am sorry - I know your heart is in the right place. I just gotta say what I gotta say - I believe these things as strongly as you believe in God. I guess we both just have to keep expressing what we think!RYME said:
 And there is the boomerang that just came back and hit me in the face. That's what I love about you PJ soulPJ_Soul said:
 ..... Many would say that they spent 10 years attempting to destroy yet another culture in favour of their own. The history of missionary work is a horribly sad and depressing one, involving a lot of death and misery.RYME said:
 That's why there are missionaries. My aunt has a friend and her husband who spent 10 years in New Guinea attempting to bring God's Word to them and their tribes. And the stories they told me about their time there are fascinating and inspiring.HughFreakingDillon said:and of course anyone with resources can find god. but why does no one from an undiscovered tribe somewhere in africa have no relationship with god? why wouldn't he show them the path? 
 With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata0
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 The reason I said that is because I thought the reason atheists were angry is because of "organized" religion. Why else would they have hatred towards religion itself?PJ_Soul said:
 Well... just so you know, a comment like that about Atheists is about equivalent to someone saying that all religious people are stupid (and that religious people aren't angry or hateful, for that matter, which we all know is very far from being the case, lol).FoxyRedLa said:Just all the hate about organized religion.
 I don't see a difference between hate towards religion and hate towards organized religion.HughFreakingDillon said:
 there is a lot of anger towards organized religion, not religion itself. I don't even know if I'd use anger as the right word. Maybe "contempt". the reason for that can be seen throughout history, all the pain and strife organized religion, particularly the catholic church, has reigned down on people over the centuries is well documented. They STILL protect known pedophiles.FoxyRedLa said:Just all the hate about organized religion.Oh please let it rain today.
 Those that can be trusted can change their mind.0
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            Atheists are Atheists because they don't believe in God, not because they hate religion. Some Atheists do "hate" religion or feel a disdain for it, or contempt, as HFD put it, but that is because of all the evidenced moral and sociological and economic and political reasons that might make a person feel that way, not because they don't believe in God.
 Post edited by PJ_Soul onWith all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata0
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 I was answering HFD's question. And to my knowledge, the two missionaries that know didn't kill anybody, or cause any carnage, or sabotage the New Guinean way of life.PJ_Soul said:
 Okay.... TBH, I happen to think that there aren't any good missionary programs because I've never heard of any that don't intend to convert non-Christians. "Spreading the good word" is not a positive thing to me. It's a negative thing.RYME said:
 That's what keeps it fun for me. There are good apples and there are bad apples. There are good Christian Missionary programs, and there are sucky ones that suck money and profit for no good reason.PJ_Soul said:
 I am sorry - I know your heart is in the right place. I just gotta say what I gotta say - I believe these things as strongly as you believe in God. I guess we both just have to keep expressing what we think!RYME said:
 And there is the boomerang that just came back and hit me in the face. That's what I love about you PJ soulPJ_Soul said:
 ..... Many would say that they spent 10 years attempting to destroy yet another culture in favour of their own. The history of missionary work is a horribly sad and depressing one, involving a lot of death and misery.RYME said:
 That's why there are missionaries. My aunt has a friend and her husband who spent 10 years in New Guinea attempting to bring God's Word to them and their tribes. And the stories they told me about their time there are fascinating and inspiring.HughFreakingDillon said:and of course anyone with resources can find god. but why does no one from an undiscovered tribe somewhere in africa have no relationship with god? why wouldn't he show them the path? 
 but why does no one from an undiscovered tribe somewhere in africa have no relationship with god? why wouldn't he show them the path?
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 I would argue that missionaries would necessarily sabotage the New Guinean way of life by converting them to Christianity and introducing western values to them.RYME said:
 I was answering HFD's question. And to my knowledge, the two missionaries that know didn't kill anybody, or cause any carnage, or sabotage the New Guinean way of life.PJ_Soul said:
 Okay.... TBH, I happen to think that there aren't any good missionary programs because I've never heard of any that don't intend to convert non-Christians. "Spreading the good word" is not a positive thing to me. It's a negative thing.RYME said:
 That's what keeps it fun for me. There are good apples and there are bad apples. There are good Christian Missionary programs, and there are sucky ones that suck money and profit for no good reason.PJ_Soul said:
 I am sorry - I know your heart is in the right place. I just gotta say what I gotta say - I believe these things as strongly as you believe in God. I guess we both just have to keep expressing what we think!RYME said:
 And there is the boomerang that just came back and hit me in the face. That's what I love about you PJ soulPJ_Soul said:
 ..... Many would say that they spent 10 years attempting to destroy yet another culture in favour of their own. The history of missionary work is a horribly sad and depressing one, involving a lot of death and misery.RYME said:
 That's why there are missionaries. My aunt has a friend and her husband who spent 10 years in New Guinea attempting to bring God's Word to them and their tribes. And the stories they told me about their time there are fascinating and inspiring.HughFreakingDillon said:and of course anyone with resources can find god. but why does no one from an undiscovered tribe somewhere in africa have no relationship with god? why wouldn't he show them the path? 
 but why does no one from an undiscovered tribe somewhere in africa have no relationship with god? why wouldn't he show them the path?
 But anyway, that doesn't answer the question HFD asked at all. If anything, it highlights the problem he's raising. If God really exists, why would tribes in Africa require Christian missionaries to come and teach them what they believe through their organized Church? Why wouldn't God touch them directly? Why would God require them to know dogma from a relatively modern religion developed in Europe?
 Post edited by PJ_Soul onWith all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata0
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 If I had all the answers I certainly wouldn't be driving a semi-truck.RYME said:
 Ya see, HFD my faith says that there is nothing random about you, or your existence. That He created you as one of His children. That you are a unique individual. He created your soul with you in mind. Your DNA, & finger prints are different from anyone else's. He wants you to know that you are special to Him. He created you because He wanted to.HughFreakingDillon said:
 good question. I was actually trying to think of that, and I really can't think of anything. I don't ascribe to faith. I can "hope" for things, but that's not the same. I'm not sitting here thinking that anything has an influence over what I'm hoping for, I'm just hoping the randomness of the universe turns out in my favour.FoxyRedLa said:Hugh is there anything else you can think of that you have Faith in that no one else can explain? Anything not even religious. Just throwing it out there.
 He wants to take the burdens and anxieties out of your life. Day to day issues, and struggles continue, they certainly do for everyone, but they become easier to deal with. He knows that believing would be difficult for many. That's why there are people around, who try to spread the good news whenever possible knowing full well that it might not be real popular.
 No I don't run around on the streets yelling God and Jesus with bumper stickers all over my car. I'm not one of those. 
 But I'm bringing this down in case HFD missed it because we started talking about missionaries.0
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