Wrong, he lost the debate with the money lenders and had to resort to typical human behavior, VIOLENCE. Nothing godly about his actions with the money lenders at all, nor was their any convincing debate. Oh, and to believe that dieing a typical roman death for many crimes was something god and the winning of anything is typical religious idiocy.
How about a rational atheist view? Christians are the ones sadly lacking in a valid morality. They accept the foolish and outdated views of long dead primitive savages as their moral values (ignoring the fact that those values were only for Hebrews and had nothing to do with others, it was fine to kill murder, rape and loot non-Hebrews). Most atheists while staying close the concepts of their society morals, are willing to look at them and make a conscious decision to accept or modify them to fit modern society, and they do this without fear of any god sending them to hell, because MORALS allow a society to exist. Being moral out of fear is not being moral at all, it is being forced into actions you would not take otherwise. I am moral because I choose to be moral, not out of fear. I believe you are the same.
Religion and the existence of divine god relies 100% on the faith of each person. Something that is based completely on faith can neither be proven, nor disproven. You either believe or you don't believe...there is no middle ground in a athiest/thiest debate.
Of course, what I said is a generalization, it does not always apply. "Rarely" was the word I used, I think. Yes, it happens that debaters are changed, but it is rare.
never forget that those are NOT just his views, they are inherit in religion itself. I AM RIGHT YOU ARE WRONG is what Christianity and all other religions are about. To any member of any religion, you, being outside their religion are inferior. OK, let me take that back, I do not believe that WICCA views others as inferior since its basic precept is DO NO HARM, but, other than Wicca, I think I am quite accurate.
I am an atheist, I am not a child of any imaginary god. I do not have HOPE, I find hope to be a foolish and nonsensical religious concept. When I want something I work to achieve it, I do not HOPE for it. I do NOT hope for non--existent eternal live, heaven or any other typical religious nonsense. There is no image of god, there is no god. I have tons of tons of faith, but unlike most I know what the word faith means. I have faith that barking dogs bite, that religion is nonsense, that no gods exist, that it is dangerous to run a red light during rush hour. My faith is based on strong personal belief, supported by FACT, not hope. Faith is NOT a grace, faith IS - the Complete trust or confidence in someone or something. By the way in death there is no "godless existence", in fact there is no existence at all. Death is the cessation of life.
You are entitled to believe that--just as I am entitled to believe otherwise. The difference is, I am not a dick about my beliefs as you are demonstrating.
There's no need to debate with an atheist. Just look at the definition: "A person who denies or disbelieves the existence of a supreme being or beings." Belief in God involves faith, something an atheist cannot or will not do. However, if an atheist asks you why you believe in God, feel free to tell them your personal story. If they continue asking, they are obviously unsure in their beliefs so try to be kind because they may change their mind one day and you will serve as an example for someone who believes in God. Remember this quote: "The single greatest cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyles. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable." Brennan Manning
Well...I don't think atheists are morally or spiritually inferior--they have the same opportunities as everyone else to answer God's call.
So how is evicting someone from a piece of property punishment particularly since they had the rest of the world to do with? Besides they didn't just seek the tree, they ate of it. God knew it would poison their mind. Would you give your child a choice to eat anything they wanted? What peace and tranquility? Were you there in the days of wickedness, do you believe sinful man was as you assume? Anymore than today? No, Exodus 11:6 is clear on why the Trinity did what they wrote about. "And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do." Sin unrestrained and imagined is a formula for neither peace nor tranquility.
Do you bother to read on poster's perspectives before you go talking down to them? Montra is a Christian, or at least presents perspectives in line with Christianity, and you talk to him/her as if you're teaching him who Jesus is through your superior "knowledge" of God. Get off the tall pony. Jeesh.
Taken to the extreme, you would be right. I did not say all things of a religious or traditional nature is a hindrance to our walk, our understanding or the Bible. But there is enough that binds us to a false idea of who God is and many of our practices are a curse, the result of sin.
How to debate an atheist? Give us evidence. Give us arguments that do not rely on a fallacy. Don't use circular reasoning (we know the bible is the word of god because it sayz so). You might sway some minds, but then, you wouldn't exactly be making a religious argument now would you?
You need to find the original Church that Christ began. It's not very far from you. It would help you learn truth from error.
Violence is the result of man's sinful nature. Debates don't typically end in violence except in some parliaments around the world. Certainly what Jesus did was not a result of losing a debate. Call it what you will, but man owns the distinction of being prone to violence. The fact was that during the time Jesus walked this earth he was fully man and fully God. His humaness allowed Him to experience what we experience.
Sorry, it's not about religion nor religious views, certainly not inherited. You all dismiss what I wrote and the context in which I wrote it, hence you view that Christians consider others as inferior. This is not true. However, for the Christian, your rejection of Jesus as your Savior deems you serve other than the True God and that what you serve is less than what it could be and that in itself is inferior. So let's keep this matter in perspective.
There is no need to debate an atheist, for nothing is gained except perhaps a feeling of smug one-upmanship. That and $5 might get you a special blend of coffee. The swaying of minds can be of upmost importance when it comes to matters such as spending an eternity without God. Of course you wouldn't know about that.
I spoke down to Montra? I thought I was sharing... I have not superior knowledge of God, I have what every Christian has, not only knowledge of God, but a relationship same as you and he. Perhaps I responded to him in the manner of what he said, not so much what he said. If I was offensive to Montra, then to him I apologize. Sorry, I'm afraid of horses (is a tall pony a horse?), so you'll never see me on one.
My hope is not in a Church, but in Jesus. If the Holy Spirit within me is in error in His prompting me, then we're all in trouble. Suggest we all need to step back and learn from our errors. You experience error in your own life, so don't pretend your wisdom is any greater than the rest of us. A mellow response you tend to offer, but in this crowd on this forum you are a sitting duck for satan and his minions.
Only an idiot debates based on faith so no atheist should bother "debating" with such a person. If he's not happy in his faith, if it isn't sufficient and he needs to corrupt others, avoid him.
As I've said on a number of occasions, there is no reason a Christian needs to debate an atheist. No reason. I am VERY happy and it is more than sufficient with the Faith I have for it is the only faith that will land one in good stead with our Creator. It is the non-believer that corrupts the mind and soul of others. I have posted my last on this thread.
