Jesus returns in 2017,,,,

People love dying for their favorite religious fairy tales. They do all kinds of stupid things to prove their devotion to their imaginary deities. An Indian guru convinced 400 of his dummies to castrate themselves so that they could be closer to their imaginary deity. Jesus told his followers that they should do that as well if they wanted to get into the kingdom of heaven.

 

So when Peter denied knowing the loser, and the loser's disciples ran away and hid, to come out of their hiding, they must have come up with a good story that even they could believe (& die for), huh?

 

It takes time for the average person to grow a spine when faced with sudden danger. Remember the western movie High Noon with Gary Cooper? Peter and the Apostles were like the townspeople. They needed time to talk themselves into being tough even though they had been tough as nails in previous situations. It's basic human nature.

 

They 'sold their story' to hundreds/thousands of ppl under heavy Roman & Jewish persecution. many who never even saw nor knew Jesus in following years (& to this day in places like China, etc.), and who was publicly disgraced (stripped/tortured) during his last 'motivational speech.' Guess it was a suicidal death cult, huh?

 

That wasn't the point but next time I will simplify my reply for you. I am not being mean or insulting because I understand you as a lay person at least as far as theology is concerned don't have the background to answer or understand the relevance of my comment about the dead sea scrolls. The scrolls are actually in good shape except for some outside corruption. Think about it, written material surviving as more than dust for nearly 2000 years is remarkable. (the ages of the DSS's range from the third century B.C.E. to 68 C.E.

The scrolls are in good enough shape to be among the most important archeological finds ever. That is because they contained copies of OT manuscripts 1,000 years older than our next oldest manuscript! That is extremely important because it shows how accurate the copies, and that of course refutes the ignorant banter expressed by some members here who love to claim the bible text changes drastically over time, making the bible meaningless. To the contrary, the DSS's have demonstrated that the Old Testament was accurately transmitted during the more than a thousand year interval from the next oldest thousand year copy! Of course believers needed no such validation but it is fun to watch the haters squirm a bit and eat crow. Also the scrolls provide good accurate information up to and about the time Jesus Christ lived.

NOW do you get the point my friend?

reva

 

Christianity is basically a death cult that worships a zombie. It's a really weird religion if it's examined. Judaism and Islam make more sense, although they are nutty as well.

 

So do you believe that zombies exist?

 

Since atheists (the cult promoting 'spiritual death' via denial) dont believe that man ('they') have purpose (other than procreating) and are but random evolutionary freaks of the cosmos, and therefore want to advance the species which has now overpopulated this planet and is causing global climate change (aka, the death of the planet), it is then 'reasonable' and makes 'sense' that they shud 'take themselves out' as they are just consuming valuable resources, taking up space, and generating CO2 which is a deadly greenhouse gas.

If you and your ilk have no purpose (assuming you've already procreated and replaced yourself within the species), DO THE RIGHT THING and remove yourself thereby leaving those 'with purpose' to continue. I mean, its only fair and the 'right thing to do'..right?

Or are you all just in fact greedy, selfish hypocrites?!

 

It's impressively adolescent to think that that because others don't indulge the same immortality fantasies as you, they must necessarily have no purpose. Do you lack purpose because you're not earmarked for valhalla?

If however, you mean purpose as in reason you were 'created', that's merely private preference for believing some god made you for a housepet. I'm sure there are thousands of variations on the theme, so no need to read anything into yours especially.

 

Atheists keep saying that we are a fluke and have no purpose designed into us---what is YOUR purpose other than the previously quoted "consuming valuable resources, taking up space, and generating CO2 which is a deadly greenhouse gas."

Btw, being a pain-in-the-butt is not much of a purpose...

 

1st of all, I am NOT religious! But I do esteem the words of one humanitarian and example of living truth.

But 'religion' could be looked at several ways. Thru history religious wars thinned out the world population. But then again, religion has increased the population thru 'pro-life' (all human life is precious) movements. But then again, atheistic systems have killed more ppl (ex: Communism under Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, etc.), but also in fact overpopulated their bastions such as China. But then again, communism in N. Korea has kept the population down thru the practice of inhumanity.

And so atheism has killed more ppl than all of the history (and modern times) of religions and so must be the answer to the evolution of the species thru overpopulation control...so you atheists do have purpose, huh?

 

disagree, theists have killed many more then atheists throughout history... that said, both have there members that are evil

over-population will kill more then either of the above... not sure how to prevent that though

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I see. So while I live a challenging and damned hard sustainable lifestyle (off grid, rain water tanks, food producing, etc) in order to save the planet, and air conditioned lazy tv watching suv driving christian consumers prowl the mall, you feel that I'm pointless and they are magically important. Just because.

It's oustandingly silly to imagine atheists lack purpose you know. I'm sure you realise this, because you're not stupid.

 

Atheists do not believe in a God (in fact Christians only disbelieve in one less God then Atheists do), many Atheists believe in a spiritual afterlife

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Going back to 'what is the purpose of YOU being on this planet:"

Plants convert energy into food, animals eat food, and become part of the food chain with predators at the top, who will die off if the food change is decimated.

And YOU, who is not part of the productive food chain other than being the top predator (or one who hires assassins to do your dirty work) & who is responsible for the slow death of your species and of the planet, and therefore requires culling.

If your species is overpopulated and a global 'problem,' then do the right thing (your 'purpose' is now not reqd) and remove yourself being part of the problem. Thus your new purpose is 'self-thinning!'

 

Sounds like atheism CAN BE a 'religion' (one def: The belief in and reverence for the supernatural ) ...or a cult of "Mmmmm.....could be" (said in my best Bugs Bunny voice)

 

Are you 'exhaling?!" You're part of the problem!

 

right. because your purpose is special and magical, and mine isn't. mine is all profane and icky, and yours has angels flapping around it and fairy lights at xmas.

 

So again, what is your purpose in taking up forum space here? One of mine is to make ppl think about their mortality, recognize their prideful arrogance ("the greatest enemy between man & God is man's pride") in not knowing beyond their shallow & limited physical senses (once perception was only a tiny portion of the spectrum of light), and look deeper into their soul (consciousness) and be open to spiritual truths that go beyond man's selfish proclaimed truths.

You see, I've been where you ARE; but you havnt been where I've BEEN....

 

pride as in "I have a grand purpose (god wants me for a pet), but atheists have no purpose" ?

edited to ask when you were here. I didn't see you!

or pride as in "I'm across looking into my own soul, and am open to spiritual truths, and you're not" ?

since 'spiritual truth' is about as meaningful as 'ooga booga', and souls remain entirely undefined, I'm confident that part of your pout .... I mean post .... can be dismissed.

 

In the past, the world population wasnt in Billions as it is now, and communism has killed 100's of millions just in recent history---religion maybe 100's of thousands.

Dont know how to keep a score card, as history had Millions of ppl living on the earth at one time,where today (modern 20th century) there are Billions of ppl.

And per http://www.thecommentator.com/article/4230/so_how_many_did_communism_kill

Communism has killed at least a 100 Million (not counting the godless such as Attila the Hun et al thru out history) where the total population upon the earth back in the 1970s, 75 percent of the people who had ever been born were alive at that moment.

So 'religion" is behind the curve in all-time killing of ppl

 

then you have to count things like the nukes as theists killing as those that pulled the trigger were theists

more have killed in the name of pushing a god then in that name of pushing the belief in no Gods would of been a more accurate statement

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You sound upset that you were called out and having to explain your purpose in being a leech upon the earth and to your species!

For the Believer, purpose is to recognize & proclaim His greatness, and to accomplish His will, which is what glorifies (recognizes & credits) Him.

When man is his own god, man takes full credit and glorifies himself (pride in self)----sounds like an "Adamic compulsion " (also referred to in scripture as 'the flesh') huh?

Galatians 5:17
"For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, "

True humility (called a Godly virtue) is recognizing One greater than self, submitting to His will, and in being a servant to all others (as opposed to being 'self-serving').

You probably see Jesus as the Jewish priests did with contempt in proclaiming who He was (Son of God) and the message that was given Him as being prideful---not so; self esteem vs. God esteem are 2 different things.

 

ah right ... now I see how it works. if you say a bunch of lofty sounding stuff about selflessness, you don't have to actually get your hands dirty with all those inconvenient and pointless 'works', you can just think your wsy to elevation

 

Works follow one's faith......I wont comment on my history of works as that essentially can nullify any rewards

"Faith w/o works is dead" (James)

Matthew 6:2
“So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3“But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Crank, may I note that you have a bad case of stinkin flesh...