Atheism/Theism thread

[JJTrixX]

Originally Posted by devonin

Believing in a deity has been used as a justification for more immoral behaviour than enlightened self-interest ever did.

Summary List Of The Commandments Of Jesus Christ
I. The Universal Moral Law
A. The Law Of Love
"First, love God your Creator more than anything
else. Then, love all other people the same as you
love yourself."
B. The Ten Commandments
1. "Do not put anything ahead of God your Creator."
2. "Do not make or worship idols."
3. "Do not take the name of God in vain."
4. "Take one day of complete rest each week, in honor of God."
5. "Honor your father and your mother."
6. "Do not commit murder."
7. "Do not commit adultery."
8. "Do not steal."
9. "Do not tell lies against anyone."
10. "Do not covet other people's possessions."
C. The Golden Rule
"Treat Others As You Would Like To Be Treated."
II. The Other Commandments Of Jesus
1. "FORGIVE EVERYBODY OF ALL THEIR OFFENSES AGAINST YOU."
(Forgive, and be forgiven.)
2. "YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN."
3. "ABIDE IN ME, AND LET ME ABIDE IN YOU."
4. "LET PEOPLE SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS." (Do not hide your light
under a basket.)
5. "END DISPUTES QUICKLY."
6. "WHATEVER CAUSES YOU TO SIN, GET RID OF IT."
7. "DO NOT SWEAR OATHS AT ALL."
8. "DO NOT RETURN OFFENSE FOR OFFENSE." (Turn the other cheek.)
9. "GIVE WHAT PEOPLE ASK OF YOU, AND GIVE MORE THAN IS REQUIRED."(Go the extra mile.)
10. "LOVE YOUR ENEMIES AND THOSE WHO WORK AGAINST YOU."
11. "GIVE TO THE POOR TO PLEASE GOD, NOT TO GAIN APPROVAL
FROM OTHER PEOPLE."
12. "PRAY PRIVATELY AND SIMPLY, NOT TO IMPRESS OTHER PEOPLE."
13. "MAKE YOUR PRAYERS BE LIKE THE LORD'S PRAYER."
14. "WHEN YOU FAST, DO IT SECRETLY, NOT FOR SHOW."
15. "STORE UP YOUR TREASURES IN HEAVEN, NOT ON EARTH."
16. "DO NOT WORRY ABOUT YOUR MATERIAL NEEDS."
17. "DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE."
18. "MAKE GOD YOUR HIGHEST PRIORITY, AND HE WILL TAKE CARE OF ALL YOUR NEEDS."
19. "DO NOT JUDGE OTHER PEOPLE." (Judge not, lest ye be judged.)
20. "DO NOT GIVE HOLY THINGS TO DOGS OR CAST YOUR PEARLS
BEFORE SWINE."
21. "ASK GOD FOR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO HAVE." (Seek, and ye shall find.)
22. "FEED THE HUNGRY, CLOTHE THE NAKED, SHELTER THE HOMELESS, COMFORT THOSE IN DISTRESS."
23. "FOLLOW THE NARROW PATH TO LIFE." (Enter by the narrow gate.)
24. "BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS."
25. "EXERCISE POWER OVER UNCLEAN SPIRITS."
26. "LOVE LITTLE CHILDREN, DO NOT DESPISE THEM."
27. "DO NOT TAKE THE TITLES 'MASTER' OR 'FATHER' FOR YOURSELF."
28. "RESOLVE DISPUTES IN AN ORDERLY WAY, LIKE THIS . . . "
29. "DO NOT OPPOSE OTHER BELIEVERS IN CHRIST WHO ARE NOT IN YOUR GROUP."
30. "HAVE TOTAL FAITH IN GOD FOR EVERYTHING."
31. "BE LIKE THE GOOD SAMARITAN." (Go, and do likewise.)
32. "LOVE OTHER PEOPLE AS I HAVE LOVED YOU"
33. "EAT BREAD AND DRINK WINE IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME."
34. "WASH ONE ANOTHER'S FEET."
35. "BE MERCIFUL."
36. "GO AND TEACH ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM."
37. "KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS."
38. "BE PREPARED FOR YOUR MASTER TO RETURN."

Speak for yourself my naive friend. devonin, I ask of you to name but one of the teachings of Jesus Christ listed above in which you honestly consider "immoral behaviour".

I would expect such an intelligent atheist such as yourself to understand that surely there are people in this world that do not hold true to the moral teachings of God, but yet publicly boast about how much of a Christian/Judiast/Islamist they are. Most(not all) religions preach a "morally just" and "positive" message that is spiritually enlighteneing because it does not come from man, it comes from God.

When a member of the U.S. Senate takes a bribe of $6 million to vote on a bill against the peoples' interest, but for the profit of a fortune 500 company, the entire Legislative branch is not to blame. The greedy Senator who illegally took a bribe for his own selfish benefit is to blame.

When you shoot and kill an innocent man with a gun, the gun is not to blame. The person who shot and killed the innocent man is to blame.

When a man decides to ingest a gallon of Clorox bleach to end his life, the gallon of Clorox bleach is not to blame, but the man who made a choice to give up on life and (possibly) commit suicide is to blame.

Religion is not to blame, people who commit immoral acts(that usually contradict their religious beliefs) are to blame.

Something you and many others can learn is that it is OK not to know something. It's OK not to know everything. It is OK to make mistakes. You can admit not knowing by saying "I don't know" and it doesn't make you any less of a person. You can also make mistakes because EVERYONE makes mistakes without exception. The key is admitting when you've made them because when you do, you are realizing that you have made a mistake and you know that you shouldn't repeat it, for the benefit of yourself and for others. If you can't admit your mistakes, you just keep repeating them and the world does not become a better place because of it.

Your so-called "enlightened self-interest" is exactly what you say it is, "self-interest". I'm sorry if I'm misunderstanding your position but I'd rather live in a world with "collective interest" where I can be amongst friends and family then live in a world where everyone is focused on their own personal "self-interest".