To debate religion or not, that is the question

[Laharl]

Originally Posted by Afrobean

Seriously, do you guys even learn the Ten Commandments? To "invoke" his name is blasphemous. I'd think that if someone was being blasphemous, YOU (or any Christian, or Jew, since he was their god first rofl) should be the one bashing them.

Exodus Chapter 20, verse 6.
"Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain."

Invoking the name of God is not blasphemous. Using it "in vain", which is to say, as a common word, is blaspheming, though. If I'm saying God, to talk about God, or to ask for a blessing or some such type of thing.

There's a distinct difference.

Perhaps in the Garbage Bin or Chit Chat, but you're pretty much safe from people who's only contributions are like that here. I may share their position on the topic (lol religion), but at least I try to be eloquent about it.

True, and I like to think we get along somewhat because of that. Afrobean is okay in my books.

I disagree. In my mind, if I disagree with them, then they are wrong in my opinion. How can I disagree with them if I don't think they're wrong?

I should rephrase. Not think the PERSON is WRONG, but that their opinion is wrong. Does that make sense? A person can still be a good person and deserving of respect even if they follow an ideal you do not. The personal attacks have been out of hand in here more often than not whenever religion is brought up. I know I've personally felt under the gun soley because it's me giving an opinion rather than for what I'm actually saying.

That's probably because as far as I've seen, it's true. I have yet to see any debate between an atheist and a Christian that didn't end up like that (ie "there is no proof that there is a god" and "oh well, I have faith").

Maybe I've been gone too long.

The symbiotic nature and vast expanse of the galaxy and how it intertwines so perfectly is, to me, proof there's a greater power at work, and when I say that, I mean a sentient type of power, that is able to think. Science can only observe and attempt to explain how each things works, and even if we as humans are able to comprehend one specific thing (let's say disease, which is something we've only had real understandings about in the last couple of centuries), it still doesn't mean that there wasn't a higher hand involved in the creation of that thing.

Faith, yes. I have faith there's a high power at work, just as an atheist has faith that there isn't a higher power at work. But, my point is that it's faith with reason and logic, and not just something I've been told since childhood and therefore believe.

We aren't news reporters you know. We shouldn't have to avoid bias.

I disagree. Going into an argument before you even know what it's about just to push an agenda is pretty stupid, if you ask me, and just leads to needless hurt feelings and ill-will. I mean, I know it's impossible to avoid bias (I'm actually debating creating a thread on an essay I think I might right just for the hell of it on why I think that the state of being without bias is literally impossible), but that bias to the point of being uncivil is pretty retarded.

Christianity is defined by the belief that Jesus Christ was the messiah. Catholics believe this as well, and because of that, they are under the umbrella of Christianity.

THANK YOU for understanding this. When people tell me that Mormons aren't Christians, I just look at them and ask them to define it. Funny thing, it usually has NOTHING to do with a belief in Christ just simply belonging to the Christian Coalition. Those are the kinds of people that give organized religions a bad name.