Now here's something I don't get.

[QuantumT]

Basically the theory of gravity and the theory of evolution aren't really up for debate.

Exactly. Proving them wrong DOESN'T prove you right.

When I say they're not up for debate, it's because they've been shown to be true. They're only theories in the scientific sense of the word, they're facts in layman's terms.

[TheCrazyMango]

now is the time i wish bloodshadow would make a surprise appearance

[918273645]

so agnostics and aetheists and all other religions who dont strictly follow god are satan worshippers? that logic, my good sir, is worse than round 6 was for death

NINJA'D

[OldTrees]

Basically the theory of gravity and the theory of evolution aren't really up for debate.

Exactly. Proving them wrong DOESN'T prove you right.

When I say they're not up for debate, it's because they've been shown to be true. They're only theories in the scientific sense of the word, they're facts in layman's terms.

Slight clarification:
They are not up for debate because they are highly credible accounts. This creditability comes from unsuccessful attempts by scientists to disprove them. Sufficient attempts have been unsuccessful at disproving the theories so it is likely that they are true. Science never proves anything, only disproves or makes educated guesses.

[QuantumT]

Basically the theory of gravity and the theory of evolution aren't really up for debate.

Exactly. Proving them wrong DOESN'T prove you right.

When I say they're not up for debate, it's because they've been shown to be true. They're only theories in the scientific sense of the word, they're facts in layman's terms.

Slight clarification:
They are not up for debate because they are highly credible accounts. This creditability comes from unsuccessful attempts by scientists to disprove them. Sufficient attempts have been unsuccessful at disproving the theories so it is likely that they are true. Science never proves anything, only disproves or makes educated guesses.

Fair enough. I just said it that way because sometimes people don't understand when you use the scaled back language.

[jmizzle7]

I take offense to this entire thread. As someone who claims to know Christ, you are quite the prideful, haughty individual, Destiny. I apologize, everyone, for this display of arrogance, and a misrepresentation of the Christian faith.

[Kael Hate]

Blah Blah Blah

Moderator wise we don't care what you believe as long as you don't attack other useres of the forum.

Personally, I think for a 14 year old you are incredibly naive. Come back when you have another 5 years of experience of the world and researched at least another 5 religions in depth and have an understanding of science beyond half facts. At the moment your perception is merely a result of pre-programing and unless you start to understand how programing works and develop a real understanding your words and notions will remain meaningless and easily contested.

I am Agnostic and Understand that it doesn't matter if god exists or not.

[Daxx]

The moderators ban us Christains for sharing our thoughts

The moderation staff have, to my knowledge, never banned anyone for expressions of religion. We have warned people for being disrespectful and for repeatedly posting flamebait, however.

Let's talk about saving people.

I am well acquainted with the mindset that you have; after all I had the misfortune to be raised in a fundamentalist environment by people who were honest in their belief but completely deluded as to how the world works. There's something very attractive about Christian fundamentalism - it removes responsibility for your actions and your thoughts and replaces it with deistic fatalism. It gives you instant tribalism and a prebuilt friend group and methods of social interaction. Most importantly from an existential point of view, it gives you an answer to all of life's questions and an excuse to not question whether that answer is correct.

You're not interested in learning the facts about the situation, we understand that. As long as you are able to make the facts fit your preconceived ideas, you don't need or want to question them further.

But you need to know that most of the people you are trying to "save" have moved beyond confirmation bias. You're approaching this from the wrong angle. We're interested in finding the actual truth, not only the truth that fits a given worldview. If someone tells us anything, it is in the nature of rational skepticism to question it. Furthermore, we are going to be incredibly resistant when you make outrageous claims that are easily disprovable, as it calls into question your reasons for sparking debate.

Before you try to save people you need to reevaluate your own views and your own tactics. If you speak untruths about the world, why should people believe you when you talk about your God? And who knows, maybe you might learn more about yourself and more about your God if you spend some time actually trying to find out the truth.

[Seiya]

I doubt that Destiny checks this anymore, but in case he/she does, here are my two cents:

No matter how justified or unjustified, flaming does not win arguments.  It only serves to lengthen the divide between the two sides.  I don't know if you can see how angry, disillusioned, and arrogant you are coming across as being.  When Jesus came to this Earth, he did not condemn all sinners.  (Notice, we are all sinners.)  He made his company a group of sinners.  He chose to reform that group as a symbol of the redemption that would come.  If Jesus is your model, then you should use His ideology in debate.  Spiteful condemnation of a group of people's ethos leads to retaliation. 

I'm not saying this because I dislike you, but your words were akin to those of hate.  Hate is not of the Lord.  Flaming other people is not the example that we Christians want to show.

For everyone else:

As you can see, I'm a Christian.  However, I believe in the discoveries of science.  Destiny's anger is not representative of the sentiment of loving Christians.

[BluePriest]

Destiny, I think the person you offend the most with this thread is other Christians. Atheists just think youre stupid, and in all honesty, you havent given them a reason to think otherwise. I have seen several flaws in peoples posts, from your side, and the opposing, and yet, theres no point in even responding to them at this point, because pointing out those flaws wont point out the bigger flaw. Its great the you want to witness to people, but calling people stupid just makes you seem like a jerk. We are, as Christians, suppose to be slow to speak. Science hasn't disproven God, however, your attitude is all the reason in the world the people here need to not believe in God.  That is the greatest flaw in your arguments. Would Jesus call people stupid? I dont think so. I have created/participated in several threads in this forum, however, the instant a thread turns to name calling, it is no longer a place we should be. It is even worse if we are the ones that resort to it.

[DrunkDestroyer]

I take offense to this entire thread. As someone who claims to know Christ, you are quite the prideful, haughty individual, Destiny. I apologize, everyone, for this display of arrogance, and a misrepresentation of the Christian faith.

I agree completely. The view "God created everything, God is always good and if we don't believe in him, we will all burn eternally in hell" is not the type that generally supports Christian religions.

Most of the bible is metaphoric. If taken literally, it will not fit into the context of todays world. I am 99.9% sure that Evolution is how we got here, rather than Adam and Eve springing into existence.

I believe the religion thread should be uniting the religions/athiesm, not by trying to preach others, but by at least showing our interpretations, expressing ourselves, and this way we reach an understanding and acceptance of each other. This thread does nothing to help this.

[jmizzle7]

I agree completely. The view "God created everything, God is always good and if we don't believe in him, we will all burn eternally in hell" is not the type that generally supports Christian religions.

Actually, I am one to take the Bible as fact. If the Bible is nothing more than a metaphor and a collection of stories, then God is merely a metaphor, a model of perfection from which we developed a system of man-made doctrines and laws to try to be Godly people. In fact, the very people that chose to adhere to these rituals and practices so rigidly are the ones that God condemned time and time again in the Bible, because they were more concerned in the rituals themselves rather than the reason for those rituals. God doesn't want things or ceremonies, but hearts of worship to Him.