The origins of atheism

[Freodin]

He who commits sin does so because he chooses to. He chooses to because he likes to. Such a one is a slave to their lusts and base passions and prideful estimation of themselves.

He who chooses not to sin but to do what is good and just and pure and Holy does so because they choose to. They choose to because they like to do those things. He is a slave to righteousness.

You forget my friend, that the concept of servitude does not preclude one from voluntarily becoming a slave. We are slaves of whatever we freely choose to be led and mastered by.

It that context, the term "becoming as slave" voluntarily or not, is meaningless. Basically you have defined "slavery" as the exclusive state of being. Of course that also makes any claims to "freedom" meaningless. A "slave to righteousness" is still a slave... and not free. Thus "the truth will make you free" is not correct. It just makes you a slave of a different master.

(Not that I agree with you on all that... it is just what the logical consequence of your position is.)

He was in the wrong store.

Very funny. Now if only you had an objective way to find out whether he was in the right store and got the wrong goods, or was in the wrong store after all. After-the-fact rationalisations just don't cut it.

 

[Freodin]

Godless materialism, Evolutionism with no ultimate creator. Secular totalitarianism. All theses are generally godless philosophies of life.

Godless materialism... is that like godless mathematics?

Evolutionism with no ultimate creator... is that like meteorologism with no ultimate caster-of-lightnings?

Secular totalitarianism... is that like the dictatorship of free willed individualism?

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Says the atheist who spends so much time on a Christian forum. And it appears Christians live rent free in her head?

You believe in the Urantia Book, dude. I wouldn't start pointing fingers and laughing.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

He was in the wrong store.

How do you know that?

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Inoculate them from love? Is love so deadly and vile a thing to you that you would view it as something to be inoculated from?

No, not from love. You do understand that love exists outside of your religion?

 

[Freodin]

You believe in the Urantia Book, dude. I wouldn't start pointing fingers and laughing.

It is an age-old topos:


(Religion) is good and right. Our forefathers have said so, and all the priests say so, and all my friends say so. Our whole culture is based on (religion)... it must be good and right. It cannot be false. All our society would be a lie if it were so!

But... there are things that don't really seem right. Things that don't make sense to me. Things that could be better!

Nothing to worry about though... I know the solution! Of course (religion) is basically good and right... it is just that some / many / most people understand it wrong!

But I have it right! I present you with the real, true version of (religion). All that has been said before about (religion) is right... my stuff is just righter!

 

[Archaeopteryx]

It was a call for transparency and love.

Do you understand why many would be skeptical about that?

 

[quatona]

Godless materialism, Evolutionism with no ultimate creator. Secular totalitarianism. All theses are generally godless philosophies of life.

...not to mention plumbery as a godless craft.
...and godless brushing of teeth.
Almost like a "calory-reduced vacuum cleaner".

 

[Colter]

...not to mention plumbery as a godless craft.
...and godless brushing of teeth.
Almost like a "calory-reduced vacuum cleaner".

Hey, did you know the toothbrush was invented in America? Anywhere else it would have been called a teethbrush.

 

[Colter]

Godless materialism... is that like godless mathematics?

Evolutionism with no ultimate creator... is that like meteorologism with no ultimate caster-of-lightnings?

Secular totalitarianism... is that like the dictatorship of free willed individualism?

It bothers Atheist that you really aren't that unique.

 

[anonymous person]

It that context, the term "becoming as slave" voluntarily or not, is meaningless. Basically you have defined "slavery" as the exclusive state of being. Of course that also makes any claims to "freedom" meaningless. A "slave to righteousness" is still a slave... and not free. Thus "the truth will make you free" is not correct. It just makes you a slave of a different master.

(Not that I agree with you on all that... it is just what the logical consequence of your position is.)


Very funny. Now if only you had an objective way to find out whether he was in the right store and got the wrong goods, or was in the wrong store after all. After-the-fact rationalisations just don't cut it.

I choose to be a slave of righteousness as opposed to choosing to be a slave to sin.

Either way, we are all slaves to whatever we obey and are led by.

I could choose to be hateful and cynical towards you right now but I choose not to. I choose to be understanding, compassionate, and kind.

With regards to your last, please read my post here, http://www.christianforums.com/xfa-blog-entry/the-end-of-myself.198587/

 

[Colter]

You believe in the Urantia Book, dude. I wouldn't start pointing fingers and laughing.

But at least I own what I am and what I believe, with the terminally unique it's like trying to nail jello to the wall. And according to the Atheists ultimate meaninglessness of whatever life you are living, one can do and believe whatever they want because nothing ultimately matters. You value my belief against what? Your doctrines of death?

 

[anonymous person]

Do you understand why many would be skeptical about that?

Yes. Because they are full of hate and incapable of love or despise love and know that they will be viewed as reprobate for it and want to hide the fact by attempting to clothe themselves in the garb of skepticism, or the garb of rational thought or clinical examination.

 

[anonymous person]

No, not from love. You do understand that love exists outside of your religion?

I am not religious. But I agree with you that all men are capable of loving in some measure, regardless of their particular philosophy. This is owed to God creating them in His Own Image and likeness and something of this image remains, though it be tainted by the noetic effects of sin. See Plantinga.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Yes. Because they are full of hate and incapable of love or despise love and know that they will be viewed as reprobate for it and want to hide the fact by attempting to clothe themselves in the garb of skepticism, or the garb of rational thought or clinical examination.

No, that's what you like to tell yourself. They are skeptical of your call for transparency because you have previously been less than transparent in these discussions. As an example, you challenged us to convince you, knowing the entire time that you would never be convinced, no matter what we presented.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

I am not religious. But I agree with you that all men are capable of loving in some measure, regardless of their particular philosophy. This is owed to God creating them in His Own Image and likeness and something of this image remains, though it be tainted by the noetic effects of sin. See Plantinga.

You're not religious? I suppose you tick the "No religion" box on the census form? Presumably your church doesn't have tax exempt status? After all, that's only for religious organisations, and you aren't a member of any.

 

[quatona]

Hey, did you know the toothbrush was invented in America?

I have a Swiss buddy who - no matter what we talk about - points out how everything has been invented in Switzerland.
Anyway, maybe UB has this on authority, but other sources disagree:
"Toothbrushing tools date back to 3500-3000 BC when the Babylonians and the Egyptians made a brush by fraying the end of a twig."
(from http://www.colgateprofessional.com/...icles/history-of-toothbrushes-and-toothpastes)

Anywhere else it would have been called a teethbrush.

No, anywhere else it would have been called something in the language of the country.
So what´s the explanation? Do Americans have but one tooth, or something?
Btw. and for your information here in Germany it´s called "Zahnbürste" - which translates into toothbrush, not teethbrush.

 

[Colter]

"The reason of science is based on the observable facts of time; the faith of religion argues from the spirit program of eternity. What knowledge and reason cannot do for us, true wisdom admonishes us to allow faith to accomplish through religious insight and spiritual transformation.

102:1.3 Owing to the isolation of rebellion, the revelation of truth on Urantia has all too often been mixed up with the statements of partial and transient cosmologies. Truth remains unchanged from generation to generation, but the associated teachings about the physical world vary from day to day and from year to year. Eternal truth should not be slighted because it chances to be found in company with obsolete ideas regarding the material world. The more of science you know, the less sure you can be; the more of religion you have, the more certain you are." UB 1955

 

[Archaeopteryx]

But at least I own what I am and what I believe, with the terminally unique it's like trying to nail jello to the wall. And according to the Atheists ultimate meaninglessness of whatever life you are living, one can do and believe whatever they want because nothing ultimately matters. You value my belief against what? Your doctrines of death?

What "doctrines of death"? You realise that none of the terms you use have any meaning to any atheists here?

 

[Colter]

I have a Swiss buddy who - no matter what we talk about - points out how everything has been invented in Switzerland.
Anyway, maybe UB has this on authority, but other sources disagree:
"Toothbrushing tools date back to 3500-3000 BC when the Babylonians and the Egyptians made a brush by fraying the end of a twig."
(from http://www.colgateprofessional.com/...icles/history-of-toothbrushes-and-toothpastes)



No, anywhere else it would have been called something in the language of the country.
So what´s the explanation? Do Americans have but one tooth, or something?
Btw. and for your information here in Germany it´s called "Zahnbürste" - which translates into toothbrush, not teethbrush.

You did realize I was joking right?

What has 4 teeth and is 150 meters long? ...........the funnel cake line at the West Virginia state fair.