The Wow I Can't Believe That News Story Thread

[OccultHawk]

Originally Posted by Fluff

lol what's up with Chula where has all the abuse come from?

[Trollheart]

As to the question, are Christians atheist? Well, here's one. I mean, the thing is, all my family were baptised, and when you're a baby you neither have the experience nor the ability to resist. I am a Christian, by definition, and a Roman Catholic by upbringing, but I don't believe in God. Or god. Whatever. I kind of wish He was real, as I'd love to think there's something to look forward to at the end of all this, but I really really doubt it.

At the same time, I'm not so arrogant as to believe that I know everything and can definitely say with total conviction that there is no God. What do I know? Maybe we're all the dream of some frustrated poster on a forum in an alternative universe. Or maybe we're smaller than ants and just think we're a dominant species. Or maybe none of us exist and we're all characters in a play. The point is, there is no way to empirically prove anything about what happens after death, not until someone comes back and gives us the skinny.

But personally, as I say: Christian, Catholic and also atheist.

[Cuthbert]

You can identity as a Christian and be atheist.

[Frownland]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

As to the question, are Christians atheist? Well, here's one. I mean, the thing is, all my family were baptised, and when you're a baby you neither have the experience nor the ability to resist. I am a Christian, by definition, and a Roman Catholic by upbringing, but I don't believe in God. Or god. Whatever. I kind of wish He was real, as I'd love to think there's something to look forward to at the end of all this, but I really really doubt it.

Unless you're currently practicing, you're neither a Christian nor a Catholic. Saying that you were raised as such is fine, but if you're an atheist, that makes you an apostate.

At the same time, I'm not so arrogant as to believe that I know everything and can definitely say with total conviction that there is no God. What do I know? Maybe we're all the dream of some frustrated poster on a forum in an alternative universe. Or maybe we're smaller than ants and just think we're a dominant species. Or maybe none of us exist and we're all characters in a play. The point is, there is no way to empirically prove anything about what happens after death, not until someone comes back and gives us the skinny.

It's a pretty old discussion that I bet we've both had several times, but atheism is the less arrogant choice of the two if you're going off of evidence alone. Most notions of a god don't restrict it to the afterlife, either.

[Trollheart]

Originally Posted by Fluff

You can identity as a Christian and be atheist.

I don't identify as a Christian, I just am one. Not by choice.

Originally Posted by Frownland

Unless you're currently practicing, you're neither a Christian nor a Catholic. Saying that you were raised as such is fine, but if you're an atheist, that makes you an apostate.

I pretty much stopped going to mass once I realised I could (and my mother was surprisingly understanding about it, though I always feel she was more than a little disappointed I took that stance) and though I like to think that both she and my aunt are now in a better place, when I visit her grave I do so for Karen: I personally get nothing out of it spiritually.

Bolded: does that mean I have cancer?

It's a pretty old discussion that I bet we've both had several times, but atheism is the less arrogant choice of the two if you're going off of evidence alone. Most notions of a god don't restrict it to the afterlife, either.

Maybe I'm just keeping my options open. As Ben Elton says, I keep just a tiny bit of belief there just in case ... (hammering at the gates) "Let me in you bastards! I believe!"

I once wrote a story, based off a dream I had, called "Beggar at the Gates", where I died and was not let into Heaven cos I didn't believe. My mother was trying to intercede with God, who said I could come in if I believed. But I saw nothing in front of me (you only see Heaven if you Believe, apparently) and refused. What a bastard, that God, huh?

[Frownland]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

I don't identify as a Christian, I just am one. Not by choice.

Oh, so you believe in Christ. Should've just come out and said it.

[OccultHawk]

I’m a total non-believer but my hostility is on the wane. If you need a little religion to make it through the next 24 do what you gotta do. Sometimes I wish I could believe.

[Cuthbert]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

I don't identify as a Christian, I just am one. Not by choice.

:/

[OccultHawk]

Originally Posted by Frownland

Oh, so you believe in Christ. Should've just come out and said it.

I read (or heard) that a lot of Europeans don’t consider the belief that important. It’s more of a cultural identity or just something they believe in when it’s convenient. They don’t like having their beliefs pinned down like us Muricans.

[Frownland]

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

I read (or heard) that a lot of Europeans don’t consider the belief that important. It’s more of a cultural identity or just something they believe in when it’s convenient. They don’t like having their beliefs pinned down like us Muricans.

#modeofcontrol