Vatican says aliens could exist

[Raineer]

ITT: Predictable posts by predictable posters.

Boooo...

This is like my first time posting in general, ever.

[Ryushii]

Two problems I see with most religious discussions with athiests:
Ignorance
Trend following

Yes, many athiests are well spoken, educated people who have intelligent reasons behind their beliefs and still make a point to understand the beliefs of others. The rest (and the vast majority) of athiests are either teenagers looking for their way of rebellion, or people with misinformed, misguided reservations about religion. Reading this thread, I've already seen plenty of both.

On the stem-cell topic, I support stem-cell research on any level, but you have to realize that different people draw different lines where life begins. For some its birth. For others its conception. Either way you look at it, you are disposing of something that, left alone, would become a functioning human. The same logic persists with abortion. Stem cell research that doesn't involve harming the embyro is generally less contested against for obvious reasons.

Concerning the hell idea, Christians believe in saving others through Christ, yadda yadda yadda. Essentially, it comes down to caring about other people and trying to do what you think will be beneficial to them. Yes, overzealous Christians exist who cross the line, but in the end most Christians trying to share their message are doing so out of the kindness of their hearts. Yes, it's really really cheesy, but think about if you've done community service of some kind, or donated time and money to some organization you feel very strongly about. It's the same exact thing.

Please, those of you talking out of your ass about the evils of religion, educate yourself about the religions you try to insult. If you expect others to respect your opinions, learn to respect theirs.

[TacoTaru]

Yes, overzealous Christians exist who cross the line, but in the end most Christians trying to share their message are doing so out of the kindness of their hearts. Yes, it's really really cheesy, but think about if you've done community service of some kind, or donated time and money to some organization you feel very strongly about. It's the same exact thing.

I'm sorry but this just bugs me. Religion isn't a secret, it's not underground, it's not private or hard to get into. If peopled wanted to join the club they'd do it on their own will. I don't need people telling me how great Jesus/Christianity is, or following me around the grocery trying to convert me. I know following around the grocery falls under extremes, but the point is religion is in the mainstream, if we wanted to be in it, we'd have done it already. And donating a charity is faaaar from converting people to a religion. One is actually for a good cause.

*Edit* That came off more as a personal attack , and it wasn't meant to be.

[Blarg]

The rest (and the vast majority) of athiests are either teenagers looking for their way of rebellion, or people with misinformed, misguided reservations about religion.

I hope you are exaggerating to make some sort of point. Aside from the teenager comment, which I can't comment too much on since I didn't see any of that rebellion growing up so it must be a new thing if it's true. Your second point about Atheists being misinformed and misguided about religion is just ridiculous since you say its for the 'vast majority'. Now maybe you just expressed your point poorly so I won't really say why I find it ridiculous, but you may be subject to misinformed and misguided feelings about Atheists.

[Mizango]

Two problems I see with most religious discussions with athiests:
Ignorance
Trend following

Not an Atheist btw but, LO motherfucking L. The fucking irony of this blows my fucking mind lol.

A Christian (Assumption, if I'm wrong I apologize) calling essentially calling someone else a "Trend follower"? A Sheep?? There is no better example of the Blind leading the Blind than some of these Christian fuckwads that infest this Earth.

Typical response though, you're good at telling other "religions" what they are doing wrong but cant take the heat or question your own shady morals when it turns on you. You throw up your Magical Wizard card immediately when attacked.

[Neosutra]

Two problems I see with most religious discussions with athiests:
Ignorance
Trend following

Yes, many athiests are well spoken, educated people who have intelligent reasons behind their beliefs and still make a point to understand the beliefs of others. The rest (and the vast majority) of athiests are either teenagers looking for their way of rebellion, or people with misinformed, misguided reservations about religion. Reading this thread, I've already seen plenty of both.

On the stem-cell topic, I support stem-cell research on any level, but you have to realize that different people draw different lines where life begins. For some its birth. For others its conception. Either way you look at it, you are disposing of something that, left alone, would become a functioning human. The same logic persists with abortion. Stem cell research that doesn't involve harming the embyro is generally less contested against for obvious reasons.

Concerning the hell idea, Christians believe in saving others through Christ, yadda yadda yadda. Essentially, it comes down to caring about other people and trying to do what you think will be beneficial to them. Yes, overzealous Christians exist who cross the line, but in the end most Christians trying to share their message are doing so out of the kindness of their hearts. Yes, it's really really cheesy, but think about if you've done community service of some kind, or donated time and money to some organization you feel very strongly about. It's the same exact thing.

Please, those of you talking out of your ass about the evils of religion, educate yourself about the religions you try to insult. If you expect others to respect your opinions, learn to respect theirs.

Did you live near power lines as a child?

[Jefe]

And Neosurta, you seemed to dismiss alot of his comments, regardless of their validity.

[Kuya]

Oh damn, atheists vs theists, a battle between annoying people.

[Parshias]

We need to make this different than every other religious argument this forum has had.

All of your points have to rhyme, or they don't count.

[Neosutra]

And Neosurta, you seemed to dismiss alot of his comments, regardless of their validity.

Which of his comments had validity, and not just stupidity? (Rhyming to start the trend, my friend).

[Jefe]

I didn't read your whole post so sorry if this is off topic, but catholics do hurt people, they preach widely against the use of condoms and birth control, hurt the collective knowledge of human kind by throwing their arms up in protest against stem cell research and the teaching of evolution. The list continues, sure, they do some good, but does it out weigh the bad they do?

Is this a joke post, or are you really this ignorant?

And Metoera, (...) You seemed to dismiss alot of his comments, regardless of their validity.

? I copied pasta your almost exact question.

The point I'm trying to make is that you need to recognize and question the validity (or stupidity like you say) in most arguments, and not just approve/validate those that reflect your opinion. Have a nice day.

[Neosutra]

I didn't read your whole post so sorry if this is off topic, but catholics do hurt people, they preach widely against the use of condoms and birth control, hurt the collective knowledge of human kind by throwing their arms up in protest against stem cell research and the teaching of evolution. The list continues, sure, they do some good, but does it out weigh the bad they do?

Is this a joke post, or are you really this ignorant?

And Metoera, (...) You seemed to dismiss alot of his comments, regardless of their validity.

? I copied pasta your almost exact question.

The point I'm trying to make is that you need to recognize and question the validity (or stupidity like you say) in most arguments, and not just approve/validate those that reflect your opinion. Have a nice day.

No, there is a difference. His comments HAD validity while the former did not. Do you really expect me to attempt to argue against someone that stated "the majority of atheists are rebelling teens or just misinformed"? His post didnt need to be dignified by attempts to counter his rediculous excuse for a debate. Yours however trashed a post that contained valid points (i.e. birth control and catholics).

Dont attempt to equate the two to solidify your inadequate argument from before.

[Jefe]

The dude you are defending used blatant generalizations i.e. catholics do this, that, etc. (read: fallacies); so did the other guy, hence the comparison. How can you not get that and be this fucking dense? But whatever helps you sleep at night.

[Blarg]

The dude you are defending used blatant generalizations i.e. catholics do this, that, etc. (read: fallacies); so did the other guy, hence the comparison. How can you not get that and be this fucking dense? But whatever helps you sleep at night.

He didn't say all catholics, nor did he say some catholics so I'm not sure what the big deal is since it would be a true statement if he had bothered to put the word 'some' in there.

[Neosutra]

It doesnt matter, catholics as a whole have a set of beleifs that they follow that are decided upon by an organized set of leaders and thus BASED on those beliefs we can generalize that "catholics" (i.e. people who follow those doctrines) thereby follow those doctrines(or should >.>).

[Blarg]

It doesnt matter, catholics as a whole have a set of beleifs that they follow that are decided upon by an organized set of leaders and thus BASED on those beliefs we can generalize that "catholics" (i.e. people who follow those doctrines) thereby follow those doctrines(or should >.>).

That's the intention yes but then many of them pick and choose their own unique version to believe.

[Kaelan]

We need to make this different than every other religious argument this forum has had.
All of your points have to rhyme, or they don't count.

In before "Atheism is just another religion"
along with arguments about circumcision

[Arcana]

The only thing that really annoys me about religion is the extent that people take in practicing it, take for example christians trying to convert you or muslims who feel it necessary to kill themselves, all because someone who is off balance said that the way their faith works like that.

Dont get me wrong, without some form of faith many people would be totally and utterly useless to society.

But organised religions vs aetheism is a rather pointless debate cause both sides of the argument are basically "LALALALALALA I CANT HEAR YOU LALALALA!" whenever one side trys to make a "rational" argument for their point of view.

My opinion is just get rid of organised religion and belief structures and do whatever you want, or become a buddhist, since its not really a religion, more of a philosophy.

[Neosutra]

The only thing that really annoys me about religion is the extent that people take in practicing it, take for example christians trying to convert you or muslims who feel it necessary to kill themselves, all because someone who is off balance said that the way their faith works like that.

Dont get me wrong, without some form of faith many people would be totally and utterly useless to society.

But organised religions vs aetheism is a rather pointless debate cause both sides of the argument are basically "LALALALALALA I CANT HEAR YOU LALALALA!" whenever one side trys to make a "rational" argument for their point of view.

My opinion is just get rid of organised religion and belief structures and do whatever you want, or become a buddhist, since its not really a religion, more of a philosophy.

1. Have to disagree with the "without some form of faith people would be useless", but thats been beatin to the bush on these forums.

2. Only one side of the debate is capable of making rational/scientific arguments... the other side requires faith/superstition. In all honesty, its not just that one side has a more solid logical founding (though atheism does, but it doesnt really matter to theist), its the fact that religion and science are fundamental opposites and attempting to compare/rationalize them (i.e. arguing for god by using science) is impossible. If you are a theist, you are a theist for non scientific reasons and your beleifs are not based on any given set of logical criteria, you just "beleive" because thats what you want to beleive.

3. I think your last statement followed the beleifs of most atheists in that we really dont care what everyone does, but we think it would be more beneficial to society if organized religion was done away with and people were able to do what they wanted.

[Mizango]

Science and religion need each other

This is hands down the quote of the year! Courtesy of Da poop.