Could you possibly use a broader brush? I think you missed some folks.
Yeah, and you wonder why no one treats your beliefs with respect. You’re so rational.
:rolleyes:
Oh, no! Sarcasm again! Whatever shall I do?
I’m new here, but wasn’t the “topic” defined in the OP?
Your replies are definitely on topic–as they only serve to prove that Skald the Rhymer speaks the truth.
I’ve been wondering that myself. I seriously doubt it; he just needs people to kick in the nads.
Now, aren’t you telling at least some of the other thread participants what they believe? 
Well, I for one would be interested in Jodi’s answers to badchad’s questions, in the spirit of honest debate.
You are absolutely right! So, I invite anyone who is interested in knowing exactly what it means to me to be a Christian to read the Catechism of the Catholic Church, as I suggested to badchad. I don’t think the mods would appreciate it if I cut & pasted the whole thing here. 
The problem is, this is not the forum for honest debate. This is the forum where, if you try to give your honest & forthright POV, people can & do rip you to shreds and call you offensive names. I wouldn’t even begin to want to try to express my religious POV in a forum where these are the rules. Besides that, badchad has shown that he pretty much applies these rules to any forum he takes part in, so it’s difficult to trust that the conversation will remain civil, even if it was taken over to GD.
Well, either that, or the fact that he impolitely sticks to his guns and presses for answers to his questions.
Talk about poisoning the well. “I would happily engage with you in open debate, except that I think your argumentation style is very rude and offensive and gives me diarrhea so I won’t talk about this stuff in any forum ever. But aside from that, I’m glad to debate this vital issue.”
Okay…but you already said you don’t believe some of it. Save me the guesswork and tell me the few parts you don’t buy…then I’ll go read the catechism and we can talk in another forum.
Actually, my point was that I don’t blame anyone for not wanting to debate him in any forum. I already said that if he wants to start a GD forum on some specific topic, I would be glad to participate.
Nor has badchad ever been interested in true, honest debate-he only wants to be able to go over everyone’s posts with a fine tooth comb so he can pull out some minor inconsistancy or mistake or whatever and then trumpet about how he’s “won.”
It’s completely ridiculous.
If you wore a cup “built” on logic and reason you – and your 'nads – wouldn’t feel a thing.
That’s the thing…it’s not fun, it’s not interesting, you never learn anything from it. It’s an exercise in annoyance & futility.
Like teaching the proverbial pig to sing.
That and let’s face it-human beings are not, by their very nature, truely rational creatures. EVERYONE has irrational, nonsensical beliefs and actions. LIFE isn’t always rational.
Sarafina, the refusal to explain your beliefs because you’re afraid of them being mocked comes off as incredibly lame, at least on a message board. I guess it is pretty hard to admit you believe in Zombie Jesus and a all powerful judge in the sky on a board supposedly dedicated to fighting ignorance. As a lawyer I’m Jodi is particuarly afraid of getting in a debate that would come down to “it just FEELS right”.
If Jodi did come to her personally editted version of the bible through prayer and meditation she seems to be more the exception than the rule. When I posted a How do you test your religion? thread many moons ago I mostly got substansive answers from atheists. The recurring thought was “You’re not supposed to” amongst the Christians (looking at you Lord Ashtar)
You’ll have to distinguish your description from anyone else’s tenacious style in Great Debates. All anyone does over there (and to their credit) is argue over the minutest of points, and ask for great precision in defining terms, citing quotes, etc.
Apparently this is all good form, except when it’s practiced by those who disagree vehemently with you and have a rational response to every point of yours. Then it’s just “Boo-hoo-hoo, the mean man is picking on me! Wahhh!!”
If you can’t play with the big boys, then don’t.
Actually, it’s not. That’s what debating is all about. Proving your opponent wrong.
Sorry to have to break it to you at this late date…
I can see that you might be interested, and it’s certainly not my intention to play coy, but look at it from my POV. What is the likelihood I’m going to want to open that very personal door, in this thread, in this forum, even on these Boards?
I’m “stupid.” I’m “deluded.” I’m “retarded” – wait, let’s give that poster credit where credit is due: I’m only “a little bit retarded.” If you knew that was where the discussion started, would that be a discussion you wanted to have?
People have a hard time being civil about religion; I understand that. It’s a delicate subject, people feel strongly about it, and POVs are easily misunderstood. But it is a subjct that is very important to me personally. I am offended when others cannot or will not be minimally civil in discussing something that is so important and so personal to me. But many, here at least, stand by their right to be offensive, if their offensiveness accurately conveys their beliefs. They are not willing to speak respectfully about a concept they do not respect. And that is their perogative; I understand that as well.
But under those circumstances, it’s not a discussion we’re going to be having. They can’t meet my requirements regarding civility and respectfulness, and I can’t dispense with those requirements and talk about such a personal subject. I can’t; to hear it talked about as it is often talked about here is profoundly upsetting to me. I just can’t sign up for it; sorry.
Anyone genuinely interested can drop me an e-mail. I’m not at all adverse to discussing my faith in other situations if asked. If asked, though; I’m not much for witnessing.
That is true. I posted earlier (I think in another thread, not this one) that the one thing I know is true is that God exists. No matter how much anyone badgers me, I will never be able to give a rational explanation for this. And I don’t think any less of anyone who knows something different, but I don’t think there are any better LOGICAL reasons that God doesn’t exist than reasons that he does. One might say, “can’t see him, hear him, or touch him…he can’t possibly exist.” But…how do you KNOW that something doesn’t exist because you can’t see, hear, or touch it? You can’t. Can’t prove existance, can’t prove non-existance. So, who is right? Does it matter? It all comes from within, anyway.
That’s not how I spell my user name, but whatever. As I said in post #389, I would be glad to debate him in another forum.
I have no idea what those other Christians were getting at (see, I am not them).
Not when said person already has his mind made up in advance that he’s going to disagree, no matter what. Not when said person isn’t really interested in LEARNING. I thought that was the point of debate, at least here-to learn.
Well, at least that’s why I like to debate.
badchad has already decided that no matter what anyone says, he’s just going to mock and gloat. So why even BOTHER?
And that’s true no matter what you’re discussing-religion, politics, science, or Star Wars vs. Star Trek.