Well, I think the issue of how many angels can dance on the head of a pin is very relevant to acupuncture and so to our Qi, health and well being.
This is your dogmatic opinion, I give it as much credence as I do to anyone else. 
Yea I know all the arguments. Part of the assumption on your part is that repeating the same assertions over and over will make a difference, because you and people who resemble you are the baseline for ‘rationality’. So this becomes about how much someone is like you.
I know something about Chinese medicine and won’t try to explain it in western terms, but I do know that you can’t give a Shiatsu without knowing Meridians and Tsubos. Things you claim don’t exist, and it is fundamentally difference from trigger point therapy or Swedish Massage, which I also know how to do. The results in each case are different. The methods are different, but both systems work and work well. Some people do not get benefit from Shiatsu. My personal view is that belief is a lot more powerful than we give it credit for, that what we believe shapes reality more than your belief system would allow for.
This is one of the reasons I don’t buy into the dishonest, “I don’t believe anything.” argument. It’s absolutely silly. You are proposing a belief system quite forcefully. Bottom line though, scientific principles are an useful tool to me whether or not I agree with your dogma.
Your fundamental mistake here is thinking I do not understand your point. It’s actual quite simple, I get it. You don’t need to explain again. That’s the problem here you assume you have something to teach when you don’t. In this case one of us is merely proselytizing and it’s not me, because I could care less whether you change your views or not. What I care about is common civility, not whether you believe as I do.
You base your morals off of a Christian basis, and the more honest atheists I speak to recognize this. There is a certain type, common to this board that wants to redact Christianity as having contributed anything worthwhile. The Decalogue informs upon your morality, and there is nothing you can do about that. You were not grown in a vat absent the influence of these ideas. To me those sort of Diegetic arguments are far more interesting. Not every question comes down to some kind of baseline fundamental truth.
The problem with the materialistic mindset is that it tries to reduce all qualia to quantitative forms. Moral forms arise from dialectic processes within a culture, more resembling the synthesis of colors than a step by step algebraic equation.
Based on the narcissistic behavior of atheists around here, I see many people who would benefit from the notion that we are all selfish beasts and must improve our bestial selves. Whatever form that takes the process of moral improvement would benefit many of the posters who reject Christianity, especially the core premise that people are wicked sinners. Christianity in its ideal form is a tonic for solipsism, something that is probably the grossest epidemic of our time. If you find another philosophic method for combatting your own solipsism the go for it, but you will not convince me that solipsism does not afflict you, I can see that it does based on this little exchange.
Pointing to examples of solipsistic Christians, is a game I will leave for the children to play.
Then again, I may just be solipsistically projecting my precoceptions unlike you with your fancy critical thinking.
This is a good case in point. Trolling with no substance. A child’s game.
I do not find his smart-assed quips to be any more trolling than some of your more long-winded harangues or veiled insults, so you will refrain from accusing him of trolling in GD.
[ /Modding ]
How about some reasons TO switch to Islam:
- Women are kept in their place
- Gays will be killed
- Ramadan - more time off
- Jews!
- Stonings in the square
- you get to call people you don’t agree with “infidels”
- one less customer for the corporate infidel capitalist dogs at Gillette
- 72 virgins (most of them women!)
- beheadings
- Ululating
You know, it’s possible to believe in one God and not think any religion has got it quite right. Maybe it’s just about you and the Big Guy. Why introduce an intermediary and screw up the communication? But if it makes you feel better, you can tithe to me.
Good luck with your quest, blinkthrice.
The whole point of this message board is fighting ignorance. It’s NOT about mindlessly validating people’s beliefs.
Where do you draw the line on civility? Is it just religion that’s immune from criticism? New age beliefs? Conspiricy theories? Taken to the logical extreme your position precludes us calling bullshit on anything. How exactly do you propose we fight ignorance if we are not allowed to poke holes in unsupported hypotheses?
I will absolutely acknowledge the role that traditional Christianity played in forming my moral conscience. I will also absolutely acknowledge the role that alchemy played in paving the way for modern chemistry. But if someone starts posting here about their quest for the Philospher’s Stone, I’ll also point out that they’re pursuing a fantasy.
I am in a discussion, he made a personal attack. Your moderation is incorrect as is often the case.
The moderator has told me I am no longer allowed to participate in this discussion.
To the OP.
I’m a huge fan of music. Imagine that. This isn’t about me though.
How do you feel about your choice of religion impacting your ability to participate and interact with common western art, be it music, painting or prose? When is something “Un-Islamic” enough to be shunned? Is there anything in the large tent of Art that you will be giving up?
Do you consider the Koran to be the most inspired work of literature in existence? If so, what would be your consider the second most? If we changed our semantics from inspired to well written would your thoughts change?
And finally, if your children (hypothetical as needed) were to not continue your tradition of Islam would you allow them? Would you let your children experience other faiths as you yourself have?
Thank you for your replies.
-Duncan
That’s unfortunate. Another time, perhaps.
LOL. Good one!
Doubtful, if I am unable to illustrate my point with practical examples, then this discussion cannot be had on this forum.
Atheists are allowed to do drive by insults. It is very common on this forum that the theists response gets moderated. It’s just the way Tomndebb moderates.
This does not make sense to me.
Why would Hindu parents send their child to mostly private Catholic schools? I’ve never been to a private Catholic school but my impression is that Catholic religious themes and dogma are taught along side of education. To me that is the equivalent of Catholics sending their kid to private Muslim school.
It’s pretty common for non-Catholics to send their kids to Catholic schools because the quality of education is (or is perceived to be) better than in the local public schools.
Based on my conversations with non-Catholics who went to Catholic school, Catholic schools tend NOT to inject religious dogma into non-religious subjects. Schools with a significant non-Catholic population may also allow those students to substitute attendance at their own worship services or religious training for attendance at Mass or other religious events.
For instance, my Jewish SO went to a Catholic high school. Jewish students weren’t required to attend Catholic religious training, but had a study session instead. Classes on non-religious topics did not attempt to inject religion into the topic - no creationism or Intelligent Design in biology, for example.
Thank you for clearing that up for me cwthree. Things make a bit more sense now.
During that lurking, did you happen to read many, or any of the threads where Atheism was the subject, or did you avoid them?
edit: I genuinelly thought there was only one page on this thread and therefore that the above had not come up. My mistake.
He made no personal attack and you are simply whining about being asked to obey the rules of this forum.
Not as a poster but as a Moderator, I will formally note that this is a false statement.
If you wish to make complaints about the moderating, take it to ATMB, (if you want a discussion), or the Pit, (if you want to rant), but do not post false claims about moderating in Great Debates.
[ /Moderating ]
Ah, it’s been answered already but yeah- private schools will sometimes have a higher quality of education than the local public schools. I am not a christian and I went to a Lutheran Private school for my middle school and earlier periods, as did a few other Hindus, Jews, and what not. Once you get past the chapel time and the not being allowed to say “God” in class, you’re getting a pretty decent education.
And also to the Music Comment by another person:
That’s taking it a bit far, I know plenty of American Muslims who listen to western music and culture and arts currently just fine. We don’t know how dogmatic Blink’s going to be. So to use the argument that music is going to be lost to him… let’s just say I have a feeling he probably won’t be throwing out his DVD and CDs just because he’s converting to another religion. If he’s (as I think he is) living in the Western World, and becoming part of the Islamic faith, I’m sure he’ll be westernized in some ways. The shunning of all things westernized is usually found in more conservative and dogmatic sects of the faith, and it’s not really something I see him doing. Though if that’s the case, feel free to correct me Blink.
-R
The 23 year old born into a family of devout Indian brahmins, who for the most part went to a Lutheran School while growing up (up to 6th grade).
I grew up listening to rap, and oddly enough, that was one of the ways I was introduced to Islam early on. I’m not really too much into “western art and prose,” or whatever that may mean. If I dig something, I dig it, I don’t feel that my being a muslim affects my ability to appreciate that which my senses instintively tell me is pleasurable.
I dont consider the Qur’aan to be something comparable to literature, I believe it to be the speech of God. I know that there are some muslims who may try and make those kinds of comparisons in an effort to bolster positive perceptions of Islam, but I’m not one of those.
If my children wanted to do their own thing, what can I do? On the last day I won’t be questioned about my childrens deeds (after they become capable adults, of course), and they wont be questioned about mine. Muslims don’t make muslims, God makes muslims.
For the perceived educational benefits. There were muslims in my classes as well, believe it or not.