Please proofread more carefully. You misspelled “Bronze Age.”
See, I’m not subject to any hate when I walk down the street. I’m subject to indifference, from other people also walking down the street, living their own lives. You live on some mean streets, man.
The point is that if what you believe in, is some species of hatred or nuttery – Master Race bullshit; the need for all of us to don tinfoil hats – then your advocacy of your position, whether courageous or not, is not worthy of respect.
I got that example from you - you’re the one that brought up your yarmulke-wearing coworker.
My point is that courage is easy if you think you’ve got people backing you up. Courage is about taking a risk, and being willing to bet a considerable amount on that risk, in order to succeed at something. The more noble the goal, the more potentially risked, the more courageous one must be. If you stand up in front of people who despise a belief and make it known that you hold that belief, knowing that it will cause them to either hate you or persecute you in some way, but doing so in order to show the strength of one’s belief to yourself, to others, and to your god, that’s courageous. But if you believe no harm will come to you, that you have God on your side and that he is fully backing up every word you say, without a doubt, then there’s no risk at all. God is much greater than a large group of armed guards and a protective bubble; so too, does the risk more greatly diminish, at least in the eyes of that particular believer.
That’s not to say all believers lack courage, or even most. The majority of believers are unsure, just like the majority of unbelievers. But kanicbird would very much seem to be of the opinion that God has his back, 100%. How can you be courageous in the face of adversity if you have such a powerful being at your side?
I have said nothing about my respect, or lack of it, for kanicbird’s beliefs. As it happens, I do indeed feel their beliefs to be at least somewhat unworthy of my respect, not because they disagree with mine, but because I feel they are insufficiently supported and logical. There are many believers on these boards for whose belief I have respect, as there are nonbelievers who nevertheless disagree with me and yet whose beliefs I respect. It isn’t about the differences between us, but the quality of that belief. On that point, yes, I do cast judgement.
Calling me out for being on my high horse would rather seem to be judgement to me.
Well that’s your right. I would never attempt to stop you from doing so.
But don’t you think, maybe if even for a second, that this is why, we as human beings, kill each other all the time?
Because you hate others by sight. Not even one word from their mouth. By sight alone.
Who does this? Are you saying that I do this? That you do this?
I’m almost positive **kanicbird **is male, but I can’t cite any reason to think that other than an odd ability to occasionally remember trivial facts about other Dopers.
“Judging others’ beliefs” and “hating others by sight” are not even remotely the same thing, you imbecile.
Are you serious? I judge you to be a loon, and therefore I’m just a short step away from killing you? First engage brain, then type stuff, dude.
ETA: oh, and we’re on a message board on the intarwebz. That means that whilst you correctly make a contrast between ‘sight alone’ and ‘words’, you do it exactly the opposite way round from what is in fact the case here. We judge precisely by words and not by sight here. Good God, what a moron.
I see groups of people wearing not only yarmulkes but the full on beards and curls (I don’t know what you call them), and the the little strings (again, I can’t remember the names), and no one bats an eye lash. I see groups of people dressed in Muslim, or Sikh, or Hindu garb all the time. There’s no “courage” involved. Christ, Omegaman, patronizing much?
I hate the whole, “Oh, he stands up for what he believes in, that’s so noble!” Bullshit. Not if what he believes is bullshit-and insulting. And often downright hateful. He’s the type that gives Christianity a bad name.
Skald the Rhymer-sorry, it’s been a while. Either way, no Magic Sky Penis involved.
Not sure why you’re apologizing; I wasn’t vexed by anything you wrote above. Anyway, I can’t accept your apology as there is no offense to attach it to. But if you want, I’ll deposit it in the “sorry” bank against your accidentally insulting me in the future. 
ETA: I don’t know where Omegaman hails from, but down here in Memphis, I can imagine some persons I know giving coworkers grief for wearing yarmulkes.
Sure, I guess Mary’s saying “God’s the boss, let’s get on with it” doesn’t count.
Incidentally, Skaldy, did you know I don’t believe in Thor? Oddly, I don’t seem to need to remind people of the fact every five minutes.
I’m afraid i don’t understand this thread.
I realize that the other thread, where kanicbird got the OP all riled up, was opened specifically to ask a question about the bible.
But if you argue with believers as if their non-existent deity were real, then you shouldn’t be surprised when the responses you get sometimes reflect the more bizarre extremes of interpretation.
If i debate someone over the actions of Simon Legree in Uncle Tom’s Cabin, my intention is not to ascribe actual thought and motivations to a fictional being, but to understand the meaning conveyed by Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author. Similarly, for me, debating the bible is about working out the reasoning and motivations of the very real humans who wrote the book, not trying to understand the reasoning of their fictional deity.
Do you live in a society of Vikings?
If not, your point = epic fail.
So the question is, is your memory… Deadly Accurate?
Nope. You think Yahweh was gonna listen to her protests? Have you met Yahweh?
You have committed the common fundamentalist mistake of reading but a single verse out of a passage. Here’s the rest of it, from the same site you linked to:
Like I said; Mary was being told what was going to happen, not being asked for permission. It’s entirely conceivable that she was quite happy at the prospect of childbirth while orgasm, but it’s just as possible that she said, "Okay, given what happens to people who even think the word “No” to God, I’d best nod and say I am honored and maybe ask for an epidural when the time comes.
Get thee behind me, Loki!
We’re talking about THOR, man. Not merely the scion of Asgard; not simply the greatest of the Avengers; but the greatest super-hero of all time. (In fact, in the list of top 10 superheroes of all time, Thor’s name appears FOUR TIMES. That bumpkin from Smallville is hardly on the radar.)
Who labored ever ceaselessly to save mankind from the Celestial Judgment? Thor!
Who took down Count Nefaria, Graviton, the Absorbing Man, and Ulik the Troll? Thor!
Who, when Earth’s Mightiest Heroes break up into teams for a mission, always goes off by himself, as he can handle almost anything alone, and losers like Stark, Danvers, Williams, and what’s-her-face-in-the-red-swimsuit will just get in the way anyway? Thor!
He is the lord of the living lightning, master of the storm, and only begotten son of Odin. But fear not. Despite your arrogant unbelief, he will still save your ass when your ass needs saving, and will ask for precisely nothing in return–no worship, no sacrices, no blowjobs. (He might, if you ask nicely, permit you to be him a mug of mead, but only if you join him, and he’ll get the next round.)
Let us all give proper homage to Thor!
Seems like its in the Bible somewhere, standing up for your friends.
Enjoy your pitting.
Seems like theres stuff in there about homosexuality and abortion too, but there isn’t.
FTR, Kanicbird has referred to her husbandbefore, and given her positions on same sex marriage, I think it is safe to say that she is female.
Jonathan
I believe in the Bible you are to stand up for your enemies, as well as your friends. And, beyond that, as you’ve pointed out upthread, for your beliefs. It is not particularly Christian to give up.
If you don’t like it, change our minds. That’s the whole point of this!
So that makes you an atheist, right?