Are those the only two alternatives that your brain could muster? To not be gay, or to...out of the clear blue sky...sit down and proclaim "I want to be gay" for no reason? You could probably stand to put a little more thought into it Snake...my sentiments regarding much of this post actually. To say that people are born inherently gay is like saying that I was born with an inherent attraction to uneducated rednecks, or that one of my good friends was born with an inherent attraction to big bald black guys...it's ridiculous. The FACT is that there are a bevy of different reasons...a different conglomerate of reasons for each person...that determines who he/she is sexually attracted to and why. They can be physical, emotional, intellectual, and/or environmental. You don't have to be a psychologist to figure that out.
I'll take that as a 'yes' shall I? I didn't confine it and say they were "born" gay, I merely said it was "not a personal choice". They did not sit down and say "oh, you know, I've heard it's popular to be gay this summer, I'll give it a try".
When you
do make choices, those choices are clearly influenced by many external means - so techincally you're not responsible for anything. You don't choose the music you like, you don't choose the food you like, and you don't choose the kind of guy you want to date.
The words "choice" and "free will" are thrown around so often, but given the context have very little worth.
In short: You do not choose to be you.
I tell you what.. let's go through some Mark Twain..
No matter how hard you try, you cannot get a butterfly to kill. No matter how hard you try, you cannot stop a tiger from killing. That is it's nature.
There is no sin ever committed, people are merely being who they are. It is unavoidable.
Do me favour when you get the time... Read this:
Here
God hates sin, not sinners.
He shouldn't have invented it then. Why make something that you already know is going to happen constantly - to such a degree whereby you end up annihilating every living thing on an entire planet and letting the rest of your beloved children burn for eternity - while "hating" that which you have devised? It's simple stupidity.
I guess you weren't paying attention...I wasn't lonely in the flesh, but in the spirit.
Well I'm sorry to say it, but that doesn't actually mean anything. Ok, some people feel the need to 'believe' they are two. A physical side, and a wafty, float through the sky once you're dead, side - but that just isn't the case. Your sentence has no meaning.
I belong to THE church...which I'm supposing, based upon your answer, that you have no idea what the difference is between A church and THE church.
It's pretty much the same as your flesh/spirit banter.
That's the best you could come up with?
Oh c'mon, have you even read your quote? What response do you want?
Yea, before birth into the veil of the flesh. The flesh is a veil because of sin. Because it was altered genetically (the fall) to hinder our spiritual relationship with god....to know of sin...for our flesh to desire sin...it's a huge distraction from spiritual truth...like a genetically encoded lie. And just because my relationship with God is a spiritual one, does not mean that it is imaginary. Which for you to say, is really close-minded.
I don't have a witty enough retort for this tripe. My apologies.
However, you're right on one part - It doesn't mean it's imaginary. I hereby give you the opportunity right now to present your evidence, present your proof.
Further to that, I feel the whole "closed minded" speech is a little overused. I could now claim you're closed minded because you don't acknowledge that you might actually just be a lunatic or that leprechauns might exist etc. It's the reason I never use the phrase during debate.
However, that is easily rectified by producing proof of said claims - then there need be no questions, denials or refusals to accept particular beliefs. That challenge is on your side, and yet to date
not one person has managed.
Yea...beauty and joy out the ying yang...too bad that it's often smeared with pain, suffering, sickness, violence, and death, huh?
But that is what comes from a natural existence. There is no need for it in a supernatural existence - but when governed by an imperfect system - these things will happen. While god is no explanation for testicle cancer, down syndrome, multiple sclerosis, appendictis or a billion other serious issues - a natural system is. The best your kind can usually manage is "god is testing these individuals". It's the "heaven entrance exam", and its nothing short of hysterically stupid. Seriously, what is more 'realistic',
"Your appendix exploded because it got blocked by such and such, became inflamed and infected"
Or..
"Your appendix exploded because god wants to test you're a cool dude worthy enough to bow down and worship him"?
Hey, perhaps that's why you're trying to drown yourself in alcohol. Otherwise, wouldn't you be missing out on all of that beauty and joy due to incoherence and blurred vision?
Actually that was six years ago, and that was only because my son had dropped dead. Grieving is a process, and very often alcohol will be a factor in it. In my case it was.
And I wouldn't say that I'm obsessed with him...I would go farther than that and say that I'm absolutely consumed by him.
My point exactly. And of course
you wouldn't say you're obsessed.
Damn right. And until there's evidence to show we're all led by the cloud crawler, it will not change.
Wow, how sad...no wonder you drink.
I don't. I did six years ago, but that was because my son had just dropped dead. Sue me.
So it's all one huge coincedence huh?
Luck of the draw. I guess Jupiter pulled the short straw.
Dude, you are in some major, major denial. Blind men have more vision than you do. Are you trying to protect yourself from something when you hide your eyes?
When I look up, I see clouds. When you look up, you see a monster with sharp teeth, or a smiley face, or a pointing hand.
That's all there is to it.
On the other hand, I guess god could have just created me not to believe in god.
Whatever you're happy with.
Everyone's life has just as much meaning and importance as everyone else's...just in different ways.
You didn't answer the question though. Why does god make people mentally retarded?
So would it be fair to say that if one is sterile, or for some reason will not reproduce that they should just shoot themselves in the head because they have no purpose in life?
No. I was talking at a deeper level. You can do whatever you want to do. You can be a nun and stay bonk free, you can be a monk and shave your head or you can be a goat farmer.. It's inconsequential.
why is it that those humans with a lower IQ and level of education have more children than those with a higher IQ and level of education?
Is that mere guesswork or you do you have some statistic to back that up? Do they do an IQ vs pregnancy statistic?
Either way there would be many reasons - of which society is a major factor. A well educated woman would be more concentrated on career whereas the less educated woman would become a house wife and have kids as a matter of course.
Using your above, we could state that the more educated people end up as single, lonely people, or having kids that they cannot relate to due to the huge age difference - which then leads to their child relating more to education/careers than 'love', whereas the less educated have more companionship and understand their kids better - meaning their children will have a better understanding of values such as love, friendship and so forth which would take more precedence than education/career. This goes in a massive loop and the children end up the same as their parents.
And why is it that the "intelligent" and "advanced" societies can't seem to function without 99 different types of birth control and an absolute reliance on it...practically a worship of it?
I wouldn't quite go that far at all, but there are times when we don't want, or are not ready for kids - and some guys just can't hold their sperm
I mean, if reproduction is the meaning of life, and your brain is all good and all knowing, like you attest, then why is it that the more intellectual a society is, the more barriers to reproduction it perpetuates?
Are you saying that intellectual people don't have kids? I wasn't trying to imply that you need to have sixty thousand children, one is usually sufficient - but I have not seen one statistical survey that says smart people don't reproduce. Contraception merely prevents having children when you're not ready/ do not want to, it has no bearing on whether you ever reproduce.
having babies is for stupid people
Speak for yourself.. that's clearly not the way it is.
If he doesn't show up...ever...then I will be the first to admit that I am completely and over the top delusional....
And there's the escape clause: "...ever..."
That word by itself shows you'll be dead and buried and it still wouldn't be under question in your own mind.
Certainly in your field you know that it is not common for a person to be completely sane, and rational, and logical, and have absolutely no problems functioning and assimilating generally, and for their entire lives...but then have this one over the top delusion that has to do with one very specific thing
Sure, but there's the problem. Nobody is completely sane. We all have our little quirks, and things that to us seem perfectly normal, but merely from our own perspective.
It's like these people who are into serious bondage. Personally I don't see the value of beating someone while fucking them. There are people that do, and while none of us have the right to call them insane, it does show that "normality" and "sanity" are subjective.
Sure, there are people who have quite clearly crossed the line, but where does that line end? How do you differentiate between a man who hears voices from his dead relatives, to you hearing voices from sky beings? At the end of the day, is there really a difference? Don't think this man feels any different to you. He would say exactly the same things you would - and you're both certain you're sane. In essence, you simply get away with it because there's a lot more of you - and because it's a key foundation of society.
If there had have been an educated psychiatrist back in the days when the bible was written, 'god belief' would now be non-existant. Instead, it's been taught from generation to generation so much that it's become a standard part of society. That doesn't make it sane.
And of course, having an over the top delusion, would depend entirely on state of mind - which can change instantly depending upon circumstance.
The proof IS that I have in no way pestered this man...as I told you before, we have had no communication in the flesh whatsoever...neither spoken nor written nor physical...I've never even seen his band in concert.
That's the part I wouldn't be able to obtain proof for. It's one thing you telling me you've never seen him, it's another thing altogether proving that statement. It's not that in this instance I specifically doubt what you're saying, it's just as an overall, "say so" doesn't cut it.
Oh, and his name is not John...I said that he WAS John, who wrote the book of John, 1John, 2John, 3John, and the book of revelations, in a past life. In this life he has a different name.
He
was John? Here's the problem with that:
David Koresh
was Jesus.
Tell me.. how quickly would you dismiss that notion?
There's your answer.
Jesus was not scrawny to your knowledge...and he was not suicidal. I'm tempted to say that you're an idiot...but I'll just say that you're not very well educated regarding the scriptures are you?
I apologise, I was poking fun. Seeings as there's no evidence that such a person even existed, saying he was scrawny or suicidal is somewhat presumptuous. Book aside, I can get a certain "understanding" from all the idols of jesus scattered about the place - from house doorways to peoples necklaces. From churches to the supposedly real "shroud". In each instance he's a scrawny dude dead on a plank of wood. If that's not what he looks like, why make them, wear them, put them on your walls? Might aswell just hang a picture of Odin above your fireplace and say it's the virgin Mary.
my whole point is that my flesh was NOT lonely...not at all, and has never been. I have been blessed with abundant love of family and friends. The point is that it was my spirit that was lonely, not my flesh.
I covered this earlier, but your statement has no actual meaning. Your flesh does not think, does not have emotion, does not have the luxury of getting lonely. As for the "spirit", it's just a puffed up word for brain. Everything you feel, think, do comes from exactly the same place - so no matter if you say "flesh" or "spirit"m you're referring to one thing alone.
We're not two entities melded into one, and there is absolutely not one miniscule pinprick of evidence to suggest the existence of spirits, souls or anything even close to it.
Nothing could be more obvious than the fact that you do not want to know the truth. For if you did, you would. It's law...seek and you shall find...knock and the door will be opened. What a scam you have going...to continually attest to seeking, yet in the wrong place...and then shrugging your shoulders and saying, "Well, I tried!?!" Who are you trying to fool? Yourself? You don't fool me. I know better...I've lived it.
It is my search for truth that leads me to study and science books. Looking at the clouds just doesn't compare.
However, I must confess that god isn't much of a concern for me. My daughter is the one of importance, and the only one worthy of my worship. Luckily she doesn't have to search for me, I'm there for her whether she seeks or not. I wont condemn her to hell if she refuses to accept me as her father, nor would I hide in the shadows like a prison escapee. That's what makes me a better parent than god.
Oh really? Soooo, how's that workin' for ya?
Honestly? I see it as making me a stronger and more rounded individual. It's like a man who's losing his hair, so he constantly wears a baseball cap - hiding from who he is. The minute he accepts his burden, he becomes much better for it. Frodo would never have been written about if he had have given the ring to Jesus.
Food, alcohol, sex, drugs, and rock and roll, and even organized religion can be used as a distraction...but that's all. You would have to be pretty oblivious...in some deep denial...to think that these things solved your problems or resolved your issues...they only serve to distract you from the fact that you have one...for a minute
Yeah, but while you're distracted, the problem
is solved because..... you're distracted. It's not a permanent solution, and nor will it ever be, but it's the swiftest way to remove the problem from vision. As for "for a minute": Some people's 'distractions' can last an entire lifetime. In one way or another, they generally do.
Actually solving the problems outright is vast and seriously complex, so the distraction works out more beneficial in the short term. Once again this comes in many guises - including religion, organised or unorganised.
I must admit it brought a smile to my face seeing you replace the 'god' with "organised religion", and then move on with:
Of course it's easier to understand the distraction, once you're no longer distracted.
Well, for starters...that having an abortion was the right thing to do. Yea, why not start with that one.
Ok, it's a good place to start. Now, tell me.. Did your brain just come out with a "yes, do it"? Did you not sit down for a while and "consult" with yourself looking at all angles, and hearing your 'good and bad' conscience battle the issue?
Sure, we don't always make the right choices, or more to the point - at a later date the choices we did make don't seem so valid, we are not perfect after all..
However, at the time a decision has to be made - and if there are no external influences, you will do what you feel is best at that time.
Yea, and my brain is somehow gonna find a way to make this rock star appear on my front porch and come and validate and attest to everything that I've been telling people for the last seven months. Riiiiiiiiiight.
Given that it hasn't actually happened (yet), you're in little position to say "Riiiiiiiiight". Save that for when, and if, it does happen.
Yea, good luck with that excuse for rape...you're really not all that brite are you?
Do you mean 'bright'?
The man did not sin...he did not succomb to the addictions...which is one reason why god did it this way...he overcame the addictions, not gave in to them...duh.
Sure, but then god might have given those addictions to you from someone else beforehand and back throughout time to day 1. Why not just bin the whole 'sin' thing if he's just gonna pass it round like a paedophile with candy in order to get rid of it? It's not like he actually needs to test people, being omniscient and all.
Um...what in the hell is wrong with you? Speak for yourself...it's not acceptable to me.
To use an old quote: "When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked him to forgive me."
Emo Philips.
Dude...I was talking about the rock star...
K. Apologies.
See what I mean? Some people don't want to heal...some don't want love, peace, and joy. Some people just want to wallow in their misery like pigs in slop.
Why does it always come across that "your type" think the rest of us are miserable, and living a life without joy, love and peace? True, I do get kind of upset when someone threatens me with hellfire unless I accept their beliefs, or crash lands a plane into my house for not believing in the same entity they do - but in general I'm really quite happy. Astoundingly so.
If I do have an off day, all I need to do is look at my daughter and I'm the happiest person on the planet. I don't need clouds for comfort, but when I see her smile, her laugh, her happiness - then I'm happy. The thing is, she doesn't even know what the word 'god' means.. there is no supernatural entity in her life - and yet I have never seen anyone smile so much.
Yes there is...yum. How about pumpkin pie? I'm gonna make some for Halloween...for my rock star.
Aren't you supposed to put pumpkins out for all the witches? I suppose it depends what book you read, the bible just says to stone them to death. I guess it's all down to personal opinion. I'd just question whether they even exist.
I sure as hell care, that's who...and one day, you will too.
No I wont.
