General Music Chat

interesting how Humanism and Christianity are so similar to each other..

Christianity without the magic tricks, maybe?

I dunno.
I never really considered myself a humanist.
Anything with an -ism is usually trouble.

A really good book that anyone should try to find is "The Ethics of Star Trek" by Judith Barad Phd. & Ed Robertson

I can't speak for others but I gave $20k last year to serve those in need both locally, regionally and internationally. My family also supports individual children on 3 continents. Our home group prepared Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for 6 families who were going without. We regularly participate in serving 600 needy families with basic food, clothing, housing, car and bike repair, mobile medical care in nearby communities as well as outreach in South Central LA and a week long trip to serve in Mikes home town of Detroit last summer due to the tremendous need there.

The joy of giving is something I do know a little about. And yes I do personally resent government intrusion into this. They do it poorly and get it all wrong. As always YMMV.

https://www.facebook.com/WowJamDetroit2 ... tos_stream

that's great that you're literally putting your money where your mouth is and my hat's off to both you and your wife for walking the walk.

i understand your resentment of what you view as gov't intrusion....but as was asked above.....why should it diminish your (or anyone's) "joy of giving"?

A fair question and an important one. Government involvement depersonalizes the process. It creates an entitlement instead of a gift from one person to another. In my own experience "the gift" from one to another, hand to hand and eye to eye is often more nourishing than the bag of groceries for both parties involved. If you have ever done this you know exactly what I am talking about and the process of giving to others in need is quite infectious, encouraging even more giving.

People desperately need to know that others care about them and want them to succeed. Spending a moment and just hugging someone in need and asking them how they are doing is cut off in government aid programs. This greatly diminishes the process and is a very poor substitute for altruistic giving IMO.

I hope this clarifies my views on this. Others here will most certainly disagree.

The Parable of the Widow's Mite condensed:

Witnessing the donations made by the rich men, Jesus highlights how a poor widow donates only two mites, the least valuable coins available at the time. But, Jesus observes, this sum was everything she had to her name, while the other people give only a small portion of their own wealth.

You are absolutely right Dane. I am by no means a rich man but have a gift of managing money well. My wife is actually the generous one and I value giving and her natural sense of altruism highly.

Everyone can give of themselves to another and the process is both uplifting and healing. Paying taxes is a depersonalized obligation that does occasionally feed mouths but is uplifting and healing to no one.

I did not mean to come across as it might have sounded, but rather Scott mentioned he was really impressed by such a large donation, and only wanted to point out even giving a small amount if it's all you have, but a small amount of money to your name, is more impressive and worthy in Jesus's eyes, although humans seem to be always impressed by the pomp and circumstance, and not of the "act" by itself..no way was I trying to belittle you J7

No offense taken Dane. I am actually ashamed and embarrassed that I used the $$ number but felt it was necessary at the moment to drive home my point. Bad form on my part because a $$ amount has nothing to do with it.

if I was a tenth of generous as you J7 I could at least feel good about myself.. the only charity I have been giving the last few years is money on cat food to feed animals that have been dumped down at the end of the road..I did give a little to Red Cross online..but I do not tithe a church cause I don't go to church..I have gotten so I do not help people at auctions move furniture when asked, I feel bad about that and Jesus always said help your brother, but it won't pay for the chiropractor when my back goes out again lugging a china cabinet.. maybe God will have some small amount of mercy on me, I can only pray I have done enough to be worthy to enter Heaven. even if it's a lower heaven ..

interesting how Humanism and Christianity are so similar to each other..

Christianity without the magic tricks, maybe?

I dunno.
I never really considered myself a humanist.
Anything with an -ism is usually trouble.

A really good book that anyone should try to find is "The Ethics of Star Trek" by Judith Barad Phd. & Ed Robertson

You, and almost every atheist you could name, are hypocritical when you criticize christians.

Christians care for the poor, sick, and needy more than any group you could name. Christians invented hospitals and public education, not to mention religious liberty for all.

As Dave (J7 band) has shown, we constantly give to help people without blowing a trumpet, or asking for anything in return.

Not so when the government does it. Their interest in helping people is purely political. They want citizens to be dependent, while christians want to help people become independent.

You can point to the exceptions but the rule is selfless service to others as Yeshua did.




.

interesting how Humanism and Christianity are so similar to each other..

Christianity without the magic tricks, maybe?

I dunno.
I never really considered myself a humanist.
Anything with an -ism is usually trouble.

A really good book that anyone should try to find is "The Ethics of Star Trek" by Judith Barad Phd. & Ed Robertson

You, and almost every atheist you could name, are hypocritical when you criticize christians.

Christians care for the poor, sick, and needy more than any group you could name. Christians invented hospitals and public education, not to mention religious liberty for all.

As Dave (J7 band) has shown, we constantly give to help people without blowing a trumpet, or asking for anything in return.

Not so when the government does it. Their interest in helping people is purely political. They want citizens to be dependent, while christians want to help people become independent.

You can point to the exceptions but the rule is selfless service to others as Yeshua did.

I don't get where you see the hypocrisy in pointing out hypocrisies.

I never denied that Christianity has contributed a lot of good.
ALL religions have, or they wouldn't exist.
But, the negatives outweigh the positives.
The first casualty of religion is the truth.
Is it true?
The real loyalty we owe is to truth.

People CAN and DO do good things ON THEIR OWN, without the lies and fairytales, without fear of eternal damnation.

Jesus isn't interested in your tithe.
You know the church isn't hurting for donations, only good ways to spend it.
(And when in doubt, they don't spend a penny.)

Everybody does what they can and you do what you can do, pro rated on who you are and what you can afford.

I'm impressed, not so by the amount of Dave's donation, but by the idea that it was a significant contribution of an uncomfortable amount.

So many non-significant pleasantries are exchanged and then people are back to the grinder; screw you, screw me, screw it all, 24/7/365.

I am unsure I would be able to donate 20K unless I really had the world by the short hairs, which I do not at this time and that humbles me a little considering who I am and where I have been. Even if I had it, I don't know if I would be courageous enough to donate it.

Kudos to Dave/J7, you got it going on for sure and I don't care what the rest think, I appreciate your generous efforts. I am sure your karma is quite good and that is something that $ does not buy.

I don't get where you see the hypocrisy in pointing out hypocrisies.

The hypocrisy is in singling out christianity for your criticism. I would wager that every christian on this board has done more to help others than you have ever imagined doing, while wagging your finger at us.

I never denied that Christianity has contributed a lot of good.
ALL religions have, or they wouldn't exist.

No, they don't.

Judaism and Christianity (because of jewish roots) are the only religions with the concept of blessing people who can't pay you back.

Hindus won't help anyone. They think your karma is altered by someone giving you a hand. Muslims only help muslims. Atheists don't help anyone unless they get a return for that investment. Buddists, especially Zen, do have the concept of helping others but not on the same scale as Christianity regularly does.

But, the negatives outweigh the positives.
The first casualty of religion is the truth.
Is it true?
The real loyalty we owe is to truth.

Then lets hear you admit that nobody in the history of planet earth has done more to help the poor like the Christian church has.

I readily admit that many abuses have also occured in the name of Jesus, even "some" of the worst events in human history, but every time it was done in contradiction to the words of the bible they claimed to trust.

Whereas, atheists follow their own manifestos to a "t" when they are destroying the world. It's no contradiction for an atheist to be a mass murderer.



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with all due respect to mr colbert
this is not a christian nation,
there is no such thing, hasn't been one since the Byzantine,
as a matter fact the separation of church and state forbids the country acting out of any religious motivation what so ever,
so his propaganda is basically meaningless.

and yes scott
you do owe me $10

I don't get where you see the hypocrisy in pointing out hypocrisies.

The hypocrisy is in singling out christianity for your criticism. I would wager that every christian on this board has done more to help others than you have ever imagined doing, while wagging your finger at us.

I am sorry if you feel like Christianity is being singled out.
I just happen to be more familiar with it than Scientology or Satanism.

I never denied that Christianity has contributed a lot of good.
ALL religions have, or they wouldn't exist.

No, they don't.

Judaism and Christianity (because of jewish roots) are the only religions with the concept of blessing people who can't pay you back.

Hindus won't help anyone. They think your karma is altered by someone giving you a hand. Muslims only help muslims. Atheists don't help anyone unless they get a return for that investment. Buddists, especially Zen, do have the concept of helping others but not on the same scale as Christianity regularly does.

Well, now you are just being bigoted.

But, the negatives outweigh the positives.
The first casualty of religion is the truth.
Is it true?
The real loyalty we owe is to truth.

Then lets hear you admit that nobody in the history of planet earth has done more to help the poor like the Christian church has.

I readily admit that many abuses have also occured in the name of Jesus, even "some" of the worst events in human history, but every time it was done in contradiction to the words of the bible they claimed to trust.

Whereas, atheists follow their own manifestos to a "t" when they are destroying the world. It's no contradiction for an atheist to be a mass murderer.

I do not know for a fact which religion has done more or less of what, and neither do you.
I am not going to pretend that I do.

The words of the bible can be twisted and reinterpreted to be almost anything.
People who burn "witches" in New Guinea aren't quoting Christopher Hitchens, I can tell you that.

Atheism doesn't HAVE a manifesto.
That is why it is atheism.

Send me a PM with an address and I'll send you the 10$..

I take it cash is ok with you? lol

Atheists don't help anyone unless they get a return for that investment.

ok, we have a winner!

that might actually be THE most brain dead thing i've seen posted on this forum.

i don't know which impresses most ...the arrogance or the ignorance of that statement.

Send me a PM with an address and I'll send you the 10$..

I take it cash is ok with you? lol

send it to mike nobody
I think he needs the money