General Chat (Non-Music-Related)

Galatians 1:10
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

jook, you are probably aware of this, but did you know Islam is a big fan of Jesus?

I may be a little bit naïve concerning current events but I believe the press is accomplishing the goals set forth by this bunch by instilling fear into the hearts of the masses. That's EXACTLY what these nuts want to do.

I don't believe the press is blowing stuff out of proportion when they report Turkey shot down a Russian war plane, that's big news

if you read the "Russians are not taking prisoners thread", written by a Brazilian with no bias to the west or east, you will see Erdogan according to Putin is funding ISIS, American press will never allow you to hear such stuff.. I trust the www.rt.com press way more than CNN for non-bias reporting, Bill has as well as Talbot have reported the true danger is the Saudis with the wahabi thing

LOL! yeah, doncha just hate it when people toss around their "bigotry", intolerance, and judgements towards others w different belief systems? those wacky "hypocritical" atheists!

Oh, it's not so bad if they're honest about it. I can respect an honest satanist, or an honest socialist for example...

There have been a lot of people who call themselves christian and yet go against the teachings of the one they claim to follow. They have broken the Golden Rule of "do unto others as you would have others do unto you".

Atheists have no such humanitarian creed. More than 100 million people lost their lives last century at the hands of atheists dictators who were only doing what a godless person does.

And you guys are afraid of "organized religion"? That's funny.

Funny? The very same people are against organized law and respectful coexistence in the form of government.

I would hope that all the good will of men to fellow men comes from values of true moral teachings that come from religion.

That never seems to be the truth. The corruption of the law seems to be as bad as any corruption of religion.

There have been a lot of people who call themselves christian and yet go against the teachings of the one they claim to follow. They have broken the Golden Rule of "do unto others as you would have others do unto you".

Atheists have no such humanitarian creed.

"do unto others..." is a tenet of many religions going back as far as 500 BC "Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself." — Confucius[14](c. 500 BC)

and it IS most certainly the creed i and many atheists try to go by. do you really believe that i or any atheist needs the bible to command me not to kill, not to cheat on my wife, or help those in need???? it's kinda sad that anyone needs a book of rules to refer to in order to live a moral and just life.

and because you have such a book that you must continually refer back to and quote, you think christians stand on some higher moral ground?

Atheists have no such humanitarian creed.

what nonsense. the difference is that atheists don't need to have a play book that we must continually refer back to in order to behave properly.

And you guys are afraid of "organized religion"? That's funny.

what are you talking about??? i have zero "fear" of "organized religion". anyone can believe whatever they want, just don't ram your beliefs down my throat (and who does that here... atheists or christians????), and keep the separation between church and state and i'm cool.

now, on the other hand, all you Islamophobes....you're the ones w the "fear" and intolerance for those w a different belief system!

but that's the nature of christianity isn't it....you need to have everyone believe AS YOU DO. you're tasked w going out there and CONVERTING everyone to YOUR belief system.

who else DOES THAT? no other religion. and not atheists.

so...WHO has the fear of other belief systems?

Atheists have no such humanitarian creed. More than 100 million people lost their lives last century at the hands of atheists dictators who were only doing what a godless person does.

Yod- there are so-called 'Christians' in our government who have made allegiances w/ the same dictators you describe throughout history. This practice stills rules to this day. Stalin killed more people than Hitler during the 20th century. If it weren't for the Russians, Hitler may have taken over the World.

The government is constantly changing allegiances, choosing the lesser of two evils to accomplish their goals of global control. Why can't we develop our own energy sources and cut our allegiances w/ these people and watch their resources ($$$) dry up taking away their power on the global scene? We have the resources to do so. And why do we arm these people while trying to disarm the American public?? I want the power to defend my family and myself if someone tries to kill me.

I swore I would not get into these discussions because people cannot seem to debate these facts w/o getting emotionally attached to their own belief system. If we could discuss this like courteous, adult, intelligent people I wouldn't mind. I like to hear other people's viewpoints but not when it gets ugly. First bit of mud I see fly across the screen and I'm out of here.

I agree with you Jookey. I believe the reason we can't do these things is greed and power it in my opinion is as simple as that.

"do unto others..." is a tenet of many religions going back as far as 500 BC "Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself." — Confucius[14](c. 500 BC)

There is a difference between "don't do (bad) to someone...." and "do (good) unto...." so I'm going to disagree with your assessment. Yes, there are similar sayings but the difference in active deeds is 180 degrees.

and it IS most certainly the creed i and many atheists try to go by. do you really believe that i or any atheist needs the bible to command me not to kill, not to cheat on my wife, or help those in need???? it's kinda sad that anyone needs a book of rules to refer to in order to live a moral and just life.

Don't take it personally if it doesn't apply to you. But you've been raised with a Jewish ethic that is the same foundation of Christianity. Most atheists don't have the same foundation. I was an atheist because I didn't want any moral judgements at all. There was still an unstated societal moral conduct code that I followed, and there is even honor among thieves. Not the same thing as "do unto....."

and because you have such a book that you must continually refer back to and quote, you think christians stand on some higher moral ground?

I've never said anything of the like. What I'm saying is that there is an expectation of higher personal integrity even when no one is looking.

Sure there are hypocrites you can point at, but they have disobeyed their stated belief system. We all readily admit that none of us live up to it perfectly, yet there is no such moral standard for an atheist.

Theirs is a cultural morality, which can change according to the ethics of a society. Even murder can be justified as moral according to the local culture.

And you guys are afraid of "organized religion"? That's funny.

what are you talking about??? i have zero "fear" of "organized religion". anyone can believe whatever they want, just don't ram your beliefs down my throat (and who does that here... atheists or christians????), and keep the separation between church and state and i'm cool.

It wasn't a reference to you, Mark. I haven't been able to check in as often lately but I have seen here, and in the neo Socialists of the DNC an ugly bigotry being legitimized.

now, on the other hand, all you Islamophobes....you're the ones w the "fear" and intolerance for those w a different belief system!

This is a good example of why we can't get anywhere on this issue. You propagate the lies of Obama when you say such a stupid thing. I know of no one who is against helping people find a better life, as long as those people do so according to the same law every immigrant must follow, are non-violent, and adopt our legal system which allows the same rights of liberty to everyone. You support the current President being above the law when you repeat such propaganda.

Yes, I'm guilty of being against behavior that harms others, and creates a multi-tiered legal system. That includes inciting murder of anyone based on religion, raping of women as a religious ideology. Futhermore, I don't like someone broadcasting in minor 6th scales at 5 AM in my neighborhood no matter what their religion is. Heck, I wouldn't like "Amazing Grace" every morning & night either!?!

but that's the nature of christianity isn't it....you need to have everyone believe AS YOU DO. you're tasked w going out there and CONVERTING everyone to YOUR belief system.

Are you absolutely blind, or purposely deceptive?

History shows that freedom flourishes in nations that have the Judeo-Christian ethic. Try just saying that in an Islamic nation and you're dead.

so...WHO has the fear of other belief systems?

I'll repeat it for you: ATHEISTS!

Atheists are (and have always been) the worst at demanding uniformity of thought with the threat of violence, Mark. The evidence is clear and documented with Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot being the worst mass murderers of the last century, killing anyone who proclaimed faith in anything but the godless State.

Even in America you don't see Christians chasing down atheists to attack them, but atheists are clearly on the warpath against Christians everywhere.

Deny it all you want. Unlike an Islamist I'm not going to issue a fatwah to murder you. Unlike an atheist, I'm not going to hire an army of lawyers to silence you, or ridicule you personally. But you're wrong and I'm going to say it.

My faith comes from the Jewish bible which says that innocent life is precious, and all people have immense value. You don't find that same conviction in atheists or Islamists. This is obvious truth you are kicking against.


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to say that a society without religion has no morals is ludicrous. I have never been religious but I certainly know the difference between right and wrong.

Social morality is decided by the culture, yes. A Judeo-Christian biblical morality is decided by a higher authority, and therefore considers all people, from the least to the greatest.


Stalin's Russia had a social morality
Hitler's Germany had a social morality
Pol Pot's Vietnam had a social morality
Mao Tse Tong's China had a social morality

In all of those societies, murder of anyone who disagreed with the State was justified and "moral"


Even under the worst of Catholic & Protestant societies during Medieval ages, they could justify an intolerant cultural morality but it would be done in contradiction to the stated morality of Biblical mandate.




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Ted, I always thought Pol Pot commited his atrocities in Cambodia rather than Viet Nam?