Religion Pole

MikeDamone

Fishpo31 said:

I went to church (Presbyterian) as a child with my mom, while dad played golf. When mom learned to play golf, we stopped going to church, and I started playing golf. I've spent a lot of time in Catholic Churches, looking back, I apparently have a predilection (or fetish) for Catholic girls (Joe's Garage, IIRC @Yella)...

I think religion today is like a lot of things in life...initial great intentions, rules, customs, a sense of order, and as those great intentions move forward, people/institutions have found a way to monetize and market them to the masses as "THIS is the way, and it's the ONLY way". My wife was raised Catholic, but we don't go to church because we didn't marry in the church, and it guilts the shit out of her (the Catholic way). My problem is with the "True Believers" trying to get others to convert. Our neighbors dropped that on us early, and I put a stop to that convo in a hurry. I have no issue with what they believe, until they try to make me believe as they do.

I am conflicted about a lot of it, but I am not conflicted in my personal beliefs, so I got that going for me, which is nice...

Are you talking about religion or the gays? Because the religious people can’t “make you believe as you do”. But the gays sure can make you believe or at least make you pretend to.

MikeDamone

chuck said:

MikeDamone said:

PurpleThrobber said:

MikeDamone said:

YellowSnow said:

MikeDamone said:

YellowSnow said:

MikeDamone said:

YellowSnow said:

MikeDamone said:

YellowSnow said:

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Some say it takes more faith not to believe than to believe.

Well, yeah, if I’m wrong, the consequences are dire. Eternal damnation sounds like a real bummer.

The point is, you have faith.

I don’t stress about it much. The burden of proof is not on me after all. I don’t make any metaphysical claims.

I didn’t assert you stressed. Just stated a fact. Yet some would suggest “life emerges” is a metaphysical claim.

Some are wrong. There's no metaphysical claim with "life emerges", rather, we're? just saying we don't know yet (and may never know). But not knowing the answer doesn't equate to evidence of magic or that the laws of physics were suspended this one time.

At the end of the day, I stand by Saint Chris Hitchens point, which is to say that which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.

Yes… it can be. Which is why “life emerges” 600 million years ago requires faith. Because it can be dismissed without evidence.

My bro in law has a PHD in chemistry. From UW in the mid 90s. He runs a big department of about 200 people doing top secret shit. His journey to Christianity was chinteresting (or not). The deeper he got into science and his field, he could no longer ignore that God exists. Until he then accepted Christ. He’s not the only scientist I know who went through this. It doesn’t prove or disprove anything. I just find it compelling when people deep into chemistry, biology, archaeology, astronomy, etc either become Christian’s or their faith deepens.

It takes a whole lot more faith to believe the entirety of the universe came together by a series of unrelated cells, minerals, atoms and events than to accept that perhaps there is some master designer that built it.

That’s my point. Im an atheist though. But I understand the benefit religion has in organization and maintaining a civil society throughout history and today. I’m not anti religion. Atheists who lose their shit over religion are fucking annoying. They are usually arrogant smug pricks as well. The Flying Spaghetti Monster is a stupid schtick. Some very intelligent and enlightened people throughout history aren’t so dismissive and flippant about it. Calling people of faith idiots show inability to think abstractly and see a picture.

I remember my calling non-atheists idiots stage phase .

Hopefully you’re more enlightened now.

Fishpo31

Deist - some God of some sort is out there, somewhere

MikeDamone said:

Fishpo31 said:

I went to church (Presbyterian) as a child with my mom, while dad played golf. When mom learned to play golf, we stopped going to church, and I started playing golf. I've spent a lot of time in Catholic Churches, looking back, I apparently have a predilection (or fetish) for Catholic girls (Joe's Garage, IIRC @Yella)...

I think religion today is like a lot of things in life...initial great intentions, rules, customs, a sense of order, and as those great intentions move forward, people/institutions have found a way to monetize and market them to the masses as "THIS is the way, and it's the ONLY way". My wife was raised Catholic, but we don't go to church because we didn't marry in the church, and it guilts the shit out of her (the Catholic way). My problem is with the "True Believers" trying to get others to convert. Our neighbors dropped that on us early, and I put a stop to that convo in a hurry. I have no issue with what they believe, until they try to make me believe as they do.

I am conflicted about a lot of it, but I am not conflicted in my personal beliefs, so I got that going for me, which is nice...

Are you talking about religion or the gays? Because the religious people can’t “make you believe as you do”. But the gays sure can make you believe or at least make you pretend to.

Not sure of your context, but there is a rather firm line between tolerance and full-blown indoctrination / conversion, for me.

EDIT: I have dealt with many more evangelical types trying to convert me than gays (0), and I have several gay friends / acquaintances...("I can't be racist, I have black friends POTD...)

MikeDamone

Fishpo31 said:

MikeDamone said:

Fishpo31 said:

I went to church (Presbyterian) as a child with my mom, while dad played golf. When mom learned to play golf, we stopped going to church, and I started playing golf. I've spent a lot of time in Catholic Churches, looking back, I apparently have a predilection (or fetish) for Catholic girls (Joe's Garage, IIRC @Yella)...

I think religion today is like a lot of things in life...initial great intentions, rules, customs, a sense of order, and as those great intentions move forward, people/institutions have found a way to monetize and market them to the masses as "THIS is the way, and it's the ONLY way". My wife was raised Catholic, but we don't go to church because we didn't marry in the church, and it guilts the shit out of her (the Catholic way). My problem is with the "True Believers" trying to get others to convert. Our neighbors dropped that on us early, and I put a stop to that convo in a hurry. I have no issue with what they believe, until they try to make me believe as they do.

I am conflicted about a lot of it, but I am not conflicted in my personal beliefs, so I got that going for me, which is nice...

Are you talking about religion or the gays? Because the religious people can’t “make you believe as you do”. But the gays sure can make you believe or at least make you pretend to.

Not sure of your context, but there is a rather firm line between tolerance and full-blown indoctrination / conversion, for me.

EDIT: I have dealt with many more evangelical types trying to convert me than gays (0), and I have several gay friends / acquaintances...("I can't be racist, I have black friends POTD...)

The evangelicals can try all they want and present their arguments. You can accept or reject and move on. The gays can make your life miserable if you don’t comply. The have they weight of the government on their side. Just try not decorating a cake for them and see how it goes. Gays have the education system on their side for the “indoctrination”. The evangelicals don’t. With evangelicals you are free to ignore them and shut down the conversation. Good luck ignoring the gay agenda. Does the city of seattle fly a pride flag, or a Christian flag?

Fishpo31

Deist - some God of some sort is out there, somewhere

Gotcha. They shouldn’t fly either one, but I haven’t been beat over the head by the gay stuff like most, possibly due to my elderly status. My wife and daughters do the Pride stuff, I do not. I don’t try to convert people to my way, and expect the same in return. I believe what I believe, and that is where my compliance lies…

MikeDamone

Fishpo31 said:

Gotcha. They shouldn’t fly either one, but I haven’t been beat over the head by the gay stuff like most, possibly due to my elderly status. My wife and daughters do the Pride stuff, I do not. I don’t try to convert people to my way, and expect the same in return. I believe what I believe, and that is where my compliance lies…

The difference is one you can ignore, like a sales pitch. It holds no sway other than annoying you. Just move on. Who cares? The other has the weight of law and you will comply or you will be punished. One is celebrated and pushed in school classrooms. The other is not. One is supported and celebrated by your city. The other is not.

Fishpo31

Deist - some God of some sort is out there, somewhere

MikeDamone said:

Fishpo31 said:

Gotcha. They shouldn’t fly either one, but I haven’t been beat over the head by the gay stuff like most, possibly due to my elderly status. My wife and daughters do the Pride stuff, I do not. I don’t try to convert people to my way, and expect the same in return. I believe what I believe, and that is where my compliance lies…

The difference is one you can ignore, like a sales pitch. It holds no sway other than annoying you. Just move on. Who cares? The other has the weight of law and you will comply or you will be punished. One is celebrated and pushed in school classrooms. The other is not. One is supported and celebrated by your city. The other is not.

Not my city any more…

MikeDamone

Fishpo31 said:

MikeDamone said:

Fishpo31 said:

Gotcha. They shouldn’t fly either one, but I haven’t been beat over the head by the gay stuff like most, possibly due to my elderly status. My wife and daughters do the Pride stuff, I do not. I don’t try to convert people to my way, and expect the same in return. I believe what I believe, and that is where my compliance lies…

The difference is one you can ignore, like a sales pitch. It holds no sway other than annoying you. Just move on. Who cares? The other has the weight of law and you will comply or you will be punished. One is celebrated and pushed in school classrooms. The other is not. One is supported and celebrated by your city. The other is not.

Not my city any more…

Good luck the rest of the way. I hope the evangelicals don't have you fined for not participating in their weddings.

chuck

Deist - some God of some sort is out there, somewhere

MikeDamone said:

chuck said:

MikeDamone said:

PurpleThrobber said:

MikeDamone said:

YellowSnow said:

MikeDamone said:

YellowSnow said:

MikeDamone said:

YellowSnow said:

MikeDamone said:

YellowSnow said:

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Some say it takes more faith not to believe than to believe.

Well, yeah, if I’m wrong, the consequences are dire. Eternal damnation sounds like a real bummer.

The point is, you have faith.

I don’t stress about it much. The burden of proof is not on me after all. I don’t make any metaphysical claims.

I didn’t assert you stressed. Just stated a fact. Yet some would suggest “life emerges” is a metaphysical claim.

Some are wrong. There's no metaphysical claim with "life emerges", rather, we're? just saying we don't know yet (and may never know). But not knowing the answer doesn't equate to evidence of magic or that the laws of physics were suspended this one time.

At the end of the day, I stand by Saint Chris Hitchens point, which is to say that which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.

Yes… it can be. Which is why “life emerges” 600 million years ago requires faith. Because it can be dismissed without evidence.

My bro in law has a PHD in chemistry. From UW in the mid 90s. He runs a big department of about 200 people doing top secret shit. His journey to Christianity was chinteresting (or not). The deeper he got into science and his field, he could no longer ignore that God exists. Until he then accepted Christ. He’s not the only scientist I know who went through this. It doesn’t prove or disprove anything. I just find it compelling when people deep into chemistry, biology, archaeology, astronomy, etc either become Christian’s or their faith deepens.

It takes a whole lot more faith to believe the entirety of the universe came together by a series of unrelated cells, minerals, atoms and events than to accept that perhaps there is some master designer that built it.

That’s my point. Im an atheist though. But I understand the benefit religion has in organization and maintaining a civil society throughout history and today. I’m not anti religion. Atheists who lose their shit over religion are fucking annoying. They are usually arrogant smug pricks as well. The Flying Spaghetti Monster is a stupid schtick. Some very intelligent and enlightened people throughout history aren’t so dismissive and flippant about it. Calling people of faith idiots show inability to think abstractly and see a picture.

I remember my calling non-atheists idiots stage phase .

Hopefully you’re more enlightened now.

Oops did I put stage?

I wouldn't say enlightened. I did stop calling people idiots over their faith though. My gf of many years is serious about Christianity. It's not an issue for us.

pawz

chuck said:

MikeDamone said:

chuck said:

MikeDamone said:

PurpleThrobber said:

MikeDamone said:

YellowSnow said:

MikeDamone said:

YellowSnow said:

MikeDamone said:

YellowSnow said:

MikeDamone said:

YellowSnow said:

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Some say it takes more faith not to believe than to believe.

Well, yeah, if I’m wrong, the consequences are dire. Eternal damnation sounds like a real bummer.

The point is, you have faith.

I don’t stress about it much. The burden of proof is not on me after all. I don’t make any metaphysical claims.

I didn’t assert you stressed. Just stated a fact. Yet some would suggest “life emerges” is a metaphysical claim.

Some are wrong. There's no metaphysical claim with "life emerges", rather, we're? just saying we don't know yet (and may never know). But not knowing the answer doesn't equate to evidence of magic or that the laws of physics were suspended this one time.

At the end of the day, I stand by Saint Chris Hitchens point, which is to say that which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.

Yes… it can be. Which is why “life emerges” 600 million years ago requires faith. Because it can be dismissed without evidence.

My bro in law has a PHD in chemistry. From UW in the mid 90s. He runs a big department of about 200 people doing top secret shit. His journey to Christianity was chinteresting (or not). The deeper he got into science and his field, he could no longer ignore that God exists. Until he then accepted Christ. He’s not the only scientist I know who went through this. It doesn’t prove or disprove anything. I just find it compelling when people deep into chemistry, biology, archaeology, astronomy, etc either become Christian’s or their faith deepens.

It takes a whole lot more faith to believe the entirety of the universe came together by a series of unrelated cells, minerals, atoms and events than to accept that perhaps there is some master designer that built it.

That’s my point. Im an atheist though. But I understand the benefit religion has in organization and maintaining a civil society throughout history and today. I’m not anti religion. Atheists who lose their shit over religion are fucking annoying. They are usually arrogant smug pricks as well. The Flying Spaghetti Monster is a stupid schtick. Some very intelligent and enlightened people throughout history aren’t so dismissive and flippant about it. Calling people of faith idiots show inability to think abstractly and see a picture.

I remember my calling non-atheists idiots stage phase .

Hopefully you’re more enlightened now.

Oops did I put stage?

I wouldn't say enlightened. I did stop calling people idiots over their faith though. My gf of many years is serious about Christianity. It's not an issue for us.

YKWYWF

chuck

Deist - some God of some sort is out there, somewhere

pawz said:

chuck said:

MikeDamone said:

chuck said:

MikeDamone said:

PurpleThrobber said:

MikeDamone said:

YellowSnow said:

MikeDamone said:

YellowSnow said:

MikeDamone said:

YellowSnow said:

MikeDamone said:

YellowSnow said:

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Some say it takes more faith not to believe than to believe.

Well, yeah, if I’m wrong, the consequences are dire. Eternal damnation sounds like a real bummer.

The point is, you have faith.

I don’t stress about it much. The burden of proof is not on me after all. I don’t make any metaphysical claims.

I didn’t assert you stressed. Just stated a fact. Yet some would suggest “life emerges” is a metaphysical claim.

Some are wrong. There's no metaphysical claim with "life emerges", rather, we're? just saying we don't know yet (and may never know). But not knowing the answer doesn't equate to evidence of magic or that the laws of physics were suspended this one time.

At the end of the day, I stand by Saint Chris Hitchens point, which is to say that which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.

Yes… it can be. Which is why “life emerges” 600 million years ago requires faith. Because it can be dismissed without evidence.

My bro in law has a PHD in chemistry. From UW in the mid 90s. He runs a big department of about 200 people doing top secret shit. His journey to Christianity was chinteresting (or not). The deeper he got into science and his field, he could no longer ignore that God exists. Until he then accepted Christ. He’s not the only scientist I know who went through this. It doesn’t prove or disprove anything. I just find it compelling when people deep into chemistry, biology, archaeology, astronomy, etc either become Christian’s or their faith deepens.

It takes a whole lot more faith to believe the entirety of the universe came together by a series of unrelated cells, minerals, atoms and events than to accept that perhaps there is some master designer that built it.

That’s my point. Im an atheist though. But I understand the benefit religion has in organization and maintaining a civil society throughout history and today. I’m not anti religion. Atheists who lose their shit over religion are fucking annoying. They are usually arrogant smug pricks as well. The Flying Spaghetti Monster is a stupid schtick. Some very intelligent and enlightened people throughout history aren’t so dismissive and flippant about it. Calling people of faith idiots show inability to think abstractly and see a picture.

I remember my calling non-atheists idiots stage phase .

Hopefully you’re more enlightened now.

Oops did I put stage?

I wouldn't say enlightened. I did stop calling people idiots over their faith though. My gf of many years is serious about Christianity. It's not an issue for us.

YKWYWF

? I don't know that one. I'll assume it's a compliment though.

dnc

Sermon Seeker - TRUE believer in REAL God (protestant division)

chuck said:

pawz said:

chuck said:

MikeDamone said:

chuck said:

MikeDamone said:

PurpleThrobber said:

MikeDamone said:

YellowSnow said:

MikeDamone said:

YellowSnow said:

MikeDamone said:

YellowSnow said:

MikeDamone said:

YellowSnow said:

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Some say it takes more faith not to believe than to believe.

Well, yeah, if I’m wrong, the consequences are dire. Eternal damnation sounds like a real bummer.

The point is, you have faith.

I don’t stress about it much. The burden of proof is not on me after all. I don’t make any metaphysical claims.

I didn’t assert you stressed. Just stated a fact. Yet some would suggest “life emerges” is a metaphysical claim.

Some are wrong. There's no metaphysical claim with "life emerges", rather, we're? just saying we don't know yet (and may never know). But not knowing the answer doesn't equate to evidence of magic or that the laws of physics were suspended this one time.

At the end of the day, I stand by Saint Chris Hitchens point, which is to say that which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.

Yes… it can be. Which is why “life emerges” 600 million years ago requires faith. Because it can be dismissed without evidence.

My bro in law has a PHD in chemistry. From UW in the mid 90s. He runs a big department of about 200 people doing top secret shit. His journey to Christianity was chinteresting (or not). The deeper he got into science and his field, he could no longer ignore that God exists. Until he then accepted Christ. He’s not the only scientist I know who went through this. It doesn’t prove or disprove anything. I just find it compelling when people deep into chemistry, biology, archaeology, astronomy, etc either become Christian’s or their faith deepens.

It takes a whole lot more faith to believe the entirety of the universe came together by a series of unrelated cells, minerals, atoms and events than to accept that perhaps there is some master designer that built it.

That’s my point. Im an atheist though. But I understand the benefit religion has in organization and maintaining a civil society throughout history and today. I’m not anti religion. Atheists who lose their shit over religion are fucking annoying. They are usually arrogant smug pricks as well. The Flying Spaghetti Monster is a stupid schtick. Some very intelligent and enlightened people throughout history aren’t so dismissive and flippant about it. Calling people of faith idiots show inability to think abstractly and see a picture.

I remember my calling non-atheists idiots stage phase .

Hopefully you’re more enlightened now.

Oops did I put stage?

I wouldn't say enlightened. I did stop calling people idiots over their faith though. My gf of many years is serious about Christianity. It's not an issue for us.

YKWYWF

? I don't know that one. I'll assume it's a compliment though.

you know why you were flagged

LebamDawg

Deist - some God of some sort is out there, somewhere

I paid $35 for my official papers and became a priest in the Universal Life Church. I held communion daily, sometimes 3-4 times a day - to hell waiting for Sundays. None of my friends would let me perform the wedding ceremonies. Assholes.

I was down and out when I paid the $35 - otherwise I would have paid the $100 for the advanced degree and name or my choice. My wife at the time did not approve of me doing that as I wanted to name myself Mother Superior.

RoadDawg55

Sermon Seeker - TRUE believer in REAL God (protestant division)

I certainly believe in God. I grew up Catholic and going to Church most weekends until I was a teen. Weekends got busy with sports and other activities so my family only went sporadically and then not at all.

I don’t think I could be a Catholic now. It’s a little too stuffy for me. I’m not big on the rules other than attempting to be a good person. I have thought about joining a Christian church and trying it out, but have not done so as an adult. I probably overthink it, but I want something that fits me and it’s hard.

I like the aspect of it being a community. Someone can move to a new city and join a church and be welcomed. Most that attend are trying to be good person.

I can’t stand people that think religion is all awful. Obviously organized religion is deeply flawed, but it has its purpose and is important.

RoadDawg55

Sermon Seeker - TRUE believer in REAL God (protestant division)

YellowSnow said:

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.

All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.

YellowSnow

Flying spaghetti monsterinan - God's not real you fucking idiot

RoadDawg55 said:

YellowSnow said:

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.

All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.

I suppose where I differ with you god guysm, is that “somehow life started” doesn’t suggest to me magic and/or divine plan. The origins of life seem totally random, haphazard and disorganized.

chuck

Deist - some God of some sort is out there, somewhere

YellowSnow said:

RoadDawg55 said:

YellowSnow said:

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.

All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.

I suppose where I differ with you god guysm, is that “somehow life started” doesn’t suggest to me magic and/or divine plan. The origins of life seem totally random, haphazard and disorganized.

It was, but you still can't rule out that it was all set in motion by something.

YellowSnow

Flying spaghetti monsterinan - God's not real you fucking idiot

chuck said:

YellowSnow said:

RoadDawg55 said:

YellowSnow said:

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.

All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.

I suppose where I differ with you god guysm, is that “somehow life started” doesn’t suggest to me magic and/or divine plan. The origins of life seem totally random, haphazard and disorganized.

It was, but you still can't rule out that it was all set in motion by something.

Nope. But we can make educated guesses.

There’s no examples of magic in the normal, every day universe, which is why I don’t see how “life began” would be any different.

Mad_Son

MadSon the Chosen Ones

RoadDawg55 said:

YellowSnow said:

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.

All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.

If God's purpose is to fill in the gaps of human knowledge, then God is shrinking every day.

PurpleThrobber

Janet Reno

Mad_Son said:

RoadDawg55 said:

YellowSnow said:

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.

All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.

If God's purpose is to fill in the gaps of human knowledge, then God is shrinking every day.

If you’ve ever read an @HHusky or @MelloDawg post on the Tug, you’d know that’s not true.

YellowSnow

Flying spaghetti monsterinan - God's not real you fucking idiot

PurpleThrobber said:

Mad_Son said:

RoadDawg55 said:

YellowSnow said:

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.

All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.

If God's purpose is to fill in the gaps of human knowledge, then God is shrinking every day.

If you’ve ever read an @HHusky or @MelloDawg post on the Tug, you’d know that’s not true.

It’s a long list.

Doog_de_Jour

Buddha but not Baker

Grew up Lutheran. Loved my church. It was pretty progressive for the time/area (didn’t take the Bible literally, gays weren’t going to Hell, and encouraged interfaith dialog - even with those shady papists!)…good old fashioned hymns, potlucks after the service, and you got out early enough to watch the afternoon NFL games. The congregation was a great community: little old ladies hand sewed us quilts as confirmation gifts, and we did charity work. I can confidently say that place had a big part in shaping my moral compass.

But when I got to college, I finally popped open the hood of my theological car and took a look at what was inside. I realized that I didn’t actually agree with/believe a lot of it. Plus my social circle now mostly consisted of the non-religious or atheists. I only went to church when I visited my parents, and even then it just felt like theater to me. I entered my spiritual “desert period”.

After visiting lots of other houses of worship and reading a ton of religious texts I ended up going with Team Buddhist (fortunately my family respected my decision). I loved forming a meditation practice, there were services during the week so I had my weekends free. But what I loved most of all was that questioning was not only allowed, but encouraged. That being said though, anything that delved too deeply into the metaphysical (including the existence of a “God”) was downplayed, as it was a distraction from the practical real-life work of finding calm, being a good person, and breaking the cycle of suffering.

But then 2020 happened.

Between Trump, COVID, all the civil unrest, my sangha (congregation) went WAY political. We talked less about the dharma (teachings), and more about what was in the news. I’m a big believer of separation of church and state, so I left…not to go to transfer portal, but with the intention of becoming a sole practitioner. And that’s what I did.

I still meditate everyday, try not to be an asshole, and am currently reading a lot of books on Western philosophy. I miss having a community, but this feels far more authentic.

Anywho, thank you for coming to my TED talk. Interesting thread @dnc.

PurpleThrobber

Janet Reno

YellowSnow said:

PurpleThrobber said:

Mad_Son said:

RoadDawg55 said:

YellowSnow said:

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.

All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.

If God's purpose is to fill in the gaps of human knowledge, then God is shrinking every day.

If you’ve ever read an @HHusky or @MelloDawg post on the Tug, you’d know that’s not true.

It’s a long list.

You can't rank the amateurs with the professionals.

YellowSnow

Flying spaghetti monsterinan - God's not real you fucking idiot

Doog_de_Jour said:

Grew up Lutheran. Loved my church. It was pretty progressive for the time/area (didn’t take the Bible literally, gays weren’t going to Hell, and encouraged interfaith dialog - even with those shady papists!)…good old fashioned hymns, potlucks after the service, and you got out early enough to watch the afternoon NFL games. The congregation was a great community: little old ladies hand sewed us quilts as confirmation gifts, and we did charity work. I can confidently say that place had a big part in shaping my moral compass.

But when I got to college, I finally popped open the hood of my theological car and took a look at what was inside. I realized that I didn’t actually agree with/believe a lot of it. Plus my social circle now mostly consisted of the non-religious or atheists. I only went to church when I visited my parents, and even then it just felt like theater to me. I entered my spiritual “desert period”.

After visiting lots of other houses of worship and reading a ton of religious texts I ended up going with Team Buddhist (fortunately my family respected my decision). I loved forming a meditation practice, there were services during the week so I had my weekends free. But what I loved most of all was that questioning was not only allowed, but encouraged. That being said though, anything that delved too deeply into the metaphysical (including the existence of a “God”) was downplayed, as it was a distraction from the practical real-life work of finding calm, being a good person, and breaking the cycle of suffering.

But then 2020 happened.

Between Trump, COVID, all the civil unrest, my sangha (congregation) went WAY political. We talked less about the dharma (teachings), and more about what was in the news. I’m a big believer of separation of church and state, so I left…not to go to transfer portal, but with the intention of becoming a sole practitioner. And that’s what I did.

I still meditate everyday, try not to be an asshole, and am currently reading a lot of books on Western philosophy. I miss having a community, but this feels far more authentic.

Anywho, thank you for coming to my TED talk. Interesting thread @dnc.

Sam Harris tells me there's no mutual exclusivity between meditation and atheism.

Doogles

Deist - some God of some sort is out there, somewhere

YellowSnow said:

chuck said:

YellowSnow said:

RoadDawg55 said:

YellowSnow said:

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.

All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.

I suppose where I differ with you god guysm, is that “somehow life started” doesn’t suggest to me magic and/or divine plan. The origins of life seem totally random, haphazard and disorganized.

It was, but you still can't rule out that it was all set in motion by something.

Nope. But we can make educated guesses.

There’s no examples of magic in the normal, every day universe, which is why I don’t see how “life began” would be any different.

Evolution seems pretty magical to me.

chuck

Deist - some God of some sort is out there, somewhere

Doogles said:

YellowSnow said:

chuck said:

YellowSnow said:

RoadDawg55 said:

YellowSnow said:

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.

All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.

I suppose where I differ with you god guysm, is that “somehow life started” doesn’t suggest to me magic and/or divine plan. The origins of life seem totally random, haphazard and disorganized.

It was, but you still can't rule out that it was all set in motion by something.

Nope. But we can make educated guesses.

There’s no examples of magic in the normal, every day universe, which is why I don’t see how “life began” would be any different.

Evolution seems pretty magical to me.

I dont understand why people bother with evolution anymore. There are way bigger, way older, way more difficult questions that render recent, small matters like life on an isolated rock planet a trivial matter.

YellowSnow

Flying spaghetti monsterinan - God's not real you fucking idiot

Doogles said:

YellowSnow said:

chuck said:

YellowSnow said:

RoadDawg55 said:

YellowSnow said:

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.

All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.

I suppose where I differ with you god guysm, is that “somehow life started” doesn’t suggest to me magic and/or divine plan. The origins of life seem totally random, haphazard and disorganized.

It was, but you still can't rule out that it was all set in motion by something.

Nope. But we can make educated guesses.

There’s no examples of magic in the normal, every day universe, which is why I don’t see how “life began” would be any different.

Evolution seems pretty magical to me.

Agree. Sexy-time to pass along heritable traits is a magical thing. I've enjoyed it.

Doog_de_Jour

Buddha but not Baker

YellowSnow said:

Doog_de_Jour said:

Grew up Lutheran. Loved my church. It was pretty progressive for the time/area (didn’t take the Bible literally, gays weren’t going to Hell, and encouraged interfaith dialog - even with those shady papists!)…good old fashioned hymns, potlucks after the service, and you got out early enough to watch the afternoon NFL games. The congregation was a great community: little old ladies hand sewed us quilts as confirmation gifts, and we did charity work. I can confidently say that place had a big part in shaping my moral compass.

But when I got to college, I finally popped open the hood of my theological car and took a look at what was inside. I realized that I didn’t actually agree with/believe a lot of it. Plus my social circle now mostly consisted of the non-religious or atheists. I only went to church when I visited my parents, and even then it just felt like theater to me. I entered my spiritual “desert period”.

After visiting lots of other houses of worship and reading a ton of religious texts I ended up going with Team Buddhist (fortunately my family respected my decision). I loved forming a meditation practice, there were services during the week so I had my weekends free. But what I loved most of all was that questioning was not only allowed, but encouraged. That being said though, anything that delved too deeply into the metaphysical (including the existence of a “God”) was downplayed, as it was a distraction from the practical real-life work of finding calm, being a good person, and breaking the cycle of suffering.

But then 2020 happened.

Between Trump, COVID, all the civil unrest, my sangha (congregation) went WAY political. We talked less about the dharma (teachings), and more about what was in the news. I’m a big believer of separation of church and state, so I left…not to go to transfer portal, but with the intention of becoming a sole practitioner. And that’s what I did.

I still meditate everyday, try not to be an asshole, and am currently reading a lot of books on Western philosophy. I miss having a community, but this feels far more authentic.

Anywho, thank you for coming to my TED talk. Interesting thread @dnc.

Sam Harris tells me there's no mutual exclusivity between meditation and atheism.

You’d be correct. Buddhism (or any religion) can’t lay exclusive claim to meditation practices.

And there’s many that believe the historical Buddha himself was an atheist.

https://tricycle.org/article/was-buddha-atheist/

Secular Buddhism is in fact one of fastest growing ways to practice. All the tasty mindfulness/virtue of original recipe Buddhism without all those pesky karma/rebirth calories.

PurpleThrobber

Janet Reno

Can we discuss the merits of a Catholic upbringing?

YellowSnow

Flying spaghetti monsterinan - God's not real you fucking idiot

Doog_de_Jour said:

YellowSnow said:

Doog_de_Jour said:

Grew up Lutheran. Loved my church. It was pretty progressive for the time/area (didn’t take the Bible literally, gays weren’t going to Hell, and encouraged interfaith dialog - even with those shady papists!)…good old fashioned hymns, potlucks after the service, and you got out early enough to watch the afternoon NFL games. The congregation was a great community: little old ladies hand sewed us quilts as confirmation gifts, and we did charity work. I can confidently say that place had a big part in shaping my moral compass.

But when I got to college, I finally popped open the hood of my theological car and took a look at what was inside. I realized that I didn’t actually agree with/believe a lot of it. Plus my social circle now mostly consisted of the non-religious or atheists. I only went to church when I visited my parents, and even then it just felt like theater to me. I entered my spiritual “desert period”.

After visiting lots of other houses of worship and reading a ton of religious texts I ended up going with Team Buddhist (fortunately my family respected my decision). I loved forming a meditation practice, there were services during the week so I had my weekends free. But what I loved most of all was that questioning was not only allowed, but encouraged. That being said though, anything that delved too deeply into the metaphysical (including the existence of a “God”) was downplayed, as it was a distraction from the practical real-life work of finding calm, being a good person, and breaking the cycle of suffering.

But then 2020 happened.

Between Trump, COVID, all the civil unrest, my sangha (congregation) went WAY political. We talked less about the dharma (teachings), and more about what was in the news. I’m a big believer of separation of church and state, so I left…not to go to transfer portal, but with the intention of becoming a sole practitioner. And that’s what I did.

I still meditate everyday, try not to be an asshole, and am currently reading a lot of books on Western philosophy. I miss having a community, but this feels far more authentic.

Anywho, thank you for coming to my TED talk. Interesting thread @dnc.

Sam Harris tells me there's no mutual exclusivity between meditation and atheism.

You’d be correct. Buddhism (or any religion) can’t lay exclusive claim to meditation practices.

And there’s many that believe the historical Buddha himself was an atheist.

https://tricycle.org/article/was-buddha-atheist/

Secular Buddhism is in fact one of fastest growing ways to practice. All the tasty mindfulness/virtue of original recipe Buddhism without all those pesky karma/rebirth calories.

I'm trying to take more deep breaths these days and not yell at my computer or the kids as much.

I didn't even yell at the TV once during the UCLA game, but that was partly due to @PurpleThrobber 's fruity little edibles.

#YellaMindfulness