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Re: A funny thing happened on my way to my liberal arts degree - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

buffettphan — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:32:41 -0000

... hope you'll change your beliefs

Scenario: We exchristians do not change our beliefs.

daliborsver,

Please fill in the blank:

Based upon my religious book/doctrine/beliefs, I believe you exchristians, upon your death, will spend eternity ___________________________ .

You are not allowed to be evasive (i.e. saying you don't know god's will, our hearts, etc.). Give a forthright simple answer to a point-blank simple question. We don't need to hear another sermon from yet another christian.

Thanks,
BP

Re: A funny thing happened on my way to my liberal arts degree - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

glebealyth — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:06:48 -0000

The fact that you obviously cannot read the name of the site, or its disclaimer AND the fact that you have come to make an act of witless is sufficient evidence of your status as a fundie.

As you speak a few languages, my request that you combine Anglo-Saxon sexual activity with the word "off" will not go over your head.

Peace,

David

Re: Deprogramming- Testimonies of Ex-Christians

glebealyth — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:41:31 -0000

Never too late.

I also got another neighbour - 22 yr old - into University. It's done him the world of good. He's still a believer, sadly.

Me, I'm 54 and doing my third degree at the moment.

It really is, NEVER TOO LATE!

Re: Except A Corn of Wheat...- ExChristian.Net - Articles

glebealyth — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:09:24 -0000

So, address the original post. Don't go off on a metaphorical tangent, especially as the attributed author is mythical.

Re: Except A Corn of Wheat...- ExChristian.Net - Articles

daytripper1964 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:22:00 -0000

Great! I will look forward to it.

I always enjoy your comments

dt

Re: Except A Corn of Wheat...- ExChristian.Net - Articles

glebealyth — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:53:16 -0000

You are, of corse totally correct.

Just a senior momnt.

Re: Except A Corn of Wheat...- ExChristian.Net - Articles

glebealyth — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:47:48 -0000

Sorry guys!

I got distracted and suffered from typographical inexactitude.

Bloody fingers. ;o))))

Re: Except A Corn of Wheat...- ExChristian.Net - Articles

glebealyth — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:15:13 -0000

JM,

They need to "muck around" with Greek because etymology is the only part of the message which has any substance. If they can point truth out to you in any area (and they , almost, can here), they then attempt tp have their message accepted on the basis of "innocent by association".

It's an old salesman's trick that I used to teach in another life:

Get your mark into the habit of agreeing with you about something, anything at all.

When you ask him to sign the order, he will not find it easy to break the habit.

Like the weather?

Yes.

Is that your car?

Yes.

That your family's picture?

Yes.

Shall we say two dozen?

Yes.

An old trick which works like a charm. I have made sales using it. It is frightening the first time you try it, both before - in case it doesn't work - and afterwards, when you realise the power you have. Watch any televangelist and you will see that they use exactly the same trick to make you pick up the phone and give them your card details.

The really good ones make the transition from "Didn't god send us some good weather?" to "Will you give me a thousand dollars to help buy my new yacht?" seem absolutely seamless and your hand reaches your wallet before you know it has happened.

I call it the old etymology trick, these days, and still use it, or a version of it, occasionally, if I need to get someone's agreement in a hurry.

Peace,

David

Re: Except A Corn of Wheat...- ExChristian.Net - Articles

glebealyth — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:03:38 -0000

Jim,

It IS glaringly wrong and reflects the origins of the text as from ignorant humans.

This is, however, probably merely a difference in acceptable styles for us.

;o)))

David

Re: Except A Corn of Wheat...- ExChristian.Net - Articles

daytripper1964 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:25:08 -0000

Byronfish,
You will get to that point eventually. The more you allow yourself to accept things as they really are using logic and reason, the more your brain will begin to adjust.

It just takes time. Getting rid of phobias (especially hell phobias) will go a long way in freeing you to think how you want. When there is no fear of an eternity of torture, you are truly free to just be who you are and live according to the laws of society instead of the laws of an indifferent god.

dt

Re: Except A Corn of Wheat...- ExChristian.Net - Articles

daytripper1964 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:20:01 -0000

Hey Oddbird,
I didn't know you used to be a pastor. I'm always encouraged when I hear of pastors de-converting.

Have you ever told your story here?

dt

Re: Except A Corn of Wheat...- ExChristian.Net - Articles

daytripper1964 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:11:29 -0000

"It's odd just how peaceful a god-free life is"

Especially since you can supposedly know peace only through "knowing jesus".

I find it's the exact opposite. I came across some old pictures of me the other day, taken during my god-addiction years. My eyes truly had no life my smile was flat and I looked tired (because I was). I compared them with more recent pictures of me out with friends laughing so hard, with such a sparkle in my eye.

The contrast was remarkable.

dt

Re: Except A Corn of Wheat...- ExChristian.Net - Articles

glebealyth — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:17:57 -0000

Sorry Paul,

I forgot this one:

Philippians 4:19
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Not in reference to our wealth does your god promise to supply ALL our needs, but with reference to his, infinite riches.

Not talking about some fat-cat televangelists here, my friend. I'm talking about the 25,000 who die each night of starvation because you and your god are liars.

Re: Except A Corn of Wheat...- ExChristian.Net - Articles

glebealyth — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:14:30 -0000

Paul,

Your analogy of a critique is tosh, and you know it.

Whereas you depression metaphor is temporal, that is, it connected possible cause and effect in time, the seed metaphor connects cause and effect via state, specifically the state of death.

If you are going to use argument and reason in your armoury, please rise above the level of reasoning commonly used by apologists, otherwise you will be laughed out of court here.

Peace,

David

BTW, science recognizes that there is such a thing as sunset. It refers to the point where the earth's rotation causes the sun to become invisible to an observer at the point at which sunset occurs.

No argument; revert to baseless sophistry. Standard apologetics.

"jesus never promised an easy life."

I refer you to the following:

Matthew 6:26
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Matthew 7:11
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Matthew 18:14
Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

So many promises of care and supply. So many broken promises from the liar created by men.

You are a liar by association, Paul, for repeating that which is manifestly mendacious.

Peace,

David

Re: Except A Corn of Wheat...- ExChristian.Net - Articles

glebealyth — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:01:32 -0000

Jesus didn't speak Greek, so would never have said this, in common with everything else he is quoted as uttering.

Re: Except A Corn of Wheat...- ExChristian.Net - Articles

glebealyth — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:59:30 -0000

Neal, your experience is so common, I'm surprised that we are still surprised by it.

There should be an offence in law of acquiring favours my deception and misrepresentation, so that we can get redress for the time, money, effort, etc. that we expended to the benefit of our co-religionists when we were still infected.

It is odd just how peaceful a god-free life is.

Peace,

David

Re: Leaving the compelling love of Christ- Testimonies of Ex-Christians

glebealyth — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:36:55 -0000

Peter,

Take a look at this:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/6506616/Givin...

If, as I suspect, it applies to the christinsanity, it blows one of their planks right out of the water.

Re: Leaving the compelling love of Christ- Testimonies of Ex-Christians

glebealyth — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:29:51 -0000

;o)))

Don't believe in vampires, bar those dressed in black who suck the blood of the faithful to fill their indolent bodies.

I do what I can, as do we all when we do not have god. When we have god, we know we can do nothing - only he can do anything, which explains fully why nothing ever gets done.

Re: Leaving the compelling love of Christ- Testimonies of Ex-Christians

glebealyth — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:50:46 -0000

Sin?
What sin?
What is sin?

God apparently created us sinless.
Adam did not know the difference between good and evil until after he ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Therefore, Adam did NOT sin.
Therefore, were I be his descendant, I would be sinless.
I am not his descendant.
Therefore, I am sinless.

Go away and prey on someone else.

Actually, don't. At least while you are here we are protecting someone more vulnerable from your lies.

Peace,

David

Re: Except A Corn of Wheat...- ExChristian.Net - Articles

glebealyth — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:13:57 -0000

Of course we have. The point is that this parable/metaphor adds credence to the idea that the whole scam was created and written by men and not by god.

Were god to have had a hand in the writing he would not have merely regurgitated the foolishness and ignorance of humans, but would have made minor corrections here and there to signal divine origin.

I'm pretty sure that jesus is a myth created in Nicea in 65 C.E., making him incapable of metaphorical language of any kind.

;o))

David

Re: Leaving the compelling love of Christ- Testimonies of Ex-Christians

glebealyth — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:10:12 -0000

Lisa,

It's a very xian thing to do, eavesdropping.

"He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you're awake..."

Sorry, wrong myth.

God eavesdrops all the time. It's the cross he has to bear for being omnipresent. The xians (building their house on a crock, as usual) are merely learning by example.

Rumour, lies, innuendi and rumour are the tools of a successful xian life.

Re: Fundamentalism drove my Dad insane - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

glebealyth — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:43:49 -0000

To slightly adapt something Thomas Paine sad in 1802, about John Adams:

It shall be the career of this man to begin with hypocrisy, proceed with arrogance, and finish in contempt.

Another wasted life, preying on other people. Another useless existence. It eould be laughable, were it not so piteous.

Re: Fundamentalism drove my Dad insane - Testimonies of Ex-Christians

glebealyth — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:31:42 -0000

Bumboy,

When you pass on, you will know nothing.

I have examined my life and am very happy with what I find. In fact, you would be better looking to Socrates, "The unexamined life is not worth living." ( Apology 38a), than Hesus/Krishna, there being more evidence to support the former's existence.

When your brain ceases to function, at death, you will be constitutionally incapable of knowing anything.

As to the sarcasm, you are very welcome. It rests, at least, on a factual basis, unlike your beliefs. You are about to enter a career which is based upon the judgment of others and your income will depend upon you making folk feel unworthy and unhappy with themselves. You deserve scorn, derision and contempt for your greed and dishonesty. Sarcasm is a tender response, all things considered.

Peace,

David

Re: Leaving the compelling love of Christ- Testimonies of Ex-Christians

AtheistToothFairy — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:49:02 -0000

Loyal To his sky-daddy:The difference between christians is that we are covered by the blood of Jesus..

Covered in BLOOD?

I always knew you xtians were a death cult, but this is really carrying things a bit too far, don't you think?

Heck, it's bad enough that some of you already eat your god's flesh and drink his blood, but now it seems you would rather bathe in his blood, than use plain old soap and water.

What a bunch of sickos

ATF

Re: Leaving the compelling love of Christ- Testimonies of Ex-Christians

boomSLANG — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:51:14 -0000

LoyaltoMyth: I am a born again bible believing christian and have been for the past 8 years, before that I lived a life that was not good.

Just because your not-so-good past was made better with a particular brand of religious belief does not mean that said belief has a referent in reality. Millions claim that they feel better when they lean on certain things---anything from Scientology, to Buddhism, to Gin, to crack.

LoyaltoMyth continues....It is not something that we all understand in our human thoughts or eyes, but something that we understand in our spirits.

The word "spirit" has no real-world meaning. The best that people who argue for a "spirit" can do is to define it in terms of what it is not..i.e..it is "NON-physical", "NON-flesh", "NON-corporeal", blah, blah, blah. Why don't you be the first human being to accomplish the task of defining what a "spirit" is.

LoyaltoMyth: Jesus isnt religious like a lot of christians portray him to be..

Right, because "Jesus" is, a) dead , and/or, b) non-existent. Either way, he certainly can't be "religious".

LoyaltoMyth: ...the bible sets boundaries just like parents do for children, but we can either obey or go against them.

I know of parents who sometimes withhold allowance or privileges when children "go against" the boundaries, but I can't say I've ever heard of any parents who set their children on fire for doing so. You should probably come up with a better analogy.

LTM: It is only by grace that we are saved not by good works, otherwise Jesus wouldnt have had to die

If Jesus, or anyone else, "had to die" in order for your biblegod to forgive, then you should seriously think about denouncing this "God". Imagine if every time one of our fellow human beings wronged or offended us, that we had to have someone EXECUTED in order to forgive them. We'd be extinct. Your biblegod's policies are insane.

LTM: The difference between christians is that we are covered by the blood of Jesus and believe in his resurrection, we are still sinners, we all sin in one way or another.

Right, so your insane biblegod's fire insurance only covers "Christians", and the insured are happy and "blessed" that they can heap all of their "sins" onto the back of an innocent man. Wow! How admirable!

LTM: What happens is we have a mediator, Christ Jesus, and when we pray Jesus intercedes for us.

What would the world look like if "Christ Jesus" didn't "intercede"? What?..more cancer? More hurricanes? More famine? If Jebus is "interceding", I'd hate to see what it would look like if he were sitting on his a$$. Perhaps Jebus is so tied up giving Christians work bonuses and good parking places, that he doesn't have time for the small things like disease and famine. Yeah, that must be it.

LTM: Sin seperates us from having a relationship with God...

So, Mr. "Ominscient" created his creation knowing that they'd be "separated" from him. My gosh!...a pillar of intelligence that Yahweh is!

LTM: ....so we cant talk to him directly, but when we have Jesus living in us he makes that relationship possible.

Your constituents claim to talk "directly" to "God". Maybe you should get some pointers from them, eh?

LTM: The things that happen in the world are all man made..

Including religion.

LTM: ..decisions that man has made and choices, it is not Gods fault..

'Can't blame what doesn't exist.

LTM: he doesnt force us to do anything...

Right, just like the mugger "doesn't force" you to give him your wallet; you are perfectly free to have your guts splattered against the wall.

LTM: he gives us boundaries and choices but doesnt make us robots...

Not until you're in "Heaven"

LTM: His ways are good, and I know that from the way I used to live my life to the way I live it now.

Whoopty sh*t. You made a life-change. That is hardly evidence that you have an omnibenevolent, semi-dead man living in your cardiovascular organ.

LTM: There is a hell..

That might actually be a lil' scary if it wasn't false.

LTM: ...and God doesnt want ppl to go there, he also doesnt just send ppl there, ppl choose to go there when they choose not to accept his son as their saviour

How about if I "choose" neither? Then I'm SENT to "Hell", right? Right.

LTM: I am not writing this to start an arguement or anything like that..

You're on an EX-christian website, dumbass.

LTM: I love Jesus with all of my heart.

Goody for you. Why don't you grab a twelve pack of Budweiser and go barge in on an AA meeting and yell, "I love Budweiser with all my heart!"

LTM: but I wont argue with anybody..

Uh-huh...we'll see.

LTM: and I wont judge either

You believe we're going to "hell", therefore, there is implict judgement.