But the point of faith is belief without proof.
If someone proved that god exists, it wouldn't be a matter of faith to belive in him. No-one says "I have faith that gravity is real" because we know it *is*.

Organised religion, of all kinds, is always run by one or two power-mad despots at the top, which is why it will always be corruptible.
( b3th Not shit. Not mod., Tue 19 Jun 2012, 10:32, 1 reply, 12 years ago)

Precisely: that is fundamentally what is wrong with religious belief.
The problems start when such ludicrous beliefs start making people deny things like dinosaurs which are even easier to prove the existence of than gravity.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 10:34, Reply)

i have never in all my life heard anyone seriously attempt to disprove the existence of dinosaurs
where do you get this shit monty?
(Quintno EXPERIMENT RUINED CANCELLED, LEFT 4EVER, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 10:45, Reply)

It's not my fault you are ill-informed.
There is an argument in circulation that dinosaur bones have been planted in the ground by God to test the faith of his people. What sounds to you like the stupidest shit you have ever heard is actually taught to children in some US schools.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 10:46, Reply)

I thought it was just evolution they had a problem with?
I love the argument "We can't be descended from monkeys, because monkeys still exist"
I like to counter that with "I can't be descended from my grandparents because my cousins still exist"
( b3th Not shit. Not mod., Tue 19 Jun 2012, 10:49, Reply)

Your cousins are monkeys?

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 10:51, Reply)

Also, monkeys are no relation to us
we are evolved from Apes
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 10:53, Reply)

Well
Some of us are evolved.
( b3th Not shit. Not mod., Tue 19 Jun 2012, 10:53, Reply)

Hey, i shed my fur and I am now erect

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 10:55, Reply)

I bet you are, you filthy boy.

( b3th Not shit. Not mod., Tue 19 Jun 2012, 10:55, Reply)

which schools monty?
show me one school where this is taught please and i will eat my words, prove to me that this isn't some daily mail equivalent hyberbole bollocks and i'll apologise
(Quintno EXPERIMENT RUINED CANCELLED, LEFT 4EVER, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 10:55, Reply)

I have heard this too and I don't read the Daily Mail.
You really shouldn't underestimate how stupid some Americans are.
( girlinthehole, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 10:58, Reply)

yes I have 'heard' this as well, doesn't make it 'fact'

(Quintno EXPERIMENT RUINED CANCELLED, LEFT 4EVER, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 10:58, Reply)

See my addendum!

( girlinthehole, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 11:00, Reply)

see your pudenda?

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 11:12, Reply)

If you ask nicely.

( girlinthehole, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 11:14, Reply)

Tennessee:
www.washingtonpost.com/national/law-allows-creationism-to-be-taught-in-tenn-public-schools/2012/04/11/gIQAAjqxAT_story.html

Indiana: www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/26/indiana-senate-creationism-teaching-bill_n_1234185.html
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 11:02, Reply)

nothing about denying dinosaurs there
i disagree with teaching creationism and intelligent design, but if those states have a higher than average rate of christian fundies and thats what they want to teach, they need learning and will catch up with the rest of us eventually
(Quintno EXPERIMENT RUINED CANCELLED, LEFT 4EVER, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 11:06, Reply)

He mentions it too.
doctor.claudemariottini.com/2008/01/dinosaurs-and-christian-faith.html
( girlinthehole, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 11:14, Reply)

a 2008 article that refernces events in the 80s?
you have totally blown my argument out of the water, all americans are clearly right-wing christian nutjobs who don't believe in dinosaurs
(Quintno EXPERIMENT RUINED CANCELLED, LEFT 4EVER, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 11:17, Reply)

No one is saying that, you cock.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 11:19, Reply)

just your dad then?
is that how come your life is such a mess? did his religious beliefs fuck you up?
(Quintno EXPERIMENT RUINED CANCELLED, LEFT 4EVER, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 11:23, Reply)

What? Right wing American creationism has become worse since then, not better.

( girlinthehole, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 11:19, Reply)

Your man appears to be made from straw, here.

( Kroney, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 11:19, Reply)

I've seen it taught
Its ridiculous and all stems from the fact that they do not believe the earth is old enough for Dinosaurs to have really existed.
( Peej, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 11:10, Reply)

where? in a real school or sunday school?
did they also present evolution as an alternative or was it one-sided?
(Quintno EXPERIMENT RUINED CANCELLED, LEFT 4EVER, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 11:11, Reply)

Dude.
All I've said is that Christianity is on the rise in the US, and that politicians have to reference this or they will struggle. FFS this is true.

My own father is a Christian minister who lives in Virginia. If you really like I can get you a sample of attendance stats from his own fucking church.

Or you could just shut up.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 11:13, Reply)

no you didn't, you said that politicians pandered to the right-wing christians
i agreed to a point but said obama wasn't doing that so much, things are moving in the right direction there

i couldn't give a flip about your dad, no offence, he has fuck all to do with american politics or education
(Quintno EXPERIMENT RUINED CANCELLED, LEFT 4EVER, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 11:15, Reply)

Yes he does.
He's a minister at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg. he is both a professional Christian and an educator in the so-called bible belt of the US. How much more relevant do you need?
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 11:18, Reply)

i dunno, he's not a senator or shit

(Quintno EXPERIMENT RUINED CANCELLED, LEFT 4EVER, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 11:21, Reply)

YOLO Q, YOLO.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 11:24, Reply)

Quiten is trying in vain to contest documented fact.
I wouldn't bother, it's got me nowhere.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 11:12, Reply)

Could you just clear up the debate about the relative sizes of George Formby and his banjolele instead?

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 11:13, Reply)

you haven't provided any documented facts

(Quintno EXPERIMENT RUINED CANCELLED, LEFT 4EVER, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 11:14, Reply)

Those quotes from Obama are not fictitious.
The Gallup polls (whilst perhaps not cast iron) do not reflect the decling in church attendance reported in this country, do they?

Please give this up, it's boring now.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 11:15, Reply)

they were obama quotes?
why didn't you say so?
(Quintno EXPERIMENT RUINED CANCELLED, LEFT 4EVER, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 11:21, Reply)

He was talking about presidents having to pander to the right wing Christians
you said something about that explaining Obama's gay left wing marriage agenda or some sarcastic shit like that, he said Obama had to make Christian noises, you said name one, he listed those quotes.

THe conversational thread isn't that hard to follow if you're not being purposefully dense.
( Kroney, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 11:23, Reply)

i'm all over the shop

(Quintno EXPERIMENT RUINED CANCELLED, LEFT 4EVER, Tue 19 Jun 2012, 11:24, Reply)