[QUOTE=Mr. Ron;17075206]idk, thats like saying you want to do experiment sin astrophysics without taking the classes. The bible is the word of god to Christians everywhere, I really don't think you're much of a believer if you don't bother reading the instruction manuel js[/QUOTE]

As someone who grew up being Catholic, I'd say attending mass is more important than reading the bible. You learn a lot more.

Like I said though, I'm not Catholic anymore.

I never ever connected with mass. Ever.

[quote=Iluvatar;17075213]I think everyone should give the Bible an unbiased read, simply because the messages it contains are also [B]extremely humane and relatable to just living with your fellow man, not just religious meanings.
[/B]
aka the Bible is worth more than just being "simply the word of God" (for lack of a better term), it has much more "practical" (same) applications to life as well.[/quote]
yeah, like infanticide, genocide, slavery, sexism, and murder. :p

I kinda wanna read the Qur’an tbh.

the qu'ran is amazing but it's impossible to read in non-arabic

[QUOTE=Mr. Ron;17075224]yeah, like infanticide, genocide, slavery, sexism, and murder. :p[/QUOTE]

I suppose having a modicum of intelligence is also important when reading the Bible yes!

Edit. I also mostly meant New Testament as opposed to Old

Really Josh?

yeah, on both parts.

[QUOTE=Mr. Ron;17075218]What does that even mean? Thats pretty vague.[/QUOTE]

Sorry. The time I felt the closest to God was when I was 11, oddly enough. Yeah I went to a Christian school so I was surrounded with it all day, but even when I was home I was praying all the time. Every situation I was in I prayed about. It was like I talked to God every few minutes about everything and I felt that he heard me. I felt very close to him then. I haven't really been able to get back to that, but I try to talk to him as often as possible, even if I forget a lot. He hears me, as dumb as it sounds, I can tell.

basically mcp, when I said I know the nature of religious discussion, its happening right now

We can have this is discussion which is actually intellectual (a rarity for R&M)

but it boils down to faith

You either have it or you don't

[quote=Iluvatar;17075229]I suppose having a modicum of intelligence is also important when reading the Bible yes![/quote]
Hey, you have to take the good with the bad :p

The only Christians that truly annoy me are the ones who inherit their beliefs from their parents. A girl I know is so God-obsessed through her parents' beliefs it's ridiculous, and she has no explanations for her beliefs - it's just the regular ol' "it is because it is" scenario that angers me.

But whatever.

[QUOTE=asdemonsburn;17075233]basically mcp, when I said I know the nature of religious discussion, its happening right now

We can have this is discussion which is actually intellectual (a rarity for R&M)

but it boils down to faith

You either have it or you don't[/QUOTE]

yeah prettymuch. and it's hard for non-believers to grasp the whole faith thing, so I've seen.

[QUOTE=Mr. Ron;17075234]Hey, you have to take the good with the bad :p[/QUOTE]

Hey mister take a look at that edited part!

I do agree, the Old Testament is filled with "seedy" characters!

[QUOTE=Nostalgia;17075236]The only Christians that truly annoy me are the ones who inherit their beliefs from their parents. A girl I know is so God-obsessed through her parents' beliefs it's ridiculous, and she has no explanations for her beliefs - it's just the regular ol' "it is because it is" scenario that angers me.

But whatever.[/QUOTE]

I can understand that. I feel that even though my parents are Christians I came to be one on my own in a way because I have very different beliefs than my parents do, even within Christianity.

[quote=Dimmu Burger;17075232]Sorry. The time I felt the closest to God was when I was 11, oddly enough. Yeah I went to a Christian school so I was surrounded with it all day, but even when I was home I was praying all the time. Every situation I was in I prayed about. It was like I talked to God every few minutes about everything and I felt that he heard me. I felt very close to him then. I haven't really been able to get back to that, but I try to talk to him as often as possible, even if I forget a lot. He hears me, as dumb as it sounds, I can tell.[/quote]
Ah, I felt that when I was religious, but looking back I know [U][I][B]why[/B][/I][/U] I felt that way. It had little to do with anything besides thinking that someone was listening to me.

How can you tell? Being serious, but unless god talks back to you I don't see how you can tell that he's listening.

Its probably all chemically induced within your brain but there is a feeling [i]maaaaaaaaan[/i]

and I know this is an inherent logical falacy

but Christians tend to be extroverts and Athiests/agnostics tend to be introverts

It is a social norm to believe in God (at least where we live)

[quote=asdemonsburn;17075245]and I know this is an inherent logical falacy

but Christians tend to be extroverts and Athiests/agnostics tend to be introverts

It is a social norm to believe in God (at least where we live)[/quote]
I don't see how you can possibly say that with any certainty.

I know plenty of shy Christians and plenty of loudmouthed Athiests. It is perfectly acceptable in most parts of the US to have backlash against Christianity (which in turn leads idiots to bash all religions on the same basis)

thats because introverted shy nerds like to disagree and hate happy people (christians)

[QUOTE=Mr. Ron;17075241]Ah, I felt that when I was religious, but looking back I know [U][I][B]why[/B][/I][/U] I felt that way. It had little to do with anything besides thinking that someone was listening to me.

How can you tell? Being serious, but unless god talks back to you I don't see how you can tell that he's listening.[/QUOTE]

Same for me. I only thought someone was listening to me because I was told that my whole life. At the same time though, I'm not going to bash people who believe because I can see where they come from.

[quote=fivelivesdeadandgone;17075248]thats because introverted shy nerds like to disagree and hate happy people (christians)[/quote]
oh come on

[QUOTE=Mr. Ron;17075246]I don't see how you can possibly say that with any certainty.[/QUOTE]

I never said I was certain, the qualifier "tend" is my bff

example:

the internet is where non-theists tend to gather

theists tend to gather in churches

[QUOTE=Mr. Ron;17075241]Ah, I felt that when I was religious, but looking back I know [U][I][B]why[/B][/I][/U] I felt that way. It had little to do with anything besides thinking that someone was listening to me.

How can you tell? Being serious, but unless god talks back to you I don't see how you can tell that he's listening.[/QUOTE]

It's like being in love, you just know. You also see the results of it in your life. You ask for things (within reason of course) and you get them etc.

not all Christians are in-your-face happy people.

[QUOTE=Mr. Ron;17075252]oh come on[/QUOTE]

trolling but there's a shitload of cases of that

One day I was camping with my ex, and we were sitting in a secluded part of the woods in North Carolina, and we were looking up at the stars, and I realized I didn't love her anymore, and that is when I knew God existed.

Gay.

Belief has all to do with life experience even discussing it is almost a fruitless endeavor

[quote=fivelivesdeadandgone;17075256]trolling but there's a poopload of cases of that[/quote]
are you saying atheists are unhappy people?

[QUOTE=Mr. Ron;17075260]are you saying atheists are unhappy people?[/QUOTE]

not at all. just a lot of dumb kids fall into it.