Quote: "I also think my last post was offensive, that being the reason that I changed it."
And for that I thank you.
Quote: "About the children with guns, I'm trying to be objective and not offend people from various countries but it's unfortunately happening in the Middle East. Well.....I just have some old cnn stories to work off of so I'll drop that one."
You implied that religious debate was causing that, which is what originally aroused my conflict. But, ok...
Quote: "How can you suggest that the religions cause conflict? "
Quite easily.
Quote: "If the religions merely existed without anybody following them there would be no conflict."
Religions couldn't exist without followers, so, you're right. No religion equals no conflict. You just proved my point.
Quote: "Some people just take things a little too seriously. I too know some arrogant Christians who behave in that manner and I'm not in the least happy that they are a partial representation of what group I belong to."
I'm glad you share my sentiments about that type of people. Unfortunately, they aren't a partial representation. They often get the most attention.
By the way, there are more of thse types than you seem to think.
Quote: "Also, I understand that you are trying to tell me that I have not had enough experience in the real world, haven't researched theology well enough to understand the significance of a debate like this."
Actually, I wasn't implying that at all. I simply failed to see how religious debate caused the issues you mentioned. Sorry you took it that way.
Quote: "You could be right, I could have no idea what the hell I'm talking about, but then again that's the scary thing about religion, isn't it? Nobody knows."
I don't think you have no idea what you're talking about.
Oh, and no one knows
for a fact as far as I can see. Someone knows, be it an Atheist, a Christian or anyone along those lines.
Quote: "Take the 50 happiest people in the world right now. Since they are the happiest they have probably found the truth, because when you don't know the truth you get that feeling that you need to go looking for it and you are in a constant state of doubt."
Originally I had no idea where that statement came from. But then I read this:
Quote: "For every 5 out of these 50 people they probably follow a different religion. So the truth is not happiness."
I get it. You think that I think that truth = happiness. Not sure how you got that. No, I do not think that. Hell, that's especially not true if Christianity is the real deal, because believe it or not, life has been better since I've left the church.
Quote: "How do we know the truth then? There's probably no way in your current life that you could discover it. The only way to find out is to pass out of this world and look into the supernatural. How the heck are we gonna do that? The only way I know is by dying. And I'll tell you, I plan to live another 70 years before I die."
You talk as though you're telling me something I don't already know.
Quote: "Do you want to spend your life searching for the truth"
No, I'd like to have a good idea of truth before I die, be it 10 years or 10 seconds.
Quote: "or do you want to find something that feels right, something with support from others, something that allows you to enjoy life while you're living it"
Christianity? No. I've been down that road. The 'feeling' is not enough. What can I say? I'm a logical guy. Having a 'feeling' something is there doesn't mean it is -- I certainly hope you know that; it's common sense.
If I may quote myself:
Quote: "I will not live my life in ignorance."
Trusting Christianity off of a feeling would be ignorance. The last prayer I ever said was "God, if you're there, show me. Give me proof." I've yet to receive that proof, and I'm going to continue searching for it.
Quote: "Do you want to spend hours in a thread of some game scripting community arguing about it, or do you want to enjoy your days with a little support knowing that you believe in something that gives you happiness until the day comes that you can finally know the truth?"
If I don't argue and discuss religion here, I'll certainly do it somewhere else. In fact, I have a website dedicated to religious discussion.
So I'll take both, to answer your question.
Quote: "How could religions themselves cause conflict? People turn their beliefs into rash actions and stir up debate. Debates lead to grudges and then you get Humans created religion, so it is essentially humans who are responsible for the problems."
Right you are, but now we're getting into technicalities. So 'technically':
Quote: "Children carrying guns and dying at young ages, corrupt governments, and all sorts of crap is going on because of debates like these.""
I could have just come right out and said "No, BCDP, it would have to be the PEOPLE DEBATING, not the DEBATES THEMSELVES."
Don't bother yourself with details -- people are stupid. That too, is common sense in my eyes.
Quote: "If any of this post offended you, then I'll take it back and wish you to forget it."
Apology accepted, and done. I apologize too if I've offended you.
Quote: "I don't want to know you as HZence, the guy who badmouthed my religion, or the guy who made me look like a naive kid. I want to know you as HZence, a bright DB programmer who's been an invaluable part of the DB community, no matter what religion he follows."
I don't want you to know me as that either. Besides, I didn't badmouth your religion, I badmouthed one product of your religion: stupid people. Of course, stupid people are generated in other ways, I was just saying.
Quote: "It's just hard to debate when I'm right and everyone else is wrong"
I love you Jimmy.
Team EOD :: Programmer/Storyboard Assistant
