Confession
I have not been a good man in this life. I have many faults. I have failed greatly in many ways. I may never be a truly good man, and I don’t know if I will be saved ... but, I will never deny my God again for as long as I am blessed to live.
Comments (22)
You already now know that the attitude is important, and living with consideration for other people and all living-things.
Of course we regret for the people who didn't wise-up as you have.
Michael Ossipoff
Go in peace.
We are nearly all in the same boat, so don't sweat it too much.
Thank you both for the kind words and encouragement. God bless you both.
Sir2u said:
Sir2u, at these forums, has a history of attacking religion and arguing for Atheism, and the above-quoted passage is just another such attack. ...but, this time, taking the form of mocking.
Maybe Sir2u wants to show that there's no bottom-limit to his conduct.
Not many would get in Sir2u's boat.
Michael Ossipoff
6 Su (South-Solstice WeekDate Calendar)
...Sunday of the 6th week of the calendar-year that started with the Monday that started nearest to the South-Solstice.
That’s alright. I understand and forgive him. I was very angry and despised theists when I was an atheist, too. It’s a very dark and proud place to be.
There's nothing to despise about Atheists, per se. In fact, some of my favorite people are Atheists.
But yes, aggressive Atheists are undeniably tiresome. I don't find a significant difference between them and the arrogant Mormons who come to my door.
I wouldn't despise someone just because they're tiresome. If you despised Atheists, you were merely giving them more attention than they deserve.
Aggressive Atheists are best ignored. There's really no other worthwhile response to them.
Your current attitude to ignore them makes sense. I no longer waste any time replying to them.
6 Su
Michael Ossipoff
I agree. It’s the ones with chips on their shoulders that are best ignored.
I have never attacked anyone for their religion. If you think that way you must have some proof of what you are saying, lets see the post where I insulted or attacked someone because of their religious views.
I did not mock him, all I did was tell him the truth according to the bible. If that is a sin then sue me. It is not a question of whether I believe or not in religion but whether he does. If he believes in the words of the bible s he says then by admitting his sins he will be saved.
Quoting Michael Ossipoff
You would be the loser then. Or maybe you did not understand the usage of the phrase? Being in the same boat means being in the same situation, in this case I said basically that most of us have done bad things and will probably do more bad things. You can deny that if you want, but you are probably in the same boat whether you like it or not.
Quoting Michael Ossipoff
How would you define Aggressive Atheists? I always considered then to be the ones that go around preaching to others that their way is best. I really don't like them much either, they are no better that any other religion trying to get converts.
Well-said. But you should resist the inclination to mock beliefs different from your own.
Just briefly, remember that you don't know all the Theists or the beliefs of all Theists, or the evidence for their beliefs. ....or their reasons for faith (belief without evidence). ...but remember that evidence needn't be proof, and that there's no such thing as proof, or valid assertion, in the matter of Reality as a whole. (...as opposed to the logically-interdependent things.)
What? That's their fault, because they haven't all told you? Irrelevant. Whatever is the reason why don't know the beliefs, evidence, and reasons for faith, of all Theists, the fact remains that you don't know those things.
What you do know, and should feel free to say, is that you don't know of evidence for, or reason for faith about, what someone else believes. Saying that, vs saying that there's no evidence, or no reason for faith--Those are two different kinds of statements.
A little humility and modesty would be good, and that's something missing from our aggressive-Atheist brothers.
This is just a quick preliminary reply, and, if I've left out anything that I meant to say, I'll add it later today, or tomorrow.
But I like your last paragraph, quoted above.
Michael Ossipoff
7 M
I don't have any beliefs, that is what atheism is all about, not have them. But I did not mock him, I told him what he wanted to hear. And he was happy with it until you burst the bubble.
Quoting Michael Ossipoff
I have little interest in knowing and it makes little difference.
Quoting Michael Ossipoff
Basically all I have ever said is that I have never heard convincing evidence to support peoples religious beliefs. What they want to believe is their problem. I leave it to them to explain, if they want to, why they believe.
Quoting Michael Ossipoff
For someone that takes it upon himself to preach to others about sinning you might consider taking your own advice once in a while.
Quoting Michael Ossipoff
Thank you.
:victory: Peace brother.
P.S.
Quoting Noah Te Stroete
How do you know he is not a mass murderer, or worse?
I hope he is not and that he does find peace.
LOL Rest assured I am not a violent criminal. I just have religious guilt due to my upbringing.
Yeah, I guessed that. Not too many of them come around here. I hope.
The reason for the question is to see why Michael thought it was necessary to rush to your defense while insulting me.
It seems you rubbed him the wrong way in the past.
A wise man once said "If the truth hurts, then you must change the truth."
Lots of people are not fond of the truth. Maybe I said something he did not like, I don't remember.
Go forth and preach the truth to the multitudes!
You see, Sir2u has the truth. And he doesn't have any beliefs.
Michael Ossipoff
7 Tu
But what, in particular, is this truth that Sir2u has, that (at least some) people don't like?
Michael Ossipoff
7 Tu
Where did I say or imply that I know the truth? The truth about what?
Quoting Michael Ossipoff
What is the relation between truth and beliefs? Are you saying that a person cannot know the truth without having beliefs? That seems very strange.
Quoting Michael Ossipoff
I don't know what people did not like, I am not a mind reader. And yes it is valid to say "because they have not told me" for the simple reason that it is the truth. They have not told me. :chin:
Quoting Sir2u
See above.
"The truth about what?" How would I know what truth you were referring to.
Quoting Sir2u
If you claim a truth, then presumably you believe that what you claim is a truth. But then, knowing you, maybe not :D ...judging by your following statement:
Quoting Sir2u
But, whether or not you believe what you say, I have no way of knowing what truth you were referring to.
Quoting Sir2u
I merely said that that's irrelevant. Whatever the reason why you don't know all Theists, their beliefs, or their evidence for their beliefs, or their reasons for faith in the absence of evidence, the fact remains that you don't know.
Maybe they haven't all told you because you haven't spoken with or heard from all of them.
...and maybe you didn't ask, because:
Quoting Sir2u
:D
Michael Ossipoff
7 Th
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1. Sir2u is confused about what Atheism is. Atheism is defined as the position (belief) that there isn’t a God. Yes, it’s now fashionable to call oneself an “Atheist”, while professing Agnosticism.
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I have no criticism of Agnostics, or even of genuine Atheists, as such.
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2. Beliefs? Well, our aggressive-“Atheists” here typically have been saying that there’s no evidence, or justifiable reason for faith regarding, any God (by anyone’s conception of God). That’s an unsupported belief. Additionally, many self-designated “Atheists” here are firm-believers in Materialism. That, too, is a belief.
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(…a religion, in fact, by some definitions in Merriam-Webster and Simon & Schuster dictionaries.)
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So yes, the funniest belief of our “Atheists” is their belief that they have no beliefs.
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Should I apologize for spoiling Sir2u’s cover and deception?
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Good. But of course you need to remember that that would disqualify you when commenting on whether or not there is any evidence, or reason for faith, regarding their beliefs.
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You don’t make any such comments? Fine, that would be an improvement.
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As for whether you previously did or didn’t, I’d rather take your word for that than begin a long and laborious search of old posts.
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As I said above, I’d rather take your word for that than start a long and laborious search of old posts.
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If that’s really all you’ve said--if you were only speaking of what’s known or not-known to you--then of course that wasn’t aggressive or dubious. Your statement that you don’t know of evidence for others’ beliefs is probably correct.
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But, if that’s your position on the matter, then it would be difficult to explain all the posting that you did in anti-Theism threads. :D
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…if Sir2u is speaking accurately now, rather than just (again) saying what he thinks someone else wants to hear.
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That practice of saying what someone else wants to hear, when it means saying things that one doesn’t believe, indicates a lack honesty, bringing into question whatever that person says.
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There’s a word for saying things that one doesn’t believe. But we don’t use that word here.
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Anyway, Sir2u’s mocking-behavior, in the 3rd post to this thread, amounts to aggressive and abusive behavior and shows a lack of honesty. …whatever may be the truth-value of his claim about his previous statements elsewhere.
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I made no mention of “sinning”. I merely exposed your mockery and deception.
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Michael Ossipoff
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7 Th
I have felt the loving embrace of The Flying Spaghetti Monster, and I will never turn away from Him. His noodley appendage has touched my heart. He boiled for my sins.
Quoting Noah Te Stroete
May the force be with you, live long and prosper, and ALL GLORY TO THE HIPNOTOAD!
Oh no! Jesus Christ! No! For the love of God! Heaven forbid! Anything but that! Father, why have you forsaken me?!