sleeper;1143323 wrote:Yes, you should. If you take money in exchange for a service, then you should have to pay taxes. I don't see what's so difficult about that.

sleeper;1143322 wrote:Well given that 90% of the book has never been proven and never will be proven, then yes its a fiction novel. Is it based on history or real places? Sure, but so is Harry Potter and countless other fictional novels that exist.

He destroys religion by showing their arguments and pissing them down the drain. It's a beautiful book designed to cure even the most ignorant of believers, maybe you should open your mind and shed the erroneous beliefs you've been wasting your life on.

bigkahuna;1143328 wrote:Ok, that's your choice. You choose not to accept it. If there is someone out there searching for an answer and looks to the bible, then that's when I would step in and offer advice.


There are still some lingering questions I have for you though.

1. How is having belief ignorant, and you claim that your way is intelligence? You've said yourself you don't know, so how can something be ignorant or intelligent if you don't know the truth about it?

2. The people out there who are seen as intelligent, are they all of a sudden ignorant because they believe in God?

3. Those who are powerful and wealthy, are they somehow poor by believing in God?

Some of the smartest, wealthiest people in history have been believers in God, but they are according to you poor and stupid. How does that work?

bigkahuna;1143332 wrote:I'm not taking money though, they are giving it to me. It's not like at your McDonald's where it's required to fork over the $$$ to receive the money. The point of receiving the money isn't for a profit. Do you feel that ALL non-profit organizations be required to pay taxes?

sleeper;1143336 wrote:Anyone who claims to be successful who also claims to be religious is either a)a liar(which is smart, I lie about being religious all the time to my clients) b)got their money through no hard work(lottery winners, inheritance, etc) or C) the exception.

bigkahuna;1143335 wrote:So it's a piece where a guy expresses his opinion on how God doesn't exist. Again, he can't prove it, he can't show it as truth, so it's really no different. It's something he believes but is trying to pass it off has accurate.

Sounds familiar according to you...

bigkahuna;1143338 wrote:The world has and always will be full of C's then.

sleeper;1143337 wrote:Only non-profits that don't steal the intellectual integrity of its users or keep them in a perpetual loop of paying money for no benefit. That pretty much just leaves churches.

sleeper;1143339 wrote:He does prove it. Enjoy the book! See, you won't read it!

sleeper;1143306 wrote:You can start by reading "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins. Pretty much destroys any semblance of religious belief.

bigkahuna;1143347 wrote:It's like talking to a wall. Nobody is forcing me to put money in the pot. If nothing else the money is to support/provide a building to gather. Wouldn't that be a benefit?

bigkahuna;1143348 wrote:Sorry, I'm not going to run to Barnes and Noble right this second.

Skyhook79;1143353 wrote:Not surprised you side with an atheist but I am surprised you side with an atheist who doesn't believe in the cognitive structure of science.

sleeper;1143340 wrote:No it hasn't. You're delusional.

sleeper;1143362 wrote:Richard Dawkins is probably one of the smartest scientists of all time. I don't expect a close minded bible thumper to understand anything he says, he's much above your pay grade level as far as intelligence goes.

bigkahuna;1143370 wrote:

Are you serious right now?

Skyhook79;1143375 wrote:If that is true then he should know how the cognitive structure of science works.

sleeper;1143357 wrote:Right, nobody is forcing you anymore because the business is already established. People hate Scientology because they require money to be saved, but Scientology doesn't have the base yet to profit from just donations. When they acquire more customers, they will switch to the model Catholic churches use. How does it feel being exploited by a group that doesn't care about you?

bigkahuna;1143382 wrote:This is what kills me. I don't know if you think that different sects are apart of a huge "cooperation" or something or what. The church I go, while associating with those that are vastly similar, have nothing to do with anyone else. The money it brings in is specifically for THAT building and THAT building alone. If it wasn't for the weekly offerings, it wouldn't be able to have electricity, heat, running water.... There's no central office for us or those like us.

sleeper;1143378 wrote:I've posted the distribution of religions including non-believers and it doesn't strike you as odd that NONE of our politicians are atheist? None of our business leaders are atheist?

It just must be because believers care so much about this country and all the atheists are just immoral drug addicts. Religion is an easy tool by business leaders and politicians to sway the masses because the masses are ignorant and only look at stupid **** that doesn't matter, like whether this person believes in their god or not. It's a ****ing scam.

sleeper;1143388 wrote:Clueless. Sure the money it brings in operates the building, but a lot of money is sent to corporate headquarters at the district, state, national, and global level(the Vatican). It's a money making scam designed to exploit the mental weakness of its based and the scant earnings many of them have.

sleeper;1143379 wrote:Intelligence isn't having unlimited knowledge or knowing everything. Intelligence is being humble enough to know that you don't know everything.

bigkahuna;1143392 wrote:Did you post that in this thread? I didn't see it, so I'm asking.

Of course there are those out there that are/aren't believers and are/aren't intelligent/wealthy. It's just as easy for me to say that non-believers are the exception as it is for you to say that believers are the exception.

sleeper;1143378 wrote:I've posted the distribution of religions including non-believers and it doesn't strike you as odd that NONE of our politicians are atheist? None of our business leaders are atheist?

It just must be because believers care so much about this country and all the atheists are just immoral drug addicts. Religion is an easy tool by business leaders and politicians to sway the masses because the masses are ignorant and only look at stupid shit that doesn't matter, like whether this person believes in their god or not. It's a fucking scam.