From atheist to believer....from believer to atheist

Serious Business Backup 234 replies 2,747 views
cruiser_96's avatar
cruiser_96
Posts: 7,536
May 2, 2012 11:06am
I might say towards faith being the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Much like this gravity thing mentioned. I can't see gravity, but I can see the effects of it.
sleeper's avatar
sleeper
Posts: 27,879
May 2, 2012 11:07am
cruiser_96;1159667 wrote:I might say towards faith being the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Much like this gravity thing mentioned. I can't see gravity, but I can see the effects of it.
And you can measure gravity. Can you measure faith? No you can't. Just because you alone can feel the effects does not make them reality. If you think so, seek medical attention.
cruiser_96's avatar
cruiser_96
Posts: 7,536
May 2, 2012 11:10am
So, no?
fish82's avatar
fish82
Posts: 4,111
May 2, 2012 11:18am
sleeper;1159651 wrote:You're only helping me. Faith proves nothing, its irrelevant. If you ever find yourself using faith to justify an internal belief, you have to recognize that it is irrelevant and it doesn't matter.
If showing you to be an amazingly hypocritical dufus is "helping you," then yeah. I'm Mr. Helper. ;)

Why do you keep humping the "faith proves nothing" schtick, when everybody on the farking thread has agreed with you time and time again? You're starting to look like a cymbal monkey...just banging and screaming about nothing.
cruiser_96's avatar
cruiser_96
Posts: 7,536
May 2, 2012 11:22am
"Mr. Helper"! That just sparked one good memory...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bfgrj_62-Y

Thanks, fish.
sleeper's avatar
sleeper
Posts: 27,879
May 2, 2012 11:30am
fish82;1159686 wrote:If showing you to be an amazingly hypocritical dufus is "helping you," then yeah. I'm Mr. Helper. ;)

Why do you keep humping the "faith proves nothing" schtick, when everybody on the farking thread has agreed with you time and time again? You're starting to look like a cymbal monkey...just banging and screaming about nothing.
It would only be hypocritical if I was being serious. No I don't have a link that all churches operate the same, it should be common sense. They are for profit business disguised as non-profits so they don't have to pay taxes. It's fraud to the rational unbiased mind, but we all know that isn't your typical believer.
cruiser_96's avatar
cruiser_96
Posts: 7,536
May 2, 2012 11:35am
So, no?
fish82's avatar
fish82
Posts: 4,111
May 2, 2012 11:56am
sleeper;1159710 wrote:It would only be hypocritical if I was being serious. No I don't have a link that all churches operate the same, it should be common sense. They are for profit business disguised as non-profits so they don't have to pay taxes. It's fraud to the rational unbiased mind, but we all know that isn't your typical believer.
Why should it be "common sense?" Now you're just talking in circles.
sleeper's avatar
sleeper
Posts: 27,879
May 2, 2012 12:06pm
fish82;1159742 wrote:Why should it be "common sense?" Now you're just talking in circles.
Well they aren't doing mass for free...

so...

...
C
Con_Alma
Posts: 12,198
May 2, 2012 12:25pm
sleeper;1159710 wrote:It would only be hypocritical if I was being serious. No I don't have a link that all churches operate the same, it should be common sense. They are for profit business disguised as non-profits so they don't have to pay taxes. It's fraud to the rational unbiased mind, but we all know that isn't your typical believer.
Lol. All churches do not operate the same. There are churches that believe that it is poor stewardship to sit on money that has been offered and that it should be put in ot the community. There are churches that believe rather than building buildings to honor God they should use their assets to feed those in need and help those without.

There's a church in Lorain, Ohio I think that doesn't even have pews because the money is better used in the inner city for those who have not sought help but need it.
C
Con_Alma
Posts: 12,198
May 2, 2012 12:26pm
sleeper;1159762 wrote:Well they aren't doing mass for free...

so...

...
They would gladly do it for free for you.
sleeper's avatar
sleeper
Posts: 27,879
May 2, 2012 12:27pm
Con_Alma;1159784 wrote:They would gladly do it for free for you.
That's called marketing. It's a cost churches account for on their balance sheet. They know by being there your chances of getting hoodwinked increase 10 fold and you will become a paying customer soon enough.

Scientology is very similar and there are few that don't think its a cult.
sleeper's avatar
sleeper
Posts: 27,879
May 2, 2012 12:28pm
Con_Alma;1159783 wrote:Lol. All churches do not operate the same. There are churches that believe that it is poor stewardship to sit on money that has been offered and that it should be put in ot the community. There are churches that believe rather than building buildings to honor God they should use their assets to feed those in need and help those without.

There's a church in Lorain, Ohio I think that doesn't even have pews because the money is better used in the inner city for those who have not sought help but need it.
Why buy pews when you can funnel the money into your own pockets?
C
Con_Alma
Posts: 12,198
May 2, 2012 12:29pm
sleeper;1159786 wrote:That's called marketing. It's a cost churches account for on their balance sheet. They know by being there your chances of getting hoodwinked increase 10 fold and you will become a paying customer soon enough.

Scientology is very similar and there are few that don't think its a cult.
I was not aware it was marketed at all. Not being a Catholic I thank you for letting me know.
C
Con_Alma
Posts: 12,198
May 2, 2012 12:30pm
sleeper;1159788 wrote:Why buy pews when you can funnel the money into your own pockets?
I don't know but then again that's not what we saw when we were there. It's a Spanish speaking inner city church.
sleeper's avatar
sleeper
Posts: 27,879
May 2, 2012 12:34pm
Con_Alma;1159793 wrote:I don't know but then again that's not what we saw when we were there. It's a Spanish speaking inner city church.
Even better. Why hire legal priests? Just bring in illegal aliens from Mexico. You can pay them less and they won't complain in English so no one will care.
W
wkfan
Posts: 1,641
May 2, 2012 12:38pm
fish82;1159742 wrote:Why should it be "common sense?" Now you're just talking in circles.
he tends to do that when cornered, or asked for proof of his claims.

For Sleeper, 'His Opinion' = 'Common Sense'
sleeper's avatar
sleeper
Posts: 27,879
May 2, 2012 12:39pm
wkfan;1159803 wrote:he tends to do that when cornered, or asked for proof of his claims.

For Sleeper, 'His Opinion' = 'Common Sense'
Right. I guess I need links to verify that gravity exists or that water is wet.

Or I could just use the BS "faith" crap against the blinded believers.
cruiser_96's avatar
cruiser_96
Posts: 7,536
May 2, 2012 12:39pm
wkfan;1159803 wrote:he tends to do that when cornered, or asked for proof of his claims.

For Sleeper, 'His Opinion' = 'Common Sense'
That works. Thanks.
C
Con_Alma
Posts: 12,198
May 2, 2012 12:40pm
sleeper;1159798 wrote:Even better. Why hire legal priests? Just bring in illegal aliens from Mexico. You can pay them less and they won't complain in English so no one will care.
????.

They aren't Mexicans. Lol They aren't even from Mexican decent.
C
Con_Alma
Posts: 12,198
May 2, 2012 12:41pm
wkfan;1159803 wrote:he tends to do that when cornered, or asked for proof of his claims.

For Sleeper, 'His Opinion' = 'Common Sense'
I thought it was Sleeper Sense. Hmmm.
sleeper's avatar
sleeper
Posts: 27,879
May 2, 2012 12:48pm
Con_Alma;1159809 wrote:????.

They aren't Mexicans. Lol They aren't even from Mexican decent.
That lowers the likelihood the church is selling dope on the side then.
C
Con_Alma
Posts: 12,198
May 2, 2012 12:52pm
sleeper;1159825 wrote:That lowers the likelihood the church is selling dope on the side then.
Is that good in your mind?

It doesn't matter to me whether they would or not.
sleeper's avatar
sleeper
Posts: 27,879
May 2, 2012 12:53pm
Con_Alma;1159832 wrote:Is that good in your mind?

It doesn't matter to me whether they would or not.
Well I can't see how marketing towards the poor would yield enough revenue for the religion. I wouldn't blame them for selling dope; if they got caught they wouldn't have to adhere to the rules of this country and would just be moved to different districts.
C
Con_Alma
Posts: 12,198
May 2, 2012 12:55pm
sleeper;1159835 wrote:Well I can't see how marketing towards the poor would yield enough revenue for the religion....
Good thing because I don't think their doctrine suggests that they do so.