beowulf 1 #526 June 18, 2012 QuoteQuoteYour claims of this danger are baseless and have no evidence to support them. So why would I take them seriously. Be my guest...go on and feel free to see for yourself if you must. Your choice... That's the thing it's not a choice. I can't choose to believe in something that makes no sense and has no evidence to back it up. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ibx 2 #527 June 18, 2012 QuoteYou don't seem to understand what a warning is...are you always this defensive? If somebody warns you of bad areas you may encounter during your travels do you tell them to fuck off? "The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty." Isn't it just brilliant how you use Bible verses, from the Proverbs mind you, to substantiate your stance. As if the Bible held any sort of authority over anybody that simply believes that it is a nice collection of well written folklore. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beowulf 1 #528 June 18, 2012 Some of it's well written, but not all of it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coreece 190 #529 June 18, 2012 QuoteIsn't it just brilliant You have no idea...Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beowulf 1 #531 June 18, 2012 I didn't choose to not believe in Christianity or any religion. I studied the Bible and Christianity and found that it didn't meet the burden of proof necessary to be credible. I have not been able to find any evidence to support the existence of anything supernatural. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coreece 190 #532 June 18, 2012 QuoteI didn't choose to not believe in Christianity or any religion. I studied the Bible and Christianity and found that it didn't meet the burden of proof necessary to be credible. I have not been able to find any evidence to support the existence of anything supernatural. I'm sorry... It's people like you that humble me. Many times I've been in tears crying why me? These people deserve the joy of spiritual life more than I...what a mind fuck.Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #533 June 18, 2012 QuoteQuoteSpirituality refers to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the "deepest values and meanings by which people live." Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop an individual's inner life; spiritual experience includes that of connectedness with a larger reality, yielding a more comprehensive self; with other individuals or the human community; with nature or the cosmos; or with the divine realm. Spirituality is often experienced as a source of inspiration or orientation in life. It can encompass belief in immaterial realities or experiences of the immanent or transcendent nature of the world. mmmm - focused self reflection resulting in orientation or inspiration with claims of connecting to the transcendent nature of life....... So let's see that objective and physical proof that you're gaining anything from this. there is no way to view that as anything but religious in it's most basic state - it's pretty much the basis for all religions so now I see this as less of an anti-religion thing, and just more of a semantics thing - your mystic rituals aren't any better or worse - there are organizations that facilitate spiritual rituals of self awareness just like churches claim to do - etc etc etc (I bet there are even yogi's and meditation coaches that take advantage of their clients for money and sexual favors.......) what's different from holding a crystal and rubbing it and 'meditating' vs holding a cross and rubbing it and chanting a series of prayers? if someone is going to be pure about objectivity of practices and beliefs, they should at least be consistent in their disregard of all forms and not just those that make them uncomfortable because they are different "connecting with the universe" is the biggest and most successful mass produced business ever. Whether it's a worth it? well, there seems to be a demand from most of the population for what they are selling. ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beowulf 1 #534 June 18, 2012 If what you believe is true then your god should have no trouble convincing the most skeptical person out there. All it takes is real evidence. Something that can be tested and repeated. The Bible has examples where he proved his existence. Why can't he do it now? You are believing a fantasy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,029 #535 June 18, 2012 QuoteQuoteChurches aren't charities. They do charitable work. So do I but I don't claim that I should be completely tax exempt on account of it.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beowulf 1 #536 June 18, 2012 QuoteThese people deserve the joy of spiritual life more than I... There is no such thing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beowulf 1 #537 June 18, 2012 QuoteQuoteChurches aren't charities. They do charitable work. That doesn't make them equal to a charity. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #538 June 18, 2012 QuoteQuoteQuoteChurches aren't charities. They do charitable work. That doesn't make them equal to a charity. they are a business - they can deduct charitable contribution just like the rest of us - but businesses should be taxed equal to the others ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coreece 190 #539 June 18, 2012 QuoteThe Bible has examples where he proved his existence. Why can't he do it now? ...and most still didn't believe. Some even passed it off as coming from evil. Those stories demonstrate that faith can only be a gift from God's grace. "...if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beowulf 1 #540 June 18, 2012 QuoteQuoteThe Bible has examples where he proved his existence. Why can't he do it now? ...and most still didn't believe. Some even passed it off as coming from evil. Those stories demonstrate that faith can only be a gift from God's grace. "...if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’” If the Christian God were real then this insane notion of faith would not be necessary. Belief with out evidence is just a way to dupe gullible people. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,465 #541 June 18, 2012 The CEO of the American Cancer Society made $2.2 million. Would like to hear how you would label that a charity and not a business. Should the American Cancer Society also be taxed as a business and should just deduct charitable contributions? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coreece 190 #542 June 18, 2012 What arrogance...Who are you?Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #543 June 18, 2012 QuoteThe CEO of the American Cancer Society made $2.2 million. Would like to hear how you would label that a charity and not a business. Should the American Cancer Society also be taxed as a business and should just deduct charitable contributions? I'm happen to tax that CEO. No problem. I'm also happy to label ACS as a charity-based business too. Go ahead and tax them. Real charity is personal and direct, anything else can, and will, be twisted into profit making eventually - no matter how good the original intentions. not that I have a problem with profits.....but let's call it what it is - I don't see why not, it's not despicable to make profits, nor is there anything wrong with doing that openly, especially for a good cause. Profits aren't evil, but misdirection is. Wouldn't it be more honest to start an organization with the goal to advance a cure and state up front that x% will be taken for our troubles? Rather than pretend otherwise and then sneak away high salaries and trips and perks from the funds? ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beowulf 1 #544 June 18, 2012 QuoteWhat arrogance...Who are you? The guy telling you that your beliefs in Christianity is nothing but a fantasy and with out any evidence you have nothing to dispute that with. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,465 #545 June 18, 2012 QuoteQuoteThe CEO of the American Cancer Society made $2.2 million. Would like to hear how you would label that a charity and not a business. Should the American Cancer Society also be taxed as a business and should just deduct charitable contributions? I'm happen to tax that CEO. No problem. I'm also happy to label ACS as a charity-based business too. Go ahead and tax them. Real charity is personal and direct, anything else can, and will, be twisted into profit making eventually - no matter how good the original intentions. not that I have a problem with profits.....but let's call it what it is - I don't see why not, it's not despicable to make profits, nor is there anything wrong with doing that openly, especially for a good cause. Profits aren't evil, but misdirection is. Wouldn't it be more honest to start an organization with the goal to advance a cure and state up front that x% will be taken for our troubles? Rather than pretend otherwise and then sneak away high salaries and trips and perks from the funds? I agree with you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Southern_Man 0 #546 June 18, 2012 If you are going to tax either churches or charities the bigger tax is usually not the income tax (after all, after deducting expenses as other businesses do I bet they have relatively small profits) but sales and property taxes. There would be a large amount of income going to state and local governments."What if there were no hypothetical questions?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gravitymaster 0 #547 June 18, 2012 QuoteQuoteQuoteChurches aren't charities. They do charitable work. So do I but I don't claim that I should be completely tax exempt on account of it. Most people are able to deduct charitable contributions. Doesn't mean they had to actually provide the physical work. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gravitymaster 0 #548 June 18, 2012 QuoteQuoteQuoteChurches aren't charities. They do charitable work. That doesn't make them equal to a charity. How is it different? Who gets to decide? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beowulf 1 #549 June 18, 2012 Right now the Gov defines what charity is. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shotgun 1 #550 June 18, 2012 QuoteIf somebody warns you of bad areas you may encounter during your travels do you tell them to fuck off? If the person had obviously never been where I'm going, and his only information was from some 2000-year-old stories and personal visions/feelings/illusions, I probably wouldn't tell him to fuck off, but I'd take the advice for what it's worth (little to nothing). And since the "travels" you are referring to relates to what happens after death, there is no one alive who could give me any first-hand information about what to expect there. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
