dontsplatmatt

I don't know about you, but I find this to be a very evil concept. If I kidnapped a little girl, and relentlessly tortured her would you not consider me a heinous person? Why is "god" not held to the same standards? Why is he allowed to do evil things to test our faith? I agree 100%. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. The problem is that religion often does hurt others or infringe on their rights. Abraham sacrificing his son. Hindu caste system. The Crusades. Aztec sacrifices. Violence in the Middle East. Westboro Baptist Church protest. Christianity's campaign against homosexuality. Because we do not need religion to have morality as I pointed out earlier, and all these terrible things mentioned above are directly caused by religion, the world would be better off without it.

If he was all-knowing, he would know that we would be unable to understand his intentional mistakes. If it's his intent for us to all join him in heaven, and he is omnipotent, then he should utilize this omnipotence to help us out. Being elusive and then condemning people to hell when they didn't believe in him is an asshole move, and if he did exist and this were the case, I would walk into hell with my head held high knowing that I didn't worship such a monster. This is touching on Epicurus's views that god cannot be all good and omnipotent as claimed. These two qualities contrast because there is suffering in the world. If he is all good then he cannot like or support evil or suffering. If he is omnipotent, then it is within his power to eradicate evil and suffering. So if he chooses to allow evil and suffering in the world then he is not all good, and if he is unable to prevent it then he is not omnipotent. Probably the most common misconception from people who don't understand atheism. Atheists do not believe that the universe was created from nothing. Atheists reject beliefs that any deities exist. I don't know how the universe got its kickstart, but science is only getting closer to the answers. Christians are the ones who believe everything came from nothing as none of them can seem to explain how god came into existence. "He has just always been..."

This is an interesting point. Please elaborate. Well then IMO it has no more credibility than any other book, and it would be unwise to unquestioningly base your entire life on its teachings as many do.

I do not belong to any branch of Christianity. I am an anti-theist. I don't really understand what you're getting at. Are you implying that Christians don't believe their god is perfect? Smart, wise, etc are all relative attributes and a perfect driving record does not necessarily constitute a perfect driver. Perfection is not relative. Therefore, your argument is invalid. If you created a scenario with a perfect driver getting into a fender bender then it would relate to our discussion more with god being the driver and the Bible being the collision. By definition, a perfect driver cannot get into an accident, and similarly, a perfect god cannot write an imperfect book. EDIT: Or to relate your parenting scenario, it would have to be a perfect parent as "god" is not just wise but he is perfect. A perfect parent with perfect DNA, perfect love, perfect knowledge of raising children, etc could not create an unwise child. If the child was in fact unwise, that means there is a flaw somewhere in the parent.

How so? By definition, the Christian god is a perfect being. Logic tells us that something perfect cannot create imperfection. If the Bible is imperfect, he does not meet all the criteria.

No but "has errors" does mean that it is imperfect which means that their god is imperfect which means that he does not exist according to their definition.

I bet he will be ecstatic to hear that his followers no longer like what he has to say. Lookie lookie what I just found. Matthew 5:17-18 "Don't think that I have come to destroy the Law of Moses or the teaching of the prophets. "I have not come to destroy them but to bring about what they said. I tell you the truth, nothing will disappear from the law until Heaven and Earth are gone. Not even the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will be lost until everything has happened." So Jesus thinks that the Old Testament is legit?? What does that do for his credentials??

So you're telling me that contemporary Christians believe that the entire Old Testament is erroneous and outdated? Don't be ridiculous. I've never heard of a Christian church (I'm sure they are out there, but it's definitely not the majority) that ignores "god's word" from before Jesus came along and uses Bibles composed of only the New Testament. If Christians don't believe the Old Testament then a) they are not Christians because they do not believe all of "god's word" or b) "god's word" is imperfect and therefore their "god" by definition does not exist

Well apparently he didn't do a good enough job convincing daddy that his book was bad because the Bible is still printed with both the Old and the New Testaments. Contemporary Christians believe that Jesus and "god" are the same entity and that the entire Bible, not just the New Testament, is the holy word of this entity transcribed by humans. They read and believe (are deceived by it) on a daily basis, so I fail to see how the Old Testament doesn't apply to them. That being said, many Christians do like to pick and choose what they follow from the Bible which contradicts their very definition of "god." They claim he is a perfect being which means that nothing imperfect and come from him. The Bible is his word, so it must be perfect. If the Bible is perfect, it cannot become outdated because that is an imperfect quality. Therefore, the entire Bible is perfect and Christians should enslave, rape and kill everyone it commands them to.

You completely misinterpreted my post. I was pointing out to you that "god" does not give you your morals. You know what is right and wrong, and you choose to do what is right despite what "god" says. Please don't be so defensive. I'm not picking on Christianity. I'll summarize for you. Religion (and I promise you there are others out there aside from Christianity ) does not provide humans with their moral compasses, and in fact it usually does quite the opposite often guiding people to commit heinous and violent acts (i.e. suicide bombers who are usually Muslim). You state that, you have yet to prove it - just as you have to prove 'natural' moral law. It is society that creates 'moral laws', not God and not Nature. Many, including myself, disagree. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/09/magazine/09babies-t.html?_r=1 EDIT: I will admit that society does have a large impact on developing morality, but we are not born completely lacking a sense of right and wrong dependent on some cosmic being to guide us in the right direction.

You completely misinterpreted my post. I was pointing out to you that "god" does not give you your morals. You know what is right and wrong, and you choose to do what is right despite what "god" says. Please don't be so defensive. I'm not picking on Christianity. I'll summarize for you. Religion (and I promise you there are others out there aside from Christianity ) does not provide humans with their moral compasses, and in fact it usually does quite the opposite often guiding people to commit heinous and violent acts (i.e. suicide bombers who are usually Muslim).

Some people may break them as a result of weakness of the will, however people know what is right and wrong and will tend to do the right thing. Please tell me where you believe morality comes from. Surely not from the Bible or from "god." If that were true, "god" could tell you that it is right to rape (as "he" does in the Bible), and you would not hesitate to jump on the next pretty young lady you lay eyes on. Because "he" says it is right to rape and you disagree (I would hope), your morals obviously do not stem from "god."

They are inherent. "god" does not have the ability to deem things right and wrong or to make certain actions moral and others immoral. "he" can only reflect what our morality tells us which as my last post showed is not always the case. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U51JT8dTHTs&feature=related Watch all 3 parts when you get the chance. EDITED to make the link clicky.

You know not how wrong you are. "If a man lies with a male as with a women, both of them shall be put to death for their abominable deed; they have forfeited their lives." (Leviticus 20:13 NAB) Whoever strikes his father or mother shall be put to death. (Exodus 21:15 NAB) A priest's daughter who loses her honor by committing fornication and thereby dishonors her father also, shall be burned to death. (Leviticus 21:9 NAB) But if this charge is true (that she wasn't a virgin on her wedding night), and evidence of the girls virginity is not found, they shall bring the girl to the entrance of her fathers house and there her townsman shall stone her to death, because she committed a crime against Israel by her unchasteness in her father's house. Thus shall you purge the evil from your midst. (Deuteronomy 22:20-21 NAB) If a man is caught in the act of raping a young woman who is not engaged, he must pay fifty pieces of silver to her father. Then he must marry the young woman because he violated her, and he will never be allowed to divorce her. (Deuteronomy 22:28-29 NLT) If within the city a man comes upon a maiden who is betrothed, and has relations with her, you shall bring them both out of the gate of the city and there stone them to death: the girl because she did not cry out for help though she was in the city, and the man because he violated his neighbors wife. (Deuteronomy 22:23-24 NAB) Lo, a day shall come for the Lord when the spoils shall be divided in your midst. And I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem for battle: the city shall be taken, houses plundered, women ravished; half of the city shall go into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be removed from the city. (Zechariah 14:1-2 NAB) When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property. (Exodus 21:20-21 NAB) If everyone in the world was Christian and lived by the demented teachings of Jesus Christ, the world would be enslaved, raped or dead. If everyone in the world was moral and lived by the moral laws of nature, the world would be a much better place.

Thanks! I started at the Farm, and I still try to visit as often as possible. Although I mostly jump at Mile-Hi now, I'm not ready to call it my home dz yet even though it's not quite as bad of a drive

I also learned on the civilian side first. Just got my jump wings 2 days ago

I have a 25% off coupon for a suit from Vertical Suits (that expires tomorrow ), so I'm filling out the order form right now. I'm going to call the owner when I get home with some questions about sizing, but I figure questions about options are best directed at other jumpers. I'm leaning towards the Z-Suit with the following options: cordura reinforcement on the butt and knee, an extra inside pocket, and spandex hidden wrist cuffs. I'm still a new jumper with only 100 jumps so I'm sure I still have some less than spectacular landings ahead of me. Would cordura really help increase the durability and life of the suit to warrant a $40 increase? Also, what exactly are the benefits of hidden spandex wrist cuffs? The collar styles they offer are Half moon spandex, low rise, high, and rigid. I'm thinking about getting the half moon spandex or low rise just because a lower cut seems like it would be more comfortable, but is there anything else I should consider? And if anyone has suggestions for other options (extra fabric, mesh lining, velcro cuffs, storm flap, etc) that are worth the $ or that make you really love your suit, please let me know. For colors, I'd like something neutral (right now I'm thinking black with gray), but I'm open to ideas, so feel free to post if you have any. Thanks!! :) -M@

Mine feels the exact same way. Maybe that's why I feel like the hackey is too high on my back. Sounds like the laterals could be the culprit. I've already contacted the UPT rigging loft so hopefully my rig will be "comfortized" soon before the boogies start rolling in

Thanks for the advice everyone! I see what you guys are saying about the laterals and how they are pulling on the harness. Not really sure what the deal is with the leg straps and why they're so small because they were sized for someone bigger. Sounds like my best bet is to contact UPT now and get their opinion. Maybe I can send it in to get the fit and the embroidery fixed to kill two birds with one stone. In regards to what I have jammed in there, it is a V348 and I have it filled out with a 170 Sentry and PDR 160 so that's probably not helping the situation. More incentive for me to get some jumps and experience for a 150! Thanks again for the help!

When I do this I get exactly 16.5 so I guess that further supports you guys' thoughts that the MLW looks about right. I'm 5'8.5" and 147 lbs. The rig was built for someone about my height and heavier. The right MLW was cut and when he sent it to UPT he listed it for sale and I sent in my measurements for the fix after I bought it. I'm not sure what the loft resized aside from the MLW. How expensive would it be to lengthen the lateral since that seems to be a common theme?

This is my first rig. The MLWs were sized for me (16.5) so I assume it's smaller than most rental gear. Yeah I plan on getting a yellow handle soon because that's definitely something I don't want blending in. Thanks I'll send them a message and see what they have to say especially as far as the best option financially.

Thanks for your input guys. I have jumped it, but only about 10 times. I will put 30-50 more jumps on it next week so that will probably give me a better idea. The reason I thought it was the MLW is because it's tight enough that I can't get my second arm in without the strap twisting. Also could the fit in the shoulder area be the cause of the leg straps not fitting well? It could be that I'm just used to the ill-fitting student gear, but it still feels pretty tight through the shoulder and upper back area, and I'm usually sore if I wear it for 15+ minutes on the ground. As far as the yoke and laterals, how would those affect the fit in the area I described? Could giving them an extra half inch or inch relieve a significant amount of pressure? Is the lateral is the piece in my first picture just above the hip ring? That piece presses into my hip bone when I bend forward. Could that be related? Thanks again guys. Oh and Ryan I might be in GA for my leave this summer so try not to break the bank at Skyfest lol :P.

Long story short, I bought a used V3 with the MLWs resized for me. A rigger took my measurements, but the rig is really tight through the shoulders and puts a lot of pressure on my shoulders and back making it very uncomfortable to wear. Also, the rig sits pretty high on my back making the PC handle a bit harder to reach than I would prefer. I put a good amount of money into this rig with the intention of keeping it for a while, so I was wondering what you guys think would be the best option. I guess my options are to fork out the money to have the rig resized again, to sell the complete and look for something else or to yank everything out and just sell the container and find a new one that fits everything (and me!). I have a couple concerns with selling the container. One, it's in great condition and by chance matches my canopy and jumpsuit. Two, it has some embroidery in the left MLW that I tried to pick out but couldn't get the threads out completely so I'd have to fix that. Third, the MLW is 16.5, so I'm not sure how many people that would even fit or if I could get what I payed for it. I've attached some pics. Please let me know what you guys think :).

http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/donald_morgan/inconsistencies.html http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/donald_morgan/flaws.html That is quite a bold assertion. Here are some interesting articles on this topic. Feel free to pull out your Bible for reference. Not all of these examples can be disregarded simply because of the "culture of that time."

I've heard that Mirage and Wings offer significant military discounts. Does anyone know if UPT and Sunpath do as well? I searched their websites and the forums, but didn't find anything. Thanks.