Bush still "dodging" the issue???

They're out there! I'm looking!

Merry Christmas to you and yours, and thanks for the repartee.

 

You don't have to look far, here's one:

 

Well as long as you don't have a go at my current religion of choice and don't forget to talk like a pirate to reverse climate change.

 

Never said I thought people should leave the tent, did I?
Don't beleive that I "denigrated" anyone's beliefs, did I?
As for the obnoxious part, I never said a blanket statement like anyone who exxpresses their beleifs in any way. Let me clarify, I thought overtly bringing in religion to a motorcycle "room" was a little much. That there is a place for everything. I don't care what people beleive, religion wise I just don't like it when people push it out there.

 

Now this post is in the "anything goes" section, so that, at least to me is different. But of course the avatars also appear in the regular motorcycle specific posts, that is where I find the inclsion of one's religous beleifs off putting and out of place. didn't notice Nungboy's avatar, I will have to look for it now.

As for open mindedness, never said or asked that people not be allowed to do it, did I? Whether in life or even specifically on this board. Simply went to the otherside to balance it out.
In fact I said nothing, in words, until I was specifically asked (which I am not saying I have a problem with). So I fail to see how I in anyway supported a position contrary to being open minded or having an open debate. There isn't anything in what I did that said others shouldn't be allowed to post what they want, is there? Just that I found it obnoxious. Some people thru their avatar showed their religious beleifs, and I showed mine in the exact equal way. I didn't do more, and I didn't do less. I didn't attack anyone at all for their beliefs, simply added mine. How is that wrong exactly?

As for singling Christians out, don't beleive my avatar really did either. But if it did, it would make sense since those were the avatars I was mostly seeing, and is by far the dominate religion in this countrly, as well as the religion I have the most experience with since I was raised a Roman Catholic.

And all this proves a certain point, that the inclusion of religion onto a motorcycle site serves no purpose. Unless of course it is something like the site ofr the Christian Riders Association, or something along those lines.

 

talk like a pirate to reverse climate change???
I'll admit, you lost me on that one

 

Supprised that you're not already aware of the " Church of the Flying Spagetti Monster " where they have published statistical proof that the increases in Temperature in Global Warming is directly related to the decline of people speaking like Pirates Arrrr. :wink:



FSM in Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Spaghetti_Monster

 

Talk about a change in direction from the original post.

 

Spike said:

"But of course the avatars also appear in the regular motorcycle specific posts, that is where I find the inclsion of one's religous beileifs off putting and out of place".


Well Spike, I find your logic behind the above statement off putting and out of place. I'm not suprised you missed Nungboys avatar. Your issue is not with religion in general, but with Christianity directly.

Please read something other than Sam Harris or Richard Dawkins then contribute an intellegent thought to this thread.

BZ

 

Ahhh, I have heard of the Church of the Flying Spagetti Monster, but just not that particular part of their, what? platform?? Actually, now that I am thinking about it more, maybe I have heard that before, it rings a bell, just didn't make the connection.

 

for whom??

 

well then, you can find it as off putting as you will please

I went back and looked at Nungboy's avatar, and I couldn't say for sure that it was Buddhist or Hindu or just some other sort of statue and mask of no particular religous meaning. I actually don't specifically look at anyone's avatar unless it catches my eye. You also have to remember that oftentimes, and unfortunately, in the United States people ofter use the imagery and icons of other religions simply as decorations for their house, person, car. So it causes me to look it over less. The most common of which are, at least anecdotedly Buddhism, Hinduism, any of the native americans including Mayans and Aztecs, many African tribes, etc. Many times people simply like how it looks. A poor practice to be sure, but rather common. So frankly I never saw Nungboy's as overtly religious, while a couple others I did.

To my recollection, and I read an awful lot, so if it was several years ago, I could have forgotten, I have never read either of the two authors you cite. So to read something other than, has already been well & duly completed.

 

De shit goin' on now is too complex to be expressed in any forrmula, even quadratic !!

 

Spike:

Well, I have to say thanks (seriously) to you because your posts in this thread have caused a great conversation between my wife and I. I had Jen read what we have been saying and I proposed to her, based upon your responses, that when you changed your avatar to the Darwin fish it was a tactic to open the door to start crap with Christians on VFRW. Of course you put it under the guise that it’s to balance out the overtly Christian avatars that have been popping up. But we know better.

I highly considered writing out a diatribe, but with my discussions with Jen realized that was the last thing needed on this thread. However, Jen did write an e-mail to me today I thought would fit perfect. She touched on some themes with much less aggression than I would use. In addition, I have no idea if Spike is an atheist; she just gave you that name. So I submit my wife’s thoughts to share with you all:

Hey sugar,

I read Mr. Atheist’s comments on the VFR World website, and had a few thoughts to share…

Clearly, the Christian culture has made an impression on this person that he finds distasteful. Maybe he assumes that a Christian avatar indicates an attitude- such as “I’d love to help you adjust the tension on your chain, but it doesn’t matter since you’re going to hell…” If he has encountered Christians in the past that gave him this impression, I’d say that’s regrettable. But I think it’s also worth pointing out a key difference between Christians and Atheists. Christians don’t compartmentalize their Christianity, saying “this is my religion” like “motorcycling is my hobby” or “plumbing is what I do for a living”. Christians are supposed to integrate their Christianity in every aspect of their lives, so that any praise for gifts or a job well done is always given to God. It may seem silly or obnoxious to a non-Christian, but hey.

It seems to me that atheism, being characterized by a lack of belief, can’t be integrated into one’s life in the same way. It doesn’t make sense to me that if religious views don’t make sense on a motorcycle forum, that those views can somehow be “balanced out” by opposing views. Either they belong there, or they don’t… This isn’t journalism; VFR World is a forum for personal expression, not a fair and balanced news media outlet, you know?

The last point I guess is that not all Christians are creationists, thank you very much… Christianity, contrary to evident popular opinion, is made up of a diverse group of individuals who all believe that Jesus is the son of God and that we are saved through his work on the cross… that’s it. Generalizations are usually bullshit, and counterproductive too.

Love you!

 

Squirrelman, if your avatar is God with a guitar, Spike will be very upset with you. Be careful!
(Oh, shite, that's the Garcia. A god of sorts to many.)

 

Christianity is the belief in something; atheism is a lack of belief in anything. To live with no beliefs seems empty and senseless.

And once again, I'm not a particularly religious person, but I've always believed in and tried to live up to the Judeo/Christian ethic. This beautiful and timeless ethic represents the finest guide for living that has ever been devised by man (God?).

And the older I get, the more spiritual (religious) I become. What I didn't believe in as a callous inexperienced know-it-all youth, now seems more and more correct and obvious every day that goes by.

I remember telling my Dad one time years ago that the universe was just too complex to be in anyway related to a God. My Dad said, "that's funny, it's exactly that complexity that makes me certain that it is." This has always stuck with me and I've thought about this often over the years.

Is there a God? I think so. I'm just not yet clear about what that God is, though I believe I'm close. I hope I live long enough to come to a solid conviction. I hope my Dad lives long enough for me to tell him about it.

I don't remember what this post was originally about, but I must say I've learned a lot from it and thank everyone for sharing their divergent and intelligent comments. I never thought I'd find this kind of repartee on a site such as this. A very nice surprise!

 

Sexually harassing me again eh Stuka?:yousuck:

BZ

 

I know better than to trade too many words with the Stuka!

A man who knows as many Confusious jokes as you, is a wise man indeed:cheersaf:

I'll get my revenge when the moment presents itself:tongue:

BZ

 

not a tactic at all, I didn't start the discssion over it at all

it is nice that I am "Mr. Atheist", man I didn't even have to wear a Speedo for the swimsuit competition!

if christianity can be "integrated" into one's life, Atheism can be as well, and in the same ways, as in I don't need to thank anyone for what I have done or not done or things that happen to me -- unless there were actual people involved, rather I can just take it at face value

never said all people who call themselves christian are creationists, not even once; wouldn't have made the generalization :treehugger:

but creationism is in the bible, and historically the number 1 way people tend to fight evolution is by saying it is counter to the "good" book, ask Mr. Scopes