[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

In the religious setting both the religion that teaches children that superhuman beings exist and heaven exists and the idiots who murder believing it are equally culpable

Even at the very most basic level... the people who actively carry out acts of violence know - either for certain, or with very high probability - that they are not going to come out of it alive. I am utterly convinced that there would be very few lining up to be the ones with bombs on their chests or AK's on their backs if they realised that they actually get naught after death. Literally nothing. Fin.

Not just jihadists either. Most "legitimate" armed forces across the world have pushed the same angle throughout history, from the Holy Roman Empire to the US Military, and for the same reasons. Convince a soldier that there's an afterlife and he will automatically fight harder.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

My wife has a friend who is very religious - more religious, it turns out, than we thought for years. We knew she was a believer etc. but thought it was in a more casual way, but have realized over the years that she's actually full-on God Squad (my wife helped the family to move house recently, along with a number of "Church people", and after they were all done and having tea in the kitchen... the conversation immediately turned to how awesome God and Jesus are ).

But yes, she has recently started admitting that she "worries about" us and her other non-religious friends... like actively gets upset sometimes about the fact that we won't get into heaven. Which I suppose is nice 'n' all but... please.

That's her choice as long as she isn't actively trying to convert you or becoming a nuisance then I don't see the issue

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Cherie

That's her choice as long as she isn't actively trying to convert you or becoming a nuisance then I don't see the issue

It creeps me out . I don't like the idea of people "praying for me".

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

It creeps me out . I don't like the idea of people "praying for me".

We have no control over other peoples feelings towards us, so aside from telling her straight to stop and her honouring your wishes you will just have to live with your soul being saved

[bitontheslide]

lets all pray (prey) for TS's soul

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

lets all pray (prey) for TS's soul

There's no such thing as a soul

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

There's no such thing as a soul

And if there is, mine is long lost

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

And if there is, mine is long lost

Toy Souldier

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Cherie

We have no control over other peoples feelings towards us, so aside from telling her straight to stop and her honouring your wishes you will just have to live with your soul being saved

Well apparently it's futile anyway! You have to actually become a Christian to get in, even if all of the other Christians vouch for you . Maybe she's praying for us to become Christians?

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Toy Souldier

Soulja boy tell 'em.

[Livia]

He was posed a lot of leading questions and he answered them with a certainty that only someone who doesn't have a faith would answer. I was unaware that Gervais was qualified to speak about the workings of other people's mind, I thought he was a comedian. Anyhoo... interesting and amusing opinions... and that's what they were... opinions. And he's entitled to them.

[LeatherTrumpet]

my thoughts and prayers are with TS's wife

every time he climbs aboard ha

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

my thoughts and prayers are with TS's wife

every time he climbs aboard ha

It is pretty huge.

[jaxie]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

It is pretty huge.

[jaxie]

Originally Posted by Livia

He was posed a lot of leading questions and he answered them with a certainty that only someone who doesn't have a faith would answer. I was unaware that Gervais was qualified to speak about the workings of other people's mind, I thought he was a comedian. Anyhoo... interesting and amusing opinions... and that's what they were... opinions. And he's entitled to them.

He was giving his views and opinion, I didn't see him claiming to be anyones head or that he was qualified to. Though I'd be more worried about those who think they are qualified to tell you there is a god. Or speak for one and declare what said deity thinks you should be/do.

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by jaxie

I can see you peeking

[waterhog]

not even going to watch video - I disagree with this guy as I don't find him funny at all.

[Maru]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

It creeps me out . I don't like the idea of people "praying for me".

Quick, someone form a TiBB group, "Actively Praying for TS' Soul"

[the truth]

Originally Posted by waterhog

not even going to watch video - I disagree with this guy as I don't find him funny at all.

hes brilliant at playing the role of a deluded buffoon , strange that

[Maru]

Originally Posted by the truth

his whole attitude and approach is wrong, its judgemental tedious mean spirited on the whole, attention seeking, hypocritical and condescending...he tries to over simplify and put into a box the billions who--

Originally Posted by Johnnyuk123

This too can be said of many religious people.

I've seen some atheists who are just as intolerant and bigoted as some religious folk. I'm surprised to see it so often coming from the atheist side but admittedly it's helluva a lot easier to troll religious followers than it is to troll most any other group. If you love trolling people and happen to be atheist, then it's a tempting buffet of self-amusement.

Personally, it's easier to just judge people according to what they do and the values they represent through those actions rather than they go what they actually (or claim to) believe or the # of degrees they've obtained. Usually for the sake of flaunting said belief in lieu of various personal flaws...

In the end, what they do or don't believe has no real bearing for me if the actual person is a horrible human being... life is too short to waste time on it. Most people who quit religion or start a religion do so for personal reasons, which is not really our business unless they somehow make it our personal issue. Things like trauma, chronic harassment, mass suicides, war or murder are problems... not trite things like someone said something religious today and you felt funny.

In that vein, I love watching cult documentaries on things like Scientology and the FLDS. Both groups are ****ed up, but even more interesting how they rope people into their cults and shape the beliefs of their followers. How the US still puts up with Scientology's crap, I don't know, but they managed to beat the IRS for non-profit status... even though there's ample evidence it's nothing more than a pyramid scheme to separate people from their money.

[armand.kay]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Yeah, Power really is the root of all evil, organised religion (in my humble opinion of course) is just a tool that humans used to gain power over people, if that goes no doubt something else would replace it

Completely agree with this even science has been used as justification for some of the most heinous acts.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Maru

I've seen some atheists who are just as intolerant and bigoted as some religious folk. I'm surprised to see it so often coming from the atheist side but admittedly it's helluva a lot easier to troll religious followers than it is to troll most any other group. If you love trolling people and happen to be atheist, then it's a tempting buffet of self-amusement.

Personally, it's easier to just judge people according to what they do and the values they represent through those actions rather than they go what they actually (or claim to) believe or the # of degrees they've obtained. Usually for the sake of flaunting said belief in lieu of various personal flaws...

In the end, what they do or don't believe has no real bearing for me if the actual person is a horrible human being... life is too short to waste time on it. Most people who quit religion or start a religion do so for personal reasons, which is not really our business unless they somehow make it our personal issue. Things like trauma, chronic harassment, mass suicides, war or murder are problems... not trite things like someone said something religious today and you felt funny.

In that vein, I love watching cult documentaries on things like Scientology and the FLDS. Both groups are ****ed up, but even more interesting how they rope people into their cults and shape the beliefs of their followers. How the US still puts up with Scientology's crap, I don't know, but they managed to beat the IRS for non-profit status... even though there's ample evidence it's nothing more than a pyramid scheme to separate people from their money.

Oh I went through a phase of being totally obsessed with Scientology, so bizarre

But what makes Scientology and "cults" any different from other religions though? Scientologists shape the beliefs of their followers? so does every other religion

[LeatherTrumpet]

Mormonism and Scientology are two modern cults

the only difference betwixt them and say Judaism or Islam is time

[Jamie89]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Oh I went through a phase of being totally obsessed with Scientology, so bizarre

But what makes Scientology and "cults" any different from other religions though? Scientologists shape the beliefs of their followers? so does every other religion

I can't recommend "Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief" enough. It's a documentary film (about Scientology obviously) and it's brilliant, really eye opening, and quite shocking too, and puts across really well how it's very different from 'normal' religions.

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

Mormonism and Scientology are two modern cults

the only difference betwixt them and say Judaism or Islam is time

I think there's a lot more to it than that tbh. Mormonism is very new but it still follows the classic pattern of how religions have been set up, and why people become followers etc. Scientology on the other hand is totally separate in my opinion from any other 'religion', especially in it's methods of how it treats people involved in the 'church' but in many other ways too (and shouldn't even be classed as a religion... again, watch "Going Clear" if you haven't seen it, it's great).

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Jamie89

I can't recommend "Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief" enough. It's a documentary film (about Scientology obviously) and it's brilliant, really eye opening, and quite shocking too, and puts across really well how it's very different from 'normal' religions.



I think there's a lot more to it than that tbh. Mormonism is very new but it still follows the classic pattern of how religions have been set up, and why people become followers etc. Scientology on the other hand is totally separate in my opinion from any other 'religion', especially in it's methods of how it treats people involved in the 'church' but in many other ways too (and shouldn't even be classed as a religion... again, watch "Going Clear" if you haven't seen it, it's great).

I may have seen it, I definitely watched a documentary on Scientology but I don't know what it was called. It's ****ed up isn't it? How on earth did they manage to rope massive celebs like Tom Cruise and John Travolta in as well?