I would venture to say the majority of those that go by the name Christian and show up in church weekly are deceived… I pray constantly that I not be deceived.

This forum is for listening and asking not preaching. Merry Festivus to you also.

Anyway, as the exaggerating continues this “troll” will make his exit. I never said anyone “is a demon”, that is actually not how things work. So I certainly would not say something like that. But the predisposition to internally skewing my words is a prime example of the influence being applied. No one is his own master. When you serve God it is quite obvious, when you don’t that fact becomes hidden from you. The bible calls it “being deceived”.

There are many church goers that are “deceived”. They never really committed themselves. It is amazing the tightrope a true believer walks inside the church. If I spoke the overflow of my heart a foot would be in my rear quicker than I could make a point. I would venture to say the majority of those that go by the name Christian and show up in church weekly are deceived. A good sign is whether they are losing their lives or gaining them, however bone bags are so clumsy it is quite difficult to know for sure. I pray constantly that I not be deceived. I daily consider the possibility and wrestle my flesh into submission. I spend and am spent for the gospel because I am certain of it. The reason I post here is because I am certain of the gospel, and one other thing. If you would commit to God you would be a true believer. Something that is on the verge of extinction these days. MTran, your whole character is built on understanding the creation. When you meet The Creator you will be complete, you will give your life away by your own accord, and you will find the treasure that so few find.

Merry Christmas to you all, especially you MTran. I hope the next visitor is more sophisticated than I for your sake.

I doubt that “Prophet” is ever going to sound anything like someone who could speak positively about his “god” or much of anything. I say that based on the contents of the page that his name is linked to. The primary item of interest on that page appears to be a “Fart Button.” Yep. Real sophisticated representative for his belief system.

So, no more feeding the troll!

I have read all of your responses. You are right I likely won’t remain long based on the condition of the soil here.

You were the one who came here and spoiled it with your invective. Your first post here and you were busy calling us fools, sadistic, pawns, puppets on a demon’s string, etc.

Then you complain about the condition of the soil??

Merry Christmas.

Prophet, please realize that we’re not your enemies here, we just don’t think you have all the answers. Realize we are all different people with different perspectives who have walked different journeys of faith and belief.

Realize that athiests, like believers, are loving, caring people who want the world to be a better place. I’m not controlled by a demon, unless that demon is the one who wants peace on earth and goodwill toward men.

Time to lose that beligerant attitude that makes you call everyone with different beliefs or ideas than you being controlled by demons. Believe in God, or don’t. But please lose the demonization of others points of view. I’m a grown-up. I’m assuming you’re one too. Stop acting like this is an episode of Battlestar Galactica and give me the common respect to deal with my beliefs on their own merits and not by ascribing some supernatural secret motive. I’m not a demon. I’m also not a Cylon. Or a Terminator sent from the future to kill you. I’m a human being, and I appreciate being treated like one.

Nobody’s mind was ever changed because someone accused them of being a demon.

If you really want to speak for God here, start by setting a better example.

Like txatheist, I “knew” god, and I had faith at one time. I know the comfort of believing in god, but I couldn’t ignore the facts any longer. When you believe it is very difficult to imagine life without god, but it is amazing how there is very little difference.

Parts of the bible do sound like Lord of the Rings, a good read for sure, but not something to base your life on. Most stories of incredible supernatural feats and dismissed as fiction at the outset. I can’t see anything to make the bible any different.

MTran, your response was well thought out. It really doesn’t boil down to any of those things. It boils down to there being a God and you not believing Him. No bone bag, me included, ever will make any difference in the truth of God’s existence. He is the beginning and end. I only hope you will stop and contemplate that again every time another believer swings their hoe in your direction. Over and over the same message, God WILL NOT be measured by any man.

When you find your faith you will be more complete than most. Have you contemplated the Nephilim of Genesis 6? Despite your doubt those passages must be intriguing to you knowing what you do of the fossil record. Who were these sons of God and daughters of men? Sounds like something right out of Lord of the Rings. At some point the daughters of men mixed with some sons of God, making them much larger than men of the time. Heroes of old?

Bone bags all of us, but we are created by an all powerful God. If you keep looking for answers from bone bags full of hot air you will have spent your life talking and never participate in the supernatural existence that awaits. So many people call themselves Christian, but those many will say “Lord, Lord” … and He will say “I never knew you”.

You will be more than that when you believe.

Prophet also claims to be a mind reader when he says, among other things: When will you admit that you get a sadistic pleasure out of pointing fingers at these people?

“Sadistic” ? “Pawn”? The only one making offensive accusations and using hateful language here is “Prophet,” who seems to be spouting the usual pre-packaged tripe.

Hemant (The Friendly Atheist) is not “double dipping” or “having it both ways.” He is describing rather clearly how this so-called Christian church is behaving in ways that are clearly at odds with its own moral teachings. That these intolerant fundamentalists are ethically incoherent is not news, although it continues to be appalling.

If any religion or religious leader claims to have the moral high ground, as these folks have, yet repeatedly demonstrate that they are lying, hate filled, abusive hypocrites, then they should be called on it.

There are plenty of highly ethical theists and there are plenty of church leaders and denominations that I have admired, and continued to do so after I became an unapologetic atheist. But the Ted Haggards of the world offend the very forgiving and reasonable sensitivities of those affiliated with the churches I attended during my youth. These types of “religious leaders” are mindlessly destructive of both their “enemies” and their own supposededly moral message.

As long as good intentioned Christians insist on supporting and praising these sorts of dysfuntional people, policies, and instititions, all Christians and believers will be lumped together under the “religious nut case” category.

Diatribes like the one left by “Prophet” undermine any claim to moral insight that he may think he’s espousing.

“judge not lest YE be judged” sure springs to mind