Who here has had a gf have an abortion?

[Lestat]

See how quickly you were able to say with pretty much certaintly that you don't believe that the prophet muhammed is who people claim is is/was. that is exactly how I feel about Jesus, and Joseph Smith, and David Koresh, etc.

 

[juiceddreadlocks]

absolutely not. What makes him different than Jesus in your mind though?

As Sam Harris says...
I have no doubt that your acceptance of Christ coincided with some very positive changes in your life. Perhaps you regularly feel rapture or bliss while in prayer. I do not wish to denigrate any of these experiences. I would point out, however, that billions of other human beings, in every time and place, have had similar experiences-but they had them while thinking about Krishna, or Allah, or the Buddha, while making art or music, or while contemplating the sheer beauty of nature. There is no question that it is possible for us to have profoundly transformative experiences. And there is no question that it is possible for us to misinterpret these experiences and to further delude ourselves about the nature of the universe.

Yes, what you're talking about is well documented in neuroscience circles. I cant explain things away with science, and I know I dont have all the answers.

I do know that if there's a possible supernatural explanation that seems plausable, I'm going to believe it. The odds are so astronomical that a single chain of amino acids would ever fold into a secondary and tertiary structure that I have to believe somehting at some point caused it. I wrestle with problems like that daily. I think you're a fool if you discount the possiblity of a power higher than you, but it doenst bother me for you to have a dissenting opinion.

 

[Lestat]

Yes, what you're talking about is well documented in neuroscience circles. I cant explain things away with science, and I know I dont have all the answers.

I do know that if there's a possible supernatural explanation that seems plausable, I'm going to believe it. The odds are so astronomical that a single chain of amino acids would ever fold into a secondary and tertiary structure that I have to believe somehting at some point caused it. I wrestle with problems like that daily. I think you're a fool if you discount the possiblity of a power higher than you, but it doenst bother me for you to have a dissenting opinion.

To me there is a VERY big difference between considering the possibility of a higher power, and saying with matter of fact certainty that someone walked the earth as the son of "god" and was killed and raised from the dead.

One seems fathomably, while the other seems ridiculous.

I cannot say for certain how we got here, who created us, or how we were created.

I feel like people have a yearning to answer that and will go to great lengths to answer that even if it includes deluding themselves. Those are really pressing question, and throw in what happens when we die, and what our purpose for living is and you have a VERY complelling reason to believe in SOMETHING and if you look throughout history you will see familiar patterns in most belief sets.

 

[imystify]

I considered having one.

so fucking happy I didn't. Its been hard, very, raising her in that mess at first then solo, struggling financially and all that it entails... but those times when she curls up on the couch with me and we snuggle, even in her gothy 12 year old angst phase, makes it totally worth it.

 

[jnevin]

As smurfy and others have pointed out, I'm not always the most articulate, or smooth at getting a point across. I wish I was better at it, and I really do not post my thoughts with the intention of just pissing people off, I know that may be hard to believe at times, but its true.

Ditto.

And I'm pretty sure you've read my thoughts on religion, it's just that you treat people that believe like second class citizens and constantly try to pick them apart and put them down. It's the same as putting someone down because of their race. You can pull any negative stat on any race and use it to put them down, but it's got nothing to do with the person you attack. Getting on someone because you think they have the ability to change their faith is no better. It's like saying you wouldn't have a problem with blacks if they would only go to another country.

 

[patsfan1379]

I considered having one.

so fucking happy I didn't. Its been hard, very, raising her in that mess at first then solo, struggling financially and all that it entails... but those times when she curls up on the couch with me and we snuggle, even in her gothy 12 year old angst phase, makes it totally worth it.

This is a great post and a great story. I think it is great you worked through the tough times.

People these days are too quick to avoid challenges. They justify their actions with excuses.

Good for you.

 

[Lestat]

Ditto.

And I'm pretty sure you've read my thoughts on religion, it's just that you treat people that believe like second class citizens and constantly try to pick them apart and put them down. It's the same as putting someone down because of their race. You can pull any negative stat on any race and use it to put them down, but it's got nothing to do with the person you attack. Getting on someone because you think they have the ability to change their faith is no better. It's like saying you wouldn't have a problem with blacks if they would only go to another country.

I will do my best to keep it from getting personal.

Again, I do see a huge difference between something racial and religious.

Right now we protect religious rights just as we protect civil rights, but its my belief that this should be re evaluated as I believe by protecting all religious rights we are enabling some very damaging dogma and idealogy to persist.

 

[patsfan1379]

Lots of soulless athiests in here.

 

[Lestat]

Lots of soulless athiests in here.

lol!

 

[imystify]

This is a great post and a great story. I think it is great you worked through the tough times.

People these days are too quick to avoid challenges. They justify their actions with excuses.

Good for you.

lol the tough times are still comin... she's a young thing and the boys are circling... must. go. lift. more. lol...