Original Sin?

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
as it was in the beginning is now and will be forever, world without end.
Amen.

Quote: FrGamble

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
as it was in the beginning is now and will be forever, world without end.
Amen.

On that note, I bid this thread a farewell - there is no way to ever refute someone arguing for religion as the catch-all response is "faith"

Quote: beachbumbabs

And opposable thumbs.

Seriously, interesting mind riff, Face. Thanks!

Cue Gary Larson:

You're welcome, and thanks =)

It's fun to think. I'm thankful for the times things come together in my mind, like they (sort of) did above.

I'll be even more thankful when FrG (or anyone) posts and blows a hole in it, as it will cause me think more.

I guess we'll see =)

Quote: FrGamble

It is no surprise to me that many of the brilliant cultures and societies before Judaism were guided by the unknown Spirit of God to be a dim foreshadowing of the truth to come.

This is more of what I've mentioned earlier: If it's good, we invented it. As I said then, it's a common practice.

This may seem just harmless chauvinism, but it leads to establishing ownership of practices, institutions, things and ideas which pre-date a particular religion or group. Thus Christians believe they invented marriage, and that it is an exclusively Chrsitian practice. Americans often think they invented liberty; whereas if only they had "merely" implemented consistently from 1776 onwards, the world would be a much different place.

Quote: aceofspades

On that note, I bid this thread a farewell - there is no way to ever refute someone arguing for religion as the catch-all response is "faith"

Oh, ye of little faith ;)

There's always the peanut gallery to preach to. You never can tell whose mind you reach.

Quote: FrGamble

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
as it was in the beginning is now and will be forever, world without end.
Amen.

'as it was in the beginning is now and will be forever, world without end'..
At least that part is true. Except there was no beginning, there's only what
is, and it's always been here and always will be. We think we see starts and
ends and what we're really seeing is continuations. Religion puts it all in
a box and ties it with a ribbon for us. Beats thinking for yourself, leaves more
time for the important things in life.

Quote: aceofspades

On that note, I bid this thread a farewell - there is no way to ever refute someone arguing for religion as the catch-all response is "faith"

Don't go Ace, I just quoted that little prayer because something EvenBob said reminded me of it and I thought he would like it.

You know from the religious perspective your comment can be just as frustrating. It is all too easy to throw up your hands at the mention of faith, but faith needs to be grounded in reason or it is an unhealthy type of blind faith. So question the motives of faith or the reasonableness of it, which is its underpinning. We all live by faith in a multitude of ways and it would be a cop out to give up and stop healthy debate anytime someone says, it's what I believe.

Quote: FrGamble

Don't go Ace, I just quoted that little prayer because something EvenBob said reminded me of it and I thought he would like it.

You know from the religious perspective your comment can be just as frustrating. It is all too easy to throw up your hands at the mention of faith, but faith needs to be grounded in reason or it is an unhealthy type of blind faith. So question the motives of faith or the reasonableness of it, which is its underpinning. We all live by faith in a multitude of ways and it would be a cop out to give up and stop healthy debate anytime someone says, it's what I believe.

But we are in a debate wherein neither side will ever change their mind

Quote: aceofspades

But we are in a debate wherein neither side will ever change their mind

How does that differ from any other online debate?

Think of it as a mental workout.

Quote: aceofspades

But we are in a debate wherein neither side will ever change their mind

Thank god. To think someone might change
their mind about religion because of something
I said would terrify me. People who try and convert
others don't know what they're doing, it's none
of their business what conclusions others come
to. None of it is provable. Religion is a business,
it has nothing to do with true spirituality. It's
all about converting people and keeping them in
the fold with guilt, so the Church can grow and
prosper and exert power.