The Reverend Fred Phelps Has Died
Quote: beachbumbabsAnd even when I get back, it'd be fine with me if we all went back to enjoying each other's company for a while.
What does this mean, exactly. This is like when
your girlfriend says you can look at other girls
as much as you want, go right ahead. But you're
terrified because you know she hates that and
will crucify you if you do.
Quote: beachbumbabsWeekend Update: POS Fred is Still Dead. For Buzz....
But his works go on :
http://godhatesfags.com/fliers/20140321_Garland-Baptist-Church-TX-jmh.pdf
Quote: kewljFreedom of Religion. It's such a simple concept: You are free to believe and worship in almost any manner you choose. What I don't get and have never understood is why people want to force THEIR beliefs down the throats of others. THAT seems to be where the trouble ALWAYS begins. I guess that's just me. ???
You get Christ points for converting people. I've been approached at malls by church people to join their religion/cult and they get referral points just like pyramid schemes.
Quote: kewljWhat I don't get and have never understood is why people want to force THEIR beliefs down the throats of others.
I've said this before, but the Christians that pound on doors and annoy strangers are the few that I respect. At least they are trying to keep others from going to hell. Most Christians seem pretty indifferent about it.
Quote: WizardI've said this before, but the Christians that pound on doors and annoy strangers are the few that I respect. At least they are trying to keep others from going to hell. Most Christians seem pretty indifferent about it.
The pressure must be intense for the poor Christian. Imagine your pitcin' Jesus to an unbeliever and in the end your unable to convert the poor soul…….because of the lousy sales pitch the unbeliever is sentence to eternal damnation. Now that's pressure. You fail on a door to door vacuum cleaner sale, no big deal but failing to convert someone to the Son of God….. now that's some serious s***!
Quote: WizardI've said this before, but the Christians that pound on doors and annoy strangers are the few that I respect. At least they are trying to keep others from going to hell. Most Christians seem pretty indifferent about it.
I'm suspicious of any god who needs salespeople.
Quote: WizardI've said this before, but the Christians that pound on doors and annoy strangers are the few that I respect. At least they are trying to keep others from going to hell. Most Christians seem pretty indifferent about it.
The latter give me more hope for the future.
Anyway, I don't mind anyone trying to peacefully persuade anyone else to a set of beliefs. The problem lies with people who seek to use force, through the state, to impose conformity to their beliefs. Such things as refusing to recognize the rights of some minorities, merely because their god forbids it.
Why once the revenue stream is threatened, God always allows
rights to be recognized.
It' seems like the word Reverend should have more than three syllables.
Quote: FaceSee the "Noah's Ark Dinosaurs" thread. That debate is hot and several members have both hands full of weapons. Yet, there are no personal attacks, no childish retorts. In fact, there has been open discussion of mutual respect between them, despite the fact that they are attacking with unmitigated ferocity.
There are two reasons for that:
1) FrGamble is a gentleman in the full sense of the term.
2) While I disagree with 99% of what he says (well, maybe more like 97%), and think his religion is detrimental to a happy human life on this world, FrGamble does not advocate using the power of the state to compel obedience to his religion's moral code (unlike many others here). He begins and ends with peaceful persuasion. I don't know the reason for this, but I appreciate it. And I will defend his right to continue to do so. Atatcking his person would be folly on my part, quite aside from the rules of the board.
Now I pray these last two posts have one Rev. Fred spinning in his grave for they are the exact opposite of what he unfortunately preached.
Quote: treetopbuddySome cat nailed Joel......
If you are going to use the word cat around here, don't forget the hey, hey!
Quote: FrGambleLet me return this kind post with another. Nareed is a thoughtful, considerate, and intelligent person and through her challenges and good questions to my faith (along with many others) I have not only better understood the opposing viewpoints but have a greater appreciation for what I believe.
I'm flattered, thank you.
I'll add I find my mind exerts a great deal of effort in these verbal duels, too.
Though it seems we're also mutual failures at turning the other ;)
Quote:Now I pray these last two posts have one Rev. Fred spinning in his grave for they are the exact opposite of what he unfortunately preached.
I think we may even have set some people here spinning prematurely ;)
Quote: DeMangoIf you are going to use the word cat around here, don't forget the hey, hey!
That damn soxfan has me calling everybody cat….hey,hey
And this is exactly why I can't stand some religion or religious people. IMO Prayers to God or Jesus should not be used for such nonsense. This is the exact opposite of being christian( forgiveness and understanding). You should be praying Fred had found the error of his ways in his last moments and is at peace and not spinning in anything but the glory of god. You should hope he will be in heaven with the rest of you no matter what he has done.Quote: FrGamble
Now I pray these last two posts have one Rev. Fred spinning in his grave
I doubt God would want you wasting your time talking about Fred at all.
Quote: AxelWolfAnd this is exactly why I can't stand some religion or religious people. IMO Prayers to God or Jesus should not be used for such nonsense.
I should think a god like the Biblical one, you know, omnipotent, would have a sense of humor.
BTW, I will confess to a minor guilty pleasure of mine: I saw, and very much enjoyed, a Spanish musical called "El Diluvio que Viene," about a second Bible-style Flood which has God as a voice-only character, and a Catholic priest as the lead. It helped the lead was played by Hector Bonilla, who is a pretty good actor. God delivers some punch lines all throughthe play, after setting up the priest as straight man. (SPOILER: there's no Flood at the end).
Quote:You should be praying Fred had found the error of his ways in his last moments
"Yeah, but what are the chances of that happening?" Penny in The Big Bang Theory, telling a quantum physics joke.
I can see no where in the bible where god has a sense of humor. There is one goal and one goal only in the bible, SERVE HIM and suffer doing it, if you must. God is a vengeful and jealous god as i believe it says in the bible. He has no time for humor.Quote: NareedI should think a god like the Biblical one, you know, omnipotent, would have a sense of humor.
BTW, I will confess to a minor guilty pleasure of mine: I saw, and very much enjoyed, a Spanish musical called "El Diluvio que Viene," about a second Bible-style Flood which has God as a voice-only character, and a Catholic priest as the lead. It helped the lead was played by Hector Bonilla, who is a pretty good actor. God delivers some punch lines all throughthe play, after setting up the priest as straight man. (SPOILER: there's no Flood at the end).
"Yeah, but what are the chances of that happening?" Penny in The Big Bang Theory, telling a quantum physics joke.
Quote: AxelWolfI can see no where in the bible where god has a sense of humor. There is one goal and one goal only in the bible, SERVE HIM and suffer doing it, if you must. God is a vengeful and jealous god as i believe it says in the bible. He has no time for humor.
Old SNL sketch:
Brad Hall: One should ask God if He has a sense of humor.
Tim Kazurinsky: Of course he does! Why else would he have invented penguins?
It's simple logic. If we grant the premise that the Bible is true (preposterous), then God created man, and pressumably woman, in his image and likeness. Therefore people, pressumably both men and women, are God-like. So:
People are created in God's image
People have a sense of humor
Therefore God has a sense of humor.
I rest my case.
Quote: AxelWolfAnd this is exactly why I can't stand some religion or religious people. IMO Prayers to God or Jesus should not be used for such nonsense. This is the exact opposite of being christian( forgiveness and understanding). You should be praying Fred had found the error of his ways in his last moments and is at peace and not spinning in anything but the glory of god. You should hope he will be in heaven with the rest of you no matter what he has done.
I doubt God would want you wasting your time talking about Fred at all.
I have never met a group of such literal stick in the mud people than some of the atheists on this forum. Can't a brother have a little fun? Of course I want this poor man and all people to be saved. Lighten up a little bit.
As far as God's sense of humor is concerned I'm sure Frank's book is fine but read anything by Rev. James Martin, S.J. In fact he has a book called "The Saint's Guide to Happiness". If we do the will of God, which is mainly to serve others by the way, then we will never be more happy. Try it out!
Ever see an armadillo?
Quote: FrGambleI have never met a group of such literal stick in the mud people than some of the atheists on this forum.
Recently someone adviced me to use smiley faces on jokes to make it clear I'm joking <shrug>.
Quote:Can't a brother have a little fun?
I don't see why not.
Long ago I read a joke concerning some Pope during a visit to a hospital named something like "The Holy Spirit." The head nun being introduced to the Pope, and having her share of nerves at the meeting, said, "Your Holiness, I'm the superior of the Holy Spirit."
The Pointiff reportedly replied, "How fortunate! I'm merely the vicar of Christ."
I don't often tell Christian jokes because for the most part I don't understand them. But I think I get this one.
Quote: WizardI've said this before, but the Christians that pound on doors and annoy strangers are the few that I respect. At least they are trying to keep others from going to hell. Most Christians seem pretty indifferent about it.
The outspoken atheist Penn Jillette makes the same point. If you truly believe that I am going to endure eternal suffering unless I convert, isn't it your moral duty to convince me? Of course it's still annoying to me when you do so because I'm never going to be convinced, but I can see where you are coming from.
Re. Phelps, you don't get it. They are not trying to convert anybody from or too anything. The lack of understanding of who they are says more about you than them. They could give a s@%$#t about you going to hell.Quote: djatcYou get Christ points for converting people. I've been approached at malls by church people to join their religion/cult and they get referral points just like pyramid schemes.
You are right. Religion is detrimental to a happy life, OF SIN. You hit the nail right on the head. Good for you! The truth is out! AMENQuote: NareedQuote: FaceSee the "Noah's Ark Dinosaurs" thread. That debate is hot and several members have both hands full of weapons. Yet, there are no personal attacks, no childish retorts. In fact, there has been open discussion of mutual respect between them, despite the fact that they are attacking with unmitigated ferocity.
There are two reasons for that:
1) FrGamble is a gentleman in the full sense of the term.
2) While I disagree with 99% of what he says (well, maybe more like 97%), and think his religion is detrimental to a happy human life on this world, FrGamble does not advocate using the power of the state to compel obedience to his religion's moral code (unlike many others here). He begins and ends with peaceful persuasion. I don't know the reason for this, but I appreciate it. And I will defend his right to continue to do so. Atatcking his person would be folly on my part, quite aside from the rules of the board.
Quote: pewYou are right. Religion is detrimental to a happy life, OF SIN. You hit the nail right on the head. Good for you! The truth is out! AMEN
This contributes absolutely nothing to the debate or the conversation.
Do you think adding two words in CAPS will make me fall on my knees, suddenly overcome with, what?, realization? faith? guilt? remorse? I'm sorry, you were short at least two exclamation points ;)
I see you just don't get it!!! You are right on!!!Quote: NareedThis contributes absolutely nothing to the debate or the conversation.
Do you think adding two words in CAPS will make me fall on my knees, suddenly overcome with, what?, realization? faith? guilt? remorse? I'm sorry, you were short at least two exclamation points ;)
Quote: pewI see you just don't get it!!! You are right on!!!
And now you're blocked.
Some people just can't take a compliment.Quote: NareedAnd now you're blocked.
If you rest your case on that, you have a weak case . I can poke more holes in that theory then one of your pasta strainers. Since I don't want to spend all night ill just mention a few things. I could even argue you case for you and point out some things you could use to win your case, but what your saying dose not cut it. I may even contradict myself. lets see where it goes.Quote: Nareedo:
People are created in God's image
People have a sense of humor
Therefore God has a sense of humor.
I rest my case.
IMAGE = LOOKS not feelings and or emotions. I think you would be a huge minority with that theory. People have very evil thoughts and do very stupid things. Some people have no scene of humor. We wouldn't know for a fact that Adam even had a scene of humor. I doubt he was telling jokes to Eve in the garden. (nice melons Eve)
I am fairly certain no where in the bible does it really mention humor. The bible covers a vast wealth of so called knowledge, teaching and everything you can imagine. If he had a scene of humor, I think we would have some scripture indicating this. A time to cry and a time to laugh, I belie is in the bible (don't quote me on that) but just because he created it, doesn't mean he has or does it, in a way we are talking about. This would also mean God has SEX and dose some other perverted things, since he is the one who created sexuality. God did not create EVERYTHING, God did not create SIN. So he may have not created humor as well.
Since God is perfect, then his scene of humor would also be perfect and in no way sinful. I consider FRgamble's humor in that comment sinful in gods eyes(Not Mine).
You may be able to argue that god is Jealous and we can also be jealous.You can say that god gives us all his emotions and he has all the same emotions that we do. I think gods jealousy is a different kind of Jealousy, a better word for what we feel, is envy and that is a sin.
If god does in fact have a sense of humor its not the one we are talking about, its twisted, he is laughing at us not with us, he looks and laughs how ludicrous and ridiculous we are.
First let me say that I respect what you do and admire it. I do hold church leaders to a higher standard.Quote: FrGambleI have never met a group of such literal stick in the mud people than some of the atheists on this forum. Can't a brother have a little fun? Of course I want this poor man and all people to be saved. Lighten up a little bit.
As far as God's sense of humor is concerned I'm sure Frank's book is fine but read anything by Rev. James Martin, S.J. In fact he has a book called "The Saint's Guide to Happiness". If we do the will of God, which is mainly to serve others by the way, then we will never be more happy. Try it out!
2nd , I think I you indicated I'm an atheist again. I'm not you someone did. Don't put me in that box, I do find it offensive. My only goal when talking about religion is to get REAL answers. I want people to keep an open mind about all possibilities and use some logic to do so. I don't want faith, I want facts.
It angers me that people are so dam certain their religion is the right one. If this is the case, IMO, they are the only people who will enter heaven. If I am to believe God is real and take what I gather from the bible. Very, Very few people will make it to heaven, very few people will be worthy of such a honor.
IMO, no one that gambles would ever make it into heaven ( I will get into why I think that at a different time)
Me a stick in the mud? I have been called a lot of thing but never a stick in the mud. Religious people are the sticks in the mud. Want a list of reasons? If i did that I will have a world record for the longest post ever.
I don't care if anyone believes in God, I think its a good thing.
I just cant stand the hypocrisy of the leaders in the church and their teachings.
I think believers should keep their beliefs to themselves out side of church and they should stop wasting their time on people who obviously are not going to change. I doubt anyone here is teetering on the brink of believing or not.
As I mentioned before there are message boards and people out there that are more needy of your services. Any time you spend arguing and point proving with us heathens here is taking away from people who really need guidance. Why try to convert just one of us when you could convert 20 or 30 people who are in a desperate place in life and are open to your guidance? this forum attracts some intelligent people who are smart enough to find god if and when they need to do so. Some things cause more harm then good. As they say, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Leader in the church Joking about someones death no matter who it is I find inappropriate. I respect your faith and what you do as I would a Doctor. If i heard a doctor joking about cancer I would find that inappropriate as well.
Just reading everything on this forum that Believers have said in including you. I can picture God pulling his hair out, while thinking, JUST STOP OMG YOUR MAKING IT WORST.......OY VEY . please for the love of god, stop making him angry, he might blow up a casino we are in or something to teach us both a lesson.
Quote: DeMangoGod once asked Moses if his arm was too short. Elijah once commented that the god of his contending prophets must be taking a dump! That's some funny s**t there! Case closed.
Here's some discussion of the first one:
http://stuffchristianslike.net/2008/02/14/44-saying-god-is-not-funny/
So yes, God is funny, but he's very sarcastic.
God's nearest human analogue is ... Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons:
Quote: AxelWolfI can poke more holes in that theory then one of your pasta strainers.
You know the difference between religious people and Trekkies? No one has ever been burned at the stake for their opinion about Captain Kirk (at elast not yet; there was a bit about that in Futurama, regarding the Star Trek Wars, and something about the Star Wars Trek).
thank goodness for you ;)Quote: NareedNo one has ever been burned at the stake for their opinion.
Look, everyone develops a great deal of humor, light and dark, about their jobs. Why should the clergy be any different? You should hear how doctors do inside humor, though why should they be any different?
I don't really care if the Biblical god has a sense of humor. He's just a mythical character in a book of myths (or several books of myths bunched together). Any writer will tell you some characters cannot be fully developed if they are to remain effective. The Greeks were perhaps the best at bringing their gods down a peg in their fiction, I mean mythology, but then they were unusual for their own time in many other ways (like alone of the great ancient civilizations they formed no lasting empire).
I pointed out God's sense of humor only to support the good FrGamble. Not out of any intrinsic interest in the matter.
I see. Sounds like you want to just have someone to disagree with while supporting someone else, even if you don't care. I noticed in other threads you were going at it with the believers.Quote: Nareed
I pointed out God's sense of humor only to support the good FrGamble. Not out of any intrinsic interest in the matter.
As I remember we were talking about if God is real. If he is not real then of course we can just make up whatever we want about him. OHH wait that's what people do anyways.
Hey I did that and you seem to be responding to me, I'm not sure if that's a personal attack or not. Are you saying I'm childish or I just use childish rhetoricQuote: NareedQuoting incomplete sentences without indicating they're incomplete, is at best childish rhetoric.
.
I was not quoting you to prove anything or claim you said something. It was not a serious misquote and I was not using it to say you said something you didn't. You know this was different and I was simply making a joke indicating that some people may not like your opinions, the joke was indicated by the ;)
So it's ok for a rape counselor to tell rape jokes? I don't know, but if the roomers are true, I wouldn't want DJatc to see that counselor.Quote: NareedLook, everyone develops a great deal of humor, light and dark, about their jobs. Why should the clergy be any different? You should hear how doctors do inside humor, though why should they be any different?
.
If you are a church leader you should be held to a higher standard and be more like god and striving to do so. How can i tale the church seriously if they don't. Joking about sin, is no joking matter, especially when god despises sin, I think joking about sin is a sin in itself. If you don't believe in God in the first place no harm no foul.
Frankly, in some contexts yes. People can tell jokes about anything. The keys for appropriateness are subject matter, credibillity, and audience. Mathematicians joke about math, cooks joke about food, pilots joke about flying, soldiers joke about combat, and doctors joke about medicine. The key in all these cases is that the person telling the joke must have "cred" and the audience must be appropriate. It is generally inappropriate to have an outsider joke about something they don't have the "cred" for. So making a joke to a victim may well go over like a lead balloon, however among counselors it is expected.Quote: AxelWolfSo it's ok for a rape counselor to tell rape jokes?
This does not mean that inappropriate jokes can't be funny, only that they are likely to get some blowback. South Park, Chappelle's Show, and Family Guy were/are freaking hilarious and they hit many targets outside their "cred." However, they expect and tolerate some level of blowback.
It would be disturbing to think that there is a job, any job someone does for more than a very short period of time, that they are completely serious about. Human beings just aren't wired that way. We tell jokes to bond with other and relieve tension. I have know a few preachers in my time, all of them have a sense of humor to one degree or another (including one who is among the funniest people I have ever met). Their humor never undercut their credibility, it actually enhanced it when they turned serious.Quote: AxelWolfIf you are a church leader you should be held to a higher standard and be more like god and striving to do so. How can i tale the church seriously if they don't. Joking about sin, is no joking matter, especially when god despises sin, I think joking about sin is a sin in itself. If you don't believe in God in the first place no harm no foul.
Quote: AxelWolfSo it's ok for a rape counselor to tell rape jokes? I don't know, but if the roomers are true, I wouldn't want DJatc to see that counselor.
HAHAHAHAHAHA!! :D
