9th February 2010
“I remember being taught that the more unbelievable the story, the more we would be rewarded for believing it. That kind of attitude made faith easy.”
Anon.
“I remember being taught that the more unbelievable the story, the more we would be rewarded for believing it. That kind of attitude made faith easy.”
Anon.
February 9th, 2010 at 2:03
In other words, the story is so incredible that believing it requires faith because one’s reason would recoil in horror. I guess I agree. When I was a theist I couldn’t believe there were any that questioned it. Now I wonder why I didn’t. I guess it was because my parents told me it was true and my default setting as a child was to believe them, even when they told me I needed to believe in the fantastic.
February 9th, 2010 at 2:54
This is the first time I’ve ever heard of this sort of thing. I remember being taught as child many fantastic stories from the bible, but I don’t recall being told I’d get a better reward for swallowing it. I suspect that such a claim would have made me less apt to believe the story, because a reward would not ring true.
February 9th, 2010 at 6:18
This is paraphrased from Hitler’s Mein Kampf: Tell a lie so big that no one could ever believe that anyone could make it up.
Hitler wasn’t the first one to think this, though. Organized religion beat him to it many, many years ago.
February 9th, 2010 at 7:14
“This is paraphrased from Hitler’s Mein Kampf: Tell a lie so big that no one could ever believe that anyone could make it up.”
Darwin & Dawkins have tried this I guess.
February 9th, 2010 at 7:27
Dear CaptainZero1969 Says,
It does’nt matter what default setting or when it is activated, there will come the time when one have a thought of their own. But it will be unfortunate if ones default setting did not developed up to the point they fail to utilize reasoning.
February 9th, 2010 at 7:46
And clearly some become so crippled by their religious furvor that they abandon reason altogether.
February 9th, 2010 at 8:38
That is not true. That is just word creation.
February 9th, 2010 at 9:14
For most fundies and literalists, the belief in a “unbelievable the story” is not really rewarded so much as a way to avoid eternal hellfire. Solomon offers this when he says “believe or burn forever”; it is about avoidance of punishment. The kind of faith that insists on this kind of belief is about fear. Only secondarily, if at all, is it about rewards. It is a useless and pointless faith. There is no Love in it.
For me personally, the quote rings false. I have never been a literalist. It has always seemed self-evident to me, even at 10 years of age, that the stories of the Bible were not, for the most part, “facts.” Nor was I ever taught to believe a thing because it was unbelievable (though the early church father Tertullian did write, “I believe because it is absurd.”). My parents and teachers have mostly been believers, but never have they done anything other than encourage my intellectual wanderings. Authentic faith NEVER fears the ridiculousness of hell’s eternal torments, nor insists upon the bestowal of heaven’s hyperbolic rewards.
February 9th, 2010 at 10:07
Dear Oxymoronic Christhinker,
You can say or think whatever you like for this time being. You have been warned and been assured. But after clear indication & knowledge have come to you & your sick hearts still chooses to disbelieve then its clear enough you are the unfortunate inhabitants of hell.The place you chooses to be your eternal resting place.May you stand the heat.Amen.
February 9th, 2010 at 10:14
A group [of you] He guided, and a group deserved [to be in] error. Indeed, they had taken the devils as allies instead of Allah while they thought that they were guided.
Surat Al-’A`r?f:30
February 9th, 2010 at 10:16
Thanks, Solomon! I appreciate your help in proving my point! Peace!
February 9th, 2010 at 10:17
Hey does everyone here know about “Mr. Deity” ? Check it out if you don’t – you won’t regret it!
http://www.youtube.com/user/misterdeity
February 9th, 2010 at 12:44
Hold on everybody, whats wrong with trying to live a good life. If at the end of it all I’m wrong, I have lost nothing. On the other hand you people have lost a great deal.In the meantime you all can give thanks in that God is a merciful God. Praise his wonderful name.
February 9th, 2010 at 12:55
Merciful??? If we don’t follow him to the letter, we are going to burn for eternity? That’s merciful? What is wrong with you? Leadership through fear. What a croc of BS.
February 9th, 2010 at 13:21
Anyone here not trying to live a good life?? just asking, anyone??
February 9th, 2010 at 13:31
Like Lewis Carol’s Queen I tried to believe six impossible things this morning. But I gave up whilst trying to believe Solomon was susceptible to rational argument.
February 9th, 2010 at 13:59
I think that there are many definitions of a good life. Mine is be able to look at myself in the morning in the mirror and like what I see. Being able to sleep at night.But most of all knowing that God has a hand in my life. Oh the Joy of sins forgiven. There is no life like it. Praise the Lord!
February 9th, 2010 at 14:40
Be an atheist my child. Go and sin no more.
February 9th, 2010 at 14:50
Let’s get back to that “god is merciful” thing that Tech stated. I’d really like to know how you can make such a comment with a straight face?
Example; Your countries leader tells you that if you don’t do exactly what he says, he’s going to put you in solitary confinement and torture you daily until you die of old age. How can you possibly call him merciful?
February 9th, 2010 at 16:33
Sounds like a tyrant to me. I avoid tyrants. I certainly wouldn’t worship one.
February 9th, 2010 at 17:41
You don’t have to wait for the afterlife to realise God isn’t merciful. Just ask any victim of a natural disaster
February 9th, 2010 at 18:10
LOL I guess I deserve all the Crap and ignorant comments in the last 4 posts. After all as its been pointed out to me many times on this site, It is an Atheist site. Believe nothing unless you have proof.
February 9th, 2010 at 18:18
Oxy, that link to Mr. Deity is priceless.
BAT
As for today’s QOTD, I never heard anything even remotely similar, but it sounds very “religious” to me. CZ nailed it when he said “default setting”
Start
All Programs
Startup
Religion
Santa Clause
Easter Bunny
Toot Fairy
Ther ya have it. The startup folder for Human v 1.0 Somebody needs to empty the folder. It’s full of nothing but lies.
BAT
February 9th, 2010 at 18:44
You make all the fun you like but there is a day coming when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that ; He IS LORD.Soon there will be no time to repent.Soon this old life will be over. I will be ready Praise God.My prayer is that you will be ready too.
February 9th, 2010 at 18:50
And here you sit once again Tech, with no evidence to support your grandiose comments. You really should stop doing that.
February 9th, 2010 at 19:35
Right click, empty.
Tech – You seem to have made a blanket statement that atheists are not living a good life and you wonder why you are getting objections? I’d wager that the atheists here are living fine and moral lives. If we’re wrong and there is a god, she will not punish us for our unbelief but would reward us for lives well lived. Pascal’s Wager assumes that a God would be burdened with a human emotional need for vengeance over the petty and victim-less crime of unbelief. There is as little evidence for this presupposition as there is for god in the first place.
February 9th, 2010 at 19:50
Hello all you atheist sinners and fake religionists.
I just spoke to God. He said that you will all go straight to hell if you say the word “absquatulation” without using quotation marks (either in writing or while speaking and raising your index and middle finger and making that silly ‘quote’ sign).
Sincerely
Mohammed. Trust me, would I lie?
February 9th, 2010 at 19:57
Solomon:
1. Is there a creator for everything in the universe?
2. Who made the creator?
February 9th, 2010 at 21:48
When a grand claim is made with no evidence to support it, one calls it a lie.
When a grand claim is made with a mountain of evidence to support it, one calls it science.
February 9th, 2010 at 21:57
Well guys I guess I finally realized I’m beat You win I lose. Lose what I’m not sure. But none the less you win.
February 10th, 2010 at 0:01
George Bush says he speaks to god every day, and christians love him for it. If George Bush said he spoke to god through his hair dryer, they would think he was mad.
I fail to see how the addition of a hair dryer makes it any more absurd.
–Unknown
This
February 10th, 2010 at 0:01
….quote. says it all for me
February 10th, 2010 at 0:25
Dear Mohammed the Silly Puppet,
Solomon:
1. Is there a creator for everything in the universe?
2. Who made the creator?
Do you think you can trap me with this lousy question?
Answer it your self.
See how god pours the thought and show his subjects the path.You cannot trick them.
Waaaaaa……Ka…Ka…Ka……
February 10th, 2010 at 0:30
EVERYBODY DRINK!
February 10th, 2010 at 0:32
Tech,
It’s not about winning or loosing. It’s about the truth. Saying you have the truth without any facts is silly. Surely you must realize that.
February 10th, 2010 at 0:43
solomon:
Are you a gay muslim?
February 10th, 2010 at 1:03
Solomon answers the Prophet’s simple questions:
The Prophet asks: “Is there a creator for everything in the universe?”
Solomon answers: “Of course there is you nit-witted atheist scum-bag! It says so right in my holy book, stupid. Why would it be a lie?!!”
The Prophet asks: “Ummm…alllllriiiighty then…..Who made the creator?”
Solomon answers: “Don’t try to trick me, you atheist satan-worshipping lap-dancing whore-bag. You know that god always existed. He is ‘outside’ of the universe. I know, I know, I know…I have no proof of this statement, but it’s in my holy book, stupid!! And if you don’t believe in my god YOU’RE GOING TO HELL FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER. But he loves you.”
February 10th, 2010 at 1:33
Can someone call for me the insane institution.Theres a silly puppet on the loose.
February 10th, 2010 at 1:34
Dear John,
solomon:
Are you a gay muslim?
What made you ask me this question?
February 10th, 2010 at 1:50
solomon:
You just don’t seem to be very happy being a muslim?
February 10th, 2010 at 1:53
Dear Atheist MC,
I’ve just interviewed one of the survivors of the natural disaster.Here’s the
excerpts of what he said:
“I thank god that I’am still alive. I don’t blame god for this.I blame nature that have been make known to me by most of my Atheist friends.Thank you.Excuse me. I need a rest”
February 10th, 2010 at 2:11
Dear John,
solomon:
You just don’t seem to be very happy being a muslim?
Is this a question or a remark?
If its a question it sounds as if you have answered it for me but if its a remark
you should remove the question mark.
If you ask me this question my answer will be:
Happiness is a subjective matter.Happiness in life have become insignificant when you know and feel that youre in good hands of the Lord.Theres no fear, no sadness, no grudges whatsoever.I think thats the real happiness one would wish for.
February 10th, 2010 at 3:13
Dear Greg,
When a grand claim is made with no evidence to support it, one calls it a lie.
When a grand claim is made with a mountain of evidence to support it, one calls it science.
When a grand claim is made with countless of evidence & science to support it, one calls it true religion.
February 10th, 2010 at 5:13
Dear Holysmokes,
You did’nt appreciate a merciful god.If you happen to be in the hands of a merciles king, its still of doubt you will get a decent piece of meal daily.God have granted abundance of foods & drinks yet you have the senseless attitude not to appreciate what he has granted.
All god wanted is for humans to know how to appreciate, how to be thankful.Is that too hard to accomplish?And to follow some simple sets of rules for the bettermans of mens livelihood itself. He does not ask you to do foolish things.He only ask for good deeds by following the path he has outlined. Indeed you are the off-limits lots.
Is’nt god mercifull enough?
February 10th, 2010 at 5:43
Although religion clamors for the acceptance of science, it is destined to remain in the shadows of ignorance.
February 10th, 2010 at 7:31
True religion have light the path of science which is previously and long before was in darkness.
February 10th, 2010 at 8:47
There is no “truth”. There is only fact. Science is based on fact. Religion is based on faith.
Those who confuse science with faith are also those who will kill for no reason.
February 10th, 2010 at 9:50
Dear Mohammed the Prophet,
You did’nt even know what is more mysterious than science.Science is only what you can grasp with your brain.If science is based on fact than its a weak doctrine. It cannot surpass the powers of imagination.Example what lies beyond the universe.Is there an end? The brain will always question this.The brain cannot imagine or think beyond that.Surely our imagination will tell us theres no end to the universe but our brain cannot accept what sort of no end it will be like.The brain cannot imagine.This is what God try to tell human what they did’nt know.And if you think the universe has an end,or in a confined space, then our imagination will question back. What lies after the universe end?
Now one cannot rely on science alone to determine what reality is.
February 10th, 2010 at 18:46
Yes, we question. That is human nature and this is the very essence of the scientific method, Solomon. Yet you don’t question your religion and get very upset when others do. And you claim your religion is supported by science? Hardly. You promote a double standard.
FYI, scientists have many theories about the nature of the universe and our understanding of it grows each and every day. You can either learn from them, or you can turn to your insignificant little book and believe it’s all performed by some sky-god performing feats of magic.
Sincerely
The Prophet Mohammed. Praise be to me, etc, etc.
February 10th, 2010 at 23:51
The book have long time ago indicate that the universe is expanding.Humans gets the info thru science quite too late.
February 11th, 2010 at 19:42
Can you quote the text from your book that explicitly states that the universe is expanding, please?
February 11th, 2010 at 20:55
Dear Mohammed the Prophet,
And it is We Who have constructed the heaven with might, and it is We Who are steadily expanding it. (Qur’an, 51:47)
Naaaa….na na na na…
February 12th, 2010 at 7:39
ROTFLMAO! Yep, that’s “scientific” enough for me…..you seriously need to get an education.
February 12th, 2010 at 7:45
If the one book is to explain everything explicitly then the pages will be sky high you dumb skull.
February 12th, 2010 at 7:48
Naaaa….na na na na…
February 12th, 2010 at 19:25
Solomon, honestly, you’re the most ridiculous person I think I’ve ever encountered.
You can interpret that one passage any way you want, but we both know that this is an interpretation taken completely out of the context it was written in.
February 13th, 2010 at 23:01
yes, solomon, u r a huge idiot. go eat ur own testicles
February 14th, 2010 at 7:02
Dear alhossain (the hypocrate cum infidel)
If youre not the Idiot answer this;
Who create the first design?