Empiricism

[Meh Gerbil]

Okay, busted. My money was on the sea monster. So maybe I didn't try THAT hard to talk Him out of it.

When the gods fight one another what else can a mortal do but make some coin?

[seer]

If I call it egotistical bigotry do you start to smell the stench of it? We should be able to rise above all that.

How is your definition of bigotry, or rather how you apply that definition, not arbitrary?

[firstfloor]

The Christian is identified by the irrational application of love to enemies.
It is when the truth seeker begins to look for the cause of the irrational love that God is found.

Loving your enemies is about breaking down barriers that separate you from other people; barriers like Straight/Gay, Christian/Muslim, Black/White, Men/Women, Rich/Poor, etc. It is a long list. I do not agree that it is an irrational love. The benefits are pretty obvious and it is the course we are on as a greater society - towards the kingdom of god/s?

[seer]

What this does is place you in position of apparently arguing against the obvious and in favor of various anti-social behaviors.
Even from a purely naturalistic standpoint he could downshift into 'Social Contract' gibberish and remain perfectly rational.

What I'm really arguing against is both their arbitrary definitions and arbitrary application. I'm getting tired of being labeled a bigot. I recently was called a bigot by homosexual activists because I suggested that homosexual behavior was sin/immoral (this was around the whole Duck Dynasty thing). The problem is that their argument is not rational. If I say, on religious grounds, that rape, or adultery, or fornication, or drunkenness, etc... are sin or immoral does that too make me bigoted against those who practice such things? Of course not - their claim of bigotry is meaningless...

[seer]

Loving your enemies is about breaking down barriers that separate you from other people; barriers like Straight/Gay, Christian/Muslim, Black/White, Men/Women, Rich/Poor, etc. It is a long list. I do not agree that it is an irrational love. The benefits are pretty obvious and it is the course we are on as a greater society - towards the kingdom of god/s?

You mean like the barriers you erect by labeling people of faith bigots?

[Meh Gerbil]

Loving your enemies is about breaking down barriers that separate you from other people; barriers like Straight/Gay, Christian/Muslim, Black/White, Men/Women, Rich/Poor, etc. It is a long list. I do not agree that it is an irrational love. The benefits are pretty obvious and it is the course we are on as a greater society - towards the kingdom of god/s?

If you can state the benefits then it would no longer be irrational, would it?

[Cerebrum123]

Loving your enemies is about breaking down barriers that separate you from other people; barriers like Straight/Gay, Christian/Muslim, Black/White, Men/Women, Rich/Poor, etc. It is a long list. I do not agree that it is an irrational love. The benefits are pretty obvious and it is the course we are on as a greater society - towards the kingdom of god/s?

1 of those barriers didn't exist when Christianity started, and 3/4* of the others WERE broken down in Christian communities.

You do realize that there are a reason for certain barriers, right?

*Depending on how you're going to define Gay anyway.

[Meh Gerbil]

What I'm really arguing against is both their arbitrary definitions and arbitrary application. I'm getting tired of being labeled a bigot. I recently was called a bigot by homosexual activists because I suggested that homosexual behavior was sin/immoral (this was around the whole Duck Dynasty thing). The problem is that their argument is not rational. If I say, on religious grounds, that rape, or adultery, or fornication, or drunkenness, etc... are sin or immoral does that too make me bigoted against those who practice such things? Of course not - their claim of bigotry is meaningless...

Within the context of your own world view why would you expect these people to act differently?
We aren't called to correct name calling.
We're called to sacrifice for those that call names.

It's a tough row to hoe, for sure.

[Darth Executor]

people of faith

Oh God it's spreading...

[seer]

Within the context of your own world view why would you expect these people to act differently?
We aren't called to correct name calling.
We're called to sacrifice for those that call names.

It's a tough row to hoe, for sure.

I see no problem with pointing out their hypocrisy or lack of logic.

[Darth Executor]

Anyone else notice how the more influential MehGerbil-like views get, the more irrelevant Christianity becomes?

[Meh Gerbil]

I see no problem with pointing out their hypocrisy or lack of logic.

I think in a debate that is fine; however, part of the consequence is that you'll end up an opponent instead of a friend.
That is often appropriate, but it does limit your ability to work in a person's life when it matters most.

[firstfloor]

How is your definition of bigotry, or rather how you apply that definition, not arbitrary?

[Meh Gerbil]

Anyone else notice how the more influential MehGerbil-like views get, the more irrelevant Christianity becomes?

I take it the market for camouflaged Bibles has dried up.
Now that you've got time, why don't you enumerate those views - because I lost my list.

[Cerebrum123]