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[closed]

Has anyone been on the Alpha Course?

  • 751 posts & 110 voices | Started 2 years ago by steelfan | Latest reply from simonfbarnes

Tags:

  • Brainwashing idiots
  • christ on a bike
  • flying spaghetti monster
  • God knows your lonely soul
  • intolerance society day out
  • just two attention seeking buffoons left now
  • pray for MrWoppit's immortal soul
  • religion marketing
  • spiders thread is better
  • sweet zombie jesus
  • unicorns
Pages: « Previous1…171819…22Next »
  1. vinnyeh - Member

    But ernie is absolutely correct - any of the various subdivisions or sects of Christianity thinks that all the others are damned, exactly the same as atheists. Any sect that doesn't worship in the same way as you is heretical. Surely that's a basic point of religion that everyone must have noticed - the Crusades, etc.

    I think you're wrong on all counts there, with a very few minor exceptions, which while having Abrahamic origins generally don't don't want to stand up and be counted as Christian, no matter how you might label them. Modern day Christianity is very ecumenical.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  2. Singlespeedpunk - Member

    I treat people's personal religious beliefs (or lack of) and life choices, with a respect which I don't necessarily extend to other considerations

    Why should religion be singled out for special treatment just because it can't be proved, as opposed to arguing with some one about politics?

    Religion has had a "oh, can't mess with that, its [i]religion[/]" and religioon poking its nose in every part of our lives (want treatment for parkinsons?...lets ask a nonce in a dress and leave the doctors and scientists opinions to last)

    This is the crux of the issue I feel.

    SSP

    Posted 2 years ago #
  3. IdleJon - Member

    Modern day Christianity is very ecumenical.

    All that blod shed to find that it's all the same to God.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  4. surfer - Member

    I was suggesting possible alternatives to tolerating religion - are you too daft to figure that out ? Arguing against religion will not get rid of it or have you not figured that either, after 300,000 years ? Religion fulfils a human need, which as I said, cannot be removed under prevailing conditions. So those are your choices, you either put up with it or, well erm, ......... you put up with it. Arguing, banning, persecution, etc are not options.

    I agree with SFB however just to take issue with a couple of points.
    Religion mutates and the current social zeitgeist determines what we get. Burning heretics isnt really done anymore and several countries in recent years have legislated religion out of any decision making role. This is the most important part of this whole thread and my mention of it has not been picked up.
    Religion needs to be argued against because it is harmful.
    What is the human need that cannot be removed?

    Posted 2 years ago #
  5. DaveGr - Member

    600 !!!!!

    may the force be with you

    Posted 2 years ago #
  6. Mr Woppit - Member

    YES!!!! Is it a record? Mods?

    Posted 2 years ago #
  7. johnners - Member

    No.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  8. erbii - Member

    I am the Resurrection and the Life (John Squire 11:1-44)

    Posted 2 years ago #
  9. buzz-lightyear - Member

    just to get the numbers up...

    religion is a solace to some people and I wouldn't seek to deny it them.

    Hallelujah! That's why you should not ridicule believers. Question yes, ridicule no.

    I was a weak atheist but found myself forced to turn to faith (for reasons I cannot discuss here). I have a need for God to bring meaning to this life. Call it a psychological flaw if it helps. If you don't, fine and good luck; I'm not about to try and convert you!

    Posted 2 years ago #
  10. Trampus - Member

    Over 600 posts, most of them tripe!
    I used to believe in the STW hive mind, now I have doubt.
    You have collectively destroyed my faith.
    Is there a beta way of life?

    If so, what tyres?

    Posted 2 years ago #
  11. tyger - Member

    The old Dr Pepper ads used to use the slogan "What's the worst that could happen?"... and in the same way you could also apply this to going along to an Alpha Course. Non threatening, free meal, a chance to ask the difficult questions - if it's not for you then okay but the invitation is there all the same and it could change you life for the better.

    Personally I hope and pray that many of you will go.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  12. Aristotle - Member

    a Free Meal , you say?

    Hmm, suddenly it's becoming tempting.

    Nah. I'll pass thanks.

    "What's the worst that could happen?"
    -you could be wasting a few hours of your non-eternal life.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  13. higgo - Member

    "What's the worst that could happen?"... and in the same way you could also apply this to going along to an Alpha Course.

    What's the worst that could happen?
    You could waste ten evenings of your life with a load of crushing bores.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  14. samuri - Member

    Over 600 posts, most of them tripe!

    It's a thread about organised religion. Every single post is tripe. Including mine. including this one.

    No-one knows, simple as that, I don't know. You don't know, the god botherers don't know.

    If you die and find out god was watching you all the time - Bingo, if you were good that's splendid, if you were bad then god forgives. You'll still go to heaven.

    If you die and there is no god, no worries, unless of course you wasted your life worshipping god, ooops, what a cock you look now. Not that you'll know or care because there's no afterlife. Still, people who are still living would be laughing their asses off if they knew. Which they don't.

    No-one does.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  15. higgo - Member

    Jedi anyone?

    No thanks, I've just put one out.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  16. Trampus - Member

    Tyger, the worst that happens is something being sold. It has a value placed on it, you are supposed to contract into buying/not buying for life. Satisfaction is not guaranteed.
    If I buy and then change my mind 6 months down the line because I am unhappy with the terms and conditions, who do I complain to?

    Posted 2 years ago #
  17. Trampus - Member

    @samuri

    Posted 2 years ago #
  18. tyger - Member

    samuri - according to the Bible God will forgive you anytime if you're sincere while you're alive but if you die refusing to accept God's forgiveness then you won't go to Heaven. That said, accepting God's forgiveness through Jesus' death and resurrection is much, much more than just a ticket to Heaven - it's a complete change in your life for the best.
    Once again, if you raised your point at an Alpha meeting I'm sure you wouldn't be alone but there would be the chance to discuss it.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  19. tyger - Member

    Trampus - there's no obligation just an invitation

    Posted 2 years ago #
  20. samuri - Member

    Sorry tyger, perhaps I didn't make myself clear.

    Nobody knows. Including you. I can discuss things that nobody knows about anywhere.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  21. tyger - Member

    samuri - - well what if I were to put it this way....

    if I try and live my life according to what I believe to be true i.e. try and be a true Christian and when I die I find it was all a con, then the worst that's happened is I've hopefully led a good life - however, the flip-side is that if the Bible teaching is correct and it is the case that Heaven and Hell does exist and that a decision is required which can't be made after death then I wouldn't want to have not made an informed choice.

    But that's not the whole story because, personally, I know that having a faith has made a huge difference to my life and I know this is going to open me up to a right ol' flaming, but to have the knowledge and experience of God's love and forgiveness is breathtaking.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  22. simonfbarnes - Member

    You have collectively destroyed my faith.

    result!

    but if you die refusing to accept God's forgiveness then you won't go to Heaven

    that would be another result, for me at least, as heaven sounds ghastly, however I read a while back that latest Christian thought is downgrading heaven...

    Every single post is tripe. Including mine. including this one.

    No-one knows, simple as that, I don't know. You don't know, the god botherers don't know.

    if you'll pardon me Jon, my position is that you don't need to know anyway - you might as well make the best of this life and worry about death when it happens. Any gods can have the finger as far as I'm concerned.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  23. tyger - Member

    as heaven sounds ghastly

    Mmm let me see now - eternal life or death - yep, I think I know which I'd choose and it's not death!

    Posted 2 years ago #
  24. simonfbarnes - Member

    yep, I think I know which I'd choose and it's not death!

    I'd rather be nothing than be bored. If you could meet other dead people you knew previously it might be good for a couple of weeks but then what else would there be to DO ? What interests me is creativity, challenge, achievement, argument, carnality - all missing from projections of heaven

    Posted 2 years ago #
  25. Dr Dolittle - Member

    ...carnality - all missing from projections of heaven

    You haven't been to Jannah mate...

    Posted 2 years ago #
  26. tyger - Member

    I'd rather be nothing than be bored

    For me, a God who created all the natural wonders we have (not to mention life itself) is very unlikely to have made Heaven boring.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  27. simonfbarnes - Member

    I imagine it as an overlit dentists waiting room. Except you never get the fun of seeing the dentist. But in any case, if I have to do as I'm told (or actually not told) I'd rather pass on it, any god that wanted to be worshipped or obeyed would be contemptible.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  28. no_eyed_deer - Member

    This is the world's biggest monster thread, ever. I simply can not read it all, though some of it at the beginning was absolutely flinking hysterical. Can someone provide a synopsis..?

    Posted 2 years ago #
  29. khegs - Member

    Simple.

    Alpha course anyone?

    Don't bother, brainwashy evangelical thing.

    God doesn't exist, religion is balls.
    Not it isn't!
    yes it is!
    rinse repeat for 10+ pages with various arguments dodgy or not used on either side.
    Religion doesn't concern you atheists so let it alone!
    Yes it does!
    rinse repeat for several pages.

    You'll burn if you support the wrong sect!
    Hypocrite
    Oh ffs is this still going on?
    Heaven rocks
    Nah, its dull

    Can I have a synopsis please?

    There ya go

    Posted 2 years ago #
  30. no_eyed_deer - Member

    Predictably Awesome! Awesomely predictable!

    I LOVE STW!!

    (I think we'll have to try starting a 'Padded Fred'-era thread on paedophiles or something of that ilk to somehow ever top this )

    ...and the outright wittiest response so far? (apart from the previous post, of course)

    Posted 2 years ago #
  31. tyger - Member

    Answer to original question :

    Alpha Course. Non threatening, free meal, a chance to ask the difficult questions - if it's not for you then okay but the invitation is there all the same and it could change you life for the better.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  32. Dobbo - Member

    I was a weak atheist but found myself forced to turn to faith (for reasons I cannot discuss here). I have a need for God to bring meaning to this life.

    That's about the worst advert for religion I've ever heard, you still don't sound like you're convinced about the whole thing either.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  33. Mr Woppit - Member

    Morning, all.

    " tyger - Member

    samuri - according to the Bible..."

    I don't understand why you cannot see that quoting scripture at an atheist is not going to advance your cause. Your scripture is regarded as the scribblings of ignorant bronze-age tribes who didn't understand the universe around them because they hadn't yet developed their conciousness beyond worrying about eating different types of animals and thinking that earthquakes are caused by angry gods, and THESE are the sources that you think have something useful to impart?

    Insanity is, as I think I already remarked, repeating the same action again and again whilst expecting a different result.

    Unsubstantiated claims without foundation in verifiable evidence, as usual.

    A fantasy.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  34. saxabar - Member

    '[...] if I try and live my life according to what I believe to be true i.e. try and be a true Christian and when I die I find it was all a con, then the worst that's happened is I've hopefully led a good life - however, the flip-side is that if the Bible teaching is correct and it is the case that Heaven and Hell does exist and that a decision is required which can't be made after death then I wouldn't want to have not made an informed choice.'

    That sounds suspiciously like all non-Christians will burn in hell, even if they've lived a good life. That's a club I definitely don't want to be a member of.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  35. BlingBling - Member

    I was a weak atheist but found myself forced to turn to faith (for reasons I cannot discuss here). I have a need for God to bring meaning to this life.

    Just like 99% of people who take up religion.

    1) My girlfriend left me so I took up religion
    2) I have no real friends so I took up religion
    3) My mum/dad died so I took up religion.
    4) I lost my job and am broke so I took up religion
    5) I'm an ex drug addict so I took up religion

    And like you most will not admit why they took up religion but just say there was a very good reason.

    If it gives you the strength to cope then crack on, but at least be honest about it.

    Posted 2 years ago #

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