Religion and Atheism

[Sip]

Re: Religion and Atheism

So what is it about Christianity that is bothering you so much ...

If I had to pin-point certain aspects, it's probably the part where Christians think they are somehow better than everyone else.

[Sip]

Re: Religion and Atheism

Yes, similarly when people move away from a pile of poop, the pile continues to smell like poop while you can start to enjoy some fresh air

As far as Christianity, I feel the same about Islam. At least Islam is much less focused on the hocus pocus ghost, spirit, miracle stuff. Their religion is faaar more focused on the practical day to day, mundane stuff. As I have said before, I admire the teachings of Jesus and how he lived a lot. That part of "turn the other cheek" mentality of Christianity I think is far more superior to the "eye-for-an-eye" attitudes of Islam. But considering that most of the religious posts here have been about Christianity, it has ended up being the main focus of what "religion" means (in this thread).

[Armanen]

Re: Religion and Atheism

"Remember this. When people choose to withdraw far from a fire, the fire continues to give warmth, but they grow cold. When people choose to withdraw far from light, the light continues to be bright in itself but they are in darkness. This is also the case when people withdraw from God."

That is the money quote!

[yerazhishda]

Re: Religion and Atheism

Aha ... so we're finally getting somewhere. Your true worry is that the Christian religion defines Armenians as a people. I am here to put your mind at ease and to again and again tell you there were Armenians LOOOOOONG before this whole Christianity fad showed up and I am very hopeful there will be Armenians for long long looong after Christianity goes away like so many other religions before it.

Jesus Christ has risen from the dead, and no matter how much you and the likes of you rail against the Church, the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!

I will pray for the enlightenment of your soul and the opening of your heart.

[KanadaHye]

Re: Religion and Atheism

Aha ... so we're finally getting somewhere. Your true worry is that the Christian religion defines Armenians as a people. I am here to put your mind at ease and to again and again tell you there were Armenians LOOOOOONG before this whole Christianity fad showed up and I am very hopeful there will be Armenians for long long looong after Christianity goes away like so many other religions before it.

I actually find it very insulting to see claim that being Armenian is only (or predominantly) about Faith and the Church. We have so much more to offer to the world than just being prayer monkeys to God.

The real question is, do you think people will be smart enough to regain their identity outside the Church or are we doomed to have to depend on this farcical entity for eternity? I guess I have more faith in people than you

You seem to be oblivious to the history of Christianity. The fact is religion isn't going anywhere and the ONLY religion being attacked is Christianity (ask yourself why).

[Sip]

Re: Religion and Atheism

Aha ... so we're finally getting somewhere. Your true worry is that the Christian religion defines Armenians as a people. I am here to put your mind at ease and to again and again tell you there were Armenians LOOOOOONG before this whole Christianity fad showed up and I am very hopeful there will be Armenians for long long looong after Christianity goes away like so many other religions before it.

I actually find it very insulting to see claim that being Armenian is only (or predominantly) about Faith and the Church. We have so much more to offer to the world than just being prayer monkeys to God.

The real question is, do you think people will be smart enough to regain their identity outside the Church or are we doomed to have to depend on this farcical entity for eternity? I guess I have more faith in people than you

[KanadaHye]

Re: Religion and Atheism

On one hand you are saying "it is just stories" (as if they are not reliable facts) and on the other hand you are saying it is "fact". So what are you saying? Do you still think some Turkish idiot lawyer can kick anyone's ass? If you don't think that (and you think Genocide is fact) then why did you say that stupid thing?

The longer time settles over events, the less and less evidence remains. Will there be evidence of Armenians 1000 years from now if Armenians abandoned the Armenian Apostolic Church?

"During the First World War and the 1915 Armenian Genocide, the Armenian population and the home of the Catholicossate at the Monastery of St. Sophia of Sis (which can be seen to dominate the town in early 20th century photographs), was destroyed. The last residing Catholicos in Sis was Sahag II of Cilicia (Catholicos from 1902 to 1939), who followed his Armenian flock into exile from Turkey.

Since 1930, the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia (also known as Holy See of Cilicia) has been headquartered in Antelias, Lebanon." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Apostolic_Church

What would be left of Armenians if all young Armenians were successfully deterred from faith?

If religion was to be abolished and the destruction of churches and subsequently the faith of Armenians was destroyed (the current attack on Christianity in the media), what would keep our people from decreasing in numbers until there are none left and we're only a myth?

[Sip]

Re: Religion and Atheism

You failed to see my point. My point was the Armenian Genocide is a fact. It is something that happened in history.

On one hand you are saying "it is just stories" (as if they are not reliable facts) and on the other hand you are saying it is "fact". So what are you saying? Do you still think some Turkish idiot lawyer can kick anyone's ass? If you don't think that (and you think Genocide is fact) then why did you say that stupid thing?

[KanadaHye]

Re: Religion and Atheism

I don't think you are understanding what I am saying. It doesn't matter at all what Armenians and Turks say. The facts speak for themselves and they are undisputed. The ONLY group blind to the facts are the Turks and I hope I don't have to explain to you why

You could probably kick my ass as a Turkish lawyer? Why? Who cares who I am and what I have to say? The Genocide question is much bigger than you or I and it is not up to "debate". At least not among the majority of the serious intellectuals in the world.

You failed to see my point. My point was the Armenian Genocide is a fact. It is something that happened in history. However unless it is passed down from generation to generation, it will become a myth just like the Genocide of the Amalikites from the bible.

http://www.isaiah58.com/broadcasters/amel.htm

[KanadaHye]

Re: Religion and Atheism

Yah I totally understand Religions formed from historical events. Man saw fire thousands of years ago and thought it must be God. So we worshiped it for a few thousand years. Then man learned that historical experience was kind of stupid so we stopped worshiping fire. We have found ways to worship many many Gods in the past and all of them have some reason behind them (historical, cultural, superstitial, you name it). But just because something has historical reason, doesn't make it "true"

Basically the belief is that God transcends knowledge and it's only through God that the world can change. Historically people worshiped things that they realized gave them life. They worshiped things like fire and the sun because they realized those things sustained life.