Which member asked for conclusive proof, and not simply very good, convincing evidence? I think the argument is typically that, on the evidence, existence of the Christian God is highly unlikely. Not: "Well, the evidence is really strong, but unless you can prove it I don't care."
You began to answer your own question, hombre. Cartoons like any form of media can address issues without being dumb or silly. This one doesn't cut it and if you choose to read and understand Otto's post, then you realize there is no hypocrisy reflexively described in the cartoon. One half of it is that I don't have to tolerate your intolerance of a minority who happen to practice something that doesn't harm other people. And just because one doesn't agree with one heavily debated aspect of Christianity doesn't necessarily mean they're opposing everything Christians represent. If I may ask, just how in the world are homosexuals ruining your Christianity?
I failed! I let myself get sucked into this thread... Regardless, I'm in it now... Nice illustration, especially like tiny Jesus on the tiny cross wanting to talk! Nice touch. (Stay classy San Diego) I was intrigued by this comment: The pic above goes into other topics (abortion, contraception, rich) that merit discussion, but I don't want to get sidetracked from my initial focus! My question is this: Is Christanity based on A) The Old Testament B) The New Testament C) Both the New/Old Testament D) What Jesus said (Red Lettering) E) None of the above (I run this joint) ....... ....... .......
He put it in D&D. There's no such thing as innocuous subtext free happy comic strip posts in D&D. If you want to post "Family Circus" it goes in the Hangout. OP knew what's what. Posting in comic form doesn't give you a free pass. Otherwise I could draw crappy not funny comics about whatever controversial subject I wanted a soapbox for and prevent you from rebuttal. Hey look, I found this great comic from Westboro Baptist about how American soldiers are dying because God hates ****. Geez. What are you getting so upset about? It's just a fun little comic. Ooh look, NAMBLA has a neat little comic about how silly it is that people get upset when they sodomize little boys. You don't have a problem right? It's just a silly little Web comic. Awesome. American Nazi Party has a hilarious strip about how Jews kidnap and murder Christian babies to use their blood in rituals. Ha Ha. Lighten up, Francis. It's just a comic.
The snark was that the OP doesn't really know what's what and that your post with meat isn't something he was looking for. I'll slowly step back now because I can't find the pin.
Oops. I guess I misread. Sincerely, sorry. Also, I think I probably come across as much more worked up and upset in my posts than I actually am. I wish I didn't but it just comes out that way.
Read the New Testament. Read the Gospels excluded from the New Testament when Church leaders met and determined which books to keep and which to exclude. Look at the early Church, look at why and how Christianity spread; women and the poor. Look at the history saved by the early Catholic Church, that shows that Christianity spread through women because it was progressive, how it spread through the poor and oppressed because they were held as the highest in the early Church. Agree or disagree with the Catholic Church as an institution, but they have done a marvelous job protecting and gathering the history of Christianity and the earliest Christians. Read the scriptures on material wealth. Read the early teachings on pacifism and insignificance of material possessions.... Read about liberation theology and how even critics admit that the early Christians and Church were far closer to socialism (not a political state run institution) than most people believe. Notice the complete lack of concern for marriage, homosexuality, possssions or most of the current political/social issues listed by a form of Christianity only 900+ years after the death of Jesus. Would not the early Christians and Church be closer to the message of Jesus and Christianity..... or..... Are we to believe that Jesus Christ is more concerned about sexual orientation, capitalism, wars, flags and other judgemental BS that accounts for virtually little if any of the teachings of Jesus and the early Christians? ...... of course people over time become worried about the prosperity doctrine (which is insulting to the teachings of Christ), outlier issues such as homosexuality/dogmatic doctrine that wasn't even in existance at the time of Christ. Being a real follower of Christ to the letter is hard... Forgoing material needs, caring for and truly helping the poor and a number of other beliefs that are not compatible easily with the modern world. The USA is not a reflection of the world Jesus speaks of, no country really is. I am not saying the Catholic Church isn't guilty of deviating, they have many many many times and will in the future. However one thing they do very well is record and protect the history of the early Church. Feel free to believe in a form of Christianity that emerged hundreds, if not a thousand years later, but he aware that is what you are doing. Be aware that beliefs such as Rapture were created 1600 years after Christ and have no biblical or historical backing. Be aware that for every judgement and political pronouncement against the poor and down trodden through the political system and taught in conservative church's or evangelical services; that it is completely inconsistent with early Christianity. I am not telling you or anyone else what to believe. However I notice that it is always the followers of a brand of Christianity that didn't exist for hundreds of years after Jesus died that like to dismiss all others as some how inferior.
How so? First off, if a comic strip wants to actually have some wit it needs to have it's social commentary somewhere in the realm of reality. In reality, if you could convince an atheist that the God of the Christians is real, then OF COURSE we would try to live the life that Jesus wanted because we would have to acknowledge that God is pretty much metaphorically placing a gun to our head but instead of a gun it's the fear of eternal damnation. What sane(someone who will not purposefully harm themselves) individual would not follow a God who uses eternal hell as the alternative choice if they are convinced that God is real? Yes, If I honestly believed in a literal hell and Jesus, I would follow God's word in every minuscule detail because I don't know about you, but I don't like being burned to death for eternity. It's this aspect of religious individuals that I am absolutely perplexed about. Majority of Christians and Muslims half ass practicing their faith. If they genuinely believed in their faith, wouldn't a rational individual follow it to the letter out of fear of eternal hell or are they giving their deity the benefit of the doubt that he won't throw them to hell? If someone convinced me that the Abrahamic God is real, I wouldn't give two ****s about this life and basically live in a church the rest of my life.
IMHO Biblical prophecy is 100% undeniable truth that the Bible and Jesus are real. If you would like me to talk to you about this, I will gladly do it but not on this forum. Do you live in the Houston area? Edit: Looking at your profile it says you live in Massachusetts. If that is still true then we need a way to talk privately. I do not think this forum offers that feature.
And how did you conclude that from the post you quoted? Jesus preached selflessness, to bring souls to Him, that is what God wants.
