10 Things Christians and Atheists can and must agree on. (its pretty funny while making worthwhile points).

http://www.cracked.com/article_15759_10-things-christians-atheists-can-must-agree-on.html

Someone just sent it to me out of the blue… “God”? “Coincidence”? whatever…

Comment by Lefty Patriot — January 9, 2008 @ 6:49 pm

Yet another similarity to Christians. That’s not what we need God for either! ;)

Comment by Impolitics — January 10, 2008 @ 2:15 am

Yeah, how could God fail to be provoked, by the likes of Homer Simpson and Jon Stewart, to decide to prove Himself to mankind? Impossible! ;)

I think God is actually this guy in my neighborhood named Ned. He’s not supernatural in the slightest. He walks with a slight limp and likes to sing “Baby Got Back” when the local bar have a karaoke night. He used to smoke, but doesn’t anymore. He has no powers to speak of. He doesn’t know all and/or see all. And yet, somehow he’s God.

And by a bizarre coincidence, *I* have no supernatural powers, and yet, J worships me as his God. Thanks for the cookies and milk on Christmas Eve, J. I know you laid them out for Santa, but f*** that guy. He’s not God. I am.

Comment by Impolitics — January 10, 2008 @ 5:53 pm

What seems more futile to me is a “non-believer” trying to tell a “believer” what “God” is supposed to be. Thanks for the laugh (no really).

You have got to be kidding. Gods, regardless of nature, are defined as supernatural beings. To discuss the subject without a grasp on that fundamental concept is futile.

Comment by bitblt — January 10, 2008 @ 2:35 pm

The fact that you don’t see it is even more telling.

“I’m under the impression that there are people who call themselves Christians but don’t believe in the divinity of Christ.”

Do you consider the Gnostics Conservative Christians? I sure don’t. Your view of Christianity appears quite limited.

“BTW, your not knowing the answer doesn’t make me arrogant.”

But, this statement does because I do, in fact, know John 3:16. I was bribed w/ a pack of Smarties by “Conservative Christians” to memorize it when I was 4.

Comment by J — January 10, 2008 @ 1:57 pm

There’s no arrogance here. I’m under the impression that there are people who call themselves Christians but don’t believe in the divinity of Christ. Even Richard Dawkins calls himself a cultural Christian – he likes to sing Christmas carols.

I meant to indicate the Christians who actually believe Christ is the Son of God. You know what the Bible says about believing in Christ, don’t you? See John 3:16 and following for the answer.

BTW, your not knowing the answer doesn’t make me arrogant.

Barring something catastrophic, the Dems could run a potted plant, the Great Satan, or, (in a startling party defection) Georgie’s dog Barney; and the Reps couldn’t win with God Himself. Invoking God is, increasingly, becoming a weakness outside the hardcore Religious Right.

And the stupid pollsters, pundits, and the candidates themselves, are the best campaign fodder for the opposition. It’s a pity that no legitimate National Third Party is up and running.

‘08 would be a great opportunity. Cause the Reps are damaged goods and old school politicians, from either party, are suspect.

Comment by bitblt — January 10, 2008 @ 11:56 am

It is these kinds of arrogant, to the extreme, statements that keep people away from, not only the teachings of Christ, but Spirituality and “God”, in general. You do know what the Bible says about that, don’t you?

The term “Born Again” is also, often, carelessly used by people who understand they have to be “born again” in order to be saved, but they don’t actually work the program per se. They don’t follow the teachings of Christ, barely prop open a Bible, but yet bleieve if they say their Born Again, therefore, they are. My stepfather was “one of those.” Didn’t read the Bible, hated blacks and Jews, treated women & children like crap (whether or not they were his by blood, by marriage or friends or strangers), believed in the death penalty, thought Muslims were animals, but as long as he watched Jerry Falwell (and gave generously to his church), then he was amongst the Chosen and could pass judgment.

Comment by J — January 9, 2008 @ 11:50 pm

The people who use it – “born again” – know that it has a serious meaning.

The phrase “born again” has its origin in the Bible. Christ told the Pharisee Nicodemus that he must be “born again.”

It is recorded in the New Testament book of John chapter 3.

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”

Conservative Christians, the Christians who actually believe in Christ, use it as a code to mean a saved believer or being saved.

The summary of Christ’s meaning is in John 3:16. Verses following immediately are also important.

Comment by slappy magoo — January 9, 2008 @ 6:33 pm

Your forefathers, and mine, trying to be respectful of everyone’s beliefs.

If by this you mean the modern idea that every belief is as good as every other belief, I think you’re mistaken. If you have any references that show that the founders considered all beliefs equal and worthy or respect I’d like to see them.

I don’t think they, the founders, were respectful of everyone’s beliefs the way you think we should be respectful of everyone’s beliefs in the twenty-first century.

I’m guessing he’s now in a Friends of Bill W. chatrooms talking about the joys of moderation.

I personally don’t believe that reality itself is the illusion, only our ever-changing, never-all-encompassing perception of it. My belief is that that’s what they were trying to say, too.

See the Hindu phrase “Maya”

Your acceptance of reality is really only the acceptance of the illusion of reality.

Comment by Lefty Patriot — January 10, 2008 @ 8:16 am

Yep. (most) Americans is stupid. But we also seem to enjoy being stupid.

Comment by Impolitics — January 10, 2008 @ 3:22 am

Yes! Who here has said that “God” has to be a supernatural force? If our word for “nature” or reality encompasses everything that exists, then that simply couldn’t be possilbe, based soley on definitions. It is a matter of semantics, for you, and yet you don’t even seem to realize it. Did you not read any of my posts that you seemed to respond to earlier? I’ll sum it up: It is your own false description of “God” that you are projecting onto all “Believers” that you feel is so easily discredited… a strawman, or strawGod, if you will.

God is Love. Love is the source of all existence and reality as I have experienced it. God is, therefore, reality and everything in it. You can not convince me that reality does not exist especially since reality is a term that we use to describe everything that exists.