Always strangely depressing when Bill Maher gives a better Christian sermon than most pastors.

Sadly, he's right. I was fairly astonished that so many Christians didn't see anything wrong with celebrating someones death, Bin Laden or not. Though, what Bill Maher doesn't mention is that there was also a large number of Christians who did understand that was wrong and spoke out against it.

Many people do follow Christ in name only. The bible says they are only borrowing the name at a price. It's really no different however than anything else human beings do. That humans can mess up something good should be no surprise to anyone.

>> ^shinyblurry:

Sadly, he's right. I was fairly astonished that so many Christians didn't see anything wrong with celebrating someones death, Bin Laden or not.

I think you'll find a great many atheists who do subscribe to the sort of philosophy Jesus preached. Just because we don't think he was divine doesn't mean we think he was wrong. He had some good ideas; revolutionary ideas for his time; and his origins don't change that.

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag.(show it anyway)

It's great of you to concede this SB.

Christianity in America is more like a personal empowerment and wealth creation seminar than a religion. Christ never said "the Lord helps those who help themselves" - though that's the primary tenant that most American Christians seem to follow. Maybe Tony Robbins is the second coming.

>> ^shinyblurry:

Sadly, he's right. I was fairly astonished that so many Christians didn't see anything wrong with celebrating someones death, Bin Laden or not. Though, what Bill Maher doesn't mention is that there was also a large number of Christians who did understand that was wrong and spoke out against it.
Many people do follow Christ in name only. The bible says they are only borrowing the name at a price. It's really no different however than anything else human beings do. That humans can mess up something good should be no surprise to anyone.

I do believe that, in fact, I felt pretty much the same way when I was agnostic. I didn't believe He was God, but His words spoke to my heart about how human beings should treat eachother. I never had a problem with Christ..to me, He was certainly of the very best that humanity had produced, before or since..and I have yet to read an account of anyone who comes close.

To me what Christ taught leads to perfection of the human character. He teaches more self-denial than even buddhism, total humility of person, equal treatment for every human, and love for your fellow man, without any exception. He taught us to forgive one another, to harbor no grudges, to work things out and come to an angreement.

If people followed what Christ taught we would have no wars, there would be no violence..there would be no poor, no starvation, no inequality. There would be no hatred, no lies, no injustice. The Earth would be at peace. That's gotta be worth something. I wouldn't understand someone who could look at that and take nothing from it.

I believe all His ways lead to life. Abudent life..and I have seen the results. Christ was a humanist too though, because He came not for His own sake but for all people. He died, whether you believe He was divine or not, for us. That was His mission as He saw it and that's what He did. The only real question is whether He is risen, or not. If He didn't rise, then I am a fool. If He did, it proves everything He said. I think that's really the only practical way His claims could be evaluated, if His resurrection is a historical event.


>> ^xxovercastxx:
>> ^shinyblurry:
Sadly, he's right. I was fairly astonished that so many Christians didn't see anything wrong with celebrating someones death, Bin Laden or not.
I think you'll find a great many atheists who do subscribe to the sort of philosophy Jesus preached. Just because we don't think he was divine doesn't mean we think he was wrong. He had some good ideas; revolutionary ideas for his time; and his origins don't change that.

Well, Christianity as it is practiced in America is extremely skewed..most of those evengelicals, the trinity broadcasting network, the lunatics known as the republican party..their brand of Christianity is a disgrace and a perversion. Things like the prosperity gospel should make any Christian sick to their stomach. Sadly a lot of people buy into it because living prudently, with a healthy dose of self-denial is not very popular in this gross materialism we are drowning in. I can understand why atheists cant stand these people..because I cant stand them either.

>> ^dag:
It's great of you to concede this SB.
Christianity in America is more like a personal empowerment and wealth creation seminar than a religion. Christ never said "the Lord helps those who help themselves" - though that's the primary tenant that most American Christians seem to follow. Maybe Tony Robbins is the second coming.
>> ^shinyblurry:
Sadly, he's right. I was fairly astonished that so many Christians didn't see anything wrong with celebrating someones death, Bin Laden or not. Though, what Bill Maher doesn't mention is that there was also a large number of Christians who did understand that was wrong and spoke out against it.
Many people do follow Christ in name only. The bible says they are only borrowing the name at a price. It's really no different however than anything else human beings do. That humans can mess up something good should be no surprise to anyone.

People, on the whole, picknmix what they want to believe. I'd wager you chose to live your life according to the teachings of Jesus because those teachings made sense to you and not because you think he is the son of god. Perhaps I am wrong. Either way, my journy from being a Christian through Agnostic to Athiest was made because I realised I chose the things I wanted to believe in the bible based on my own life experience, and that these morals and teachings could have legitimacy for me without this divine attachment.

Either you believe everything in those holy texts in their entirity or you do not. Everybody repurposes holy scripture to fit the mould of their lives, and by calling themselves christian or muslim they only lend power and legitimacy to what I can only describe as a cult. Why can't you believe what you believe seperate of a church? Why do you need these teachings to come from the Son of God. If you believe they are right and true what does it matter whether it comes from God or mere Human?

*nsfw

This video has been flagged as being Not Suitable For Work - declared nsfw by brycewi19.

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag.(show it anyway)

This tweet says it all for me.
http://i.imgur.com/lw6rc.png

"Really, it's in that book you hold up when you scream at gay people."

I don't always find Maher funny, but that was awesome.

"...but if whatever you're doing to your wife to make her look like Kirk Douglas.."

*spit-takes coffee* Ha!!!

HA!!!
(god ..I'm a fuckin' mess now, I cant drink and sift.)
>> ^Psychologic:

"Really, it's in that book you hold up when you scream at gay people."
I don't always find Maher funny, but that was awesome.

No, not everyone does that. Some people follow it to the letter. You decided you didn't want to do that, so you equivilcated. Yes, it does very much matter if He was God or not. There is no middle ground here..

If you think Jesus was just a man, then He was insane, or a liar, and His teachings were foolish. None of it was how to be a good person, He was showing us how to live a life pleasing to God. Which means dying to your worldly self and being reborn in the spirit. He said no one is good, not even one. He was talking about you, too.

>> ^Jinx:
People, on the whole, picknmix what they want to believe. I'd wager you chose to live your life according to the teachings of Jesus because those teachings made sense to you and not because you think he is the son of god. Perhaps I am wrong. Either way, my journy from being a Christian through Agnostic to Athiest was made because I realised I chose the things I wanted to believe in the bible based on my own life experience, and that these morals and teachings could have legitimacy for me without this divine attachment.
Either you believe everything in those holy texts in their entirity or you do not. Everybody repurposes holy scripture to fit the mould of their lives, and by calling themselves christian or muslim they only lend power and legitimacy to what I can only describe as a cult. Why can't you believe what you believe seperate of a church? Why do you need these teachings to come from the Son of God. If you believe they are right and true what does it matter whether it comes from God or mere Human?

There was a time when Jesus was violent and angry. It was when he was kicking the money changers (bankers) out of the temple.

now there's a good lesson

>> ^criticalthud:

There was a time when Jesus was violent and angry. It was when he was kicking the money changers (bankers) out of the temple.
now there's a good lesson


Fuck, poor bastard would need an Abrams tank and a couple of tac nukes to do that to Wall St...