@bigdoggproblem saidWas there an age at which you remember acknowledging, to yourself, that you did not believe "God's truth"? And an age [later?] at which you were willing to come out and say it to people?
I'm sure the teachers thought of it as leading people to God's truth.
@bigdoggproblem saidUnless is is people on internet boards.
It's fine. There were the usual debates, at first, but we stopped doing that after a time.
I did learn a lot about not taking religious debate so seriously, from the times it happened with family. I came to realize that it's not worth alienating people over.
@fmf saidStarted questioning some of "God's truth" in mid to late teens, and was openly agnostic at age 21.
Was there an age at which you remember acknowledging, to yourself, that you did not believe "God's truth"? And an age [later?] at which you were willing to come out and say it to people?
@eladar saidWell, that is a bit safer. If some guy I only knew as a handle stops taking to me, it hardly bothers me.
Unless is is people on internet boards.
That being said, I've not been debating as hardcore even here lately, because I just don't see the point anymore. I enjoy the forums more by taking them less seriously.
@bigdoggproblem saidMy mother was raised Christian Scientist (they don’t believe in medicine; ‘sickness is God’s way of telling you something’ ).At the age of about eight, I informed my mother that ‘God was made in man’s image’ and that I would no longer go to church. Bless her heart, she relented and let me find my own way.
It's fine. There were the usual debates, at first, but we stopped doing that after a time.
I did learn a lot about not taking religious debate so seriously, from the times it happened with family. I came to realize that it's not worth alienating people over.
My sister later joined a pentecostalist church (they’re the ones who ‘speak in tongues’ ). When she once asked me whether she would see me in heaven, I answered, ‘if your eyes are open.’ We left it at that; we don’t talk about religion, but we get on fine and can talk about anything else.
My father, Episcopalian, sang in the choir, and later joined a symphony choir in Anchorage, singing well into his 80s. He never once tried to remonstrate with me about my being a non-Christian.
For me, there was never any sense of loss (since I never had a faith to begin with), only a sense of liberation. I am grateful for having a family which could be at peace with that.
@moonbus saidYou should have told your sister the truth, no. And left it at that.
My mother was raised Christian Scientist (they don’t believe in medicine; ‘sickness is God’s way of telling you something’ ).At the age of about eight, I informed my mother that ‘God was made in man’s image’ and that I would no longer go to church. Bless her heart, she relented and let me find my own way.
My sister later joined a pentecostalist church (they’re the ones wh ...[text shortened]... h), only a sense of liberation. I am grateful for having a family which could be at peace with that.
No for you because there is no heaven. No for her beliefs because you will burn in hell. Either way the answer is no.
You chose to belittle her beliefs which did not blow up into an argument because your sister was a better person than you.
@eladar saidDo you want to know the big difference between you and me? I'll tell you. It's not what you probably think it is; it's not that you believe something I don't. It's that I don't use use truth to hurt people; you don't care whether truth hurts people. FMF is right, you lack compassion.
You should have told your sister the truth, no. And left it at that.
No for you because there is no heaven. No for her beliefs because you will burn in hell. Either way the answer is no.
Maybe, just maybe, my sister will make it to heaven, and maybe, just maybe, the God of pure love will condemn me to eternal torture; and maybe, just maybe, my sister will look down upon me, see me in my torment, if her eyes are open, and pray for me. And that is something she and I can both agree on. Isn't that better than browbeating someone you love with some putative 'truth'? I think so.
@moonbus saidDo you really believe you were sparing your sister by insulting her beliefs?
Do you want to know the big difference between you and me? I'll tell you. It's not what you probably think it is; it's not that you believe something I don't. It's that I don't use use truth to hurt people; you don't care whether truth hurts people. FMF is right, you lack compassion.
Maybe, just maybe, my sister will make it to heaven, and maybe, just maybe, the God of pur ...[text shortened]... gree on. Isn't that better than browbeating someone you love with some putative 'truth'? I think so.
@eladar saidNo, you're thinking in a spiteful and rather simple-minded way, and you are right to feel belittled.
No would still have been the honest answer.
As I pointed out in my edit, it did not blow up into a fight because the sister was the better person.
You guys feel it is your right to belittle other's beliefs. Eventually it will be their right to not have you around.
She could go on imbibing the psychological anaesthetic that numbs her fear of death, while moonbus' gentle and enigmatic answer meant he avoided either lying to, or hurting, his sister.
Your suggestion seemed motivated by a wish to be pointedly unkind to her, and, I think, it was you banging your hairy holy chest; a kind of grotesque version of 'virtue signalling' that your disinhibited ghastlier-than-thou-Christian online persona consists of.