Elizabeth Edwards diagnosed with cancer.

Suppose I told you that I could fly and if you believe me I would give you a billion dollars. You would be right about not believing that I have a billion dollars and even if I did you wouldn't believe that I would be so stupid as to give it away.

But what if I said to you "I'll bet you $1000 that I can fly." With your attitude you would jump on the bet like white on rice. Then I would win the bet simply by purchasing a plane ticket and flying to Vegas to gamble with the $1000 I had just won from you.

Or what if I turned out to have a pilots license and could actually fly the plane myself? Would that better fit your critera of being able to fly?

 

The one thing that you cannot seem to grasp, martin, is that many people actually, truly, fervently believe in the existence of God. They are not deluding themselves. In your opinion, they are deluding themselves but in truth, they are not because they truly believe. Can you understand that? Can you find it in yourself to quit making light of the beliefs of others simply because they are not your beliefs? Can you understand that your view of things is not necessarily the way things really are?

 

in my scenario, the bet is that you can fly by flapping your arms, independent of any mechanical flying-assistance apparatus.

when people say "i will ask jesus for help", they dont mean some sort of word game, where they actually are referring to their doctor, who is mexican and jamed jeśus. they are actually referring to a magical man in the sky. yunno, the insane thing.

 

when i say "deluding yourself", i mean you truly believe. you have been successful in deluding yourself, and you sincerely have bought the ideas you have sold yourself. i may have led you to misuderstand what i meant. i do not always question whether people are sincere. many people have an incredible ability to believe whatever they want. i do not.

no, i feel the same way about christianity that you might feel about palm readers or some other charlatans. except for you, if you think palm reading believers are morons, that is a tiny fraction of the population. the lunacy of christianity is widespread, and is deeply embedded into our society. i even had to vote for a christian, because i have no real options. how would you like it if you had to choose between candidates that would pull out a crystal ball to aid them in decision making? you probably would lose respect for them. that is sort of what is like for me, choosing between christians.

and again, i do not feel like someone's beliefs are somehow out of bounds for taunting.

i am right, because i make no crazy claims. if you ask me where the universe cam from, i answer "i dunno, ask a scientist, they might have nice theories, i am not sure." i dont make up some wizard story. so i am right, in the sense that i admit ignorance and dont make up fairy tales. i have no irrational faith. i f big bang is proved wrong tomorrow, thats fine by me, i dont care, and am no expert. unlike christians, they are totally wedded to insanity.

 

Well, taunt away. You have all the answers and your way is the only conceivably correct way. Enjoy your little self centered, narcissitic (there's that word again) world. At least I hope you enjoy it because I have a feeling that you are the only one in it.

 

you sure did have a lot to say after i was given the last word.

 

Not this thread.

 

i guess i will assume you are kidding or something, because it was page two of this thread, the 16th post in THIS thread, and i have now reminded you twice. i guess that is funny or whatever.

 

Changed my mind. The devil made me do it.