AJ Philips
Damn just when I thought I had a clear understanding on what I call myself, I get corrected again.

So my solution is simple, I will hence forth call myself a "reformed Afghan Baptist". That way as I am likely to be the only one in existence, I wont be able to be challenged on the accuracy of the label on my belief.

Really AJ I think you are getting a we bit pedantic with your labels
Chris

nicknamenick,

The military is a necessary institution for which the existence of is not reliant upon a set of unfounded claims, unlike the useless behemoth that is the Catholic Church.

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Lefty One,

If you find you’re being corrected on definitions frequently, then perhaps you should consult a dictionary.

<<Damn just when I thought I had a clear understanding on what I call myself, I get corrected again.>>

I would recommend the Oxford, which is widely considered to be the most authoritative in the English language. Avoid the Merriam-Webster like the plague, as it has an obvious religious bias to it. www.dictionary.com isn’t much better.

Deism:
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/deism

Atheism:
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/atheism

Agnosticism:
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/agnostic

<<So my solution is simple, I will hence forth call myself a "reformed Afghan Baptist".>>

That’s not very descriptive. What’s wrong with ‘deist’?

<<Really AJ I think you are getting a we bit pedantic with your labels>>

Not at all. Given that you have described yourself as an agnostic twice already on this thread and attempted to define it once, I would think that my correction is anything but pedantic. Labels clearly matter to you, after all, and so they should.

I am vigilant in correcting definitions in this area because theists have always attempted to twist them for their own purposes. To the point that many atheists are too afraid to label themselves as such because they think it implies a dogmatism or renders them communists.

It has always fascinated me, though, how those who refer to themselves as ‘agnostic’ can become so upset when they find that they were using the word incorrectly, or that they are actually atheists when they have spent so much of their lives despising atheists because of a caricature of them that they had invented but doesn’t actually exist.

Clearly definitions here matter, and to many too.

Again atheists merely attack the beliefs of people rather than the premise: "The universe has intelligence and design in its chemistry and motion, that human intelligence and disciplines are an example of the nature of that reality."

The atheist with a passion hold a belief system based in a negative premise, highlighting the attitude of people and their dysfunction. They cannot debate theism and the higher aspiration of the Creator and purpose of the Universe.

You are a big noter A J Philips with all your stupid talk you think your smarter then everybody else here but you are a show off with all your big words as well as a big noter. Im a catholic person and I beleve in my God and because you don't believe in God you critize people who do. Go away smart alec and leave the people alone who beleve in God. You will get punished because of your nasty words remember that Philips you will get punished.

Oooo! Disgusting little pedophile friend church. If I get my way I'll see the catholic church listed as a banned organisation, its property siezed and its leaders arrested, interrogated and gaoled as required.

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And you see again AJ you seem to have offended one of the low IQ inmates. LOL And therein lies a not insignificant challenge in terms of how best to elevate the consciousness of some of these ding-a-lings? Can't just send them down to be turned into fertilizer now can we?

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It reminds me of being at the vatican (albeit briefly) many years ago. What first grabbed my attention were the armed guards. And then, whilst going up the steps, this poor old dear getting a thrill from reverentially touching a bit of the door. And then, you get in there, and you've got what I call the "slot machine" prayer room. You know, an alcove with an art work, and a big slot up front to pump in a coin to add a bit of weight to your prayers. HaHaHa

Still, at least they still have a service in there. That much at least dissapointed me in Moscow when in the central churches as it was like a cold and lifeless museum.

I don't mind snorting some good incense and having a bit of communion wine - a bit of a show - tourists love that sh!t. ;-)

Josephus,

Would you rather I attack your premise?

<<Again atheists merely attack the beliefs of people rather than the premise: "The universe has intelligence and design in its chemistry and motion, that human intelligence and disciplines are an example of the nature of that reality.">>

Okay, there is no evidence for that. There is nothing to suggest that intelligence was required, and insisting that it was is the special pleading fallacy. The universe is amazingly complex and complexity arises out of necessity or poor design - neither of which would be the case if a supreme being were involved.

<<The atheist with a passion hold a belief system based in a negative premise…>>

There is no one atheist belief system. I had already explained that before.

<<They cannot debate theism and the higher aspiration of the Creator and purpose of the Universe.>>

Apparently they can.

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misanthrope,

I’m hearing a lot of this accusation lately:

<<… you think your smarter [than] everybody else here but you are a show off with all your big words as well as a big noter.>>

I’m starting to think that others think I’m a lot smarter than I do. I’m not sure of where all these big words are either. That’s the second time I’ve heard that accusation in as many weeks.

<<[I’m] a catholic person and I [believe] in my God …>>

You have my sympathies.

Isn’t it funny how we’d all leave an organisation at the snap of a finger as soon as we found out that it was a criminal organisation, but we make exceptions here where religious institutions are concerned.

<<… and because you don't believe in God you critize people who do.>>

No, I more criticise the belief, and for reasons I’ve already outlined.

<<You will get punished because of your nasty words remember that Philips you will get punished.>>

Threatening an atheist with hell is about as scary for them as a hippy threatening to punch you in your aura. But thank you for highlighting yet another way in which religion can poison people's minds.