Pagan, Wiccan, Druid worship area at USAFA

[JungleJett]

I say we shift to politics now.

Obama is ruining the country. Go.

True...

Another good topic. Unions are destroying America's competitive edge.

go...

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

With Obama increasing troops in Afghanistan and more drone flights in Pakistan than Bush... you two should be quite pleased with your new CinC. No? What is it about the 70K increase and more drone flights you don't like... ?

 

[acpilot]

Shagadelic is right on the money. Athiests/agnostics are a growing minority.

If your son really did write that response, good for him!

 

[LowlyPropCapt]

Actually I prayed as well. I really never put much thought into my beliefs; I just took every thing on faith. It wasn't until I was surrounded by the extreme who cast science to the side that I started to question why it was I believed what I did. The more I read about Christianity and the other major religions the more it appeared to be a sham. If you read the Bible as a historical document you get a completely different picture than if you think the Creator of the known universe came down and inspired all these men to write it. I'm very sarcastic and come off as arrogant because on this limited platform it gets the message across. I'm really not an a$$ hole in person. I never bring it up in the cockpit unless the other guy does and always try to be respectful.

Don't get offended; if anything you should feel sorry for me. I'm the one that's going to burn for eternity.

I'm not a serviceman, just the son a deceased Marine and the brother of an Army LT who just got home from Iraq. The more I learn about the military, the more respect I gain for what it is you do. Thank you for your service.

I am also an atheist turned agnostic turned Christian. I have read the Bible, the Koran (translated obviously) and a whole host of other publications and authors. I had to, I teach the stuff now.

Is it possible, Mr. Shag, that you are not discerning the difference between religion and faith? Religion is a human construct... An organized structure to enable corporate worship. As such, it susceptible to all of the imperfections that are inherent to being human. Faith is entirely another matter.

Despite your invocation of Twain, who's views were colored by a deep dissatisfaction late in his life due to bankrupcy and the loss of his wife, Faith is NOT believing something "you know ain't so." True faith is a logical conclusion based on evidence and study. It is a fact, faith is believing in what is unseen. Unseen does not mean imaginary. There are a great many accepted scientific precepts that are based on logical assumptions derived through study.

I am sorry that you were surrounded by extremists who felt the need to use the Bible as a history book as a crutch for (what I believe) is a weakness in their own faith. The Bible is NOT history in the sense of how we think of history. While many of the events are archeologically and historically verifiable (the existance of the people of Israel, the various places and kingdoms, the 'historical Jesus') that 'historiocity' of the Bible isn't the point. Indeed, the books of Ruth and Jonah are actually parables of a sort. What the Bible does tell us is the history of our relationship with God and his offer of redemption from that which seperates us from him.

I don't believe the world is 6000 years old. I don't need to ignore science to make my beliefs 'fit'. I know that prayer is merely a conversation with my God, not a way to change an outcome. Study and deep personal introspection on what faith really is caused me to arrive at what is an inevitable conclusion for anyone who really looks hard at the evidence.

 

[SIG600]

Best post yet.

 

[414Flyer]

Your arrogance is stunning and is only matched by your disdain for US and Allied forces and the work they do. I am surprised you are not bashing our efforts in Haiti or those during the Tsunami.

You must have missed the threads he started in another section, about Haiti. Words fail in describing them, other than just imagining the military being some kind of tool in the corporate looting of haiti or something along those lines

 

[JungleJett]

You must have missed the threads he started in another section, about Haiti. Words fail in describing them, other than just imagining the military being some kind of tool in the corporate looting of haiti or something along those lines

The guy is a weapons grade tool. His life revolves completely around this website. I think he thinks it gives him some sort of credibility and makes him feel cool..when in reality, it simply proves how much of a loser he really is. Over 12000 post!! Take a look at how often he post...he spends HOURS a day on this site...

Rez...I am starting to feel really sorry for you. If your mom cuts off your internet access, you are doomed.

 

[shagadelic]

I don't believe the world is 6000 years old. I don't need to ignore science to make my beliefs 'fit'. I know that prayer is merely a conversation with my God, not a way to change an outcome. Study and deep personal introspection on what faith really is caused me to arrive at what is an inevitable conclusion for anyone who really looks hard at the evidence.

Thank you, lowlypropcapt, for a well thought at out and reasoned response. I believe deep personal introspection may lead you to where you are, which is great. I'm not so sure study does. If the bible is the word of god and is inerrant, then you must assume that science's explanations are false. If you believe the bible is just a guide for greater introspection into your personal faith with a supreme deity, then what part of the bible is real, and what part is story?

It sounds to me like you put your mind in that "transcendental" state where you believe you are talking to someone and thus you are deriving the supernatural answers. I get a very similar state of mind when doing yoga, or laying in bed just before sleep. It feels almost out of body. It's not supernatural, just what our mind does. We are able to map the chemical process in brain scans. It's explainable by science.

Many wonder how such a complex and vast universe could come in to being without a divine creator. I wonder how complex a divine creator must be to be able to create such a universe, and how that creator came in to being. Who created the creator?

If you have "studied" this and came to the conclusion a creator is responsible for the universe, I'd be interested to hear your evidence. If you came to this conclusion through personal introspection and faith, then I'm happy for you and understand your desire to have your questions answered; I just haven't come to the same conclusion based on the evidence I've encountered. I guess I could try to have "faith" in something, but why would that be better than the millions of other "faiths" out there? What would make mine the correct one? Just because my dreamlike mind in yoga said it was so? Sorry, I need to stick with what we can prove.

We still have people that think earthquakes are caused by pacts with the devil. It's time we leave the superstitions and mythology behind, and start using the brains that took so long to evolve.

 

[shagadelic]

If your son really did write that response, good for him!

Word for word.

The interesting thing is my daughter claims she is an atheist but has no interest in why, she's just listening to her brother and I debate and discuss. I get on to her that she can't claim that if she has no interest in figuring out the answers for herself. I've come to the conclusion that's how most people are. They simply follow what their parents are and figure if it's good enough for their parents its good enough for them. That thinking drives me batty, but she seems content with it. Oh well.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

. I've come to the conclusion that's how most people are. They simply follow what their parents are and figure if it's good enough for their parents its good enough for them. That thinking drives me batty, but she seems content with it. Oh well.

It is an interesting dynamic.... I would agree that teaching children to think critically is....critical. If not, they grow into people who seek out authotiry to guide them.

Also interesting is the powerful influence of how parents shape values actively or passively.