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| Subject: Re: Danny's Journey to the Cross | |
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Author: Joel Thompson |
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Date Posted: 14:56:31 05/24/04 Mon In reply to: Danny Howe 's message, "Re: Danny's Journey to the Cross" on 11:41:09 05/24/04 Mon >This is a relief to hear from you, since I learned the >art of sarcasm from one of the greats in Warrenton. Excellent. I take this to mean me, and I'm still quite good at it. Juries respond well so far - judges - not so much. >If you're in Montana, how did you find my website? >How did you find out about what I do? I found your website after Shannon Zinzer passed on the article in the paper about you protesting the gay marriages in Multnomah County. I then "googled" you and found the message boards on brojed.com and then read a recent posting where you invited people on there to visit your website. I did so. >I live in Portland currently, but I come to Clatsop >country on occasion. If you happen to come back in >town, drop me a line. > >But for the time being, if you could continue this >discussionby letting me know what you've found in >science, history, the Bible, and logic that has >changed your mind concerning at least the existence of >God, that would be swell. Take care! Do you really think that would accomplish anything? I believe in evolution, you obviously (correct me if I'm wrong) believe in a supernatural creator as presented in the literal reading of Genesis. Fundamentalists and scientists (among others) have been having this debate for 150 years. Richard Dawkins or Carl Sagan can state it much better than I. I didn't contact you to debate your beliefs. I am well aware that you think I will burn in eternal hellfire for all eternity. I'm ok with that. Have you ever read James Randi, Dan Barker, or Charles Templeton? If you want a debate, I would encourage you to contact Blair Scott, Director of Atheism Awareness and Alabama Atheist. His website is www.alabamaatheist.org/awareness/index.htm and he invites debate and does an excellent job of it. My favorite book is "The Demon Haunted World" by Carl Sagan. I would highly recommend it. If you are interested of course. I would say this, Dan. I've gone to school for seven years, taken many courses in Christian History, I read constantly and don't consider myself to have a lazy mind. I've put men in prison for the rest of their life on several occasions. I've seen more dead bodies in this job than I care to remember (including children) and I've dealt with a wide range of subjects in my work. I've read the Bible several times and many, many books on science, religion, history, etc... I could write a book on cults such as Jonestown. I don't mean to sound arrogant, but I have already considered my afterlife or lack thereof and I sincerely doubt that a guy I went to high school with could convince me away from a decision it's taken years to come to, reluctantly but firmly. It upsets my mother to think that her son doesn't believe as she does, and it takes a lot of energy to convince her even that I don't believe this way just to upset her. I wish there was a heaven and an afterlife, but I don't believe there is. Wishful thinking does not make things true. There are religions large and small that all teach different paths to "salvation". There's no escaping the fact that 99% of people "choose" their religion of their parents. There's no justice in my mind from the fact that Christians preach that children who die without accepting Christ go to hell, or people who didn't get to choose when or where they were born but had the misfortune to be born in South America 10 years (for example) before Christ died so they then deserve to burn in hell for all eternity. I understand the concept of original sin but I also don't believe in the Adam and Eve story. In my opinion, there is not one shred of verifiable evidence that anything supernatural has ever occurred, including but not limited to: creation (including a 6000 year old universe), a great flood, virgin births, chariots of fire, angels, demons, pillars of flame or smoke, parting seas, resurrections, etc... This is just the tip of the iceberg. Dan, I remember that you were a very smart guy in school. I don't understand how you can believe that the creation story is the literal truth. I don't see how you can think that all the animals on earth are descended from the two each that were on a fable ark when such a story is clearly just a story. However, I can still respect your beliefs. I just don't agree with them. I've taken my own journey and you've taken yours. Fair enough. I've read enough of your posts to know where you stand on many of these points. If this is the way you've chose to live, great. I just remember the guy from high school who was a little quirky but very smart and very creative. I wish you all the best. Sincerely, Joel [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |