do people choose their religion?

Is there a God? If so, what is She like?

Moderators: AMod, iMod

User avatar
Lacewing
Posts: 6722
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2015 2:25 am

Re: do people choose their religion?

Post by Lacewing »

Immanuel Can wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 5:35 pm
Lacewing wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 5:30 pm You're always interpreting for your god, so I'm asking you about your god in relation to the question of this post.
Oh. So...just a question about something in which you don't believe, regarding a problem you don't think exists.
Just asking for your theist perspective based on what you claim to know of the god you believe in, but clearly such integrity and truth are still beyond you -- as you resort to your usual games of avoidance and distortion. It's interesting to check in every once in awhile to see if you can evolve beyond that yet. Nope! Still clinging tight to your laughably grandiose routine! :lol:
User avatar
Immanuel Can
Posts: 27604
Joined: Wed Sep 25, 2013 4:42 pm

Re: do people choose their religion?

Post by Immanuel Can »

Lacewing wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:00 pm Just asking for your theist perspective based on what you claim to know of the god you believe in...
Well, you'll have to explain to me why you think the "god" you think I believe in thinks everything's equally "acceptable." You state it as if you know it; I just want to know how you know.
User avatar
Lacewing
Posts: 6722
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2015 2:25 am

Re: do people choose their religion?

Post by Lacewing »

Immanuel Can wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 5:57 pm What's transferrable, though is that God is clearly no lover of rebels, and that Christians have a duty to respect both secular authorities, even those unsympathetic, as the caesars were, and paternal/maternal authority as well. Under all ordinary circumstances, human authorities are to be respected and obeyed -- save when their demands come into conflict with one's relationship with God, which is always primary.
How do you know this?
User avatar
Immanuel Can
Posts: 27604
Joined: Wed Sep 25, 2013 4:42 pm

Re: do people choose their religion?

Post by Immanuel Can »

Lacewing wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:05 pm How do you know this?
I read the Bible.
User avatar
Lacewing
Posts: 6722
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2015 2:25 am

Re: do people choose their religion?

Post by Lacewing »

Immanuel Can wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:02 pm
Lacewing wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:00 pm Just asking for your theist perspective based on what you claim to know of the god you believe in...
Well, you'll have to explain to me why you think the "god" you think I believe in thinks everything's equally "acceptable." You state it as if you know it; I just want to know how you know.
You're distorting things to hide behind. I do not know the god you claim to believe in. I asked you if your god cares what theists believe -- since this thread is about people being held responsible for beliefs they might be born into. Do you not know what your god thinks about that -- even though you claim to know so much else about what your god thinks?
User avatar
Immanuel Can
Posts: 27604
Joined: Wed Sep 25, 2013 4:42 pm

Re: do people choose their religion?

Post by Immanuel Can »

Lacewing wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:12 pm
Immanuel Can wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:02 pm
Lacewing wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:00 pm Just asking for your theist perspective based on what you claim to know of the god you believe in...
Well, you'll have to explain to me why you think the "god" you think I believe in thinks everything's equally "acceptable." You state it as if you know it; I just want to know how you know.
You're distorting things...
Not at all. You wrote: "Do you think your god cares what theists believe?" I presume the question was supposed to be rhetorical and derisive, and to imply that (whomever you conceive as) "my god" really doesn't "care what theist believe." But presumably, then, you would have be supposing that you happen to know better than me about that.

I find that a dubious supposition.
User avatar
Lacewing
Posts: 6722
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2015 2:25 am

Re: do people choose their religion?

Post by Lacewing »

Immanuel Can wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:06 pm
Lacewing wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:05 pm How do you know this?
I read the Bible.
Do you play games of distortion with your reading of the Bible too? How many do you suppose have done that with their own self-serving interpretations over thousands of years? And then they authoritatively tell others what this god is and what this god thinks! :lol: Even you should recognize the level of fantasy and arrogance involved.
User avatar
Immanuel Can
Posts: 27604
Joined: Wed Sep 25, 2013 4:42 pm

Re: do people choose their religion?

Post by Immanuel Can »

Lacewing wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:20 pm
Immanuel Can wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:06 pm
Lacewing wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:05 pm How do you know this?
I read the Bible.
Do you play games of distortion with your reading of the Bible too?
Show the "distortion" you allege.
User avatar
Lacewing
Posts: 6722
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2015 2:25 am

Re: do people choose their religion?

Post by Lacewing »

Immanuel Can wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:19 pm
Lacewing wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:12 pm
Immanuel Can wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:02 pm
Well, you'll have to explain to me why you think the "god" you think I believe in thinks everything's equally "acceptable." You state it as if you know it; I just want to know how you know.
You're distorting things...
Not at all. You wrote: "Do you think your god cares what theists believe?" I presume the question was supposed to be rhetorical and derisive, and to imply that (whomever you conceive as) "my god" really doesn't "care what theist believe." But presumably, then, you would have be supposing that you happen to know better than me about that.

I find that a dubious supposition.
You presumed wrong. I asked you about what you believe. You said people are responsible for choosing their beliefs. Right? So, do you believe that the god you believe in holds people responsible for the kind of theism they are born into?
User avatar
Lacewing
Posts: 6722
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2015 2:25 am

Re: do people choose their religion?

Post by Lacewing »

Immanuel Can wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:21 pm
Lacewing wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:20 pm
Immanuel Can wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:06 pm
I read the Bible.
Do you play games of distortion with your reading of the Bible too?
Show the "distortion" you allege.
You mean "show" you like the way you asked Sculptor to show you that you claim to know the mind of god, and then when he showed you, your response was "Explain why you think I'm wrong" ??? :lol:

I've already pointed out to you how you've distorted what I've said and asked. Your habit of doing that repeatedly in discussions on this forum suggests a character trait and methodology you apparently MUST USE to maintain your beliefs and identity? Can they not stand up without such tactics?
User avatar
Immanuel Can
Posts: 27604
Joined: Wed Sep 25, 2013 4:42 pm

Re: do people choose their religion?

Post by Immanuel Can »

Lacewing wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:24 pm ...do you believe that the god you believe in holds people responsible for the kind of theism they are born into?
I answered that. People choose their beliefs. Obviously, "born into" has no bearing, because people can change their minds.
User avatar
Immanuel Can
Posts: 27604
Joined: Wed Sep 25, 2013 4:42 pm

Re: do people choose their religion?

Post by Immanuel Can »

Lacewing wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:37 pm
Immanuel Can wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:21 pm
Lacewing wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:20 pm
Do you play games of distortion with your reading of the Bible too?
Show the "distortion" you allege.
You mean "show" you like the way you asked Sculptor...
Yep. Exactly that way.

If what I say is true, there's no "distortion." You claim "distortion": I just want to see if you have any idea what you're talking about.
User avatar
Lacewing
Posts: 6722
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2015 2:25 am

Re: do people choose their religion?

Post by Lacewing »

Immanuel Can wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:42 pm
Lacewing wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:24 pm ...do you believe that the god you believe in holds people responsible for the kind of theism they are born into?
I answered that. People choose their beliefs. Obviously, "born into" has no bearing, because people can change their minds.
What do people choose their beliefs from? What they're exposed to, right? What if they're only exposed to a certain kind of theism? Are they responsible for that?
User avatar
Lacewing
Posts: 6722
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2015 2:25 am

Re: do people choose their religion?

Post by Lacewing »

Immanuel Can wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:44 pm
Lacewing wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:37 pm
Immanuel Can wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:21 pm
Show the "distortion" you allege.
You mean "show" you like the way you asked Sculptor...
Yep. Exactly that way.

If what I say is true, there's no "distortion." You claim "distortion": I just want to see if you have any idea what you're talking about.
I already showed you. You keep distorting what I say, which I've pointed out to you by repeating to you AGAIN what I was saying without your distortion piled on top. If you can't see that -- then it can't be shown to you. Did you see that Sculptor pointed out to you that you claim to know the mind of your god? Did you acknowledge that he showed you, or did you simply deflect? Seriously, are you kidding yourself here... 'cause you're not kidding anyone else.
User avatar
Immanuel Can
Posts: 27604
Joined: Wed Sep 25, 2013 4:42 pm

Re: do people choose their religion?

Post by Immanuel Can »

Lacewing wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 6:46 pm What do people choose their beliefs from? What they're exposed to, right?
"Exposed"? It depends on what you mean by "exposed." Can one be "exposed" by one's conscience? Is not everyone "exposed" to the natural world? Could not the Supreme Being so arrange that all who would respond would be "exposed" to what they needed to know? There are many ways this can happen other than "culture" or being "born into" some belief.
Post Reply