Understanding Religion's Relationship To Human Social Systems

  ​  @AgapeAhavah  re "I appreciate your invitation to watch the live stream; however, I prefer to continue our discussion here in the comment section. Could you please respond to my points directly here?" --- I tried that. I wrote out a carefully articulate, thoughtful, and nuanced reply to each of your assertions. In reply, you avoided the substance of everything I said. And then you used the pretense of "replying" ... just to preach at me again. You weren't listening. You weren't addressing my points. So I decided to try a different way. This time, I **orally** addressed your claims. I also orally addressed your attempts to negate my own claims. In reply, here-and-now, you just started all over again. You don't "discuss". You don't even debate. You refuse to listen. You refuse to consider. All you do is lure people back, again and again, with the false promise that you'll listen; just so you'll get m...

Responding to: Steve Tysinger  said:  The bible was designed to be; accepted literally by the ignorant, rejected by the foolish, and accepted allegorically by the wise. It's up to each of us to decide where we fit in that paradigm. In response, Paul Cocker said: " Just another who feels they have the answer, and that they are special because they believe they have the answer, and all who disagree are in some way flawed. No different to those who tell me the only way to read the bible is literally and not to do  so is foolish. Or those who say we must read the Bible with a open heart and let it speak to us is whatever way feels best. When you can't prove any claims it's best to just keep making the claims and dismiss those who are skeptical as foolish, in need of enlightenment, not at the right level, lost children, or any other condescending remarks that make you feel even more special. If you have convincing evidence just provide it, personal experience, opinion, and ...

 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwtY0Ma7SRI4g4aPIscu3MA/community?lb=Ugkx_5Dj7rxE-zgM-OrtVoP2tkh5_NY3vis2 @AgapeAhavah 1 hour ago Imagine you see a beautiful painting hanging on the wall. The painting has bright colors, a beautiful sunset, trees, and animals. Would you think the painting made itself? Of course not! Someone had to carefully create it. ------ True. But why is that true? Firstly, because the chemicals we call "paint" lack the necessary properties to experience the specific "Chemical Evolution" necessary for abiogenesis. They also lack the necessary environment for abiogenesis. Without abiogenesis, there are no biological organisms. Without biological organisms, there is nothing capable of evolving into trees and animals. Nor could such a process happen while limited to the space of a literal canvas. Also, the sky is not a canvas. The Sun, clouds, and light-refraction we call "sunsets" did not and could not form on a flat ...

Today, in a Facebook group called "LIES IN THE BIBLE",  someone posted this:  Now, I'm not really here to address that meme; although it does have merit. Instead, I'm addressing the discussion which followed. At first, we had a couple of rational comments. But, as always, when the MAGAts enter the room, the gaslighting cult-fuckery begins.   Write a comment… Ted Harazda Little wonder the Evangelicals overwhelmingly voted for Trump. 1d Like Reply 26 Dean Rod Top contributor Ted Harazda  They always seem so proud of their displays of sheer stupidity and reckless treason. 1d Like Reply 4 Sigmund Da Silva Lien   I am an atheist AND republican. How about that, genius ? 23h Like Reply 3 Natasha Huerter Sigmund Da Silva Lien   same. They comment sheer ignorance. 20h Like Reply Edited   Active James Apperson Rising contributor  Ted didn't say anything about "Republicans". He was a lot more specific than that. 6h Like Reply Sigmund Da Silva Lien James...