Heaven and Hell

[crazyheart]

Alpha course starts at churches all over Canada in September. You should take it with your wife. about 12 free meals and a chance to try to convert a bunch of people to atheism. You know nothing about Christianity, and this would be your chance to pick up the basics and maybe hone your argument.

I would not suggest that anyone take Alpha Class. THey only like questions that have scriptural answers. They don't want questions that they can discuss and come to some kind of answer.
In fact, Alpha, Promisekeepers etc, are cut from the same cloth.

 

[chansen]

So Alpha isn't a UCCan thing, then?

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

T

If it makes sense, rewrite it. Explain how "...shine God's light into societies held captive by dark powers..." relates to "Let's deny science and yell at people we don't like."



That could be epic. If they were open to another viewpoint and wanted to make it a discussion or debate, I'd consider it.

Is it offered at Nobleton United? Before I even ask, is there any minister here who would truthfully want me to attend, understanding what I would likely say if I were in attendance. If I need to spell it out, I would wait for times when the audience was encouraged to ask questions and provide feedback. I not really a heckler. I just think it would be interesting to see if I could counter the Alpha course and steer the other attendees away.

I took part of one - the tail end of one- but not the whole thing. It's offered at more right of centre denominations. I was invited by a Baptist. Food was good, people were nice to chat with - there was a hipster sort of young guy who led people in song with his guitar - somebody offered me a ride home. But it was chauvinistic, subtly, but it was there. I thought so. I can't remember specifically but it was about men and women in relationships. Presented in a friendly way so maybe some would just not question what he was saying. I don't think that aspect is reflective of 'true' Christianity - just a particular brand of Christianity they are promoting/ endoctrinating people into. Quite effectively, I might add. The course has been extremely popular for awhile. Try UCCan's courses exploring faith, instead. Much more open to questions instead of telling you the answers.

 

[chansen]

I'd have to go to a Baptist church to take it? Ugh. Who thinks I'd last more than ten seconds before being asked to leave?

 

[chansen]

Just going to repost this so it doesn't get lost:

Admittedly you're right - I did use the word "captive" twice when I could have - more economically - used it but once. One gold star for you.

There's more. What does "loose" mean in that context? Who do you think can decipher what "cruciform communities" means, and what meaning are you trying to use? I had to look it up. Is that something that all Christians know and I don't because I'm not a Christian?

On top of those things, you're talking about somehow projecting yourselves onto a society held captive by "dark forces", and then you say God has already triumphed over "evil powers". So, are the people under "dark forces" better off now that the "evil powers" are gone, or should God attempt to triumph over those next?

I can't imagine that even your prof is impressed by paragraphs like that.


Quoting it again, for reference.

What we Christians offer is cruciform communities which - through living out the gospel - shine God's light into societies held captive by dark powers and authorities who have held them captive. In such a way - we loose the Spirit's redemptive power into the world that God is reclaiming from the evil powers he has already triumphed over.

 

[blackbelt1961]

You think you've solved the problem. You get to tell people they are going to be judged, and hide behind the empty claim that God will do the judging. You threaten people, then wash your hands of the threat in the same sentence.

what i get is, just like you atheists , I get to have my say in belief, that is all will be judged , including YOU

I think it's important to point out that your threat, or God's threat, is complete bulls**t.

hmmmmm, do you have any evidence for that?, No , sounds like your bulls**t line above is actually

bulls**t

I'm not this blunt and abrasive with most here, because they don't come out and issue threats by proxy like you do. To me, if you're being that arrogant with baseless threats, I have licence to say what I think.

you think too highly of yourself, you always say what you think regardless of others , besides why do you care, your an atheist remember, after you die its lights out for you remember.

The religious have very little political or social power in Canada any more. Not sure what you mean by "talking out of the side of [my] mouth" here. Everyone knows that there is no religious requirement for just about anything in Canada any more, except positions within religious institutions. You can't make people believe, and you have a terrible track record at convincing young people, and here are no repercussions for not believing in most of Canada. In large parts of the US, nonbelievers are ostracized, which is why you see the big push-back against religion in the US.

talking out of the side of your mouth is a kinder way of calling bulls**t on you, you assume too much

But scripture has a nasty way of staying with people who were raised with it, and so I write a lot of what I write with that in mind.

you write with that in mind because you are completely ignorant of spirituality but more so if one is raised in a church or not because the majority come to Christ latter on in life for many different reasons.


PS: the very reason why you Riddle is because you have no

1) conclusive evidence of the after life

2) your arguments are completely unintelligent

3) you realize that all you truly have is a belief structure just like a believer so that frustrates you and your only comeback is , ridicule

4) when losing an argument and you have lost many here you ridicule and then call Bulshit


BTY bulls**t cannot be tested by the scientific method , so I wonder why such an all believing science guy as yourself would used bulls**t as conclusive evidence


sounds like bulls**t to me Chasen

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

Plus, they charged money for the Alpha course. Maybe to cover the meal - fair enough. I was given a free lunch in this case, as someone's guest, but they charge a fee for many things at that church, whereas most things at UCCan are by donation, sometimes a recommended amount (some will give more, some less but you are not turned away if you don't...that idea).

 

[blackbelt1961]

Aaaaah. It was written in tongues. I thought that was only a verbal form of communication. Can somebody translate it to English for us mere mortals?

you know , you are your biggest stumbling block

 

[blackbelt1961]

I'd have to go to a Baptist church to take it? Ugh. Who thinks I'd last more than ten seconds before being asked to leave?

if you put a motorcycle in a garage does that make it a car ?


wakeup

 

[Jaebius]

I'd have to go to a Baptist church to take it? Ugh. Who thinks I'd last more than ten seconds before being asked to leave?

Many different denominations offer The Alpha Course - not just we Baptists.

 

[Jaebius]

Plus, they charged money for the Alpha course. Maybe to cover the meal - fair enough. I was given a free lunch in this case, as someone's guest, but they charge a fee for many things at that church, whereas most things at UCCan are by donation, sometimes a recommended amount (some will give more, some less but you are not turned away if you don't...that idea).

That a church would charge for Alpha seems strange to me Cousin. I've never before heard of such a thing. I know some churches ask for donations around the course.

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

I'd have to go to a Baptist church to take it? Ugh. Who thinks I'd last more than ten seconds before being asked to leave?

If you were at the one I was at you might start turning over the tables. Cue food fight!

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

That a church would charge for Alpha seems strange to me Cousin. I've never before heard of such a thing. I know some churches ask for donations around the course.

This one sells tickets for everything. Usually it's not expensive but not cheap - the low income people they give out sandwiches to on certain days wouldn't be able to afford some of their special presentations - was what crossed my mind.

 

[Jaebius]

This one sells tickets for everything. Usually it's not expensive but not cheap - the low income people they give out sandwiches to on certain days wouldn't be able to afford some of their special presentations - was what crossed my mind.

If Alpha knew about this they would take away the licensing agreement.

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

If Alpha knew about this they would take away the licensing agreement.

To be fair, it was catered food (church people were dishing it out but it came from an outside establishment), so - I don't know if the charge was for the course. I went one other night to hear a guest speaker that was $10.

It might have been 20. And it was a course about employment - I went because I was unemployed and it was not at all what I expected. I was disappointed.

 

[chansen]

what i get is, just like you atheists , I get to have my say in belief, that is all will be judged , including YOU

Ooooooh. Scaaaaaary.

hmmmmm, do you have any evidence for that?, No , sounds like your bulls**t line above is actually

bulls**t

If you are going to make a threat on behalf of someone else, it helps when you don't go in empty-handed. Extortionists don't go into a store and demand a cut of sales and say that if the owner refuses, then after he dies, we have it on good authority that the owner will be tortured because it says so in a book.

You're the extortionist's message bearer. You've taken it upon yourself to tell people to believe, or else.

I reject your message due to lack of evidence. I openly laugh at it because it's idiotic at it deserves nothing less.

PS: the very reason why you Riddle [ridicule?] is because you have no

1) conclusive evidence of the after life

2) your arguments are completely unintelligent

3) you realize that all you truly have is a belief structure just like a believer so that frustrates you and your only comeback is , ridicule

4) when losing an argument and you have lost many here you ridicule and then call Bulshit


BTY bulls**t cannot be tested by the scientific method , so I wonder why such an all believing science guy as yourself would used bulls**t as conclusive evidence


sounds like bulls**t to me Chasen

1. That's kinda my point, not yours.
2. That's kinda your thing, not mine.
3. Let me look for a reply in the Atheist Bible. Oh, wait...
4. Again, I'm not the one passing along threats. I'm not suggesting you are going to suffer some worse fate than I am. I truly don't know what happens after death, but personal confidence in an old book of myths is a poor substitute for evidence, and this is the part that sinks you every time.

Sometimes, I wish I was religious, so I had a god to thank for putting you on the other side of these arguments.

If you believe it Blackbelt, that's one thing. To attempt to pass along that belief through threats is waaaay over the line, and to me, that doesn't qualify for a religious exemption from ridicule. I'd say much the same if you were threatening people in any context. That you're doing it on the back of your loving God just makes it that much more entertaining.

 

[chansen]

I'd have to go to a Baptist church to take it? Ugh. Who thinks I'd last more than ten seconds before being asked to leave?

if you put a motorcycle in a garage does that make it a car ?


wakeup

 

[blackbelt1961]

I reject your message due to lack of evidence. I openly laugh at it because it's idiotic at it deserves nothing less.

yes I do remember you believe in lack of belief

good show !

1. Atheist Bible.

[FONT=Open Sans, sans-serif]

here you go , the last guy has it in his hand

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Sometimes, I wish I was religious, so I had a god to thank for putting you on the other side of these arguments.

atheism is a religion dude , that is your belief structure

If you believe it Blackbelt, that's one thing.

hmmm lets see which one is worse

Christian : one life then an after life

Atheist : one life then , nothing , zilch, nada , meaning less existence


ill take my chances

 

[blackbelt1961]

put your ass in a church pew, does that make you a Christian !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1


you really are thick sometimes

 

[chansen]

put your ass in a church pew, does that make you a Christian !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1


you really are thick sometimes

In the context of me attending an Alpha course, if a non-Christian can't attend Alpha, I think I can spot why it's not winning many converts.


Okay, now I'm done. You get the last word.