To be fair, the *stated* basic premise of Christianity is to love each other. Unfortunately there is a lot of small print.
Your religion. Page 3
Quote: Kevin Murphy @ October 30 2011, 8:28 PM BSTBecause they use this threat to get people to join their club, giving them the numbers to do stuff like help spread disease, discriminate against women, and hold up scientific research. Basically, helping make the world a worse place for all of us.
Which country are you talking about?
Quote: Kevin Murphy @ October 30 2011, 8:28 PM BSTIs it f**k.
Well that's another word for it.
Quote: Badge @ October 30 2011, 8:32 PM BSTTo be fair, the *stated* basic premise of Christianity is to love each other. Unfortunately there is a lot of small print.
Stated where?
See if you can find any reference to loving one another here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity#Beliefs
If it's such a core premise, you'd think Wikipedia might mention it, right?
Quote: Chappers @ October 30 2011, 8:34 PM BSTWhich country are you talking about?
Does it matter? If the creator of the universe cares about national boundaries when it comes to injustice and suffering, there's another reason to hate the c**t.
I can't really understand how anyone believes in God and all that stuff these days, especially if they're from a country like this one, it's just very odd. Like there must be something missing from those people. But if they really want to, as long as they don't go on about it, or try to hurt anyone, or convert anyone, then okay I suppose.
Sorry Kevin, I'm so New Testament. It's there, pretty large. But I am agreeing with you in the main.
To be fair, I'm taking a leap of faith within science. I haven't studied or researched a lot of the theories produced by science, I just have chosen to accept them. Of course, a lot of it can be proven easily with basic science experiments and/or mathematical equations, unlike the existence of any God that relies purely on faith.
Quote: Kevin Murphy @ October 30 2011, 8:37 PM BSTStated where?
See if you can find any reference to loving one another here:
John 13.34.
34 And now I give you a new commandment: love one another.
Quote: Kevin Murphy @ October 30 2011, 8:37 PM BSThttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity#Beliefs
If it's such a core premise, you'd think Wikipedia might mention it, right?
Come on now. You're talking about Wikipedia. When have you ever believed it?
Those people who weren't brought up with religion, then become religious as adults, that is weird. If you haven't had it beaten into you since childhood, how do you suddenly look at that stuff and think 'Yeah, that all sounds about right, sign me up'?? What is the evidence that turns you?!
Religion can inspire people to be kind and do lovely things. I suspect that nutters would find another way of being nutters if they needed to, although this is purely theoretical as lots of dreadful things have happily been done in the name of religion.
I'm quite Pratchett-ian in my view of Gods- I think that if they exist, there must be a fair few, otherwise it'd be lonely, and that's horrible. I don't think that God/s would mind people using the brain they were given to question or not believe though.
The thing that makes me incredibly angry is people who seem to think that the Bible (or any holy text) was faxed down from God, rather than being a collection of documents written and retold by different people over a very long period of time. To not allow that a bloke got a bit in who might've been a twat and a complete embarrassment to all the other believers at the time is a shame, and to pick out the bits that suit the individual's prejudices is abhorrent.
Hypocrisy is very ugly indeed, and people who use an ancient text to justify hateful views but at the same time are happy to use antibiotics, cars, etc, are a disgrace to both believers who genuinely try to live a loving and accepting life, and to the human race.
Quote: Chappers @ October 30 2011, 8:47 PM BSTJohn 13.34.
34 And now I give you a new commandment: love one another.
And they certainly do. 
Quote: Matthew Stott @ October 30 2011, 8:37 PM BSTI can't really understand how anyone believes in God and all that stuff these days, especially if they're from a country like this one, it's just very odd. Like there must be something missing from those people. But if they really want to, as long as they don't go on about it, or try to hurt anyone, or convert anyone, then okay I suppose.
But some really intelligent people are Christians - including many Scientists.
Quote: Badge @ October 30 2011, 8:38 PM BSTSorry Kevin, I'm so New Testament. It's there, pretty large. But I am agreeing with you in the main.
It's probably not as large as you think.
Assuming you're referring to the Sermon on the Mount, you'll find the "love your enemies" bit shortly after the bit about not marrying divorced women.
Jeez Kevin did a Christian hurt you or something?
Quote: Chappers @ October 30 2011, 8:48 PM BSTBut some really intelligent people are Christians - including many Scientists.
Being clever doesn't stop you doing odd or stupid things.
Ergo... are they as intelligent as you thought?