Deacon Bill Mason - Right-Wing Fascist

[Psycho Circus]

I do believe, however, that mankind himself is a unique creation, imbued by God with in immortal soul that is crafted in the Creator's own image.  That is where our creative impulse comes from.  In nothing does man so much resemble his maker as in his desire to create for the sake of creating.

I've always been mystified with people's belief that "being made in God's image" means that he physically looks like us. Even as a child I believed that this meant we were given a creative mind, a soul, and a conscience.

I see that, if there were a creator (a god), then it would be further evolved than man, far removed from any mould for flesh and bone, but a being of pure energy or an alien force, that is sexless and of no fixed race. The only thing that freaks me out is, if a "god" exists, then who created it, who created its creator and so on, and so on.

[Doggett]

Have you yelled at him yet, Circus ?

[Psycho Circus]

Have you yelled at him yet, Circus ?

He wouldn't speak to me at the church and I recieved and email about 10mins ago in which he put: "I have no time to deal with a low-life Marxist".

[Doggett]

Have you yelled at him yet, Circus ?

He wouldn't speak to me at the church and I recieved and email about 10mins ago in which he put: "I have no time to deal with a low-life Marxist".

That's becuase he scared you could 'ave 'im in an argument.
What a coward.

[WilliamWeird1313]

The only thing that freaks me out is, if a "god" exists, then who created it, who created its creator and so on, and so on.

When I was but a wee lad, I went to Catholic school (kindergarten until 8th grade, in fact), and I actually remember in the 7th grade or so... asking that exact question.

They just looked at me cross, and that was it. Lol.

[Psycho Circus]

The only thing that freaks me out is, if a "god" exists, then who created it, who created its creator and so on, and so on.

When I was but a wee lad, I went to Catholic school (kindergarten until 8th grade, in fact), and I actually remember in the 7th grade or so... asking that exact question.

They just looked at me cross, and that was it. Lol.

I was raised Catholic and went to Catholic school but I became disillusioned with it all by age 14. They never liked you to ask questions or debate anything. I remember one guy got suspended and kicked out of religious studies for "asking too many questions". I also remember my religious studies teacher claiming that his class was more important that maths, science and english!! I don't know about you but praying doesn't sort out my tax rebate and I think the bible requires some level of literacy to understand. 

[Doggett]

praying doesn't sort out my tax rebate....

Oh, what you trying to claim back ?

[Psycho Circus]

praying doesn't sort out my tax rebate....

Oh, what you trying to claim back ?

Just an example, that's all. 

[WilliamWeird1313]

The only thing that freaks me out is, if a "god" exists, then who created it, who created its creator and so on, and so on.

When I was but a wee lad, I went to Catholic school (kindergarten until 8th grade, in fact), and I actually remember in the 7th grade or so... asking that exact question.

They just looked at me cross, and that was it. Lol.

I was raised Catholic and went to Catholic school but I became disillusioned with it all by age 14. They never liked you to ask questions or debate anything. I remember one guy got suspended and kicked out of religious studies for "asking too many questions". I also remember my religious studies teacher claiming that his class was more important that maths, science and english!! I don't know about you but praying doesn't sort out my tax rebate and I think the bible requires some level of literacy to understand. 

Yeah, much the same here. My school wasn't quite as, dare I say, fascistic, but by the time I was in high school I was an atheist. Nowadays, I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm 100% atheistic, but I'm not willing to pull out the agnostic card. I've occasionally described myself as a "lapsing atheist," but mostly I'm just mixed-up. Ever since my whole near-death medical emergency, ya know? It's like that old saying, about how there's now such thing as an atheist on a falling airplane. It's just kind of, in a crisis like that, it's almost instinctual to resort back to the beliefs that were instilled in you from childhood, even if on a conscious level you no longer believe them (or claim to believe them). And then that kind shook up my whole belief structure in general, and I'm not even sure what I am or what I believe. Aaaaaaaaand... I'm rambling. Didn't mean to do that. ANYWAY, what I was gonna say was... yeah, I see it a lot from people who went to Catholic school. It seems like the best way to KEEP your kids from Catholicism, is to send 'em to Catholic school. Most people seem to get burnt out from the nonstop exposure, disillusioned (like you), or just so freaking repressed that they out-and-out reject the whole thing and go hog wild when they get free of it.

[indianasmith]

Have you yelled at him yet, Circus ?

He wouldn't speak to me at the church and I recieved and email about 10mins ago in which he put: "I have no time to deal with a low-life Marxist".

I HATE it when people who claim to be Christians pull stuff like that!  Your questions are just as worthy of answer as anyone else's.  I will answer, or at least try to answer, any question about matters of faith you care to put to me, and I won't insult you for asking them!

[Allhallowsday]

This is my problem with these "young earth" folks.   Darwin's theory has nothing to do with the creation of life on this planet.  Those who claim to be people of faith spend too much time trying to make proof for the "how and when" of the creation instead of having faith in the "Who and why".  Evolution to me is blatantly evident all around doesn't conflict in anyway with the Biblical creations story .

I do believe, however, that mankind himself is a unique creation, imbued by God with in immortal soul that is crafted in the Creator's own image.  That is where our creative impulse comes from.  In nothing does man so much resemble his maker as in his desire to create for the sake of creating.

I've always been mystified with people's belief that "being made in God's image" means that he physically looks like us. Even as a child I believed that this meant we were given a creative mind, a soul, and a conscience.

Not sure you're being fair, Trekgeezer, and I don't agree with Indianasmith but understand what he's written is to describe the resemblance between us mortals and God the almighty, not our looks but our inclination.     I think what you've said, true enough, is apparent in what Indiana had said.   

[trekgeezer]

I don't know which part for sure is  unfair, but I do see a difference between people of real faith and those who only purport to have faith in order to push an agenda. 

[3mnkids]

I don't know which part for sure is  unfair, but I do see a difference between people of real faith and those who only purport to have faith in order to push an agenda. 

Yep. The kind the pray, go to church, practice what they preach..etc.  Then there are the other ones, the ones that use the bible like a sword to hurt those they think beneath them all the while not practicing what they preach. yep, not a fan of the second kind. 

[Rev. Powell]

Circus, my take is that your wasting your energy fighting this guy.  I used to get outraged by this stuff when I was younger.  After a decade or so of trying to argue with these sorts of folks, I realized that it's not worth it.  You can't change his opinion by using logic.   

He's making the same mistake, basically.  From the quotes you selected, he seems to believe that he has logical arguments, and once the unbelievers read them, they will be convinced of the error of their ways.  But he's really just preaching to the choir, there's nothing in that tract that's going to change anyone's opinion.

In my opinion, the worst crime the guy can be accused of is littering for stuffing unsolicited propaganda under your door. 

It's different on these boards: we're among friends, we know each other as real people, not anonymous folks behind closed doors.  We can carry on a civilized and respectful debate about these issues without too many hurt feelings.  Your Deacon doesn't sound interested in a debate where he might learn something new.  He's got all the answers already, poor guy.  Nothing to do about someone like that but just smile at him condescendingly, and move on with your life.     

[Psycho Circus]

Thanks Rev, and I know you're right. I just wanted to make a splash about it, because it did get to me and I know that other people may not be bothered or even worse, may listen to him. Darwinism in particular is a subject close to my heart, to see it taken out of context and used to make ghastly assumptions, well I couldn't bear it. I know I'm not going to get a decent discussion or rational answers from a man like that. I already feel he has made a fool of himself, I think he knows that too. So, I shall be the bigger man and not continue to let it bother me or to vent  in all the ways that I have tried to.