Simple question?

Quote: FrGamble

Actually with the countless testimony of others, the miracles, historical facts about Jesus and the history of the Church, logic, science, and philosophy

Obviously you're confused about what
the word 'evidence' means. That you've
talked yourself into thinking all of that
is real evidence shows how desperate
you are.

Quote:

as an atheist you are NOT just saying you lack belief.

Sure I am. There is no god and you
can't prove there is. Your opinion,
which is all you have, is not evidence.
If there was the god you describe,
this would be an entirely different
universe than the one we see and
live in. The Amazing Randi would
be giving a million dollars a day
to people proving the supernatural
exists. Instead he's never given it
away even once.

Quote:

Have you see some of these Baptist Churches, like Westboro Baptist, they are cults.

Baptists have just as large a cult
as the Catholics do, but like the
Catholics they're in complete
denial about it. They can clearly
see your Church is a cult, just like
you see them as a cult. Or the
Mormons, or Scientologists. The
thing about cults is, you're never
consider the one your in to be one.
Pretty funny, actually.

Quote: Evenbob

Obviously you're confused about what
the word 'evidence' means. That you've
talked yourself into thinking all of that
is real evidence shows how desperate
you are.

How again did you talk yourself into loving your wife or your political views?

Quote:

There is no god and you
can't prove there is.

Maybe the difference here we can agree on is that you believe there is no God and know you can't prove it. I believe there is a God and think I can prove it. Do you see the difference and agree with it?
Also before you say, "you can't prove a negative." Please remember that atheism claims a truth statement that there is absolutely no God. If it is true that you can't prove a negative than why do you claim that you can?

Quote:

If there was the god you describe,
this would be an entirely different
universe than the one we see and
live in.

The universe is exactly as if there was a God. It is ordered and follows strict rules. It is intelligible and understandable. It is beautiful. Without a God we would have chaos and things popping in and out of being without order, purpose, or insanely fine-tuned physical laws. How would you imagine the universe would be different if there was a God than the one we see and live in?

Quote:

They can clearly
see your Church is a cult, just like
you see them as a cult.

You misunderstand me. I do not at all think Baptists are a cult. I think in fact that calling other groups cults is another sign that you are in a cult. What cult do you belong to because you demonstrate to me a lot of the characteristics of a cult like person.

Quote: FrGamble

How again did you talk yourself into loving your wife or your political views?...

There it is in a nutshell. People have talked themselves into their positions, including this love you speak of.

In most cases it isn't a real thing, only imagined. And only while it's convenient.

Quote: FrGamble

.

I'm realizing this is all so boring to me.
We've covered these exact same
arguments over and over and over,
what's the point. I'll say this for the
fifteenth time and you'll say back to
me what you've said fifteen times.

You think there's a god and to me there
obviously isn't. You can't prove there
is, and I don't have to prove there isn't
because you can't prove there isn't.

I'll say this, though. With your low bar for
what 'evidence' is, I completely understand
how the Church killed so many witches.
Just an accusation was enough to get them
arrested, no other evidence required.
What's changed, you think think evidence
for a god is somebody claims to have talked
to him yesterday. That's all you need.

Some of us need a little more than that.

Quote: Evenbob

I'll say this for the
fifteenth time and you'll say back to
me what you've said fifteen times.

I think you will notice that you are the one saying over and over again the same false statements. It is as if you aren't really listening or thinking about these things. You keep saying 1+1=7 and I keep saying it is 2. I don't know how other to respond to you and you don't seem to say anything but the same nonsense.

Quote:

What's changed, you think think evidence
for a god is somebody claims to have talked
to him yesterday. That's all you need.

Some of us need a little more than that.

I would too! It is not just that one person claims something. It is I claim it and know it is true. I have personally experienced it. What is more so have billions of people for millennium. What is more my faith corresponds to my understanding of myself, my struggles and joys, my fears and delights. This same faith helps us to understand the human person and all of our needs and problems. What is more it is a historical fact that Jesus Christ has changed the world in impossible ways. What is more is that there are miracles. What is more is that science points to a ordered universe that is expanding and that it has an ultimate beginning. That life is impossibly fine tuned and so is nature. That philosophy shows us that reality requires the necessity of a non-contingent being or first cause.

Please remember that all you have is nothing! You have said this many times before. I know that none of the evidence I have given above means a hill of beans to you. However, you seem to feel just as strongly about God's non-existence as I do for His existence. Yet you have nothing at all to support you. You would kill a witch just because you wanted to, you wouldn't even require somebody to claim that she is one.
Some of us need a little more than that.

Quote: petroglyph

There it is in a nutshell. People have talked themselves into their positions, including this love you speak of.

In most cases it isn't a real thing, only imagined. And only while it's convenient.

And sometimes it is very much a real thing, especially when it is not convenient!

Quote: FrGamble

I think you will notice that you are the one saying over and over again the same false statements. It is as if you aren't really listening or thinking about these things.

LOL! Never mind, then..

I was watching Ray Donovan this week (Showtime series about a family from South Boston relocated to Los Angeles) with a subplot about abusive priests. They had a very sympathetic portrayal of the the Congregation of the Servants of the Paraclete. I've never heard of them.


Even though the series is quite adult (nudity and swearing) I think Father Gamble would enjoy watching it for it's even handed portrayal. You have to watch three seasons.

Quote: Wikipedia referring to real life event in the 1940's

While a member of the Holy Cross, Father Gerald Fitzgerald developed a vision of a religious community whose mission would be to serve the needs of priests and members of other religious orders who were struggling with issues such as pedophilia, alcohol and substance abuse problems. Fitzgerald recounted that he was inspired by an experience in which a destitute transient came to his door seeking assistance. Fitzgerald gave him assistance and was deeply moved when the transient said, as he was leaving, "I used to be a priest." Fitzgerald reported that he was stricken by the fact that the man had given up his vocation and that nothing had been done to rehabilitate him.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregation_of_the_Servants_of_the_Paraclete

Quote: Evenbob

LOL! Never mind, then..

You know for someone who dishes out insults like telling me I am mentally ill you seem so sensitive. I wonder if it is because you know you are wrong?

Quote: FrGamble

And sometimes it is very much a real thing, especially when it is not convenient!

Even then, it is almost always a choice. A choice to act, "in love".