Today I Found Out…

[Secular Sanity]

Maybe you don't bother to consider the feelings of your supposed friends over your own arrogant need to be right, or prove your intellect, or something. Wise people keep their own council because they aren't so insecure that they feel they have to prove themselves at every opportunity.

I'm not the one inviting them to a science study group, nor am I telling them that I'll think for them. I'm also not implying that they're evil. It's the other way around.  I'm not being aggressive, they are.

I don't care about the feelings of strangers, but I do care about those of my friends. I guess you don't make that distinction.  
Again, it's not about lying....merely keeping some opinions to myself (unless directly asked...and then finding a tactful way to express it).

Well, unlike you, I do care about the feeling of strangers, as well as my friends, but I also think it's important to stand up for yourself.

BTW, your friends seem to have quoted The Message Bible.

Most biblical scholars agree that the passage signifies life and soul—temporal life and eternal life.

I used humor and joked about them holding my wine glass to diffuse an uncomfortable situation. They laughed and did the same thing with their comment about sprinkling me with holy water and having it sizzle, and then I returned the favor. The only difference was that my comments were fair.  They were honest comments. Holy water is contaminated with fecal matter and their belief in an afterlife devalues 'life' itself. 

"How is that science working for you?"  Well, that was shallow and rude—very rude.  The "I’ll pray for you," was used in a divisive context.  It was a self-righteously defensive, big, fat 'fuck you'.  It's Christians who think that their view is superior and that their message should be given priority.

A Christian apologist; is that what you aspire to be?

[confused2]

I was reading a New Scientist (found in a skip) and one of the cover stories was about religion.
1)Belief in a deity is the normal human condition - any deity will do.
2)When it comes to choosing American Presidents the one that will be left at the bottom of the barrel is the atheist.
There was a long article which I was too lazy to read - I have every confidence that the two points made would have been shown to be well researched and (probably) correct.

[Secular Sanity]

I was reading a New Scientist (found in a skip) and one of the cover stories was about religion.
1)Belief in a deity is the normal human condition - any deity will do.
2)When it comes to choosing American Presidents the one that will be left at the bottom of the barrel is the atheist.
There was a long article which I was too lazy to read - I have every confidence that the two points made would have been shown to be well researched and (probably) correct.

Hmm…I couldn’t find it but I did find this.  

Are your beliefs normal?

Alice laughed. “There’s no use trying,” she said: “one can’t believe impossible things.”

“I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”

In Lewis Carroll’s day, believing impossible things would have been seen as a sign of mental imbalance. Today, we know that it is quite normal. Six before breakfast is probably about par for the course.

Belief is like a personal guidebook to reality: it tells us not just what is factually correct but also right and good. It fundamentally informs our behaviour. It would be nice to think these guidebooks are reliable and dispassionate, but it has become clear that they are not. Beliefs are largely a product of our fallible psychology, gut feeling, the company we keep and biological differences such as how easily we scare. It couldn’t be any other way: if we had to form our beliefs using direct experience and verification, we would struggle to get to grips with even the basics of physical reality.

That isn’t to say anything goes. Well-adjusted adults usually have a fairly stable, internally consistent belief system largely anchored in reality. That still leaves room for contradictions, magical thinking, the supernatural, the paranormal and all manner of other impossible things – not just before breakfast but all day, every day.

Research by Peter Halligan and colleagues at the University of Cardiff, UK, has found that most people hold at least one “delusion-like” belief.

Top Ten Delusions

1. Your body or part of your body is misshapen or ugly.
2. You are not in control of some of your actions.
3. You ae an exceptionally gifted person that others do not recognize.
4. Certain places are duplicated, i.e. are in two different locations at the same time.
5. People say or do things that contain special messages for you.
6. Certain people are out to harm and discredit you.
7. Your thoughts are not fully under your control.
8. There is another person who looks like you and acts like you.
9. Some people are duplicated. They are in two places at one time.
10. People you know disguise themselves as others to manipulate or influence you.

How do you distinguish between religious fervor and mental illness?

I’ll admit that I believed it when I was young but only because everyone else said there was one.  I never saw, heard, or felt anything, though.  China has more atheists but it’s still only like 49% or something like that.  

It’s kinda eerie, isn’t it, to think that most people believe in a deity? 

[confused2]

God, New Scientist - not sure but probably this one:-
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg2...believers/
I think I still have it - I could try to report any key points if you really really wanted me to read it.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg2...-religion/

[Secular Sanity]

I think I still have it - I could try to report any key points if you really really wanted me to read it.

No, that’s okay.  It looks like you can download the app and purchase single issues for only $1.99.  There’s another one that looks good, too.

The human universe: Exploring our place in space

It's still sort of eerie.  If I think about how many believers there are, it creeps me out.

Thanks, C2!

[Syne]

Maybe you don't bother to consider the feelings of your supposed friends over your own arrogant need to be right, or prove your intellect, or something. Wise people keep their own council because they aren't so insecure that they feel they have to prove themselves at every opportunity.

I'm not the one inviting them to a science study group, nor am I telling them that I'll think for them. I'm also not implying that they're evil. It's the other way around.  I'm not being aggressive, they are.

Aggressive?! Being invited to a Bible study or told someone will pray for you are "aggressive"?
Oh my! White-knuckling those pearls are we?

I don't care about the feelings of strangers, but I do care about those of my friends. I guess you don't make that distinction.  
Again, it's not about lying....merely keeping some opinions to myself (unless directly asked...and then finding a tactful way to express it).

Well, unlike you, I do care about the feeling of strangers, as well as my friends, but I also think it's important to stand up for yourself.

I'm sure your friends would be touched to know that you regard them the same as strangers.
Only insecure people feel an ever-present need to "stand up for yourself". Well-adjusted people know how to pick their fights.

BTW, your friends seem to have quoted The Message Bible.

Most biblical scholars agree that the passage signifies life and soul—temporal life and eternal life.

You care to support that claim?

... and their belief in an afterlife devalues 'life' itself.

Says the pro-choice girl.

"How is that science working for you?"  Well, that was shallow and rude—very rude.  The "I’ll pray for you," was used in a divisive context.  It was a self-righteously defensive, big, fat 'fuck you'.  It's Christians who think that their view is superior and that their message should be given priority.

Why? Are you insecure about your belief in the primacy of science? O_o
And I assume you think you've never been unduly self-righteous, defensive, or rude.
You obviously think your views are superior. Maybe you're just not self-aware enough to realize how your own views come across.

A Christian apologist; is that what you aspire to be?

Aspire? Where have I ever denied being a Christian apologist? O_o

It's still sort of eerie.  If I think about how many believers there are, it creeps me out.

You may be self-deluded enough to think your Christian friends don't pick up on this, but I assure you, they do.
Their advise to you, from the Message Bible, was more apt than it appears you will ever realize.

[Secular Sanity]

Aspire? Where have I ever denied being a Christian apologist?

It’s just a little nihilistic phase. Don’t worry. You’ll grow out of it.

[Syne]

Aspire? Where have I ever denied being a Christian apologist?

It’s just a little nihilistic phase.  Don’t worry.  You’ll grow out of it.

LOL! Defensive snark in lieu of any attempt at rebut.

You do know the difference between a Christian and a Christian apologist, right? O_o
You do know that a Christian apologist could also be a Buddhist apologist, etc., right? O_o

[Secular Sanity]

Aggressive?! Being invited to a Bible study or told someone will pray for you are "aggressive"?
Oh my! White-knuckling those pearls are we?

There’s a fine line between being aggressive and being assertive.  Continually pointing out that I’m hellbound is somewhat understandable. That’s what they believe.  If I thought someone was going to miss out on eternal bliss, and be tortured for eternity, I’d do the same thing.  According to them, you’d be right there with me, sweetie.

However, the "how’s that science working out for you," followed up with "I’ll pray for you," was a little much.  

Why? Are you insecure about your belief in the primacy of science?
And I assume you think you've never been unduly self-righteous, defensive, or rude.  
You obviously think your views are superior. Maybe you're just not self-aware enough to realize how your own views come across.

Can you imagine if the tables were turned?  They’re in the hospital or at a funeral—I walk in and say, "So, how’s those prayers working out for you?"

The double standards held by Christians, apologists, and accommodationists chaps my ass.  

I'm sure your friends would be touched to know that you regard them the same as strangers.

Are you trying to justify your apathetic patterns of behavior?

You do know the difference between a Christian and a Christian apologist, right?
You do know that a Christian apologist could also be a Buddhist apologist, etc., right?

You’re also a deist, right?

Like I said, it’s just a crutch stemming from your innate narcissism and anthropomorphism.

[Syne]

Aggressive?! Being invited to a Bible study or told someone will pray for you are "aggressive"?
Oh my! White-knuckling those pearls are we?

There’s a fine line between being aggressive and being assertive.  Continually pointing out that I’m hellbound is somewhat understandable. That’s what they believe.  If I thought someone was going to miss out on eternal bliss, and be tortured for eternity, I’d do the same thing.  According to them, you’d be right there with me, sweetie.

However, the "how’s that science working out for you," followed up with "I’ll pray for you," was a little much.  

"a little much" doesn't even scratch the surface of "aggressive". Maybe you're just that much more insecure and sensitive.

Why? Are you insecure about your belief in the primacy of science?
And I assume you think you've never been unduly self-righteous, defensive, or rude.  
You obviously think your views are superior. Maybe you're just not self-aware enough to realize how your own views come across.

Can you imagine if the tables were turned?  They’re in the hospital or at a funeral—I walk in and say, "So, how’s those prayers working out for you?"

The double standards held by Christians, apologists, and accommodationists chaps my ass.  

So...are you admitting that science holds the same place in your life as religion in theirs? O_o
Are you so naive as to think that they are mutually exclusive...discounting all the earliest scientific advances by religious people? O_o
Most rational and secure scientifically-minded people are confident to let actual science speak for itself. Only scientific illiterates, who think that popular consensus and appeals to authority count as science, would have any need to get defensive or take personal affront to criticism.

There's a double standard because atheists claim no personal belief is involved. Or...are you now claiming otherwise? O_o

I'm sure your friends would be touched to know that you regard them the same as strangers.

Are you trying to justify your apathetic patterns of behavior?

I have more consideration for my friends than strangers. For some bizarre reason, you think that normal people who differentiate between their friends and strangers are apathetic.
Narcissists also don't really differentiate friends from strangers...since all their relationships are simply about what they can get from others. O_o

You do know the difference between a Christian and a Christian apologist, right?
You do know that a Christian apologist could also be a Buddhist apologist, etc., right?

You’re also a deist, right?

Like I said, it’s just a crutch stemming from your innate narcissism and anthropomorphism.

Do you even know what deism is? O_o
Do you even realize that deism isn't anthropomorphic? O_o

"...deists tend to see God as an abstract logical principle rather than an anthropomorphic being with wants and desires and a burning urge to control what we..." - https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Deism#Diff...ristianity

But no, I'm not a deist. Nor do I ascribe anthropomorphic qualities to anything but humans. But as usually, you'd rather lob misguided ad hominems than attempt any real comprehension.

Grow up.