Never met him, would love to.

Omnedon comments on Sep 20, 2020:

That's incredibly divisive and the last thing this country needs. We need to find a way to come together more, not to divide more. I know that's easier said than done, but this diatribe does not help anything.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 20, 2020:

This has been going around for years...

Never met him, would love to.

TomMcGiverin comments on Sep 20, 2020:

I wish they would secede again and this time the North let them. It would improve the politics for the remaining states immensely.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 20, 2020:

@Gwendolyn2018 More than half of the ones that care enough to vote are...

This is some scary shit... [google.]

TheMiddleWay comments on Sep 20, 2020:

Seems like a good project but the link takes me to a paragraph of content from WoPo and a link to a policy statement by V-Dem... but nothing about said american downslide...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 20, 2020:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/09/18/united-states-is-backsliding-into-autocracy-under-trump-scholars-warn/?outputType=amp

This is some scary shit... [google.]

TheMiddleWay comments on Sep 20, 2020:

Seems like a good project but the link takes me to a paragraph of content from WoPo and a link to a policy statement by V-Dem... but nothing about said american downslide...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 20, 2020:

What the fudge? It works for me...

This is some scary shit... [google.]

TheMiddleWay comments on Sep 20, 2020:

"can't find page" Might be my connection or a bad link...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 20, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay @barjoe I think it's fixed.

Kiss your uterus goodbye, ladies. "Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Dies At 87 : NPR" [npr.org]

TomMcGiverin comments on Sep 19, 2020:

Not to worry. The SC won't overturn Roe v. Wade. They care too much about the Repubs being able to win elections and know that if they did, the Repubs would lose so many female voters that they would be doomed in future elections. Otherwise, they would have done it decades ago as they have had the ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 19, 2020:

@TomMcGiverin Absolutely, and those are the people that need protecting. Someone asked me and my buddy the other day why we were both vehemently anti-death penalty. "Even for someone like Jeffrey Dahmer?!" We had to explain to her, it's not about the Dahmers that we don't put to death, it's about the Brendan Dasseys that we do. It's about that 15 year-old girl in Alabama that got raped by her uncle who has no one on her side, no resources, no transportation, and currently or in the very near future, no clinic within hundreds of miles.

Kiss your uterus goodbye, ladies. "Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Dies At 87 : NPR" [npr.org]

TomMcGiverin comments on Sep 19, 2020:

Not to worry. The SC won't overturn Roe v. Wade. They care too much about the Repubs being able to win elections and know that if they did, the Repubs would lose so many female voters that they would be doomed in future elections. Otherwise, they would have done it decades ago as they have had the ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 19, 2020:

@TomMcGiverin Except that's not what's going to happen. They will chip away slowly until, while abortion may still be available in densly populated areas for a time, large swaths of the country that overwhelmingly vote Republican will lose the last abortion clinic in the state because of TRAP laws, or abortions will be denied on a case by case basis to individuals for various reasons, all while maintaining a political majority. The old "boiling frog" fable and all that...

Anti-Abortion Christians Celebrate Death Of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Cite ‘Unborn Babies’ | Michael ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Sep 19, 2020:

I guess that means we are entitled to celebrate Trump's death whenever it may occur in the future. I know I celebrated both the deaths of Reagan and Thatcher, two of the most evil leaders in my lifetime. I also look forward to the death of Dick Cheney.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 19, 2020:

What about the death of the most prolific mass murderer of all time: Mother Teresa?

Potential SCOTUS Pick Amy Coney Barrett Has a Church/State Separation Problem | Hemant Mehta | ...

CuddyCruiser comments on Sep 19, 2020:

She may very well so. But it’s enshrined in the constitution. She cannot change that. And personally I cannot understand all the hysteria regarding “Roe Vs Wade” The US Supreme Court has had the same makeup.........5 to 4 Conservative / Liberal for over 50 years. If they really were going ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 19, 2020:

@Lorajay * Keeping * it overturned...

Potential SCOTUS Pick Amy Coney Barrett Has a Church/State Separation Problem | Hemant Mehta | ...

Paul4747 comments on Sep 19, 2020:

Trump may well try and nominate a Justice in the last 6 weeks prior to the election, but it would be the height of hypocrisy for the Republicans in the Senate, particularly Mitch McConnell, who spent years blocking President Obama's nominees, to hold hearings and seat a Trump nominee now. After the ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 19, 2020:

@Paul4747 This is what they have been working towards for decades. Redrawing districts, winning seats, and packing courts. Also, Trump is far from lame duck at this point. So no part of me thinks the Republicans will have much trouble getting this last (next?) pick confirmed.

Kiss your uterus goodbye, ladies. "Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Dies At 87 : NPR" [npr.org]

TomMcGiverin comments on Sep 19, 2020:

Not to worry. The SC won't overturn Roe v. Wade. They care too much about the Repubs being able to win elections and know that if they did, the Repubs would lose so many female voters that they would be doomed in future elections. Otherwise, they would have done it decades ago as they have had the ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 19, 2020:

@TomMcGiverin It's a theory. I don't buy it, though. Neither do 205 Republican members of Congress who aren't afraid of your theory as a result of overturning Roe... "More Than 200 Republicans Urge Supreme Court to Weigh Overturning Roe v. Wade - The New York Times" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/02/us/politics/republicans-abortion-supreme-court.html

Kiss your uterus goodbye, ladies. "Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Dies At 87 : NPR" [npr.org]

TomMcGiverin comments on Sep 19, 2020:

Not to worry. The SC won't overturn Roe v. Wade. They care too much about the Repubs being able to win elections and know that if they did, the Repubs would lose so many female voters that they would be doomed in future elections. Otherwise, they would have done it decades ago as they have had the ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 19, 2020:

@TomMcGiverin So women, who care so much about their reproductive rights that they'd become single issue voters to regain their rights aren't concerned enough about that single issue to vote to protect them?? That also doesn't make sense to me.

Kiss your uterus goodbye, ladies. "Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Dies At 87 : NPR" [npr.org]

TomMcGiverin comments on Sep 19, 2020:

Not to worry. The SC won't overturn Roe v. Wade. They care too much about the Repubs being able to win elections and know that if they did, the Repubs would lose so many female voters that they would be doomed in future elections. Otherwise, they would have done it decades ago as they have had the ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 19, 2020:

In the 14 cases related to abortion from Roe in 1973 on, the court has repeatedly upheld a woman's right to choose. There have been several 5-4 splits on follow up cases over the years. Are you suggesting that in those cases there was at least one Justice that was intentionally siding with the liberals so that the challenge to Roe would fail just so that Republicans in other branches of government could win elections to get judges to overturn Roe? That doesn't make any sense. If they could get seats and judges by dangling the carrot of overturning, why couldn't they just overturn and then dangle the carrot of * keeping * enough judges so it doesn't swing back.

Will Democrats hold to Power and Reverse Trump's Damage?

CourtJester comments on Sep 16, 2020:

I’m always interested to hear about the damage that Trump has done.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 18, 2020:

@CourtJester You're right, Presidents Pelosi, Schumer, and Biden should have instituted mandatory mask orders. Also, I'm sure those three other Presidents had access to the same intelligence that Trump did that let him know, admit to Bob Woodward, and then lie about to the American public how much deadlier and infectious Covid is than influenza. Oh wait, they weren't all the president with the same access to information, just Trump was. Are you kidding me? Even if they did have the same info, that's the best defense you can muster? * "Hey, tell me one bad thing Trump did." * "He did these awful things" * "Yeah? So? Other people did bad stuff too." * The truth is the guy you like is an awful, dangerous sociopath, and you can't actually argue against that, only say other people are bad too like children do. That, my friend is a fallacious argument in the category Tu Quoque. Congratulations on your loss.

Will Democrats hold to Power and Reverse Trump's Damage?

CourtJester comments on Sep 16, 2020:

I’m always interested to hear about the damage that Trump has done.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 18, 2020:

@CourtJester Here's * a tiny bit of * the damage... https://youtu.be/VWBCQNTsBOg

Will Democrats hold to Power and Reverse Trump's Damage?

CourtJester comments on Sep 16, 2020:

I’m always interested to hear about the damage that Trump has done.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 17, 2020:

@St-Sinner "Republicans had seized the opportunities and painted the whole Democratic Party communist and socialist" I'm not saying you're wrong about their ability to brand, but it's just sad that so many people are so fuckin' dumb they don't know the difference between democratic socialist, socialist, and communist that they create a voting block that needs to be catered to.

Will Democrats hold to Power and Reverse Trump's Damage?

CourtJester comments on Sep 16, 2020:

I’m always interested to hear about the damage that Trump has done.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 17, 2020:

@MyTVC15 I didn't mean that to respond to you, too. It did it automatically and I didn't notice to delete it. You said exactly what I said before I even had a chance to make that comment (which I wrote before finishing the thread, my bad).

Will Democrats hold to Power and Reverse Trump's Damage?

CourtJester comments on Sep 16, 2020:

I’m always interested to hear about the damage that Trump has done.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 17, 2020:

@MyTVC15, @St-Sinner * Democratic * socialist. I don't know why that scares so many people, we have been living with democratic socialist policies forever.

Will Democrats hold to Power and Reverse Trump's Damage?

CourtJester comments on Sep 16, 2020:

I’m always interested to hear about the damage that Trump has done.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 17, 2020:

@MyTVC15 You're talking about a 4 party system which is impossible without proportional representation. Winner take all systems will ALWAYS be two parties. As soon as a third tries to form, the party it is more similar to will likely continue to lose until something changes.

Will Democrats hold to Power and Reverse Trump's Damage?

Satyrnine comments on Sep 16, 2020:

We'll need the Senate more than the White House. If we get a two-thirds majority in both, we can run roughshod over any president.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 17, 2020:

@St-Sinner For sure. Can't win if you don't cheat or at least play dirty like they do. Time to roll around in the mud, cause this losing high road shit is getting old.

Will Democrats hold to Power and Reverse Trump's Damage?

Satyrnine comments on Sep 16, 2020:

We'll need the Senate more than the White House. If we get a two-thirds majority in both, we can run roughshod over any president.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 16, 2020:

That's pretty much impossible. Democrats would have to win all 12 of their races and 21-22 of the 23 Republican seats up for election as well. Then they would have to have zero members break ranks on any vote.

I had an interesting notion.

ChestRockfield comments on Sep 16, 2020:

If I had to bet, I'd think most of them believe the stupid shit they espouse. And to be honest, it would probably be worse if they didn't and were willfully touting such idiocy.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 16, 2020:

@Cyklone Oh, oops, I was referring to all the nonsense (Covid, racism, flat Earth, young Earth, etc.). My bad.

I had an interesting notion.

ChestRockfield comments on Sep 16, 2020:

If I had to bet, I'd think most of them believe the stupid shit they espouse. And to be honest, it would probably be worse if they didn't and were willfully touting such idiocy.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 16, 2020:

@Cyklone You think the anti-vaxxers really know vaccines are safe and effective, but they pretend otherwise and withhold them from their children? You think Christian Scientists withhold medical treatments from themselves and their children knowing they will die without them, but also knowing god isn't going to save them? You think JWs refuse blood products that could save their child's life knowing that god doesn't actually exist and refusing blood doesn't actually help you get into a heaven that doesn't exist either? You think members of religious cults hold deadly venomous snakes even though they know they aren't "bathed in the blood of Jesus" and that if they get bit they will die? I could go all day. There are as million examples of things * members * of groups do that are so crazy, it's next to impossible to think many, if any of them are pretending. Religious * leaders * on the other hand I could see, but there's generally huge incentives, financial and otherwise, for them to lie.

Can an atheist be a proud Secular Christian?

ChestRockfield comments on Sep 5, 2020:

I heard that Hitler was a stickler for dining etiquette and table manners, so since many learned those habits in that context, I suppose we should call them polite or dignified Nazis. You can use shorthand like this, but you're going to waste more time on all the invited questions than it's ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 13, 2020:

@Admin Oh, and is the quote box bug fix in the works?

Can an atheist be a proud Secular Christian?

ChestRockfield comments on Sep 5, 2020:

I heard that Hitler was a stickler for dining etiquette and table manners, so since many learned those habits in that context, I suppose we should call them polite or dignified Nazis. You can use shorthand like this, but you're going to waste more time on all the invited questions than it's ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 13, 2020:

@Admin I know you're just kidding, but to be fair, the article kinda stated the opposite of that. > The concepts of "love your enemies", "turn the other cheek", and "take care of others outside your tribe (good Samaritan)", while obviously not exclusive to Christianity, were taught to me in a Christian context. So even if table manners were common place, the Hitler youth that learned them in that context... I was mostly joking, but kinda making a little bit of a point.

Respecting ones choice

AnneWimsey comments on Sep 10, 2020:

They get points in heaven for conversions....most religions use a form of free labor with that incentive.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 10, 2020:

I have a bunch of half-filled punch cards for a free sin if anyone wants them.

Respecting ones choice

Spongebob comments on Sep 10, 2020:

It's like sending dick pics. I think mine looks great and assume that you would too.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 10, 2020:

Ah ha ha ha. I don't know what would be more offensive to me. Honestly, I think I'd rather get the dick pics; you immediately know what it is and can disregard it.

As far as I can tell, atheists are the most depressed and negative-minded people on this site.

GROG comments on Sep 7, 2020:

I think you misjudge. What in hell is the difference between agnostic and atheist? I like Bart Ehrman's bit on the difference. "Agnostics think that atheists are just arrogant agnostics, and atheists think that agnostics are just wimpy atheists." It seems you express a bit of an arrogant tag ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 9, 2020:

@Storm1752 Agnostic and Atheist are not mutually exclusive.

As far as I can tell, atheists are the most depressed and negative-minded people on this site.

AnneWimsey comments on Sep 7, 2020:

Who says things are "bad"? Sounds like you are reading Your negativity into others!

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 9, 2020:

There are a lot of people blocking other people. There very well could be a comment your can't see that makes this exchange make sense. Maybe blocks aren't the best policy?

Church Leader Who Blamed Coronavirus on Gay Marriage Contracts COVID-19

OldMetalHead comments on Sep 8, 2020:

Oh, fuck him! Well, maybe not, he has Covid-19 🤣

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 8, 2020:

Plus, if you bang him it'll just cause another virus.

It really really saddens me knowing that many children were raised in a household where religion was...

1EarthLovingGal comments on Sep 8, 2020:

It saddens me as well. Both of my parents were atheist and they still let me go with my Nana and my great aunt to church. I loved church as a young child and am happy that I got to spend those moments with them. However, I wish it would have been brought to me with the approach that it’s not the ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 8, 2020:

@1EarthLovingGal Yes, I'm kinda surprised your parents let people try to indoctrinate you. That's probably pretty unusual. If you have a chance to watch that whole documentary, it's really eye-opening. Right after the part where she's taking about other religions putting hand grenades in their children's hands she talks about Christian youth in the US be dedicated enough to Jesus to lay down their lives. I found a full copy online. "Jesus Camp on Vimeo" https://vimeo.com/38531263

From a talk on Forgiveness [agnostic.com]

AgeofReason comments on Sep 8, 2020:

I also think grudges can serve a purpose, too. Once bitten, twice shy.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 8, 2020:

@AgeofReason It doesn't happen all the time, but when it does it's sweeter than Yoo-hoo. Anyway, you don't need to think about or be consumed by a grudge. It can just sit quietly in your memory without a thought for months or years until an opportunity arises.

From a talk on Forgiveness [agnostic.com]

AgeofReason comments on Sep 8, 2020:

I also think grudges can serve a purpose, too. Once bitten, twice shy.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 8, 2020:

@MissKathleen There are probably billions, even trillions of people that are living proof. People who feel they've been wronged and if given the opportunity, will seize a chance a righting it. It's what the phrase "Revenge is a dish best served cold" is all about.

Does being an agnostic mean that you’re on the wall or you lack acceptance?

PabloNeruda comments on May 19, 2020:

I'll go for a vodka with ice! agnostic /aɡˈnɒstɪk/ noun a person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God Isn't this enough 'lack of belief' for you? Punctuation in your text shows exactly what you said about not 'accepting' the dictionaries ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 8, 2020:

@PabloNeruda Can I be the ass that says 'starting with two vodkas'?

Does being an agnostic mean that you’re on the wall or you lack acceptance?

PabloNeruda comments on May 19, 2020:

I'll go for a vodka with ice! agnostic /aɡˈnɒstɪk/ noun a person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God Isn't this enough 'lack of belief' for you? Punctuation in your text shows exactly what you said about not 'accepting' the dictionaries ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 8, 2020:

@K9Kohle789 Were you part of that discussion with me and someone else about flavored vodka? Ever try Whipped flavored vodka in your peach tea (or in some orange soda)?

Does being an agnostic mean that you’re on the wall or you lack acceptance?

FynTul comments on May 19, 2020:

My robot is agnostic. He thinks I am beyond his comprehension. He knows I am real but I haven't taught him about lies yet. So he is way too honest to interact with religious people. He'd have a meltdown. - Grin. I like the term but none really apply to me other than scientist. I know or I don't ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 8, 2020:

Do you make any statements of belief without knowledge though?

From a talk on Forgiveness [agnostic.com]

AgeofReason comments on Sep 8, 2020:

I also think grudges can serve a purpose, too. Once bitten, twice shy.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 8, 2020:

@AgeofReason If that brings you peace of mind, that's great for you. For a lot of people, myself included, it would bring more turmoil knowing people were getting away with being assholes, probably because I know Karma doesn't exist and it's up to people to right wrongs themselves.

From a talk on Forgiveness [agnostic.com]

AgeofReason comments on Sep 8, 2020:

I also think grudges can serve a purpose, too. Once bitten, twice shy.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 8, 2020:

@MissKathleen Carrying a grudge and being able to civilly interact with someone.

From a talk on Forgiveness [agnostic.com]

AgeofReason comments on Sep 8, 2020:

I also think grudges can serve a purpose, too. Once bitten, twice shy.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 8, 2020:

@MissKathleen Those are not mutually exclusive.

It really really saddens me knowing that many children were raised in a household where religion was...

1EarthLovingGal comments on Sep 8, 2020:

It saddens me as well. Both of my parents were atheist and they still let me go with my Nana and my great aunt to church. I loved church as a young child and am happy that I got to spend those moments with them. However, I wish it would have been brought to me with the approach that it’s not the ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 8, 2020:

@1EarthLovingGal The people taking you to church weren't. Those are the people I was talking about. For sure there'd be less religious people, which is the exact opposite thing the religions want, which is why most religions prioritize proselytization and indoctrination of youth. https://youtu.be/wiYFRmNuz9k

It really really saddens me knowing that many children were raised in a household where religion was...

Captain_Feelgood comments on Sep 8, 2020:

I'm guessing most of us here grew up with some sort of religious influence,,, and yet we all grew out of it,, grew to realize it's faults and how to deal with it... Otherwise, we wouldn't be here... CAN I GET AN AMEN!! 😁👍

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 8, 2020:

There are a few believers here, too...

It really really saddens me knowing that many children were raised in a household where religion was...

1EarthLovingGal comments on Sep 8, 2020:

It saddens me as well. Both of my parents were atheist and they still let me go with my Nana and my great aunt to church. I loved church as a young child and am happy that I got to spend those moments with them. However, I wish it would have been brought to me with the approach that it’s not the ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 8, 2020:

The problem is that it's likely most of the people that indoctrinate children to believe these things literally believe they are doing something that will save that child's soul from eternal damnation. Whether the thing a person believes to be true is actually true is essentially irrelevant. They wouldn't be able to make any statements about how there are other religions they should learn about without risking everything (in their mind). Sucks, but that's the way it works.

Dave Daubenmire: Refusing to Serve Me Because I Won’t Wear a Mask is Like Racism | Beth ...

K9Kohle789 comments on Sep 7, 2020:

As written in story: "Being Black is not something you choose. Being ignorant and dangerous is. If Daubenmire refuses to wear a mask, then he’s putting everyone else in danger". Hope he enjoys karma and he gets the virus.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 8, 2020:

@Fernapple The problem is that it's not a jump from correlation to causation. People who believe in karma don't put any time constraints on it. Because of this, I try to explain that the theory of Barma, the theory [I made up] that people get punished for good deeds and rewarded for bad ones. I explain that they she equally plausible, but that Barma may actually have more anecdotal evidence to support it. That's when they usually write me off and walk away. And don't even get me started on people believing in "black clouds" and stuff.

Dave Daubenmire: Refusing to Serve Me Because I Won’t Wear a Mask is Like Racism | Beth ...

K9Kohle789 comments on Sep 7, 2020:

As written in story: "Being Black is not something you choose. Being ignorant and dangerous is. If Daubenmire refuses to wear a mask, then he’s putting everyone else in danger". Hope he enjoys karma and he gets the virus.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 8, 2020:

@Fernapple I didn't think you were serious. But you'd be shocked how many people do believe in it. Especially at the hospital. It's truly disturbing how so many highly educated people are crazy superstitious.

Dave Daubenmire: Refusing to Serve Me Because I Won’t Wear a Mask is Like Racism | Beth ...

K9Kohle789 comments on Sep 7, 2020:

As written in story: "Being Black is not something you choose. Being ignorant and dangerous is. If Daubenmire refuses to wear a mask, then he’s putting everyone else in danger". Hope he enjoys karma and he gets the virus.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 7, 2020:

@Fernapple I assume we're joking about the Karma, but I hope that fuck stick gets Covid and dies, too.

How nice! Or not.

Triphid comments on Sep 7, 2020:

With my rather acerbic and sarcastic sense of humour I'd be immediately be seeking out something just a little risque and slightly explicit looking in the way of a smallish statue to place on the desk as an ornament. When I was working on the N.S.W. State Railways back in the mid-1980's we were ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 7, 2020:

How was I the first to like this? This shit is hilarious.

Can an atheist be a proud Secular Christian?

skado comments on Sep 3, 2020:

Yes, and I even think an atheist can be a proud Christian without even qualifying the status as secular. What, after all, does sacred mean, if not that to which we attribute the highest value? And what does secular mean if not mundane? What other pair of adjectives are better suited to ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 7, 2020:

@skado Honestly, I don't see evolutionary mismatch, especially as it pertains to religion, to be of actual concern for humans. Mankind has been actively denying natural selection for decades and have been actively working on our own destruction in other ways for even longer. Seems silly to think a process that we are "over" is more dangerous to us than all of the other problems we've created for ourselves. Add to that the fact that humans have no control over what they believe (regardless of whether people believe they do or not) and you have a problem not worth worrying about because it's not under our control. I'm sure a lot of people will disagree with that assessment, but that's my two cents.

Can an atheist be a proud Secular Christian?

skado comments on Sep 3, 2020:

Yes, and I even think an atheist can be a proud Christian without even qualifying the status as secular. What, after all, does sacred mean, if not that to which we attribute the highest value? And what does secular mean if not mundane? What other pair of adjectives are better suited to ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 7, 2020:

@Lorajay I'm with you on this. There are a lot of loosy goosy definitions of things going around here and across the internet. Nothing I can really do about it, but I like my words to mean something and convey information. If 'Christian' can be used to define one who believes in * some * of the teachings of Christianity, even without the belief in the divinity of Jesus Christ, it seems like you can stretch that to include pretty much anything. Then, the only way you'd know if someone is a Christian is if they self-identify, and when people self-identify, you have no idea what that even means because there's no standard definition.

If Trump thinks this will all be over soon he best go out and buy himself some art, he likes ...

ChestRockfield comments on Sep 6, 2020:

"Is This a 1962 Vision of Life in 2022?" https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/singoletta-future-car/

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 6, 2020:

@Austin-Cambridge More importantly, we know that there was propagation of false information.

Can an atheist be a proud Secular Christian?

Lorajay comments on Sep 3, 2020:

Secular is defined as values which are without any religious basis. Calling someone a secular Christian is like calling someone an ethical bank robber. The universal value of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you is present in almost every known religion. I still remember and ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 6, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay NO YOU DIDN'T!! I'm not disagreeing just to disagree. You just said: . . . . > the actions are the same, but the intent is different.

Can an atheist be a proud Secular Christian?

Lorajay comments on Sep 3, 2020:

Secular is defined as values which are without any religious basis. Calling someone a secular Christian is like calling someone an ethical bank robber. The universal value of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you is present in almost every known religion. I still remember and ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 6, 2020:

@Lorajay A lot of people disagree with me on that, so I'm not surprised. I believe all people (including children) are intrinsically bad. People are selfish and greedy, and need only the right motivation and opportunity to reveal it. The more advantageous the bad act is and/or the less risk involved, the more likely any given person will take advantage. The "less badness" of a person is judged (by me) by how great the advantages and low the risk has to be before it motivates a bad act.

Can an atheist be a proud Secular Christian?

Lorajay comments on Sep 3, 2020:

Secular is defined as values which are without any religious basis. Calling someone a secular Christian is like calling someone an ethical bank robber. The universal value of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you is present in almost every known religion. I still remember and ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 6, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay But the intent and actions * aren't * the same. The intent of a bank robber is to steal money, the intent of the ethical version is to test security to defend against theft. The actions of a bank robber are to remove money, most often at the threat of harm or death, and keep that money as a source of income. The actions of the ethical version probably involve some similar characteristics, but without the permanent removal of funds for personal gain.

Can an atheist be a proud Secular Christian?

Lorajay comments on Sep 3, 2020:

Secular is defined as values which are without any religious basis. Calling someone a secular Christian is like calling someone an ethical bank robber. The universal value of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you is present in almost every known religion. I still remember and ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 6, 2020:

@FearlessFly Thank you for that info. Any thoughts on calling someone a bank robber when their job is ethical-bank-robber?

Can an atheist be a proud Secular Christian?

Lorajay comments on Sep 3, 2020:

Secular is defined as values which are without any religious basis. Calling someone a secular Christian is like calling someone an ethical bank robber. The universal value of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you is present in almost every known religion. I still remember and ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 6, 2020:

How about it @FearlessFly @Fernapple? Can you figure this out for us?

Can an atheist be a proud Secular Christian?

Lorajay comments on Sep 3, 2020:

Secular is defined as values which are without any religious basis. Calling someone a secular Christian is like calling someone an ethical bank robber. The universal value of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you is present in almost every known religion. I still remember and ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 6, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay Nope. There must have been an update today because the reply button swirls now. @Admin aware of the quote box glitch? Also, I missed the magazine thing. How does that all work? Do you have to submit something to be an article? And is there a list that shows how to make all the text styles like bold and strike through?

Can an atheist be a proud Secular Christian?

creative51 comments on Sep 3, 2020:

Secular Christian is an oxymoron. Sort like being a sensitive murderer.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 6, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay I think this is why we were having a miscommunication: > and thus taking a shit is, to me, a secular activity and, by extension, the pope is at those moments a Secular Christian This is why I said if the Pope can be considered a secular Christian, everyone can be considered a secular whatever they are, because * you * said the Pope could be a secular Christian at any given moment he is doing something secular, which, by your admission, is most of the time for most people.

Can an atheist be a proud Secular Christian?

Lorajay comments on Sep 3, 2020:

Secular is defined as values which are without any religious basis. Calling someone a secular Christian is like calling someone an ethical bank robber. The universal value of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you is present in almost every known religion. I still remember and ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 6, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay So then he's * not * a bank robber he's an ethical-bank-robber. We are having major communication issues this evening. Look at what you said in your reply. > Yes, I am adding a word that necessarily changes the whole thing and > Hence adding ethical in front of bank-robbing modifies bank robbing Does it modify it, or does it necessarily change the whole thing? 'Cold' * modifies * soda, 'empty' completely changes it.

.

TheMiddleWay comments on Sep 1, 2020:

Interestingly I'm blocked by Len, can still can see his article, but cannot see his replies to you and, I suspect, if I were to post a reply would not be able to see his replies to me (wonder if he would be able to see my replies at all) . Hmmm... this may be another chink in the armor of blocks ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 5, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay I mean, he kind of * was * calling me a moron. If I told you your were wrong, but that I wasn't going to explain why because you wouldn't get it, that wouldn't be read by you as my intent being you're too stupid to understand? If the words are less important than the intent, that seems the same to me. We can agree to disagree, but I think if one is enforceable, the other should be, too. If not, then you have the euphemism treadmill problem again.

Can an atheist be a proud Secular Christian?

creative51 comments on Sep 3, 2020:

Secular Christian is an oxymoron. Sort like being a sensitive murderer.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 5, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay No, but if the Pope can be a secular Christian because he does things in a secular way, then EVERYBODY can be a secular whatever because they do things in a secular way. I don't understand what I'm saying that is not making sense to you...

.

TheMiddleWay comments on Sep 1, 2020:

Interestingly I'm blocked by Len, can still can see his article, but cannot see his replies to you and, I suspect, if I were to post a reply would not be able to see his replies to me (wonder if he would be able to see my replies at all) . Hmmm... this may be another chink in the armor of blocks ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 5, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay See, but now you're starting to sound like me. If it's more about the breakdown of discourse and not about name-calling, then a claim of "you're wrong, but I'm not going to tell you why because I don't think you can handle it" is just as egregious.

Can an atheist be a proud Secular Christian?

creative51 comments on Sep 3, 2020:

Secular Christian is an oxymoron. Sort like being a sensitive murderer.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 5, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay No, but if a Christian (or the Pope as you used in your example) can be secular because they do some/most things in a secular way, then EVERYTHING is secular because most other people will do a similar number or more things that are secular. Therefore, if everyone can be a secular ________ than the word loses all meaning because it wouldn't differentiate anyone from anyone else.

.

TheMiddleWay comments on Sep 1, 2020:

Interestingly I'm blocked by Len, can still can see his article, but cannot see his replies to you and, I suspect, if I were to post a reply would not be able to see his replies to me (wonder if he would be able to see my replies at all) . Hmmm... this may be another chink in the armor of blocks ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 5, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay "He's a cockwomble" Rather innocuous. Nothing I'd ever report. I assume you would? Regardless, this is the euphemism treadmill I was talking about. If you police people out of saying one thing, there will just be a new worst thing people say. If you ban that another thing will take its place. Does everyone have such virgin ears and sensibilities that they need a sterilized environment to be able to survive?

.

TheMiddleWay comments on Sep 1, 2020:

Interestingly I'm blocked by Len, can still can see his article, but cannot see his replies to you and, I suspect, if I were to post a reply would not be able to see his replies to me (wonder if he would be able to see my replies at all) . Hmmm... this may be another chink in the armor of blocks ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 5, 2020:

MiddleWay comin' 'round to ol' Jeff's way of thinkin'! 😝

Can an atheist be a proud Secular Christian?

skado comments on Sep 3, 2020:

Yes, and I even think an atheist can be a proud Christian without even qualifying the status as secular. What, after all, does sacred mean, if not that to which we attribute the highest value? And what does secular mean if not mundane? What other pair of adjectives are better suited to ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 5, 2020:

@skado Thanks. Yeah, take your time. I just really wasn't following where you were going.

Sex, Politics & Religion

FearlessFly comments on Aug 31, 2020:

In terms of Critical Thinking, how is an "old British adage" a good rationale for defending anything ?

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 5, 2020:

@FearlessFly Oh, I can't read anything he said. I just mean he's obviously being troll-like or at least breaking guidelines, yet he's the one that blocked me. Don't know why my facepalm emoji adds a male symbol all the time.

Can an atheist be a proud Secular Christian?

Lorajay comments on Sep 3, 2020:

Secular is defined as values which are without any religious basis. Calling someone a secular Christian is like calling someone an ethical bank robber. The universal value of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you is present in almost every known religion. I still remember and ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 5, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay Ethical hacking may be a thing, no one said it wasn't. But I think her point was that robbing banks is not ethical. And "ethical bank robbing" isn't robbing a bank any more than killing someone in virtual reality is murder. You're adding a word to it which necessarily changes what the thing is. If I add 'vegan' in front of 'cheeseburgers' we're no longer talking about the same thing we were before.

Can an atheist be a proud Secular Christian?

skado comments on Sep 3, 2020:

Yes, and I even think an atheist can be a proud Christian without even qualifying the status as secular. What, after all, does sacred mean, if not that to which we attribute the highest value? And what does secular mean if not mundane? What other pair of adjectives are better suited to ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 5, 2020:

@skado I'm sorry, I read this several times and I can't figure out what you're saying here. > A thing is what it is, not what it is popularly perceived to be. And an awareness of its origins can help us see more clearly what its real essence still is. I'll give you the first part. That's not much different than what I said, i.e. something is what it is and not something else. But I disagree that knowing something's origins changes its 'real essence'. The thing still is what it is, as we seem to already agree. > But if popular opinion of a biological necessity morphs into a belief that it is only a bad idea, it doesn’t make the biological necessity go away. True. If everyone thought it was bad to drink water it doesn't make water any less necessary for life. However, if the implication is that religion is a biological necessity, now (remember, if it morphed, it may no longer be necessary), I'm going to need to see some evidence of that. > An awareness of the historical trajectory of public opinion Again, I don't see how what people thought of religion throughout time has any relevance on what religion is now. > scientific underpinnings of religion I'll need you to explain what this means and the relevance of it to the discussion. > work hand in hand to illuminate the significant role it plays in counterbalancing the evolutionary mismatch caused by the invention of agriculture. It being religion, I assume. So opinion + scientific underpinnings illuminate the role religion plays in balancing out a mismatch between what? Man and all other organisms? If I managed to get that right, how is that important, or at all a mitigating factor in how terrible religion has been and still is for mankind (and the planet at large it could be argued). > What is popularly understood as religion today is in some ways nearly the diametric opposite of what it needs to be in order to continue fulfilling its biological purpose as counterbalance. I'm obviously way off base understanding your point. I'll need you to clarify. > The original (historical) purpose of religion isn’t obsolete. How so?

Sex, Politics & Religion

FearlessFly comments on Aug 31, 2020:

In terms of Critical Thinking, how is an "old British adage" a good rationale for defending anything ?

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 5, 2020:

@FearlessFly Yet he blocked me. 🤦‍♂️

Can an atheist be a proud Secular Christian?

redbai comments on Sep 3, 2020:

I think if you had non-Christian parents they would have found other stories and phrases to instill the same values that you have now, you know, like the billions of families that aren't Christian that find a way to do it anyway. The idea that the Bible is a way of teaching morals and ethics or how...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 5, 2020:

And maybe more importantly, the parents used their own moral compass to decide what in the Bible was something they should teach while likely leaving out all that inconvenient shit about killing your children or selling them into sexual slavery.

Can an atheist be a proud Secular Christian?

creative51 comments on Sep 3, 2020:

Secular Christian is an oxymoron. Sort like being a sensitive murderer.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 5, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay @Fernapple I think this is an argument about semantics here. Is a Christian who does some things in a secular way a * Secular Christian *? Furthermore, if anyone or anything can be labeled a secular _______ simply because it/they have things that are done in a secular way does that not mean EVERYTHING is secular? And of course, if everything is secular, than the word is meaningless. (To me, it may even be more nonsensical than saying 'Everything is god'.)

Can an atheist be a proud Secular Christian?

Lorajay comments on Sep 3, 2020:

Secular is defined as values which are without any religious basis. Calling someone a secular Christian is like calling someone an ethical bank robber. The universal value of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you is present in almost every known religion. I still remember and ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 5, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay Wikipedia disagrees with you.

Can an atheist be a proud Secular Christian?

skado comments on Sep 3, 2020:

Yes, and I even think an atheist can be a proud Christian without even qualifying the status as secular. What, after all, does sacred mean, if not that to which we attribute the highest value? And what does secular mean if not mundane? What other pair of adjectives are better suited to ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 5, 2020:

What's history got to go with it though? A thing is what it is, not what it used to be.

Can an atheist be a proud Secular Christian?

Lorajay comments on Sep 3, 2020:

Secular is defined as values which are without any religious basis. Calling someone a secular Christian is like calling someone an ethical bank robber. The universal value of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you is present in almost every known religion. I still remember and ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 5, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay I think you're playing word games here and I think you know it. You're not a bank robber if you work for the bank testing security and don't steal anything (or intend to steal anything). @Admin Let's pretend her analogy was 'ethical serial rapist'. She probably didn't feel the need to go that dark, but it seems to solidify her point. I personally don't think there are any number of 'good deeds' one can do to mitigate that. @Lorajay Almost all children are just like almost all other types of people: basically bad. Have you seen how they behave to each other? And that's when they have to power, no needs they have to meet on their own, and generally no stressors. It is because of that, that I can completely agree that children who behave 95% of the time would be a reason to believe in miracles. 😝

I thought this concept was brilliant.

ChestRockfield comments on Sep 4, 2020:

I wonder who decides which religions are part of "all religions"?

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 4, 2020:

@MikeInBatonRouge A fine goal, to be sure. If I could add anything to the curriculum, however, it would be a series of logic classes. I think the ability to think critically and logically, starting from an early age, would probably be just as or more beneficial with WAY less risk. For me, until it can be taught as mythology, I'm pretty nervous about it.

I thought this concept was brilliant.

ChestRockfield comments on Sep 4, 2020:

I wonder who decides which religions are part of "all religions"?

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 4, 2020:

@MikeInBatonRouge Obviously, but there is a ton of power in who decides which religions are included, what grade it starts in, the standards that are set, if it'll be national or states, etc. And don't tell me you can't see Texas saying, "Here's Christianity" for half the year and then "here's all the other/fake/untrue religions competing with it."

U will find Peace - Comfort & Solace - in the Realization & - Awareness of - thine Essence as ...

TheMiddleWay comments on Sep 1, 2020:

@Kwapell7 Could you explain the meaning of what you posted in prose not poetry? Some of us have a hard time divining philosophy and meaning from art and poetry...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 3, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay Also, why does this site * have * to die? There are more and more people questioning and identifying as non-religious. If we keep the site uncluttered and uninfected, there's really no reason I can see it has to go.

U will find Peace - Comfort & Solace - in the Realization & - Awareness of - thine Essence as ...

TheMiddleWay comments on Sep 1, 2020:

@Kwapell7 Could you explain the meaning of what you posted in prose not poetry? Some of us have a hard time divining philosophy and meaning from art and poetry...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 3, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay I guess we've established that we're very different than the average cat, but what I remember from collegeclub.com (and to a lesser extent, MySpace) was how enlightening a lot of the discussions were. One guy emailed me a paper he wrote on free will that, looking back, was absolutely brilliant. How nice people are * or are forced to be * doesn't matter much to me, especially if their content is good, because most people aren't actually good or nice in real life.

U will find Peace - Comfort & Solace - in the Realization & - Awareness of - thine Essence as ...

TheMiddleWay comments on Sep 1, 2020:

@Kwapell7 Could you explain the meaning of what you posted in prose not poetry? Some of us have a hard time divining philosophy and meaning from art and poetry...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 3, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay Sure, but how nice people are on a site that dies is irrelevant. Plus, there's the euphemism treadmill problem.

U will find Peace - Comfort & Solace - in the Realization & - Awareness of - thine Essence as ...

TheMiddleWay comments on Sep 1, 2020:

@Kwapell7 Could you explain the meaning of what you posted in prose not poetry? Some of us have a hard time divining philosophy and meaning from art and poetry...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 3, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay I guess we'll just have to wait and see. All I know is that you can be pretty nasty on Facebook and YouTube and they're two of the most popular websites in the world, however, there are probably a ton of websites that don't get used anymore because they have been overrun with spam, like the aforementioned plentyoffish.

U will find Peace - Comfort & Solace - in the Realization & - Awareness of - thine Essence as ...

TheMiddleWay comments on Sep 1, 2020:

@Kwapell7 Could you explain the meaning of what you posted in prose not poetry? Some of us have a hard time divining philosophy and meaning from art and poetry...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 2, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay And for those that don't believe in blocking, or don't feel they should have to? He's as near to a spam/bot/ad account as you can get in my opinion. His posts are all seemingly identical with zero support. He uses this to anger people and then feeds into it to create controversy, all while racking up the points. Pre-built accounts are a lucrative business, and it is irrelevant how that account is built if you can change all the internals of it when it's sold. Anyway, that's just one specific example, not saying that's what's happening here. But either way, that kinda thing destroys websites. People get tired of bots, fake accounts, etc. If it's not dealt with, it seems to get worse exponentially. ( * Ever been on PlentyofFish? * ) In the future we could have a new ad campaign: "Hey, come join our online community for atheists and agnostics! You'll have to spend the first two months blocking all the spam-esque accounts we couldn't be bothered to get rid of for you, but after that you * might * have a good experience with valuable discussions!" As for the Community Guidelines/Core Principals, it seems he is breaking several to me. > Whenever possible, do a search first to see if the topic has already been posted. Feel free to comment on the original post as your comment will show up at the top of the list when sorted. It is readily apparent that considering his posts are all nearly identical, his incessant reposting is breaking this Guideline. > Be open-minded and be willing to alter your beliefs with new evidence. None of the suggestions or challenges to any of his previous posts has alerted him in any way. > Strive to understand what is most likely to be true, not to believe what you wish to be true. I think maybe his claim that he is GOD incarnate brakes this one, regardless of his attempt at redefinition. If I called people pedophiles (especially without explaining my redefinition of the word as stated above) I don't think that would fly. > The scientific method is the most reliable way of understanding the natural world. You have two PhDs in science. You tell me if he's using the scientific method. If you say his posts are dripping with the scientific method, I'll concede this one. > A god is not necessary to be a good person or to live a full and meaningful life. He is claiming EVERYTHING is GOD, so, by extension, god IS necessary for those things.

U will find Peace - Comfort & Solace - in the Realization & - Awareness of - thine Essence as ...

TheMiddleWay comments on Sep 1, 2020:

@Kwapell7 Could you explain the meaning of what you posted in prose not poetry? Some of us have a hard time divining philosophy and meaning from art and poetry...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 2, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay Well, if this was his first post I could agree with you. It's not. He has been posting similar nonsense for a while now. So while there probably was some derision from the onset (as I would expect to receive myself if I posted a bunch of metaphysical or religious stuff) people have grown awfully tired of this incessant nonsense. People have engaged, people have tried to understand, it never goes anywhere.

U will find Peace - Comfort & Solace - in the Realization & - Awareness of - thine Essence as ...

AnneWimsey comments on Sep 1, 2020:

How sad & pitiful your insides must be to feel this kind of thing is valuable to anyone. My sympathies.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 2, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay See what I mean about him getting nasty? * ...and crazy? * > that fact that I have a much broader & deeper - Insight into & Awareness of - the English Language - than most humans - should not be surprising given my claims of deity - > ignorant humans - denigrating - the Word of GOD - This still worth your time?

U will find Peace - Comfort & Solace - in the Realization & - Awareness of - thine Essence as ...

Redneckliberal comments on Sep 1, 2020:

who dresses you in the morning?

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 2, 2020:

@KWAPELL7 > I have not had a "day job" in 15 years - Somehow, I don't think anyone here is surprised by this.

U will find Peace - Comfort & Solace - in the Realization & - Awareness of - thine Essence as ...

TheMiddleWay comments on Sep 1, 2020:

@Kwapell7 Could you explain the meaning of what you posted in prose not poetry? Some of us have a hard time divining philosophy and meaning from art and poetry...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 2, 2020:

@KWAPELL7 See, @The MiddleWay, he's doing this intentionally, and can be exceedingly rude himself. Until someone like you (or previously, me) comes along and tries to actually communicate with him, then he'll soften a bit to make it look the the general public is the bad guy and buy a truckload of your sympathy for pennies on the dollar. Notice even the syntax, grammar, capitalization, etc. greatly improved when speaking to you. Maybe I'm cynical after our interactions, but I don't believe that's progress, I believe it's manipulation.

U will find Peace - Comfort & Solace - in the Realization & - Awareness of - thine Essence as ...

brentan comments on Sep 1, 2020:

I like to think of that God as universal consciousness.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 2, 2020:

@KWAPELL7 Except for the fact that when you use 'god' instead of 'universal consciousness' you have spend another 20 min arguing with people about your limited and non-mainstream definition of the word god. I had this same argument with another member about the definition of spiritual. It's not a time saver if it ultimately takes more time. For instance, I could personally define 'pedophile' as a person who loves children, but only in a safe, caring, non-sexual way. It * would * save me a little time initially, but when a bunch of people got really upset or involved the authorities, it probably wouldn't be worth it. This is what I was saying to you before. You claim your prose is written in plain English and that people are dumb because they can't understand, but you go and use punctuation in a manner that is not generally accepted, you define words differently than the general public, and then no one knows what the heck you're taking about. How does any of this surprise you?

Christian Crowdfunding Site Hosts Drive For Alleged Kenosha Gunman

Triphid comments on Aug 29, 2020:

Wtf is wrong with Americans, a 17 y.o. goes berserk with a Military style Assault rifle killing and wounding people and No-one wants Gun Control? How many other killings have occurred over the last few years or so where school kids and innocents have been slaughtered and yet so many of you hang on ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 2, 2020:

@Triphid Don't know if this was the most recent, but this was last year. "Democrats pressure Republicans by advancing gun control bills - Reuters" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-guns-congress/democrats-pressure-republicans-by-advancing-gun-control-bills-idUSKCN1VV2AT

COMMUNITY GUIDELINE DISCUSSION: WHAT ARE OUR "RULES"?

hankster comments on Aug 30, 2020:

??? Suggestion for a guideline- Honor others' dignity and cultivate your own humility

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 2, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay > If I think I'm wrong, I look for ways that I'm right. If I think I'm right, I look for ways that I'm wrong I like this, but usually if I think I'm wrong I have good reason for it. At that point, I wouldn't be looking for justification to maintain the belief I'm questioning, I'd be looking for the evidence to be sure and then amend my position.

Christian Crowdfunding Site Hosts Drive For Alleged Kenosha Gunman

Triphid comments on Aug 29, 2020:

Wtf is wrong with Americans, a 17 y.o. goes berserk with a Military style Assault rifle killing and wounding people and No-one wants Gun Control? How many other killings have occurred over the last few years or so where school kids and innocents have been slaughtered and yet so many of you hang on ...

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 1, 2020:

@Triphid Obviously I think they would. There's a reason the NRA has grades that very clearly and very starkly break on party lines.

U will find Peace - Comfort & Solace - in the Realization & - Awareness of - thine Essence as ...

Mooolah comments on Sep 1, 2020:

Please note. No response from Mr. Undecipherable.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 1, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay In the continental camp? From his posts and our conversation, I don't even think he believes he's a singular entity on Earth.

U will find Peace - Comfort & Solace - in the Realization & - Awareness of - thine Essence as ...

Mooolah comments on Sep 1, 2020:

Please note. No response from Mr. Undecipherable.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 1, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay He responded, but it went nowhere.

U will find Peace - Comfort & Solace - in the Realization & - Awareness of - thine Essence as ...

AnneWimsey comments on Sep 1, 2020:

How sad & pitiful your insides must be to feel this kind of thing is valuable to anyone. My sympathies.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 1, 2020:

Of course, the whole ignorance is bliss thing. I think my life would probably be much better if I was a believer.

U will find Peace - Comfort & Solace - in the Realization & - Awareness of - thine Essence as ...

Mooolah comments on Sep 1, 2020:

Please note. No response from Mr. Undecipherable.

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 1, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay I have tried. It was fruitless.

COMMUNITY GUIDELINE DISCUSSION: WHAT ARE OUR "RULES"?

hankster comments on Aug 30, 2020:

??? Suggestion for a guideline- Honor others' dignity and cultivate your own humility

ChestRockfield replies on Sep 1, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay I should point out that in the request for reasoning referenced above was met with a refusal that essentially stated, 'I have reason(s). I have determined you can't handle my reason(s). I'm not going to tell you my reason(s).' He also refused to explain why he thought I couldn't accept his reasoning even though another member stated she thought I was wrong and I accepted it. So obviously, I am in agreement on this. I'm willing to explore thought processes to help someone discover their best guess to what their reasoning is. Or question their reasoning to discover if it is faulty. I hope that others would do the same for me. I have been wrong more times than I can count, and if it wasn't for people that were willing to have the discussion with me, I may not have amended to being right about those things.

COMMUNITY GUIDELINE DISCUSSION: WHAT ARE OUR "RULES"?

creative51 comments on Aug 31, 2020:

Lets require everyone to be insulting and swear at each other. If we require it, people will get tired of being that way, and start being polite in order to break the rules. Chew on that you bastards! ...please

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 31, 2020:

I really don't see the problem with swear words in general for two reasons. 1. We give those words their power. We don't have to do this. Those words are not intrinsically bad. 2. Euphemism treadmill is a real thing, if we eliminate the worst word there will just be a new worst word that takes its place.

COMMUNITY GUIDELINE DISCUSSION: WHAT ARE OUR "RULES"?

hankster comments on Aug 30, 2020:

??? Suggestion for a guideline- Honor others' dignity and cultivate your own humility

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 31, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay I do, however, feel that I need to clarify what seems to be an inconsistency in my beliefs. I have stated (and am thoroughly convinced) that no one can KNOW why they think or believe anything. They can take educated guesses and provide rationalizations, but ultimately they don't * really * know. The reason I don't think this is a contradiction is because the thought processes required to develop these rationalizations is likely the pinnacle of personal reasoning a human can convey. I have spoken about Dr. Susan Hill several times. If you haven't heard me mention her, she was probably one of the most character-defining teachers I've ever had. She was my Anatomy & Physiology professor for a year and a half, and she was next level. She used to use intricate stories and illustrations in order to teach her lessons. One day, she began a very enthralling lecture with an anecdote about those quizzes that supposedly tell you how long you're going to live. Because she has no vices, no comorbidities, and no family history, whenever she takes one of those tests it tells her she's going to live to be 130. She continued the lecture that touched on cause and effect and reasoning behind pathology, and closed with something that has stuck with me for over 20 years. "One day, I'm going to be walking down the street and I'm going to see you at a protest," she said. "I'm not going to care what side of the street you're on," she continued, "but when I walk up to you and ask you why, you BETTER be able to tell me, otherwise I'm going to march my 125 year-old ass back up to Lakeland and I'm going to change your grade! ALWAYS have a reason for everything you think and do." I'm not sure why those words resonated with me so much, but it had a profound effect on me. I mean, utterly life changing. I * should * have good reasons for everything I think and do. I examined everything in my life and made a lot of easy cuts. I began doing a lot of research and debating, desperate to justify or abandon every belief I held. So while we can't actually know why we believe something or why certain propositions resonate with us, the attempt to understand and then explain is incredibly important, at least to me, and I don't want to go back to a world where this isn't the case, and I want to share that desire with as many people as I can. Have good reasons, everybody, and share them daily.

When you have a cat like this, you end up with mouse art like that...

resserts comments on Aug 31, 2020:

Kitler!

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 31, 2020:

Bravo for that comment.

A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: I'm sure most of you don't do this, but if you do or know of someone...

Larry-new comments on Aug 30, 2020:

Eh...try telling others what to do and be prepared for a ration of shit.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 31, 2020:

I mean, if it was good advice, we probably wouldn't have said anything except 'thank you'.

A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: I'm sure most of you don't do this, but if you do or know of someone...

jlynn37 comments on Aug 30, 2020:

If there was an item for sale that I wanted and I thought it was a fair asking price, I would pay the asking price and be done with it.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 31, 2020:

@lerlo I didn't say I've done it while standing in front of someone. I said I would/have offered over asking to secure the sale * until I could make the transaction. *

COMMUNITY GUIDELINE DISCUSSION: WHAT ARE OUR "RULES"?

hankster comments on Aug 30, 2020:

??? Suggestion for a guideline- Honor others' dignity and cultivate your own humility

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 31, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay That's fair, but those two types of questions aren't really what I'm talking about here. * "It's my opinion you're wrong about capital punishment. I refuse to give my reasoning." * (i.e. Something for which there would necessarily be stuff that could inform their opinion.) Comments like that are a special level of useless and should be relegated to the likes of Facebook. If that's the low bar were going to be complacent with, maybe we can have a bio question that asks: "Do you think people should support their claims, opinion or otherwise?" Then everyone can have the option to one-click block everyone that answered 'no'. Just hearing someone's unsupported opinion shouldn't change your own, so if they refuse to have or share their reasoning, who needs to hear it? We may as well set up a random word generator that picks between 'I agree' and 'I disagree' or dig our Magic 8 Balls out of our attics.

Chew on this for a while, then tell us what you think. [patheos.com]

CourtJester comments on Aug 30, 2020:

Not a fan of Christians, but I love what the kid did and how he reacted. I’m more upset that he’s being prosecuted for it.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 31, 2020:

@creative51 I meant like us guessing in our heads. 😝