Satanism, and you.

[Grand Prix]

Why would I need to? It's my opinion.

 

[Swift]

Why would I need to? It's my opinion.

I'm not saying you're wrong. But the way it is written

Near-death-experiences are induced by medical drugs like morphine, mmm-kay?

That makes it sound like the only way to get a near death experience is through drugs. That's all I was saying. You had a perfectly valid point, it's just not the only way to get a near death experience.

 

[Grand Prix]

I'm not saying you're wrong. But the way it is written



That makes it sound like the only way to get a near death experience is through drugs. That's all I was saying. You had a perfectly valid point, it's just not the only way to get a near death experience.

Okay, I'm fine with that.

Speaking of demons, I'm curious as to what you think of witches? Personally I think that people accused of witchcraft were simply victims of ergot poisoning. They were murdered in the middle ages because they looked they were possesed by demons. But I think the "demonic" convulsions witches suffered from were triggered by ergot from contaminated rye bread. Studies have shown that the majority of witch burnings in Europe took place in populations whitch relied on rye grain...

What do you think?

 

[Swift]

Okay, I'm fine with that.

Speaking of demons, I'm curious as to what you think of witches? Personally I think that people accused of witchcraft were simply victims of ergot poisoning. They were murdered in the middle ages because they looked they were possesed by demons. But I think the "demonic" convulsions witches suffered from were triggered by ergot from contaminated rye bread. Studies have shown that the majority of witch burnings in Europe took place in populations whitch relied on rye grain...

What do you think?

Well, I don't know much about the stuff in Europe. But the witch burnings over here were mostly an incredibly paranoid farce. They killed people that were accused by ANYONE of stature to be a witch. Religious or not. And if they confessed, they'd be released. What kind of lunacy is that? The Salem accounts were a clear case of religionist gone to far.

Now, I do believe that witchcraft exists and that demon possession is real. But most of the accounts that you and I have just talked about were people with power and no spirtiual life, just going overboard.

 

[Grand Prix]

Well, I don't know much about the stuff in Europe. But the witch burnings over here were mostly an incredibly paranoid farce. They killed people that were accused by ANYONE of stature to be a witch. Religious or not. And if they confessed, they'd be released. What kind of lunacy is that? The Salem accounts were a clear case of religionist gone to far.

Now, I do believe that witchcraft exists and that demon possession is real. But most of the accounts that you and I have just talked about were people with power and no spirtiual life, just going overboard.

They were released if they confessed they were a witch?? .......Wow.


"...And what makes you think she is a witch?"

"She turned me into a NEWT!"

*silence*

"Well, I got better."

"Burn her anyway!!!!"

 

[Swift]

They were released if they confessed they were a witch?? .......Wow.


"...And what makes you think she is a witch?"

Yes they were released since they figured they "repented" of their sins. It takes a lot to be killed when all you have to do to live is admit to something you didn't do. That takes character.

 

[James2097]

If I was standing at the crossroads and the devil popped up and said I could trade my soul for extraordinary guitar-playing ability (best in the the universe), I'd totally do it! I wouldn't even have to think about it.

 

[Swift]

If I was standing at the crossroads and the devil popped up and said I could trade my soul for extraordinary guitar-playing ability (best in the the universe), I'd totally do it! I wouldn't even have to think about it.

Wow, you would trade your literal existance for the ability to play an instrument that can be altered at almost anytime by an almost infinite number of things. Interesting.

 

[Grand Prix]

Why does Satan want souls?

 

[Swift]

Why does Satan want souls?

I posted it near the top of this page.

Ok, I'll tell you why Lucifer is after us. It's only to get back at God for banishing him. Lucifier was in heaven, running a lot of the show, but he wanted more. God cast him out, now he's trying to get back at God by corrupting and helping to condem the souls of God's people. Very simple concept really.

 

[Grand Prix]

Hmmm, indeed.

 

[Swift]

Hmmm, indeed.

It's a good question though.

 

[James2097]

Wow, you would trade your literal existance for the ability to play an instrument that can be altered at almost anytime by an almost infinite number of things. Interesting.

Would you die for your religion? Do you love it that much?

That is how much I love guitar. Obviously the deal would be pointless if I instantly died without ever getting to use my newly attained guitar chops...



The whole thing doesn't make sense anyway, as one of the main ingredients to playing any music well is to actually HAVE soul - inferring that I'd actually still have soul after the deal. Unless Satan moves my fingers like I'm a puppet or something, which would be inherently cool anyway.

 

[Swift]

Would you die for your religion? Do you love it that much?

That is how much I love guitar. Obviously the deal would be pointless if I instantly died without ever getting to use my newly attained guitar chops...



The whole thing doesn't make sense anyway, as one of the main ingredients to playing any music well is to actually HAVE soul - inferring that I'd actually still have soul after the deal. Unless Satan moves my fingers like I'm a puppet or something, which would be inherently cool anyway.

Yes, I would die for my beliefs. If someone put a gone to my head and said "Are you a christian?" I would say yes.

Oh when you loose your soul, I'm not talking about here on earth, I'm talking about going to Hell or going to Heaven. I'd much rather be in heaven.

 

[Grand Prix]

Yes, I would die for my beliefs. If someone put a gone to my head and said "Are you a christian?" I would say yes.

Oh when you loose your soul, I'm not talking about here on earth, I'm talking about going to Hell or going to Heaven. I'd much rather be in heaven.

Do homicidal maniacs that enjoy pain go to heaven for punishment?

 

[Swift]

Do homicidal maniacs that enjoy pain go to heaven for punishment?

Trust me, hell is more intesly horrible then anything on earth just like heaven is many times more glorious then anything on earth.

 

[Grand Prix]

What is the value of my life compared to my immortal soul? 💡 *

So if I end up in heaven I will have infinete wisdom, infinete happiness, and drift forever in the clouds? That sounds boring!



*Rhetorical question

 

[ledhed]

any converts yet ? Can you imagine a sat. Morning waking up to a bunch of Satan worshipers on your porch like the Jehova dudes do ? Hello sir can I speak to you about SAAAAAAAAYTAN ?

Bwaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahaha .....ummm why is her head spinning like that ?

 

[James2097]

any converts yet ? Can you imagine a sat. Morning waking up to a bunch of Satan worshipers on your porch like the Jehova dudes do ? Hello sir can I speak to you about SAAAAAAAAYTAN ?

Bwaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahaha .....ummm why is her head spinning like that ?

Personally I'd like to see an Athiest go door to door with a copy of "Origin of Species" and say they follow the teachings of a man named Charles Darwin, and that when you die you don't do anything, the worms just eat you. Take this into account and you'll have a way better life because you know its the only one you'll get!

 

[Swift]

Personally I'd like to see an Athiest go door to door with a copy of "Origin of Species" and say they follow the teachings of a man named Charles Darwin, and that when you die you don't do anything, the worms just eat you. Take this into account and you'll have a way better life because you know its the only one you'll get!

That's a great reason to indulge in crime and violence because there is not punisment a long as you don't get caught in THIS life.

 

[James2097]

That's a great reason to indulge in crime and violence because there is not punisment a long as you don't get caught in THIS life.

Err... no.

Swift, moral behaviour isn't limited to religion. Stop preaching rubbish.

 

[Swift]

Err... no.

Swift, moral behaviour isn't limited to religion. Stop preaching rubbish.

I never said it was. But my point is that what is good or bad is determined by most people by what the penalty is. If there is no reward and no penalty, why worry about good or bad?

 

[TwinTurboJay]

Karma...*wink* just kidding

 

[F1GTR]

James, a question, what would you do: Sell your soul(even the one on earth) to the devil and be mindblowingly good at the guitar, or be guaranteed by God you get those skills if you work at it, and go to church?(and go to heaven)

 

[James2097]

I never said it was.

Heavily inferred it though, kinda sounded patronising/preaching/talking down to non-religious people to me. But I'll forgive you.

But my point is that what is good or bad is determined by most people by what the penalty is. If there is no reward and no penalty, why worry about good or bad?

Because moral behaviour is inherently needed as the logical endpoint to having the best (most relaxing, less confrontational, less dangerous, happiest) life you can. Surely I don't need to tell a christian that being moral benefits yourself as much as others. Why it would be any different when one is not religious I see as a pointless distinction to make. Humans are inherently social animals, we need to work together in a harmonious way for us to get the most out of life and feel good about ourselves. If we choose to care about what others think of us (as pleasing others will ultimately benefit us (duh!)), we are going to act morally regardless of religious or state instruction... A strong moral societal structure of some form is always gonna develop in any culture or situation where humans have to co-exist. This has always happened in successful societies. Besides, we have state laws to catch the crazies.

James, a question, what would you do: Sell your soul(even the one on earth) to the devil and be mindblowingly good at the guitar, or be guaranteed by God you get those skills if you work at it, and go to church?(and go to heaven)

Assuming this is completely hypothetical (I don't believe in any religion), I'd do whatever garaunteed me of the best guitar skills possible. My awesome reputation and legacy on Earth (even after I was dead) would be infinitely more important to me than whatever happened to me after death. After giving the people of the Earth the best music possible and improving everyone's lives I'm sure God would let me into heaven anyway! Surely you can't just go to hell without your case going through God's office? Its hard to take this seriously and answer with the level of earnesty you would like, and I apologise for that, but originally I was only trying to make a dramatic statement about how much I love guitar, using the classic 'crossroads' imagery (like Robert Johnson). Whether or not I'd really go to hell for my love of guitar, that can't be answered without knowing exactly what hell is like. Satan may really enjoy rock and roll and let me play guitar forever, its devil's music after all!

 

[Swift]

Because moral behaviour is inherently needed as the logical endpoint to having the best (most relaxing, less confrontational, less dangerous, happiest) life you can. Surely I don't need to tell a christian that being moral benefits yourself as much as others. Why it would be any different when one is not religious I see as a pointless distinction to make. Humans are inherently social animals, we need to work together in a harmonious way for us to get the most out of life and feel good about ourselves. If we choose to care about what others think of us (as pleasing others will ultimately benefit us (duh!)), we are going to act morally regardless of religious or state instruction... A strong moral societal structure of some form is always gonna develop in any culture or situation where humans have to co-exist. This has always happened in successful societies. Besides, we have state laws to catch the crazies.

So you've just made morality an incredibly relative term. Being that there are no truths. And certainly no absolutes by what you've been saying. What's moral today could be considered immoral tommorow and vice versa.

I honestly enjoy knowing my boundaries and what not. It makes life much easier then having to constantly figure out what we can and can't do.

 

[sicbeing]

Sell your soul, then repent!..

I don't know where "selling your soul" came from, was that in the bible?

I don't think saying outloud "Uh, satan, let me sell my soul for better motor skills at this instrument!" will make satan appear in front of you with a contract.

You CAN do anything you want to, just practice / work for it. No excuses. I play guitar myself. I'm not the best, but because I choose not to practice everyday. I know where I want to be in terms of how I play. You on the other hand seem to want the skill to be delivered to you.

I don't think God has an "office" where it goes through, last time I heard you go see Peter, then he damns your soul to hell, I think.

 

[James2097]

Sell your soul, then repent!..

I don't know where "selling your soul" came from, was that in the bible?

No idea, it was just an old (obviously false) story about how Robert Johnson must've sold his soul to the devil (at the crossroads - a metaphor for all life-changing decisions) to be able to play the blues like he did, because he left town an average blues player, but when he came back he was scarily good... hence the story.

I don't think saying outloud "Uh, satan, let me sell my soul for better motor skills at this instrument!" will make satan appear in front of you with a contract.

Duh. The whole thing is hypothetical and jokey.

You CAN do anything you want to, just practice / work for it. No excuses. I play guitar myself. I'm not the best, but because I choose not to practice everyday. I know where I want to be in terms of how I play. You on the other hand seem to want the skill to be delivered to you.

Why would I be lazy in regards to practise if I was willing to SELL MY SOUL in return for infinite guitar ability? Surely this infers a pretty focused kinda view about getting better at guitar. For the record, I practise approximately 6 hrs a day, all day on the weekends. You still want to paint me as lazy? Now, my original post regarding the hypothetical selling of certain souls can be taken as a simple statement of my unconditional love for my instrument and my music. Nothing wrong with that.

I don't think God has an "office" where it goes through, last time I heard you go see Peter, then he damns your soul to hell, I think.

Were you really taking the whole 'office' thing literally? I was simply using a modern day style analogy to infer that God would have final judgement on what happened to my soul. Obviously.

So you've just made morality an incredibly relative term. Being that there are no truths. And certainly no absolutes by what you've been saying. What's moral today could be considered immoral tommorow and vice versa.

The concept of morality has always been malluable, remaining valid for each period of time and the conditions people lived in. It has obviously matured of late, in proportion to how 'civilised' a society gets, and it is this modern sense of morality that everyone would now use as a guide, religious minded or not. Its not like anyone is going back to the stone-age idea of morality if they're non-religious.

On the contrary, this shows quite clearly that atheists are one of the most moral and law abiding types of people out there, certainly behaving far better proportionally than religious folk. 💡
Surprised? Maybe thats why us atheists are so annoyed when religious folk assume we have no morality (or less than those who believe in God) and try and talk down to us. In fact, shouldn't we be the ones doing the moralising?

 

[Grand Prix]

There are less Atheists in the States than Christains though. But the percentage is still shocking.

 

[James2097]

There are less Atheists in the States than Christians though. But the percentage is still shocking.

If I am correct, in terms of the proportion of the (US) population that are atheist, there should be an absolute minimum over 8 times as many atheists as there are in prison. Remember, 60% of the time I am right everytime.
I have no idea how solid my sources are for this info, its pretty internetty, but seems trustworthy and makes sense.

Just felt like posting this (from Wikipedia):
In the 2001 Australian Census 15.5% of respondents ticked 'no religion' and a further 11.7% either did not state their religion or were deemed to have described it inadequately (there was a popular and successful campaign at the time to have people describe themselves as Jedi).

I WAS ONE OF THE JEDI!!! WOOO!!