Author Topic: Curious on how many Christians are on Geekhack (Not a religion argument thread)  (Read 13203 times)

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Offline taylordcraig

  • Posts: 1044
  • Location: BC, Canada
  • New Keyboard Enthusiast [needs to learn to solder]
Grew up a consistent churchgoer but at a progressive mainline church, and kind of fell out of it as I got into my late teens. A lot of good people that did good things and helped others, but for some reason it never really got through to me. I was basically agnostic/ felt that if God existed he wasn't that concerned with us. These feelings coincided with a general philosophical soft-nihilism that kind of pervades the West. Suffered from depression for a long period and was suicidal for a while. SSRI's kept me from trying to kill myself again, but didn't really help the depression and overall ennui.

On a whim one winter break read C.S Lewis' Mere Christianity and it completely transformed me. Ended up reading the whole Bible from cover to cover over the next couple months. Suddenly those word finally got through to me. Finally understood God's love and care for us, the jewel on the crown of His universe. I still have off days, but it's been years, and it's hard to even comprehend some of my former feelings. Don't go to church every week, because I work 40 hour weeks on top of full time school, but when I do, the messages that the pastor preaches fill me with hope and make me want to become a better person, a better Christian, and serve to remind me just how much God's given me.  I'm so glad that I was brought back into the fold. I can truly say that Christianity gave me a new lease on life.

This is an encouraging story.  Thank you for sharing.

I mean I don't want to **** on this because that's not what this thread is about-- I was raised religious and that's why I ****ing HATE Christians with a brimstone-y passion.
In my experience they're all* prudish[word for goodie-two-shoes to an unreasonable degree], condescending, pious mongrels. [pious definitely meaning hypocritical, and mongrel meaning mutt and especially un-discernible] I know people are all different but I can't help but be biased being raised in the church.

edit: *MOSTLY

Offline baldgye

  • Will Smith Disciple
  • Posts: 4780
  • Location: UK
I mean I don't want to **** on this because that's not what this thread is about--

If you don't want to **** on anyone(or this thread) then don't, use some restraint.

Offline taylordcraig

  • Posts: 1044
  • Location: BC, Canada
  • New Keyboard Enthusiast [needs to learn to solder]
I mean I don't want to **** on this because that's not what this thread is about--

If you don't want to **** on anyone(or this thread) then don't, use some restraint.

I'm sharing my experience being raised christian, isn't that what this is about?

Offline baldgye

  • Will Smith Disciple
  • Posts: 4780
  • Location: UK
I mean I don't want to **** on this because that's not what this thread is about--

If you don't want to **** on anyone(or this thread) then don't, use some restraint.

I'm sharing my experience being raised christian, isn't that what this is about?

By offending most of the people in this thread? To quote the OP;

Please guys be respectful.

Offline taylordcraig

  • Posts: 1044
  • Location: BC, Canada
  • New Keyboard Enthusiast [needs to learn to solder]
I don't think that you had to be offended by my post. If you're a "real" Christian you should be saddened so many ****bois live on my side of the globe.
Thanks for your effort though baldye, see yourself out.

Offline trenzafeeds

  • * Exquisite Elder
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  • **** off
I don't think that you had to be offended by my post. If you're a "real" Christian you should be saddened so many ****bois live on my side of the globe.
Thanks for your effort though baldye, see yourself out.

Someone's riled up today
demik will never leave.

Unless he gets banned.

Offline iri

  • Posts: 1031
  • Location: England
Grew up a consistent churchgoer but at a progressive mainline church, and kind of fell out of it as I got into my late teens. A lot of good people that did good things and helped others, but for some reason it never really got through to me. I was basically agnostic/ felt that if God existed he wasn't that concerned with us. These feelings coincided with a general philosophical soft-nihilism that kind of pervades the West. Suffered from depression for a long period and was suicidal for a while. SSRI's kept me from trying to kill myself again, but didn't really help the depression and overall ennui.

On a whim one winter break read C.S Lewis' Mere Christianity and it completely transformed me. Ended up reading the whole Bible from cover to cover over the next couple months. Suddenly those word finally got through to me. Finally understood God's love and care for us, the jewel on the crown of His universe. I still have off days, but it's been years, and it's hard to even comprehend some of my former feelings. Don't go to church every week, because I work 40 hour weeks on top of full time school, but when I do, the messages that the pastor preaches fill me with hope and make me want to become a better person, a better Christian, and serve to remind me just how much God's given me.  I'm so glad that I was brought back into the fold. I can truly say that Christianity gave me a new lease on life.

This is an encouraging story.  Thank you for sharing.

I mean I don't want to **** on this because that's not what this thread is about-- I was raised religious and that's why I ****ing HATE Christians with a brimstone-y passion.
In my experience they're all* prudish[word for goodie-two-shoes to an unreasonable degree], condescending, pious mongrels. [pious definitely meaning hypocritical, and mongrel meaning mutt and especially un-discernible] I know people are all different but I can't help but be biased being raised in the church.

edit: *MOSTLY
:-*
(...)Whereas back then I wrote about the tyranny of the majority, today I'd combine that with the tyranny of the minorities. These days, you have to be careful of both. They both want to control you. The first group, by making you do the same thing over and over again. The second group is indicated by the letters I get from the Vassar girls who want me to put more women's lib in The Martian Chronicles, or from blacks who want more black people in Dandelion Wine.
I say to both bunches, Whether you're a majority or minority, bug off! To hell with anybody who wants to tell me what to write. Their society breaks down into subsections of minorities who then, in effect, burn books by banning them. All this political correctness that's rampant on campuses is b.s.

-Ray Bradbury

Offline GuilleAcoustic

  • Posts: 77
  • Location: France
I do am Christian and so is the missus and trust me we are all but prude and condescending xD. One of my kids godfather is gay, my wife walked is favor of the gay marriage and I have many example of opened minded and modern Christians around me ... only problem is that you only see and hear from the prude and narrow minded ones.

Offline fohat.digs

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only problem is that you only see and hear from the prude and narrow minded ones.

The only problem is that Jesus was an open-minded, compassionate, generous, and forgiving man, but the overwhelming majority of those who publicly refer to their own selfish (ie political) so-called "Christian values" misrepresent and insult his teachings in the most egregious manner possible.
"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline jdcarpe

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I mean I don't want to **** on this because that's not what this thread is about--

If you don't want to **** on anyone(or this thread) then don't, use some restraint.

I'm sharing my experience being raised christian, isn't that what this is about?

Not really, no. Did you read the OP? He wants to know if there are others like him here, so that he can connect with like-minded individuals.


I'm not trying to start an argument on religion on here. Just trying to see if I have fellow brothers and sisters.
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Offline HoffmanMyster

  • HOFF, smol MAN OF MYSTERY
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taylor, read the OP before posting.  Any further off-topic/flaming comments will be removed - final warning.  You've missed the entire point of the thread.

TimIsABat, if you want the thread cleaned up, just let me know.

I mean I don't want to **** on this because that's not what this thread is about--

If you don't want to **** on anyone(or this thread) then don't, use some restraint.

I'm sharing my experience being raised christian, isn't that what this is about?

Not really, no. Did you read the OP? He wants to know if there are others like him here, so that he can connect with like-minded individuals.


I'm not trying to start an argument on religion on here. Just trying to see if I have fellow brothers and sisters.

Offline GuilleAcoustic

  • Posts: 77
  • Location: France
only problem is that you only see and hear from the prude and narrow minded ones.

The only problem is that Jesus was an open-minded, compassionate, generous, and forgiving man, but the overwhelming majority of those who publicly refer to their own selfish (ie political) so-called "Christian values" misrepresent and insult his teachings in the most egregious manner possible.

You nailed it and found the right words.

Offline ideus

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  • Björkö.

Religious practices, judging on others' lives and self promotion were attitudes that JC heavily criticized on the Pharisees. Being a Christian is not a brand, it is about a deep inner daily work to be a bit better each day.

Offline Findecanor

  • Posts: 5080
  • Location: Koriko
There are lots of people named Christian here in Sweden. :P

I was raised a Christian, went to Christian pre-school and sang in the church choir in elementary school, but I can't say that that filled me with any "values". I stopped being a Christian when I was a teen.
I have a strong faith in something that I choose to call "God", I just don't want to be constrained by what a church says.
I don't believe in Jesus' divinity. I think that it is possible that there may or may not have been a man named Jeshua who led a religious movement a couple of millenia ago, but how or what happened is not important.
What is important about Jesus is the message that he preached.
🍉

Offline taylordcraig

  • Posts: 1044
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I'm actually quite agnostic and while I don't believe in a creator or deity, I think that things like the conversion of matter and energy and the existence of the universe are undeniable proof that there is something remarkable at work that I do not understand. I'm in no way against religion and actually am inspired by some "eastern" religions selflessness. However, in my personal experience, a large majority of religious people I've interacted with have been the negative things I described in my previous post.

fohat.digs nailed it on the head.

Offline terrpn

  • Alpha Geezer
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Pleased to see some fellow Christian believers. For the most part this thread as been amicable with a few exceptions :-\

Modern Christianity is suffering from hypocrites, pious, snobs (prideful) for the most part who I agree with an earlier post whom turn their nose up at the rest of the world-- they need to go back and read their Bible about who Jesus Christ actually hung out with.

30 years ago if someone mentioned religion they immediately (in this country) would have considered Christianity. That does not always apply today in this country as it has become more of a melting pot if you will of ethnicity, society and religions.  While I may or may not agree with other faiths I can tolerate their beliefs as long as they can tolerate mine. Unfortunately we all judge..............if you walked under a fruit tree you would not pick up a bad piece of fruit, but you would reach reach for the good fruit. The problem with people judging is that they condemn along with it positioning themselves as being superior.

God is not a respecter of persons..............
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Offline Oobly

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It's amazed me the ratio of scientists/engineers i've met irl who are religious.

I live near a prestigious university, and the church I attend is loaded with scientists and engineers from that school. How do I know? They're pretty vocal about it.  :-X


West Lafayette churches are full of scientist and engineers as well; I wonder why we think knowledge automatically should lead to atheism, that is just an arrogant sentiment, that only people less literate could be believers. Another false common assumption.

Absolutely, and it's largely thanks to very outspoken anti-theists like Richard Dawkins. The irony is that most of them are not even very good scientists.

Adding my voice to the thread: I believe in an intelligent Creator who made the universe and who is greater than the universe itself (otherwise He could not have created it). I also believe that the whole focal point of His creation is us humans. The entire universe is fine tuned to support us. I believe we have a "soul" which grants us conciousness and free will and is not emergent from neurobiology, but has a genuine "outside of the physical universe" spiritual component. I believe this is an aspect of being made "in God's image" and is what gives rise to conciousness, intelligent thought, reason and creativity (along with morality).

I believe that this spiritual aspect of ourselves can interact with the Creator, and right after creation in fact did.

I also believe that this concious free will led to disobedience (through deception and desire) and that this broke our intrinsic bond / communication. I believe the Creator took on the aspect and form of a human, even allowing the indignity of human birth and death, in order to restore this bond and succeeded. I personally accepted and trusted the actions of the human aspect / form of the Creator and experienced my first direct interaction with the Creator which forever changed me. For the first time in my life I Knew something: that the Creator exists, has love for His created people, enjoys interaction with them and that what he did to restore the bond was successful.

Before that point I understood a lot of Biblical stuff, "knew" a lot of things about God, tried to obey all the rules I was supposed to, etc, but after that point, I started to actually know God and interact with Him and suddenly had the Holy Spirit poking me in the conscience to let me know what He likes and what He doesn't. I don't always listen, though...

I agree with a lot of nubbinator's points, especially that faith should be reasoned. In 1 Peter it says: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have". You may know the reason, but be unable to express it in a way that makes sense (or only able to echo responses you've heard others giving that seem to be correct enough). It's worth working through your own faith to understand the reason well enough to express it when asked.

For me, faith - and particularly a relationship with God - is an intensely personal thing and I'm not all that comfortable with many larger prayer meetings, etc where you're sharing this very personal and intimate relationship with a bunch of other people. So I find a lot of church-related stuff to feel a bit odd or intrusive, even if I know the people well. I prefer smaller prayer meetings and discussions, but enjoy a good "preach" once in a while :)

I'd definitely describe myself more as a spiritual person than a religious one. I'm not big on traditions and ceremonies, although I appreciate the grandeur and respectful solemnity of some of them, but only when they're executed in the spirit of the thing rather than the letter, if you get my meaning. This is kind of a big thing with me, since I consider it part of the essence of what Jesus did, to bring us back to the spirit of doing God's will instead of the letter of the law of it and I see too many "Christians" following the letter without the spirit. God respects honesty more than show. I really don't like to see people using emotion to get support for their "message".

I grew up in a Christian home, going to Sunday School, etc. My dad was a sales representative for a plastics company, but also a lay preacher in the Church of England. I "believed" the Bible, in God and Jesus and what He did and it was all very valuable to know later when I had my "conversion experience" (although it wasn't a flash of light and the voice of God speaking directly like with Saul!), knowing a bunch of scripture is handy since the Holy Spirit can pop the verse up right from my memory instead of having to prompt me in more obscure ways.

So I'd call myself a Christian, but only to those who know what I mean by the term (that I believe God made everything, that Jesus is God and He died and was resurrected and thus succesfully became the sacrifice that restores our connection), since I can't tell what they think a Christian is, especially nowadays living in scandinavia. The word has a lot of associations that have nothing to do with the central meaning of being a Christian.

I hope this is not all considered too off-topic... If so, you can edit it down to: "Hi, I'm Oobly and I'm a Christian, too."
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Offline SpAmRaY

  • NOT a Moderator
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@oobly I'd say that's exactly on topic :thumb:

Offline osi

  • Posts: 964
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It's amazed me the ratio of scientists/engineers i've met irl who are religious.

I live near a prestigious university, and the church I attend is loaded with scientists and engineers from that school. How do I know? They're pretty vocal about it.  :-X


West Lafayette churches are full of scientist and engineers as well; I wonder why we think knowledge automatically should lead to atheism, that is just an arrogant sentiment, that only people less literate could be believers. Another false common assumption.

Absolutely, and it's largely thanks to very outspoken anti-theists like Richard Dawkins. The irony is that most of them are not even very good scientists.

Adding my voice to the thread: I believe in an intelligent Creator who made the universe and who is greater than the universe itself (otherwise He could not have created it). I also believe that the whole focal point of His creation is us humans. The entire universe is fine tuned to support us. I believe we have a "soul" which grants us conciousness and free will and is not emergent from neurobiology, but has a genuine "outside of the physical universe" spiritual component. I believe this is an aspect of being made "in God's image" and is what gives rise to conciousness, intelligent thought, reason and creativity (along with morality).

I believe that this spiritual aspect of ourselves can interact with the Creator, and right after creation in fact did.

I also believe that this concious free will led to disobedience (through deception and desire) and that this broke our intrinsic bond / communication. I believe the Creator took on the aspect and form of a human, even allowing the indignity of human birth and death, in order to restore this bond and succeeded. I personally accepted and trusted the actions of the human aspect / form of the Creator and experienced my first direct interaction with the Creator which forever changed me. For the first time in my life I Knew something: that the Creator exists, has love for His created people, enjoys interaction with them and that what he did to restore the bond was successful.

Before that point I understood a lot of Biblical stuff, "knew" a lot of things about God, tried to obey all the rules I was supposed to, etc, but after that point, I started to actually know God and interact with Him and suddenly had the Holy Spirit poking me in the conscience to let me know what He likes and what He doesn't. I don't always listen, though...

I agree with a lot of nubbinator's points, especially that faith should be reasoned. In 1 Peter it says: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have". You may know the reason, but be unable to express it in a way that makes sense (or only able to echo responses you've heard others giving that seem to be correct enough). It's worth working through your own faith to understand the reason well enough to express it when asked.

For me, faith - and particularly a relationship with God - is an intensely personal thing and I'm not all that comfortable with many larger prayer meetings, etc where you're sharing this very personal and intimate relationship with a bunch of other people. So I find a lot of church-related stuff to feel a bit odd or intrusive, even if I know the people well. I prefer smaller prayer meetings and discussions, but enjoy a good "preach" once in a while :)

I'd definitely describe myself more as a spiritual person than a religious one. I'm not big on traditions and ceremonies, although I appreciate the grandeur and respectful solemnity of some of them, but only when they're executed in the spirit of the thing rather than the letter, if you get my meaning. This is kind of a big thing with me, since I consider it part of the essence of what Jesus did, to bring us back to the spirit of doing God's will instead of the letter of the law of it and I see too many "Christians" following the letter without the spirit. God respects honesty more than show. I really don't like to see people using emotion to get support for their "message".

I grew up in a Christian home, going to Sunday School, etc. My dad was a sales representative for a plastics company, but also a lay preacher in the Church of England. I "believed" the Bible, in God and Jesus and what He did and it was all very valuable to know later when I had my "conversion experience" (although it wasn't a flash of light and the voice of God speaking directly like with Saul!), knowing a bunch of scripture is handy since the Holy Spirit can pop the verse up right from my memory instead of having to prompt me in more obscure ways.

So I'd call myself a Christian, but only to those who know what I mean by the term (that I believe God made everything, that Jesus is God and He died and was resurrected and thus succesfully became the sacrifice that restores our connection), since I can't tell what they think a Christian is, especially nowadays living in scandinavia. The word has a lot of associations that have nothing to do with the central meaning of being a Christian.

I hope this is not all considered too off-topic... If so, you can edit it down to: "Hi, I'm Oobly and I'm a Christian, too."
[/m]





Good post. Thank you for sharing!

Offline heedpantsnow

  • * Esteemed Elder
  • Posts: 3692
  • Location: Orlando, FL
  • Old enough to know better
It's amazed me the ratio of scientists/engineers i've met irl who are religious.

I live near a prestigious university, and the church I attend is loaded with scientists and engineers from that school. How do I know? They're pretty vocal about it.  :-X


West Lafayette churches are full of scientist and engineers as well; I wonder why we think knowledge automatically should lead to atheism, that is just an arrogant sentiment, that only people less literate could be believers. Another false common assumption.

Absolutely, and it's largely thanks to very outspoken anti-theists like Richard Dawkins. The irony is that most of them are not even very good scientists.

Adding my voice to the thread: I believe in an intelligent Creator who made the universe and who is greater than the universe itself (otherwise He could not have created it). I also believe that the whole focal point of His creation is us humans. The entire universe is fine tuned to support us. I believe we have a "soul" which grants us conciousness and free will and is not emergent from neurobiology, but has a genuine "outside of the physical universe" spiritual component. I believe this is an aspect of being made "in God's image" and is what gives rise to conciousness, intelligent thought, reason and creativity (along with morality).

I believe that this spiritual aspect of ourselves can interact with the Creator, and right after creation in fact did.

I also believe that this concious free will led to disobedience (through deception and desire) and that this broke our intrinsic bond / communication. I believe the Creator took on the aspect and form of a human, even allowing the indignity of human birth and death, in order to restore this bond and succeeded. I personally accepted and trusted the actions of the human aspect / form of the Creator and experienced my first direct interaction with the Creator which forever changed me. For the first time in my life I Knew something: that the Creator exists, has love for His created people, enjoys interaction with them and that what he did to restore the bond was successful.

Before that point I understood a lot of Biblical stuff, "knew" a lot of things about God, tried to obey all the rules I was supposed to, etc, but after that point, I started to actually know God and interact with Him and suddenly had the Holy Spirit poking me in the conscience to let me know what He likes and what He doesn't. I don't always listen, though...

I agree with a lot of nubbinator's points, especially that faith should be reasoned. In 1 Peter it says: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have". You may know the reason, but be unable to express it in a way that makes sense (or only able to echo responses you've heard others giving that seem to be correct enough). It's worth working through your own faith to understand the reason well enough to express it when asked.

For me, faith - and particularly a relationship with God - is an intensely personal thing and I'm not all that comfortable with many larger prayer meetings, etc where you're sharing this very personal and intimate relationship with a bunch of other people. So I find a lot of church-related stuff to feel a bit odd or intrusive, even if I know the people well. I prefer smaller prayer meetings and discussions, but enjoy a good "preach" once in a while :)

I'd definitely describe myself more as a spiritual person than a religious one. I'm not big on traditions and ceremonies, although I appreciate the grandeur and respectful solemnity of some of them, but only when they're executed in the spirit of the thing rather than the letter, if you get my meaning. This is kind of a big thing with me, since I consider it part of the essence of what Jesus did, to bring us back to the spirit of doing God's will instead of the letter of the law of it and I see too many "Christians" following the letter without the spirit. God respects honesty more than show. I really don't like to see people using emotion to get support for their "message".

I grew up in a Christian home, going to Sunday School, etc. My dad was a sales representative for a plastics company, but also a lay preacher in the Church of England. I "believed" the Bible, in God and Jesus and what He did and it was all very valuable to know later when I had my "conversion experience" (although it wasn't a flash of light and the voice of God speaking directly like with Saul!), knowing a bunch of scripture is handy since the Holy Spirit can pop the verse up right from my memory instead of having to prompt me in more obscure ways.

So I'd call myself a Christian, but only to those who know what I mean by the term (that I believe God made everything, that Jesus is God and He died and was resurrected and thus succesfully became the sacrifice that restores our connection), since I can't tell what they think a Christian is, especially nowadays living in scandinavia. The word has a lot of associations that have nothing to do with the central meaning of being a Christian.

I hope this is not all considered too off-topic... If so, you can edit it down to: "Hi, I'm Oobly and I'm a Christian, too."

Hmmm, where are the "Like" and "+1" buttons?
I'm back.

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Carbon Fiber keyboard base: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=54825

Offline njbair

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Offline romevi

  • Formerly romevi
  • * Exalted Elder
  • Posts: 8944
  • Location: The Windy City
Oobly 3:16

For oobly so loved the GH that he gave his one and only post, that whoever shall read it shall not die but have eternal joy.

Offline jdcarpe

  • * Curator
  • Posts: 8852
  • Location: Odessa, TX
  • Live long, and prosper.
Oobly 3:16

For oobly so loved the GH that he gave his one and only post, that whoever shall read it shall not die but have eternal joy.

QFT.

Oobly 3:16
KMAC :: LZ-GH :: WASD CODE :: WASD v2 :: GH60 :: Alps64 :: JD45 :: IBM Model M :: IBM 4704 "Pingmaster"

http://jd40.info :: http://jd45.info


in memoriam

"When I was a kid, I used to take things apart and never put them back together."

Offline Oobly

  • * Esteemed Elder
  • Posts: 3929
  • Location: Finland
 :-[

Thanks for the response. I didn't mean to stop this thread with my post, though :)

It's really nice to see there are others on GH with the same worldview and "compatible" ways of thinking.

May also be considered off-topic: For anyone who has a deeper interest in gaining insight into the "Intelligent Design" vs "Evolution" debate from a well-reasoned philosophical and scientific standpoint (cosmology, natural history, mathematics, paleontology, molecular biology, etc), "God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?" by John C. Lennox is a great book.
Buying more keycaps,
it really hacks my wallet,
but I must have them.

Offline henz

  • * Exquisite Elder
  • Posts: 1284
  • What?
:-[

Thanks for the response. I didn't mean to stop this thread with my post, though :)

It's really nice to see there are others on GH with the same worldview and "compatible" ways of thinking.

May also be considered off-topic: For anyone who has a deeper interest in gaining insight into the "Intelligent Design" vs "Evolution" debate from a well-reasoned philosophical and scientific standpoint (cosmology, natural history, mathematics, paleontology, molecular biology, etc), "God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?" by John C. Lennox is a great book.

I will quote  dr Neil Degrasse Tyson: "An entertainment complex in the middle of the sewer system, no engineer would design that at all."


Offline baldgye

  • Will Smith Disciple
  • Posts: 4780
  • Location: UK
:-[

Thanks for the response. I didn't mean to stop this thread with my post, though :)

It's really nice to see there are others on GH with the same worldview and "compatible" ways of thinking.

May also be considered off-topic: For anyone who has a deeper interest in gaining insight into the "Intelligent Design" vs "Evolution" debate from a well-reasoned philosophical and scientific standpoint (cosmology, natural history, mathematics, paleontology, molecular biology, etc), "God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?" by John C. Lennox is a great book.


Sorry, but there can be no scientific or logical comparisons between a fact a and hypothesis.

Offline Oobly

  • * Esteemed Elder
  • Posts: 3929
  • Location: Finland
:-[

Thanks for the response. I didn't mean to stop this thread with my post, though :)

It's really nice to see there are others on GH with the same worldview and "compatible" ways of thinking.

May also be considered off-topic: For anyone who has a deeper interest in gaining insight into the "Intelligent Design" vs "Evolution" debate from a well-reasoned philosophical and scientific standpoint (cosmology, natural history, mathematics, paleontology, molecular biology, etc), "God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?" by John C. Lennox is a great book.


Sorry, but there can be no scientific or logical comparisons between a fact a and hypothesis.

I suppose I was mistaken to post that, but it really is what I said.

Which are you claming is which?

"Fact" is always a personal decision, based on evidence. Let's respect the OP's wishes and not turn this into a debate in this thread, please. I'd be very happy to discuss this with you an another one, though.
Buying more keycaps,
it really hacks my wallet,
but I must have them.

Offline baldgye

  • Will Smith Disciple
  • Posts: 4780
  • Location: UK
:-[

Thanks for the response. I didn't mean to stop this thread with my post, though :)

It's really nice to see there are others on GH with the same worldview and "compatible" ways of thinking.

May also be considered off-topic: For anyone who has a deeper interest in gaining insight into the "Intelligent Design" vs "Evolution" debate from a well-reasoned philosophical and scientific standpoint (cosmology, natural history, mathematics, paleontology, molecular biology, etc), "God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?" by John C. Lennox is a great book.


Sorry, but there can be no scientific or logical comparisons between a fact a and hypothesis.

I suppose I was mistaken to post that, but it really is what I said.

Which are you claming is which?

"Fact" is always a personal decision, based on evidence. Let's respect the OP's wishes and not turn this into a debate in this thread, please. I'd be very happy to discuss this with you an another one, though.

Yeah I don't want to derail this thread and have previously pointed out when someone tried to do exactly that, I think that there is space for a thread of believers to share there views and opinions on there personal beliefs without being attacked (this thread).
But at the same time it shouldn't be one that pushes extremist ideas.

Offline SpAmRaY

  • NOT a Moderator
  • * Certified Spammer
  • Posts: 14667
  • Location: ¯\(°_o)/¯
  • because reasons.......

Yeah I don't want to derail this thread and have previously pointed out when someone tried to do exactly that, I think that there is space for a thread of believers to share there views and opinions on there personal beliefs without being attacked (this thread).


But at the same time it shouldn't be one that pushes extremist ideas.


So can we share our beliefs or not?

Because most would probably identify believing God became man to die on a cross to save sinners pretty extreme, especially those who also believe accepting that is the only true way to salvation.

The truth is extreme. ;)

Offline yomammary

  • Posts: 525
  • Location: Québec
I'm kind of in the middle of a deconstruction of my faith right now. I've been listening to The Liturgists podcast, highly recommended.
http://www.theliturgists.com/podcast/
« Last Edit: Fri, 20 November 2015, 07:15:13 by yomammary »
RF 87u 55g | Leeku 1800

Offline heedpantsnow

  • * Esteemed Elder
  • Posts: 3692
  • Location: Orlando, FL
  • Old enough to know better

:-[

Thanks for the response. I didn't mean to stop this thread with my post, though :)

It's really nice to see there are others on GH with the same worldview and "compatible" ways of thinking.

May also be considered off-topic: For anyone who has a deeper interest in gaining insight into the "Intelligent Design" vs "Evolution" debate from a well-reasoned philosophical and scientific standpoint (cosmology, natural history, mathematics, paleontology, molecular biology, etc), "God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?" by John C. Lennox is a great book.


Sorry, but there can be no scientific or logical comparisons between a fact a and hypothesis.

I suppose I was mistaken to post that, but it really is what I said.

Which are you claming is which?

"Fact" is always a personal decision, based on evidence. Let's respect the OP's wishes and not turn this into a debate in this thread, please. I'd be very happy to discuss this with you an another one, though.

Yeah I don't want to derail this thread and have previously pointed out when someone tried to do exactly that, I think that there is space for a thread of believers to share there views and opinions on there personal beliefs without being attacked (this thread).
But at the same time it shouldn't be one that pushes extremist ideas.

TIL everyone should get their beliefs approved by Baldgye before posting them
I'm back.

Espresso machine overhaul: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=78261.0

Carbon Fiber keyboard base: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=54825

Offline henz

  • * Exquisite Elder
  • Posts: 1284
  • What?

Yeah I don't want to derail this thread and have previously pointed out when someone tried to do exactly that, I think that there is space for a thread of believers to share there views and opinions on there personal beliefs without being attacked (this thread).


But at the same time it shouldn't be one that pushes extremist ideas.


So can we share our beliefs or not?

Because most would probably identify believing God became man to die on a cross to save sinners pretty extreme, especially those who also believe accepting that is the only true way to salvation.

The truth is extreme. ;)


well im the typical christian here in Sweden, i got bapthized and confirmationed(is it called that in english?). Did the latter to get presents, did the first in order to do the second. Ye i know i will burn in hell :D But all in all i consider myself a non-beliver.

Offline baldgye

  • Will Smith Disciple
  • Posts: 4780
  • Location: UK
ah ok it's going to be like that... and in light of current events I figured common sense and rallying against extremist religious beliefs (regardless of faith) would be something we could share a common ground on, my mistake.

Offline heedpantsnow

  • * Esteemed Elder
  • Posts: 3692
  • Location: Orlando, FL
  • Old enough to know better

ah ok it's going to be like that... and in light of current events I figured common sense and rallying against extremist religious beliefs (regardless of faith) would be something we could share a common ground on, my mistake.

Lol believing in Jesus != Islamic terrorism

Baldgye I like you but you've gone off the rails bro
I'm back.

Espresso machine overhaul: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=78261.0

Carbon Fiber keyboard base: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=54825

Offline fohat.digs

  • * Elevated Elder
  • Posts: 6533
  • Location: 35°55'N, 83°53'W
  • weird funny old guy

"Fact" is always a personal decision, based on evidence.


I can't understand this statement. Facts are provable or at the very least consistently demonstrable.

"Beliefs" are what I have a problem with, because they are sometimes/often not fact-based.

What are generally referred to as "beliefs" are usually things that are accepted without proof.

Nobody says that they "believe in" gravity.
"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline baldgye

  • Will Smith Disciple
  • Posts: 4780
  • Location: UK

ah ok it's going to be like that... and in light of current events I figured common sense and rallying against extremist religious beliefs (regardless of faith) would be something we could share a common ground on, my mistake.

Lol believing in Jesus != Islamic terrorism

Baldgye I like you but you've gone off the rails bro

Yes, this is exactly what I said and implied, well done.

Offline henz

  • * Exquisite Elder
  • Posts: 1284
  • What?

ah ok it's going to be like that... and in light of current events I figured common sense and rallying against extremist religious beliefs (regardless of faith) would be something we could share a common ground on, my mistake.

Lol believing in Jesus != Islamic terrorism

Baldgye I like you but you've gone off the rails bro

Christians(catholics) had their time doing crusades,killing people here and there. And lets not forget KKK.

So beliving in Jesus == Christianity terrorism  :P

Offline HoffmanMyster

  • HOFF, smol MAN OF MYSTERY
  • * Senior Moderator
  • Posts: 11539
  • Location: WI
Oh hey look the weekly "derail-a-thread" is on again.

Any further off-topic/flaming comments will be removed - final warning.  You've missed the entire point of the thread.

TimIsABat, if you want the thread cleaned up, just let me know.

Not really, no. Did you read the OP? He wants to know if there are others like him here, so that he can connect with like-minded individuals.

I'm not trying to start an argument on religion on here. Just trying to see if I have fellow brothers and sisters.

Offline iri

  • Posts: 1031
  • Location: England
just beat baldgye with a stick
(...)Whereas back then I wrote about the tyranny of the majority, today I'd combine that with the tyranny of the minorities. These days, you have to be careful of both. They both want to control you. The first group, by making you do the same thing over and over again. The second group is indicated by the letters I get from the Vassar girls who want me to put more women's lib in The Martian Chronicles, or from blacks who want more black people in Dandelion Wine.
I say to both bunches, Whether you're a majority or minority, bug off! To hell with anybody who wants to tell me what to write. Their society breaks down into subsections of minorities who then, in effect, burn books by banning them. All this political correctness that's rampant on campuses is b.s.

-Ray Bradbury

Offline heedpantsnow

  • * Esteemed Elder
  • Posts: 3692
  • Location: Orlando, FL
  • Old enough to know better
Sorry for being grumpy and argumentative
I'm back.

Espresso machine overhaul: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=78261.0

Carbon Fiber keyboard base: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=54825

Offline SpAmRaY

  • NOT a Moderator
  • * Certified Spammer
  • Posts: 14667
  • Location: ¯\(°_o)/¯
  • because reasons.......
just beat baldgye with a stick
Nah we all have our own beliefs, opinions and perspective on the world, life and keyboards.

We don't have to agree on any of it. :D


Offline Oobly

  • * Esteemed Elder
  • Posts: 3929
  • Location: Finland

"Fact" is always a personal decision, based on evidence.


I can't understand this statement. Facts are provable or at the very least consistently demonstrable.

"Beliefs" are what I have a problem with, because they are sometimes/often not fact-based.

What are generally referred to as "beliefs" are usually things that are accepted without proof.

Nobody says that they "believe in" gravity.

"Proof" is a loaded version of the word "evidence". There are no proofs in science, just conclusions based on high probability due to a large body of convincing evidence. No scientific hypothesis can ever be "proven", only disproven by presenting evidence which cannot exist if the hypothesis is true. It all comes down to the evidence and always to a personal decision based on that. Every scientific "fact" requires belief. You look at the evidence and decide to believe the hypothesis or not. Even with something as "self-evident" as gravity.

In fact, faith is at the very core of science and the scientific method.

I don't think anyone should (or does) believe anything without evidence. As an example, if your parents tell you something is true, you have the evidence of previous statements by them being shown to match your experience of the world and you trust them. So you believe it. If you're naturally sceptical, like me, you look for evidence from what you experience to corroborate what they've told you. The same goes for any information you are presented with. You judge the source (trustworthy or not), look at the evidence and make a decision (or not, sometimes you judge there to not be enough evidence either way so you withold judgement and in some cases look for more evidence that either corroborates or opposes it).

As I said, I'd love to discuss this further, but this thread may not be the place for it.. depends on the OP I guess.
Buying more keycaps,
it really hacks my wallet,
but I must have them.

Offline user 18

  • * Senior Moderator
  • Posts: 2231
  • Location: Deutschland
As I said, I'd love to discuss this further, but this thread may not be the place for it.. depends on the OP I guess.

Going to second this. I think it's a very interesting debate to have, but having it in a thread that's supposed to be a safe space for Christians to share their faith may not be the most appropriate.

You all are free to start a religion debate thread if you wish, just please stay respectful of everyone's freedom to believe what they choose :thumb:
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Offline SpAmRaY

  • NOT a Moderator
  • * Certified Spammer
  • Posts: 14667
  • Location: ¯\(°_o)/¯
  • because reasons.......
As I said, I'd love to discuss this further, but this thread may not be the place for it.. depends on the OP I guess.

Going to second this. I think it's a very interesting debate to have, but having it in a thread that's supposed to be a safe space for Christians to share their faith may not be the most appropriate.

You all are free to start a religion debate thread if you wish, just please stay respectful of everyone's freedom to believe what they choose :thumb:

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=77257.0

Religion Therapy open for business.
« Last Edit: Fri, 20 November 2015, 10:42:19 by SpAmRaY »

Offline maxpegasus

  • Posts: 77
  • Location: Ohio, USA
  • The search goes ever on and on...
Thought I'd add my voice to the thread. Raised in the church and consider myself a believer now at 21 years old.

I'm by no means a perfect example of Christ during my day-to-day, and some days I can't even say that I've made a decent effort to be one. But then again I guess that's sort of the point, Jesus didn't come to save/transform the already-perfect after all :p

Great to see other believers here on GH and a willingness to discuss deeper issues in our lives. Cheers!  :thumb:
« Last Edit: Sat, 21 November 2015, 01:01:22 by maxpegasus »