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all 105 comments

[–]roule13 18 points19 points ago

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Got to love T-Paine

[–]InaccurateStatistics 2 points3 points ago

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Word. Someone should buy the T-Paine microphone and recite this with it.

[–][deleted] 8 points9 points ago

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I debated a creationist once through a lengthy series of debates. I work in an evolutionary biology lab, so I was bringing up arguments from things that I was seeing in my lab. He ignored them and went straight back to answers in genesis talking points. Gave up on it.

[–]CaptainKirk1701 -4 points-3 points ago

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we shall talk some day as I am a theist who believes in evolution hey were in the Bible does it say God made the world in seven Consecutive days?

[–]LoboSolitario 2 points3 points ago*

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Where in the Bible say it's NOT?

[–]CaptainKirk1701 -1 points0 points ago

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please speak English.

[–][deleted] ago

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[deleted]

[–]CaptainKirk1701 -1 points0 points ago

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English Motherfucker do you speak it?

[–]KeyboardHero 0 points1 point ago

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While you're going to receive massive downvotes for such a silly statement, you made me realize something I hadn't quite acknowledged before.

I never took time to realize how often in Christian literature, song and conversation that people emphasize YHWH making 'the whole world' ("He's got the whole world, in his hands, he's got the..."). Let's be conservative and assume that 100 billion galaxies exist in our universe. From there, let's be even more ridiculous and assume that each universe only contains 100 planets. Earth is but one of those planets, yet Christians marvel at the time YHWH spent on 0.0000000000001% of the planets in our universe just because we happen to live on it?

That's probably my largest gripe with the Genesis account: that our planet took up five days of creation, yet the rest of the universe only required one and is encapsulated with the line, "So God made the vault and...called the vault 'sky'." Right from the start of "YHWH's divine word" do we get a huge indicator that this book was written by man with no sort of divine intervention. The reason why the universe isn't marveled at or taken into account during creation week was because that knowledge was not yet available to mankind.

It constantly amazes me that it took 21 years of living before I could see past the indoctrination of my childhood.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points ago

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How very Thomas Painey of him.

[–]BuckyDuster 3 points4 points ago

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Why argue? Live and let live.

[–]thepopdog 0 points1 point ago

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That would require the other side to do the same and not push their beliefs on us

[–]RachnusRageous 0 points1 point ago

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Because that's what all theists do.

[–]amakeshifttheory 1 point2 points ago

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What a broad generalization. Assumptions set aside, it is important to understand that is it not practical to have a rational discussion when it comes to aspects of religion, based on faith. If matters of religion and faith was so simple, then philosophers such as Plato, Thomas Aquinas, and Immanuel Kant just to name of few would have had a much easier time wrestling with it. I am a Christian and I choose to share my faith when I feel the time comes, however I do not force it upon people. In fact, I would go so far as to say I don't think it should be forced on anyone.

[–]RachnusRageous 0 points1 point ago

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same here. I was being sarcastic.

[–]amakeshifttheory 0 points1 point ago

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Hard to exhibit tone in r/atheism ;) My apologies.

[–]RachnusRageous 0 points1 point ago

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same can be said for all sarcasm on the internet. It's cool.

[–]BuckyDuster 0 points1 point ago

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Agreed

[–]ReoinMahBoat 2 points3 points ago

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Sometimes people are so stubbornly religious that attempting to talk sense to them is like trying to wake someone who is stubbornly dead, but there is always the possibility that one day they will ask themselves how much longer they can keep up this charade.

I think the problem is that most of the time they don't want to stop believing because they're afraid of "real life" and hard truths.

[–]CatholicCommunist[S] 0 points1 point ago

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logic isn't easy or convenient. It's hard to fit into soundbites. thats why most americans don't use it

[–]pineapplol 2 points3 points ago

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Arguing with a creationist about evolution is like arguing with a blind man about what is blue.

[–]FatTristan 2 points3 points ago

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Just wondering, OP. Were you Catholic when you joined reddit, but later deconverted to atheism? (From your name)

[–]CatholicCommunist[S] 1 point2 points ago

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Well you see I'm a communist and we believe in spreading communism to the whole world. The Catholic Church believes the same about they're religion, Catholic comes from a Greek word meaning universal. Therefore, I'm a universal communist.

I was raised Catholic, but I don't really believe in God, I just believe in Catholic social teaching and such.

[–]Beatneat -2 points-1 points ago

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"I'm a communist"

Hahahaha, you just lost all credibility right there bud.

[–]CatholicCommunist[S] 4 points5 points ago

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Because I have political views you disagree with? Why, there's been a lot of pretty smart ones: Jesus(regardless of whether you believe in his divinity he's got some good ideas), Sean MacBride(Nobel Peace Prize winner), Oscar Romero, Dom Helder Camara, Most Native Americans, Ho Chi Minh, etc

[–]colebluefearn 0 points1 point ago

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My only major issue with Communism is that it's the death of the individual.

[–]NotaPoet -4 points-3 points ago

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Communism is a broken ideal. have fun downvoting me, reddit.

[–][deleted] -1 points0 points ago

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Why do you care so much about downvotes?

[–]NotaPoet -1 points0 points ago

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groupthink is fun.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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Thanks for not answering the question. Words are fun!

[–]NotaPoet 0 points1 point ago

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Because there's a distinct dichotomy that exists on reddit, and there's sub-divisions of that dichotomy, but a distinct expression of one of those sides is the need to downvote anyone who says something about what you agree with.

It doesn't involve engaging though, it doesn't involve critical thinking, it involves a knee-jerk reaction to something you have allowed yourself to be trained into believing as automatically negative, thus automatically downvoting.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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Maybe they just disagree with you. That's why most people downvote.

By the way, I have no idea what you were trying to say. You'd be a good poet.

[–]Nithoren 5 points6 points ago

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You argue with them? I just let them think what they think and leave them on their merry way.

[–]CatholicCommunist[S] 13 points14 points ago

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This quote also works with republicans.

[–][deleted] 22 points23 points ago

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This quote also works with anyone that puts their faith in their political party

FTFY

[–]CharlesAnonymousVII 5 points6 points ago

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This quote also works by itself.

[–]CatholicCommunist[S] 0 points1 point ago

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this is true

[–]krom0025 3 points4 points ago

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Came here to post just that...upvote foe you

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

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Unfortunately Catholic Communist reasoning wasn't written into the Constitution.

[–][deleted] -5 points-4 points ago

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Christians AND Republicans? You are so enlightened I almost forgot to realize you're a bigot. Painting with a brush that broad makes your brain as worthless as the subjects of the Paine quote.

[–]CatholicCommunist[S] 0 points1 point ago

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I said sometimes, so I'm not generalizing. How does this make me a bigot? For disagreeing with them?

[–][deleted] ago

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[deleted]

[–]CatholicCommunist[S] 8 points9 points ago

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regardless, its a good point

[–]Kaidaan 1 point2 points ago

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someone lost to the dark side is not always lost completely.

[–]TheLaw655 1 point2 points ago

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This is how I feel when arguing with athiests......

[–]NoahFect 1 point2 points ago

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What reason(s) do you feel are being ignored by those you argue with?

[–]finest_jellybean 1 point2 points ago

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you guys do know that Thomas Paine believed in God right?

[–]hosolon 1 point2 points ago

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Hey umm OP, you do not seem to know what you are

"As a Christian"

"As a Catholic"

"Also I'm agnostic"

"I'm a communist"

you seen a bit confused.

[–]CatholicCommunist[S] 0 points1 point ago

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I don't see where communist contradicts any of those. I'm agnostic, I used to be Christian.

[–]hosolon 0 points1 point ago

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All with in the last month, you have been busy.

[–]CatholicCommunist[S] 0 points1 point ago

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beliefs change, how is that so hard to believe?

[–]cattofbills -1 points0 points ago

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Fuckin BUSTED! Get the fuck out, faker.

[–]CatholicCommunist[S] 1 point2 points ago

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I don't see how.

[–]stfnotguilty 1 point2 points ago

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Sure doesn't stop you from trying, though.

[–]zachbredberg 1 point2 points ago

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How I feel arguing with atheists sometimes.

[–]hanahou 1 point2 points ago

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Funny how it comes from a man whose friends found him unreasonable. He had only 6 people show up for his funeral. Never married and had no kids. Lived long for his time, did some good, and a lot of harm. His philosophy on life is taken with a large grain of salt by this posting Atheist.

[–]Syrio88 1 point2 points ago

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Nobody is asking you guys to argue with anyone.

[–]CaptainKirk1701 1 point2 points ago

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I really just wanted it out there that we are not all idiots who tolerate none I have Jewish Muslim and atheist friends and I love science I in fact have two patients in alternate fuel so please don't judge us all on a few nuts let us laugh at them together!

[–][deleted] ago

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[deleted]

[–]colebluefearn 5 points6 points ago

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Fuck Ayn Rand.

[–]Turdferguson86 1 point2 points ago

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Thank you for using "sometimes" in that title. Now please modify it further by adding "some Christians", since not all of us drive a wedge between faith and reason.

[–]CatholicCommunist[S] 0 points1 point ago

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By sometimes I meant some Christians. I'm not trying to say that all christians are ignorant, just some.

[–]CharlesAnonymousVII 1 point2 points ago

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So, in summary: you're reminded of this quote when you argue with irrational people. Oh, and some people who are Christian also happen to be irrational. Now, would it be fair to say you also feel the same when arguing with idiots who happen to be atheists?

[–]CatholicCommunist[S] 0 points1 point ago

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Yes, some atheists are just as ignorant as some Christians. But for the most part it's the religious because they have an easy absolute cop out. You prove them wrong and they say, "Well God/the Bible/ says you're wrong and that's that."

[–]CharlesAnonymousVII 1 point2 points ago*

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Those who are proved wrong, whether theist or atheist, generally don't do a lot of reaching when seeking a cop out. "The Bible says you're wrong" works just as well as "Whatever; everyone knows that's not true". If the topic is one in which there's a lot at stake, the likelihood of hearing "Yeah, you're right" is obviously going to be small. I've never heard that, after proving an atheist wrong, either. I wouldn't assert that an atheist's atheism per se renders him irrational though.

[–]theninth 0 points1 point ago

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Or casting pearls before swine, if you will.

[–]mycroft2000 0 points1 point ago

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He looks like Harry Shearer.

[–]Metsa 0 points1 point ago

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You should feel like this all the time. Stop arguing with Christians.

[–]L4UGH 0 points1 point ago

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Boy, you told 'em.

[–]Truart2310 0 points1 point ago

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Or as Doug Stanhope said "It's like trying to kick water uphill. You ain't gonna win".

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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You sound like a smug asshole.

[–]Iam_Jeff_Click 0 points1 point ago

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Wasn't Thomas Paine a deist? Isn't posting this in /r/atheism kind of counterproductive..?

[–]CatholicCommunist[S] 0 points1 point ago

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I realize this, it still doesn't take away from the intelligence of the quote.

[–]dispeptic_pony 0 points1 point ago

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When I first glanced at that paragraph, I would have sworn I saw the word "dickhead" somewhere in the copy. I have nothing more to contribute at this time.

[–]EverRolling 0 points1 point ago

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"A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficia appearance of being right." This is my other favorite quote by him. If people back then could see the truth why cant more people see it now with all the evidence we have.

[–]sirmichaelhunt 0 points1 point ago

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T-PAIN!

[–]kelsen89 0 points1 point ago

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Dude this is how I feel when talking to Atheists, I don't argue there's no point in wasting my time.

"An atheist has to know a lot more than I know. An atheist is someone who knows there is no god. By some definitions atheism is very stupid." - Carl Sagan

[–]goonsack 0 points1 point ago

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"You should never argue with a crazy man man man man man man; you ought to know by now"

-Billy Joel

[–]Crownowa 0 points1 point ago

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Sometimes I like to beat a dead horse though ;D

[–]mountaingirlclay 0 points1 point ago

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Full context and unedited version of this quote found here

“To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason, and whose philosophy consists in holding humanity in contempt, is like administering medicine to the dead, or endeavoring to convert an atheist by scripture.”

[–]Enlightenment777 -2 points-1 points ago

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Arguing with religious people is like arguing with patients at a mental hospital !!!