The war on faith.

[Matt R.]

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Every school has a biased education, and the Catholic Church is an organized entity. Is it possible a Catholic school would allow Russell's works or Nietzsche's? I guess it's not impossible, I'll grant you that. Improbable though. There are some Catholic schools where reading Nietzsche is enough to get you punished, and that's a step up from some of the older Catholic schools. They don't have a good rep.

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Alright, I thought Nietzche and Russell were philosophers. I didn't realize they were religious historians. I don't understand why you think I need to read these authors to be "familiar" with all sides of Christianity. (No, I haven't read them -- perhaps I will get to it eventually).

I HAVE read books about Jesus from a historical perspective. Where the authors were Professors of history with NO religious background or biases. Since I am very familiar with the history aspect, I feel like my education in Christianity is very well founded.

I'm not discounting atheist philosophers arguments -- never have. This is where you are starting to claim things I didn't say. I have been arguing with you this whole time regarding the nature of Jesus and Christianity. Not about the actions of its members, but about its fundamental ideals.

If Nietzche or Russell have something to say about Jesus that a panel of historians do not, I would like to be enlightened. I wasn't aware they spoke out against Jesus Christ. If they can somehow provide insight that a historian cannot, I stand corrected.

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You've required sources to believe what I said about things like the Midianites (again, bread and butter for the atheist, about as basic as Noah's flood is for Christians)

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See, now you're getting back to your extremely annoying habit of REALLY stretching the truth. I never said I didn't believe you're Medianite story, AT ALL. Seriously, stop lying. I said I wasn't so sure there wasn't more to the story. And you know what? I was right. You implied something that was completely false (that the Israelites invaded Midia without provocation simply because they needed to be purified). When I said I was familiar, I meant I knew of opposing viewpoints and how they thought. It doesn't mean I'm familiar with specific arguments or I've memorized common literature that an atheist uses. I also have no need or desire to "pre-empt" your arguments. I'm fine with taking them on one at a time.


Also, your inclusion of the Crusades and the Inquisition leads me to believe you have really, seriously (and I mean this with all honesty) put zero effort into trying to understand my arguments. I've said countless times that groups supposedly doing things in the name of God have, throughout history, distorted religious ideals to justify horrible actions [edit for clarity].... That was one of my MAIN POINTS for like 5 posts in this thread.... The fact that I had to type that out actually just really annoyed me. WTF, are you for real?