More Rapture Ready Fun

[MLynn]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My husband USED to be a skeptic.... Praying for you, Pete!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, evildave, I read that post too and wondered: What does that have to do with anything. I surmised that she meant that if her husband who was a skeptic became a Xtian, then maybe Pete would too, and there was "hope." Which is awfully presumptive considering she doesn't know Pete from Adam (heheheh).

 

[Lord Emsworth]

Rather than posting reason on that site, I think it would be much more fun to strike up a conversation about what else you can do *right now* to get ready for the 'rapture'.

Then start elaborating about your personal preparations, you know, wearing only conservative clothes of a certain color, shunning television. Never operating any vehicles as a courtesy in case you're 'taken up' right then. Drinking only spring water from bottles. Praying before, during and after every meal, and every hour. Do your homework. Read up on the rapture stuff. Sell it.

See how much it takes to weird them out about how far 'gone' you are. You never can tell; perhaps there are some there who are doing that already.

(Emphasis mine)

Now why would anybody would want to spend time doing homework - perhaps even for some ungodly evolutionist biology class, eh - when you are going any time now anyway?

Spend the time praying. For SkepticPete!

 

[the_ignored]

Heh! I like this thread this thread where they brag about their degrees and jobs in response to being called bonkers by Euopeans.

So what, there are a lot of cult members of every stripe who have degrees and stuff. Didn't the "Comet cult" <forget the name> have doctors and what not in it too?


BTW, Pete, you've been banned from RR.

 

[evildave]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My husband USED to be a skeptic.... Praying for you, Pete!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, evildave, I read that post too and wondered: What does that have to do with anything. I surmised that she meant that if her husband who was a skeptic became a Xtian, then maybe Pete would too, and there was "hope." Which is awfully presumptive considering she doesn't know Pete from Adam (heheheh).

Well, you know, hope springs eternal, and people keep buying lotto tickets.

 

[evildave]

Heh! I like this thread this thread where they brag about their degrees and jobs in response to being called bonkers by Euopeans.

So what, there are a lot of cult members of every stripe who have degrees and stuff. Didn't the "Comet cult" <forget the name> have doctors and what not in it too?


BTW, Pete, you've been banned from RR.

It's amazing what one half-baked shred of a quote can incite among people who don't even ask to see an article before they start raging.

Naturally I tried to track down the story that incited this. The closest I could find was cited as being by a Guardian author, but I couldn't quickly get a hit on a Guardian source for this article.

http://mathaba.net/x.htm?http://mathaba.net/0_index.shtml?x=44956

Which is focused on African news.

Africa, Europe, what's the difference anyway?

 

[MLynn]

BTW, Pete, you've been banned from RR.

How did you find out Pete's been banned? Did they say why?

 

[Beleth]

Pete, why do you think you are denied access to reply? Is this the RR standard? I am irritated because:
1. I would not presume to publicly post prayers for someone unless they would ask me to.

That's their goal, though - to irritate you by telling you that they're going to pray for you.

The RR folks, and Armageddonists in general, want nothing more than to irritate. They don't want to save or convert anyone. They want others to feel bad about themselves. To feel bad about not being brainwashed the same way they are. They see Jesus as a know-it-all rabble-rouser and decide that's what they want to emulate.

I almost said "and fundies in general," but I have indeed met some very nice Fundamentalists in my life. They still wanted to convert me, but they didn't want to shame me into believing the way they did. Conversion by example. Like how Jesus gathered up many of his disciples. Much nicer and more effective.

2. I would WANT to know what the "prayee" was thinking and WELCOME any replies.

By not allowing any replies, they can assume that they have been irritating.

I'm sure some if not most of these people are well-meaning, but to start a thread and put your name on it is just not right.

You are correct. It is not right. It is unreasonable and irritating to all rational people. Which is precisely why they do it.

 

[the_ignored]

It's amazing what one half-baked shred of a quote can incite among people who don't even ask to see an article before they start raging.

Naturally I tried to track down the story that incited this. The closest I could find was cited as being by a Guardian author, but I couldn't quickly get a hit on a Guardian source for this article.

http://mathaba.net/x.htm?[url]http://mathaba.net/0_index.shtml?x=44956[/url]

Which is focused on African news.

Africa, Europe, what's the difference anyway?

It's from this thread that they have the Observer article mentioned...among some other threads there.

For the hell of it, a brainless post by one of them where he makes the arrogant claim that his superstitious belief is what comprises "normal" values.

As if non-xians everywhere be definition don't have normal values.

 

[SkepticPete]

Hey thanks all for your posts.

Yeah it seems like I have been banned but how did you know The-ignored?

I'm really puzzled by this.
They all took offence to my post even though I quoted word for word from Willo's prayer post and simple substituted "wishfull thinking" for "prayer".

Anyway it was only an experiment on my part to see how well I could reason and debate with them without losing my cool.
I think I did well, and wasn't rude or offensive to anyone.
Simply tried to turn their arguments around to demonstrate the absurdity of it all.

Anyway thanks again all, and if anyone here is registered with RR could you keep me informed of any posts regarding little ole me?

Regards

Pete

 

[the_ignored]

From Becky's post in the "End Times, how bad is it" Thread:

Very good points, Queue.

skeptic pete was not here to discuss, but here on agenda. He will no longer be able to post on our private board unless we here he has a change in attitude via e-mail.

Thread closed.

Yes, the smilie was in her original post.


Basically, you have to grovel to get back in.

Then, from the "Willo" thread...
Becky:

Pete, this is a private board. You are to defend your faith here. It seems you are not here to discuss, but here to make fun of and ridicule other posters. This is not a game.

Thread closed.

Her next post:

Oh, Pete won't be able to see this because he is now on "read only".

Basically, you have to walk on eggshells to not piss them off. Here, people can be more snarky, as JediKnight etc are, and they're not banned.

At RR, if you're not extra careful, you're toast.

Yes, I still have an account there, but I basically just watch.

 

[SkepticPete]

I have just emailed the proprieters of the board the following..............
Hi,
it appears I have been suspended or banned from posting on Rapture Ready forum.
Seems to me the decent and christian thing to do would be to inform me of the reasons for my banning.

I am aware that it is a christian message board and have tried to respect that whilst still questioning and trying to understand the beliefs there.

At the very least I would request that you have the thread titled "Skeptic Pete" started by Willo, deleted completely from the board.

Even though I do not accept the power of prayer I know that those posting do believe. Therefore I find it offensive and intrusive in my life to have a prayer thread started for me. If the posters believe their prayers can open my "heart" (mind) then doing so against my will is surely not ethical behaviour.

Please spend a few seconds of your time to respond to my concerns.

Regards

Skeptic Pete

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Now correct me if I'm wrong but I thought about this a lot today.

I'm sure most of you here will understand that I have no "fear" of their prayers and am treating the whole thing as a learning experience for debating and honing my critical thinking skills

However..........we also know that they TRULY believe in the power of prayer and expect that the more they prayer , the more likely god will open my "heart" and I will accept jesus.
Therefore consider their actions highly offensive and disrespectful.

As I suggested in one of my hypotheticals..........."If I had a mind control machine, that could influence their thinking, and used it to make them believe in god-XYZ, because I truly believed it was their only chance of salvation and eternal life.............wouldn't that be an assault?"

 

[SkepticPete]

Thanks for that ignored, I appreciate your help.

By the way.............I am not a new member here by any means.............not a regular poster but have been registered here for years.
My account became lost in some cyber hole and I had to re-register recently.

I feel I know a lot of you quite well from lurking ;-)

Thanks again, I know the JREF board is much more tolerant of divergent belief systems

I was also aware that my time on the RR board would be short-lived. Was truly trying to hone my debating skills knowing the strict regulations there would keep my temper in check somewhat?

Do you consider the thread I started for Willo in direct response to his prayer thread was an apprpriate way to get them to reflect a bit? I used Willo's text word for word apart from the changing of "prayer" to "wishful thinking"?

Regards

Pete

 

[Flo]

Iit appears I have been suspended or banned from posting on Rapture Ready forum.
Seems to me the decent and christian thing to do would be to inform me of the reasons for my banning.

and how would you know what is or isn't christian, since you're not one of them (according to their definition) ?

I am aware that it is a christian message board and have tried to respect that whilst still questioning and trying to understand the beliefs there.

the simple fact that you had the cheek to ask questions proves to them you didn't respect their faith. You just got what you deserved (according to their terms).

Even though I do not accept the power of prayer I know that those posting do believe.

I wouldn't bet on it. Closing one's ears and eyes while humming out loud (or its cyber-equivalent) is not the sign of a strong confident faith.

Therefore I find it offensive and intrusive in my life to have a prayer thread started for me. If the posters believe their prayers can open my "heart" (mind) then doing so against my will is surely not ethical behaviour.

Again, not being a christian, you simply cannot know what is ethical ...

Please spend a few seconds of your time to respond to my concerns.

They'll certainly pray for you some more ...

However..........we also know that they TRULY believe in the power of prayer and expect that the more they pray, the more likely god will open my "heart" and I will accept jesus.
Therefore I consider their actions highly offensive and disrespectful.

It is, but what they find highly offensive and disrespectful is that you don't believe what they consider as self-evident. They are mostly unable to understand how you cannot see it as they do.

As I suggested in one of my hypotheticals..........."If I had a mind control machine, that could influence their thinking, and used it to make them believe in god-XYZ, because I truly believed it was their only chance of salvation and eternal life.............wouldn't that be an assault?"

Of course, but you have to remember that they do it for your own good *, whereas you'd be doing it in order to send their souls to hell ...

* I discovered recently that a couple of my colleagues used to pray for me during lunch break at a time when I just lost my grandmother and was suffering from a rather painful and debilitating disease. Their "reasonning" was that god was sending me that in order to "open my eyes". All hell broke loose when I was told about that and I didn't mince my words about what I thought of the morality of someone who can wish you ill in the hope of brainwashing you.

 

[ceo_esq]

We all get prayed for by the Christians. Sit back and take your prayers like a man. Some of these people are probably not hypocrites and are honestly entreating their God, in charity, to tend to your well-being. You and I know it's not worth the effort, but why prove that you're not worth the charitable thought by being so ungracious and contentious about it?

 

[Flo]

We all get prayed for by the Christians. Sit back and take your prayers like a man. Some of these people are probably not hypocrites and are honestly entreating their God, in charity, to tend to your well-being. You and I know it's not worth the effort, but why prove that you're not worth the charitable thought by being so ungracious and contentious about it?

I don't mind being prayed for by charitable people, whatever their faith. I recognise this has happened and I've always answered with a "thank you for your good wishes, although I don't share your beliefs".

I have however trouble considering someone who wishes you ill, or gloats over your problems, or threatens you with eternal torment as "charitable".

 

[SkepticPete]

because ceo_esq, I have been tolerant of this for 45 years and I just figure enough is enough. They arent praying for my wellbeing as much as trying to scare me into submission with their horror stories.

But I must say comments like yours seem to upset me more than anything.

Maybe I should just belt up and keep quiet.

Hmmm I'm obviously the one with the problem here :-(

 

[Flo]

because ceo_esq, I have been tolerant of this for 45 years and I just figure enough is enough. They arent praying for my wellbeing as much as trying to scare me into submission with their horror stories.

You're perfectly right.

But I must say comments like yours seem to upset me more than anything.

Maybe I should just belt up and keep quiet.

Hmmm I'm obviously the one with the problem here :-(

No, you're not the only one, and there is no reason why it should be admissible for a believer to force his convictions on you and not for a non believer to state his disagreement with that sort of contempt for his freedom of conscience.

 

[AtheistArchon]

- Heh... being banned from RR is considered a right of passage in my circles. You're not a real skeptic until you've seen the credophiles slam the door.

- I've been banned for, mmm about a year and a half now. It was for blasphemy; I spelled god 'gawd'.

 

[frisian]

- Heh... being banned from RR is considered a right of passage in my circles. You're not a real skeptic until you've seen the credophiles slam the door.

- I've been banned for, mmm about a year and a half now. It was for blasphemy; I spelled god 'gawd'.

Funny how Upchurch doesn't have any problems in terms of his status at RR.

 

[frisian]

Here is what Queue stated to Skeptic Pete... Queue is also a non-believer.

"Even I have few boundaries when engaging in any form of debate, from any side, when on my own terms. But when a guest at another man's table (so to speak), it is only good form to pick and choose your arguments according to the subject matter that he is willing to engage you in and not try to press the issue when asked not to.

In apologetics, it is best form to argue primarily on issues where you see conflict with observable phenomenon - evolutionary science and secular morality first among these. These arguments can be profitable to both sides - Christians can test the mettle and refine their arguments, filtering reasonable defenses from ignorant ones. And you can defend the methods and conclusions of the scientific method or, if you prefer, your own morality.

It is not good form to argue things like the existance of God or challenge the intentions, methods, or powers of God. It continually boggles my mind that any atheist would choose to debate things like whether it is just for God to send people to Hell when they believe in neither. It's like seeing a man who'd never read a comic book in his life argue about whether Superman did the right thing in his latest issue.

I'm not saying you have no right to argue any way or about anything you want. I'm saying you should choose your subjects and approaches more carefully as respect to your hosts. If you absolutely need to argue a moral point (like homosexuality), present your arguments FOR your side rather than attempting to refute the arguments of your opponents. Like I said, it's about civility in debate to prevent it from turning into a fight."