• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

Therapist says if you're an atheist you should lie to your kids about God.

Darat said:
Certainly seems to be in line with some Christians I've read about.
Click to expand...
Those would be the extreme ones like Westboro, which in no way are a representative sample.

Darat said:
Have to remember that there isn't an official body that tells all.chrisitans what they have to believe. It's quite a pick 'n' mix religion.
Click to expand...
Except of course for Catholicism, which literally has exactly such a body. Unlike Westboro, Catholicism does comprise a majority of Christians, and I'm pretty sure they don't still teach what Tertullian wrote.
 
Doc says, "Now back to the topic."

Still convinced that you get to call the shots, huh Doc?

The topic is -- what? The chrrrristian rightness of lying to children? The virtue of filling their heads with ugly Iron Age fairy tales? Come on now, doc. State your own views. Don't try to rely on vaguely topical (in your own view) authoritative voices. Be a man.* Talk in your own voice.

*Okay, be a woman then. But knock off this humming monotone.
 
arthwollipot said:
Those would be the extreme ones like Westboro, which in no way are a representative sample.



Except of course for Catholicism, which literally has exactly such a body. Unlike Westboro, Catholicism does comprise a majority of Christians, and I'm pretty sure they don't still teach what Tertullian wrote.
Click to expand...

It only takes a single example to answer your question.

And even if you want to ignore all non catholic churches there is still no body that sets out what theology they are all meant to follow
 
Darat said:
It only takes a single example to answer your question.
Click to expand...
Right, but a single example is not necessarily representative.

Darat said:
And even if you want to ignore all non catholic churches there is still no body that sets out what theology they are all meant to follow
Click to expand...
Isn't there a body called the Office of the Doctrine of the Faith or something which is supposed to do that? I thought there was. I could be mistaken.
 
sackett said:
But Akhenaten can never return. Have you forgotten? Years ago, DOC announced, more sorrowfully than angrily, that he had "blocked" the pharaoh. Yes, blocked his majesty! Although it was immediately explained to him that he had only blocked himself, DOC disdained to understand the functioning of the iggy button, and loftily refused to acknowledge Akhenaten's existence.
Click to expand...


Are you sure it wasn’t Aberhaten that he blocked? I’ve certainly not see that guy lately.
 
arthwollipot said:
Isn't there a body called the Office of the Doctrine of the Faith or something which is supposed to do that? I thought there was. I could be mistaken.
Click to expand...

Still exists in the Holy Roman church, but has no effect on other christian sects.
 
I didn't lie to my son when he asked about me not going to church or believing. He has to go because mom makes him but isn't a believer even at 9 years old.
It is just more stuff to do, illogical stuff.

I told him the classes end in june and he was thrilled. He has no concept of faith as a guiding force in life.
 
arthwollipot said:
Except of course for Catholicism, which literally has exactly such a body. Unlike Westboro, Catholicism does comprise a majority of Christians, and I'm pretty sure they don't still teach what Tertullian wrote.
Click to expand...


I don't know how you can be "pretty sure".

Tertullian is a respected father of the church although there is a cloud over him because of some heresy he may have been guilty of. He never got to be a saint as a result, but still may have made the grade and entered Heaven, after a stint in Purgatory I suppose. Probably getting his rocks off gazing down at the poor bastards writhing in agony in Hell now.

Saint Augustine did get the nod for sainthood, so I would suspect his views would be regarded as being without blemish. He had a similar optimistic view about the pleasures on offer in Heaven to Tertullian.
 
DOC said:
I realize that the Greek and subsequent Roman gods of antiquity could be interesting to read about but the growth of Christianity pretty much put them on the ash heap of history.

One of the reasons why that happened can maybe be explained by what Thomas Jefferson said about this person (Christ) that Christians believe is God in the flesh.

Jefferson said this about the teachings of Christ:

"{they're} the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man."

So maybe it might be better to tell your kids about a possible God who offered humanity what Jefferson said were the most sublime and benevolent code of morals ever offered.

And yes I know Jefferson had the opinion that the miracles of Christ could not be supported by reason but then again I have a feeling Jefferson (who could read Greek French and Latin), didn't believe in the existence of the Greek gods either. So given the choice, why not go with a god that some say offered the most sublime and benevolent code of morals ever given humanity and also go with a god that is still relevant in our society today unlike the Greek gods.
Click to expand...
This is amusing. I intentionally refused to pass on my atheism to my kids. Who am I to impose my position on them.

I was rather proud when they came to me with atheism. They reached that all of their lonesome. I can still recall their uncertaintity when they saw fit to reveal their lack of belief, and their relief when they found that we shared that position.

Weirdly enough, we now read the bible together. And laugh at it.
 
Last edited:
Thor 2 said:
I don't know how you can be "pretty sure".

Tertullian is a respected father of the church although there is a cloud over him because of some heresy he may have been guilty of. He never got to be a saint as a result, but still may have made the grade and entered Heaven, after a stint in Purgatory I suppose. Probably getting his rocks off gazing down at the poor bastards writhing in agony in Hell now.

Saint Augustine did get the nod for sainthood, so I would suspect his views would be regarded as being without blemish. He had a similar optimistic view about the pleasures on offer in Heaven to Tertullian.
Click to expand...
I didn't ask whether he was respected. I asked whether his writings were considered representative of the current doctrine of morality in the church.
 
arthwollipot said:
I didn't ask whether he was respected. I asked whether his writings were considered representative of the current doctrine of morality in the church.
Click to expand...
And as was mentioned there are definitely still chrisitan denominations that share his theology, you even mentioned one yourself.
 
arthwollipot said:
I didn't ask whether he was respected. I asked whether his writings were considered representative of the current doctrine of morality in the church.
Click to expand...


Yes it would be nice to have that "current doctrine of morality" clearly defined and nailed down. Perhaps you could have a go at it by drawing on your "pretty sure" instinct.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom