I don't like it when people use religion...

[Ikonomi]

...to formulate really stupid thoughts.

So my parents are talking about a friend's husband who was training with Halliburton to do contract work in Iraq, but who "failed" the personality test. I wonder how you fail a personality test.

Anyway, my father said, "Then again, maybe that's God's way of saying it wasn't time for him to go over there and screw up. The next guy to take his place might go over and be killed."

To which I replied, "So then, why wouldn't God prevent the next guy from going over and getting killed...?"

To my dad's credit, he tried to play it off as a joke instead of saying something like "God works in mysterious ways", but it was a ridiculous thing to say, and the response was still a copout. As if one person is more important or worthy in God's eyes than another, just because my dad knows him? Ridiculous.

I'm not a religious person, and that sort of twisted non-logic is a big reason. I've been hearing that sort of thing my whole life, and it's never made sense to me.

Sorry, yet another pet peeve thread. Carry on. :frown:

 

[GasX]

This thread is G-d's way of showing us the folly of trying to have an intelligent discussion on the internet.

 

[DrNoobie]

Using science to formulate stupid thoughts is better? Stupid thoughts are stupid thoughts.

 

[Ikonomi]

Originally posted by: DrNoobie
Using science to formulate stupid thoughts is better? Stupid thoughts are stupid thoughts.

No, but maybe religion wouldn't get such a bad rap if people avoided doing it. Anyway, it's easier to argue with someone over science than faith.

 

[TitanDiddly]

Religion doesn't follow the 'rules', it's an anomaly to what most think it normal. Doesn't make it 'stupid'.

And DrNoobie, you have 666 posts.

 

[djheater]

What with Easter, a recently "saved" Brother-in-law, and a new hire who lubs teh church I'm Christianed out. I've declared my office an irreligious zone and violators will be thrashed.

That is all.

 

[Ikonomi]

Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox
Religion doesn't follow the 'rules', it's an anomaly to what most think it normal. Doesn't make it 'stupid'.

And DrNoobie, you have 666 posts.

I never said that religion was stupid, just to clarify. Faith is just another part of life for people who follow religion, and there's nothing wrong with that. I'm not religious, but I'm not anti-religion, either. What I am against, however, is using the concept of God's will to justify someone's murder, which is what my dad was doing.

 

[Amorphus]

Think of it - it's altogether very possible that God did not want said friend of your parents to go because he would've been ill-equipped mentally and emotionally, so instead God chooses to send someone else who is more ready and more fit to keep his group from getting killed. It's not a stupid argument; your dad just didn't know what in the world he was talking about.

 

[Ikonomi]

Originally posted by: Amorphus
Think of it - it's altogether very possible that God did not want said friend of your parents to go because he would've been ill-equipped mentally and emotionally, so instead God chooses to send someone else who is more ready and more fit to keep his group from getting killed. It's not a stupid argument; your dad just didn't know what in the world he was talking about.

And if he had phrased it that way, I'd find it a lot easier to stomach. That sounds a lot more like the Christian God. But no, in his mind, God would have used the proverbial "next guy" to keep the husband of a friend from dying? That isn't right.

 

[Yossarian]

Originally posted by: Amorphus
Think of it - it's altogether very possible that God did not want said friend of your parents to go because he would've been ill-equipped mentally and emotionally, so instead God chooses to send someone else who is more ready and more fit to keep his group from getting killed. It's not a stupid argument; your dad just didn't know what in the world he was talking about.

I think it's because God likes some people more than others.

 

[TitanDiddly]

And why do people automatically qualify ideas they don't understand as 'stupid', especially when related to religion?
(Not targetted at you, Ikonomi)

 

[Ikonomi]

Actually, Amorphus, I have an honest question. Do you feel that most things (everything?) happens for a reason, as part of God's design, or do some things just... happen? Basically, is everything God's work?

For example, if I find a dollar on the street, is it because God wanted me to have it? How far does that causality extend? Did the person who dropped it drop it for a reason?

I'm honestly curious.

 

[fredtam]

"failed" the personality test. I wonder how you fail a personality test.

You show signs that you are not able to handle stressful situations. I have had to take a few (also seen a lot of people fail them) and the questions do tend to be a good indicator of people being able to handle stress, not blab about classified sh!t, and work well with others. It cuts down on the number of suicides and people bailing out or being poor workers.

Yeah. I don't think God would say "Wait that is ****'s friend. I don't want him dying, Send that other guy instead. "

 

[VictorLazlo]

"Then again, maybe that's God's way of saying it wasn't time for him to go over there and screw up. The next guy to take his place might go over and be killed."

Just like when athletes credit god for winning a game.

As if the other team consisted of demons and god wanted them to lose.

 

[Ikonomi]

Originally posted by: fredtam

"failed" the personality test. I wonder how you fail a personality test.

You show signs that you are not able to handle stressful situations. I have had to take a few (also seen a lot of people fail them) and the questions do tend to be a good indicator of people being able to handle stress, not blab about classified sh!t, and work well with others. It cuts down on the number of suicides and people bailing out or being poor workers.

Yeah. I don't think God would say "Wait that is ****'s friend. I don't want him dying, Send that other guy instead. "

Yeah, the personality test makes sense. Thing is, the dude quit his steady job to go to this three week training session, and failed the first test. Now he's just SOL as far as employment goes. Seems like he should have come prepared, or at least known what he was getting into.

But that's unrelated. Just unfortunate and dumb.

 

[Modeps]

I dont like it when people get irritated over something so trivial as someone ELSE's beliefs. Concentrate on your own issues and stop worrying so much what everyone else is doing.

 

[VictorLazlo]

Originally posted by: Modeps
I dont like it when people get irritated over something so trivial as someone ELSE's beliefs. Concentrate on your own issues and stop worrying so much what everyone else is doing.

Do those people irritate you?

 

[TitanDiddly]

Originally posted by: VictorLazlo

"Then again, maybe that's God's way of saying it wasn't time for him to go over there and screw up. The next guy to take his place might go over and be killed."

Just like when athletes credit god for winning a game.

As if the other team consisted of demons and god wanted them to lose.

That makes soo much sense. Anyways, I hate it when some pr0n chick is at the orcars or something, and she's all like 'I want to thank my parents, my friends, my personal hitman, and Jesus!".

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: Ikonomi
Actually, Amorphus, I have an honest question. Do you feel that most things (everything?) happens for a reason, as part of God's design, or do some things just... happen? Basically, is everything God's work?

For example, if I find a dollar on the street, is it because God wanted me to have it? How far does that causality extend? Did the person who dropped it drop it for a reason?

I'm honestly curious.

no one can know the answer to that. it could be an honest mistake, or God could have made the last guy drop it so you would bend over and pick it up. since you picked it up, you were delayed 2 seconds and that could have saved your life because you would have been 3-4 steps further and maybe a car could have run you over. who knows?

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: VictorLazlo

Originally posted by: Modeps
I dont like it when people get irritated over something so trivial as someone ELSE's beliefs. Concentrate on your own issues and stop worrying so much what everyone else is doing.

Do those people irritate you?

No, I just dont like hearing them complain... wait, that's kinda irritating.. uhh, wtf! i'm stuck in circular logicville!