Fatima

[Gordon]

How would you deflect a charge of being brainwashed into atheism from an early age?

By simply pointing out that I grew up in a family for whom religion was an irrelevance: it wasn't a factor in any sense whatsoever, for example I wasn't christened (which was unusual in the 1950's), and since religion wasn't a factor in any sense then neither was atheism: religion was something that happened to other people.

I wasn't introduced to tennis as a child either.

[Nearly Sane]

By simply pointing out that I grew up in a family for whom religion was an irrelevance: it wasn't a factor in any sense whatsoever, for example I wasn't christened (which was unusual in the 1950's), and since religion wasn't a factor in any sense then neither was atheism: religion was something that happened to other people.

I wasn't introduced to tennis as a child either.

You are now admitting you should be charged with being brainwashed into atennisism!

[Walt Zingmatilder]

By simply pointing out that I grew up in a family for whom religion was an irrelevance: it wasn't a factor in any sense whatsoever, for example I wasn't christened (which was unusual in the 1950's),

So would you say that being special contributed toward your atheism?

[Gordon]

You are now admitting you should be charged with being brainwashed into atennisism!

Guilty as charged - brainwashed by lack of interest.

[Nearly Sane]

So would you say that being special contributed toward your atheism?

Can you just not stop yourself from mistepresemting what people write?  Is it some form of compulsion?

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Can you just not stop yourself from mistepresemting what people write?  Is it some form of compulsion?

I'm just trying to get to the bottom of Gordon's atheism...or are you suggesting that only theists should be examined or indeed accused of having been brainwashed into it?

[Gordon]

So would you say that being special contributed toward your atheism?

What on earth is 'special' about religion not being part of family life - I didn't claim it was special?

My atheism isn't a consequence of my childhood but is solely due to concluding, in later life, that the case made for theism (e.g. the various approaches and arguments offered by theists in support of their beliefs) is either incoherent or fallacious.

[Nearly Sane]

I'm just trying to get to the bottom of Gordon's atheism...or are you suggesting that only theists should be examined or indeed accused of having been brainwashed into it?

Must be a compulsion, since off you go again.

[Gordon]

Was just reading the latest BBC update on events in Fatima this weekend and wondering how some people take this kind of theatre seriously - beats me!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39904846

[bluehillside Retd.]

Vlad,

I'm just trying to get to the bottom of Gordon's atheism...or are you suggesting that only theists should be examined or indeed accused of having been brainwashed into it?

But why given that you've been told already how to work out the answer for yourself?

Can you really have forgotten already?

Oh well. Here it is again then:

Step 1: Write down why you're an a-leprechaunist

Step 2: Delete "leprechaun" and insert "god"

Step3: Try to remember that liking one outcome more than another does not turn a bad argument into a good one (you may have to write that one down on a Post-it note as an aide memoire)

Step 4: Have a nice cup of tea and a ginger biscuit to celebrate finally getting it

You're welcome.

[Alan Burns]

of course, that isn't actually true, is it, Alan? You mean people of your faith. There are millions of 'people of faith' that disagree with you about that but you seem forced due to possibly your perception to misrepresent facts.

I always felt that the messages given in these apparitions were applicable to the whole of humanity - not just the Roman Catholic church.

[bluehillside Retd.]

AB,

I always felt that the messages given in these apparitions were applicable to the whole of humanity - not just the Roman Catholic church.

Now of course all you have to do is to demonstrate that there actually were “apparitions” and “messages” rather than one or more of the various alternative but doubtless less thrilling real world explanations for these stories catching the wind.

Good luck with it!

[Anchorman]

I always felt that the messages given in these apparitions were applicable to the whole of humanity - not just the Roman Catholic church.

-
Hower you must concede that many millions of Christians reject Marian doctrines absolutely, and, therefore, the visions allegedly given in these places.
Were the woman to appear to a non-Christian, an atheist, or a group of Sikhs, there might be a reconsideration.

[Nearly Sane]

I always felt that the messages given in these apparitions were applicable to the whole of humanity - not just the Roman Catholic church.

In which post the bot uses a difference but is badly programmed and misses the issue.

[floo]

I always felt that the messages given in these apparitions were applicable to the whole of humanity - not just the Roman Catholic church.

The 'messages' received by the RCC over the centuries haven't done much for it, as it has caused so much grief to so many people.

This for instance.

http://freethinker.co.uk/2017/03/03/gruesome-find-at-catholic-home-for-unmarried-mothers/

[Robbie]

That is grim but don't see what it has to do with apparitions.

[floo]

That is grim but don't see what it has to do with apparitions.

I was replying to AB's post!

[Robbie]

I get that but the link to the unmarried mothers' home scandal has nothing to do with apparitions.
How-ever - we move on.

[ippy]

Noted the trouble with using the right word, lots of references to brainwashing again where indoctrination is meant.

It's easy to separate the two words brainwashing involves some elaborate forms of torture.

ippy

[floo]

I get that but the link to the unmarried mothers' home scandal has nothing to do with apparitions.
How-ever - we move on.

I always felt that the messages given in these apparitions were applicable to the whole of humanity - not just the Roman Catholic church.



I was saying the messages haven't done the RCC any good!

[Robbie]

No argument from me with that.

[ekim]

Meanwhile in Russia ....... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-40062807

[Sriram]

Meanwhile in Russia ....... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-40062807

Faith is an extraordinary thing. It puts us in touch with the subtle forces that work from within us.

[floo]

Faith is an extraordinary thing. It puts us in touch with the subtle forces that work from within us.

Faith is indeed and extraordinary thing, it can lead people right up the garden path and defy all logic!

[Sriram]

Faith is indeed and extraordinary thing, it can lead people right up the garden path and defy all logic!

Logic is neither here nor there. We humans try to understand things based on logic. But the world does not function on logic.