[BrainSmashR]

Originally Posted by Al Swearengen

I've never had any problem admitting that my beliefs are faith-based.

Very good, that's all I wanted to hear/read.

You're missing the point, Brain. FEAR IS FEAR! Fear of the unknown, the known, of spiders, of enclosures, of germs...of fear itself. No matter how ya look at it, fear is fear.

I see, so in your opinion, being scared of the dark is the same as the fear of being shot. Well that's simply not true.

What you are describing is a phobia, not a fear.

Phobia: an exaggerated usually inexplicable and illogical fear of a particular object, class of objects, or situation

And since we're talking about a being so powerful it is beyond our comprehension, I think you'd be well advised to cultivate a healthy fear of Him. Might be the prudent course o action to take, eh? He is, after all, the God of the Universe, the Creator. You want proof of his existence? Take a look around you. You're walking on it, you're breathing it, eating it...you're living it! Theres your proof. Damnation...you can lead a horse to water, eh?

What you have described can easily be defined as the results of evolution....not to mention we have fossil evidence to support that theory rather than 1 book written by the single most deceptive creatures this world has ever seen.

Per "Pascal's Wager", it should be crystal clear to you by now, Brain, that the only intelligent, rational, logical, sane choice is to believe.

You sound like a common middle eastern terrorist.

If you follow this line of reasoning to it's inevitable conclusion, you'll come to see that there really IS NO CHOICE!

Are you sure your name isn't Akmed or Abdul?

Take that leap o faith, and if He exists, you will be rewarded, if He does not exist, you've lost nothing. If you dont take that leap o faith and it turns out there IS a God, you're pretty much up **** creek, get it?

Better to have lived my life a free man than to bow because of an exaggerated and irrational fear.

See how that works? Pretty simple isnt it? Even a child can understand it. But maybe I've given you too much credit in assuming you've comprehended the concept? I'll tell ya what Brain, you dont talk like any confirmed catholic I ever knew, and Ive known a few.

I see, so since I don't fit into your perfect little mold....I must be the one lying. The person you talk to everyday, the man who will answer any question you ask, RATHER than the figment of someone elses imagination that you have never seen, heard, or had what can be called a conversation (oral exchange of sentiments, observations, opinions, or ideas).

and you think I'm the crazy one......

No? Well maybe you SHOULD be worried. Its only your soul we're talkin about here, right? Are you prepared to take that risk?

Daily

Maybe its time for you to rethink your position. Your number could come up at any time...any time.

Just like I am not afraid of your god, I am not afraid of death. Although I'll admit I'm not looking forward to it, I HAVE led a good life and have spent roughly the last 3rd of it giving back to the community I took so much from during my youth.

Now, the Christian in me is worried FOR you, even if you're not worried for yourself

Yes well stop wasting your good worries on folks who don't need it. I am Catholic.....do you even understand what that means? Here's a hint, I have the best of both worlds.

...on the other hand, the fatally flawed sinner in me doesnt give a rat's ass and is perfectly content to sit back and watch as you proceed on your merry way to oblivion. Oops, looks like the sinner in me won out have a nice trip!

Who would have thought that a Christian couldn't keep his own sinful nature locked away.......certainly not anyone who posted several pages worth of atrocities committed in the name of your god.

You should have read it....I bet there was at least one group of people you would have put the sword to also, had you the legal authority to do so.`