Ambushed

[_Sam Harris]

Honey, if your behavior here is any indication of how bright your spirit is, I shudder. If you have mis-represented yourself (and stop insisting we just don't speak your language), then start a new thread, introduce yourself, and move on. Your intellect is being clouded by this rediculous crying wolf (y'all are persecuting me!), and the assumptions you keep making about people you've posted with for about two hours.

You keep on attacking me, calling me an arrogrant prick, a fundie, suggesting I'm a black and white thinker who can't see reality, etc., then when I reply by noting you are attacking me, attack me again by claiming I have a persecution complex. I have to admit, it is a pretty creative way to attack somebody relentlessly. Did you have a little brother? Did you hit him with his own fists and continually ask him why he was hitting himself?

ROFL! Um, this is not a therapy session. I'm actually through dipping you in acid for today, and you have Runtu to thank for that.

I have two little brothers, neither of whom I abused in childhood. Firstly, the age differences are too great, one is nine years younger, the other sixteen years younger. They are like my children. Secondly, I do not believe in punching weaklings, be they physical or intellectual.

I called out your behavior for what it was. It is observed that when a person is falsely accused, they normally react calmly. Only those who know that the shoe fits react the way you have.

Welcome to the board, Juliann. Do you remember me? We have a long history together my friend, and I'm so delighted that you're here. How brave of you to finally show yourself amongst us, it must have taken a lot of courage.

I'll be gentle.

[_grayskull]

It looks like grayskull encountered some overly ambitious, and consequently sadly rude missionaries. It should happen less often than it does. People lose sight of priorities in their zealous devotion sometimes. However, Grayskull uses that encounter to leverage some bigoted shots at Mormons, contrasting the sane, normal world with "cult-indoctrinated" saints. He couldn't let the story pass without expressing the cancerous hate eating his mind. It's a strange refrain from an atheist, a person holding one of the most abnormal positions on religion and God on the planet.

Well, you know, the thing is, that unlike Wade and Moksha, you don't just assume absolute purity on the part of the missionaries. You ought to start a new thread on the "abnormal" position of atheism.

[_A Light in the Darkness]

x

Well, you know, the thing is, that unlike Wade and Moksha, you don't just assume absolute purity on the part of the missionaries. You ought to start a new thread on the "abnormal" position of atheism.

Obviously, we are only getting one side of the story. The missionaries alleged pushiness might simply be a reflection of your disdain for them. But it isn't unheard of for missionaries to be pushy, and I figured I'd give you the benefit of the doubt and take you at your word. We can talk about the abstract case of the pushy missionary without having to take your story at face value. I thought it was noble of me, given that you expressed vile hatred of Mormons and their "cult-indoctrinated" minds in the same post

[_beastie]

my previous post:

That's true, but there have been some royal jerks who have served as mission presidents too. I'll have to try and remember to double check this with my boyfriend, but I'm pretty sure he told me that not only was the foot in the door a common technique in their mission, but it was openly condoned by the leaders.

My update:

I did check with my boyfriend, and he affirmed my memory was correct. They were indeed taught to put their foot in the door so the target couldn't shut it, and to try and move into the house even when not openly invited.

[_Bryan Inks]

Besides, there are some rather significant issues facing the world that may well warrant discussion...

Good point. So why are we even discussing Mormonism at all?

You'll have to answer that for yourselves. For my part, rather than discussing Mormonism, I have attempted to shift the focus to our finding workable life strategies and functional self-improvements that may be generalized to enriching a broad range of human relationships and to enhance the human condition.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

Then you're on the wrong board man.

You may be right--not because my focus isn't relevant or needed here (I think there is considerable relevance and need), but because it is becoming more and more apparent that too many here may be closed-minded to workable life strategies and functional self-improvements.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

I know I'm coming into the discussion late here, but I have to say this.

Wade, I can almost guarantee that you will find people more open-minded about your "workable life strategies and functional self-improvements" when you actually present some.

Having watched your interactions with people since the first of this board, I'll admit that you have grown as a conversationalist. . . but your irrational focus on our dismissal of something you haven't presented is getting tiring.

So, it's time to put your proverbial money where your proverbial mouth is, Wade.

Give us one of your "workable life strategies and functional self-improvements" and we can discuss that.

[_guy sajer]

It's a strange refrain from an atheist, a person holding one of the most abnormal positions on religion and God on the planet.

Come again?

Atheists make up roughly 3% of the population. 97% disagree with them. I think that would qualify as "abnormal." I guess it's Ok to point out and mock how not normal Mormons are compared to the normal world, but when it is simply pointed out that grayskull isn't really normal either when it comes to religion, that's just wrong, wrong, wrong!

Mormons make up .01% of the population. 99.99% disagree with them. That makes them far more "abnormal" than atheists.

Thank you for proving the point that Mormons are weird.

(Ok, now do you see how silly your argument is?)

[_A Light in the Darkness]

Did you even read what I wrote? It is not I who tried to smear a religious group because they are not mainstream. It is Grayskull. I was mocking his hypocrisy by pointing out his views are abnormal as well. Indeed, while Mormonism is not mainstream, it shares a lot more in common with religious beliefs around the world than an atheist does. Fall all its differences, the LDS faith is a kissing cousin of Catholics when you compare their beliefs to those of an atheist. Yet Grayskull refers to himself as "normal" when contrasting against LDS religious beliefs.

[_Mr. Coffee]

Did you even read what I wrote? It is not I who tried to smear a religious group because they are not mainstream. It is Grayskull.

Are you aware of what you type or do you find yourself going in and out of conciousness as your type?

You labeled an entire group of people as "abnormal" for not being "mainstream" and then quoted statistics to back it. Guy pointed out the absolutel IRONY of your retarded little comment by using your own logic against you. By your logic, since atheists represents a small percentage of ther population they are abnormal, therefore since the LDS makes up an even smaller percentage of the population they must be more abnormal than atheists.

I was mocking his hypocrisy by pointing out his views are abnormal as well. Indeed, while Mormonism is not mainstream, it shares a lot more in common with religious beliefs around the world than an atheist does. Fall all its differences, the LDS faith is a kissing cousin of Catholics when you compare their beliefs to those of an atheist.

So then in order to not be considered "abnormal" a religion or philosophy must share a certant ammount of commonality with "mainstream" Christianity? Under that boneheaded little concept that would mean that the majority of the world's population is abnormal as they subscribe to non-christian religions or philosophies.

But wait! That contradicts what you said about abnormality being based on what is "mainstream". I mean, Christianity only represents about 33% of the world population, which says that it is "mainstream" to NOT be christian. Therefore ALL christians are arbnormal.

Now do you see how mindnumbingly stupid your line of thought it, Sparky?

[_A Light in the Darkness]

Did you even read what I wrote? It is not I who tried to smear a religious group because they are not mainstream. It is Grayskull.

Are you aware of what you type or do you find yourself going in and out of conciousness as your type?

You labeled an entire group of people as "abnormal" for not being "mainstream" and then quoted statistics to back it. Guy pointed out the absolutel IRONY of your retarded little comment by using your own logic against you. By your logic, since atheists represents a small percentage of ther population they are abnormal, therefore since the LDS makes up an even smaller percentage of the population they must be more abnormal than atheists.[

I don't think you have followed this conversation at all. Grayskull attacked Mormons for not being normal. Grayskull is an atheist. Since atheists are a tiny minority on religious topics, that shows that grayskull's own attack is hilariously relevant to him. Guy, having a poor shortterm memory it would seem, then jumped into to point out that Mormons are uncommon. It's as if neither of you have taken the few seconds neccessary to understand this conversation. I'm just showing how Grayskull's attack on Mormons applies to his views on religion as well. I'm not endorsing the position that any religious view should be attacked simply because it isn't mainstream enough. If you have a problem with that, your problem is with grayskull, not me. Yet, strangely you weren't here attacking him after his first post. Why? Because you feel a prejudiced loyalty to him for being part of your tribe, as Beastie would say.

I was mocking his hypocrisy by pointing out his views are abnormal as well. Indeed, while Mormonism is not mainstream, it shares a lot more in common with religious beliefs around the world than an atheist does. Fall all its differences, the LDS faith is a kissing cousin of Catholics when you compare their beliefs to those of an atheist.

So then in order to not be considered "abnormal" a religion or philosophy must share a certant ammount of commonality with "mainstream" Christianity? Under that boneheaded little concept that would mean that the majority of the world's population is abnormal as they subscribe to non-christian religions or philosophies.

No, in order to be "normal" a religion or views on it must be relatively commonplace. I was pointing out how atheism is relatively distant from mainstream religious views compared to the LDS fith. Abnormal, in this context at least, isn't a codeword for bad. It's a reference to unusualness. As for why it is discussed at all, read above.

Now do you see how mindnumbingly stupid your line of thought it, Sparky?

Read that to yourself.

[_Mr. Coffee]

I don't think you have followed this conversation at all. Grayskull attacked Mormons for not being normal. Grayskull is an atheist. Since atheists are a tiny minority on religious topics, that shows that grayskull's own attack is hilariously relevant to him.

Are you stoned, stupid, or just being intentionally obtuse, son?

Your ENTIRE rebuttle is based on atheists being abnormal because they a minority, yet your own religion is an even SMALLER one. By your own logic Mormons are abnormal when compared to Atheists.

Guy, having a poor shortterm memory it would seem, then jumped into to point out that Mormons are uncommon.

Which is entirely relevent to you dopey little "mainsteam=normality" argument. Your little religion is orders of MAGNITUDE smaller than the number of Atheists in the world.

It's as if neither of you have taken the few seconds neccessary to understand this conversation.

I was responding specifically to your "mainstream=normal" premise, slackwit. Which wouldn't you know it, is part of the conversation.

I'm just showing how Grayskull's attack on Mormons applies to his views on religion as well.

And it backfired on you in a bad way...

I'm not endorsing the position that any religious view should be attacked simply because it isn't mainstream enough. If you have a problem with that, your problem is with grayskull, not me. Yet, strangely you weren't here attacking him after his first post. Why? Because you feel a prejudiced loyalty to him for being part of your tribe, as Beastie would say.

Oh yes, I'm "prejudiced" because I "belong to the same tribe"...

Nice ad hominem, dumbass. It has nothing to do with my beliefs, but it does have everything to do with how absolutely retarded your position is. Try arguing against the points instead of against the person, you intelectually dishonest s***.

No, in order to be "normal" a religion or views on it must be relatively commonplace.

So since humanists (Secular Humanist, Agnostics, and Atheists) make up the third largest philosophic/religious demographic in the world then that would mean that Atheism is common place and therefore not abnormal.

Nice try, son. E for effort, but you still failed miserably.