[sexdrugsmoney]

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But anyway, this issue is so complex that a post on an internet forum from a hungover person cannot do it justice.

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Nice. Of course, I don't really even drink, but it exemplifies how Christians think.

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Actually I was refering to myself, who was hungover as [censored] when I posted that from drinking 2 40oz's on an empty stomach, and subsequently felt terrible. [img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

But I like when you said this:

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but it exemplifies how Christians think.

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Too simple an answer. Generalizing circa 3 Billion people based on how act and not how the text(s) they profess to believe in tells them to.

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And I've read the New Testament. I was very religious until the age of 16. I would bet I have read far more about Christianity than you have read about anything which disputed it.

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The mid-late teenage years are normally when one raised as a Christian will turn away, some come back a la "the prodigal son", others don't.

Christianity is tough religion to follow as a teenager, it requires alot to practice it properly.

The teenage years are naturally rebellious because one rejects the programmed parental information that is being recieved and has been recieved before the teenager had a chance to take a 'negotiated view' of it.

Couple this with a view to a wide world thats awaits them, full of endless opportunities (mostly getting laid, lets be honest [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] ) and a religion which has more programming and requires adherance and presto, which path would you bet on Joe-teen taking most of the time?

The prodigal son wasn't a story Jesus told because he was bored one day and nobody else had conversation skills. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Anyway reading the NT is not enough, at the very least one must read the whole Bible from start to finish if they are to view the story in context and see if it makes sense (a hard ask which most people have not done - myself included) and even then the collection is so vast and deep you could study it for years and come back and still find new things. (Go ask some old Rabbi's who have read the Torah x number of times whether they continue to find anything new in subsequent readings)

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Beware the man of one book.

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What book is that? The Qur'an?

The Bible is a collection of 66 books, not one my friend.

Look, I take no joy in this 'debating' and ultimately whatever beliefs you choose to hold are yours. Free will and reason are gifts. (lets not debate who gave them to us)

All I'm saying is that life is complex, and thus a religion which attempts to explain life will also be complex. There are no easy answers, therefore one should not claim there is, and furthermore one should not partake in dogmaticism, despite how tempting it is given their current beliefs.

You quote Nietzsche, and the title of your essay is very original, but although Nietzsche had some interesting ideas, he ultimately could not conquer death, let alone insanity.

Is it not wise therefore, that if one is this powerless, they should take care then not to be dogmatic?