Essay talk:I Once Was Christian

I remember noticing the string holding up Santa's beard and getting suspicious. I think I was 5 or 6. Rational Ed^think! 14:08, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

Yeah, while this is the order of disbelief, I mainly mentioned it to show how absurd the idea of God is in my opinion.Sanity 14:22, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

Hmmm...

Can the author please explain the intended correlation between Santa Claus and God, please? I see none. Lyra Belaqua ^Alethiometer 14:24, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

It's an atheist thing. Let them have their fun. Jellyfish! 14:26, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

The discovery that they have been lied to about the existence of Santa, a supernatural being, is for many an atheist the first step down the slippery slope towards perdition. Rational Ed^think! 14:26, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

Old white men with beards who will reward you in a certain way if you behave properly? PFoster 14:27, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

See, my statement was true, I stopped believing in God before I stopped believing in those three fairy tale beings, it was mainly intended to be a joke to show how absurd I think christianity is. Sanity 14:30, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

Sanity, that makes you a precocious atheist. Rational Ed^think! 14:39, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

I would hope religion is more than a caustic tale... Lyra Belaqua ^Alethiometer 14:31, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

Depends on the religion. Rational Ed^think! 14:39, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

Let's say Christianity and Judaism, they use the Bible (I & II). Most of, say, Leviticus is commandments, not threats. Lyra Belaqua ^Alethiometer 14:44, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

But the list of threats in the OT is a long and imaginative one. Pillars of salt, cities razed, women condemned to suffer pain in childbirth, fathers ordered to kill their children, grandchildren cursed, people stoned to death, etc. Rational Ed^think! 14:49, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

True. But while caustic tales are generally about irrational commandments, most of Biblical commandments can be seen as rational. Lyra Belaqua ^Alethiometer 14:53, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

ORLY? human 21:16, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

A) compared to other religions B) They (Christians & Jews) haven't died out yet. To quote Morpheus, "It couldn't have happened any other way... we are still alive." Lyra (dust) 21:22, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

As far as the Jews, that's why we still have their book - if they hadn't survived the tribulations in the early books, someone else would be making the same argument. And the Christians aren't a nation or a people anyway, they propagate via babies but also by proselytizing. I don't think it's all the commandments and rules that gain them adherents, so much as the message of hope. human 21:54, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

I suppose I meant survived through ancient to medeival times, when more literal following of the Bible actually helped survival. The Jews, for example, are hypothesized to have survived mainly because they follow the commandment to "wash their hands." Also, did you know the furst commandnent in the OT is peru v'overu: "Be fruitful and multiply"? That seems to help my point. Lyra (dust) 22:03, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

<-- You're cherry picking commands now. And also, "be fruity" is not exactly "rational" now that there are 6 billion of us, is it? human 22:56, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

(warning: Schalfyesque comment follows! read with salt!) Debate has become tiresome and I will not insist on last wordism (though in posting this I am getting the last word, aren't I?). Night. Lyra (dust) 23:09, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

One thing though: 6 billion on Earth. Spirit, Opportunity and the ISS are the first step. Lyra (dust) 23:12, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

Title

Hope you don't mind the suggestion, but would you mind changing the title? "I Once Was Christian" reads awkwardly. I suggest you change it too "I was once Christian". -- Radioactive afikomen ^{Please ignore all my awful pre-2014 comments.} 14:59, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

Foolish Radman. I vote for "Once I was a Christian". Jellyfish! 15:00, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

Yea, RA, you're being a little obsessive in this instance. Rational Ed^think! 15:01, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

I would have said "slightly" or "vaguely" obsessive. But that's just me. Jellyfish! 15:02, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

As obsessive as when I make sure all the two-way light switches are pointed down? -- Radioactive afikomen ^{Please ignore all my awful pre-2014 comments.} 15:04, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

That's irresponsible. You have to flip each one seven times when turning it off, otherwise the townfolk eat your family. Jellyfish! 15:07, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

At least I don't check oven dials. -- Radioactive afikomen ^{Please ignore all my awful pre-2014 comments.} 15:08, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

Are you sure it wouldn't be a good idea to check them right now? The whole place could blow at any minute! Rational Ed^think! 15:10, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

No, no. My confidence in that matter is unassailable. Now, replaying the same scene in a video game three times to make absolutely sure I caught every word of dialogue—that I can do. -- Radioactive afikomen ^{Please ignore all my awful pre-2014 comments.} 19:20, 15 May 2008 (EDT)

Did I leave the coffee machine on? "I was a Christian, Twice, maybe Thrice". human 21:15, 15 May 2008 (EDT)