Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Halidom on November 14, 2011 at 7:20pm

I know that Xian can be used as slang for a christian, but is from Chinese Taoism and used as a name. It has a male and female name. Then the Buddhist used it in the Veda in Sanskrit the word is rishi means inspired sage. You know the guys that go live in a cave and stare at their navels all day. The word Xian is not in the bible and if Jesus did ever exist I'm sure he would not have heard of Xians. The word christian was not used until well after his supposed death.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by SteveInCO on April 20, 2012 at 11:35am

:Xian" is short for "Christian" in the same way that "Xmas" is short for "Christmas;" the X stands for "Christ."  It certainly didn't come "from Chinese Taoism" but rather is a parallel development.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Cambrios on April 20, 2012 at 11:54am

Just for further context, the "X" comes from the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός (pronounced Kristos) which is where we get the word "Christ." Even when I was a Christian, I would frequently refer to Christmas as Xmas for brevity.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Param K on April 20, 2012 at 1:37pm

yeah, because in that case they're being condescending a-holes. 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Halidom on November 14, 2011 at 11:15pm

Have you read about some of the "great?" wars. Men who where taught that they should not kill went over and killed people. Prayer I agree does not help in those kind of situations. Religions even if you don't believe in them do a lot of good (and some evil) in this world. I don't mean you don't believe in religions you just don't believe in a god. If prayers help someone who am I to tell them not to. Being an atheist does not really make me anti religion. It's kind of like Steven W Hawking's book  "A brief history of Time"  said to be the top selling book that almost no one read.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Acacia Warwick on November 17, 2011 at 9:37pm

We have a family member who is terminally ill and her husband is absolutely convinced that prayer has extended her life beyond the span predicted by her doctors. The fact that she is at the Mayo Clinic with amazing insurance and cutting edge technology is just a result of all these prayers. He has even gone so far as to tell people that saying that she is "in your thoughts" or sending gifts, etc. is meaningless to a believer, and does nothing.

Since he knows full well that we are atheists, it really hurt, but we send her stuff anyway.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Boatman on November 28, 2011 at 7:25am

Keep sending stuff.  It's a tangible reminder that atheists can be good, caring people, without the framework of religion or a belief system.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rocky Oliver (LotusGeek) on October 29, 2011 at 4:11pm

Yeah, which basically means, "I have no idea why that happened, but I refuse to look at the situation rationally because it will threaten my suspension of disbelief. That, and I hate admitting 'I don't know' so I blame that situation on god."

 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dustin on October 29, 2011 at 5:06pm

God always answers prayers.  He either says Yes, No or Not Yet.  

 

I'm praying for you - After they find out I am an Atheist.  grrrrrrrrrrrr

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Stutz on November 2, 2011 at 3:14am

To "Yes, no, or not yet", I like to point out that those are the only three possible results, and therefore I could get the same answer by praying to a rock.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dustin on November 2, 2011 at 10:56am

Or not praying at all.  ;P  

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Len on November 2, 2011 at 2:49pm

The reply that comes most of the time (actually like 100% of the time) is ... no reply. Not a "yes", not a "no", not even a "wait until I've finished watching the football". Just nothing. Is their god that ill-mannered?

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• …
• 24
• Next ›
• Page