haha, alright then. is that a challenge? Coming from someone whose namesake is possibly the owner of THE biggest mouth in history?
In that case, I just think the naming of the thread begs conversation specific to the name. I think religion, if people really believe, can help the potentially weak-minded who are unable to comprehend the less comforting fact of being "alone" in the universe. However, I also believe it can beg false hop and inaction in certain situations where people leave it to God to save them. It takes no extensive archaeological brainwork to unearth the origins of organized religion; it kept the masses in line. Their lives were so terrible they didn't dare jeopardize their "ticket to heaven". In that sense it was a kind of chokehold i mposed on the people, and while they willingly complied to this idea of religion it was perhaps out of desperation, ignorance, or a nice little conglomeration of the two.

I do what I can

_{I'm an atheist too, but that comment was kinda weak. If you're going to sass a thread, bring your A game.}

wow. thank you. apparently this board isn't for expressing one's opinions anymore but for the bashing of other users.

satirize |ˈsatəˌrīz|

verb [ trans. ]

deride and criticize by means of satire : Aristophanes satirized the lack of respect for the laws.

satire |ˈsaˌtīr|

noun

the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues. See note at wit .
• a play, novel, film, or other work that uses satire : a stinging satire on American politics.
• a genre of literature characterized by the use of satire.
• (in Latin literature) a literary miscellany, esp. a poem ridiculing prevalent vices or follies.

_{Spoiler warning: Being deliberately obtuse in a completely humorless way isn't very good satire.}

THANKS guys for enlightening me, i was actually satirizing the title of this board which was what caught my attention, becuase I am an atheist and still think everyone is entitled to their opinions...so long as they do not try to impose them on me.

quote:

Originally posted by LiveALittle:
"the difference between preaching and choking"???

choke: v, to use force to cut off someone's airways, i.e. with your hands, in the attempt to cause death or harm.

preach; v. to herald your views to others in the hope of getting them to think/act a certain way, i.e. priest

ummm yeah...there' a difference

LiveALittle, as Khary pointed out with his definition of metaphor, the word "choking" as it relates to this debate on religion really is not the dictionary definition of choking. As an atheist who has had people shove religion down my throat, I have never yet had someone try to physically choke me for my lack of religion. So I think what the original quote you started with

quote:

"the difference between preaching and choking"???

was trying to get at was is there a difference between someone preaching religion to you and someone "choking" you with religion. To which I personally have to reply yes, because preaching can come in a more friendly, respectful sort of way.

you can choke some one with religion i.e. the muslim extremists are trying to wipe out all religion except theres thus choking out every one elses views on religion instead of just letting every one have there own opinions and my mom tries to choke me with religion forcimg me to go to her church (a mormom church (i dont have anything against the religion)) i like to be able to just walk into a church and be like ok i can experience there veiws on religion (what they like)

metaphor |ˈmetəˌfôr; -fər|

noun

a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable : “I had fallen through a trapdoor of depression,” said Mark, who was fond of theatrical metaphors | her poetry depends on suggestion and metaphor.

• a thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else, esp. something abstract : the amounts of money being lost by the company were enough to make it a metaphor for an industry that was teetering.

"the difference between preaching and choking"???

choke: v, to use force to cut off someone's airways, i.e. with your hands, in the attempt to cause death or harm.

preach; v. to herald your views to others in the hope of getting them to think/act a certain way, i.e. priest

ummm yeah...there' a difference

I don't believe you should force someone to believe the way that you believe. I believe that you should tell them about what you believe and about God.
I've heard some preachers do that, but if you are not one of His then you can try and believe, but after time passes then something might come up and you lose all Faith in God.
If you except God become a preacher plays on your emotions then you aren't going to be able to stand when the real tests comes.

It's pointless trying to criticize a faith. There's simply no base for any criticism to stand on. However, the followers of a religion are much easier targets, especially if they disobey the mandates of their religion.

In proportion to the prominence of each religion in our society, Islam is far more criticized. Which do you think would illicit more discomfort in the minds of people next to you at the airport, reading a quran or a bible?

quote:

Not as mush as Christianity.

It's about Christians, not Christianity. As a Christian, I'm not criticizing the faith, but rather the followers. Those who criticize Islam, do so toward the faith and the follower.

quote:

Originally posted by FreeMarketLover:

quote:

people are OK with bashing Christians, yet not OK with pointing out the flaws of anyone else

You are completely right. I don't think I ever here anyone criticize Islam.

Not as mush as Christianity. And people who criticize Islam are hated, demonized, and marginalized by your left wing friends (read: media).

quote:

people are OK with bashing Christians, yet not OK with pointing out the flaws of anyone else

You are completely right. I don't think I ever here anyone criticize Islam.

No, I will not respond to your attemt to shift the issue.

My piont is that people are OK with bashing Christians, yet not OK with pointing out the flaws of anyone else. That's fine, I just want you to admit it.

Once again, you exaggerate my thesis statement. If you can't see that growing up in Colorado Springs as a Muslim would be a proportional experience to growing up in Istanbul as a Christian, than I don't know what to do for you except to send you an application for the John Birch society.

I started a new board for you all. I think you'll like it.

http://boards.youthnoise.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/43510584663/m/48210405

quote:

I am Christian, and I find many fellow believers to be arrogant jerks.

I find many jews, muslims, atheists, and witches to be arrogant. But of course you are right, Christians are the worst slum of the religious world. I hate all of them. I will even start a new board for all of you.

quote:

Christians are the only jerks.

That perception is probably because we interact with Christians more than anyone.

Also, when people feel righteous, they tend to act like jerks. When people represent an unrivaled social institution, they tend to get arrogant. Anytime you put those two together, you end up with arrogant jerks. Since Christians are the only people who can fit into both categories in our country, they are often seen as arrogant jerks.

I am Christian, and I find many fellow believers to be arrogant jerks.

quote:

I've seen as many people of other religions (or non-religions, like atheism) act in such a way.

A very good point. There are a lot of arrogant athiests out there. Oh, I forgot, atheists are a lot smarter than all of the fools who follow Jesus.

I notice that people don't pick on Muslims for their beleifs. And some of them kill people for them. Nope, Christians are the only jerks.