The only sure-fire way to guarantee they don't consider an alternate view is to take shots at what they do believe. JMO

 

You say shot, I say fact. Either way, we ARE having the discussion and that is what matters most.

Agree that many have a negative feeling when they hear/read it.

 

I'm talking about the actual concept/wording.

 

Most teaching is brainwashing especially in religion.

 

Ouch...and all this time I thought the Lord God was speaking to me in my prayer time.

Ouch...and all this time I thought the Lord God was speaking to me in my prayer time.

 

Not saying he isn't.

Unless you are presenting multiple views then teaching religion is technically brainwashing. Don't get thrown off by the negative connotation.

 

I view the term as "just trust me on what I'm telling you - you don't need to go look for alternatives." That's religion. That's parenting often times.

 

So, is learning 2+2=4 brainwashing? Do I need "alternate" views from people that argue 2+2= 193, or 2x4= -147?

 

Point being is, the truth is absolute, no matter the other "alternatives".

So, is learning 2+2=4 brainwashing? Do I need "alternate" views from people that argue 2+2= 193, or 2x4= -147?

 

Point being is, the truth is absolute, no matter the other "alternatives".

 

You just made the case for the other side.

Not saying he isn't.

 

I can see the topics for new threads:

1. Is prayer brainwashing?

2. Does God speak his will through others to us?

3. Does God speak through the Bible?

4. Is there such a thing as spiritual truth? Is it opinion or it like the law of gravity?

I can see the topics for new threads:

1. Is prayer brainwashing?

2. Does God speak his will through others to us?

3. Does God speak through the Bible?

4. Is there such a thing as spiritual truth? Is it opinion or it like the law of gravity?

 

You are welcome to any threads you want to start here on BGP.

You are welcome to any threads you want to start here on BGP.

 

I know. I'm not shy.

So, is learning 2+2=4 brainwashing? Do I need "alternate" views from people that argue 2+2= 193, or 2x4= -147?

 

Point being is, the truth is absolute, no matter the other "alternatives".

 

But if the truth is absolute then couldn't it stand up to a test of alternatives, just the way two and two always make four?

But if the truth is absolute then couldn't it stand up to a test of alternatives, just the way two and two always make four?

 

And it does stand up. My point I guess was I don't need the internet and a million different "alternatives" to know what is the truth. 2+2 =4 no matter how many internet sites tell you differently. That was the point I was trying to make.

And it does stand up. My point I guess was I don't need the internet and a million different "alternatives" to know what is the truth. 2+2 =4 no matter how many internet sites tell you differently. That was the point I was trying to make.

 

I guess my point is that most things aren't as simple as basic addition and having more information available helps us get closer to the truth, whatever that is.

 

I'm not talking about Joe Schmo's blog or Habib's post on BGP, but I have pretty close to the entirety of human knowledge at my fingertips. If, for instance, someone tells me the economy is improving and someone else says it isn't I don't have to decide who to trust, I can go look at any metric that anyone else can and make my own conclusion. That's probably a bad example, but the logic is the same. I don't have to take what anyone says on trust alone.

I guess my point is that most things aren't as simple as basic addition and having more information available helps us get closer to the truth, whatever that is.

 

I'm not talking about Joe Schmo's blog or Habib's post on BGP, but I have pretty close to the entirety of human knowledge at my fingertips. If, for instance, someone tells me the economy is improving and someone else says it isn't I don't have to decide who to trust, I can go look at any metric that anyone else can and make my own conclusion.

 

Don't disagree...but sometime the truth IS just that simple.

You are on a tangent to my point.

 

And if we are going to get off on tangent it's like I said in a prior post, maybe the larger issue is the whole institution of marriage.

I'm callin baloney in that. No tangent. If churches choose not to recognize those unions there are tons of other options. Folks choose to belong to or use a church to wed. The clerk is elected to do so. I think that point is wholly valid. So to say that you would be opposed to their tax status for that reason is bunk IMO.

I find it interesting that some cats (singling no one out in particular) will completely be on board with 2+2 equaling 4, and the very same cats will turn around in contradictory fashion and push unprovable concepts as being solid truth.

 

I have no objection to 2+2=4, but just as Habib pointed out some things don't fall into the category of being just that simple.

 

I must admit that I feel that everyone contributing to this discussion is a least on board with exploring various logical angles which makes for good conversation, and although some could join the party at any given time and are certainly welcome, I'm personally thrilled to see that a few others who seemed to have come out of nowhere a few short weeks back to offer prayers for everyone in condescending fashion and the like, seems to have faded back out of the scene.

 

It bewilders me a bit as to where they came from in the first place, and in some freaky way it was somehow sorta entertaining. With that said, that's not exactly a plea for them to reappear to muddy the waters in only the way they know how.

 

What they did for me somehow was make me realize in a breath of fresh air sort of way that I'm not completely that much different than most of the people who post here on a regular basis when comparing everyone to how extreme some others can be.

So, is learning 2+2=4 brainwashing? Do I need "alternate" views from people that argue 2+2= 193, or 2x4= -147?

 

Point being is, the truth is absolute, no matter the other "alternatives".

 

Not a great analogy, my friend.

 

People consider 2+2=4 to be an absolute.

 

People do not have that some absolute feeling about every religious belief.