Well, according to some religions, no, you can't convert from one to another. (Or more precisely, you can't convert from that religion to another one.) I don't happen to buy that, but it's still part of their structure.
And no, I wouldn't consider you a christian. I would state that you probably never were a christian; choosing to follow Jesus Christ is a personal decision; it's not something you can be born into. I am a christian. I am so because I weighed the evidence I've seen, and chose to follow Him myself, not because my parents were, or my grandparents, or any other relative or friend. That my family and friends mostly are believers has certainly made it easier for me (as opposed to being killed for following Christ, as many believers are in Islamic countries, or in places like China), but they were not the ones that lead me to make that decision in the first place.
That's how it is for me also. It's good that we as individuals make our own decisions on this kind of stuff. I commend this post.
And I'm sure you can go back to the beginning-middle of the thread and read how I and others reasoned out that there is no god.. (It's a rather long thread, though)
japan and korea? Did you like it there? Or did it completely suck?
Yeah, mainly I was in Korea. It's really crowded. The capitol, Seoul, is the size of Chicago but has the same amount of people in it as NYC. It's pretty cool.. I might go again next summer.
EnderX thought that there was some kind of constant consciousness throughout humanity.. That everyone agreed on the same morals and could differentiate btwn 'right' and 'wrong' similarly.. Which is obviously quite wrong..
Hmm... I think that there is some consciousness to a degree in humanity. But I think it all depends on how you were raised by your guardians. If you were taught not to steal a cookie from the jar in the kitchen, then you realize it is wrong. If you weren't taught that, then you obviously think it's okay. And it also depends on society itself. People usually follow what they see around them.
Cars are a lot more expenisve here though, as is petrol and insurance for younger drivers (cant drive without valid licence, insurance and M.O.T safety certificate)
You're welcome. And of course you do. You're 18. I'm much older and still have a lot to learn. Intelligence is not how much you know but how well you use what you already know. And this you do quite well.
Actually I'm 17. ;) And you make a really good point.
Yes you do. Any scientific evidence that is at odds with a strict interpretation of the Bible you claim is false. That is a disagreement. If science contradicts the Bible, rather than looking at how to reinterpret the Scriptures to include the new information, you simply dismiss the information as bogus. It's a lot like the Warren Commission.
Yes, I do claim some things are false, but that doesn't mean I don't believe in science at all. My goodness, God was the first scientist!
Please substantiate this. I completely disagree. Most Protestants I know do not take the bible literally. I was Episcopalian and Methodist, and I know they are not literal interpretors. And as proof, I'll simply point out how many Protestant sects there are. They can't ALL be interpreting the Bible literally if they ALL believe something different.
Like I said, teaching is not so much different as worship is. Worship is the biggest difference in the branches of Christianity (Protestants). I think the word 'literal' is a bit too vague for what I'm trying to explain. For …
Exactly what I was trying to prove.. Just b/c you or the christian community thinks a certain way that doesn't make it true. Many people hold different moral beliefs, and who are you to say that your beliefs are true? However, if morals were constant throughout the human race, then everyone would interpret laws similarly. We know that this is not the case; All societies are unique in their beliefs of 'right' and 'wrong'..
