The Intelligence Squared Debate - Christopher Hitchens and Stephen Fry vs. The Catholics (Part 3/5)

Sooo personal experiences of coincidence and transcendence...accompanied by other peoples similar experiences...such "strong" evidence. I notice you do not attribute these experiences to Allah, Vishnu, etc...just the god that is popular in your district.

Too much evidence in my life and the lives of others of God's handiwork to deny His existence or His love.

Asking the Lord for forgiveness does not allow me to shirk my responsibility to whoever else I may need forgiveness from. We are commanded as believers to seek it. Matthew 5:24 states in regard to offerings, 'leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift'. Believers don't escape responsibility for anything when seeking forgiveness.

So what is your excuse?

'I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.' ~Abraham Lincoln

This is probably why many prisoners are believers.

I praise God because I love Him. How I look in the eyes of others has nothing to do with that.

And no, I won't accept that my relationship with Jesus promotes any of the stuff YOU say it does. Religion has nothing whatsoever to do with being a believer. Religion is man made. Many people do and say things in the name of the Lord or their religion but it does not mean it's OF the Lord.

cont'd. You give me the awful impression that you think there was a religious utopia at some point and everything was perfect. Our species has already lived through a time where your religion had it way, it was called the Dark Ages. Here is a thought experiment for you, try and remember the last time you heard on the news "Today the Agnostic army bombed a hospital, followed by a ground attack by the Atheist Militia." Face it, there is a reason more than 90% of prisoners are believers.

No, see that's where you have it wrong. If I do something wrong, I strive to make it up to the person I've wronged. Whereas you drop to your knees and ask scapegoat Jesus for forgiveness (as if magic man could forgive wickedness that affects someone else). Vicarious redemption (atonement) destroys personal responsibility, the foundation of morals and ethics. You don't watch the news much do you? Pick up a newspaper on any day, and you can see evil that the parties of god commit on a daily basis.

Stephen Fry is, quite frankly, the best argument for the human race. Period. The man is brilliant. Thank you so much for posting this.

How about you accept that your religion promotes murder, rape and torture in the name of love.