If I was to tell you that I am a Satanist...

[Saline]

Originally Posted by floorpuncher

Belief in God can not remove the concept of self preservation completely.

But how can you know this if don't even believe in God? =|

[Little Horn]

Originally Posted by Saline

But how can you know this if don't even believe in God? =|

Because self-preservation is a part of any animal's instincts as much as it is instinct to eat or procreate.

[Saline]

No, what you said about the belief in God not removing any fears of death. I'm asking how you can know that can't happen? You don't believe in God, so how could you know that?

[Little Horn]

Originally Posted by Saline

No, what you said about the belief in God not removing any fears of death. I'm asking how you can know that can't happen? You don't believe in God, so how could you know that?

I answered your question. you just didn't read into it enough.

[Saline]

No, you didn't answer it. Stop saying you've answered people's questions and they just need to read them again. We obviously didn't get it and need you to re-explain.

You're just saying it's instinct, but you have no proof!
You DON'T KNOW. Your claim to have so much knowledge, and boast the importance of backing things up, but you have no proof for this. You're just saying it's instinct, yet you don't know what it's like to trust God.

[Little Horn]

Originally Posted by Saline

No, you didn't answer it. Stop saying you've answered people's questions and they just need to read them again. We obviously didn't get it and need you to re-explain.

You're just saying it's instinct, but you have no proof!
You DON'T KNOW. Your claim to have so much knowledge, and boast the importance of backing things up, but you have no proof for this. You're just saying it's instinct, yet you don't know what it's like to trust God.

First of all keep your insults to yourself.

To attempt, once again, to answer your question...

Would you go running wildly through a mine field? Would play Russian roulette? If someone was shooting at you, would you just stand there?

[Darren]

Originally Posted by floorpuncher

First of all keep your insults to yourself.

To attempt, once again, to answer your question...

Would you go running wildly through a mine field? Would play Russian roulette? If someone was shooting at you, would you just stand there?

Very well said, I congratulate you

Yeah Saline, I got the meaning from his answer as well, I dont see why you dont

[SilentWalrus]

I'd be like.
Neat.
:O

[Napoleon Iven Quinnly]

my question would be who put that instinct there? where did it come from? the idea of self preservation certainly did not come from a one celled organism who has about as much clue about the world as person living in the middle of the Congo has about Wallstreet?

did i make my point? if not i can clarify

[Little Horn]

Originally Posted by Napoleon Iven Quinnly

my question would be who put that instinct there? where did it come from? the idea of self preservation certainly did not come from a one celled organism who has about as much clue about the world as person living in the middle of the Congo has about Wallstreet?

did i make my point? if not i can clarify

Instinct: a largely inheritable and unalterable tendency of an organism to make a complex and specific response to environmental stimuli without involving reason

You can argue the point that God put the instinct in us and that's fine. That's not the point here. The point is that regardless of how much a person truly believes in God and no matter much they believe that when they die they will go to Heaven, nobody wants to die.

[Saline]

1. I wasn't insulting you
2. You've insulted plenty of people based on age and not being able to vote (lol?)

I'm not going to start insulting on a debate thread, I'm trying to handle this maturely, but it seems some tones are being lost in translaton. Anways:

I'm not saying people who believe in God go running through minefields, that's not the point I'm arguing. I'm saying there can be peace of mind and a lack of fear at death. Christians believe that Christ defeated death when he was ressurected, giving us hope in something beyond this life. You saying that everyone fears death has no basis, and you ave no proof for it.

[Napoleon Iven Quinnly]

floorpuncher have you ever believed in God? if so why did you stop? if not was it because your parents didnt attend church? (i apologize if i seem to be prying)

[Dragod]

More power to you.

[MasterSprtn117]

Originally Posted by floorpuncher

It is also argued that the concept of hell is not hellfire and brimstone but simply a place outside of the presence of God. How would this place be much different than earth?

Do Satanists believe that there is no god? If they believe that, isn't every place outside the presence of God?

[mr.handsomeman]

I would guess that Satanism means that you believe that there's a Satan, and you worship him, instead of God, but if you believe in Satan, wouldn't you believe in God?

[Little Horn]

Ok... First of all I apologize for my delayed response. I had to go out of town for the weekend and this is the first that I've been able to really sit and reply...

Napoleon - I never believed in God. I always wanted to. I wanted to for so long and I searched and searched to try and find God. There was a period of my childhood where I pretended to believe in God. I thought that if I faked it hard and long enough that eventually I would begin to believe my own lie. It seemed however, that everytime i would search, the answers that I found, or lack thereof, only aided in separating me from the idea of God. By the time I was 15 or 16 I realized that if there was a God, he had abandoned me. Shortly thereafter I saw that there could be no God. It was at that point I found comfort and, as cliche as it sounds, inner peace. My parents had nothing to do with it. As I mentioned befor eI was raised free of religious oppression. My parents never told me how to believe or what to believe and left it at that. I had no biasness while growing up. My parents supported my decisions and still do.

Saline - I think that perhaps you and I are on the same page, just looking at things a little differently. The point I was trying to make from the get go was that I don't understand why someone who is so devout in their beliefs and truly believes they are going to heaven would bother staying alive in this **** life (compared to the idea of Heaven). My point was that it's funny to me that you (not you specifically, but generally) can "believe" in something as wonderful as the idea of Heaven and still have the desire to carry on your life here.

Now, even us Satanists have an inner peace about our death. We realize that death is just another part of life and that without it life would not be worth living. However, we also understand the finality of death. With that being said, I accept my mortality but I aim to live my life as long as possible and will fight to preserve it.

Mr.Handsomeman - I do not believe in Satan or God. Satanists use the concept of Satan as an archetype of opposition to all spiritual beliefs.

MasterSprtn - Yes, there is no God therefore every where is outside of his presence.

[mr.handsomeman]

thank you sir for clarifying. i really had no clue what it was. thank you!

[Saline]

Originally Posted by floorpuncher

Saline - I think that perhaps you and I are on the same page, just looking at things a little differently. The point I was trying to make from the get go was that I don't understand why someone who is so devout in their beliefs and truly believes they are going to heaven would bother staying alive in this **** life (compared to the idea of Heaven). My point was that it's funny to me that you (not you specifically, but generally) can "believe" in something as wonderful as the idea of Heaven and still have the desire to carry on your life here.

First off, glad to know you aren't taking this personally or anything, I'm just here to debate my point, as are you. I'm also not going to start insulting people when I feel intimidated, so if you get that vibe from anything I post, let me know and I'll try to rephrase it or something.

OK, here's my answer. Christians (as I'm sure many other religeons) believe that we are here for a purpose. Christians' being to spread the gospel. Sure, we could just die now and go to heaven, but I would much rather be able to share that hope of eternal life with other people. Plus, I don't want to put my family through the pain of my death. But I don't really know why people grieve death, it SHOULD be a celebration of passing into a better life, perhaps that's kind of what you're wondering about? Why people greive others' deaths? I dunno, I've tried to explain it well and I hope you'll be able to see it from another view-point.

I'm not here to try to convert, I just want to make you (and others) sure of what you believe. Pushy Christians anoy me =|

[Little Horn]