Originally posted by Great Vengeance
That he uses insults and obnoxious behavior to make his arguments appear stronger.
It's really amusing, because I was very civil to you and fair and thorough and you kept disagreeing with me and then started this "Oh, you don't know anything" routine...
So when I come back at you with a rocksolid argument and some personal suggestions tacked on, you get all bent out of shape? Like I said, whining gets you nowhere. I was more than fair with you and entertained all your questions and clarified my stances... after the tenth reply, I got sick of your two-bit stance and thickheaded replies and I took the kids' gloves off. At that point you attempted to poison the well by saying I was attacking you personally, as though I couldn't get jabs in on you and debate at the same time.
And in the end, you resorted to an unrelated copy and paste response, and then admitted you were just trying to piss me off. Who's the obnoxious one? Oh, right... you.
Originally posted by Janus Marius
Okay, I can play this game.I believe that I have an intangible, undetectable, omnipotent midget riding around on my shoulder at all times.
Let's talk about that.
Well, I should introduce your midget to ED's green dragon. 😆
I'm not playing a game. And I feel sorry for you, omnipotent midget are a bi-tch and can really hurt your back. 😆
My belief in reincarnation is my belief, what gives you the right to attempt (poorly) to ridicule me? I did not impose my belief onto you, nor did I, at any time, make fun of you or put down your beliefs.
Originally posted by Shakyamunison
Well, I should introduce your midget to ED's green dragon. 😆I'm not playing a game. And I feel sorry for you, omnipotent midget are a bi-tch and can really hurt your back. 😆
My belief in reincarnation is my belief, what gives you the right to attempt (poorly) to ridicule me? I did not impose my belief onto you, nor did I, at any time, make fun of you or put down your beliefs.
I'm not ridiculing your beliefs, Shaky. I'm questioning your assertion:
The problem is reincarnation. The same people keep coming back over and over and making the same mistakes. Anyone who figures it all out gets to move on, but those who screw up have to stay until they get it right.
^ See that right there? That's 100% unprovable, undebatable, and uncertifiable opinion right there. I don't mind that at all, since you are fully entitled to have opinions and beliefs. However, as I pointed out, those kinds of answers don't further the question at hand. If we all sat around and gave opinions, this would be another OTF thread with a slightly smarter fanbase.
So before you get upset, realize that I'm not attacking your conclusion; I'm just stating that how you reached it isn't an objective basis for discussion. It's just an opinion not based in any real fact or logical argument.
Originally posted by Janus Marius
I'm not ridiculing your beliefs, Shaky. I'm questioning your assertion:...
I wasn’t talking about this…
Originally posted by Janus Marius
The difference between pure speculation and applied speculation is that the former is just imagining and fantasizing about things that may not be real at all. For example, I can purely speculate that Legolas could own Gimli or that in a fistfight, Caesar would own Napoleon. However, none of those can be properly infered upon because they did not take place.Same with reincarnation. There's nothing to infer that it exists. So anything we say about it is 100% speculation. Just like I could say "there's a man on the moon and he wears green shoes"... well, you can do whatever you want with that. It's not provable and not likely true either.
On the other hand, at least we can use observation and repeatability to make explanations for things such as gravity, temperature, and why the DOW is going up or down. We can't make any such informed assumptions on reincarnation.
Unless you're sitting on a goldmine of metaphysical knowledge?
I was talking about this…
Originally posted by Janus Marius
Okay, I can play this game.I believe that I have an intangible, undetectable, omnipotent midget riding around on my shoulder at all times.
Let's talk about that.
The first one was ok, the second one was, well, I’ll let other people be the judge.
Originally posted by Phoenix2001
I see nothing wrong with what Janus has stated.
So, you have to problem with his mocking of my beliefs,when it was unprovoked? I could see it if I had tried to belittle him, but he pulled out the big guns too quickly. I understand that it was because other people were giving him a bad time, but I wasn’t. He has every right to believe differently then I do and even voice that, but I have the same right.
Originally posted by Shakyamunison
So, you have to problem with his mocking of my beliefs,when it was unprovoked? I could see it if I had tried to belittle him, but he pulled out the big guns too quickly. I understand that it was because other people were giving him a bad time, but I wasn’t. He has every right to believe differently then I do and even voice that, but I have the same right.
He was setting an example. If I were raised to believe in reincarnation, I would believe in reincarnation. Janus' statement can work very much the same way.
Originally posted by Shakyamunison
So, you have to problem with his mocking of my beliefs,when it was unprovoked? I could see it if I had tried to belittle him, but he pulled out the big guns too quickly. I understand that it was because other people were giving him a bad time, but I wasn’t. He has every right to believe differently then I do and even voice that, but I have the same right.
I didn't think you would take offense, honestly. You didn't appear to be someone with a thin skin. Really, if you take that as an affront to your religion...
Well, I'll be honest- that's ridiculous. Religious reasons are personal reasons, and for you to expect everyone to "respect" them so that they're beyond any form of criticism or even a jab or two, then you're being ridiculous. I was making a point that I can believe in all sorts of things, but they aren't workable as discussion topics in a philosophy forum. You mentioned reincarnation; I think the idea is unbelievable. You have your right to believe in it; I have my right to not believe in it. I am not going to be painted the bad guy here because I second-guessed your faith and conviction.
If pointing out that your own personal beliefs don't constitute an objective and valid answer to the question is "mocking your beliefs", you need to grow a thick skin and get over it.
Originally posted by Janus Marius
I didn't think you would take offense, honestly. You didn't appear to be someone with a thin skin. Really, if you take that as an affront to your religion...Well, I'll be honest- that's ridiculous. Religious reasons are personal reasons, and for you to expect everyone to "respect" them so that they're beyond any form of criticism or even a jab or two, then you're being ridiculous. I was making a point that I can believe in all sorts of things, but they aren't workable as discussion topics in a philosophy forum. You mentioned reincarnation; I think the idea is unbelievable. You have your right to believe in it; I have my right to not believe in it. I am not going to be painted the bad guy here because I second-guessed your faith and conviction.
If pointing out that your own personal beliefs don't constitute an objective and valid answer to the question is "mocking your beliefs", you need to grow a thick skin and get over it.
I wasn't bothered until you ignored my question, of what do you think is causing this repeat in history. I do have a thick skin but intent is everything to me. Maybe it was an error on my part, but I thought you were avoiding the question and just being a smart ass.
So, if reincarnation is not a good answer, then why do you think time seems to repeat its self?
BTW As far as I am concerned, all is forgiven.
Meh people mock my Christian beliefs all the time... and I never really take it seriously.
And Skaky what I think Janus was referring to is that you cannot use religious beliefs in a debate since unless they have tangible proof they are merely opinions and not actual facts. I doubt it was intention to mock your beliefs he's just not that kind of guy.
Originally posted by Jonathan Mark
Meh people mock my Christian beliefs all the time... and I never really take it seriously.And Skaky what I think Janus was referring to is that you cannot use religious beliefs in a debate since unless they have tangible proof they are merely opinions and not actual facts. I doubt it was intention to mock your beliefs he's just not that kind of guy.
I know, I didn't have a problem with the first part.
I am not debating anything with anyone, I am just having fun.
Lets get back on topic, please.
Re: Re: Has everything already happened?
Originally posted by Janus Marius
Too vague. And if it were not already evident or detectable, we could never establish that we were indeed repeating outselves.... Depending on which context you're meaning.
^ That's my original post. I personally think the topic question itself needs to be put into perspective. Tired Hiker suggests that something unknown or beyond our senses is manipulating us into repeating ourselves. I find that a flawed premise to start with, since we can't establish anything like that, and it'd just degrade into fantasy work. Now if he's asking it from a social or psychological viewpoint: What makes us repeat our past mistakes as individuals and as humanity as a whole? it'd be a much better topic for discussion.
And I apologize if I came off harsh, Shak. You certainly haven't said anything to spite me in the past, and I don't want to be causing bad blood over a few careless words on my part. Simply put- it's not worth the effort to fret over. Like you said, back on topic.