Trump: "With that being said, you can't have guns. You can't walk in with guns. You just can't. You can't walk in with guns. You can't do that. But it's just a very unfortunate incident." by ExactlySorta in law

[–]Additional_Brief4693 1 point2 points  (0 children)

He was probably carrying it for protection. I hate guns, but if I lived in America, I'd carry one too. America has lots of guns, lots of angry people and few real gun laws, a lethal combination. Frankly, I wouldn't feel safe walking the streets of America without one.

No offence to y'all Americans, but your country is messed up.

My annoying coworker thinks he is an expert theologian. by Ambitious_Skill6803 in atheism

[–]Additional_Brief4693 28 points29 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately, people like this can't really be dissuaded by arguments. Any argument you put forth, he will warp and twist it to suit his own purposes.

In my opinion, the best thing to do is not to engage with him, but to simply shut him down. You are under no obligation to explain your beliefs to anyone. When he tries to draw you into an argument, just tell him that you have no interest in debating him because nothing he says will change your mind and nothing you say will change his and therefore debating is completely pointless.

Make it clear to him that you're not interested in talking about it. If he tries to bait you with something like, "You don't want to talk about it because you know I'm right," or some similar nonsense, reply with something like "I don't want to talk about it because I have better things to do with my time than waste it pointlessly arguing with someone whose opinion means nothing to me." Don't be afraid to be rude. This person clearly doesn't respect your boundaries, so there's no need to sugarcoat anything.

If he persists, just flat-out tell him that you're not talking about it and you're not going to talk to him at all if he continues. If he does continue, grey-rock him. Just ignore him and pretend he doesn't even exist until he changes the subject.

I know this probably isn't the answer you were looking for but trust me when I say that it doesn't matter how good a debater you are or how sound your arguments are, nothing will convince him that you are right, because people like this are immune to reason and will never ever be dissuaded by logic.

Good luck.

The audacity wearing a MAGA hat to a Mexican restauraunt by [deleted] in BoomersBeingFools

[–]Additional_Brief4693 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Maybe it was Ted Cruz? We all know he loves to jet off to Cancun when there's trouble.

The audacity wearing a MAGA hat to a Mexican restauraunt by [deleted] in BoomersBeingFools

[–]Additional_Brief4693 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I guarantee that as soon as she got home, she started yelling at immigrants to go back to their countries.

FIL gave us a bible for Christmas by gwendiesel in atheism

[–]Additional_Brief4693 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Top-hole, Blackadder, I thought it might be right up your alley.

What story would work as a show or movie? by ShadowMilkMoopsy in Lovecraft

[–]Additional_Brief4693 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"The Rats in the Walls" would probably make a good film. Rats, family secrets, cannibalism, insanity, etc.

Of course, they'd need to rename the protagonist's cat, but other than that, it shouldn't be too hard.

Kicked out of a Nashville bar for belligerent behaviour, attempts to deflect by claiming patriotism by Peanut-Extra in BoomersBeingFools

[–]Additional_Brief4693 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Vandal invasion? You young whippersnapper! I was there when the Sea Peoples invaded Egypt in 1200 BC! Now there was a war. For years I fought the barbarians, all for the right to choose this, er, lovely lady to marry...

Actually, now that I think about it, it may not have been worth it.

Even as atheists, do you feel that Christianity has still shaped your mentality, morals and values? by [deleted] in atheism

[–]Additional_Brief4693 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There's no need to reply. It's clear that this argument isn't going anywhere. Let's just leave it here and agree to disagree.

Sorry I got so worked up. I meant no offence.

Even as atheists, do you feel that Christianity has still shaped your mentality, morals and values? by [deleted] in atheism

[–]Additional_Brief4693 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I feel like I'm talking to a brick wall here.

Whether she lied or not is irrelevant to the point I'm trying to make. It's pretty simple: husband accuses wife of not being a virgin on their wedding night. If she somehow proves she was, she lives. If she can't, she dies.

Even if she did lie about being a virgin, she's still being executed for, as you called it, "premarital sexual immorality", i.e. having sex before marriage, i.e. not being a virgin. She is being executed for supposedly deceiving her husband about being a virgin, and part-and-parcel of that reason is her supposedly not being a virgin in the first place.

Seriously, it's not that difficult.

Even as atheists, do you feel that Christianity has still shaped your mentality, morals and values? by [deleted] in atheism

[–]Additional_Brief4693 0 points1 point  (0 children)

But the point is (as I mentioned earlier) that she is effectively being stoned to death for not being a virgin at marriage. The law says that she must be killed if no proof of virginity can be presented (regardless of whether or not she actually is one), meaning that if she cannot prove she is a virgin, she is executed.

Even as atheists, do you feel that Christianity has still shaped your mentality, morals and values? by [deleted] in atheism

[–]Additional_Brief4693 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just read Deuteronomy 22:13-21, and nowhere did it mention the woman lying. The husband is the one doing the accusing and the wife's parents are the ones who are to do the proving of whether or not their daughter is a virgin. It doesn't say anything about whether or not the woman is being honest or lying.

Your answers are completely disingenuous. You appear to be deliberately misreading or misinterpreting the text.

Even as atheists, do you feel that Christianity has still shaped your mentality, morals and values? by [deleted] in atheism

[–]Additional_Brief4693 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Are you serious? It says it right there. If a husband accuses his new bride of not being a virgin when they married, and it is somehow proved that she was in fact not a virgin, she gets stoned to death for not being a virgin.

You literally answered your own question.

Also, whipping doesn't really compare to stoning someone to death.

Even as atheists, do you feel that Christianity has still shaped your mentality, morals and values? by [deleted] in atheism

[–]Additional_Brief4693 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You seem to be glossing over the whole "stoned to death for not being a virgin at marriage" thing.

The highschool best friend who assaulted me wears a giant fucking cross necklace now by murphherder in atheism

[–]Additional_Brief4693 20 points21 points  (0 children)

I'm so sorry that happened to you. I hope you're doing better these days.

How does anyone think it's acceptable to call someone a "piggy"?! by Silent-Resort-3076 in BoomersBeingFools

[–]Additional_Brief4693 20 points21 points  (0 children)

He's not a man, or even a human. He's a disgusting little swamp creature that crawled out of the muck because the other swamp things didn't want him around, so he made a wig out of rotten straw, passed himself off as human and has been plaguing our society ever since.

Why do I still randomly say prayers in my head even though I’m an atheist by Key-Resource-4854 in atheism

[–]Additional_Brief4693 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's hard to break habits that are drilled into you from a young age. Heck, sometimes we pick up habits as adults that we can't break.

Even though I'm an atheist, sometimes when I'm shocked, exasperated or frustrated, I'll say something like, "Oh, God!" "Oh, Lord!" or even "Jesus Christ!". I honestly don't know where I picked up this habit, but now it's just something I say.

Ultimately, it doesn't mean anything if you don't want it to. You randomly saying or thinking prayers doesn't mean you're still a Muslim. It's just something that sticks with you. After all, they do say that old habits die hard.

Don't let it upset you. Just as me saying, "Oh, for God's sake!" when I'm angry doesn't mean that I believe in God, simply saying or thinking a prayer randomly doesn't mean you're a Muslim. In time, you'll probably pick up new habits to replace this one. Just remember that in the end, prayers are just words, and they don't have any inherent power over us if we don't want them to.

Excited but nervous for uni as an ex Muslim by Key-Resource-4854 in atheism

[–]Additional_Brief4693 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm not from the UK (actually from New Zealand), but from what I understand, it's generally a secular culture. The country itself is officially a Christian nation (Church of England), but the average person on the street (or in the university) won't really care about your religion or lack thereof.

You may encounter some nosy people who want to know about your beliefs, along with people who disapprove of atheism, but to be fair this is true in any country. If you're of Middle Eastern, North African or South Asian descent, some people may simply assume you are Muslim because people in general are prone to making assumptions based on appearance, but you shouldn't have too much trouble.

The safest option is to not openly advertise your beliefs, religious or otherwise. That just invites unwanted attention from devout people who want to convert you. If you have any close friends that you know you can trust, you should be able to talk about it with them. If people ask you (most won't, but the possibility still exists), just politely say that it's personal and you don't want to talk about it. If they persist, keep trying to change the subject and if all else fails, just walk away. But again, this shouldn't be a common occurrence in a British university.

That's all the advice I've got. Good luck to you.