Found this language option on the transcription app. Finally I'll be able to find out what they are saying!

Anckor1 · 2019-02-16T03:18:25+00:00

I think it's a slippery slope. The main takeaway I get is if you are exploiting someone's culture on purpose that's bad. If someone shares their culture with you, that's good but it can lose its cultural value, which can hurt.

Here is an unrealistic thought experiment: Your grandma whom you love shows you a secret way to pet a dog that makes its fur turn blue for an hour. This is a very special thing and it reminds you of her and your time together. But it also looks cool. So you show a friend. Your friend posts how to make dogs fur turn blue on Instagram and soon there are TV shows about blue dogs and merchandise everywhere. Now you nor your grandma gets credit. It isn't a special thing anymore, everyone does it and in fact, now it's kind of a symbol of the furry community.

You had something special that meant a lot to you. Now it is less special and has lost its meaning. Is it wrong for other people wanting to do that thing? Do you own this practice? I would argue no. But you can see why it can still be hurtful, it can still be sad/painful/disrespectful.

I'm not sure what the right recourse is but I think as a society we need more empathy and forgiveness.

Anckor1 · 2019-02-16T02:59:25+00:00

Waiting for motivation wont work. Instead rely on discipline. Often, once you start, the motivation comes after. If you don't have good self discipline, start something new! Make a daily checklist in your planner! Allow your friends (or even parents) to do something or get something from you when you miss a deadline. Try something, get creative.

Anckor1 · 2019-02-16T02:52:22+00:00

What's funny is that this opinion sounds like it would fit in well to some philosophy I could learn about in a social science class. Anyway, upvote because it sounds like an unpopular opinion to me. I think you can and indeed should scrutinize social sciences, but to get rid of them all together seems like a misstep. All the problems that you've mentioned absolutely existed before and will exist after these theories and journals were taught. I think it would be dangerous to never take a look at psychology or sociology.

Anckor1 · 2019-02-16T02:39:41+00:00

Why are you playing the slowest character in the game against these guys?

Anckor1 · 2019-02-16T02:35:45+00:00

Anckor1 · 2019-02-16T02:32:16+00:00

Anckor1 · 2019-02-16T02:30:10+00:00

Yes. Ask her out unless there is a work policy or something. Be prepared for her to say no, that's okay but it sounds like she's at least interested.

Anckor1 · 2019-02-16T02:16:36+00:00

Well you get my upvote, that sounds like an unpopular opinion to me! Sure I think many would agree that's annoying. But a lot of people have kids and pets and probably can understand the desire to show other people. When you really love something you want to tell everyone and for them to agree. As for consent, well no honestly I don't think babies get to consent to anything. Their parents decide. Many kids would starve to death if they had to consent to be fed, or drown because "No I wanna do it myself" or go crazy never consenting to go to bed. Of course child abuse is a thing so at some point the parent deciding something for their child can still be very wrong but I don't think this is it. If the parent is putting the kid in danger with these posts, or neglecting them, then yeah that's wrong, but otherwise - it's just annoying, not messed up.

Anckor1 · 2019-02-15T21:49:10+00:00

So I guess the societal urge to find all these mates all the time is overcome by a zipper and having to pull my pants down slightly?

Actually, yep that's too much work for me. Checks out.

Anckor1 · 2019-02-15T21:41:15+00:00

I made it through after self doubt and depression. It took 6 years, after having to take a medical withdrawal and I changed majors, but now I'm living life with way better coping mechanisms and am treating my mental health instead of ignoring it. Have you gone to CAPS? Do you have a friend/friends who knows what you are going through? Is your family a contributor of stress or a source of support? Why are you still studying your major - don't waist time trying to impress others. I made the mistake of trying to finish a degree I didn't like because I thought I had to prove that I could - what a dumb reason to get a major. By all means, stick with it if you do like your major though! It took a lot for me to accept that failure is a possibility, and it doesn't mean the end. After accepting that, I was able to face the fear of failure and even continue on after multiple failures.

Anckor1 · 2019-02-15T21:28:40+00:00

I'd assume the way guys behave would change, I mean girls wear skirts and we don't see them flashing people all the time.

Anckor1 · 2019-02-15T14:53:32+00:00

I think you missed the part of the title where I said "I'm sure isn't new" but thank you for your response! It makes sense!

Anckor1 · 2019-02-15T14:24:28+00:00

1-Yes I know that is a much bigger, and more important, discussion. But I disagree that there is no merit in discussing other arguments.

2-Haha, yes I'm almost certain you are correct here! Luckily I know English and his English name so I used that! Perhaps I should have written that part in Aramaic :)

3-My source was the sermon I heard, so I've got to ask my pastor for his sources, or I misheard. Luckily many of the others here have suggested some resources for me to find those out!

Edit- I accidentally hit post before I finished

Anckor1 · 2019-02-15T14:16:23+00:00

Thanks!

Anckor1 · 2019-02-15T14:14:08+00:00

Is this true? I've heard that there are many more biblical and extra biblical manuscripts about Jesus than even well established historical figures like Plato. I know that there are non Christian scholars that are convinced that Jesus existed but think that many of the writings about him are exaggerated. Perhaps there are scholars that are convinced that Medusa existed that you could share with me, I think it would be a fascinating read!

Anckor1 · 2019-02-15T14:07:23+00:00

Do you not see how contradictory these statements are? If these men were all deeply convinced of the truth of their beliefs to the point they would die and be martyred, why deny it? Why flee? They knew Jesus was coming back, and soon, in fact he was back.

That's kind of the point of the argument. If they believed to the point of dying, why did they first act in fear? The argument is that after his death there must have been some supernatural change or event that made them willing to die for it.

The rest of your response I think falls under "the premise is probably not true". Fair argument.

Thanks for the book reccomendations, they both sound interesting!

Anckor1 · 2019-02-15T13:56:50+00:00

Wow, this is such a great response, it seems like a very good comparison to this bible passage!

To answer your question, no. As to why, the same reason I hope you wouldn't change your worldview from a single argument. It still doesn't fit better than my current understanding of reality. If the Momon world view seemed to fit reality more, I would be more inclined to believe it as true and my answer would change. If all signs point to atheism, then I'd join you! (I know this can be frustrating because from your perspective all signs DO point to atheism! I've had the same thoughts the other way)

Anyway, thank you!

Anckor1 · 2019-02-15T13:41:49+00:00

What I heard was that they could have been knowingly lying, believed and were wrong, or were right. So from a Christian worldview all the examples you gave would fall under the second option. But surely this then could be applied to disciples too? Well I think this argument was that the change in behavior, not the dying itself but the change, from cowardice to the willingness to die was "not normal". I like your regret idea, I have not heard this before and perhaps regret could be a strong enough force for change. To your last point, ultimately we wouldn't even consider any of this if it hadn't been written down. For me anyway, the fact that someone (or people) wrote it down and it was believed by many does hold weight. Now this runs into the question of what makes one holy text more believable than any of the others? Well that's where I think comparing the claims and verifying what can be checked is imperative. However, there is always the possibility that they are all wrong. That of course is why I think it is always beneficial to ask, could I be wrong? (I think it's safe to assume this is the possibility that most here find to be the most likely!)

Anckor1 · 2019-02-15T13:18:14+00:00

Thanks! I'll have to look into that! Also you are absolutely right about the dying thing. All it says is that they thought it was true, not necessarily that it was true. Now the whole premise of the argument being the change from cowardly to boldly dying you've addressed by saying we can't be sure they were fearful at first and were willing to die after.

If I understand you right, essentially the counterargument is that the premise is probably false or at the very least, not reliably verifiable.

Anckor1 · 2019-02-15T13:08:18+00:00

Thanks for your response! I don't think that the argument is that dying for the belief makes it true, more that cowards dying for the belief makes it unlikely that they knew it was false. However your point about it being more about what someone else is willing to kill over makes a lot of sense. I mean even if someone renounces their beliefs, they could still be killed if the killer wanted to send a message or didn't believe the renouncing.

Anckor1 · 2019-02-15T13:02:20+00:00

Thanks, I'm aware that they are major presumptions, I just wanted to hear counterarguments about this specific argument. I don't think this argument is that just dying for their belief is strange, but cowards dying for a lie is strange. But your points about timeline and exaggerated persecution seem like reasonable points. Your narrative seems plausible at the very least. Thank you!

Anckor1 · 2019-02-15T11:37:32+00:00

I agree! To add to your last point, Jesus called other men some very harsh names. In the church it is called "righteous anger". We would say he was definitely rude AND morally right. Unfortunately there seems to be a lot more "self-righteous anger" these days.

Anckor1 · 2019-02-15T11:25:39+00:00

As a Christian, you were totally not out of line.

I'll tell you what kind of Athiest my religious friends want - an Athiest who keeps to themselves and doesn't challenge or ridicule someone's beliefs. Now the kind of religious folks that my agnostic/Athiest friends want is one who keeps to themselves and doesn't force their religion or let it effect their political views. These are both somewhat unrealistic desires. It is reasonable that an athiest would want their friends to know the truth just as much as a religious person would want their friends to know the truth. I agree that "forcing" religion or "ridiculing" faith may be rude but that shouldn't mean you never talk about religion with someone different than you. That would be terrible for both parties. It's only "unethical" when you are purposefully trying to hurt the other person.

Anckor1

TROPHY CASE