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Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: bentway who wrote (936194)	5/22/2016 1:04:18 PM
From: POKERSAM	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1576866

I found the interview interesting and enlightening. In your opening you said the interview revealed WHY he changed beliefs. IMO only HOW he made the transformation was explained. Of course there is a WHY. There is also a WHY he became a Pentecostal preacher in the first place. There are, and have always been, millions of people willing to die for what they believe to be true. It is also a fact that people thus convinced have beliefs absolutely contrary to others also thus convinced. There is, however, only one truth. Finding that truth is the problem and the challenge. I have observed one consistent characteristic among atheists whether they were at one time believers or not. This same characteristic is obvious in a great many religious leaders of every ilk. IMO it is the single greatest hindrance to man finding truth regardless of the discipline. That characteristic is arrogance. Yes, there are some notable exceptions among religious leaders who seem to totally lack arrogance. I suppose that their recognition and fame is due to the fact they are such stark exceptions. The great discoveries and advancements in the realm of science have been made by those who exhibited humility before the truth and not arrogance. Arrogance is the equivalent of wearing a blindfold. Arrogance makes it impossible to see truth regardless of how compelling the evidence may be to the contrary of a beloved belief. Our ex Pentecostal preacher who is now an atheist activist certainly does not lack arrogance. He places himself among the intellectuals he admires and speaks of "some dear souls" with the condescension only the truly arrogant can muster. "Unfortunately, some dear souls still find a benefit in holding on to something that’s not working. Fortunately for me, I wasn’t allowed to do that. My love for truth and humanity, combined with my insistence on something that worked, forced me to look beyond faith." " Leaving religion can seem equivalent to jumping from your second-story bedroom window during a house fire. There may be many good (emotional) reasons and ways to jump—but it’s more likely to be done and done successfully if there’s a fireman’s net to land in. For centuries it has been the intellectuals that have supplied that safety net. Now it’s our task to supply the support network after the jump is made." I am curious about your own belief system. It has been said many times on this thread that you are a Satanist. You do exhibit many traits and beliefs of Satanist so I never really questioned the claim. I don't know if you have said exactly. I may have missed it. I believe you have the right to answer for yourself, so are you a Satanist or an atheist? Of course, I realize the bluntness of the question. Perhaps you would rather not say and that is also your right.