Ebola? Punishment by the Almighty on Wicked Mankind?

[JimC]

[Hermit]

Mind you, I can't talk. The highlight of my social life consists of my weekly shopping trip. I get my excitement by telling cold-callers trying to sell phone contracts and whatnot to stop wasting their rime, and mine, then hanging up on them. This week's special feature: Bloke from the water board called in to replace the meter. Took him all of ten minutes.

[Animavore]

Because, you ninny, God sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die for the sins of Man as a sacrifice that redeems all those who accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.

Geez, have you never actually read the New Testament? It's perfectly clear.

It's perfectly clear, eh? So you will have no trouble pointing out the verse which specifically says that Jesus' sacrifice brought an end to God's wrath upon cities.
Meanwhile you can explain all of this to the modern day Christians who do indeed believe that natural disasters and disease are brought by God.

However, come the End of Days, believers will be taken up in the Rapture while the rest of us will suffer seven years of horror before Christ returns and the final trumpet is blown and the Horsemen of the Apocalypse are sent forth.

The book of Revelation was written for the people of the author's time. It contains many allusions to Rome and the Emperor Nero. The rapture was supposed to have happened then. It never did.
Still, makes a great horror story to tell the children.

If you're going to bloviate about Christianity it behooves you to learn the basics so you don't look like a complete putz when you do so.

You act as if you think Christianity is one thing and that they all believe in a literal End Times. There are many Christians who think the End Times already happened when Jesus shone a beacon unto the World.
You do realise that Kev (and I) are Irish Catholic atheists and we wouldn't have been subjected to such fire and brimstone rhetoric as kids, right?

[cronus]

Ebola likes Church congregations. Many Christians soon to be raptured.

[Animavore]

Ebola likes Church congregations. Many Christians soon to be raptured.

Yup. The last place you'll find me if the plague hits is huddled into a church, rubbing shoulders with the peasantry.

Well, that's the last place you'll find me in general - Y'know what I mean.

[Animavore]

Time was when he could zap whole cities with fire & brimstone for being "immoral". Makes you wonder why certain modern cities are sill standing then

If you're going to bloviate about Christianity it behooves you to learn the basics so you don't look like a complete putz when you do so.

And while you're at it, you can point out where Kev (or anyone else) said anything about Christianity. You do know there are other God-based religions, right? Chirsitans don't have a monopoly on God.

[pErvinalia]

But Seth is a Christian. That's all he knows.

[Animavore]

But Seth is a Christian. That's all he knows.

I've always considered the possibility that he's an undercover Christian given how he keeps bringing the conversation to Chrsitianity when talking about God, rather than using it in the broad sense most agnostic/atheists would unless specified. And also how he's so much more defensive about criticism of Christianity than he is of other religions and his own criticism of Islam.

I'm not one to cast aspersions though and will believe he is who he says he is unless otherwise stated.

[mistermack]

I would imagine dipping your fingers in the holy water, and transferring it to your forehead, would be quite risky when Ebola comes to church.

As would being bummed by a hot sweaty priest.

And communion too. If ''the body of christ'' is placed on your tongue by a red-faced not-very-well missionary.

[Seth]

But Seth is a Christian. That's all he knows.

But I'm not a Christian, you see. I'm a non-theistic Tolerist™. Why do I have to keep telling you this? Are you suffering from senile dementia or something?

[Seth]

Because, you ninny, God sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die for the sins of Man as a sacrifice that redeems all those who accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.

Geez, have you never actually read the New Testament? It's perfectly clear.

It's perfectly clear, eh? So you will have no trouble pointing out the verse which specifically says that Jesus' sacrifice brought an end to God's wrath upon cities.

Oh, I think Christians believe that God will pour out his wrath upon the earth alright, it's just that's he's holding that wrath in abeyance while giving man the opportunity to find salvation.

Meanwhile you can explain all of this to the modern day Christians who do indeed believe that natural disasters and disease are brought by God.

Why would I do that?

However, come the End of Days, believers will be taken up in the Rapture while the rest of us will suffer seven years of horror before Christ returns and the final trumpet is blown and the Horsemen of the Apocalypse are sent forth.

The book of Revelation was written for the people of the author's time.

Was it? You have a letter of confirmation from the author certifying this factoid?

It contains many allusions to Rome and the Emperor Nero. The rapture was supposed to have happened then. It never did.

What's your point? As I understand Christian theology, nobody but God knows when Judgment will occur.

Still, makes a great horror story to tell the children.

Keeps 'em humble and obedient too! Good stuff!

If you're going to bloviate about Christianity it behooves you to learn the basics so you don't look like a complete putz when you do so.

You act as if you think Christianity is one thing and that they all believe in a literal End Times. There are many Christians who think the End Times already happened when Jesus shone a beacon unto the World.

Well, people are human, so they make mistakes, don't they?

You do realise that Kev (and I) are Irish Catholic atheists and we wouldn't have been subjected to such fire and brimstone rhetoric as kids, right?

Then you should know better than to make false claims about Christian theology, shouldn't you?

[pErvinalia]

But Seth is a Christian. That's all he knows.

But I'm not a Christian, you see. I'm a non-theistic Tolerist™. Why do I have to keep telling you this? Are you suffering from senile dementia or something?

Troll-bait!

[Sean Hayden]

If we put it in perspective, you've got way more chance of dying of malaria, AIDS, heart disease, diabetes, a car crash, etc. than ebola.

-crazy talk

[pErvinalia]

But what if ebola mutates into a nuclear powered jet-propulsed extremo-virus?!!

[cronus]

But what if ebola mutates into a nuclear powered jet-propulsed extremo-virus?!!

It doesn't need all that. It's got legs and a walking pace is fine for a world conquest plan.