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In this post, so that I can eliminate uncharitable behavior on my part, please use the search feature of MDB to dig up those old posts where you remember me being a jerk.

Pointing them out to me will help me to understand how not to act in the future.

Thanks to all.

ETA: of course, if you find any particularly shining examples of me bending over backwards to be nice, you can post those as well.

1. I have noticed that from time to time, you drop hints that there is a remote possibility that the LDS Church is not true.

Despite not being able to find any I would proffer that an absence of evidence is not, in and of itself, evidence of absence..........

;-)

The only thing I've ever found offensive about your posting is how you tend to bend over backwards to be nice to people who clearly don't deserve that courtesy.

Knock it off, would ya?

Hey, thanks for the feedback, guys.

I know there were several believers (and others) here at MDB who expressed the view that I have been less than charitable in the past.

I would really, really like to hear from anyone who shares that opinion.

This isn't a challenge. This isn't a snide way of saying "I've never done it, and you have no proof." This is simply a way for me to get feedback from people who think I need to change the way I do business at MDB.

Stak, you owe me this, at least. You specifically made mention of my bad behavior, so please use this thread to point that out to me. Thanks in advance.

Anyone else? This is your chance. Ceeboo? Aristotle? Hoops?

I'm all ears.

Hey BC

beefcalf wrote:
I know there were several believers (and others) here at MDB who expressed the view that I have been less than charitable in the past.

You "know" there were "several believers" who "expressed the view" that you have been less than charitable in the past?

Are a few of these "several believers" found on your list below?
If not, can you name a few of the several?

Is it possible that you are confusing your personal theories/beliefs with what you/we "know", again. :)

Anyone else? This is your chance. Ceeboo? Aristotle? Hoops?

Okay, since you named Ceeboo (That's me), I will accept your gracious "chance" to type.

I think you have been more than kind and generous to me on this board.(I am pretty sure I have posted as much)
I think this thread is silly and I stand puzzled as to the motivation behind it. (What is it?)

Peace,
Ceeboo

Ceeboo,

Yeah, sorry 'bout the confusion...

Stak wrote something in another post:

Stak wrote:Yeah, I’m not an educator and I don’t have the patience to repost the same idea five times in the hopes you get it. You don’t take the time to be charitable to theists, so I’m not going to take the time to pander to your feelings.

Then, a few posts later, this came up:

Ceeboo wrote:

Hoops wrote:Your guyses criticism of Stak is so laughably hypocritical that... well, I'm at a loss.

Not only do you not fairly describe Stak, but you don't even represent yourselves fairly.

Ding Ding Ding!!!!!!!

BINGO!

We have a winner!

Peace,
Ceeboo

So, anyway, this all got me thinking about what I might have written that was uncharitable to theists. Your name and hoops were there simply because of this exchange. As far as I am aware, hoops didn't come back and expound upon what he meant by this, so I'm not even sure if it's relevant. If I was being hypocritical, I'd like to have it pointed out to me. I've been hypocritical in the past, and folks have been considerate enough to point it out to me (and if I'm gonna eat crow I prefer it fresh; the older it is, the nastier it tastes).

My view is that the world is best understood using science as the method of obtaining truth. Truth does not imply 'comforting' or 'reassuring'. There are some things which are true which are not necessarily very much fun (but useful nonetheless). I hold the opinion that the general well-being of all people of this world could be heightened if more people adopted a scientific, rational view of the world. Obviously, this point of view is sometimes at odds with those who believe that there are supernatural explanations for life's mysteries.

My goal is to persuasively discuss the strong merits of rational thinking and the downside of supernatural belief systems. I recognize that my chances of changing someone's mind, slim though they may be at the outset, can only be diminished by behaving uncharitably.

That's where this is coming from.

Good morning, Beef.

beefcalf wrote:Ceeboo,

Yeah, sorry 'bout the confusion...

No problem.

I hold the opinion that the general well-being of all people of this world could be heightened if more people adopted a scientific, rational view of the world.

Yes, I am well aware of this (your) opinion.

Is the only possible rational view of the world the one that mirrors yours (The one you happen to hold) at this moment?

Obviously, this point of view is sometimes at odds with those who believe that there are supernatural explanations for life's mysteries.

Indeed!
Either side is a mere belief/opinion, yes?
Either side has enormous challenges, yes?

Why do you propose that your belief is cemented with the word rational?

My goal is to persuasively discuss the strong merits of rational thinking and the downside of supernatural belief systems.

LOL! (Again, with you and never at you)

Well, given this contribution, I am not sure how much more you and I can discuss.

I recognize that my chances of changing someone's mind, slim though they may be at the outset, can only be diminished by behaving uncharitably.

Indeed! (To be fair, it is my opinion that this is true no matter what belief/view someone happens to hold)

That's where this is coming from.

Got it! (Thanks for the exchanges) :)

Peace,
Ceeboo

GR33N wrote:http://mormondiscussions.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=552234#p552234

In this exchange, I thought it might be useful to take a biblical event, one that was conceived and directed by God Himself, and apply it to our own lives, in order to gain a new perspective. If there is something we can conceive that a human might do which is horrific and evil, it does not cease to be horrific and evil if it is God who does it. I can see why you might have stumbled across this post in isolation and thought that my tone was perhaps nasty, but I think it sticks to the main theme of the thread, and makes my point. I don't agree that this shows a lack of charity towards Mr. Space.

GR33N wrote:http://mormondiscussions.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=551939#p551939

This one is a just a little more difficult to defend. Mr. Space had, much to my surprise, out-and-out accused me of lying when I mentioned that I have a son on a mission (he will be home in five weeks, by the way). We had a few back-and-forths on it, If I recall correctly, but mostly I was just flabbergasted that he would think such a thing was something someone would even lie about. It was all very strange. In the end, it seemed he ignored all my subsequent attempts to engage him on it. The experience matched some of the anecdotes of other critics that space seems to disappear when the going gets tough for him. I think this post was a pointed dig directed at him to try to evoke a response from him... yet, as you can see, two weeks have elapsed and he has yet to respond.

The search feature is not working for me right now (tried using both Chrome and IE 9) but to no avail. Perhaps someone else can find that interchange...