Self Improvement Books

I'm really wondering that the hardcore religious didn't took the bait. Normally such discussion ends in tears -or smashed keyboards, LOL!
Haha. Well, there’s not much you can say when someone says “I respect your opinion and beliefs, and I thank you for sharing them with me, as you care enough about me to try to show me what you view to be the truth. While I appreciate you trying to help me, I ask that you respect my beliefs and allow me to believe them, just as I respect your beliefs and allow you to do the same.”

Even if they disagree with you, there’s not much they can say back.
 
Haha. Well, there’s not much you can say when someone says “I respect your opinion and beliefs, and I thank you for sharing them with me, as you care enough about me to try to show me what you view to be the truth. While I appreciate you trying to help me, I ask that you respect my beliefs and allow me to believe them, just as I respect your beliefs and allow you to do the same.”

Even if they disagree with you, there’s not much they can say back.
And if a Christian still persists, as I have not heard of any other religion persisting in attempting to convert others after someone says no thank you, quote scripture at them, particularly Matthew 10:14:

If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.

That’s Jesus talking to his Apostles, who he gave the power to perform miracles. He told THEM to simply leave if people don’t want to listen. Modern Christian, are you telling me that you are better able to convert people than the Apostles themselves?
 
And if a Christian still persists, as I have not heard of any other religion persisting in attempting to convert others after someone says no thank you, quote scripture at them, particularly Matthew 10:14:



That’s Jesus talking to his Apostles, who he gave the power to perform miracles. He told THEM to simply leave if people don’t want to listen. Modern Christian, are you telling me that you are better able to convert people than the Apostles themselves?

Where I live, 98% are catholic. With a myriad of saints and holidays.
I try to get along with all of them. The most obnoxious to me are the Jehovah's Witnesses. They really have the nerve to visit me regularly, get a verbal beating -and come back.

If every religion would be true, I would chose Mormonism. I heard when a Mormon dies, he becomes god and can create his own world. :)
That sounds appealing to me! On the other hand, some 72 virgins wouldn't be bad either, wait... nah, it would be bad. LOL
 
Where I live, 98% are catholic. With a myriad of saints and holidays.
I try to get along with all of them. The most obnoxious to me are the Jehovah's Witnesses. They really have the nerve to visit me regularly, get a verbal beating -and come back.

If every religion would be true, I would chose Mormonism. I heard when a Mormon dies, he becomes god and can create his own world. :)
That sounds appealing to me! On the other hand, some 72 virgins wouldn't be bad either, wait... nah, it would be bad. LOL
Come on, Mormon is one letter away from Moron. ;)

As for the 72 virgins, who said they’re hot women? Maybe it’s 72 guys who play too much World of Warcraft?

As for Jehovah’s Witnesses, when they come to your door, just paint a pentagram on your forehead and say

“I was expecting you. I need one more person to perform the ritual. Please, come inside.”

I’ll bet they won’t be coming back any time soon.
 
Come on, Mormon is one letter away from Moron. ;)

As for the 72 virgins, who said they’re hot women? Maybe it’s 72 guys who play too much World of Warcraft?

As for Jehovah’s Witnesses, when they come to your door, just paint a pentagram on your forehead and say

“I was expecting you. I need one more person to perform the ritual. Please, come inside.”

I’ll bet they won’t be coming back any time soon.

LMAO!!! THAT is an awesome idea! Pentagram on forehead , in the right hand a bloody knife -and in the left hand a headless black chicken! That will do!

At the last try I argued:

"You all believe that 144,000 faithful Christians go to heaven to rule with Christ in the kingdom of God, right? You all have the goal to be on that train, right? Ever thought about of how many good Christians already died and are occupying those seats?"

That argument made them think longer than normal, I guess, LOL.
 
LMAO!!! THAT is an awesome idea! Pentagram on forehead , in the right hand a bloody knife -and in the left hand a headless black chicken! That will do!

At the last try I argued:

"You all believe that 144,000 faithful Christians go to heaven to rule with Christ in the kingdom of God, right? You all have the goal to be on that train, right? Ever thought about of how many good Christians already died and are occupying those seats?"

That argument made them think longer than normal, I guess, LOL.
You really want to mess with Christian’s minds?

Ask them if all babies and young children go to heaven. If they say yes, say:

-Our time on this earth is trivial in comparison to eternity. If we go either to heaven or hell for eternity, the priority of life is to ensure we go to heaven not hell.

-So the primary goal of a parent is to ensure their child goes to heaven, not hell.

-If all infants/children go to heaven, but it’s not guaranteed adults will, the “best” thing a parent can do for their child is kill them as an infant to ensure they go to heaven.

Of course, that’s insane and terrible, but isn’t it logically sound? Of course, it may mean the parent dooms themselves to hell, but they “saved” their child.
 
You really want to mess with Christian’s minds?

Ask them if all babies and young children go to heaven. If they say yes, say:

-Our time on this earth is trivial in comparison to eternity. If we go either to heaven or hell for eternity, the priority of life is to ensure we go to heaven not hell.

-So the primary goal of a parent is to ensure their child goes to heaven, not hell.

-If all infants/children go to heaven, but it’s not guaranteed adults will, the “best” thing a parent can do for their child is kill them as an infant to ensure they go to heaven.

Of course, that’s insane and terrible, but isn’t it logically sound? Of course, it may mean the parent dooms themselves to hell, but they “saved” their child.


There is a movie called "The Rapture" from 1991, that had exactly that -and a bit more of a dilemma.
Its really easy to mess with any religious people, even using their own scripture against them, personally I try to use logic and analogies -instead of obvious fallacies, to refute claims.

A very good source for contradictions in scripture is that:
Invalid Link Removed
 
There is a movie called "The Rapture" from 1991, that had exactly that -and a bit more of a dilemma.
Its really easy to mess with any religious people, even using their own scripture against them, personally I try to use logic and analogies -instead of obvious fallacies, to refute claims.

A very good source for contradictions in scripture is that:
Invalid Link Removed
Interesting premise for a movie; I'd never heard of it.

Have you seen Dogma? It has a pretty solid cast (George Carlin, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Alan Rickman, Chris Rock, Salma Hayek, Silent Bob and Jay, etc.)
 
Interesting premise for a movie; I'd never heard of it.

Have you seen Dogma? It has a pretty solid cast (George Carlin, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Alan Rickman, Chris Rock, Salma Hayek, Silent Bob and Jay, etc.)

Saw it. :)
Found a relatively unbiased channel on youtube that is worth checking out, the "closer to truth" series is what I like most. Will have you hooked for days on end, believers and non-believers alike.

Invalid Link Removed

Its worth looking into it for rascal14 too, I guess.
 
Saw it. :)
Found a relatively unbiased channel on youtube that is worth checking out, the "closer to truth" series is what I like most. Will have you hooked for days on end, believers and non-believers alike.

Invalid Link Removed

Its worth looking into it for rascal14 too, I guess.
I’ll check it out.

Here’s a few interesting bits about “God(s)” from Marcus Aurelius:
IMG_9569.jpg
IMG_9571.jpg

So it’s entirely possible to be a Stoic and believe in a God(s), but Marcus seems to take on a general attitude of “if God exist this, if they don’t that, but either way I do this,” so it’s not like it’s really effecting his actions. He sometimes says that either things came to be out of providence or just atoms, but I think he still acts the same regardless.

Honestly, the concept of trying to be “Christ-like” that I brought up earlier, that was actually sort of viewed negatively by some Christians here, seems to be comparable with Marcus’ Stoicism, as he said that God doesn’t desire to be flattered, but for people to try to be more like him (that is to be good). So if you believe Jesus is God, from a Stoic perspective, that’d mean aiming to be Christ-like.
 
I’ll check it out.

So it’s entirely possible to be a Stoic and believe in a God(s), but Marcus seems to take on a general attitude of “if God exist this, if they don’t that, but either way I do this,” so it’s not like it’s really effecting his actions. He sometimes says that either things came to be out of providence or just atoms, but I think he still acts the same regardless.

Honestly, the concept of trying to be “Christ-like” that I brought up earlier, that was actually sort of viewed negatively by some Christians here, seems to be comparable with Marcus’ Stoicism, as he said that God doesn’t desire to be flattered, but for people to try to be more like him (that is to be good). So if you believe Jesus is God, from a Stoic perspective, that’d mean aiming to be Christ-like.

I see, the Stoics basically say to "do your thing, like any other animal does", aren't we all doing that already? :) To be honest, being Christ like -or particularly adhere to his teachings, is not my thing (some are directly in contradiction to human nature, called "sin" by his followers), however I'm a bit like you, taking advise from almost all philosophers, if its sound. So I guess I'm cherry picking like you. :)
 
I see, the Stoics basically say to "do your thing, like any other animal does", aren't we all doing that already? :) To be honest, being Christ like -or particularly adhere to his teachings, is not my thing (some are directly in contradiction to human nature, called "sin" by his followers), however I'm a bit like you, taking advise from almost all philosophers, if its sound. So I guess I'm cherry picking like you. :)
Well, the Stoics say we should all act in our nature, but that, unlike animals, we are rational by nature, and also social. So yes, we act in our nature, just as animals do, but our nature is different than that of animals. So if you are hurting others, or being fearful and angry, you are not following your nature. The Stoics would likely then argue that most people aren’t acting according to human nature. Of course, they likely think they are, since Socrates says no man does wrong knowingly, but only out of a mistaken sense of good and bad. As for the teachings of Jesus, I mean more just the way to live; Jesus himself doesn’t talk about specific sin much at all actually. Frankly, I’m not to much concerned about what Jesus’ “followers” say, as they can’t speak for him if he’s God; who can claim to speak for God lol.
 
There is a movie called "The Rapture" from 1991, that had exactly that -and a bit more of a dilemma.
Its really easy to mess with any religious people, even using their own scripture against them, personally I try to use logic and analogies -instead of obvious fallacies, to refute claims.

A very good source for contradictions in scripture is that:
Invalid Link Removed

Typically the people I speak with who claim to be Christian and yet constantly do unchristian things seem to be the same people who use liberal as an insult and yet constantly do liberal things.
 
Saw it. :)
Found a relatively unbiased channel on youtube that is worth checking out, the "closer to truth" series is what I like most. Will have you hooked for days on end, believers and non-believers alike.

Invalid Link Removed

Its worth looking into it for rascal14 too, I guess.

I'll check it out..

My copy of Epictetus works should get here tomorrow. My girlfriend wants to take turns reading portions of it back to back and having a book club type of discussion afterwards.
 
I'll check it out..

My copy of Epictetus works should get here tomorrow. My girlfriend wants to take turns reading portions of it back to back and having a book club type of discussion afterwards.
Nice. If you want to be able to look over the text at the same time or without the book, it’s available online too:

Handbook:
http://classics.mit.edu/Epictetus/epicench.html
Discourses:
http://classics.mit.edu/Epictetus/discourses.html

The search function on the internet can help you find certain parts too. But the translation may be slightly different, so you may not find exactly what you’re looking for every time by searching a word or phrase.
 
Anyone know the links/pages where I heard alot of people basically paying you get 1-3 page summarys on books?

I read alot of these CEOS who claim to read 2 books a week, basically just pay for a website which breaks down the main points.

Alot of people said it's helpful, especially for books you wouldn't normally read.

It was something along those lines ?
 
Anyone know the links/pages where I heard alot of people basically paying you get 1-3 page summarys on books?

I read alot of these CEOS who claim to read 2 books a week, basically just pay for a website which breaks down the main points.

Alot of people said it's helpful, especially for books you wouldn't normally read.

It was something along those lines ��
I'm not sure if I'm understanding you correctly, but are you saying you want to pay to get 1-3 page summaries of books?

I can't help but thinking that this likely won't serve much actual helpful purpose in regards to teaching you new things or philosophy, but more just to give you the ability to pass yourself off as being well read. I suppose you can use the 1-3 page summaries as a sort of test/gauge to see if you want to read the book or not, but it seems that this isn't what these people are looking for out of something like this.

Anyway, have you tried Cliff Notes? Lots of people use it for school, and it's free haha.
 
I'm not sure if I'm understanding you correctly, but are you saying you want to pay to get 1-3 page summaries of books?

I can't help but thinking that this likely won't serve much actual helpful purpose in regards to teaching you new things or philosophy, but more just to give you the ability to pass yourself off as being well read. I suppose you can use the 1-3 page summaries as a sort of test/gauge to see if you want to read the book or not, but it seems that this isn't what these people are looking for out of something like this.

Anyway, have you tried Cliff Notes? Lots of people use it for school, and it's free haha.
Its a monthly service from what I recall.

It's not meant to be a replacement for reading, you may still read a book a month.

It's meant to be used as an additional source. There is books you wouldn't read, but I recall a number if people saying it was amazing.

Maybe it was like cliff notes, but most detailed.

No idea where I was reading this year's ago.
 
Believe it or not, I'm learning through discussion. Fundamental questions are interesting, not only gains, call it brain-gains, LOL.
Then take a college course? You are learning nothing. These people have no authority to teach anything.

You are simply hearing opinions.

If you want to believe this, instead of opening a book or taking a certified class
 
You just judged me, retard.

Pull your foot out of your mouth.

Y'all have fun.
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I don't think you even know what judging is, or insulting. You insulted people, called them names, etc. I merely pointed out that your actions are not consistent with the teachings of Jesus. By your logic, anyone who tells someone that they're doing something wrong is "judging," so no one can ever say that anyone did anything wrong. Ok then...
Then take a college course? You are learning nothing. These people have no authority to teach anything.

You are simply hearing opinions.

If you want to believe this, instead of opening a book or taking a certified class
We are literally discussing the very books written by the giants in the fields of philosophy themselves. I've taken philosophy courses, read a plethora of published academic papers on theology and philosophy, read books written by scholars, monks, priests, etc. But yeah, some TA teaching an undergraduate level philosophy course is definitely the best, most effective, and most efficient way to learn about philosophy. I'm not claiming to make any definitive claims,I'm referring to various beliefs and statements of the authors themselves.
Then take a college course? You are learning nothing. These people have no authority to teach anything.

You are simply hearing opinions.

If you want to believe this, instead of opening a book or taking a certified class
We are literally discussing the very books written by the giants in the fields of philosophy themselves. I've taken philosophy courses, read a plethora of published academic papers on theology and philosophy, read books written by scholars, monks, priests, etc. But yeah, some TA teaching an undergraduate level philosophy course is definitely the best, most effective, and most efficient way to learn about philosophy.
 
Then take a college course? You are learning nothing. These people have no authority to teach anything.

You are simply hearing opinions.

If you want to believe this, instead of opening a book or taking a certified class

College course on what? "Invisible pink Hamsters" and their mating rituals? If it comes to belief, obviously its about opinions, rather than evidence. Do you think a scholar on abrahamic religions knows more about a god, than anyone else? He knows the scripts better, that's all. Reading books about pink hamsters makes me an expert of the books about pink hamsters -not hamsters. Everyone you listen too, may have something new for you. Besides, any discussion stimulates the brain. I changed my political views several times, after discussing them. Probably, change will never happen when discussing religion, I guess.
 
We are literally discussing the very books written by the giants in the fields of philosophy themselves. I've taken philosophy courses, read a plethora of published academic papers on theology and philosophy, read books written by scholars, monks, priests, etc. But yeah, some TA teaching an undergraduate level philosophy course is definitely the best, most effective, and most efficient way to learn about philosophy.
I knew you would have a better response so I deleted mine.. but this is exactly what I wanted to say, if I knew how to properly put words together. Lol

He spouts off so much bull**** then says other people need to get their facts straight. He does this in all of his posts to the forum. Lol
 
Isn't this site about working out/ supplements/ juice??

You guys wanna talk about this stuff. your on the wrong site.

"Anabolic Minds"
 
I knew you would have a better response so I deleted mine.. but this is exactly what I wanted to say, if I knew how to properly put words together. Lol

He spouts off so much bull**** then says other people need to get their facts straight. He does this in all of his posts to the forum. Lol
What bs do I spout off?

Show me a quote where I'm spouting off bs....
 
What bs do I spout off?

Show me a quote where I'm spouting off bs....
My god, if you were to jump down from your ego to your IQ you'd reach terminal velocity less than halfway down.

How about this, where you said anyone who uses anything more than caffeine is a "lazy ass?"
Lol. Just caffeine. Everyone is going overboard with the "stims"

How about some fukkin effort!

Get off your lazy ass, and go workout.

The results should motivate you. Not tue stims

Or you not knowing what a supplement is:
Supplements are only one ingredient...

"Proprietary blends" are blends.

Or, perhaps most notably, the entire debacle where you didn't know the first thing about diets and health? It'd take me all day and multiple pages to re-state it all, but here are some of the highlights (or lowlights) from said thread:

As far as kidney damage and protein... Show me the facts. Until then shhhh

Comparing using a protein supplement for the majority of your protein intake to this heinous illegal activity:
Yea "it can be done"
I "can" do PCP, get naked, and go cop killing

You said a sprained ankle doesn't have "health consequences:"
You can sprain an ankle. Harming your body.

Does that have health consequences? No.

You said none of the following are health consequences:
Your health man... Does it make you sick? I've sprained both ankles, recovered from full body tendonitis, as in knives stabbing my ****ing joints. Carpal tunnel. 2 concussions. THE DOCTOR said I'm healthy as a horse. Bloods good. PAIN IS TEMPORARY, IT MAY LAST A MINUTE, AN HOUR, OR EVEN A DAY

You claim that everyone else needs evidence to support their claims, but you can get away with "common sense bro."

You said your body can tell the difference between food and powder, as if powder isn't literally just powdered food:
Your body wants food, meals. Not powder. Logic. Common sense...

It can tell the difference

You say that referencing studies and research is "bro science" but your anecdotal reports from your random older friends are not:
My main sources of info are a lot of older dudes, ones who have seen it all. One is an ex con/ hells angels/ juicer. 47. He says he is in constant pain from lifting heavy his whole life.

Another is a lineman, family man, juicer.
He has dislocated vertebrae from back to neck. Spinal taps... Painful.

I get some info from the net. WebMD etc.

99% is from real life where the research was not needed because of these men.
Also from my experience.

Broscience is what I see here

You tell other people to look up evidence to support your claims (because you know you sure as hell can't):
I'm not going to spoon feed the Lazies. YOU want the all proof. RESEARCH it. I don't have to back up anything. I've lived it. If you don't think I'm right, give it up and KNOW you're right.

Stop asking for proof.

You provided perhaps the most ironic post of all time:
The ignorance fuels frustration, which fuels my aggression, and fuels my workouts

Literally no one in that thread was even remotely close to agreeing with your asinine statements.
 
I told you, I could give a fuk less about rep points.

But damn dude, fukkin man up. It's just a name lmfao.

You getting all worked up makes me laugh. And I don't try to.

This is u brother
 
I called you a name and you couldn't handle it so you need me negged me?

Well you are a sensitive little boy aren't you?

Need mommy to read you bedtime stories?

Grow up you little whiny bitch.
I negged you because you’re an arrogant, hypocritical, condescending “Christian” who curses at and insults people for daring to disagree with you.
I told you, I could give a fuk less about rep points.

But damn dude, fukkin man up. It's just a name lmfao.

You getting all worked up makes me laugh. And I don't try to.

This is u brother
If you don’t care about reps, why come here clearly upset and post about it twice?
 
My god, if you were to jump down from your ego to your IQ you'd reach terminal velocity less than halfway down.

How about this, where you said anyone who uses anything more than caffeine is a "lazy ass?"


Or you not knowing what a supplement is:


Or, perhaps most notably, the entire debacle where you didn't know the first thing about diets and health? It'd take me all day and multiple pages to re-state it all, but here are some of the highlights (or lowlights) from said thread:



Comparing using a protein supplement for the majority of your protein intake to this heinous illegal activity:


You said a sprained ankle doesn't have "health consequences:"


You said none of the following are health consequences:


You claim that everyone else needs evidence to support their claims, but you can get away with "common sense bro."

You said your body can tell the difference between food and powder, as if powder isn't literally just powdered food:


You say that referencing studies and research is "bro science" but your anecdotal reports from your random older friends are not:


You tell other people to look up evidence to support your claims (because you know you sure as hell can't):


You provided perhaps the most ironic post of all time:


Literally no one in that thread was even remotely close to agreeing with your asinine statements.
This was fantastic.
 
I told you, I could give a fuk less about rep points.

But damn dude, fukkin man up. It's just a name lmfao.

You getting all worked up makes me laugh. And I don't try to.

This is u brother
Have another.
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I can't think of a member more deserving of being negged, but you don't care, so it doesn't matter, right? ;)
 
I negged you because you’re an arrogant, hypocritical, condescending “Christian” who curses at and insults people for daring to disagree with you.

If you don’t care about reps, why come here clearly upset and post about it twice?

Godstrength actually follows me to different threads to neg me, so you need to up your game lmao. Funny enough, he's also an arrogant, hypocritical, condescending "Christian".
 
Wow you "Big tough men" really showed me!

Lol.

Little boys.

Y'all on enough test?

Just like bitch ass bullies on the school yard. They act tough because they hurt on the inside.

It's ok. I understand
 
Godstrength actually follows me to different threads to neg me, so you need to up your game lmao. Funny enough, he's also an arrogant, hypocritical, condescending "Christian".
Dude. You and I are the mature ones.

We are more evolved/understanding.

Never forget that!

Can you not see they're just dumbass bullies who think they are "alpha" because they act tough and are egotistical, arrogant, overconfident morons.

Just like the dumbass jocks in HS.

LMAO.
 
Godstrength actually follows me to different threads to neg me, so you need to up your game lmao. Funny enough, he's also an arrogant, hypocritical, condescending "Christian".
Because they're idiots.

They all stick together and neg people/ talk shi on them.

Just like a gang.

Just like police/military.

You see if a cop kills someone, NO MATTER the situation, everyone in his unit, and the sheriff/Chief HAS to have their back.

Because they are a gang. Just like tje military...


How could I possibly know this?

I was raised by sheriffs, and spent 4 years in the army.

Cowards
 
Dude. You and I are the mature ones.

We are more evolved/understanding.

Never forget that!

Can you not see they're just dumbass bullies who think they are "alpha" because they act tough and are egotistical, arrogant, overconfident morons.

Just like the dumbass jocks in HS.

LMAO.

I am most definitely not one of the mature ones lmao. Maybe it's all relative though.
 
Because they're idiots.

They all stick together and neg people/ talk shi on them.

Just like a gang.

Just like police/military.

You see if a cop kills someone, NO MATTER the situation, everyone in his unit, and the sheriff/Chief HAS to have their back.

Because they are a gang. Just like tje military...


How could I possibly know this?

I was raised by sheriffs, and spent 4 years in the army.

Cowards

Muscleupcrohn is actually a good guy; you two just seem to have butted heads for whatever reason. Meanwhile, godstrength keep messaging me to tell me how he's not following me lol.
 
Muscleupcrohn is actually a good guy; you two just seem to have butted heads for whatever reason. Meanwhile, godstrength keep messaging me to tell me how he's not following me lol.
Thanks man. As for why I "butted heads" with him, if you read through this thread, which is quite long now, you'll see that he asked several questions, and asked me specifically a few questions, and then when my answers didn't line up with what he wanted to hear, he began insulting and yelling at me and other members, and then saying that none of us are even qualified to be having these conversations. I'd also be remiss if I said that I didn't find it incredibly ironic that a self-proclaimed "Christian" doesn't see anything wrong with repeatedly cursing at and insulting people.

Some of us were having legitimately interesting and thought provoking conversations (not really even debates or arguments IMO), but then bin-whatever comes in and starts insulting us and saying we're not qualified to have these conversations, likely because the topic moved away from his personal "Christian" beliefs.
 
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