reynoldbot
Jupiter
A paper-white mask of evil.
Posts: 790
|
God
Dec 4, 2006 13:58:27 GMT -4
Post by reynoldbot on Dec 4, 2006 13:58:27 GMT -4
Okay, now that I've established that I wasn't trying to offend you before, it's time to offend you. Don't you think it's a bit condescending to say "I don't need it, and I think other people are basically fooling themselves when they join an organized religion, but I have no problem with them doing so,"? Granted you have pointed out that there are other possible benefits for participating in organized religion - mostly social - but you really think that all those religious people have got it wrong, don't you? That if they had a little more of an intellectual attitude towards their religion (ANY organized religion) they would realize that it has some serious problems? I'd say you have a bit of a point with the first part but you are putting words in my mouth at the second part, you know, the part where you start making assumptions. I don't find it condescending to be accepting of religion though I personally do not relate to it. I think creationists and literalists are fooling themselves but otherwise I do not think religious people are fools. I can in no way confirm that my beliefs are any better than anyone else's. I could become a Christian as long as I was allowed to interpret the mythology as mythology and not a true account of the history of mankind. If this was true, how would my beliefs be any different than the beliefs of any religion? Every religion considers itself the "true word of God," and considers all other religions to be wrong. You are accusing me of doing what every religious person does. I think certain religions suffer from their refusal to adapt to knowledge gained about the universe but I do not immediately pair ignorance with religion as you suggest. Basically all I have done is boil down the notion of a supreme being down to the absolute most basic aspect which is creator of everything.
|
|
Jason
Pluto
May all your hits be crits
Posts: 5,579
|
God
Dec 4, 2006 14:47:32 GMT -4
Post by Jason on Dec 4, 2006 14:47:32 GMT -4
If this was true, how would my beliefs be any different than the beliefs of any religion? Every religion considers itself the "true word of God," and considers all other religions to be wrong. You are accusing me of doing what every religious person does. Well, I would agree that every religious person, including myself, does this to some extent, but others on this board seem to think that there are religions out there that don't consider other religions to be wrong. I'm not sure how exactly that is supposed to work myself. Perhaps a religion that recognizes that it is only a "social club" and no better a club than any other could take this attitude. I wouldn't call such a group a "religion" myself.
|
|
reynoldbot
Jupiter
A paper-white mask of evil.
Posts: 790
|
God
Dec 5, 2006 11:58:42 GMT -4
Post by reynoldbot on Dec 5, 2006 11:58:42 GMT -4
Neither would I.
|
|
|
God
Dec 5, 2006 13:34:58 GMT -4
Post by gwiz on Dec 5, 2006 13:34:58 GMT -4
[Every religion considers itself the "true word of God," and considers all other religions to be wrong. You are accusing me of doing what every religious person does. To quote Richard Dawkins:
|
|
Jason
Pluto
May all your hits be crits
Posts: 5,579
|
God
Dec 5, 2006 14:30:02 GMT -4
Post by Jason on Dec 5, 2006 14:30:02 GMT -4
To quote Richard Dawkins: Interesting. But I would say that it's not entirely accurate. While I might deny that a being ever existed who was named Zeus and did all the things the Greeks ascribe to him in myth, I wouldn't go so far as to say that no one heard the prayers of the Ancient Greeks to Zeus. In my view my God is humanity's God, the "real" God, which makes him their God as well, and even though I believe they had a lot of misconceptions about Him I also believe that He still listened to their prayers (addressed to Zeus or other Greek deities), provided what guidance they would accept, and granted the righteous desires in their prayers. So like an atheist I deny that Zeus ever existed, but unlike an atheist I do not find their worship of Zeus to have been completely meaningless.
|
|
|
God
Dec 5, 2006 17:34:16 GMT -4
Post by gillianren on Dec 5, 2006 17:34:16 GMT -4
]Well, I would agree that every religious person, including myself, does this to some extent, but others on this board seem to think that there are religions out there that don't consider other religions to be wrong. I'm not sure how exactly that is supposed to work myself. Perhaps a religion that recognizes that it is only a "social club" and no better a club than any other could take this attitude. I wouldn't call such a group a "religion" myself. Who am I to say how you should view God? If I could claim that my view were the only one, wouldn't I then be God myself?
|
|
Jason
Pluto
May all your hits be crits
Posts: 5,579
|
God
Dec 5, 2006 18:15:44 GMT -4
Post by Jason on Dec 5, 2006 18:15:44 GMT -4
Who am I to say how you should view God? If I could claim that my view were the only one, wouldn't I then be God myself? No organized religion can accept the idea that all religions are essentially equal or that the value of all religious expression is entirely subjective. To accept such a view would be an admition that it (the organization) is completely unnecessary.
|
|
reynoldbot
Jupiter
A paper-white mask of evil.
Posts: 790
|
God
Dec 6, 2006 11:02:41 GMT -4
Post by reynoldbot on Dec 6, 2006 11:02:41 GMT -4
To quote Richard Dawkins: Interesting. But I would say that it's not entirely accurate. While I might deny that a being ever existed who was named Zeus and did all the things the Greeks ascribe to him in myth, I wouldn't go so far as to say that no one heard the prayers of the Ancient Greeks to Zeus. In my view my God is humanity's God, the "real" God, which makes him their God as well, and even though I believe they had a lot of misconceptions about Him I also believe that He still listened to their prayers (addressed to Zeus or other Greek deities), provided what guidance they would accept, and granted the righteous desires in their prayers. So like an atheist I deny that Zeus ever existed, but unlike an atheist I do not find their worship of Zeus to have been completely meaningless. My belief is just an extension of what you just said. I think all religions paint a picture of God that probably doesn't exist, but I don't find their worship to be meaningless.
|
|