Our local churches seem to be competing for a "worst sign quote" award. The latest isn't stupid, but it's a nasty message. "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans." Sure, that's a great message... "What's that little Timmy? You want to be a fireman? Hah! God's laughing at you because he's going to wreck your plans!"
Some recent hall of famers: "Love doesn't rub it in, it rubs it out" "Cross-eyed people have the best vision." "The best gift for Mother's Day is time spent on your knees." That last one came down quick.
See, where does it say that in the Bible? These goofy local churches. There's one near me to that continues to put out what they think is a clever new saying for the week. Usually lame, not funny, and misleading. "If you want to make god laugh tell him your plans." wtf? God is NOT standing there with a big ELECTRIC cattle prod looking for people to zap. He actually wants to help you succeed in life.
Our local churches seem to be competing for a "worst sign quote" award. The latest isn't stupid, but it's a nasty message. "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans." Sure, that's a great message... "What's that little Timmy? You want to be a fireman? Hah! God's laughing at you because he's going to wreck your plans!"
Some recent hall of famers: "Love doesn't rub it in, it rubs it out" "Cross-eyed people have the best vision." "The best gift for Mother's Day is time spent on your knees." That last one came down quick.
See, where does it say that in the Bible? These goofy local churches. There's one near me to that continues to put out what they think is a clever new saying for the week. Usually lame, not funny, and misleading. "If you want to make god laugh tell him your plans." wtf? God is NOT standing there with a big cattle prod looking for people to zap. He actually wants to help you succeed in life.
Yeah, it's a pretty fucked up thing to put on your sign. Honestly though, the Bible supports it pretty well. Abraham, Job, Uriah the Hittite, everyone who worships Molloch or Seth or Baal. God certainly fucked with them pretty sadistically.
Monkey Driven, Call this Living?
0
brianlux
Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,320
Some of these church signs (you can find a whole raft of them on Google images) are pretty funny, most are lame. They give the impression that these places are more geared toward being comedy clubs. I'm not particularly religious but at least I don't have to feel embarrassed by the church I grew up in (Presbyterian). The teaching/preaching there was a bit of a milk toast experience for me ("the frozen chosen") but at least it sincere and there was a concern for peoples well being here on earth with an emphasis on love and forgiveness rather than lame jokes and hell and damnation bullshit.
"Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!" -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
OP With all due respect you started this thread with "so basically the point of this thread is not to argue about faith, or try to convince someone else that you are right or they are wrong. just, what do you think god is, if you believe a god exists?
Now I'm not one to argue semantics but as a person who does not believe god exists suggests that anyone who thinks this way as well should not post in this thread. I believe anything religious orientated will bring cross opines. I understand the rules of respecting a thread but one can't interject every now and then like the hand of god to sway a conversation that was based on a pointed question.
the original question had zero to do with religion, you can talk about belief in a god without steering it that way. but people always have to chime in and talk about how stupid everyone else's beliefs are to put themselves back in their tower above everyone else. i don't get why it can't be a respectful discussion about beliefs.
one can interject any time they wish. out of town, in town, doesn't matter. there aren't statute of limitations on when i can post. you need to stop trying to be a mod.
It really isn't that simple though, religion IS how God is defined. Leaving religion out of it makes it a non-topic. Comments can be made about the nature of God, sure, but the discussion is always going to circle back the the way God is defined and worshipped.
i disagree. god has been around much longer than organized religion. religions do define god, but god does not define religion. man does. god can exist without religion. there are many people who aren't religious who believe in a higher power. my question was very simple and direct: if you believe in god, what do you think god is?
if people can't keep religion out of it, then that's their shortfall.
So the thread should have consisted of 15-20 people's concept of God and done?
Why is discourse so frowned upon by some?
it's not. but when that discourse careens into bashing entire groups of people, that is frowned upon. especially when that was mentioned in the first two posts.
It's just that this thread is going along just fine - I don't understand the apparent need for an intervention into something that doesn't need it.
I also don't think that a conversation about the concept of God can adequately happen without discussing religion. It's impossible IMO.
as to your first statement: the thread was devolving. i was not the only one in thinking so. it was not an intervention. it a comment on the path of the thread. whether you think it was necessary is irrelevant.
your second statement is false. many people believe in god and don't subscribe to nor participate in any organized religion. it's actually quite common, whether you believe it or not. it's called spirituality.
religion being defined as the worship of god does make the opposite true.
carry on as you wish. i commented on the state of the thread as i saw it at the time and i stand by it.
To your comment about what I think being irrelevant: Right back at ya buddy. We're all just stating our opinions here, and one's isn't more or less relevant that the other's.
Secondly, no, my second statement isn't false. You're just misinterpreting it. I didn't say that everyone has to be religious to believe in God. I said that a conversation about the concept of God can't adequately take place without religion coming up. Those are two very different things. Sorry your thread isn't following your exact personal expectations, but that isn't how discussion forums work.
I agree with your first statement. many of your posts gave the impression you don't.
no, I didn't misinterpret it at all. I think a discussion about what people think of god as a concept CAN take place without discussing religion. that's a limited box that people put the concept in. I was trying to get people to think outside of it.
I don't give a shit which way the thread takes a course. threads meander, move, evolve, change, etc. I fully expected people wouldn't be able to stick to the idea I was presenting, which is why I mentioned it in the second post. I was commenting how people were treating believers in the thread, which, sadly, is always to be expected in threads like these. I have as much problem with believes talking down to non-believers as I do the other way around.
I have my own issues with religion. But I'm not going to sit here on my high horse and talk about how stupid and crazy people are.
"Oh Canada...you're beautiful when you're drunk" -EV 8/14/93
OP With all due respect you started this thread with "so basically the point of this thread is not to argue about faith, or try to convince someone else that you are right or they are wrong. just, what do you think god is, if you believe a god exists?
Now I'm not one to argue semantics but as a person who does not believe god exists suggests that anyone who thinks this way as well should not post in this thread. I believe anything religious orientated will bring cross opines. I understand the rules of respecting a thread but one can't interject every now and then like the hand of god to sway a conversation that was based on a pointed question.
the original question had zero to do with religion, you can talk about belief in a god without steering it that way. but people always have to chime in and talk about how stupid everyone else's beliefs are to put themselves back in their tower above everyone else. i don't get why it can't be a respectful discussion about beliefs.
one can interject any time they wish. out of town, in town, doesn't matter. there aren't statute of limitations on when i can post. you need to stop trying to be a mod.
It really isn't that simple though, religion IS how God is defined. Leaving religion out of it makes it a non-topic. Comments can be made about the nature of God, sure, but the discussion is always going to circle back the the way God is defined and worshipped.
i disagree. god has been around much longer than organized religion. religions do define god, but god does not define religion. man does. god can exist without religion. there are many people who aren't religious who believe in a higher power. my question was very simple and direct: if you believe in god, what do you think god is?
if people can't keep religion out of it, then that's their shortfall.
So the thread should have consisted of 15-20 people's concept of God and done?
Why is discourse so frowned upon by some?
it's not. but when that discourse careens into bashing entire groups of people, that is frowned upon. especially when that was mentioned in the first two posts.
It's just that this thread is going along just fine - I don't understand the apparent need for an intervention into something that doesn't need it.
I also don't think that a conversation about the concept of God can adequately happen without discussing religion. It's impossible IMO.
as to your first statement: the thread was devolving. i was not the only one in thinking so. it was not an intervention. it a comment on the path of the thread. whether you think it was necessary is irrelevant.
your second statement is false. many people believe in god and don't subscribe to nor participate in any organized religion. it's actually quite common, whether you believe it or not. it's called spirituality.
religion being defined as the worship of god does make the opposite true.
carry on as you wish. i commented on the state of the thread as i saw it at the time and i stand by it.
To your comment about what I think being irrelevant: Right back at ya buddy. We're all just stating our opinions here, and one's isn't more or less relevant that the other's.
Secondly, no, my second statement isn't false. You're just misinterpreting it. I didn't say that everyone has to be religious to believe in God. I said that a conversation about the concept of God can't adequately take place without religion coming up. Those are two very different things. Sorry your thread isn't following your exact personal expectations, but that isn't how discussion forums work.
I agree with your first statement. many of your posts gave the impression you don't.
no, I didn't misinterpret it at all. I think a discussion about what people think of god as a concept CAN take place without discussing religion. that's a limited box that people put the concept in. I was trying to get people to think outside of it.
I don't give a shit which way the thread takes a course. threads meander, move, evolve, change, etc. I fully expected people wouldn't be able to stick to the idea I was presenting, which is why I mentioned it in the second post. I was commenting how people were treating believers in the thread, which, sadly, is always to be expected in threads like these. I have as much problem with believes talking down to non-believers as I do the other way around.
I have my own issues with religion. But I'm not going to sit here on my high horse and talk about how stupid and crazy people are.
Please explain how any of my posts here give an impression of being something other than my opinion, specifically. I really really want to know how my talking about my thoughts about God and religion can give an impression of anything other than me giving my opinion. What else would it be? If you happen to think that it is simply my confident tone or something, then sorry, that is just plain unfair. Having confidence in my own opinion is a positive, not a negative. I'm getting pretty sick of having this debate with you. I feel like we've already had this conversation.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
Our local churches seem to be competing for a "worst sign quote" award. The latest isn't stupid, but it's a nasty message. "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans." Sure, that's a great message... "What's that little Timmy? You want to be a fireman? Hah! God's laughing at you because he's going to wreck your plans!"
Some recent hall of famers: "Love doesn't rub it in, it rubs it out" "Cross-eyed people have the best vision." "The best gift for Mother's Day is time spent on your knees." That last one came down quick.
That bolded one is pure gold. Well done.
The ones above and below it are pure gold, too. But for different reasons.
1995 Milwaukee 1998 Alpine, Alpine 2003 Albany, Boston, Boston, Boston 2004 Boston, Boston 2006 Hartford, St. Paul (Petty), St. Paul (Petty) 2011 Alpine, Alpine 2013 Wrigley 2014 St. Paul 2016 Fenway, Fenway, Wrigley, Wrigley 2018 Missoula, Wrigley, Wrigley 2021 Asbury Park 2022 St Louis 2023 Austin, Austin
OP With all due respect you started this thread with "so basically the point of this thread is not to argue about faith, or try to convince someone else that you are right or they are wrong. just, what do you think god is, if you believe a god exists?
Now I'm not one to argue semantics but as a person who does not believe god exists suggests that anyone who thinks this way as well should not post in this thread. I believe anything religious orientated will bring cross opines. I understand the rules of respecting a thread but one can't interject every now and then like the hand of god to sway a conversation that was based on a pointed question.
the original question had zero to do with religion, you can talk about belief in a god without steering it that way. but people always have to chime in and talk about how stupid everyone else's beliefs are to put themselves back in their tower above everyone else. i don't get why it can't be a respectful discussion about beliefs.
one can interject any time they wish. out of town, in town, doesn't matter. there aren't statute of limitations on when i can post. you need to stop trying to be a mod.
It really isn't that simple though, religion IS how God is defined. Leaving religion out of it makes it a non-topic. Comments can be made about the nature of God, sure, but the discussion is always going to circle back the the way God is defined and worshipped.
i disagree. god has been around much longer than organized religion. religions do define god, but god does not define religion. man does. god can exist without religion. there are many people who aren't religious who believe in a higher power. my question was very simple and direct: if you believe in god, what do you think god is?
if people can't keep religion out of it, then that's their shortfall.
So the thread should have consisted of 15-20 people's concept of God and done?
Why is discourse so frowned upon by some?
it's not. but when that discourse careens into bashing entire groups of people, that is frowned upon. especially when that was mentioned in the first two posts.
It's just that this thread is going along just fine - I don't understand the apparent need for an intervention into something that doesn't need it.
I also don't think that a conversation about the concept of God can adequately happen without discussing religion. It's impossible IMO.
as to your first statement: the thread was devolving. i was not the only one in thinking so. it was not an intervention. it a comment on the path of the thread. whether you think it was necessary is irrelevant.
your second statement is false. many people believe in god and don't subscribe to nor participate in any organized religion. it's actually quite common, whether you believe it or not. it's called spirituality.
religion being defined as the worship of god does make the opposite true.
carry on as you wish. i commented on the state of the thread as i saw it at the time and i stand by it.
To your comment about what I think being irrelevant: Right back at ya buddy. We're all just stating our opinions here, and one's isn't more or less relevant that the other's.
Secondly, no, my second statement isn't false. You're just misinterpreting it. I didn't say that everyone has to be religious to believe in God. I said that a conversation about the concept of God can't adequately take place without religion coming up. Those are two very different things. Sorry your thread isn't following your exact personal expectations, but that isn't how discussion forums work.
I agree with your first statement. many of your posts gave the impression you don't.
no, I didn't misinterpret it at all. I think a discussion about what people think of god as a concept CAN take place without discussing religion. that's a limited box that people put the concept in. I was trying to get people to think outside of it.
I don't give a shit which way the thread takes a course. threads meander, move, evolve, change, etc. I fully expected people wouldn't be able to stick to the idea I was presenting, which is why I mentioned it in the second post. I was commenting how people were treating believers in the thread, which, sadly, is always to be expected in threads like these. I have as much problem with believes talking down to non-believers as I do the other way around.
I have my own issues with religion. But I'm not going to sit here on my high horse and talk about how stupid and crazy people are.
Please explain how any of my posts here give an impression of being something other than my opinion, specifically. I really really want to know how my talking about my thoughts about God and religion can give an impression of anything other than me giving my opinion. What else would it be? If you happen to think that it is simply my confident tone or something, then sorry, that is just plain unfair. Having confidence in my own opinion is a positive, not a negative. I'm getting pretty sick of having this debate with you. I feel like we've already had this conversation.
so don't.
back to the thread.
"Oh Canada...you're beautiful when you're drunk" -EV 8/14/93
I'm going to stick my nose in PJS to comment I read his post as he was suggesting he doesn't agree with you when you state no one's opinions are more relevant.
Edit - more or less relevant.
Oh please let it rain today.
Those that can be trusted can change their mind.
0
brianlux
Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,320
Back to subject.
The belief in God or a god or gods is universal in human cultures. Every civilization/culture in every era has had some kind of god belief (and atheists, sorry to say, get ignored at best, burned to the stake or tortured at worst). Sometimes there are similarities in these beliefs, sometimes big differences and I find them interesting to study, but at this point in my life, none are anything I could honestly subscribe to or follow. Some of the Native American spiritual beliefs (and they vary, it's not like all tribes believed the exact same thing and some vary widely) are the most compelling to me because they are rooted in nature (animals, rocks, rivers and oceans, sun, moon, stars, everything) and are narrated as myths. Their more metaphorical nature gives them a greater sensibility for me.
I might have mentioned this before, but a great book that focuses on nature in religions, particularly Native American beliefs, is Tom Hayden's The Lost Gospel of the Earth.
"Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!" -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
I'm going to stick my nose in PJS to comment I read his post as he was suggesting he doesn't agree with you when you state no one's opinions are more relevant.
Edit - more or less relevant.
He specifically said that he did agree with that part.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
The belief in God or a god or gods is universal in human cultures. Every civilization/culture in every era has had some kind of god belief (and atheists, sorry to say, get ignored at best, burned to the stake or tortured at worst). Sometimes there are similarities in these beliefs, sometimes big differences and I find them interesting to study, but at this point in my life, none are anything I could honestly subscribe to or follow. Some of the Native American spiritual beliefs (and they vary, it's not like all tribes believed the exact same thing and some vary widely) are the most compelling to me because they are rooted in nature (animals, rocks, rivers and oceans, sun, moon, stars, everything) and are narrated as myths. Their more metaphorical nature gives them a greater sensibility for me.
I might have mentioned this before, but a great book that focuses on nature in religions, particularly Native American beliefs, is Tom Hayden's The Lost Gospel of the Earth.
I like this post.
Oh please let it rain today.
Those that can be trusted can change their mind.
I'm going to stick my nose in PJS to comment I read his post as he was suggesting he doesn't agree with you when you state no one's opinions are more relevant.
Edit - more or less relevant.
He specifically said that he did agree with that part.
yes I agree.
Then he stated he's not so sure you do.
Oh please let it rain today.
Those that can be trusted can change their mind.
The belief in God or a god or gods is universal in human cultures.
I disagree. For as long as I can remember and as since I've been human I don't recall believing in a god. On the other hand I can remember the day I knew the easter bunny, santa and the tooth fairy were false.
The belief in God or a god or gods is universal in human cultures.
I disagree. For as long as I can remember and as since I've been human I don't recall believing in a god. On the other hand I can remember the day I knew the easter bunny, santa and the tooth fairy were false.
But you grew up in a culture in which a large percentage of the population does believe.
^^^ I'm not sure. At the time it was just growing up. It wasn't until later I realized that some people think that not believing in a god is as unfathomable as believing in one.
I'm going to stick my nose in PJS to comment I read his post as he was suggesting he doesn't agree with you when you state no one's opinions are more relevant.
Edit - more or less relevant.
He specifically said that he did agree with that part.
yes I agree.
Then he stated he's not so sure you do.
Right. And I'm defending myself. HFD thinks that I state my opinions as facts (which would necessarily mean I think they are more relevant). That is not the case, and I'm arguing that it's bullshit to accuse me of that. I was looking for any real example where my posts aren't just my opinions, but stated as fact instead. I maintain that he can't. Let's be clear though, that was all said in a particular context - I took it as meaning that we all have equal footing as people posting in the thread, i.e. one poster isn't more relevant than the other. Not all opinions are equal and let's not pretend they are. Some opinions are really stupid and make no sense and others make much more sense and are based on reality and logic. I don't think HFD's argument was that all opinions are equal. I hope not, anyway, because he'd be lying. HFD, if that is actually what you meant... hahaha, I call bullshit. But I'm pretty sure you know that some opinions are in fact more valid than others, for obvious reasons.
Post edited by PJ_Soul on
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
0
brianlux
Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,320
The belief in God or a god or gods is universal in human cultures.
I disagree. For as long as I can remember and as since I've been human I don't recall believing in a god. On the other hand I can remember the day I knew the easter bunny, santa and the tooth fairy were false.
I said, "The belief in God or a god or gods is universal in human cultures. "
I didn't know you were a culture, be it a collective manifestation on human intellectual achievements and arts or a cultivation of bacteria in an artificial medium. Either way, fascinating!
"Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!" -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
^^^ My humble apologies for misinterpreting your post. I am ashamed of myself for being off by two words in bold that was making your point. I apologize.
The belief in supernatural is pretty universal, it's a weird thing for sure, I consider it a quirk, a byproduct of our rapid intellectual evolution.
I personally think it's just the default human reaction to not understanding things that impact them. Don't know how it really works? Make something up to explain it. And when you're talking about the natural world, the "supernatural" is the only way for those stories to go.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
0
brianlux
Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,320
^^^ My humble apologies for misinterpreting your post. I am ashamed of myself for being off by two words in bold that was making your point. I apologize.
Two words too many! No excuse! Ha ha, just kidding.
Now about that, " I can remember the day I knew the Easter bunny, Santa and the tooth fairy were false"...
OMG, I can't believe I posted that picture. Funny but UGLY! Let's try again:
Awwwwwwww, see, ral as can be!
Post edited by brianlux on
"Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!" -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
If you don't believe in god yet your good natured don't the believers think that god will take care of them. I'm against religion that condemns good people Fly your flag of sincerity
I believe in god. I love jesus. Books don't do a spirit justice.
I wonder if atheists would "recommend" their way of believing (not believing) i mean what does it give you?
The knowledge that you're dealing with the world as it is, and basing decisions about your actions accordingly.
Thank you for responding and I appreciate your answer. I can somewhat understand what you are saying here and to me that is life, I live my own life and make my own decisions. For me to be honest, I need God, he supports me through life and I cant be without his presence.
I wonder if atheists would "recommend" their way of believing (not believing) i mean what does it give you?
The power to think critically. The ability to appreciate the world much more deeply. The hope that someday people will stop killing and hurting each other due to their self-delusions.
I wonder if atheists would "recommend" their way of believing (not believing) i mean what does it give you?
The power to think critically. The ability to appreciate the world much more deeply. The hope that someday people will stop killing and hurting each other due to their self-delusions.
Faith doesn't limit the abality to think critically.
I appreciate the world very much and deeply.
I agree and also hope people will stop hurting and kill each other. People won't stop killing each other even if lets say, religion was forbidden.
People will always find reasons to kill each other sadly.
I wonder if atheists would "recommend" their way of believing (not believing) i mean what does it give you?
The power to think critically. The ability to appreciate the world much more deeply. The hope that someday people will stop killing and hurting each other due to their self-delusions.
Faith doesn't limit the abality to think critically.
I appreciate the world very much and deeply.
I agree and also hope people will stop hurting and kill each other. People won't stop killing each other even if lets say, religion was forbidden.
People will always find reasons to kill each other sadly.
in some ways, it can. look at that evangelical leader who said "god has given trump the authority to take out kim jong un".
I disagree with gambs saying atheists appreciate the world more deeply. I think a lot of theists believe in god for the very reason of their appreciation of the wonders around them. some of them even cite that as proof of god in and of itself.
"Oh Canada...you're beautiful when you're drunk" -EV 8/14/93
I wonder if atheists would "recommend" their way of believing (not believing) i mean what does it give you?
The power to think critically. The ability to appreciate the world much more deeply. The hope that someday people will stop killing and hurting each other due to their self-delusions.
Faith doesn't limit the abality to think critically.
I appreciate the world very much and deeply.
I agree and also hope people will stop hurting and kill each other. People won't stop killing each other even if lets say, religion was forbidden.
People will always find reasons to kill each other sadly.
in some ways, it can. look at that evangelical leader who said "god has given trump the authority to take out kim jong un".
I disagree with gambs saying atheists appreciate the world more deeply. I think a lot of theists believe in god for the very reason of their appreciation of the wonders around them. some of them even cite that as proof of god in and of itself.
To me, the appreciation part depends on whether they are creationists or not.
Understanding the enormous, beautiful complexity of evolutionary biology leads, in my opinion, to a far deeper appreciation for the natural world than the simplistic thinking of "it's that way because God made it that way".
my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
Comments
"If you want to make god laugh tell him your plans." wtf? God is NOT standing there with a big ELECTRIC cattle prod looking for people to zap. He actually wants to help you succeed in life.
Honestly though, the Bible supports it pretty well.
Abraham, Job, Uriah the Hittite, everyone who worships Molloch or Seth or Baal. God certainly fucked with them pretty sadistically.
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
no, I didn't misinterpret it at all. I think a discussion about what people think of god as a concept CAN take place without discussing religion. that's a limited box that people put the concept in. I was trying to get people to think outside of it.
I don't give a shit which way the thread takes a course. threads meander, move, evolve, change, etc. I fully expected people wouldn't be able to stick to the idea I was presenting, which is why I mentioned it in the second post. I was commenting how people were treating believers in the thread, which, sadly, is always to be expected in threads like these. I have as much problem with believes talking down to non-believers as I do the other way around.
I have my own issues with religion. But I'm not going to sit here on my high horse and talk about how stupid and crazy people are.
-EV 8/14/93
The ones above and below it are pure gold, too. But for different reasons.
2013 Wrigley 2014 St. Paul 2016 Fenway, Fenway, Wrigley, Wrigley 2018 Missoula, Wrigley, Wrigley 2021 Asbury Park 2022 St Louis 2023 Austin, Austin
back to the thread.
-EV 8/14/93
Edit - more or less relevant.
Those that can be trusted can change their mind.
The belief in God or a god or gods is universal in human cultures. Every civilization/culture in every era has had some kind of god belief (and atheists, sorry to say, get ignored at best, burned to the stake or tortured at worst). Sometimes there are similarities in these beliefs, sometimes big differences and I find them interesting to study, but at this point in my life, none are anything I could honestly subscribe to or follow. Some of the Native American spiritual beliefs (and they vary, it's not like all tribes believed the exact same thing and some vary widely) are the most compelling to me because they are rooted in nature (animals, rocks, rivers and oceans, sun, moon, stars, everything) and are narrated as myths. Their more metaphorical nature gives them a greater sensibility for me.
I might have mentioned this before, but a great book that focuses on nature in religions, particularly Native American beliefs, is Tom Hayden's The Lost Gospel of the Earth.
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
Those that can be trusted can change their mind.
Then he stated he's not so sure you do.
Those that can be trusted can change their mind.
I'm not sure. At the time it was just growing up. It wasn't until later I realized that some people think that not believing in a god is as unfathomable as believing in one.
Let's be clear though, that was all said in a particular context - I took it as meaning that we all have equal footing as people posting in the thread, i.e. one poster isn't more relevant than the other. Not all opinions are equal and let's not pretend they are. Some opinions are really stupid and make no sense and others make much more sense and are based on reality and logic. I don't think HFD's argument was that all opinions are equal. I hope not, anyway, because he'd be lying. HFD, if that is actually what you meant... hahaha, I call bullshit.
I didn't know you were a culture, be it a collective manifestation on human intellectual achievements and arts or a cultivation of bacteria in an artificial medium. Either way, fascinating!
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
My humble apologies for misinterpreting your post. I am ashamed of myself for being off by two words in bold that was making your point. I apologize.
Now about that, " I can remember the day I knew the Easter bunny, Santa and the tooth fairy were false"...
OMG, I can't believe I posted that picture. Funny but UGLY! Let's try again:
Awwwwwwww, see, ral as can be!
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
I'm against religion that condemns good people
Fly your flag of sincerity
I believe in god. I love jesus. Books don't do a spirit justice.
The knowledge that you're dealing with the world as it is, and basing decisions about your actions accordingly.
Thank you for responding and I appreciate your answer. I can somewhat understand what you are saying here and to me that is life, I live my own life and make my own decisions. For me to be honest, I need God, he supports me through life and I cant be without his presence.
The ability to appreciate the world much more deeply.
The hope that someday people will stop killing and hurting each other due to their self-delusions.
Faith doesn't limit the abality to think critically.
I appreciate the world very much and deeply.
I agree and also hope people will stop hurting and kill each other. People won't stop killing each other even if lets say, religion was forbidden.
People will always find reasons to kill each other sadly.
I disagree with gambs saying atheists appreciate the world more deeply. I think a lot of theists believe in god for the very reason of their appreciation of the wonders around them. some of them even cite that as proof of god in and of itself.
-EV 8/14/93
To me, the appreciation part depends on whether they are creationists or not.
Understanding the enormous, beautiful complexity of evolutionary biology leads, in my opinion, to a far deeper appreciation for the natural world than the simplistic thinking of "it's that way because God made it that way".