Unconventional Religion

[Consilius]

Well thanks for trying. I'm afraid most of what you say went over my head. I'm not sure if you're saying:

Interpretation #1: "We, by way of religion, have given the ultimate standard of perfection for human behavior a name. We call it God. When in our own behavior we get near the ultimate standard, what we are overlaps with His presence."

Interpretation #2: "Metaphysically there is a being, God, which embodies all that is good and proper for human beings. When we align ourselves with God, we necessarily become good.

Ack! I know I am not doing justice to the second interpretation. I just can't cobble together a coherent phrasing for god understood as a being in itself. This is probably why I am having a hard time understanding what you've written.

You've done great, interpreting my spiel.
I'd go with interpretation 2. The standard for ultimate perfection exists outside humanity. We give it a name and strive to it.

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No it isn't because if someone rapes someone else they go to jail for a long time thus decreasing their likelihood of reproducing, also the woman is likely to get an abortion.

It seems that the line between rape and no rape is formed by a enitrely human institutions. Why would we send someone to jail for simply trying to perpetuate his genetic code?

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The only point of evolutionary instinct is to ensure passing on your genes.

Then why are humans altruistic? Surely we didn't need a Jesus to know when to defend a child being beaten up in an alley. The progression of humanity has always been about taking care of the rest of the herd.

I've already given the evidence - those verses that literally say you have to give up your money in order to be good.

Jesus didn't tell me to give up my money—he told a rich young man to. A rich young man who asked for him for heaven's free pass. Jesus was never a fan of making religion a one-stop shop, which is why he criticized the Judaism of his day.

You don't tell me what to do.

No, the bible does.

Oh, does it now? Another Christian stereotype.

So, the bible specifically tells you not to practice what you preach, huh?

It tells me not to practice what YOU preach.

Second, nowhere does it state that salvation = easy way through life. So, there is no reason to assume that the rich guy was looking for an easy way through life, though he was looking for salvation.
Third, your 'interpretation' of "want to be perfect" is way, way off the mark. The statement was pretty clear on that regard - of he gave up his wealth and followed Jesus, he'd be perfect.

Salvation cannot be earned. Earning salvation IS the easy way out.
Nobody is perfect, and nobody can achieve perfection. Only God is perfect. This isn't a very hidden concept of Christian theology, and this discrepancy is Jesus' answer to the rich man should tell you that he wasn't laying out a road map to heaven.

The rest of this reply I will not comment on. You may be a materialist if you like. I draw the line when you refuse to tolerate people who don't want to be materialists.
What I find funny is that the website administrators are soliciting donations at the top of this page. Are they not "rational" enough for you?