One can be good without God, but they are still carrying out God's wants (for man to be good), whether they realize they are or not.

(February 14, 2013 at 6:22 pm)TheLameMayWalk Wrote: One can be good without God, but they are still carrying out God's wants (for man to be good), whether they realize they are or not.

Ah, but without faith in said god, the acts of good are irrelevant, are they not?

(February 14, 2013 at 6:30 pm)Baalzebutt Wrote:

(February 14, 2013 at 6:22 pm)TheLameMayWalk Wrote: One can be good without God, but they are still carrying out God's wants (for man to be good), whether they realize they are or not.

Ah, but without faith in said god, the acts of good are irrelevant, are they not?

In the way you're thinking of it, yes. But overall, you are doing something God would approve of.

(February 14, 2013 at 6:31 pm)TheLameMayWalk Wrote:

(February 14, 2013 at 6:30 pm)Baalzebutt Wrote: Ah, but without faith in said god, the acts of good are irrelevant, are they not?

In the way you're thinking of it, yes. But overall, you are doing something God would approve of.

So I am pleasing god in spite of my disbelief. Interesting train of thought.

Romans 2
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Gauls 3 (late kickoff).

(February 14, 2013 at 6:31 pm)TheLameMayWalk Wrote: In the way you're thinking of it, yes. But overall, you are doing something God would approve of.

I'd also be doing something my mother would approve of too, that doesn't mean I'm playing into some divine plan of my mother's.

Hell, for that matter, I'd also be doing something Superman would approve of too. That says nothing about the existence of Superman.

Frankly, I just refuse to abdicate responsibility for all of my better instincts- all the while keeping a death grip on my worst ones in order to beg forgiveness for them- to god. It's all just me, and that's all it should ever be.

I'm pretty the generosity of atheists varies as much as does every other trait of all humans. A world without religion would have just as many charities and humane organizations (I think). I know I still feel emotions like compassion, why would a religious belief change that?

Just because somebody believes in darwinism (not even all atheists do) does NOT mean that they believe we should bide by a darwinian style of life! I sure hope nobody thinks that.

TheLameMayWalk Wrote:In the way you're thinking of it, yes. But overall, you are doing something God would approve of.

Stoning a woman to death for adultery, giving her magic water (sotah) that will cause her stomach to explode if she is expected of adultery and it turns out true, or, during a war, if I see a really cute woman I can kill her family and take her home to be my own, or if a pretty virgin doesn't want to marry me, I can rape her, pay 50 silver shekels (which is about $12 US these days, but we can add inflation), and she is all mine!

God approves of a lot of things that I find disgusting.

So I think I'll pass.

(February 21, 2013 at 7:57 am)EGross Wrote:

TheLameMayWalk Wrote:In the way you're thinking of it, yes. But overall, you are doing something God would approve of.

Stoning a woman to death for adultery, giving her magic water (sotah) that will cause her stomach to explode if she is expected of adultery and it turns out true, or, during a war, if I see a really cute woman I can kill her family and take her home to be my own, or if a pretty virgin doesn't want to marry me, I can rape her, pay 50 silver shekels (which is about $12 US these days, but we can add inflation), and she is all mine!

God approves of a lot of things that I find disgusting.

So I think I'll pass.

Another atheist who hasn't read the Bible???

The prophets said the scribes lied...
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(February 21, 2013 at 12:38 am)iameatingjam Wrote: I'm pretty the generosity of atheists varies as much as does every other trait of all humans. A world without religion would have just as many charities and humane organizations (I think). I know I still feel emotions like compassion, why would a religious belief change that?

Just because somebody believes in darwinism (not even all atheists do) does NOT mean that they believe we should bide by a darwinian style of life! I sure hope nobody thinks that.

I think there would be more charities. If the weathiest organization in the world were gone, people would have a lot more to give, including time...
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