The real religion?

[Arkilogue]

I'd say good evidence of practicing the "real religion" is the presence of joy in your soul.

[bennyboy]

I think Steve has abandoned the thread...like they all do...all the time...and then somehow convince themselves that they "win debates", and are "never proved wrong".

It is our job to introduce cognitive dissonance.  Perhaps he'll respond to it by letting go of his goofy belief system, and perhaps he'll respond by avoiding reality forever and being even worse of than before, "reaffirming his faith in the Lord" or whatever.

But I think in the end, over the next few generations, only a complete internet blackout will prevent the Christian memes from dying out under the pressure of reality and the integration of multiple cultures.

[LadyForCamus]

I'd say good evidence of practicing the "real religion" is the presence of joy in your soul.

Then I'd say that you have no idea what "good evidence" actually is.

[LadyForCamus]

I think Steve has abandoned the thread...like they all do...all the time...and then somehow convince themselves that they "win debates", and are "never proved wrong".

It is our job to introduce cognitive dissonance.  Perhaps he'll respond to it by letting go of his goofy belief system, and perhaps he'll respond by avoiding reality forever and being even worse of than before, "reaffirming his faith in the Lord" or whatever.

But I think in the end, over the next few generations, only a complete internet blackout will prevent the Christian memes from dying out under the pressure of reality and the integration of multiple cultures.

Has anyone ever de-converted here?

[Arkilogue]

I'd say good evidence of practicing the "real religion" is the presence of joy in your soul.

Then I'd say that you have no idea what "good evidence" actually is.

What is the purpose of religion if not internal harmony with God and creation?

The presence of joy is at least a good indicator of the absence of cognitive dissonance and existential angst.

[Jesster]

It is our job to introduce cognitive dissonance.  Perhaps he'll respond to it by letting go of his goofy belief system, and perhaps he'll respond by avoiding reality forever and being even worse of than before, "reaffirming his faith in the Lord" or whatever.

But I think in the end, over the next few generations, only a complete internet blackout will prevent the Christian memes from dying out under the pressure of reality and the integration of multiple cultures.

Has anyone ever de-converted here?

I doubt that's likely to happen. It takes a lot more than that to get people out of an indoctrinated belief. It took me a good 5 years of listening to good points for me to finally give up religion.

[LadyForCamus]

Then I'd say that you have no idea what "good evidence" actually is.

What is the purpose of religion if not internal harmony with God and creation?

The presence of joy is at least a good indicator of the absence of cognitive dissonance and existential angst.

But, how exactly do those feelings prove that particular religion to be real, or more real than any other religion? I imagine people from many different religious backgrounds all over the world experience peace and joy as the result of their beliefs. Has nothing to do with "proof".

[robvalue]

You beat me too it

It's also a pretty pathetic payoff for the real religion, seeing as there are plenty of other ways of achieving the same thing without all the hassle and dogma.

[LadyForCamus]

You beat me too it

It's also a pretty pathetic payoff for the real religion, seeing as there are plenty of other ways of achieving the same thing without all the hassle and dogma.

Yeah, exactly. Who has time for all that GROVELING?

[The Grand Nudger]

Then I'd say that you have no idea what "good evidence" actually is.

What is the purpose of religion if not internal harmony with God and creation?

The presence of joy is at least a good indicator of the absence of cognitive dissonance and existential angst.

Internal harmony...with what's actually..well, internal..perhaps?

How about a coping mechanism? 

A license to print money?

Justification for adventurism and plunder?

The stultifying mores referred to in a deeply conservative social engineering project?


But, hey, if the only purpose of religion is to please the pixies.........then I guess the rest of that is just a bonus.