Funny you should mention Richard Dawkins because that's who I came here just now to mention.
I am currently reading his book The God Delusion and just ran across a quotation from George Bernard Shaw. "The fact that believers are happier than skeptics is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one."
Yes, like alcohol, religion provides a way to escape the full effect of our problems. When I was a Christian, my favorite passage from the Bible was Hebrews 13, "Let your conversation be without covetousness but be content with such things as you have. For he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So that we may boldly say the Lord is my helper. I shall not fear what men shall do unto me." Now that I no longer believe that Jesus is that imaginary helper, it's only logical that I should "fear what men shall do unto me." But I see no statistically significant difference in the lives of Christians and the lives of nonbelievers. So it's a waste of emotional energy to fear that over which I have no control. I will live until I die and that is that.
I am currently reading his book The God Delusion and just ran across a quotation from George Bernard Shaw. "The fact that believers are happier than skeptics is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one."
Yes, like alcohol, religion provides a way to escape the full effect of our problems. When I was a Christian, my favorite passage from the Bible was Hebrews 13, "Let your conversation be without covetousness but be content with such things as you have. For he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So that we may boldly say the Lord is my helper. I shall not fear what men shall do unto me." Now that I no longer believe that Jesus is that imaginary helper, it's only logical that I should "fear what men shall do unto me." But I see no statistically significant difference in the lives of Christians and the lives of nonbelievers. So it's a waste of emotional energy to fear that over which I have no control. I will live until I die and that is that.
The god who allows children to be raped out of respect for the free will choice of the rapist, but punishes gay men for engaging in mutually consensual sex couldn't possibly be responsible for an intelligently designed universe.
I may defend your right to free speech, but i won't help you pass out flyers.
Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.
--Voltaire
Nietzsche isn't dead. How do I know he lives? He lives in my mind.
I may defend your right to free speech, but i won't help you pass out flyers.
Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.
--Voltaire
Nietzsche isn't dead. How do I know he lives? He lives in my mind.
