(August 13, 2016 at 2:34 pm)Brian37 Wrote: Nope sorry, doesn't work like that. How you would prefer someone else interpret the bible does not mean they don't view it as their source of morality like you do. Not liking their interpretation does not make it a different source. The German Christian population at the time of Hitler WERE a majority Christian. Just like one can accept in the west that a Sunni Muslim and Shiite Muslim both see the Quran as their source of morality.
You're comments about different interpretations are true to a certain point, but one can carry that so far. Saying that the teachings of Jesus would condone the extermination of the Jewish race is stretching it too far.
Quote:There has never been such a thing as a perfectly unified religion, or "correct" following of any. That is because all religions are human inventions that are really nothing more than artificial constructs in attempts to create social order.
In the case of christianity, you're right that the religion is a human construct. Jesus never formed a religion.
Quote:Our species morality is evolutionary, both in our ability to be cruel or compassionate, to cooperate or use force. Humans evolved to be social and that is the real reason we form groups.
Morality is not evolutionary. Morality is different in various cultures at the same time. Societies' morals change with the times and often return to the way they were generations before. Societies' morals also change as they accept new beliefs, such as African nations that have become more christian.
Quote:There has never been a magic man in the sky pulling our strings, not even a mere mortal, as some would claim the original Buddha to be, which is also a religion rooted in mythology and superstition.
Strictly your opinion.
Quote:Our species was around long before any written religion or first boarders. Our planet is 4 billion years old, revolving around 1 star, our sun in a galaxy full of billions of stars. A galaxy so big it takes 1 ray of light 100,000 years at the speed of light to cross. Our galaxy is also only one of hundred of billions in our observable universe.
Sounds really deep, but has nothing to do with whether or not there is a God or if christianity or any other religion is true.
Quote:Religion is only as good as far as a placebo effect at best, but throughout history has caused great amounts of divisions and death. Religion was our species early form of guessing at what was, but we have much better tools now to measure the universe outside our own personal wishes.
I agree that people have used religion to support wars and atrocities. They have also used nationalism, borders and property rights as reasons. Are these things responsible for wars or are the people involved responsible? Are nationalism, borders and property rights bad things that we should get rid of? Religion has caused people to help the poor, feed the hungry, care for the sick and create great hospitals and institutions of learning. Since religion has caused people to do good things, which they may otherwise have not done, isn't it a good thing?
Quote:The theist likes to falsely portray the atheist as fatalistic and negative and immoral.
Some do, but you're generalizing. I view atheists as people who can be moral or immoral, like everyone, but who are lost.
Quote:Now while the word itself doesn't determine the individual atheists actions good or bad throughout their lives, we are not a separate species from theists. We can be good and do good, we have ups and downs like everyone else, some individuals can do bad, but most simply want the same securities and order most humans want. The only difference between an atheist and a theist is that we reject one more God claim and religious club than the theist does. We simply don't assign good or bad to a battle between a super hero and super villain battling over the neurons in your brain.
In a very general way I can agree with the idea of what you are saying, but the difference between a true christian and an atheist isn't simply that we accepted the God claim and you rejected it. It's that christians have God with them and in them, and atheists don't. This makes a huge difference for here and eternity.