(July 3, 2017 at 8:34 am)Die Atheistin Wrote: This applies to all moderate theistic religious (christians, jews, muslims, etc.). The ones who don't claim that their belief is better, that don't interpret their holy texts literally. My mom is one of them, she claims that we may never know if there's a God or not, but believing that a loving God who protects you will give you positive energy. It's like saying: "I don't know how the world works but I'll imagine it how I want it to be, because the reality can be scary". Why are they so emotionally connected to this, yet willing (or more likely) to change their opinion in every other aspect of life? And if they don't see their opinion as better, why are they insisting so much on it?
The whole of Judaism believes that Judaism is only for Jews, it is not intended for non-Jews, and that other people have perfectly valid ways of life. The vast majority of Judaism holds that the Torah’s depiction of creation need not be taken literally and that there is plenty of room to interpret the Torah differently so it makes more sense with facts of the natural world. Reading through Jewish commentary dating back through 900 years in the past will firmly support my assertion.
I am, by your definition, a moderate theist. I also don’t know how the world works, but I rely on a combination of science and religious views to explain it to myself. I’m content with my explanations, yet I’m not emotionally connected to them, and I do not think my way of thinking is better than yours, as you suggested. As new information comes in, I’m prepared to reevaluate my thinking. I insist on my views to myself because they make me happy, and for no other reason. I do not insist on my views (to others) because I can’t prove them to your satisfaction and I don’t think you need to believe the way I believe to live a happy, full life. I stand to gain nothing from insisting on my views to anyone other than myself.
… and if anyone doesn’t like the way I privately view the world, especially when it doesn’t affect them in any way what-so-ever, then those people are emotionally and socially maladjusted.
