(July 20, 2009 at 6:20 pm)Dotard Wrote: Very few people believe in God. ... A belief in God would require 100% obsessive devotion, influencing every single waking moment of their lives of this brief life on earth. But none of these billions of people who profess belief in God live their lives in this fashion, save for a very few. The majority believe in the usefulness of their beliefs, an earthly and practical utility, but they have no belief in any underlying reality.
There are a couple of sentences I disagree with in your overall post, but otherwise... <enthusiastic standing ovation>
I had to read it a couple of times to really appreciate the profundity and eloquence of your post. Very well said, and practically spot on. Outstanding thought piece. This one earned a serious rep point. (However, I would have chosen to use the term 'faith' over 'belief' since it is the former you are describing, while the latter is indeed mere intellectual assent.)
Man is a rational animal who always loses his temper when
called upon to act in accordance with the dictates of reason.
(Oscar Wilde)
called upon to act in accordance with the dictates of reason.
(Oscar Wilde)