RE: Convert me!
September 1, 2012 at 10:06 am
(This post was last modified: September 1, 2012 at 10:23 am by Penhorse340.)
Wow, so many interesting replies! Thanks.
@ grimesy, I think it's perfectly possible to decide to believe something. We do it all the time, usually basing our decision on evidence, but sometimes on expediency. For eg, I believe my kids love me. I understand that their feelings are a mixture of dependency, socialisation, genetics etc, which cause their bodies to process chemicals in a way that generates what they perceive as feelings. But that's kinda long winded, so I use "love" as a model to sum all that up into a conceptural construct I can understand and conveniently process.
Same with religion. I think that for some people the "sky daddy" (love that) gives a model, a framework for a buncha stuff that they're not otherwise equipped to handle or understand.
As to those who said religion is not an effective, or is a deforming crutch, I'd have to say from a scientific point of view, what data is that based on?
And this one really struck me.
The main truth I've found is "I / we don't know". That truth stinks. That's why we wrap everything in simplified models which distil the bits we think we do know into bitesize chunks. Trouble is the models are almost always oversimplified! That's not truth, it's a different flavour lie.
Lol!
Nah, Nothing here to tempt me! We all delude ourselves, lie ins are a distant memory and I already enjoy all the holes God gave me. After all, why put the prostate up there if we weren't meant to use it for fun as well as function!
You got anything else
"Right, the same moral code that demands that I as a women should not speak when a congregation of men is present. No thank you. The golden rule is not hard to live by and Jesus was most definitely not the first one who thought of it."
Yeah, but like all good Christians, I cherry picked the bits I like. I then get to pick my own moral code (just like you) but also have the pleasant delusion that they're externally imposed. Makes it easier for me to stick to them. Else my "sky daddy" will spank me. Sort of Autologous discipline.
@ grimesy, I think it's perfectly possible to decide to believe something. We do it all the time, usually basing our decision on evidence, but sometimes on expediency. For eg, I believe my kids love me. I understand that their feelings are a mixture of dependency, socialisation, genetics etc, which cause their bodies to process chemicals in a way that generates what they perceive as feelings. But that's kinda long winded, so I use "love" as a model to sum all that up into a conceptural construct I can understand and conveniently process.
Same with religion. I think that for some people the "sky daddy" (love that) gives a model, a framework for a buncha stuff that they're not otherwise equipped to handle or understand.
As to those who said religion is not an effective, or is a deforming crutch, I'd have to say from a scientific point of view, what data is that based on?
(August 31, 2012 at 6:37 pm)Napoléon Wrote:(August 31, 2012 at 5:12 pm)Penhorse340 Wrote: to throw away the crutch are there any upsides to replace all that stuff?
The truth.
If you don't value that, then carry on believing fairy tales.
And this one really struck me.
The main truth I've found is "I / we don't know". That truth stinks. That's why we wrap everything in simplified models which distil the bits we think we do know into bitesize chunks. Trouble is the models are almost always oversimplified! That's not truth, it's a different flavour lie.
(August 31, 2012 at 5:14 pm)Tobie Wrote:(August 31, 2012 at 5:12 pm)Penhorse340 Wrote: Ok, here's my problem. I'm a Christian. I'm not mad keen on most other christians, we seem to attract more than our share of dicks. I'm downright embarrassed by mainstream christianities attempts at science. The bible seems to me full of contradiction and irrationality.
But here's the thing, religion offers something. An easy answer to lifes hard questions, a(broadly) functional moral code to live by, and something to cuddle when I get afraid of the dark (metaphysically speaking). I've heard religion described as a crutch and I think that's true. If I decide not to believe in god any longer, to throw away the crutch are there any upsides to replace all that stuff?
You no longer have to delude yourself. Plus, sleeping in on sundays and all the buggery you could wish for
Lol!
Nah, Nothing here to tempt me! We all delude ourselves, lie ins are a distant memory and I already enjoy all the holes God gave me. After all, why put the prostate up there if we weren't meant to use it for fun as well as function!
You got anything else
"Right, the same moral code that demands that I as a women should not speak when a congregation of men is present. No thank you. The golden rule is not hard to live by and Jesus was most definitely not the first one who thought of it."
Yeah, but like all good Christians, I cherry picked the bits I like. I then get to pick my own moral code (just like you) but also have the pleasant delusion that they're externally imposed. Makes it easier for me to stick to them. Else my "sky daddy" will spank me. Sort of Autologous discipline.
