(September 2, 2012 at 7:37 pm)Napoléon Wrote:(September 2, 2012 at 6:33 pm)MeOwnThing Wrote: Atheists all belong in one group, one "orginisation"?
There is very little in the way of organisation, which is precisely the point.
(September 2, 2012 at 8:41 am)greneknight Wrote: God is a concept that I haven't really formulated properly in my head. At the moment, I accept that there is no evidence whatsoever for God to exist and there is no rational argument in favour of God that satisfies me or that cannot be refuted by other counter-arguments. I'm almost tempted to say God is bunkum but so much of Western civilization and art are based on this concept of God that I want to give myself more time to formulate my idea about it. Right now, I can only honestly admit in my head that God is probably a personified metaphor for goodness and truth. My feelings are different but feelings are unreliable and unthinking. But in my head, God can't be a personal being with independent thought and will. But it's all very fluid and uncertain. I really haven't quite made up my mind. This idea is not the idea of my vicar. It's my own personal idea based on my own observation and examination of the evidence and the arguments.
Because of my culture as a Christian, this metaphor God is best expressed in its Triune form - in the formula that we are used to in the Western culture. So I have no problem with crossing myself when the name of the Holy Trinity is invoked.
But nothing is carved in rock yet. I'm still explorin[/size]g and forming my own ideas.
Sounds incredibly wishy washy.
You struggle to even call yourself an actual theist yet identify yourself as christian for cultural reasons. Just seems stupid to me. Christianity is not just cultural, it is a religion. To call yourself one it would naturally make sense that you at least believe in the god it preaches. You seem not to, or have your own interpretation of it at least. But then again, I suppose the idea of god is indeed different for pretty much every christian.
(September 2, 2012 at 7:12 pm)greneknight Wrote: I'm just saying that the FACT is Christian groups do run charitable organisations more than anyone else and even in this country
Care to back up these facts?
You asked if I could back up the fact that Christian groups run more charitable organisations than others. No, I have not researched that point. But I see things for myself. I've always lived in a country where my church is the established State church and if I picked my country as an example, that would be grossly unfair. Now, I am in a country where Christianity is the religion of a small minority of people here and I see the same thing about Christian organisations and the locals here tell me the same thing. You may ask for statistics and I tell you I have none and I'm not bothered about it. If you think I am wrong, fine. You can feel good in your supposition that atheists run the most charitable organisations. But I believe atheists are usually rational people and they will know deep in their hearts that I am right. Even if they don't or they don't want to admit it, that's no skin off my nose because I have said religion is cultural and I'm the last person on earth to bother to get people to join any religion.
But for me and my own personal observation, it's a FACT that Christians run the most charitable organisations all over the world, even in this country where they are a small minority.
There is a also a good reason why this is so. I know of priests who give up worldly luxuries just to serve people in poor countries. They may do so because of a belief that is incorrect - that I don't deny. But they serve nonetheless. Again, I believe atheists who are rational people will agree with me even though they may not want to admit it. I consider myself an honest Christian - I readily admit the flaws of my own religion. Atheists are usually honest too and I know if they can see the logic of what I'm saying, they will agree I'm right. Whether they care to admit or not is a different matter.
