Religion, Atheism, and Deism -and the middle ground.
March 8, 2014 at 5:08 pm
(This post was last modified: March 8, 2014 at 5:15 pm by Mystic.)
I've discussed some issues over they years, here and on other forums and I would like to summarize my conclusions.
Religions often make claims that cannot be verified. For example, if we lived during the time of greeks, and we were told stories of Zeus and the other greek gods, we would have no means of verification. On this site, this is often used for Christianity and Islam as well as God or Creator or Supernatural realm.
When it comes to Christianity the claim seems to be different then how Zeus can be not verified per own it's claims, because it introduces a thing that mediates the truth and imparts knowledge, the third of the trinity, the holy spirit. The holy spirit somehow can impart this knowledge of Christianity being true.
Some counter arguments I get is how can you know a sequence of words are divinely inspired by a feeling. How do you know? It seems Christians themselves admit some parts of the Bible seem to be boring, but it's how it all comes together. Anyways, it seems the spiritual force of holy spirit can impart this knowledge somehow according to Christianity.
We can make a general argument that there exists a spiritual force that can make us know words are inspired or revealed by God.
Muslims seem not to emphasize on experiencing with the a spiritual force to know the truth of Quran but try to talk objectively, since, the Quran has nothing similar to it, it's therefore divine since none of humanity could bring a Chapter like it's own chapters.
Personally I find as a result, saying, we require empirical type evidence or some sort of philosophical proof aside from what these two religions have brought forth to not be rewarding in bringing us anywhere.
A problem has to be shown in the means of proof they offer or we can bypass that and just bring about problems within in the holy book or teachings of the religions to show it's not true.
The next issue I want to get at is what I find to be a middle ground. While skepticism is healthy, I think accepting spirituality is also healthy along side of it.
Just because we are skeptical of religious claims of stories and claims of divine authorities, it doesn't take away the possibility of the human nature being given spiritual realities and ways of knowing these realities.
A metaphor I find applicable is the tree of life. In Quran, there is talk about the cursed tree and talk about the blessed tree. These are metaphors to our spiritual realm nature with our actions and growth. How we grow blessed towards the light or cursed towards evil and darkness.
There is similar talk in the bible I think.
While these books maybe false, it doesn't mean all such mystical things are to be ignored.
Lastly, while belief in a spiritual realm or reality to humans is not necessary to live a meaningful worthwhile life and it's true Atheists should be respected as opposed to being seen as people deserving of eternal torment, it can be said that knowledge of these things can still enrich one's life.
Religions often make claims that cannot be verified. For example, if we lived during the time of greeks, and we were told stories of Zeus and the other greek gods, we would have no means of verification. On this site, this is often used for Christianity and Islam as well as God or Creator or Supernatural realm.
When it comes to Christianity the claim seems to be different then how Zeus can be not verified per own it's claims, because it introduces a thing that mediates the truth and imparts knowledge, the third of the trinity, the holy spirit. The holy spirit somehow can impart this knowledge of Christianity being true.
Some counter arguments I get is how can you know a sequence of words are divinely inspired by a feeling. How do you know? It seems Christians themselves admit some parts of the Bible seem to be boring, but it's how it all comes together. Anyways, it seems the spiritual force of holy spirit can impart this knowledge somehow according to Christianity.
We can make a general argument that there exists a spiritual force that can make us know words are inspired or revealed by God.
Muslims seem not to emphasize on experiencing with the a spiritual force to know the truth of Quran but try to talk objectively, since, the Quran has nothing similar to it, it's therefore divine since none of humanity could bring a Chapter like it's own chapters.
Personally I find as a result, saying, we require empirical type evidence or some sort of philosophical proof aside from what these two religions have brought forth to not be rewarding in bringing us anywhere.
A problem has to be shown in the means of proof they offer or we can bypass that and just bring about problems within in the holy book or teachings of the religions to show it's not true.
The next issue I want to get at is what I find to be a middle ground. While skepticism is healthy, I think accepting spirituality is also healthy along side of it.
Just because we are skeptical of religious claims of stories and claims of divine authorities, it doesn't take away the possibility of the human nature being given spiritual realities and ways of knowing these realities.
A metaphor I find applicable is the tree of life. In Quran, there is talk about the cursed tree and talk about the blessed tree. These are metaphors to our spiritual realm nature with our actions and growth. How we grow blessed towards the light or cursed towards evil and darkness.
There is similar talk in the bible I think.
While these books maybe false, it doesn't mean all such mystical things are to be ignored.
Lastly, while belief in a spiritual realm or reality to humans is not necessary to live a meaningful worthwhile life and it's true Atheists should be respected as opposed to being seen as people deserving of eternal torment, it can be said that knowledge of these things can still enrich one's life.
