(April 18, 2015 at 10:29 am)wallym Wrote: ...I didn't think (and still don't mostly) objective meaning, right and wrong, and intrinsic human value could exist without a God. I think this was C.S. Lewis' general take on the matter.
Lewis was a late convert to Christianity at a time when the influence of this religion was rapidly declining in the UK. He took it pretty seriously, and excepting the young earth and flood bits, literally, believing that once you gave ground you may as well discard your bible. So, those flames are real and forever for him; hell not just a metaphor.
(April 18, 2015 at 5:34 am)robvalue Wrote: I'm interested in hearing from those of you who have come out of religion. What would you list as your sincere beliefs while you were a theist? ...How did they make you feel?
Which leaves out those of us who have come out of religion but are still theists. In fact I still prefer the Christian theology since it's the most familiar one, but I no longer take it at face value. The church has refused to confront its history in full and refused to confront the fact that its state of knowledge regarding divinity is poor. Organized religion beyond the basics of local meeting-house for friends is a waste of resources.
There are things very deep in the human social psyche which are found in the bible, however. Should we suppose we've advanced beyond blood guilt and sacrificial atonement, for instance? No. Modern multiculturalism still hews to both of these doctrines albeit in a modified form: It is the White race (and that word is capitalized) which is guilty for oppressing all the other races, owing them an atonement against vengeance.
I'm probably just too old to take on the snarky outlooks suggested by atheism after Madalyn O'Hair but prescriptive religion is certainly a crock of shit. May the wall dividing Church and State rise high!
