The Power of Belief

[Raven]

What we believe to be true colors everything which we see. For instance, if you have a hypothetical 30-something guy who is given to conspiracy theories, everywhere this guy looks he is going to see conspiracies. He'll probably think that there was a plot of some kind to kill JFK, that the moon landings were faked, that economic problems are caused by some vast government/banker conspiracy, and be concerned about the Muslims conspiring to take over the US, with Obama as their head guy who is going to take away our guns, lock up true Xtian NRA members and institute Sharia law. And he will believe this as strongly as I believe that the sky is overcast as I write this.

Here's the deal- as you believe, so you will behave. So, if you believe that God has a plan, that is going to influence all of your decisions, actions, etc. It's up to the creator what happens. If bad things happen to you then you start thinking that God is angry with you and you deserve this. To a very large extent you cease to think for yourself. It's your life to live but you keep trying to live it for some imaginary being instead of living it for yourself. Whose life is it anyway?

That is one of the things I most have against the continuation of religious belief. What they are doing is taking people's lives away from them with their ridiculous fairy tales. They frighten small children with graphic descriptions of hell. They tell girls that they must spend their lives subordinate to first their father, and then their husband. They endlessly promote obedience over using one's brain and thinking for themselves. But it is all done with love so that makes it OK.

If you believe that being Gay (as if you had a choice in such things) is wrong, then you can discriminate against such people and you are being righteous in doing so.

If you believe that your religion is the only right and proper way for a person to live their life, then it is OK for you to do all kinds of things:
Do all in your power to take away a woman's right to choose, without actually outlawing it outright, being those nasty feminists got that Roe v Wade decision on their side. But that isn't going to stop us doing what is right, dammit!

Let a woman die rather than terminate her pregnancy, because that's what God wants. What's right is right.

Deny adolescents proper sex education because it would be improper to teach them anything other than abstain until you are married.

Preach anti-gay hate messages from your pulpits, make gay kids being dragged to your services by their fundie parents hate themselves as sinners and perverts and sick deviants with your intolerant “abomination before the lord” crapola.

Do your damnedest to fight the light of science and progress because you know that your iron-age ignorant “wisdom” is the true light of God's wisdom and love which will be the salvation of humankind.

Amen.

[Drich]

[Faith No More]

if you want to live for self an imaginary sky-daddy then simply do so, and leave those who do not want to live for self an imaginary sky-daddy the freedom to inturn live the way they want to live.

Fixed that for you, so maybe you could get the hypocrisy of telling others to let you be.

[Drich]

if you want to live for self an imaginary sky-daddy then simply do so, and leave those who do not want to live for self an imaginary sky-daddy the freedom to inturn live the way they want to live.

Fixed that for you, so maybe you could get the hypocrisy of telling others to let you be.

..Still dont see it. Where am I suggesting that atheist be forced into re-education camps? Or where did i suggest that all non Christians be FORCED to accept Christ? Because I can show you where the OP states that all 'religious people' be forced to stop worshiping their God(s) simply because the OP thought it better to live for self.

[Faith No More]

..Still dont see it. Where am I suggesting that atheist be forced into re-education camps? Or where did i suggest that all non Christians be FORCED to accept Christ? Because I can show you where the OP states that all 'religious people' be forced to stop worshiping their God(s) simply because the OP thought it better to live for self.

None of what you claim is actually in the OP. Please, show me anywhere that using force or coercion to get people to change their beliefs is advocated. You're just projecting your own persecution complex, and topping it off with a hypocritical plea to a "live and let live" approach to religious beliefs.

[Raven]

[Drich]

..Still dont see it. Where am I suggesting that atheist be forced into re-education camps? Or where did i suggest that all non Christians be FORCED to accept Christ? Because I can show you where the OP states that all 'religious people' be forced to stop worshiping their God(s) simply because the OP thought it better to live for self.

None of what you claim is actually in the OP. Please, show me anywhere that using force or coercion to get people to change their beliefs is advocated. You're just projecting your own persecution complex, and topping it off with a hypocritical plea to a "live and let live" approach to religious beliefs.

It is on the ninth quote from the top, on my response to the op. he said he was against allowing the continuation of religious belief. Again where have I said I was against the continuation of atheism? I have said from the beginning. god has seen fit to give us all the oppertunity to choose whether or not to follow Him in this life. Who am I to judge the choice you have made for yourself? My only task here is to provide clarity for those who seek it.

[Faith No More]

It is on the ninth quote from the top, on my response to the op. he said he was against allowing the continuation of religious belief.

Try again. This is the exact quote.

That is one of the things I most have against the continuation of religious belief.

Nowhere does he say he was against allowing it, which is a far cry from the persecution about "camps" and "re-education" you've been rambling on about. He just says that is one of the things he has that makes him against the idea of the continuation of religious beliefs, not that he was against allowing it, nor was there any indication that force should be used to stop it. You're putting words in his/her mouth.

Again where have I said I was against the continuation of atheism?
I have said from the beginning. god has seen fit to give us all the oppertunity to choose whether or not to follow Him in this life. Who am I to judge the choice you have made for yourself?

Well then, why not respect the fact that we have chosen and stop peddling your beliefs? Were you not the one saying to leave others to live in turn as they see fit?

My only task here is to provide clarity for those who seek it.

If that was true, you would not post unless someone solicited your opinion. You would only speak to those that actually asked for your clarity instead of posting your opinion at every chance you get.

[Sal]

The only power of belief as far as I'm concerned is the placebo effect. Everything else associated with power of belief is delusion, IMO.

I try to maintain a view of reality, appropriated by my 5 senses, as unclouded by belief as possible. Sure, I have a model of reality and all that, but I continually try to accommodate the possibility that what I believe to be true, might be false. The reason I do this is because I'm Bi-polar and I'm very susceptible to ascribing things that aren't there (Type 1 Error).

[Drich]