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RE: Even if theism is a failure, it's still superior to atheism
November 3, 2022 at 5:11 am
(November 3, 2022 at 4:45 am)rlp21858 Wrote: Grand Nudger: from what ive gathered about the term "atheism", i believe it only means a disbelief in idols, what i think youve called "narrative devices". i believe this agrees with Christianity; it speaks against idolatry too, the worship of anything we can see or detect. by "narrative device", i think you mean that it is only a reference to a much larger something "behind the scene." as a Christian, i believe this is true, up to and including Christ himself. so i think that, basically, God is the good that these devices have been referencing.
If you want to understand modern atheism, read Professor Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion; the Audible version is read by the author himself and his former wife, Linda Ward.
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RE: Even if theism is a failure, it's still superior to atheism
November 3, 2022 at 5:17 am
(November 3, 2022 at 4:45 am)rlp21858 Wrote: Grand Nudger: from what ive gathered about the term "atheism", i believe it only means a disbelief in idols, what i think youve called "narrative devices". i believe this agrees with Christianity; it speaks against idolatry too, the worship of anything we can see or detect. by "narrative device", i think you mean that it is only a reference to a much larger something "behind the scene." as a Christian, i believe this is true, up to and including Christ himself. so i think that, basically, God is the good that these devices have been referencing.
As far as I am concerned atheism is simply a disbelief in gods, nothing more.
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RE: Even if theism is a failure, it's still superior to atheism
November 3, 2022 at 5:29 am
(This post was last modified: November 3, 2022 at 5:49 am by The Grand Nudger.)
(November 3, 2022 at 4:45 am)rlp21858 Wrote: Grand Nudger: from what ive gathered about the term "atheism", i believe it only means a disbelief in idols, what i think youve called "narrative devices". i believe this agrees with Christianity; it speaks against idolatry too, the worship of anything we can see or detect. by "narrative device", i think you mean that it is only a reference to a much larger something "behind the scene." as a Christian, i believe this is true, up to and including Christ himself. so i think that, basically, God is the good that these devices have been referencing. The term atheist refers to anyone, who for any reason or no reason at all, doesn't believe in gods.
When I say that the gods that christians believe in are a narrative device, I'm suggesting that they are fiction created to assert the moral view of their very human creators. Nothing "behind the scenes", or even good. In fact, I think that our monotheistic gods are uniquely bad in a way that polytheistic and deistic gods could never be. This, in part, because they are totalitarian in nature - and in part because they come from the minds of people with poorly formed worldviews, and are reflections of those people, themselves. I'm an atheist by circumstance, an antitheist by consideration.
Neither thing, atheism or antitheism, agrees with christianity. You couldn't have gotten that more wrong. If there is no christian god, as I believe, then it's all pointless cruelty and foolishness. If there is, as I doubt, it's still pointless cruelty and foolishness. I have no interest in killing the better man to pay for my parking tickets, would not accept blood money for any reason, and have severe doubts about the character of anyone who would, or worse, would call any of that good. I do get, mind you, that most of you guys were saddled with this business from an early age. IDK if that makes it better, or somehow worse, but at least it's modifying for the individual, such that a person wouldn't have to be a monster to affirm monstrous things. Just raised that way. I have some experience with that, in other contexts.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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RE: Even if theism is a failure, it's still superior to atheism
November 3, 2022 at 6:54 am
(November 2, 2022 at 7:53 pm)rlp21858 Wrote: Boru: i dont understand: what do you mean by "have It removed"?
If God is within you, it is a canker, a cancerous infestation that knows no bounds - it contains until it consumes.
The procedure to remove involves just clear thinking, reason, and the ability to read books.
Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
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RE: Even if theism is a failure, it's still superior to atheism
November 3, 2022 at 9:46 am
(This post was last modified: November 3, 2022 at 9:49 am by Jehanne.)
(November 3, 2022 at 6:54 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: (November 2, 2022 at 7:53 pm)rlp21858 Wrote: Boru: i dont understand: what do you mean by "have It removed"?
If God is within you, it is a canker, a cancerous infestation that knows no bounds - it contains until it consumes.
The procedure to remove involves just clear thinking, reason, and the ability to read books.
Boru
No, "God" for most believers is much more practical; it's more about community and job networking, emotional comforts, personal meaning, a useful aphrodisiac for some men, a mitigation against male infidelity for some women, emotional management of little children for some families, comfortable employment opportunities for others, etc.
P.S. I would add an alternative to the intellectual laziness for still others.
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RE: Even if theism is a failure, it's still superior to atheism
November 3, 2022 at 10:50 am
Jehanne:reading the author's book would let me know his definition, but not that of any of the users here.
Grand Nudger: first, thank you for taking the time to explain this; i may read over this again. i hope you bear with me as i try to make sure i understand where you're coming from. is your perspective the result of the knowledge of the history of religions, and the process of how theyve all changed over time?
Boru: what is it that makes you believe God is cancerous? to answer a question youve asked in the past, if God is in us and God damns someone, i believe it means we've damned ourselves.
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RE: Even if theism is a failure, it's still superior to atheism
November 3, 2022 at 11:04 am
(This post was last modified: November 3, 2022 at 11:05 am by BrianSoddingBoru4.)
(November 3, 2022 at 10:50 am)rlp21858 Wrote: Jehanne:reading the author's book would let me know his definition, but not that of any of the users here.
Grand Nudger: first, thank you for taking the time to explain this; i may read over this again. i hope you bear with me as i try to make sure i understand where you're coming from. is your perspective the result of the knowledge of the history of religions, and the process of how theyve all changed over time?
Boru: what is it that makes you believe God is cancerous? to answer a question youve asked in the past, if God is in us and God damns someone, i believe it means we've damned ourselves.
You’re entitled to believe whatever you like, but consider this: If God created everything in the universe, then God created the choices we make (if you maintain that God did not create our choices, they you need to concede that there are things God did not make). Since God created choices, God creates people for the express purpose of damning them. And if you’re one of those Biblical Christians, it’s even worse, as the Bible mentions God deliberately deluding people into damnation.
God is cancerous because belief in God makes most people malignant.
Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
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RE: Even if theism is a failure, it's still superior to atheism
November 3, 2022 at 11:28 am
(November 3, 2022 at 10:50 am)rlp21858 Wrote: Jehanne:reading the author's book would let me know his definition, but not that of any of the users here.
I prefer the feminine, girly pronouns.
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RE: Even if theism is a failure, it's still superior to atheism
November 3, 2022 at 12:09 pm
(November 3, 2022 at 9:46 am)Jehanne Wrote: (November 3, 2022 at 6:54 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: If God is within you, it is a canker, a cancerous infestation that knows no bounds - it contains until it consumes.
The procedure to remove involves just clear thinking, reason, and the ability to read books.
Boru
No, "God" for most believers is much more practical; it's more about community and job networking, emotional comforts, personal meaning, a useful aphrodisiac for some men, a mitigation against male infidelity for some women, emotional management of little children for some families, comfortable employment opportunities for others, etc.
P.S. I would add an alternative to the intellectual laziness for still others.
You’re describing church, not God.
Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
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RE: Even if theism is a failure, it's still superior to atheism
November 3, 2022 at 12:59 pm
(November 3, 2022 at 12:09 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: (November 3, 2022 at 9:46 am)Jehanne Wrote: No, "God" for most believers is much more practical; it's more about community and job networking, emotional comforts, personal meaning, a useful aphrodisiac for some men, a mitigation against male infidelity for some women, emotional management of little children for some families, comfortable employment opportunities for others, etc.
P.S. I would add an alternative to the intellectual laziness for still others.
You’re describing church, not God.
Boru
The majority of believers attend church, at least once a year.
Dawn
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