There are no answers in Genesis

[Jehanne]

For you, I can only speculate. I don't think I've ever seen you talk about signs, but you do talk about 'inspired' a lot. 

One issue here is that (I'm frequently told) I'm only supposed to talk about the anthropomorphic Sky-Daddy God which modern American Christians on TV seem to believe in. This is of no interest to me. 

For the God of Classical Theism, which is entirely different from the Santa Claus God, inspiration works very differently. And this sort of thing, whether we conclude in the end that it's supernatural or not, is wise and beautiful. 

So the Official God of the Atheist Forum is an active force who will give you a sign by reaching down and putting a picture of Jesus on your toast. Wisely, no one here accepts such a thing. 

Dante's experience with Beatrice is the most famous example of the non-Santa-God type of inspiration. 

For Dante (as for all Christians coming from a Neoplatonic tradition) all good in the world originates in God and, if we love it, inspires us to return our love to God. Because of his particular character and dispositions, Dante was particularly struck by Beatrice's goodness and was inspired by her. He could experience something of the goodness of God through her example. The point here is that she was not a saint like Catherine of Siena or a local celebrity like Simonetta Vespucci. She was not particularly noticeable except to Dante. 

In cases of inspiration like this, there is no active input from God, who is (for Dante) impassible and ideal. The way inspiration works is that some aspect of his goodness happens to grab us and cause us to see the world differently than we did before. It opens our doors of perception and shows us that things could be different and better, and that material objects in this world point to something ideal. 

This type of inspiration is frequently cited in the mystical tradition. It also takes on an important role in the aesthetic thought of the German Idealists, who are less explicitly Christian about it, but nonetheless give great weight to the experience of inspiration. And I take this type of inspiration very seriously. Obviously I won't talk about personal experiences on this forum where mockery is the norm, but I do believe there is something real going on there.

Why did Dante place Boniface VIII in Hell?

[Belacqua]

@Belacqua

Just so you know, all these passive-aggressive remarks you make against atheism and this forum aren't lost on me, I just choose for the most part to try and ignore them. But for the record, in case it matters to you, it makes me feel uncomfortable talking to you when you're talking this way, whether I personally am included included in those attacks or not... I persevere for the sake of a potentially interesting discussion... but just so you know where I stand, I do feel it ruins, or at least taints, what would otherwise be a perfectly civil, interesting, and pleasant conversation. Obviously it's your prerogative what you do, but just stating how I feel for the record.

OK. Bye.

[The Architect Of Fate]

OK. Bye.

Smug twat 

[emjay]

@Belacqua

Just so you know, all these passive-aggressive remarks you make against atheism and this forum aren't lost on me, I just choose for the most part to try and ignore them. But for the record, in case it matters to you, it makes me feel uncomfortable talking to you when you're talking this way, whether I personally am included included in those attacks or not... I persevere for the sake of a potentially interesting discussion... but just so you know where I stand, I do feel it ruins, or at least taints, what would otherwise be a perfectly civil, interesting, and pleasant conversation. Obviously it's your prerogative what you do, but just stating how I feel for the record.

OK. Bye.

As you wish. Bye to you too.

[arewethereyet]

@Belacqua

Just so you know, all these passive-aggressive remarks you make against atheism and this forum aren't lost on me, I just choose for the most part to try and ignore them. But for the record, in case it matters to you, it makes me feel uncomfortable talking to you when you're talking this way, whether I personally am included included in those attacks or not... I persevere for the sake of a potentially interesting discussion... but just so you know where I stand, I do feel it ruins, or at least taints, what would otherwise be a perfectly civil, interesting, and pleasant conversation. Obviously it's your prerogative what you do, but just stating how I feel for the record.

OK. Bye.

This implies that you can not, or will not, carry on conversation on this forum without slipping in a slam.  This is regardless of who you are talking with and how polite and tolerant they are with you and your snide comments.

How do things look from atop that high horse?

[Mister Agenda]

@Belacqua

Just so you know, all these passive-aggressive remarks you make against atheism and this forum aren't lost on me, I just choose for the most part to try and ignore them. But for the record, in case it matters to you, it makes me feel uncomfortable talking to you when you're talking this way, whether I personally am included included in those attacks or not... I persevere for the sake of a potentially interesting discussion... but just so you know where I stand, I do feel it ruins, or at least taints, what would otherwise be a perfectly civil, interesting, and pleasant conversation. Obviously it's your prerogative what you do, but just stating how I feel for the record.

OK. Bye.

The atheists around here are too ignorant and touchy, try somewhere else.

[Anomalocaris]

OK. Bye.

This implies that you can not, or will not, carry on conversation on this forum without slipping in a slam.  This is regardless of who you are talking with and how polite and tolerant they are with you and your snide comments.

How do things look from atop that high horse?

don’t think it is a high horse.   it is really a wooden donkey with a stick on its back that goes up his butt.      At least Don Quixote’s donkey was alive and anatomically normal.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

One issue here is that (I'm frequently told) I'm only supposed to talk about the anthropomorphic Sky-Daddy God which modern American Christians on TV seem to believe in. This is of no interest to me. 

For the God of Classical Theism, which is entirely different from the Santa Claus God, inspiration works very differently. And this sort of thing, whether we conclude in the end that it's supernatural or not, is wise and beautiful. 

So the Official God of the Atheist Forum is an active force who will give you a sign by reaching down and putting a picture of Jesus on your toast. Wisely, no one here accepts such a thing. 

Dante's experience with Beatrice is the most famous example of the non-Santa-God type of inspiration. 

For Dante (as for all Christians coming from a Neoplatonic tradition) all good in the world originates in God and, if we love it, inspires us to return our love to God. Because of his particular character and dispositions, Dante was particularly struck by Beatrice's goodness and was inspired by her. He could experience something of the goodness of God through her example. The point here is that she was not a saint like Catherine of Siena or a local celebrity like Simonetta Vespucci. She was not particularly noticeable except to Dante. 

In cases of inspiration like this, there is no active input from God, who is (for Dante) impassible and ideal. The way inspiration works is that some aspect of his goodness happens to grab us and cause us to see the world differently than we did before. It opens our doors of perception and shows us that things could be different and better, and that material objects in this world point to something ideal. 

This type of inspiration is frequently cited in the mystical tradition. It also takes on an important role in the aesthetic thought of the German Idealists, who are less explicitly Christian about it, but nonetheless give great weight to the experience of inspiration. And I take this type of inspiration very seriously. Obviously I won't talk about personal experiences on this forum where mockery is the norm, but I do believe there is something real going on there.

Why did Dante place Boniface VIII in Hell?

Because he was a nepotistic, power-mad, interfering old cunt?

Boru

[Jehanne]

Why did Dante place Boniface VIII in Hell?

Because he was a nepotistic, power-mad, interfering old cunt?

Boru

Maybe Dante did not ask himself, "What would Jesus do?"

[Ranjr]

It is possible to read the old stuff, understand what works and what doesn't, and move on.

But, all the same. . .   Ooooh, somebody read Dante.