how old-time religion’s archaic values are the force behind the scenes for an authoritarian regime, and how confused the good citizens of that nation are when they try to tease out the knots of how it crept up on them and usurped their version of reality.
It's deeply disturbing to see siblings against siblings, — Paula Tozer
In fact, religion warps the mind of those who must operate within its confines. — Paula Tozer
Whether the future and our plans warp the mind is contingent upon your Theory of Everything, aka your perspective.The future and our plans warp the mind. — Fire Ologist
Was this your way of backing down from Hanover's onslaught? How are you clueless? Everyone has the right to their origin story. It brought us here to this space.No, I guess not. I still thought it was a cool post, though, clueless as I am. — frank
You know, when I first realized that Christians lied, I was upset — Paula Tozer
. I agree with Bob's perspective.If you get too caught up in fending off the people with unsophisticated positions, on any topic (but in this case theology), then your position will be formulated parasitically on those positions which you wish to oppose and this makes your own position equally, but oppositely, malformed as your opponents. — Bob Ross
How can you be anti something that doesn't exist? — Paula Tozer
How can you be anti something that doesn't exist?
I'm assuming that you have a history of debate with this person?
As for the people who have not only questioned my ability to tackle big subjects, but also suggested that the reason for my philosophical endeavors is a substitute for trauma therapy, that gave me a wry chuckle.
I guess I'll gear up for word wars, brought to me by people who have no clue who I am or what I stand for.
Do other people see what I'm seeing?
That was my reason for sharing this post - our world has been corrupted by religion, conditioning us to be led by a poor substitute for a powerful being.
Politically, I doubt we agree on anything — Bob Ross
Forgive me, I am not trying to put words in your mouth; but from my perspective it seems like you may have a really negative view of religion because of your horrible exposure to the really bad parts. — Bob Ross
Atheism is the belief that there are no gods. — Bob Ross
All Christian religions must agree on this point, and that is, fundamentally, where our paths diverge. I got tired of being a sinner, I didn't put Jesus on a cross...so I changed my mind. — Paula Tozer
Whether the future and our plans warp the mind is contingent upon your Theory of Everything, aka your perspective. — Paula Tozer
Please provide examples of your claim - of a Christian religion that does not, at its core, rely on original sin and the sinfulness of "mankind." — Paula Tozer
Atonement theology assumes that we were created in some kind of original perfection. We now know that life has emerged from a single cell that evolved into self-conscious complexity over billions of years. There was no original perfection. If there was no original perfection, then there could never have been a fall from perfection. If there was no fall, then there is no such thing as “original sin” and thus no need for the waters of baptism to wash our sins away. If there was no fall into sin, then there is also no need to be rescued. How can one be rescued from a fall that never happened? How can one be restored to a status of perfection that he or she never possessed? So most of our Christology today is bankrupt. Many popular titles that we have applied to Jesus, such as “savior,” “redeemer,” and “rescuer,” no longer make sense...
Bishop John Shelby Spong Biblical Literalism: A Gentile Heresy
I grew up in the Baptist tradition which did not accept this doctrine and took issue with it. It also rejected the notion of hell — Tom Storm
Tom, if believing in a mystical version of a god helps you to sleep better, why would I challenge you? However, I would invite you to consider that you've kept only one piece of the puzzle as your soother. I've been there and done that.
Why not simply enjoy what quantum physics is revealing - that all is energy, connected, and coherent? — Paula Tozer
I’m an atheist, Paula. But I prefer to have an informed view of religions than the simple cartoon accounts of many atheists. I was brought up in the Baptist tradition but found the notion of a god incoherent from an early age. I was never a believer. — Tom Storm
Wouldn't the behaviour of believers reflect whether god exists depend on how one is defining god and specifically some of the wisdom or rules he lays down? — DingoJones
Well there ARE bible literalists, so some people do believe a cartoonish thing. Of course it is also low hanging fruit as you say, the easiest attack vector against religion. — DingoJones
I’m not sure the behaviour of believers has much bearing upon the existence of a god. Can you say more? — Tom Storm
I wouldn’t think so. If you believe in divine command then killing apostates is good. — Tom Storm
I think that’s right. And given this is a philosophy site I’d expect less focus on this type of god and more on philosophical arguments. — Tom Storm
I’m not sure the behaviour of believers has much bearing upon the existence of a god. Can you say more? — Tom Storm
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