A gnostic dualism would actually make more sense — Gregory
Maybe some time another subject will bring out more useful aspects of each other. Take care. — Tom Storm
The fact that this has been presented thus by apologetists hasn't helped anyone's morals. The bad effects of ambition to apologetism strengthen my argument that Dimosthenes9 should go the logic route. — Fine Doubter
"God" (The empty name!) is a greater mystery used to explain the mystery of existence; of course, a mystery begs rather than answers a question and therefore does not explain anything. Woo of the gaps. Cosmic lollilop. Even an anti-anxiety placebo. Anything but an explanation. — 180 Proof
Religion gives you community, belonginess, and a greater purpose not only for you, but those around you. It encourages you to reach out to other people and bring them to the light. It is a place you can reach out to for emotional support ... many people ... want the support group. The social safety net. To sing in the choir. To feel like they are part of not just some abstract plan that is greater than themselves, but the real and present group of people that they are attending and finding friends with. To question God is to question those bonds. To risk losing the place you might find solace in. That is very hard for people to leave. — Philosophim
Nothing can replace God. — Corvus
Can religion be moral guidance? In theory yes, but in practice, it depends who you are talking to. — Corvus
It is not fair or accurate to accuse or praise a certain group of people in society. There are good atheists, so so ones, and bad ones, so are theists. — Corvus
Can anything replace God? No, I don't think so. God is a special concept, and existence that human reason can never prove or understand. Nothing can replace God. Maybe they will try, but will fail or have already failed. In ancient times, life would have been far easy and simple, because people had no internet, no globalisation, no widespread religious scepticism. They believed in God, and God will take care of everything even afterlife in heaven. — Corvus
Now, people have lost that comfort zone. They fall into pessimism and nihilism and apocalyptic thoughts. When they die, they don't know what will happen to their soul. And even souls exist? Uncertainty. Fear. All these transform to extreme negative world views and depression. — Corvus
God" (The empty name!) is a greater mystery used to explain the mystery of existence; of course, a mystery begs rather than answers a question and therefore does not explain anything. — 180 Proof
"God" (The empty name!) is a greater mystery used to explain the mystery of existence; of course, a mystery begs rather than answers a question and therefore does not explain anything. Woo of the gaps. Cosmic lollilop. Even an anti-anxiety placebo. Anything but an explanation. — 180 Proof
A subset haven't been; and some religions don't have any. I'm pro "religions" as a vaguely general phenomenon (and I do urge members to apply quality criteria), I just want to stop the package dealing and piggy backing. If you don't know how to suggest morals, don't pooh pooh those who do know how to suggest them.So a theist won't raise his kid according to his religion's "moral standards"? — dimosthenis9
Is that a buzz phrase?unnecessary words — dimosthenis9
The risk from Dimosthenis9, Corvus and Philosophim is that they will create one more eccentric clique signalling ambiguously (even to themselves) about what they have and haven't bought into. That time is gone, I keep telling you. — Fine Doubter
ome religions don't have any — Fine Doubter
Is that a buzz phrase? — Fine Doubter
God," to me, is a motivator for good — Hanover
By the way. You answer to the OP with the way I prefer to be done. Specifically to the questions and with no unnecessary words at all. Just the "juice". That's what I appreciate. — dimosthenis9
People infantilize themselves by making shit up aka woo-of-the-gaps, imaginary cosmic lollipops because that's always been far easier (safer) than fucking around and finding out what is and is not the case. Just dumbing ourselves down by handcuffing our minds to symbolic cradles doesn't entail we ought to keep doing so. Oh and sorry, dimo, you're confusing me with someone else, or just jizzing strawmen on my shoes :roll: ... You've no fucking clue what I "fail to realize" or understand. Two years ago I wroteWhat seems that you fail to realize(or you don't wanna admit it) ,is that this "empty name" as you call it was full filling the desperate human need for some kind of explanation and answers to their existence. — dimosthenis9
All "gods" are on that list above (i.e. members of the Null Set).Pegasus
Elf
Hell
Ghost
Atlantis
Magic
Limbo
Angel
Paradise
Etc ...
Every time we use empty names like these in a sentence they mean something in a relevant language-game but not in others. "Meaning is usage", no? — 180 Proof
As Freddy Z saysI suppose we're so desperate for answers that an emptyword[name] is enthusiastically accepted than no answer. — TheMadFool
NB: Science manifests as an intergenerational community of (dialectical, abductive, re)searchers which provides fallibilistic, testable, approximations and not "answers". (e.g. Dark Energy is not "the answer" any more than is quantum entanglement or natural selection.)Man would rather will nothingness than not will. — The Genealogy of Morals III. 28
Just dumbing ourselves down by handcuffing our minds to symbolic cradles doesn't entail we ought to do so any longer — 180 Proof
You've no fucking clue what I "fail to realize" or understand. Two years ago I wrote — 180 Proof
Interposing an empty concept as 180 Proof rightly calls it is the exact opposite of the honest logic required. — Fine Doubter
Any divinity worth its salt will not give you brownie points for flourishing the lip service you give it. — Fine Doubter
As Freddy Z says
Man would rather will nothingness than not will.
— The Genealogy of Morals III. 28
NB: Science manifests as an intergenerational community of (dialectical, abductive, re)searchers which provides fallibilistic, testable, approximations and not "answers". (e.g. Dark Energy is not "the answer" any more than is quantum entanglement or natural selection.) — 180 Proof
The risk from Dimosthenis9, Corvus and Philosophim is that they will create one more eccentric clique signalling ambiguously (even to themselves) about what they have and haven't bought into. That time is gone, I keep telling you. — Fine Doubter
Why do concepts have to be filled? — Corvus
Because it is empty, obviously he was not able to see it — Corvus
To explore IF and CAN we do something different in societies!? Where exactly is our disagreement for that — dimosthenis9
dogmatic stubborn atheist! Who wants to force his non belief to everyone! — dimosthenis9
The risk from Dimosthenis9, Corvus and Philosophim is that they will create one more eccentric clique signalling ambiguously (even to themselves) about what they have and haven't bought into. That time is gone, I keep telling you. — Fine Doubter
Please don't act stupid, you know you wouldn't expect us to actually want to sign a blank cheque. — Fine Doubter
Effectively you've just admitted that for you, morality - a nebulous concept that you haven't characterised that has to be tied Gordian-like to another nebulous concept which you have graciously conceded to yourself doesn't have to be characterised - is an empty concept. — Fine Doubter
But a necessary lie for humanity!
Most people STILL need that "lie" in their lives. Even if you and I don't. There are many more that they do! Can't blame or make fun of anyone for that. If he doesn't give you any troubles and he is acting "good", just respect him and move on! — dimosthenis9
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