Atheism

@spendius,

As we have become more secular has not apparel become more important than dress. Look at the dress in Gauguin's Jacob wrestling with the angel or the modern Amish woman. Compare it to a shopping mall scene today. Peasant with peasant.

0 Replies

It was brought up earlier, and I thought I'd throw in on the topic of wars and religion's contribution.

My opinion on war is that it is always about the hoarding of land or acquisition of natural resources. This is the real motive of war in my opinion, and it's nothing new. Religion becomes a part of war, but not as the end motive, but as a weapon itself. Certainly Sun Tzu thought so when he noted the importance of making soldiers feel religiously righteous in their violence.

So I don't find it so important to blame religion for war, but I do believe that the religious mindset makes people easier to manipulate to the actual motives.

A
R
T

1 Reply

@failures art,

Not disagreeing with your thesis in general terms, but thought I should mention the crusades, which appear (w)hol(l)y religious in motivation. In actual fact they were result the power elites (including the church itself) warping christianity so that violence was acceptable for 'righteous' causes. And then they turned into a power and land grab by european noblemen left with diminishing possibilities for acquisistion and power in their home lands.

2 Replies

@hingehead,

Yeah, and the Inquisition was no small matter either!

0 Replies

@cicerone imposter,

cicerone imposter wrote:

There has also been research done on the "power of prayer." It doesn't work. Sometimes it works when the patient believes in prayer, but not for third party patients.

It does, or it doesn't. First you say it doesn't work and in the next sentence you say sometimes it works. You qualify this with "when the patient believes in prayer". I would consider that as working.

2 Replies

@Intrepid,

It's because you fail to understand simple English.

2 Replies

@hingehead,

hingehead wrote:

Not disagreeing with your thesis in general terms, but thought I should mention the crusades, which appear (w)hol(l)y religious in motivation. In actual fact they were result the power elites (including the church itself) warping christianity so that violence was acceptable for 'righteous' causes. And then they turned into a power and land grab by european noblemen left with diminishing possibilities for acquisistion and power in their home lands.

I don't think this is different at all. I think the only noteworthy thing in this case is who wants control of the land, resources, etc.

A
R
T

0 Replies

@Thomas,

Thomas wrote:

Oh yeah? For example, if certain Christian creeds were right, Armageddon was just around the corner, and only the faithful could hope to be saved, that wouldn't impact your life? I find that hard to believe. You may pretend otherwise on A2K, but in reality the only reason these teachings don't affect your life is that you're sure they're bullshit. If you weren't so sure, you would care about them very much indeed.

Yes I do agree with you that For example, if certain Christian creeds were right, Armageddon was just around the corner, and only the faithful could hope to be saved, that would impact your life

Please do not take take this as hateful because I am against hatefulness!

Being that you are using the word {if} I would like to find some sort of logical reasoning to what you are saying.

Example[ if] you were born in afghanistan you would most likely be a Muslim and have no interest in reading the Bible,[ if ]you were born in America you would more than likely be a Christian and not have a interest in reading the Quran, [If] you were born in India then the odds change depending on the part of India you were born in who knows you may believe in Ganesha.

It does seem that your environment and you neurological makeup so to speak will have a influence on you! Example with the right or maybe you would say wrong neurological condition you may think that you are jesus or maybe even God himself.

Even with all of this said I do find value in the bible and evil in it as well but I also have studied it without any biases, " at least I hope that I did!

I hope that this sheds some light on things

2 Replies

@Intrepid,

ci wrote--

Quote:

There has also been research done on the "power of prayer." It doesn't work. Sometimes it works when the patient believes in prayer, but not for third party patients.

As Laurence Sterne said--

Quote:

The best way for a man, is to say his prayers-----
Only if it puts him in mind of his infirmities and defects as well ghostly as bodily--for that purpose, he will find himself rather worse after he has said them than before--for other purposes, better.

Of course ci. has no infirmities and defects.

Not ******* much!!

1 Reply

@reasoning logic,

Quote:

I hope that this sheds some light on things.

I can honestly say rl that it doesn't. It's just platitudes of an abstract nature.

0 Replies

@spendius,

spendi, Why must you speak from ignorance so often? Is it a learned skill?

1 Reply

@cicerone imposter,

I'm all in favour of ignorance ci if you are an example of learning and knowledge.

1 Reply

@cicerone imposter,

Just think ci--if Intrepid could understand simple English and I wasn't so ignorant we could both aspire to reach the giddy heights of intellectual acheivement you have done.

Have you thought of running evening classes? You would make a fortune.

1 Reply

@spendius,

Read for comprehension; you might learn something about prayer.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/health/31pray.html

2 Replies

@cicerone imposter,

You don't seriously think I would have the N.Y. Times ahead of Laurence Sterne do you? The N.Y. Times is arsewipe material. Cheap, easy and disposable. One eaten soon forgeeten.

1 Reply

@spendius,

That's what people like you do; you try to defame the messenger rather prove what is written is wrong.

You are a futile Brit who hasn't the slightest in ethics or common sense.

0 Replies

@cicerone imposter,

cicerone imposter wrote:

It's because you fail to understand simple English.

Always with the childish insults. I hope you are not representative of atheists. Actually, I know you are not.

1 Reply

@Intrepid,

Not childish; fact. You challenged; I shot back.

Did you know that one issue (such as prayer) can have several facts that are true?

You would be way ahead if you learned English comprehension and a little logic.

People like you love to use ad hominems rather than challenge what was said.

1 Reply

@cicerone imposter,

Can Spendius say Placebo?

0 Replies

@cicerone imposter,

cicerone imposter wrote:

Not childish; fact. You challenged; I shot back.

As usual, you shot instinctively and without thought.

Quote:

Did you know that one issue (such as prayer) can have several facts that are true?

Of course I know that. Hence the reason for my post. Of course, you did not understand it and went off the deep end. As usual.

Quote:

You would be way ahead if you learned English comprehension and a little logic.

It gets rather tiresome reading this on posts that you make to many, many members. It must be your trademark line. Rolling Eyes

Quote:

People like you love to use ad hominems rather than challenge what was said.

As usual, you don't respond to what was said. You only respond to what you make up in your head and call them ad hominems, strawmen, or whatever. Again, it gets rather tiresome and predictable.

Exactly what is a person like me?

1 Reply

Related Topics

Quick Links

My Account

able2know