I'm an aethist....

@edgarblythe,

I can't argue with that. I have no inflated ideas about the superiority of mankind. We're pretty pathetic when you come right down to it. And I don't believe that I've said anything which would make one think that I find humankind particularly outstanding.

What's that got to do with God?

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@Merry Andrew,

The great spirit flows through all of us, big and small...

1 Reply

@Rockhead,

Yeah. Hamsters, too. Laughing

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@Merry Andrew,

The only thing anything at all has to do with a God is, in my view, injected by human thinking. Other than that, nothjing.

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@edgarblythe,

I agree with EdgarB.

But I said I'd never never never never never... post on this issue again.

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@edgarblythe,

Quote:

The only thing anything at all has to do with a God is, in my view, injected by human thinking. Other than that, nothjing.

That's because you and I are using two different definitions of 'God'. I said the problem is semantic not ontological.

1 Reply

@Merry Andrew,

Merry Andrew wrote:

I dunno, ed. I'm inclined to be in agreement with JL. The problem is that too many people think of "the old man with a white beard" when they declare themselves atheists. It's a matter of semantics. I don't consider myself an atheist but I certainly don't believe any of the crap that the churches feed us, except perhaps as poetic allegory. To me, organized religion has nothing whatever to do with God. In fact, I never feel so far away from God as I do in a traditional church. Go to the woods, go to the seashore, go up into the mountains or out into the desert if you want to feel the presence of God.

I use the word 'God' when I refer to a higher power which, obviously (to me), keeps this crazy contraption called the universe up and running, because it is such a simple, short word. I have absolutely no idea what God is. And I have a feeling that neither do the priests and ministers and rabbis and imams etc. etc. They just talk a good fight out of their own ignorance by relying on scriptural authority, rather than the evidence of their senses and their own powers to reason. And even Jesus is quoted as having said, "God is not of the flesh but of the Spirit."

I see no conflict whatever between a religious orientation and a scientific search for the physical facts of life and the universe in which we live.

An entirely reasonable and admirable viewpoint. Without internal inconsistency, contradiction, or compulsion to inflict itself on others

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@Merry Andrew,

There is no evidence that the world is other than just "is" and using the term, "God," injects an element not evident in a proveable way. However unconsciously intended, it's still anthropomorphism.

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@edgarblythe,

edgarblythe wrote:

There is no evidence that the world is other than just "is" and using the term, "God," injects an element not evident in a proveable way. However unconsciously intended, it's still anthropomorphism.

Well, let's concede your little semantical triumph. So what?

It proves nothing. It doesn't establish any contradiction in the views Merry Andrew expressed. If you regard it as the foundation for another view, I will be bemused by your credulity, but otherwise unoffended.

1 Reply

@georgeob1,

It may be semantical to you. To me it's an important distinction. I've tried to show why. I respect Merry Andrew and was not seeking to "triumph" over him or anyone else.

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1) If religious belief had efficacy, it would be demonstrable, given all the s0-called "miracles".

2) There have been thousands upon thousands of different religious beliefs, most of which contradict each other.

3) Religious belief's efficacy as a predictive tool is zero.

4) Religious belief's is not based on demonstrable cause and effect.

Thus religious belief is tantamount to superstitious belief.

The nature of Man's existence forces us to make certain assumptions based on belief, however the extent to which religious people go in that regard relegates their mindset to that of a child.

1 Reply

@Chumly,

Hey! Chumly is back. Cool.

1 Reply

@Eorl,

Chirp!

1 Reply

@Chumly,

Chirp chirp - and this is just WRONG - (as in not true)
Chumly said:

Quote:

1) If religious belief had efficacy, it would be demonstrable, given all the s0-called "miracles".

2) There have been thousands upon thousands of different religious beliefs, most of which contradict each other.

Merry Andrew - you expressed my view - so EXACTLY - it's like you were reading my mind.

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@real life,

Quote:

How did you prove God doesn't exist? Are you omniscient?

Have you proven that Unicorns don't exist? How about fairies? Pink elephants?How about the teapot orbiting Mars? Have you proven that none of these things exist? I doubt it. But I bet you don't believe in them. If we believed in every concept that was ever introduced until we had proven beyond a doubt that it doesn't exist, we would live in a perpetual state of psychosis.

1 Reply

I am god.............prove I'm not.

1 Reply

@rydinearth,

rydinearth wrote:

Quote:
How did you prove God doesn't exist? Are you omniscient?

Have you proven that Unicorns don't exist? How about fairies? Pink elephants?How about the teapot orbiting Mars? Have you proven that none of these things exist? I doubt it. But I bet you don't believe in them. If we believed in every concept that was ever introduced until we had proven beyond a doubt that it doesn't exist, we would live in a perpetual state of psychosis.

If you spend too much time trying to reason with that **********, you'll end up as fucked up as he is. That guy is the single most pathetic loser who's ever posted on a forum.

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@Chumly,

Chumly wrote:

I am god.............prove I'm not.

If you are god, please deposit some money in my Starbucks account. I'll pay it back. I promise.

2 Replies

@neologist,

I wouldn't trust you, Boss . . . i'd suspect your promise to pay would refer to the afterlife you believe in . . .

1 Reply

@Setanta,

Yeah, well, I had to put my own money into my Starbucks account, thanks to you guys. . .

0 Replies

I'm an aethist....

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