The cause of religion
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David Wulff wrote: Religion will only end when the understanding and acceptance of these core concepts is common to every individual on Earth -- and then it will end, though it may never happen due to the beast called human nature which does not like to admit to failures on such a basic level. Those that are already there have no need to seek answers elsewhere, and those that have tamed their beast in this conquest find themselves stronger in their lives and beliefs without the embelishment. Religion will end only when people no longer find it necessary to see themselves as superior to other human beings. It is too often the only thing we have to justify our attempts to subjugate other peoples, if only in our own small minds. Rather than focusing on the minutiae that separates one religious school of thought from another, I prefer to concentrate on those values which they hold in common, that seeming, logically, to be the part most likely to be truth. When one incorporates those core values into a life, a personal ethos, then there ceases to be Religion, apart and separate from humanity, only a set of ethics to live and judge one's life by remains. Religious differences cease to be a concern when one realizes that those differences are the noise introduced by human prejudices. At some point, the question of the existence of God no longer needs an answer, as the strength derived from having a core value system replaces the void created by the question, and the need to subjugate anyone dissipates into nothingness.
Well said Roger (I really want to spell your name with a 'J' :-O).
David Wulff http://www.davidwulff.co.uk
I'm not schizophrenic, are we.
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Uh oh... here we go again. :) This is posted here in the hope it will last more than ten minutes at the top of the page. Food for thought: there are literally thousands of diferent religious beliefs to hold faith for but only one athiest belief. Now logically (mathematically) that would make athiesm being the correct view impossible, but the fact there are an infinite number of religious beliefs (everyone is open to interpret them differently) also means that the chance of one of them being correct is infinitismal too. Instead of stating "I am right and you are wrong" (which incidentally every human being believes totally), try asking why are there so many religious views. Incidentally I am not being contradictory; read on. You will see quite quickly that all religious faith is based on three core concepts: - humanity (usually with the promise of infinite ecstasy at the end and always based on living as a part of a functioning community) - forgiveness (it is never too late to turn back - aka. get out clause) - death (including justifications for pain, suffering, and a fear of nothingness) If you can come up with a better set of concepts for people to conclude on to help them UNDERSTAND some of the most basic elements of life (and remember understanding is what drives us to seek knowledge) -- well I and a large porition of the world would love to hear them. Even truely ancient civilisations had their own religions formed from these same concepts - just as the relatively modern civilisations (last four millenia) have created their own religions, and just as the current generations are doing the same ($cientology, [insert wacky American TV-based religion here], etc). They are all the only true religion. Unless you believe otherwise of course. Osama bin Laden uses his religious faith to justify his life and death, and seeks forgiveness from his version of a god -- this is no different to anyone else holding any religions faith. Even *you* if you hold any. This is a good example for athiests to use to place these points, though typically it angers others to the point of making it unusable. What always gets me is when religious people - not all, but a sizable quantity - believe athiests to either be "missing" something or in some way barbaric. I'll never understand why they should draw those conclusions; in fact I could argue the opposite in more than a few cases. The root beliefs of the core concepts (the emboldend bits above) are
If you can have a computer virus then religion is a pychological virus :suss: Elaine (cautious fluffy tigress) Would you like to meet my teddy bear ?
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If you can have a computer virus then religion is a pychological virus :suss: Elaine (cautious fluffy tigress) Would you like to meet my teddy bear ?
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In a slighlty tangled order... PJ Arends wrote: If all you want is to try to insult "religious" people because they are "stupid" enough to not have thought things through and come to the same conclusions as you, then there is no point in discussing this any further What makes you think I would want that? :confused: I started what was intended to be a broad discussion of what causes us to form beliefs on religion, nothing more and nothing less. PJ Arends wrote: I do not say that all athiests are "missing" something PJ Arends wrote: I just say that those who constantly attack "religious" people because of their faith are obviously trying to justify their atheism either to themselves or those around them Aka.: "missing something". It can't be used on any other system. What draws you to that conclusion, considering what I have restated above about my intents? And I'm not sure from your text how you meant it, but I'll add anyway that if you or anyone else took this topic as any form of belittleing or attack on religion or those with religious views (however Josh wants to define it) then you need to reread it again with your bifocals on. :suss: PJ Arends wrote: After all, in the end we all just die and nothing else matters anyway. Not at all (though I did get the sarcasm). I seek knowledge and understanding just as every other living human does, and in the prusuit of knowledge discussions must surely be held? :confused:
David Wulff http://www.davidwulff.co.uk
I'm not schizophrenic, are we.
David Wulff wrote: I seek knowledge and understanding just as every other living human does, and in the prusuit of knowledge discussions must surely be held? If that is what you really want (and the last paragraph of your original post and your posting history on this topic has lead me to believe otherwise) then I suggest that this forum is a bad place for the discussion. There are way to many anti-religious people here who will have no problem dumping on anyone who tries to explain why they believe what they believe. What I suggest you do is talk to a minister/pastor of a church near you. Find one who is not pushy or all high and mighty about it, because in all truthfulness, those type of people turn me off too. A good minister will be able to answer all your questions far better than I ever could as I do not have all the answers, without trying to force you to convert. Most ministers I know always enjoy a good discussion on the whats and whys of Christianity. I know I have had many good discussions with them over the years as I struggled with some of the same questions you are asking.
CPUA 0x5041 Sonork 100.11743 Chicken Little "So it can now be written in stone as a testament to humanities achievments "PJ did Pi at CP"." Colin Davies Within you lies the power for good - Use it!
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Yeah, but I'm not worried 'cause there's about as much chance of that happening as, well, meeting god. :laugh: _____________________ "So in the interests of survival, they trained themselves to be agreeing machines instead of thinking machines. All their minds had to do was to discover what other people were thinking, and then they thought that, too." Breakfast of Champions, Kurt Vonnegut
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Yeah, but I'm not worried 'cause there's about as much chance of that happening as, well, meeting god. :laugh: _____________________ "So in the interests of survival, they trained themselves to be agreeing machines instead of thinking machines. All their minds had to do was to discover what other people were thinking, and then they thought that, too." Breakfast of Champions, Kurt Vonnegut
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Did I forget to mention that the hippobird is 5 inches tall and flightless? ;P _____________________ "So in the interests of survival, they trained themselves to be agreeing machines instead of thinking machines. All their minds had to do was to discover what other people were thinking, and then they thought that, too." Breakfast of Champions, Kurt Vonnegut
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We are not discussing the existance of god (as Josh has said religious faith does not require the belief of a divine being). Daniel Ferguson wrote: five-legged pink hippobird Her name's Susan, but I had to dump her cause she was do darned messy. :-O
David Wulff http://www.davidwulff.co.uk
I'm not schizophrenic, are we.
David Wulff wrote: Her name's Susan, but I had to dump her cause she was do darned messy. As long as she didn't tell you to kill the owner of the cat next door.... _____________________ "So in the interests of survival, they trained themselves to be agreeing machines instead of thinking machines. All their minds had to do was to discover what other people were thinking, and then they thought that, too." Breakfast of Champions, Kurt Vonnegut
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Did I forget to mention that the hippobird is 5 inches tall and flightless? ;P _____________________ "So in the interests of survival, they trained themselves to be agreeing machines instead of thinking machines. All their minds had to do was to discover what other people were thinking, and then they thought that, too." Breakfast of Champions, Kurt Vonnegut
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Well said Roger (I really want to spell your name with a 'J' :-O).
David Wulff http://www.davidwulff.co.uk
I'm not schizophrenic, are we.
David Wulff wrote: I really want to spell your name with a 'J' Feel free - sales clerks often do:-) Most often they want to add a 'd', a form I have never in my life seen used except in a surname. I'll just call you Daphid, if you don't mind...:-D "I once knew a man who was such a non-conformist that he spelled his name 'Hen3ry' and took great pleasure in explaining that the '3' was silent" - Tom Lehrer (paraphrased)
