Morality is not determined by the church you attend nor the faith you embrace. It is determined by the quality of your character and the positive impact you have on those you meet along your journey
In this age of science and technology, why people still believe in a collection of stories written thousands of years ago is beyond me. The ancients made up these myths and fairy tales to make sense of their world. I understand that. But now? Why do smart people believe in hocus pocus???
Why? They never grew up. Still need a daddy-figure to make it all better, protect them. That and the Culture of Fear drilled into people that the government will save them, the right-wing gov that is. And their guns.
Religion just happens to be a very powerful and easy way to control human beings.
Once people start believing in mythology, there is nothing to stop religious leaders from stealing their money and goods, and imposing all sorts of horrible rules on behavior and their beliefs.
Religions are particularly good at demonizing and marginalizing those who don't subscribe to the cult's belief system.
I wouldn't accept it even WITH photos. It's too easy to create them now, using all the different software available. Just look at the picture from the last post Gryphen put out of the Cabinet Trump will select.
Beginning with the void, along comes God. Where was he? Where does he reside? What form is he in? Assuming one can get beyond those questions, let's say it's planet building day. How did he do that? And where were those raw materials stored? Was there a workshop with plans and scale models? What? There is no question the universe is a mystery, but to imagine there is a being who designed it and built it and then just hangs out creating happiness and havoc doesn't even meet the test for good science fiction--fantasy yes.
"To be fair," where are your pictures of the parting of the red sea, how about pictures of your 'sky fairy'? Why do you always 'consult' your god after a tragedy, asking for prayers for the victims? Why did your god allow the tragedy to happen?
5:46, while there may be no OLD pictures of events actually happening the way science has proven or theorizes about, there is ample evidence of those events in the form of geological records and fossils and so on.
And what does religion have? In the case of christianity, there is THE BIBLE! Whoopee! ONE non-verifiable source which the Talibangelicals accept as absolute proof. And a LOT of that can be disproven. In fact HAS been.
The only so-called reason the "argument" can continue is the foolish refusal of idiots to accept provable facts. Verifiable facts. Facts that can be proven by repeatedly DOING many of the things extremists refuse to accept.
There IS no argument except in the minds of those who REFUSE to see the evidence.
The debate doesn't go both ways. There is no to be fair about it. Until man landed on the moon, one might have argued "since we have no demonstrable proof otherwise, the moon could be made of cheese." One who is intellectually lazy might argue that, but thoughtful individuals don't defer to nonsense when they cannot answer a question.
But don't forget the rest of that Marx quote "Religious suffering is, at one and the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.
The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness. To call on them to give up their illusions about their condition is to call on them to give up a condition that requires illusions. The criticism of religion is, therefore, in embryo, the criticism of that vale of tears of which religion is the halo."
Actually, there are. They're called fossils. Take an anthropology course, you'll also learn that there are no biological reasons for race, the color of our skin is an adaptation trait to the sun's rays. Of course, if you believe the bible over science no amount of proof will change your ignorant worldview.
Religion is the same as it has always been. It's not going away, and it's not limited to the uneducated.
There's no dearth of highly-educated religious people, in the sciences or any other field, from Pope Francis all the way down to people like me.
We can thank God for that, among other things. Now go read you some real, open-minded science not polluted by emotional bias, because you won't find it here.
In this age of science and technology, why people still believe in a collection of stories written thousands of years ago is beyond me. The ancients made up these myths and fairy tales to make sense of their world. I understand that. But now? Why do smart people believe in hocus pocus???
ReplyDeleteWhy? They never grew up. Still need a daddy-figure to make it all better, protect them. That and the Culture of Fear drilled into people that the government will save them, the right-wing gov that is. And their guns.
DeleteReligion just happens to be a very powerful and easy way to control human beings.
DeleteOnce people start believing in mythology, there is nothing to stop religious leaders from stealing their money and goods, and imposing all sorts of horrible rules on behavior and their beliefs.
Religions are particularly good at demonizing and marginalizing those who don't subscribe to the cult's belief system.
http://s202.photobucket.com/user/Primate_bucket/media/cartoon20060222.gif.html
Yep 4:08 and 6:17. Though Freud and Marx said it a bit more eloquently, you've got it.
DeleteI wouldn't accept it even WITH photos. It's too easy to create them now, using all the different software available. Just look at the picture from the last post Gryphen put out of the Cabinet Trump will select.
ReplyDeleteBeginning with the void, along comes God. Where was he? Where does he reside? What form is he in? Assuming one can get beyond those questions, let's say it's planet building day. How did he do that? And where were those raw materials stored? Was there a workshop with plans and scale models? What? There is no question the universe is a mystery, but to imagine there is a being who designed it and built it and then just hangs out creating happiness and havoc doesn't even meet the test for good science fiction--fantasy yes.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, that "can" go both ways. This debate will still be happening long after I've departed this life!
ReplyDelete"To be fair," where are your pictures of the parting of the red sea, how about pictures of your 'sky fairy'? Why do you always 'consult' your god after a tragedy, asking for prayers for the victims? Why did your god allow the tragedy to happen?
Delete5:46, while there may be no OLD pictures of events actually happening the way science has proven or theorizes about, there is ample evidence of those events in the form of geological records and fossils and so on.
DeleteAnd what does religion have? In the case of christianity, there is THE BIBLE! Whoopee! ONE non-verifiable source which the Talibangelicals accept as absolute proof. And a LOT of that can be disproven. In fact HAS been.
The only so-called reason the "argument" can continue is the foolish refusal of idiots to accept provable facts. Verifiable facts. Facts that can be proven by repeatedly DOING many of the things extremists refuse to accept.
There IS no argument except in the minds of those who REFUSE to see the evidence.
The debate doesn't go both ways. There is no to be fair about it. Until man landed on the moon, one might have argued "since we have no demonstrable proof otherwise, the moon could be made of cheese." One who is intellectually lazy might argue that, but thoughtful individuals don't defer to nonsense when they cannot answer a question.
DeleteIt's the opiate of the masses.
ReplyDeleteBut don't forget the rest of that Marx quote "Religious suffering is, at one and the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.
DeleteThe abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness. To call on them to give up their illusions about their condition is to call on them to give up a condition that requires illusions. The criticism of religion is, therefore, in embryo, the criticism of that vale of tears of which religion is the halo."
So, who produced god?
ReplyDeleteetc..etc..
Primitive superstitious rubes.
DeletePortraits of Jesus and dinosaurs:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dailydawdle.com/2011/10/10-epic-portraits-of-jesus-and.html
Weak argument. There are no pictures of evolution either.
ReplyDeleteActually, there are. They're called fossils. Take an anthropology course, you'll also learn that there are no biological reasons for race, the color of our skin is an adaptation trait to the sun's rays. Of course, if you believe the bible over science no amount of proof will change your ignorant worldview.
DeleteIts been said that, "Seeing is Believing"... but in actuality, "Believing is Seeing."
ReplyDeleteMuse if that for a minute, Bro.
Religion is the same as it has always been. It's not going away, and it's not limited to the uneducated.
ReplyDeleteThere's no dearth of highly-educated religious people, in the sciences or any other field, from Pope Francis all the way down to people like me.
We can thank God for that, among other things. Now go read you some real, open-minded science not polluted by emotional bias, because you won't find it here.
I believe in no god.
ReplyDeleteI do believe we on earth are some super smart alien's science fair experiment.
I know that the dead rise and walk among us -- I used to live in Fort Myers :P
ReplyDelete