Heaven is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark
#211
You may well be right. The religions seem to be most insistent that their way is the only correct way to worship Him etc.
I would not have thought it would make any difference which one you follow as long as it progresses along peaceable lines. You only have to look at it from the point of view of the being who is getting all the attention.
Les
I would not have thought it would make any difference which one you follow as long as it progresses along peaceable lines. You only have to look at it from the point of view of the being who is getting all the attention.
Les
#212
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Home
Posts: 14,758
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
*http://www.phy.duke.edu/~rgb/Philoso...em/node24.html
Last edited by JTaylor; 24 May 2011 at 10:40 AM. Reason: ETA Link
#213
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Home
Posts: 14,758
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, they're dogmatic (by design) and some moreso than others. If, like me, you've arrived at an understanding of God through reason and accept Christ and his message as a moral authority, Christian Unitarianism is a very liberal, exoteric denomination; Universal Unitarianism accepts athiests!* I've never actually been to a service, but I guess if I ever formalised my belief set CU would be attractive. As a framework for speculative, freethinking meditation on the nature of the divine I think one really ought to look past organised religion and study the esoteric traditions.
*http://www.phy.duke.edu/~rgb/Philoso...em/node24.html
*http://www.phy.duke.edu/~rgb/Philoso...em/node24.html
#214
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Home
Posts: 14,758
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#216
Scooby Regular
#217
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Home
Posts: 14,758
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, it's exactly how I treat S'net. I got so paranoid that the site might disappear or lose all the threads that I printed off all the stuff that was important to me. About 150 pages!
#220
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Home
Posts: 14,758
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#221
Scooby Regular
I would prob replace thick for "needy" or something like that
#226
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Home
Posts: 14,758
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#229
#230
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: W / London
Posts: 2,168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Love threads like this.
The burden of proof isn't on us 'non-believers', the burden of proof is on those who claim God / heaven etc exist.
So far, I'm yet to see anything to back up the claims that either exist. Well, apart from some book that was written a few years ago.....hardly concrete evidence is it.
Usually, at this point I'll say something along the lines of "if it brings people happiness and comfort without harming others, then who I am to question it", but we're talking about religion here, the cause of millions of deaths across the world over something that nobody will ever prove actually exists.
The burden of proof isn't on us 'non-believers', the burden of proof is on those who claim God / heaven etc exist.
So far, I'm yet to see anything to back up the claims that either exist. Well, apart from some book that was written a few years ago.....hardly concrete evidence is it.
Usually, at this point I'll say something along the lines of "if it brings people happiness and comfort without harming others, then who I am to question it", but we're talking about religion here, the cause of millions of deaths across the world over something that nobody will ever prove actually exists.
#232
Yes, they're dogmatic (by design) and some moreso than others. If, like me, you've arrived at an understanding of God through reason and accept Christ and his message as a moral authority, Christian Unitarianism is a very liberal, exoteric denomination; Universal Unitarianism accepts athiests!* I've never actually been to a service, but I guess if I ever formalised my belief set CU would be attractive. As a framework for speculative, freethinking meditation on the nature of the divine I think one really ought to look past organised religion and study the esoteric traditions.
*http://www.phy.duke.edu/~rgb/Philoso...em/node24.html
*http://www.phy.duke.edu/~rgb/Philoso...em/node24.html
I really think you need to research the current understanding of consciousness and the subconscious activity of our brain.
It appears we have no free will .
Arriving at any understanding is not done freely - All our life decisions are the result of our DNA, our life experiences and our subconscious .
#233
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: lancashire
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I really think you need to research the current understanding of consciousness and the subconscious activity of our brain.
It appears we have no free will .
Arriving at any understanding is not done freely - All our life decisions are the result of our DNA, our life experiences and our subconscious .
It appears we have no free will .
Arriving at any understanding is not done freely - All our life decisions are the result of our DNA, our life experiences and our subconscious .
#234
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: lancashire
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Maybe it's not all bollox but whatever way you look at it, there are so many different religions, all have a different viewpoint, they can't all be right.
Best case scenario is that one of the religions has got it right, worst case scenario is that none of them have.
Either way there are a hell of a lot of people wasting their time on a false belief system.
Best case scenario is that one of the religions has got it right, worst case scenario is that none of them have.
Either way there are a hell of a lot of people wasting their time on a false belief system.
#235
I am a Christian but I seldom attend church and I certainly don't believe in fairies, the following is my tale, make of it what you will.
As a child my brothers and I were sent to Sunday School, mainly I think so my parents could have a few hours peace and quiet. After a few years we were sent to church. Eventually I was confirmed in the Church of England which meant I could partake of the bread and wine at the the holy communion service. However, I didn't really believe or disbelieve in God and I had never once felt his presence either in church or anywhere else. In October 1995 my wife, who I loved dearly, left me after 20 years of marriage. Two of my three daughters had already flown the nest and my wife expected the third and youngest who was 14 at the time to go and live with her. My daughter chose to stay with me and we continued to live in the matrimonial home for another four years iirc until my daughter went off to set up home with her boyfriend who was attending university. Suddenly I was totally alone and my mental state nosedived, I reached rock bottom and saw nothing in the future for me. I worked, ate and slept but was permanently in a depressed state, I wanted to die but didn't have whatever it takes to end my life. Then one evening something happened, I was having, I think, a nervous breakdown, I was on the floor in my lounge, crying and wishing I could find the strength required to end my life and in desperation I said out aloud, "please God, help me" What happened next is I promise the truth, after I had said those words a warm feeling seemed to come down from above into the top of my head and down through my neck into my body, this warm feeling washed over and through me in wave after wave for maybe a minute or two and then stopped. I then realised I had stopped crying and a feeling of calm and peacefulness had come over me. I knew at that moment that God does exist, I didn't see him and he didn't speak to me but in my darkest hour he had helped me, a person who didn't really believe in his existence or go to church except for christenings, weddings and funerals. It wasn't an instant miracle cure for my problems but from that point in time I gradually recovered and was able to get on with my life.
As a child my brothers and I were sent to Sunday School, mainly I think so my parents could have a few hours peace and quiet. After a few years we were sent to church. Eventually I was confirmed in the Church of England which meant I could partake of the bread and wine at the the holy communion service. However, I didn't really believe or disbelieve in God and I had never once felt his presence either in church or anywhere else. In October 1995 my wife, who I loved dearly, left me after 20 years of marriage. Two of my three daughters had already flown the nest and my wife expected the third and youngest who was 14 at the time to go and live with her. My daughter chose to stay with me and we continued to live in the matrimonial home for another four years iirc until my daughter went off to set up home with her boyfriend who was attending university. Suddenly I was totally alone and my mental state nosedived, I reached rock bottom and saw nothing in the future for me. I worked, ate and slept but was permanently in a depressed state, I wanted to die but didn't have whatever it takes to end my life. Then one evening something happened, I was having, I think, a nervous breakdown, I was on the floor in my lounge, crying and wishing I could find the strength required to end my life and in desperation I said out aloud, "please God, help me" What happened next is I promise the truth, after I had said those words a warm feeling seemed to come down from above into the top of my head and down through my neck into my body, this warm feeling washed over and through me in wave after wave for maybe a minute or two and then stopped. I then realised I had stopped crying and a feeling of calm and peacefulness had come over me. I knew at that moment that God does exist, I didn't see him and he didn't speak to me but in my darkest hour he had helped me, a person who didn't really believe in his existence or go to church except for christenings, weddings and funerals. It wasn't an instant miracle cure for my problems but from that point in time I gradually recovered and was able to get on with my life.
#236
Logic would infer that no conscious control over our DNA and our subconscious is possible.
Studies suggest random Life experiences/environment , may manipulate our DNA -evolution and our subconscious - behavioral traits.
Both of which we have no control over .
Our freewill is tempered by our DNA and subconscious-Therefore freewill as we perceive it is in fact non-existent.
Then again I could be talking a load of old bollocks.
#237
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (5)
I really don't like the word "believe" but no for me , life being mapped out is unlikely .
Logic would infer that no conscious control over our DNA and our subconscious is possible.
Studies suggest random Life experiences/environment , may manipulate our DNA -evolution and our subconscious - behavioral traits.
Both of which we have no control over .
Our freewill is tempered by our DNA and subconscious-Therefore freewill as we perceive it is in fact non-existent.
Then again I could be talking a load of old bollocks.
Logic would infer that no conscious control over our DNA and our subconscious is possible.
Studies suggest random Life experiences/environment , may manipulate our DNA -evolution and our subconscious - behavioral traits.
Both of which we have no control over .
Our freewill is tempered by our DNA and subconscious-Therefore freewill as we perceive it is in fact non-existent.
Then again I could be talking a load of old bollocks.
If only the Bible, Koran et al could finish with that last line, outstanding!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post