ScoobyNet.com - Subaru Enthusiast Forum - Boris

Quote:

Originally Posted by 53 (Post 11617119)

Agreeing with a point of philosophy doesn't make you an 'ist" of anything. An existential appreciation of ones existence is healthy and thus valid comment is found all across the considered political/philosophical spectrum. Region is just a coping mechanism for a personal existential crisis conveniently delivered by via an establishment to achieve social order and contol. Rational well adjusted people have no need of such psychological crutches. :)

Well said, and some people need it for the reasons you mention i.e. existential crisis. if religion helps, I'm all on for it; that's if it doesn't become, like, moving from a crisis to an obsession. Mind you, obsession may be the only way for some on their subjective level; in order to justify their existence and post-existentially, the unknown.

Anyway, Stephen Fry was put at 'God' (often relational to religion) lately:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/pe...-10015360.html

Quote:

“Suppose it’s all true, and you walk up to the pearly gates, and are confronted by God,” asked Bryne. “What will Stephen Fry say to him, her, or it?”

The 57-year-old replied: “I’d say, bone cancer in children? What’s that about?

“How dare you? How dare you create a world to which there is such misery that is not our fault. It’s not right, it’s utterly, utterly evil!”

“Why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world that is so full of injustice and pain. That’s what I would say. ”

Byrne’s second question, “And you think you are going to get in, like that?” only served to fuel his fervour.

"But I wouldn't want to," Fry insisted. “I wouldn't want to get in on his terms. They are wrong.

"Now, if I died and it was Pluto, Hades, and if it was the 12 Greek gods then I would have more truck with it, because the Greeks didn’t pretend to not be human in their appetites, in their capriciousness, and in their unreasonableness… they didn’t present themselves as being all-seeing, all-wise, all-kind, all-beneficent, because the god that created this universe, if it was created by god, is quite clearly a maniac… utter maniac, totally selfish."

“We have to spend our life on our knees thanking him? What kind of god would do that?"

"So, atheism isn’t not just about not believing there’s a God, but on the assumption there is one, what kind of God is he?”

Visibly staggered by Fry’s answer, Byrne said: “That sure is the longest answer to that question I ever got in this entire series.”

Some say God is a metaphor. Very good. I can imagine that the over-reliance on this metaphor would shake one's belief in God, and under-reliance / no reliance may also cause disruption in social order? So, going with that, we need to strike a balance. Or, perhaps we can just stop using the word 'God' as a metaphor for whatever it is, and just get on with life? I think it boils down to personal preference, as long as no one is harmed.

Now what is this metaphor that this mighty God is? :confused: If anyone is wondering, figure it out yourselves. If not, it's ok, go and have a beer or something.