Anyone non-religious here? Please be nice!

[Prettiest Frog]

mom'sfolly :

This is going to sound awful, but I'm going to say it anyway. I have a family member with serious mental illness, and she is occassionally delusional. You can't talk to her about her delusions, for her they are real and they happened. Her experience says so. It is useless to argue or debate with her about these things. I feel that many people of faith are similar. They may be completely logical and reasonable in every other aspect of their lives, but their logic breaks down on the topic of their religion. They don't want the inconsistencies debated or the logical flaws pointed out. To them, they simply don't exist.

I look at it this way...

It's human nature to be crazy in some way. For better or worse, humans are not wholly rational, wholly logical beings. No animal is. I watch my full size chickens panicking because an owl the size of my hand is looking at them. I don't see religion as any different. Some turn logic into a religion, but humans are not vulcans. There are times that we do indeed, take the illogical, irrational path. That's not necessarily a bad thing. It's illogical and irrational for me to have a beer. I'm having one right now.

All things in moderation, and moderation in all things.

Religion, like a beer, is fine in moderation, when it is not allowed to muddle your reason to dominate your life. There is a reason why so many recovering alcoholics turn to religion, they simply trade one addiction for another.

Just as I shouldn't pressure someone into having a beer, I shouldn't pressure someone into having a religion. There are a variety of flavors to suit all needs and tastes, with differing strengths depending on your preference. Go forth. Enjoy.

But there is a line. Cross it, and you are a drunk/alcoholic or a fanatic. And that is where it becomes a problem.

Today my beer of choice is a Leinnie's berry weiss, and my religion of choice is pastafarianism.​

 

[mom'sfolly]

Ramen!

 

[gamebirdsonly]

Quote:
I've asked this often, but I rarely get a good answer.

How, exactly, do you define god? Can you provide a definition that both puts him outside the scope of science (i.e. - being something impossible to study) and encompasses the religious views of what god supposedly has done?

What was the temperature of the burning bush? Are you kidding

Why don't you ask him

What is the decibel level of the voice of god? Again why don't you ask him


If it interacts with the world, it is within the scope of science. If it affects the world in anyway whatsoever, it is within the scope of science.

“To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.”

 

[MoSo]

“To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.”

Which is pretty much a pointless tautology - "it is because it is" and why trying to discuss science and religion in the same sentence doesn't work.

Pitting one against the other is equally pointless - science is not my "religion" it's what I do for a living.​

 

[gamebirdsonly]

Knowledge and belief are not the same animals despite the temptation to assume that they are.

 

[mom'sfolly]

Gamebird's,

I don't quite get the point you are trying to make.

If you're trying to preach to the unconverted, it ain't gonna work here.

 

[gamebirdsonly]

Edit to remove trolling comment

 

[deb1]

Quote:
If there is a God-and I lean toward thinking that there is-then It gave us brains to use and would not want us to accept anything based on faith.

I think that some religions have built in defenses to keep followers from asking logical questions. Putting emphasis on faith that can't be understood by logic or reason is a way to retain adherents when inconsistencies are noticed.

There are many people that gain comfort from their religion and I respect that.

I just think that if God exists and is all loving, he or she or it probably doesn't really care if we follow any particular religion or even believe in Its existence. Maybe if this God exists, It is more concerned that we feed the poor, help the weak and love one another then if we worship It.

 

[OrpingtonManor]

It requires a solid sense of self to be here posting. You all are great! I post when I can, and appreciate all the fantastic logic and acceptance happening here.

 

[OccamsTazer]

Deb, I'm with ya 100% on that one! I'm unconvinced about the presence of a deity, but if there is one...it must want us to learn, question, figure out!
Why would we have an inquisitive nature if we're not supposed to?