Religions are varied and multiple »

Posted By Radiofreeeuropa 1 year, 1 month ago in Religion

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Religious beliefs are remarkably various. Taoists, Rastafarians, and Christians have as many differences as similarities, and there are many Christianities. But there only seems to be one atheism. It asserts on the basis of reasoned argument that belief in God is irrational. The "new" atheists - Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, and Daniel Dennett, for example - pit reason against faith, and declare for reason. But there is more than one way to skin a god, and there are many ways to be an atheist. I'm an atheist, but the exclusive reliance on reason in atheism strikes me as impoverished, unfortunate, and self-deluded.

After all, even if we simply define 'atheism' as the denial that God exists, this claim itself has corollaries and entailments of the largest scope. Atheism pictures the universe as a natural system, that is, a system not guided by intelligence, and not traversed by spirits: a universe, among other things, that yields to scientific explanation, because it consists of material objects operating according to physical laws. Atheism is taken up, in short, as part of a whole stance toward the universe, a theory of everything.

Belief and unbelief do not simply consist of a particular claim and its negation, but of different whole pictures of the world, from its most general organization to the particular character of each event. Such world-pictures cannot themselves be shown to be true or false by science, or indeed by any rational technique. They are all matters of faith, stances taken up by finite creatures with regard to the infinitely rich surround. One does not produce reasons for such things; one lives them.

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    Radiofreeeuropa1 year, 1 month ago

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    This is a very different view of a non theistic universe, a philosophical "faith based" non theism. Crispin Sartwell writes for various anarchist publications as well as rationalist ones.

    "Belief is, at its core, an emotional commitment to some claim or view. A creature without any desires or feelings would be incapable of making any judgments. An argument might bring someone to a commitment. But in order to believe you must do more than look at the argument, you must decide to live according to its results.

    I think of the universe as a natural system. I think of it, on the basis of my own pointedly finite experience, as the scene of both evil and good, as a morally indifferent thing. It isn't bent on saving me, or damning me: it just is. Its truth sits outside me and within me: leaves me struggling to understand: makes every interpretation provisional. I find comfort in that as well as pain, wonder as well as loathing. That's my experience, and my atheism is a reflection of that experience, a way of keeping faith with it. But it's not an argument; it's an interpretation.

    And in trying to be true to my experience, I'm trying to be true to its sources. The arguments come later. Religious people often give arguments - Saint Thomas Aquinas famously gave five - but it could not be more obvious that the belief comes first, originating in family, social and institutional context, desire and need. The arguments are rationalizations."

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      Radiofreeeuropa1 year, 1 month ago

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      I really like the summary-
      "My sense is that this is not the best of all possible worlds, that there is genuinely unredeemed, pointless pain. Some of it is mine.

      By not believing in God, I keep faith with the world's indifference. I love its beauty. I hate its pain. I think both are perfectly real. This seems to me more or less like the kind of world you would get with no moral guidance, no omnipotent maker. I do not see any reason to suspend judgment: I'm here, and I commit. I'm perfectly sincere and definite in my belief that there is no God."
      "I can see that there could be comfort in believing otherwise, believing that somehow all that suffering and death all makes sense, that everyone gets what they deserve, and it all works out in the end. But to believe that would be to betray my deepest experiences, my real commitments. That's why I am an unreasonable atheist."

      Personally my experience is a little different, I fall in the category mentioned briefly - Many people claim a God created the universe, I simply don't make that claim. I don't see this as an act of faith in any sense though I know there are those who claim it is...possibly even this author. I must agree that my observation of the universe and the microcosm that is my neighborhood in it, look more like chaos theory - quantum mechanics - and indeed anarchy than the creation of an all powerful entity. Order derived from chaos, which has been visualized through fractals and indeed even weather predicting is observable and real.
      (CONT)

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      RickyDawkins1 year, 1 month ago

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      Is God make-believe? For me it makes sense. Oh, except for how the universe came to be. And why.

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      Bkumm1 year, 1 month ago

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      I am a strong proponent of the multi-verse hypothesis and thus it is impossible for me to think of there being one "god". Each universe may have a different set of physical properties which would mean that a being that is a "god" in one universe may be nothing more than a megalomaniacal loser in another. That being said, I do believe that there is something. What that something is, is certainly up for discussion.

      I don't think that any of the religions, paths, ritual ways, spiritual journeys or philosophical viewpoints have everything correct. And I don't particularly care if they do or not. I am much more concerned with the use to which religion is put than to whether or not it is correct. A person can believe that Jesus Christ came down from Heaven in the guise of Krishna to speak to Mohammed (PBUH) so that the Word could come to the animists of North America and that would be fine by me. However, the second, the instant that person tries to legislate their belief system into law they become my opponent and I believe the opponent of every advocate of free thought.

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      gamahuche1 year, 1 month ago

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      Hey RF! As I mentioned in a PM I'm out of the picture really as far as any deep study of anything today.
      I've tried the "faith" route to a certain extent - attending a Religious, Royal and Ancient Foundation as a school does rather oblige one to at least take a look at all that.
      However as soon as I learnt about Zen Buddhism thaty seemed like aMUCH more attractive alternative - whether it be zendo zen or street zen..
      I also had a zen wedding, which was very agreeable - but had no legal validity.
      As far as I was able to examine the article briefly, the following caught my eye:
      "Belief and unbelief do not simply consist of a particular claim and its negation, but of different whole pictures of the world, from its most general organization to the particular character of each event."
      Which it seems to me says that faith runs a wide spectrum and that it should not be an a priori system but rather be flexible enough to deal with whatever circumstance arises.
      I can accept that! ESPECIALLY that faith should leave one free to do what is right at the time and not hobble one with doubts and worries and dears of everlasting hell and damnation if one should make a mistake!

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      antibrainwasher1 year, 1 month ago

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      There is no god, only thousands of gods invented by con men, story tellers, kings, and tribalists to santify tribalism and inbreeding, to support political power systems of tyrants, and to control the minds of ignorant powerless slaves that are not the ruling class.

      Its real simple, there is no effing god. If you're too chickens...to realize this, that you only have one life and there is no afterlife, that religion is for babies and weak minded morons who can't face their own mortality, then you aren't worth your weight in invisible baby jew jesus feces.

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      vor1 year, 1 month ago

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      Varied perhaps but none are of any greater validity, which none hold.

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        Spadecaller1 year, 1 month ago

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        Thank God I have a choice to believe whatever I want. Just spare me from having to listen to those who like to preach and sell their beliefs, whether it be religious or atheistic.

        Both multi-level marketing and organized religion are vexations to my spiritual condition.

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        KingofQueensS601 year, 1 month ago

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        Quite nice

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        not2needy1 year, 1 month ago

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        I am a Christian. I don't like what "organized religion" has morphed into today, so i opted out. Not to say that i don't or won't attend a church, but that i don't get involved in the politics that's played in churches today.

        That said! I respect everyone's beliefs, or lack thereof. I think that as a Christian, it's my job to "try" to bring people into the fold, but as far as trying to "sell" my beliefs or force them on anyone, that's just not me.

        I also think that there's a direct corolation between creationism and evolution. My take on creation is... A clap of
        God's hand could have been the big bang, and then after He was done creating, He just sat back and allowed evolution to take it's course.

        My life experiences helps me to KNOW (for myself) that there is a supreme being. In what form? I have no idea. Faith is a very personal thing for me, i assume that a lack of faith is also personal and i try to respect that.

        Thanks for the invite RFE.. Very interesting article, well written.

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        DarkWizard1 year, 1 month ago

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        Some people look at the universe, our planet, and us as beings and see that as evidence of a God. Others look at the universe, our planet, and us as beings and see that as evidence that there is no God at all.

        Personally, I have seen things that are beyond the realm of human understanding and therefore am willing to entertain that anything is possible and must be given a moment of thought.

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        lvrofwolves1 year, 1 month ago

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        I'm Agnostic, it's not that I can't decide (tho I believe one can't choose to have faith or not, you can choose a path to follow, you can walk the walk, talk the talk, but that means very little. Most people know if they truly believe or not.) I don't fall off the Agnostic fence because I can't possibly see how either can be proven or disproven.
        I have no problems with people who believe and those who don't,my closest friends are both Atheists and Christians and we do not judge each other or try and persuade each other.
        I do have problems with people when they claim to be Christian, tho don't act like it and those who argue amongst themselves 'you're not a true Christian, my religion is real, your's isn't,I'm a better one then you, 'God' said/did this, no he didn't blah blah blah', instead of them just being happy to share the faith, they argue and fight about it. I don't think anyones belief/faith is exactly the same as anyone else's.

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        Newperson1 year, 1 month ago

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        I feel as people we all need something to belive in. I belive in god thats my choice. I do not push my way on no one else. I do not tote a bible everywhere I go and speak of hell and damnation.
        That is what makes this country so great in my eyes.we have a choice I only hope I can make the right ones

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        Tangent0011 year, 1 month ago

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        Taoist Viagra(TM) "When you can't get your Yang up."

        ZING! POW!

        Don't forget to tip your waitress.

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        aceofspades11 year, 1 month ago

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        God is a human device used to explain the unexplainable, at least in the purest form of a belief in God. That is why the most primitive of societies & the most advanced both look for a God to guide them.
        The concept of God as practiced by organized religion is too complicated in both history & practice to fully discuss in this short forum.
        Suffice to say, in modern society either you believe in a higher being (God or Gods) or you don't.
        Gnostic means to know - agnostic means not to know , so agnostics are somewhere between believers & nonbelievers, I think they lean more towards a belief in a God.
        I, for one am an atheist. Does that make me more or less of a person? I believe we are born. live our lives & die. Period. It is how we live our lives that determines our humanity & not how we worship any particular diety

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        danigirl1811 year, 1 month ago

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        In the name of Jesus, I rebuke all of you. Amen.
        :(

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        reallypsst1 year, 1 month ago

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        The problem has always existed and the answer has always been with us,your common sense live and let live you can respect any ones views and also disagree with them without prejudice and persecution,but many want to impose and dictate what cannot be proved till this day,so believe what you want but keep it within your own realm!

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          cemery501 year, 1 month ago

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          I believe every definition (perception | illusion) causes it own string (path) through limitless possibilities (in eternity (all that can be (must be | not be)))

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            mmrhe1 year, 1 month ago

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            How do you explain things like children who see "spirits"?
            I was just talking to a friend last night about how his three year old son kept mentioning this "Alma" person to him and his wife.
            They did a little research and found out they had a Great Aunt of that name whio had recently died at the ripe old age of 115!
            This is not an uncommon occurance.
            I know some people will reject this as nonsense but to me it proves their may not be a God, but somne kind of spiritual world or another plane of existence.

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            Radiofreeeuropa1 year, 1 month ago

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            The Amazing Randi (A professional magician- prestidigitator) will give a million dollars to anyone who can present a shred of evidence...the offer has stood for decades.
            No one has earned it. And all attempts have been thoroughly debunked as scams and hoaxes.

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            abeyasha1 year, 1 month ago

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            Well I now know that GOD exists, from the very ways that atheist's propoganda by taking the name of GOD(except that it be in contrary terms) The latest, being their advertisements on buses in England. These people do not believe or are ignorant that in mankind's history many people have seen GOD. I guess the reason as to why people do not generally see GOD is because GOD wants it that way, he is not a spoon feeder as it is best that man does learns himself (not without some guidance). If one were to understand the first commandments given to Moses there is no greater freedom coupled with guidance life can ever get in those given words
            You know what, if these very atheists, after their death were to see GOD, what would they tell him " We did not say that GOD
            did not exist, we only said GOD "probably" did not exist" very clever indeed & I wonder where they got their intillegence in the first place.

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            Spadecaller1 year, 1 month ago

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            Some people I know live their lives fearing hell and wanting to believe there is a heaven waiting for them. And, out of fear they often treat their neighbors with kindness. They live moral lives for the most part striving for the spiritual gold ring that will guarantee them a place in heaven.

            IF you had the power to prove their beliefs were wrong, are you so sure it would it be a good thing for them and for us?

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            Redneck1 year, 1 month ago

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            FTA:"After all, even if we simply define 'atheism' as the denial that God exists, this claim itself has corollaries and entailments of the largest scope. Atheism pictures the universe as a natural system, that is, a system not guided by intelligence, and not traversed by spirits:..."

            Thus if there is no "intelligence" directing the universe or overseeing mankind then ... There Will Be No Accounting to the Creator. Man is not accountable to anyone but themselves.

            This pride is condemned in the Bible. This is a refusal to face the fact that God has given every man a witness there is a Creator. One of the most intelligent men of centuries past said that it is logical from looking at the universe there IS a Creator and He will hold mankind accountable for what He expects from His Creation.

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            injurylawyers1 year, 1 month ago

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            Umm like a propeller ring had to have voted this story up to front page. This is the no duh story of the year.

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            Radiofreeeuropa1 year, 1 month ago

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            Yeah, imagine that! More people comment on the meaning of life than a blog about motorcycle insurance...God (er propeller?, er it's users) are so unfair. They must be up to something.
            It's a (communist/liberal/conservative/disliked stereotype of your choice plot I tell ya'!

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