Spirituality
13 Apr 12
"The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully"
Wow! Richard Dawkins doesn't pull his punches!
Sorry if I have offended anyone of a sensitive disposition.
Excellent stuff!! (gues I'll just sit and wait for all the thumbs down!)
13 Apr 12
Originally posted by JS357Yes. That approach would turn away from a public discussion in which there was some prospect of the participants reaching useful insights into a private, mumbling act of self indulgence. Whether it makes you feel better or worse will have a lot to do with the quality of your parenting and the nature of your internal monologue.
At the risk of sounding a bit far out, I suggest that asking this question of oneself (what is my idea of God) instead of dwelling on inherited ideas, could be a spiritual turning point.
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13 Apr 12
Originally posted by finneganThere is nothing to keep the ideas from being shared.
Yes. That approach would turn away from a public discussion in which there was some prospect of the participants reaching useful insights into a private, mumbling act of self indulgence. Whether it makes you feel better or worse will have a lot to do with the quality of your parenting and the nature of your internal monologue.
13 Apr 12
Originally posted by JS357At the risk of sounding a bit far out, I suggest that asking this question of oneself (what is my idea of God) instead of dwelling on inherited ideas, could be a spiritual turning point.
There is nothing to keep the ideas from being shared.
. . .
There is nothing to keep the ideas from being shared.
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That is pretty much the basis of twelve-step programs (even if the language in, say, the Big Book, is more often than not implicitly that of a conventional—and even gender specific—monotheism; however, lots of AA people just let that go as just the conceptualization that Bill W. had available to him). Such programs are pragmatic/therapeutic in nature—and “elicitive” as far as spiritual experience—rather than epistemic. Even such words as “came to believe” take on a different understanding in that language game (rather more similar to, say, an attitude of conviction sports psychology), as opposed to epistemological discourse. As you and I have discussed before, a lot of confusion can result when usages are transferred from one language game to another.
I wrote that quickly; hope it makes sense. I have to go do some work on the house… Be well. 🙂
13 Apr 12
1 edit
Originally posted by Pianoman1Typical atheistic sour grapes if you ask me.
"The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully"
Wow ve disposition.
Excellent stuff!! (gues I'll just sit and wait for all the thumbs down!)
Edit: We've heard all this (and more) before. So what's new here?
13 Apr 12
Originally posted by SuzianneSour grapes? What a typical theist response!!i (think you misunderstand the meaning of that phrase.) No, dear, simple undisputed, documented, statement of fact. Look to your source with an OPEN mind, unbiased by brainwashing.
Typical atheistic sour grapes if you ask me.
Edit: We've heard all this (and more) before. So what's new here?
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Originally posted by vistesdThat makes a great deal of sense. I have been working through some habit-breaking times (the big ones are never "finished" ) and am in-process with a new challenge at present. The "me" that I am respecting when I abstain from the habit, does not really exist yet, and may never fully; but it is that "me" that I remind myself I have committed myself to be, that I "believe in". This might sound self-centered, but some people could see it as a higher power sort of thing, an ideal.
[b]At the risk of sounding a bit far out, I suggest that asking this question of oneself (what is my idea of God) instead of dwelling on inherited ideas, could be a spiritual turning point.
. . .
There is nothing to keep the ideas from being shared.
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That is pretty much the basis of twelve-step ...[text shortened]... wrote that quickly; hope it makes sense. I have to go do some work on the house… Be well. 🙂[/b]
13 Apr 12
Originally posted by Pianoman1succinct description of the beast of the old testament.
"The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully"
Wow ...[text shortened]... ve disposition.
Excellent stuff!! (gues I'll just sit and wait for all the thumbs down!)
13 Apr 12
Originally posted by SuzianneI agree with you. It seems when things slow down here on this forum, this thread always pops back up. They must be board and probably upset with life on some level so they have to blame somebody and it's usually God.
Typical atheistic sour grapes if you ask me.
Edit: We've heard all this (and more) before. So what's new here?
13 Apr 12
1 edit
Originally posted by galveston75Yes, but what you think is important.
I agree with you. It seems when things slow down here on this forum, this thread always pops back up. They must be board and probably upset with life on some level so they have to blame somebody and it's usually God.
When something unusual keeps popping up in my life , I look at is a sign that maybe I have to learn some life lesson here before I move on. Thats why that same little itch keeps appearing.
What you think creates the world. So thats why the push for positive thoughts/ positive thinking.
Hence the analogy to God being close to you and knowing your everyday (everything about you).
I read as regarding the intimacy of our thoughts, and the realization that if we are given power that we use it to create not destroy, for good not for bad, etc.