The irrelevance of God

[Seattle]

I think what you're trying to say is why start a thread about the irrelevance of God if he is ...well, irrelevant.

In fairness though, Magical is simply sharing an atheist's viewpoint, no different than the various threads that others create here, discussing the relevance of God. Ya know?

Haha...I know It just seemed a bit abrupt given all the threads where all these same points have been made over and over where they were at least in context.

It's like starting a thread entitled "Crime is Bad".

 

[wegs]

you just don't have an answer , so that is you answer

Just curious, arauca -- what makes God relevant in your life?

 

[arauca]

Just curious, arauca -- what makes God relevant in your life?

Because of Him . My behavior is more controlled , He changes my mood, from God comes my daily strength to keep on going and confidence, Let me rape up in a funny way He is my security blanket.

 

[arfa brane]

God is worse than just non-existent. He is irrelevant. Inconsequential. Superfluous. An absolute triviality. Not only does his possible existence NOT explain anything, but it creates more problems than his nonexistence.

What about your existence?

Cuz if there IS a God then where the hell is he?

Why not just admit you don't know?

Millenia of storybook accounts of God speaking to ancient prophets and gurus. Burning bushes. Quaking mountains. And starlit mangers. Yet never insomuch as one REAL public appearance of said being to the human race.

All you're doing here is holding up a particular version and saying it's wrong. Why does God have only one description, and why is it the one in the Christian doctrine?

 

[wegs]

Because of Him . My behavior is more controlled , He changes my mood, from God comes my daily strength to keep on going and confidence, Let me rape up in a funny way He is my security blanket.

I used to think this way, well...similarly. We may not agree with each other on here from time to time, but our views are equally relevant.

 

[wegs]

arfa brane comments:

All you're doing here is holding up a particular version and saying it's wrong. Why does God have only one description, and why is it the one in the Christian doctrine?

Interesting point. I can't help but wonder how many people become generally apathetic in terms of the overall concept of "God," simply because of a poor experience or negative view, with a particular religion. (in many cases, with Christianity)

(For me, the decline of my faith can be directly attributed to my view of Christian dogma.)

 

[Seattle]

Why does God have only one description, and why is it the one in the Christian doctrine?

I always find this to be an interesting response. Religion (or the earthly practices) vary but the concept of a supernatural being is behind them all. There is no evidence for the supernatural so they all fail from the start.

 

[Magical Realist]

What about your existence?

I already know I'm only 1/7 billionth of a mass of human protoplasm living its life out on planet earth. I accept my irrelevance. A single god who runs the universe and made everything becoming irrelevant? Now that's a different matter.

Why not just admit you don't know?

God's doin an awfully good impression of non-existence if he DOES exist. Think I'll stick with atheism. It just fits the facts of the world so much better.

All you're doing here is holding up a particular version and saying it's wrong. Why does God have only one description, and why is it the one in the Christian doctrine?

Why not? It's certainly the version of theism that I'VE had experience in. Should I be talking about something else? Are there other versions of delusional Skydaddyism I should be considering?

 

[Seattle]

My view is that there is no evidence for a supernatural being.

In the alternative, if there is a supernatural being that created the universe I see no reason to worship that god both because it hasn't turned out to be a very kind or capable god and because I see no reason that such a god would need or care about our worship.

We are one animal on a planet full of animals, in a universe full of planets. Why would a god that created the entire universe even be concerned with us?

 

[Magical Realist]

In fairness though, Magical is simply sharing an atheist's viewpoint, no different than the various threads that others create here, discussing the relevance of God. Ya know?

As if questioning the relevance of a mythical creature had no place in a Science Forum to begin with. Ofcourse it's a relevant topic. It goes to the issue of traditional beliefs and their vanishing role in a now largely scientific and post-enlightenment world. Even when I believed in God, I was always amazed at the apathy most my acquaintances had for such a topic. If God existed he surely must be the most important thing in the world to think about. Or so I thought. And yet nobody cared. What did they know that I had missed? What iow IS the importance of this belief in a world that acts for all intents and purposes as if it didn't matter in the least?

 

[Magical Realist]

Interesting take on this same issue. Evidently we're in charted waters folks..


http://www.riftrants.com/irrelevanceofgod.html

 

[wegs]

As if questioning the relevance of a mythical creature had no place in a Science Forum to begin with. Ofcourse it's a relevant topic. It goes to the issue of traditional beliefs and their vanishing role in a now largely scientific and post-enlightenment world. Even when I believed in God, I was always amazed at the apathy most my acquaintances had for such a topic. If God existed he surely must be the most important thing in the world to think about. Or so I thought. And yet nobody cared. What did they know that I had missed? What iow IS the importance of this belief in a world that acts for all intents and purposes as if it didn't matter in the least?

To question, is to be human. It is what we do with the answers to our questions, that will determine the path we take. You seem confident in the path you've taken; that's good.

 

[arauca]

Interesting take on this same issue. Evidently we're in charted waters folks..


http://www.riftrants.com/irrelevanceofgod.html

I appreciate you controversial posts, but what is your interest in preaching against god , what is your problem? Are you trying to convince yourself ?

 

[Magical Realist]

I appreciate you controversial posts, but what is your interest in preaching against god , what is your problem? Are you trying to convince yourself ?

How is it we live in a society where belief in invisible magical friends, held on an individual level, is judged a symptom of mental illness? But when held on a collective level, as say a member of a denomination, it's to suddenly be respected and free from all criticism and ridicule? How is it that to speak out against this collective and parochially-entrenched delusion of God makes ME the one with the problem? I have no problem at all here. I'm just honestly saying amidst the smiling and adoring crowds,"The emperor has no clothes on."

“While believing strongly, without evidence, is considered a mark of madness or stupidity in any other area of our lives, faith in God still holds immense prestige in our society. Religion is the one area of our discourse where it is considered noble to pretend to be certain about things no human being could possibly be certain about. It is telling that this aura of nobility extends only to those faiths that still have many subscribers. Anyone caught worshipping Poseidon, even at sea, will be thought insane.”
― Sam Harris, Letter to a Christian Nation

 

[wegs]

How is it we live in a society where belief in invisible magical friends, held on an individual level, is judged a symptom of mental illness? But when held on a collective level, as say a member of a denomination, it's to suddenly be respected and free from all criticism and ridicule? How is it that to speak out against this collective and parochially-entrenched delusion of God makes ME the one with the problem? I have no problem at all here. I'm just honestly saying amidst the smiling and adoring crowds,"The emperor has no clothes on."

“While believing strongly, without evidence, is considered a mark of madness or stupidity in any other area of our lives, faith in God still holds immense prestige in our society. Religion is the one area of our discourse where it is considered noble to pretend to be certain about things no human being could possibly be certain about. It is telling that this aura of nobility extends only to those faiths that still have many subscribers. Anyone caught worshipping Poseidon, even at sea, will be thought insane.”
― Sam Harris, Letter to a Christian Nation

No one discusses this too often here, but Christianity has become a profitable business. From "mega-churches" to tv evangelists to people making money off "selling" God in the form of jewelry, books, clothing and bumper stickers...oh yes, Christianity has become a big business.
That's why it's "acceptable" and why new "churches" sprout up every other day, it seems.

Is it a coincidence that the Catholic Church in its infant stage, wrote the bible and eventually became the richest religious institution in the world? No coincidence to me.

I can't speak about any other religions, but Christianity has become a profit center. And many people will do whatever they have to, feign believing what they have to...to make a buck.

Pat Robertson's wealthy "Christian" empire comes to mind.

 

[arauca]

How is it we live in a society where belief in invisible magical friends, held on an individual level, is judged a symptom of mental illness? But when held on a collective level, as say a member of a denomination, it's to suddenly be respected and free from all criticism and ridicule? How is it that to speak out against this collective and parochially-entrenched delusion of God makes ME the one with the problem? I have no problem at all here. I'm just honestly saying amidst the smiling and adoring crowds,"The emperor has no clothes on."

“While believing strongly, without evidence, is considered a mark of madness or stupidity in any other area of our lives, faith in God still holds immense prestige in our society. Religion is the one area of our discourse where it is considered noble to pretend to be certain about things no human being could possibly be certain about. It is telling that this aura of nobility extends only to those faiths that still have many subscribers. Anyone caught worshipping Poseidon, even at sea, will be thought insane.”
― Sam Harris, Letter to a Christian Nation

Your quote does not impress me . My experience is not your experience , what I know , you don't know, You go to your psychiatrist and you conference to him your deems and it make yo feel good . I confess to who ever I want , and for Me my God is real .
You want to discuss about god . You asked on how relevant He is. Well I can tell you from my experience He is very real for me . He corrects my live and I can feel His blessing . If you can not feel what I feel , so we are different we are not from the same culture ,not from the same upbringing , we probable have different diet , probable of different age , and different sexual orientation.
So here I am attempting to describe our difference and so is our desire for Gods presence

 

[Magical Realist]

No one discusses this too often here, but Christianity has become a profitable business. From "mega-churches" to tv evangelists to people making money off "selling" God in the form of jewelry, books, clothing and bumper stickers...oh yes, Christianity has become a big business.
That's why it's "acceptable" and why new "churches" sprout up every other day, it seems.

Is it a coincidence that the Catholic Church in its infant stage, wrote the bible and eventually became the richest religious institution in the world? No coincidence to me.

I can't speak about any other religions, but Christianity has become a profit center. And many people will do whatever they have to, feign believing what they have to...to make a buck.

Pat Robertson's wealthy "Christian" empire comes to mind.

Not to mention the whole prosperity theology preached by these same money-grubbing worshippers of mammon. "Just turn your life over to Jesus, donate your life savings to me, and God will make you rich just like me!"

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/16/us/16gospel.html?_r=0

 

[Mazulu]

Your quote does not impress me . My experience is not your experience , what I know , you don't know, You go to your psychiatrist and you conference to him your deems and it make yo feel good . I confess to who ever I want , and for Me my God is real .
You want to discuss about god . You asked on how relevant He is. Well I can tell you from my experience He is very real for me . He corrects my live and I can feel His blessing . If you can not feel what I feel , so we are different we are not from the same culture ,not from the same upbringing , we probable have different diet , probable of different age , and different sexual orientation.
So here I am attempting to describe our difference and so is our desire for Gods presence

God's presense is beautiful, and incredibly intense, powerful. It is good to be able experience God at least once in one's life.

 

[arfa brane]

I already know I'm only 1/7 billionth of a mass of human protoplasm living its life out on planet earth. I accept my irrelevance. A single god who runs the universe and made everything becoming irrelevant? Now that's a different matter.

So, since you accept your own irrelevance, you can accept that God is irrelevant, even though you've been affected by/exposed to just the one doctrine/verion?

God's doin an awfully good impression of non-existence if he DOES exist. Think I'll stick with atheism. It just fits the facts of the world so much better.

You mean the version you once accepted has turned out to be non-existent, as far as you're concerned?

Are there other versions of delusional Skydaddyism I should be considering?

Interesting. You're saying that the one version you know about is enough to form the opinion you have? All other "versions" must have the same problem as the one you know about?

I mean, good for you if you think you've seen enough to realise the Christian version doesn't work for you, but how do you manage to extend this "failure" to all the other versions?

 

[Mazulu]

So, since you accept your own irrelevance, you can accept that God is irrelevant, even though you've been affected by/exposed to just the one doctrine/verion?You mean the version you once accepted has turned out to be non-existent, as far as you're concerned?Interesting. You're saying that the one version you know about is enough to form the opinion you have? All other "versions" must have the same problem as the one you know about?

Athiest brainwashing, how interesting.

I mean, good for you if you think you've seen enough to realise the Christian version doesn't work for you, but how do you manage to extend this "failure" to all the other versions?

More brainwashing. It's like watching someone's mind getting hacked. It's actually very sad to watch.