wesmorris said:The point here really should be that regardless of the reality of god, some people need the idea, some people don't. Neither should spend too much time trying to convince the other they're wrong, or we're fueling the fire that's just a difference in need.
Neither side can prove their case to the other because the sides have different needs.
Sort of. But, many people who need the idea say they need the idea with their mouth, and that they don't need it with their actions. And, some people say they don't with their mouth, and that they do with their actions.
Your predicament is not unique to your perspective. But, in many ways you are right.wesmorris said:Personally, I know... KNOW god is irrelevant and can give you all kinds of fancy ways to tell you why I think it so. If you choose to discard my fancy reasons, then in your book I know squat. I might even set little logical traps for you, to highlight the flaws in your fancy reasons for your faith. Does it matter? Does my trap work? It does to me, but you simply ignore it and move on with your faith. That's cool.
wesmorris said:Respect each other, bitches. Don't argue about that which cannot be changed. If you are faithful to a deity, you have no business debating that faith with those who aren't. Stop doing it because if you're debating it, it's not faith, and if you're still faithful, you're not debating.. you're preaching. Nobody likes to be preached to, just like you probably don't like reading this. The religious mind needs a deity. The other minds don't, but they are both grounded in faith (though the latter would deny it for the most part).
Recognize.
Well said. On the other side of the coin, those that do not have faith have no business debating the Bible or spiritual things with those that do, unless they are open to finding faith through understanding of our scriptures.