AS a great phillosopher once wrote, I am what I am and what I am needs no excuses
Awww! I thought you were going to say "I ams what I ams and that's all that I ams" from that great philosopher, Popeye tbe Sailor. Toot! Toot!
AS a great phillosopher once wrote, I am what I am and what I am needs no excuses
No I'm not, I'm an individual (just like everyone else) and I don't take kindly to people putting me in little boxes (no matter how well furnished they are)
AS a great phillosopher once wrote, I am what I am and what I am needs no excuses :biggrin1:
OK, I've been very hesitant about wading into this conversation, because there are a lot of strong feelings on both sides, mine included.
Here is my take pure and simple: religion is organized to hold spirituality hostage for the good of society. Does that make sense?
The ancient Jews knew that oysters and pork were dangerous to eat at certain times and conditions; so why not ban them completely and keep everyone safe? Proscribed conditions for worship keeps everyone in line through fear of divine retribution. The whole reward part works, too, but not as good as withholding the reward if you don't fall in line.
I admire people of faith. Religious people scare me. There's a big difference. People of faith actually live what they believe. Religious people follow orders, and one of those orders is to make sure that I drink the same Kool-Aid. My Mum has a branch office.
I do know this: I don't know everything because I am human. I am limited by my physical capabilities, and those include our ability to grasp abstract concepts that don't fit in the logical mind.
A logical person trying to argue a point is very little different from a Christian trying to prove something with a Bible. Both are quite limited because they're both asking me to place my full belief in something that is in itself very limited.
The human mind is wonderful, but it's encased in meat and meat has limitations. That same mind that produced the Hubble telescope also wrote The Old Man and the Sea and composed The Brandenburg Concerto and directed the killing of civilians in Syria.
Placing ones entire belief in a human brain is just as dangerous as relying on a book. They're both full of flaws as far as I'm concerned, divine attribution to either notwithstanding.
Anyone who says they have all the answers has a hidden price tag somewhere.
I'm an atheist. I have been since I was 7 when i stopped believing in everything supernatural. As far as humanist or other codes of ethics I've never really given it much consideration. I've always just thought that if my actions don't harm other people then they can't be bad. That's why it seems wrong to me that I have to hide my identity on this site and associate it with a sense of shame just because other people would think badly of me for having fun with consenting adults.
I admire people of faith. Religious people scare me. There's a big difference.
A logical person trying to argue a point is very little different from a Christian trying to prove something with a Bible. Both are quite limited because they're both asking me to place my full belief in something that is in itself very limited.
that's interesting what you just said Drift
I'm an atheist. I have been since I was 7 when i stopped believing in everything supernatural.