Thread: For An Intelligent Conversation On Spirituality/Religion

Originally Posted by jockeys

and yet I've never had a nihilist or atheist ring my doorbell and threaten me with hellfire and damnation if i don't come to their church and give them money. funny how that works.

They were also not a true Christian in the sense ChrisL sighted either. [ Hope I'm correct on this Chrisl
] IMO they are only claiming to be. Just because it's done in the name of Christ does not make it so, just look at some cable TV and radio stations. now i'm not saying all of them either.

Originally Posted by jockeys

you refer, of course, to Pascal's Wager:
Pascal's Wager - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WOW I DIDN'T KNOW THIS HAD A NAME. GUESS I WAS STUPID TO THINK I THOUGHT OF IT

It is logical only if you assume that believing there is a deity costs you nothing. If believing in a deity costs you something, those costs must be balanced against the odds of an afterlife.

I am firmly in the camp that believing in a deity costs you a LOT. in many ways, too. financially, emotionally, etc. and let's not forget to factor in "lost opportunity" costs, to use an economic term.

How does it cost me? Sounds to me like your saying a cost is a burden. Just like on this forum if your willing to pay the cost of a razor even if it's not worth what your paying [ and that's only someone else's idea of it's worth] , then it's worth the cost to you and not a burden.

I have a question?????

Which Religion is the right one??? who is going to Heaven, Nirvana Shamballa, Valhalla or wherever..... or are they all right???? all wrong???...

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I have a question?????

Which Religion is the right one??? who is going to Heaven, Nirvana Shamballa, Valhalla or wherever..... or are they all right???? all wrong???...

This post screams out for a punchline, but for the life of me I can't think of one.

SPOON!!!

I see turd stirrin'!

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I have a question?????

Which Religion is the right one??? who is going to Heaven, Nirvana Shamballa, Valhalla or wherever..... or are they all right???? all wrong???...

Originally Posted by Elliette

I never felt I was running from a pained conscience. I just never really got the belief. I felt badly about it, and irrationally felt badly for god that maybe I was hurting his feelings by not believing in him, but then one day I said - Well, what doesn't exist cannot be offended, so... What I was running from was the idea that I should believe. That idea came from people around me - family, social circles, etc. Once I let go of that - realized that the only sin, as Ann Druyan's grandfather put it, would be to pretend I did, I felt a lot better. Free. I live an honest life without pretending.

My mother is disappointed that I do not believe. But she realizes that the actions a person takes really count more than the beliefs behind them, and is generally pretty happy with me on that account, so all is well.

I try to act ethically. When I do not, that is where my conscience gets pained. Then I have to try to undo whatever it is I did. On Earth.

Curious to know how you perceive where the uniqueness of conscience in man came about ?

Originally Posted by sicboater

SPOON!!!

I see turd stirrin'!

Guilty as charged
But all in fun guys !!!!

In Re - Paco - I do not claim to know for sure. I am looking at a combination of evolutionary biology/neurology, and societal pressure/tradition.

Originally Posted by paco

Curious to know how you perceive where the uniqueness of conscience in man came about ?

There is a great, and rather arrogant, assumption there.

Originally Posted by gregs656

There is a great, and rather arrogant, assumption there.

Well, he has made his position in re god/no god pretty clear, yes? This brings up something though, which is that it seems that often times "god did it" is the end of the line for exploration. There is a huge discomfort with the phrase "I don't know", and this seems to lead to what is termed a "god of the gaps" position.

I am wondering, and Paco seems qualified to answer this - how is it you believe that god is the source of such things? On what do you base this? What do you view as acceptable proof?