The Credibility of Religion - General

So when someone says "God is good" do you have to think "Pff, lol there is no god you fool"? You know a lot of people do this, and you know it's foolish.

[QUOTE=AK'z;29719660]So when someone says "God is good" do you have to think "Pff, lol there is no god you fool"? You know a lot of people do this, and you know it's foolish.[/QUOTE] I don't immediately scoff at them, but yeah, I probably would think to myself "well god isn't real". [editline]9th May 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=bambouchacka;29717405]It's funny that a lot of Atheists here claim that religion causes intolerance amongst different believers, when in reality they're no better themselves. 'You're stupid because you don't believe in (my) god' is equally bad as saying 'You're stupid because you believe in a god'.[/QUOTE] Going into a discussion about religion calling everyone stupid accomplishes nothing. Keeping a level head and treating your fellow man with the same respect that every human deserves by default is the proper way to go about it.

[QUOTE=bambouchacka;29717405]It's funny that a lot of Atheists here claim that religion causes intolerance amongst different believers, when in reality they're no better themselves. 'You're stupid because you don't believe in (my) god' is equally bad as saying 'You're stupid because you believe in a god'.[/QUOTE]The burden of proof lies on the religious people. Not saying religious people are stupid by the way but (most) religions promote ignorance towards reality.

[QUOTE=Falchion;29673676]When will you guys learn that Facepunch is not the right place for this. Everyone is already an angry atheist and opposition will be crushed under the sheer amount of people backing up the atheist arguments. Go argue about shit like this on christian forums.[/QUOTE] Well obviously arguing about it on christian forums would just mean you would be swamped by tons of people backing up specific christian arguments.

[QUOTE=Treybuchet;29719867]Well obviously arguing about it on christian forums would just mean you would be swamped by tons of people backing up specific christian arguments.[/QUOTE] Seems like a lot of that type of post comes up in threads about controversial topics. If it's a hard issue to discuss, that's all the more reason it should be discussed.

[QUOTE=Megafanx13;29719906]Seems like a lot of that type of post comes up in threads about controversial topics. If it's a hard issue to discuss, that's all the more reason it should be discussed.[/QUOTE] I'm not arguing against the discussion, I'm stating that no matter where you go, you will be overwhelmed by someone.

[QUOTE=Treybuchet;29719918]I'm not arguing against the discussion, I'm stating that no matter where you go, you will be overwhelmed by someone.[/QUOTE] Seems that way.

Most events in the Bible serve more as a metaphor or morality than an actual story, whether it's true or not.

[QUOTE=Megafanx13;29719689]I don't immediately scoff at them, but yeah, I probably would think to myself "well god isn't real". [/QUOTE] But that's not what the person wants to express. They aren't saying "Believe there is a man above there", they simply want to say their peace. God is and has always been a symbol. In my mind, we've all misunderstood my way of thinking. :smug: There is method to thinking the mind is god.

[QUOTE=KillerPopcorn;29719998]Most events in the Bible serve more as a metaphor or morality than an actual story, whether it's true or not.[/QUOTE]Is that said anywhere? I can see Jesus' parables, yeh, but other things.. not really. Even if they do serve as a metaphor or a lesson on reality/morality a lot of them are horrible lessons. It seems the Bible has gotten more and more metaphoric as humanity has gotten more moral and smarter.

[QUOTE=KillerPopcorn;29719998]Most events in the Bible serve more as a metaphor or morality than an actual story, whether it's true or not.[/QUOTE] Honestly, I'd rather people derive their morals from things in real life, like following the examples of good semaritans or charity organizations than doing it so that they can get into heaven. That and a lot of things religious scholars call metaphors seem incredibly specific for metaphors, so I have a hard time swallowing that. [editline]9th May 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=AK'z;29720021]But that's not what the person wants to express. They aren't saying "Believe there is a man above there", they simply want to say their peace. God is and has always been a symbol. In my mind, we've all misunderstood my way of thinking. :smug: There is method to thinking the mind is god.[/QUOTE] How does saying "god is good" not express some desire for me to agree, and by extension, show my belief?

[QUOTE=Megafanx13;29720034]Honestly, I'd rather people derive their morals from things in real life, like following the examples of good semaritans or charity organizations than doing it so that they can get into heaven. That and a lot of things religious scholars call metaphors seem incredibly specific for metaphors, so I have a hard time swallowing that. [/QUOTE] Good Samaritan is a biblical thing, but whatever. Anyway, if you understand the concept of extended metaphor or even allegory, you'd get what they're going at. I personally couldn't believe any of it and don't, being atheist, however I still find playing devil's advocate fun to a degree.

[QUOTE=Megafanx13;29714092]But that doesn't really make any sense. Why would God feel it's necessary to have so many people to work through back then (Moses, Jesus, Virgin Mary, etc.) and then just go full stop? That's like someone who worked for half of their life giving to charity and being generous, only to turn into an anti-social, apathetic person who never leaves his house the second half of their life. To elaborate even more, people in the neighborhood would say things like "does he even still live there?" or "Did he die?", comparable to religious questions like "is God even real?".[/QUOTE] Why not use middlemen? The bible says you cannot see the face of God and live, so he probably used Moses as a way to put a face to the miracles. Jesus was God on Earth, and Mary was His mother. I guess you couldn't call them middlemen, because God couldn't be Jesus without Mary, so there's that. Perhaps putting a human touch with His son.

I have a view of God and Christ that is looked down upon by both Theists [I]and[/I] Atheists. God creates Universe [Sun, moon, etc. etc.], and sees that one planet seems awfully empty. He then makes the conditions perfect for a small organism to live. He is satisfied with that tiny thing, and decides to take a couple billion year nap. He awakens to find a place filled to the brim with life [Because that tiny thing evolved, y'know], and feels the need to create something to rule over these creatures. God creates Man and then--[Insert most of the Bible here] The 10 Commandments were given to Moses by God, but He expects Man to enforce the Laws, not He himself. He punishes only those who have broken the major rule of the Commandments "Thou shalt not kill". However, He does find those who have killed for reasons that are for protection or a good deed [I.E, soldiers fighting for freedom, man kills mugger in self defense, etc.]. Those who have followed most of the rules their entire lives, will go to Heaven, no matter what Race, Religion or Creed. Albeit we Christians get a spot a tad higher. A room with a view, if you will. :smith: Damn shame no one [including my Parents] understands this theory.

[QUOTE=Zillamaster55;29726683]I have a view of God and Christ that is looked down upon by both Theists [I]and[/I] Atheists. God creates Universe [Sun, moon, etc. etc.], and sees that one planet seems awfully empty. He then makes the conditions perfect for a small organism to live. He is satisfied with that tiny thing, and decides to take a couple billion year nap. He awakens to find a place filled to the brim with life [Because that tiny thing evolved, y'know], and feels the need to create something to rule over these creatures. God creates Man and then--[Insert most of the Bible here] The 10 Commandments were given to Moses by God, but He expects Man to enforce the Laws, not He himself. He punishes only those who have broken the major rule of the Commandments "Thou shalt not kill". However, He does find those who have killed for reasons that are for protection or a good deed [I.E, soldiers fighting for freedom, man kills mugger in self defense, etc.]. Those who have followed most of the rules their entire lives, will go to Heaven, no matter what Race, Religion or Creed. Albeit we Christians get a spot a tad higher. A room with a view, if you will. :smith: Damn shame no one [including my Parents] understands this theory.[/QUOTE] It's because it makes no sense. So God, a being so powerful he creates the entire universe, then sleeps, sees that humans are around, gives them some obscure rules and punishes them for being around. Sure, if it wasn't the Christian god you were basing this on, it might be a somewhat entertaining idea, but it's just some bad hybrid between Christianity and your own idea of God. I don't like Christianity, but I don't like people's own religions either, because they're almost all some kind of weird bastardization of it.

It makes sense to me at least.

[QUOTE=Zillamaster55;29726683]God creates Universe [Sun, moon, etc. etc.], and sees that one planet seems awfully empty. He then makes the conditions perfect for a small organism to live. He is satisfied with that tiny thing, and decides to take a couple billion year nap. He awakens to find a place filled to the brim with life [Because that tiny thing evolved, y'know], and feels the need to create something to rule over these creatures. God creates Man and then--[Insert most of the Bible here][/quote] So you believe God left, let evolution occur, but he still created man (ie didn't evolve)? That's just laughable. [QUOTE=Zillamaster55;29726683]The 10 Commandments were given to Moses by God, but He expects Man to enforce the Laws, not He himself. He punishes only those who have broken the major rule of the Commandments "Thou shalt not kill". However, He does find those who have killed for reasons that are for protection or a good deed [I.E, soldiers fighting for freedom, man kills mugger in self defense, etc.][/quote] I guess God just decided let even that duty slide, or is this [B]yet another metaphor?[/B] [QUOTE=Zillamaster55;29726683]Albeit we Christians get a spot a tad higher. A room with a view, if you will.[/QUOTE] If the previous part is true, then that's just disgusting.

I'm not going to argue, you bring up points that do make sense. Just be glad I'm not forcing it on you :v:

[QUOTE=KillerPopcorn;29719998]Most events in the Bible serve more as a metaphor or morality than an actual story, whether it's true or not.[/QUOTE] I think parts of it can be interpreted as such. Then again, it's hard to see metaphor or morality in, say, the story of Noah, where God kills 99.9% of the world's population in a cosmic temper tantrum. Or the story of Job, where God allows the devil to systematically ruin Job's life, including killing his family, in order to prove a point. How do you decide which parts of the bible are moral, which are metaphor, and which are nonsense?

[QUOTE=Snipehamster;29727063]I think parts of it can be interpreted as such. Then again, it's hard to see metaphor or morality in, say, the story of Noah, where God kills 99.9% of the world's population in a cosmic temper tantrum. Or the story of Job, where God allows the devil to systematically ruin Job's life, including killing his family, in order to prove a point. How do you decide which parts of the bible are moral, which are metaphor, and which are nonsense?[/QUOTE] You let the individual decide that, and then you end up with three billion different brands of the same religion.

God is real :smug: