Lord Jim wrote:I'm going to go way out on a limb here Stoat, and guess that the friend who came up with that dichotomy is an atheist....
Actually I am not sure he is. He is heavily into the spiritual side of things so my guess is more buddhist. The point he made wasn't religious per se - it was in relation to some tai chi he was teaching at the time. I don't remember the tai chi though - just the sound bite
Lord Jim wrote:People do "good" things, (atheists and people of Faith) for all sorts of reasons
Absolutely true. I guess what it means is that if an atheist does something good for someone without any reward, etc then it is 100% because they are a good person. Not so a Christian, because there is always the nagging doubt (maybe unconsciously) that they did it for their biscuit in heaven. I am not suggesting all Christians are like that, doing good things just to please their god. But I am absolutely sure that some are, while no athiests can be.
If a man speaks in the forest and there are no women around to hear is he still wrong?
However, I haven't seen that atheists behave any better, or altruistically for their lack of belief. Most charities in this country, which tend to the needy, are faith-based. While industries and corporations, which tend to the greedy, are faith-less.
However, I haven't seen that atheists behave any better, or altruistically for their lack of belief. Most charities in this country, which tend to the needy, are faith-based.
Not all who give to charity (athiests and agnostics included) identify with the religion that hosts that charity.
I was brought up Catholic but am agnostic. We give to different charities depending on the cause not the religion.
oldr_n_wsr wrote:We give to different charities depending on the cause not the religion.
If more were like that, the world would be a better place.
I was in a church over the weekend (and no god struck me down - proof he doesn't exist!!!) for a friend's wedding. There was a sign on the door to the church that read something like ...
- if you are a stranger, come in if you need shelter -
(the area is known for crap weather). And I have to say I was impressed by the statement. Goes to show that some in the church really are decent people
If a man speaks in the forest and there are no women around to hear is he still wrong?
God's "church" is Not a Building. Not a Denomination. Not a Religious order. Not a fucking what ever one was raise to believe. Not a fucking thing to do with what most Everybody on the fucking planet whom thinks they and they only are holding privileged knowledge and on the side of "God" - and Thinks that "God" is supporting their idea of what "God" is. And "God" is not available to help one win debates on the internet!
Fuck All you motherfuckers! [God Forbid.] God is Not your Genie lamp to be rubbed to grant all your wishes. God is Not some pie in the sky hypocritical punishment/reward fuckhead that demands the impossible; and when one cannot live up to the impossible standard...BURNS ONE IN A LAKE OF FIRE FOR AN ETERNITY FOR THE "SINS" OF A MORTAL LIFE SPAN WHICH IS A MERE DOT ON THAT SCALE. God is Not an excuse for Extremism to commit violence against your fellow humans. God is Not in the business of pitting Us against ourselves. We do all of that just fine on our own.
"God" is inherent in each and every one of us. What We decide to do with that gift is what is called Free Will.
Only A "God" can "Create". And we "Create" our reality based upon our thoughts. And just look at what we have done with this gift...
Fuck it! I've said too much.
All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.
