Are you an atheist?

[Alisa]

Can't or shouldn't.

Can't stop them being racist or shouldn't?

I hope you explain the differance to the wee ones - otherwise from what you are telling them there is no differnace 9if you belive in neither?

Should and Can't.

I think I have been missing your point for a couple of posts here. While there are no inherant differences between the two, both are equally non-existant, culturally they are very different concepts, which is what I was getting at before.

 

[gmatriix]

Are you for real?

Very real...please find out....keep on the watch....you owe it to yourself.

 

[Alisa]

What i find admirable, is that even as strong as he comes on, Dawkins still acknowledges that he may be wrong, as unlikely as he believes that to be. In my opinion, the failure of religion is that they invariably take the stance that they are RIGHT, that they KNOW, and as such everyone else is WRONG. It is this laughable claim that we, as 'rational actors' have even the slightest comprehension of the swirling multidimensional universe et al. that makes it quite easy to disregard the religious perspective. in my opinion...

Yep. I agree with you.

 

[Alisa]

Alisa, why do you not believe in God? What happened to make you feel this way? Please look up the scriptures I mentioned. There is still time...before the destruction of the system of things is here. It will start will the destruction of false religion. The governments will do this (according to Bible prophecy) In the future the United Nations will destroy false religion. Maybe because you see the hypocrisy in religion today is why you feel this way. I don't blame you..but the fact remains..the last days are upon us.

I know this does not seem likely today that this will happen. But just think about it...What is the major cause of conflicts today? "Religion" The governments (UN) will gain power in the future and they will destroy religion according to the prophecy.

You don't have to believe me..I am nobody......just watch and see for yourself....I know because this is what the bible says....I am very concerned...I hope that you will find the answers that you are looking for Alisa....

All have a good day!

bye

Well since you claim to be for real, and not just making a joke here, I will respond. But really, you must be joking. Nothing happened that made me feel that way. There is just no evidence that there is or ever has been a god. As far as the scriptures, there is nothing to indicate which holy book is more true than any other holy book. Since they all contradict eachother and themselves, it is a futile endeavor to try to adhere to one or the other anyway.

There is still time for what?

 

[dan-cat]

I think it is highly unlikely, but your children don't belong to you, you can't control what they will become.

Then why the fear of religious indoctrination

 

[dan-cat]

It will start will the destruction of false religion.

errrm no.

Scripture describe the increase of false prophets not the destruction of them.

 

[Alisa]

Then why the fear of religious indoctrination

Because while you cannot ultimately control who they will become, you do have a lot of influence as they are growing up. As I have brought up before, as a species, we are evolved to be very susceptible to the beliefs of our parents/culture as children. I think any parent would agree that you have to be careful about what your children are exposed to at a young age.

As far as my avoidance of religious indoctrination in particular, I find it a particulary dangerous form of indoctrination not because it teaches children any certain religious belief, but because it teaches them not to question authority and not to think critically about their world.

 

[dan-cat]

As far as my avoidance of religious indoctrination in particular, I find it a particulary dangerous form of indoctrination not because it teaches children any certain religious belief, but because it teaches them not to question authority and not to think critically about their world.

So you're treading a bit of a tight-rope by sending your children to Sunday school. Is that right?

 

[Alisa]

So you're treading a bit of a tight-rope by sending your children to Sunday school. Is that right?

Nope. Like I said, the sunday school they go to is not focused on indoctrination at all. The basis of the entire church is the individual search for truth. They strictly opose the very idea of telling anyone what they should or shouldn't believe. To that end, they teach the children ABOUT different religions, but they don't teach them to BELIEVE any of them.

 

[Pauldohert]

Should and Can't.

I think I have been missing your point for a couple of posts here. While there are no inherant differences between the two, both are equally non-existant, culturally they are very different concepts, which is what I was getting at before.

So you don't want them to experience culturally different concepts? Inherantly they are the same - so its the cultural differances you don't want to expose them too. I thought the sunday school was supposed to do the very opposite?

 

[dan-cat]

Nope. Like I said, the sunday school they go to is not focused on indoctrination at all. The basis of the entire church is the individual search for truth. They strictly opose the very idea of telling anyone what they should or shouldn't believe. To that end, they teach the children ABOUT different religions, but they don't teach them to BELIEVE any of them.

I think in order to learn properly about different religions you have to be taught of the pros and cons. Your child might like the pros more than the cons.

 

[Alisa]

So you don't want them to experience culturally different concepts? Inherantly they are the same - so its the cultural differances you don't want to expose them too. I thought the sunday school was supposed to do the very opposite?

Huh?
I think you need to be a little less concise because I'm not following.

I am exposing them to different cultural concepts of religion. I am not teaching them to believe that god exists. I am temporarily using the concept of a tooth fairy to lessen the trauma of having one's teeth fall out. What was your question?

 

[Alisa]

I think in order to learn properly about different religions you have to be taught of the pros and cons. Your child might like the pros more than the cons.

That's funny. I tried to have this conversation on this thread before, and nobody could give a good answer. If we can agree for the moment that god may or may not exist, then the question becomes, what are the benefits or as you put it, the "pros" of being religious? Maybe you want to take a crack at answering that.

 

[Rich]

If emotional response was an issue then they would experience greater discomfort.

So either with a toothache is not in any great distress?

 

[Alisa]

So either with a toothache is not in any great distress?

Apparently he is so far evolved that he can telepathically experience the pain of other species, and report back to us how it feels.

 

[Mike375]

So either with a toothache is not in any great distress?

I don't know how you would conclude that from my posting.

Again, emotional response increases discomfort.

 

[dan-cat]

That's funny. I tried to have this conversation on this thread before, and nobody could give a good answer. If we can agree for the moment that god may or may not exist, then the question becomes, what are the benefits or as you put it, the "pros" of being religious? Maybe you want to take a crack at answering that.

Subjectively you don't see any pros to being religious. But obviously millions disagree. Your child may also disagree. That's all.

 

[Rich]

Again, emotional response increases discomfort.

Ask anyone with a dog or cat if they think they can't show emotion and your theory that animals aren't capable of emotion is challenged by many, try again

 

[georgedwilkinson]

If we can agree for the moment that god may or may not exist, then the question becomes, what are the benefits or as you put it, the "pros" of being religious? Maybe you want to take a crack at answering that.

There are well documented pros of being self-actualized (see Maslow's hierarchy). Religious people are more likely to be self-actualized than non-religious people, regardless of religious affiliation (again, see Maslow). Religious people are generally just happier deep down.

We can also assume that being religious means attending services on a regular basis (that doesn't mean you have to be "religious" to attend services). Before, during, and after these services, frequently relationships deepen between worshippers, just because they're near each other, have something in common, and may find they have more in common. We Christians call this behavior fellowshipping and it is an important part of being a Christian. These relationships can also help to satisfy lower level needs (again, see Maslow), increasing the overall level of happiness, fulfillment, etc. I would consider this a second, considerable pro, per your request.

Also, something that I wouldn't expect a non-believer to understand is the relationship with God that is in question here. To have a deep belief in a supreme being and a faith in said being requires a relationship of a type. I've found, in my personal life, that this is a relationship that is more enduring and satisfying that all the other relationships (which are also great). You may say (hopefully only in your mind) that it is all in my mind/the mind of the "believer". That is a fair thing for you to question (hopefully discretely). And your supposition may even be true, though I don't believe so. But if your supposition is true, it still doesn't impact the perceived happiness I am receiving from this (virtual?) relationship. Your lack of belief cannot take it away from me, and I still enjoy the pros. This enduring faith and relationship is a third pro, per your request.

Also, living by a code of ethics, whether handed down by a God on a mountain to a bearded man, like the 10 commandments, or not, provides a more fulfilling life than having no moral or ethical compass. Again, I'm not saying that you have to be religious to have a moral code nor that all religious people follow their own code (yes, we are hypocrites too, in addition to our other sins), it just seems to go with the territory with religious people. Many people who are "religious" might not otherwise have a set of moral suggestions to guide their life. I'd say that the law and order in society and the order in our personal lives is another real pro, per your request.

I have a real job and cannot spend the time to articulate the hundreds of other advantages. I'd love to discuss them with you in person, if you like.

Are there cons to religion? Yes. Seems everybody here is familiar with them and many are more than willing to comment on them, and I can't and don't want to refute them. It seems to me that many of those cons are the result of bad people, not a bad/non-existing God.

 

[Mike375]

Ask anyone with a dog or cat if they think they can't show emotion and your theory that animals aren't capable of emotion is challenged by many, try again

Emotional responseand pain is not about that.

Let's say a person gets a bad toothache one night. What adds to it is they worry it will become unbearable at 3am. If it is still there tomorrow they will have to go to the dentist and that means inconvenience and pain. But if they became convinced that it would not get worse and would be gone tomorrow the pain would drop.

If someone gets a vey heavy cold or bad dose of the flu their reaction is much smaller than something with far less discomfort but the discomfort is being caused by something that is unknown or it is like symptoms that go with a serious problem.