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why is the God in the Bible concerned with non-existent gods?
Ok, from time to time I will read a smug response from Christians stating that "if you guys (atheists/unbelievers) don't believe in God, why are you guys always talking about him? I can't for the life of me understand why if you all don't believe in God why is he still a concern to you?" I could be wrong, but the response comes over as "well that goes to prove to me that God MUST exist and that you guys (the atheists) are just miserable without God because you can't top talking about him" type of vibe. Well if that is true, why do we constantly read in the Bible about God (as told by his handlers) being concerned with other gods that supposedly did not exist?
Last edited by Condemned; 11-11-2008 at 05:05 PM..
why is the God in the Bible concerned with non-existent gods?
Ok, from time to time I will read a smug response from Christians stating that "if you guys (atheists/unbelievers) don't believe in God, why are you guys always talking about him? I can't for the life of me understand why if you all don't believe in God why is he still a concern to you?" I could be wrong, but the response comes over as "well that goes to prove to me that God MUST exist and that you guys (the atheists) are just miserable without God because you can't top talking about him" type of vibe. Well if that is true, why do we constantly read in the Bible about God (as told by his handlers) being concerned with other gods that supposedly did not exist?
I LOVE religion. In fact, I'm trying to get my undergraduate degree in Theology and world religions. It's an interesting topic, but it doesn't mean I have to believe it. The only time I 'denounce' god or jesus or etc etc etc is when it's pushed on me, or when someone brings it up. I don't go around waving a 'god doesn't exist!!' flag, it's a personal belief.
why is the God in the Bible concerned with non-existent gods?
Ok, from time to time I will read a smug response from Christians stating that "if you guys (atheists/unbelievers) don't believe in God, why are you guys always talking about him? I can't for the life of me understand why if you all don't believe in God why is he still a concern to you?" I could be wrong, but the response comes over as "well that goes to prove to me that God MUST exist and that you guys (the atheists) are just miserable without God because you can't top talking about him" type of vibe. Well if that is true, why do we constantly read in the Bible about God (as told by his handlers) being concerned with other gods that supposedly did not exist?
I have nothing against God, or any religion that does no harm, but I think if nobody spoke up at all, science would be replaced by myth in schools and we would be living in a theocracy with archaic laws. I see a lot of potential harm in some of the major religions. It would be a giant step backwards.
I am very interested in topics that concern unknown and debatable, it includes religion, aliens, pyramids and life in general. Make quiet interesting conversation. Some things i read here are very intelligent, and some are just hysterical. I'm enjoying the conversation regardless. It's fun, and you can learn few things, i know i did. I don't know whole lot about religion, i did read the bible, i had to skip some parts that bore me, other then that, it was just a book of fiction. Nonetheless, it is fascinating what people believe and do in the name of....
I am very interested in topics that concern unknown and debatable, it includes religion, aliens, pyramids and life in general. Make quiet interesting conversation. Some things i read here are very intelligent, and some are just hysterical. I'm enjoying the conversation regardless. It's fun, and you can learn few things, i know i did. I don't know whole lot about religion, i did read the bible, i had to skip some parts that bore me, other then that, it was just a book of fiction. Nonetheless, it is fascinating what people believe and do in the name of....
I'm right there with you ShepsMom. Learning new things about almost any subject is one of the great joys in my life.
My outlook is that If I am expected to live by rules that religious folks want to put forth, I have a say in the matter - whether I believe in god or not.
I am interested in god the same way I am in Bat man or the Hulk. Neither exist, but it' ssure cool to watch them tear s**t up!
The US isn't socialist, but it comes up very frequently. The US isn't a dictatorship, but it comes up frequently. Just because something is talked about frequently doesn't mean that you support that point of view.
As an Atheist, just because we talk about how the existence of god is as probable as the existence of unicorns doesn't mean that we think that any deity exists. It's more of a way of venting about the ridiculousness of the world's delusion.
As an atheist, I'm not concerned about the Christian God.... I'm concerned about (his) (its) proselytizing followers sneaking their dogma into the secular world, such as, for instance, public schools. Some of those people would like nothing better that to force them to become Monday through Friday Sunday schools. So I remain ever vigilant. Other than that, the whole religion thing bores the crap out of me.
I LOVE religion. In fact, I'm trying to get my undergraduate degree in Theology and world religions. It's an interesting topic, but it doesn't mean I have to believe it. The only time I 'denounce' god or jesus or etc etc etc is when it's pushed on me, or when someone brings it up. I don't go around waving a 'god doesn't exist!!' flag, it's a personal belief.
Yeah you're absolutely right. I'm a die-hard atheist and in general I think religion is a bad influence on a lot of people, but even so I've always been interested by religion in general and why it exists, what different people have believed, etc. I took a great class in philosophy in college titled "Religion and Film" and we looked at religious messages in films and even film itself as a modern-day religion ("Film as Religion" is a very good book). I co-authored an essay with the professor of that class for a scholarly book later, "'Hokey Religions and Ancient Weapons': The Force of Spirituality" (essay) in "Finding the Force of the Star Wars Franchise: Fans, Merchandise, & Critics." I have always found different religions very interesting, despite being an atheist, and especially religious connections in the Star Wars franchise has been something I've studied quite a bit. That particular professor is a leading authority (sounds funny, but true) on The Matrix and religion. She was one of the authorities interviewed for that 10-DVD boxed set for The Matrix, discussing its ties and connections to traditional religious beliefs.
The way I see religion is more like mythology. It doesn't concern me much that people still believe in Christianity except as a footnote. It's basically Greek mythology, no more or less real, so it's just interesting to explore from a mythological perspective and also psychological, examining reasons for religion's existence and whatnot.
You guys are making the point I was trying to convey. Just because I am fascinated about religion does NOT mean I want to have anything to do with it or their gods. Heck, to this very day I am still fascinated by Greek and Roman mythologies but I don't go around offering up libations to Zeus.
I love history and I love perspective. Religion has been a part of human history since whenever and it helps to understand its part in screwing up the world up to the present moment. I mean, why do I come across a picture of a woman standing on a grave in Haiti pouring hot pepper sauce all over her genitals? Because of religious superstition. Why do I see a woman outside my window bowing down before a statue in 40 degree weather? Religious superstition. The train wreck that is religion and the handlers that steer them in the name of some fanciful, fickled deities crowding the heavens and local forests is just entertaining.
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