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Again, it does not come close to my original statement: A religion cannot be judged on the Emprical Evidence, but rather on the experience of the individual. Hence, the Flying Spaghetti Monster is a straw man because no individual has had their own life changed dramatically by accepting it's "teachings", unlike any other religion.
Also, once again, someone goes in "Greek Myths, the stories aren't true, etc etc etc..." again, I am not a literalist, and neither are many, MANY other people who are religious. Of course their are similarities between the two: thay are all Myths, and Myths have common motifis. A understanding that the Myth is not litterally true does not equal a lack of religious faith in many people, myself being on of them.
Point is, if they have " personal experiences" due to the teachings of religion, that does not make that religion true or real. A warm and fuzzy doesn't equate truth. And yes it can be judged on Empirical Evidence, especially when people push the beliefs on others and it is such a large part of our society, it can even dictate what we can and can not do or say. If it was widely recognized by the followers as a myth people such as myself would have no issue. It is when it is presented as fact we have issue. I realize you are not a literalist and believe religion is good for you, that's cool.
I see your favorite catch phrase these days is "Emo kid"...What's up with that?
There is just something about so many of these whining critics of religion that makes me think of a kid in tight pants with makeup on his face typing away before his parents get home while "My Chemical Romance" plays in the background.
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As a Pastafarian I believe my God is as valid as any other....May you be touched by His noodley appendage.
Then please explain how this truly enriched your life and has a Mythological text that follows the classical motifs (see "The Heroes Journey" by Campbell)
Hence, the Flying Spaghetti Monster is a straw man because no individual has had their own life changed dramatically by accepting it's "teachings", unlike any other religion.
YET!! YET is a very important word to have left out of that sentence.
Ok, did you ever see the classic Star Trek episode where the crew finds a group of humans who had apparently been stranded on a planet, and who had reverted back to, well, a dumber existence? They had one guy who was still capable of reading. Their bible was an old copy of the Declaration of Independence, or the Constitution or some such. Or a South Park (one of only 2 episodes I've ever watched, I swear) episode where one of the guys gets frozen and wakes up in a future where everyone worships Dawkins and science. That is exactly the point I am trying to make. ANYTHING can become a religion given enough time.
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It started from Myths that (allegorically) tell timeless truths about the human condition as well as a way of explaining the world around them....how the heck could the "Flying Spaghetti monster" do those things? It doesn't.
You do know there is now a "Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster", right? I haven't read it, but I wouldn't assume that your statement is still correct.
Point is, if they have " personal experiences" due to the teachings of religion, that does not make that religion true or real.
On an individual by individual basis, it does.
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A warm and fuzzy doesn't equate truth.
It is an individual truth on an individual by individual basis.
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And yes it can be judged on Empirical Evidence, especially when people push the beliefs on others and it is such a large part of our society, it can even dictate what we can and can not do or say.
That is the philosophy of Empiricism, not Existentialism. If one looks at things from an Existential point of view, Empiricial evidence takes a back seat to individual happiness. Also, not all religious beliefs are pushed on others.
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If it was widely recognized by the followers as a myth people such as myself would have no issue. It is when it is presented as fact we have issue. I realize you are not a literalist and believe religion is good for you, that's cool.
That is the point. It is one thing to attack fundamentalism and religion in schools, where it does not belong, and another to attack religion as a whole and everyone who practices it, including religions (like Jainism, Gnosticism etc) that have never had a fundamentalist wing.
If someone chooses to believe in this "flying spaghetti monster", who am I to tell them that their belief is wrong? How does their belief have any affect on MY personal life? It doesn't.
It is an individual truth on an individual by individual basis.
That is the philosophy of Empiricism, not Existentialism. If one looks at things from an Existential point of view, Empiricial evidence takes a back seat to individual happiness. Also, not all religious beliefs are pushed on others.
That is the point. It is one thing to attack fundamentalism and religion in schools, where it does not belong, and another to attack religion as a whole and everyone who practices it, including religions (like Jainism, Gnosticism etc) that have never had a fundamentalist wing.
Neither of these definitions matches with yours.
Truth: Conformity to fact or actuality.
A statement proven to be or accepted as true.
It is not there truth, it is their belief. Which is fine. I actually have never attacked anothers religion, unless it was pushed. And on this forum, what irritates me is when people state it as fact or truth and state that we are sinners and going to hell
YET!! YET is a very important word to have left out of that sentence.
Again, it does not have a classical Myth and does not exist as true religious movement, and the "yet" part only makes it less valid. Unlike zoroastrianism, which started with Zarathustra and a hand full of his disciples and slowly grew to what it was at it's height, it does not have any real teachers spreading a real message.
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Ok, did you ever see the classic Star Trek episode where the crew finds a group of humans who had apparently been stranded on a planet, and who had reverted back to, well, a dumber existence? They had one guy who was still capable of reading. Their bible was an old copy of the Declaration of Independence, or the Constitution or some such. Or a South Park (one of only 2 episodes I've ever watched, I swear) episode where one of the guys gets frozen and wakes up in a future where everyone worships Dawkins and science. That is exactly the point I am trying to make. ANYTHING can become a religion given enough time.
That is not a "point" which is supported by the study of religion (comparative religion) or human society (Anthropology). IF you were to say that something like a Cargo Cult could start up, with people worshipping "ancient titans" like Obama and Britney Spears, then you might have a point, however, to say that today's religions started as cargo cults must imply that there was some advanced civilization that pre-dated the classical world.
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You do know there is now a "Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster", right? I haven't read it, but I wouldn't assume that your statement is still correct.
That is a non-fiction book which is an attack on religion, not a Mythology.
Neither of these definitions matches with yours.
Truth: Conformity to fact or actuality.
A statement proven to be or accepted as true.
"Truth" can also be a very subjective term.."Herold's Makes the best Pastrami sandwich on the East Coast". Is that a statement of truth or is it false? It is Subjective (well, in actuallity they do make the best Pastrami in the world, but anyway...) Just as religion is subjective to the person practicing it.
"Truth" can also be a very subjective term.."Herold's Makes the best Pastrami sandwich on the East Coast". Is that a statement of truth or is it false? It is Subjective (well, in actuallity they do make the best Pastrami in the world, but anyway...) Just as religion is subjective to the person practicing it.
Not truth but Opinion.
And now I am hungry.
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