Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
no you don’t. you just have very low opinion of what ‘common’ people are capable of. result of the worship of the elite as deity- the upper class, science.
No. But if I'm going to talk with someone who does believe in the validity of ancient manuscripts, then I can have a conversation based on that context. Apparently you can't. I accept the bible as historical fiction and, to a large degree, a generalized view of the times (and I've stated that before).
No. But if I'm going to talk with someone who does believe in the validity of ancient manuscripts, then I can have a conversation based on that context. Apparently you can't. I accept the bible as historical fiction and, to a large degree, a generalized view of the times (and I've stated that before).
Yet you believe you can surmise what Jesus and Buddha intended. Which is what you stated. You also characterized those they preached to as not the elite. How is that different from practicing Christians? At least Christians dont have such elitism among the followers.
I don't think the teaching of most religions are too complex. Take Christianity, and take the bible specifically. As an atheist I can read as if I were reading fables. Then regardless of whether God exists or not, and regardless of whether the bible has anything to do with a God, I can try to extract some learning from it. This would be similar to what I could do with Aesop's fables - certainly there are nuggets of wisdom in there.
And some of the teachings are indeed worthwhile. The problem I run into is that some of the teachings in the bible have no worth unless God exists - "You shall have no other gods before me" is a worthless teaching unless a God actually exists for example.
Others are troublesome, to say the least. What is the teaching in: "O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us! 9 Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!?" To seek absolute vengeance and kill the children of your enemy? Not so sure about that.
So that is my problem with taking the teachings from religious texts - they are usually a very mixed bag.
Yet you believe you can surmise what Jesus and Buddha intended. Which is what you stated. You also characterized those they preached to as not the elite. How is that different from practicing Christians? At least Christians dont have such elitism among the followers.
You seem incredulous about people who claim they know what Jesus and Buddha (and God and Allah) intended. That sort of claim is made in this forum quite often and quite commonly.
Is it true no one knows? You know I think I tend to agree with you here!
Perfect timing as it's about that time for me to sign off from here again today. Cheers!
Yet you believe you can surmise what Jesus and Buddha intended. Which is what you stated. You also characterized those they preached to as not the elite. How is that different from practicing Christians? At least Christians dont have such elitism among the followers.
People in Jesus' and Buddha's time were functionally illiterate. And that's primarily who they directed their teachings to.
Practicing christians today are not functionally illiterate for the most part.
I don't think the teaching of most religions are too complex. Take Christianity, and take the bible specifically. As an atheist I can read as if I were reading fables. Then regardless of whether God exists or not, and regardless of whether the bible has anything to do with a God, I can try to extract some learning from it. This would be similar to what I could do with Aesop's fables - certainly there are nuggets of wisdom in there.
And some of the teachings are indeed worthwhile. The problem I run into is that some of the teachings in the bible have no worth unless God exists - "You shall have no other gods before me" is a worthless teaching unless a God actually exists for example.
Others are troublesome, to say the least. What is the teaching in: "O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us! 9 Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!?" To seek absolute vengeance and kill the children of your enemy? Not so sure about that.
So that is my problem with taking the teachings from religious texts - they are usually a very mixed bag.
Good post!
That's what's interesting about one of my favorite parts of the bible -- the Sermon On The Mount. I'm not sure the teachings are all that wise for everyday living, but maybe are wise if you ONLY goal is getting to heaven.
But you're right -- a very mixed bag. And that's the problem I see with many christians -- just accepting the teachings and not questioning how valid they are.
People in Jesus' and Buddha's time were functionally illiterate. And that's primarily who they directed their teachings to.
Practicing christians today are not functionally illiterate for the most part.
Again, repeat. Literacy is not a condition for spirituality. Most ideas were transmitted orally because, yes most did not read or write. Illiteracy has not vanished.
That's what's interesting about one of my favorite parts of the bible -- the Sermon On The Mount. I'm not sure the teachings are all that wise for everyday living, but maybe are wise if you ONLY goal is getting to heaven.
But you're right -- a very mixed bag. And that's the problem I see with many christians -- just accepting the teachings and not questioning how valid they are.
The core issue results from conflating the belief IN God with accepting specific beliefs ABOUT God. They are completely different beliefs that require separate modes of justification. As I have said to Irkle, critical thinking does not aid in establishing the core belief IN God, but it is essential in evaluating and accepting any specific beliefs ABOUT God. The latter would include the reasonableness and rationality of the principles advocated.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
