Freethought & Rationalism Archive

jye · 02-15-2002, 03:37 PM

I have found most christians, but not all, so dont take this as a generalization, rather just he ones that do, that they believe in God because they need something to 'hold on to' something to give hope and meaning. But how could they hold onto something that isnt there? And more so, it is in yourself in which you find the most strength. Not in an adult fairytale, that in somecases is jammed down the throat of kids at a very young age, just because they think it will be best. This is just a Santa Clause that has created a system based on a book of fantasy. I guess Lord of the Rings is just as believable eh?

jye · 02-15-2002, 03:39 PM

sorry bout the typo's, i wrote it in a rush.
"...rather than the ones..."

ect.

trunks2k · 02-16-2002, 11:20 AM

I find that true for a lot of practicing christians I meet. A lot of them say that you "need to have hope" and that god "gives you something to hold on to." I agree to an extent that you need hope, or else you just become a misanthrope. How god is supposed to give hope, I never understood. I however have hope in humanity to be able to overcome it's problems.

bgponder · 02-16-2002, 12:00 PM

Jye:

Welcome!!

I play the Devil's Advocate (or perhaps the Angel's):

But we are made in the image of God. Therefore to find strength in ourselves, we must find strength in God.

Peace and questioning cornbread, Barry

jye · 02-16-2002, 12:45 PM

IMAGE is NOTHING.

your image does not decide who you are as a person. i thought that was a teaching of christianity? obviously not.

look deeper with in someone than there image.

jye · 02-16-2002, 12:48 PM

trunks2k,

the way humantiy to overcome this, is for them to realize how this 'god' is jus giving them a flase sense of security by giving them a fairytale. so as i sed before inthemseves is where you find the most strength,and the strength that will be most useful.

02-16-2002, 02:19 PM

To "find strenght in yourself" must you not admid to be weak before you look for this strenght?

Would it not be better to just 'be strong' and 'be' all you possibly can be never having to look within as you don't know who you are and what your strengths are?

Just a thought for you to ponder and maybe religion is aimed to make you be the man in the iamge of God including all the omni's of God.

Technos · 02-16-2002, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jye:
<strong>sorry bout the typo's, i wrote it in a rush.
"...rather than the ones..."

ect.</strong>

There's a handy edit button at the top of each post.

sidewinder · 02-17-2002, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jye:
<strong>I have found most christians, but not all, so dont take this as a generalization, rather just he ones that do, that they believe in God because they need something to 'hold on to' something to give hope and meaning. But how could they hold onto something that isnt there? And more so, it is in yourself in which you find the most strength. Not in an adult fairytale, that in somecases is jammed down the throat of kids at a very young age, just because they think it will be best. This is just a Santa Clause that has created a system based on a book of fantasy. I guess Lord of the Rings is just as believable eh?</strong>

It's easy because the belief system is in your head. What you believe in your mind to be true, you think is actually true in reality. I agree with you that the only real strength and hope that you can find is within yourself.

bgponder · 02-17-2002, 08:12 AM

Jye:
It may serve you well to read the profiles of those who respond to your posts. I am not a Christian, and I agree with you that strength for facing life's challenges is to be found within, rather than in something that we, as non-Christians, consider to be based on ancient mythology. I was merely presenting a rhetoric that represents how a Christian might respond, and in that response, "image" does not mean the outward appearance one projects, but the very essence ("soul", "spirit") of the person, dependent upon God as revealed through scripture, etc., and in that view, necessarily superior to that strength we can realize from within ourselves alone. I apologize if I was unclear, and once again--Welcome!!

Peace and clearer cornbread, Barry

02-15-2002, 03:37 PM	#1
jye Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 5	find in yourself. I have found most christians, but not all, so dont take this as a generalization, rather just he ones that do, that they believe in God because they need something to 'hold on to' something to give hope and meaning. But how could they hold onto something that isnt there? And more so, it is in yourself in which you find the most strength. Not in an adult fairytale, that in somecases is jammed down the throat of kids at a very young age, just because they think it will be best. This is just a Santa Clause that has created a system based on a book of fantasy. I guess Lord of the Rings is just as believable eh?

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02-15-2002, 03:39 PM	#2
jye Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 5	sorry bout the typo's, i wrote it in a rush. "...rather than the ones..." ect.

02-16-2002, 11:20 AM	#3
trunks2k Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 6,997	I find that true for a lot of practicing christians I meet. A lot of them say that you "need to have hope" and that god "gives you something to hold on to." I agree to an extent that you need hope, or else you just become a misanthrope. How god is supposed to give hope, I never understood. I however have hope in humanity to be able to overcome it's problems.

02-16-2002, 12:00 PM	#4
bgponder Regular Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Arkansas Posts: 156	Jye: Welcome!! I play the Devil's Advocate (or perhaps the Angel's): But we are made in the image of God. Therefore to find strength in ourselves, we must find strength in God. Peace and questioning cornbread, Barry

02-16-2002, 12:45 PM	#5
jye Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 5	IMAGE is NOTHING. your image does not decide who you are as a person. i thought that was a teaching of christianity? obviously not. look deeper with in someone than there image.

02-16-2002, 12:48 PM	#6
jye Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 5	trunks2k, the way humantiy to overcome this, is for them to realize how this 'god' is jus giving them a flase sense of security by giving them a fairytale. so as i sed before inthemseves is where you find the most strength,and the strength that will be most useful.

02-16-2002, 02:19 PM	#7
Amos Guest Posts: n/a	To "find strenght in yourself" must you not admid to be weak before you look for this strenght? Would it not be better to just 'be strong' and 'be' all you possibly can be never having to look within as you don't know who you are and what your strengths are? Just a thought for you to ponder and maybe religion is aimed to make you be the man in the iamge of God including all the omni's of God.

02-17-2002, 08:12 AM	#10
bgponder Regular Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Arkansas Posts: 156	Jye: It may serve you well to read the profiles of those who respond to your posts. I am not a Christian, and I agree with you that strength for facing life's challenges is to be found within, rather than in something that we, as non-Christians, consider to be based on ancient mythology. I was merely presenting a rhetoric that represents how a Christian might respond, and in that response, "image" does not mean the outward appearance one projects, but the very essence ("soul", "spirit") of the person, dependent upon God as revealed through scripture, etc., and in that view, necessarily superior to that strength we can realize from within ourselves alone. I apologize if I was unclear, and once again--Welcome!! Peace and clearer cornbread, Barry

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