Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Stephen T-B · 06-12-2002, 07:41 AM

Here's a little analogy to help explain how believers and unbelievers differ.
The believer lives in a house on the margin of a wild and unpredictable sea whose waves crash incessantly on the near-by shore.
He is so terrified by the sight of them that his house has no windows, but to his continuing alarm he can never block out the sound. Worse still,the walls are constantly being dissolved by the flying spray because they're made of sugar lumps. Holes appear, and then he can glimpse the waves through the holes, and hear the horrible sound of that wild sea more loudly.
He hurries out to get some more sugar lumps to repair the wall, his sources being various.
He might go for them to the community of fellow believers with whom he worships, or collect them from a charismatic preacher, but most reliably he finds them in the Bible and other devotional texts.
Then, for a little while, he is secure - but sure enough the holes begin to appear again and off he must go in search of more sugar lumps.
The unbeliever lives on a small rowing boat in the middle of that same wild and unpredictable sea. He relishes the danger, the lashing waves, the howling wind, the fact that he is all alone, the sense of being in charge � and above all, the thrill of riding the enormous waves which promise to engulf him.
The believer lives in fear; in fear of life and in fear of death.
The unbeliever doesn't give a damn.

Godless Dave · 06-12-2002, 07:43 AM

IvanK · 06-12-2002, 08:37 AM

Here's another one I've heard.

We're all standing at the edge of a cliff that empties into an utter void. Freethinkers are right at the edge of the cliff courageously looking into the void. Theists are cowering as far back as they can get, making up comforting stories for each other about the world they haven't seen that lies over the edge of the terrifying cliff. Those who may venture close enough to the edge to get a glimpse of the void beyond are so frightened by it they deny what they've seen.

Jamie_L · 06-12-2002, 09:04 AM

Whether I'm in a row boat or on the edge of the cliff, I'm not necessarily relishing the thrill and danger.

I'm just not going to pretend there's no ocean or cliff when it's right there in front of my bloody face!

Jamie

06-12-2002, 07:41 AM	#1
Stephen T-B Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Leeds, UK Posts: 5,878	How believers and unbelievers differ Here's a little analogy to help explain how believers and unbelievers differ. The believer lives in a house on the margin of a wild and unpredictable sea whose waves crash incessantly on the near-by shore. He is so terrified by the sight of them that his house has no windows, but to his continuing alarm he can never block out the sound. Worse still,the walls are constantly being dissolved by the flying spray because they're made of sugar lumps. Holes appear, and then he can glimpse the waves through the holes, and hear the horrible sound of that wild sea more loudly. He hurries out to get some more sugar lumps to repair the wall, his sources being various. He might go for them to the community of fellow believers with whom he worships, or collect them from a charismatic preacher, but most reliably he finds them in the Bible and other devotional texts. Then, for a little while, he is secure - but sure enough the holes begin to appear again and off he must go in search of more sugar lumps. The unbeliever lives on a small rowing boat in the middle of that same wild and unpredictable sea. He relishes the danger, the lashing waves, the howling wind, the fact that he is all alone, the sense of being in charge � and above all, the thrill of riding the enormous waves which promise to engulf him. The believer lives in fear; in fear of life and in fear of death. The unbeliever doesn't give a damn.

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06-12-2002, 07:43 AM	#2
Godless Dave Contributor Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: With 10,000 lakes who needs a coast? Posts: 10,762	<img src="graemlins/notworthy.gif" border="0" alt="[Not Worthy]" />

06-12-2002, 08:37 AM	#3
IvanK Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 2,016	Here's another one I've heard. We're all standing at the edge of a cliff that empties into an utter void. Freethinkers are right at the edge of the cliff courageously looking into the void. Theists are cowering as far back as they can get, making up comforting stories for each other about the world they haven't seen that lies over the edge of the terrifying cliff. Those who may venture close enough to the edge to get a glimpse of the void beyond are so frightened by it they deny what they've seen.

06-12-2002, 09:04 AM	#4
Jamie_L Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: U.S. Posts: 2,565	Whether I'm in a row boat or on the edge of the cliff, I'm not necessarily relishing the thrill and danger. I'm just not going to pretend there's no ocean or cliff when it's right there in front of my bloody face! Jamie

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