Freethought & Rationalism Archive

10-10-2002, 10:25 AM

Quote:

GeoTheo:
when people continue to make emotionally charged statements in which they appear to be griping about God and criticizing God, they seem to betray their claim that they simply don't believe in God.

People who don't believe in god can still criticise the concept of god. It gets emotionally charged because of the power so often exercised by theists to make us take their imaginary friends seriously. If people kept quiet about their religious beliefs and didn't insist that we take them as a basis for ethics, for example, there would be a much reduced emtional charge.

Quote:

miscreant:
In my critical thinking class in University we called this 'selective rememberance'. Basically people remember things that seem to agree with what they already believe, and things that don't work out the way they expect they simply just forget about.
With faith it's even easier because even if things turn out really crappy, there's always the "It's God's plan" to fall back on.

This hits the nail on the head with great precision. It's the same human failing exploited by "psychics" and astrologers.

I am puzzled by an aspect of a lot of American protestant xianity: they pray for material things for themselves. In the days when I was in receipt of compulsory religious indoctrination, I remember being told that it was useless and sinful to pray like that. Prayer should simply be a way of putting trust in god and asking for help to do god's will or to be a more virtuous person or possibly asking for enlightenment (or whatever) for someone else.

HelenM · 10-10-2002, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by galiel:
<strong>If you travel to the UK, you will make note of the fact that they drive on the wrong

side of the road</strong>

Actually they drive on the right, as in correct, side of the road. I should know because I was born and raised there!

Thank you for your other comments.

take care
Helen

galiel · 10-10-2002, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by HelenM:
<strong>

Thank you for your other comments.
Helen</strong>

That's it? Is silence assent?

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