emotional

You throw out all the worship, for all I care. Mere respect is not a basis for religious devotion. Worship is.

But heck, you neither know nor care about religious devotion. You just want to bitch about it all.

Nowhere357

By your terminology, yes religious dogma is 'bullshit'. That term, however, is both imprecise and loaded. It is aggressive, obnoxious, and confrontational. I would prefer to say that religion is not truth. But then, neither is science.

'Delusion' refers to a psychotic episode. Some religious people are psychotic, of course, but then some athiests are, also. All religious people are NOT psychotic. In fact, most religious people are aware that their religious beliefs do not make rational sense - that is why most people won't discuss religion except in a very general way, and then it's just to 'go with the flow' of this xian society we live in.

Like you, I rebel against that mindset. I suggest that negative attitudes hurt our cause.

happyboy

emotional, i fail to see how respecting the cosmos equates to worshipping it.

happyboy

emotional

To each his own, happyboy. Respecting the cosmos does not equate worshipping it, I agree. If you want to merely respect the cosmos, then so be it. But I don't merely respect Nature. I stand before Nature as the monotheist stands before his God: in praise, in worship, in devotion.

I didn't tell you to do the same. I don't expect anyone to worship Nature. But I do, because I've got the inclination to do so. I hope you can respect that instead of suggesting that I should throw it away. If you don't respect that, then probably you need some lessons in religious tolerance.

happyboy

why worship something that cannot answer prayers, save you in times of need, or come to the aid of beleagured friends and loved ones? why worship something that cruel and uncaring and above all else, utterly without sentient thought?

a very confused happyboy

emotional

Because I want to.

How easy it is to worship when you are promised a reward for it. That's what theists do. I wonder if they'd worship their God if He didn't promise them rewards for their worship.

happyboy

ok that's an aswer i can respect.

happyboy

Answerer

If you think that I'm talking about religion, think again.

andy_d

I suggest you worry less about all this "respect for the cosmos" malarky and start with "respect for people"

The cosmos doesn't give a monkey's what you think of it, and will ignore you till the day you die. Direct your personal spirituality at a worship of people and you'll see awesome results in your life.

That would be a "religion" worth something.

emotional

Go boil your head.