Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Mageth · 06-14-2003, 08:20 PM

Are God, and gods, an invention of the finite human mind?

Yes.

haverbob · 06-15-2003, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Are God, and gods, an invention of the finite human mind?

No, (as far as I think), but our notions, opinions, descriptions, concept.... of God is. Strangely enough. I think I recall (maybe) that Christianity teaches that you are never supposed to paint an image of God because any image would be destined to be a lie and therefore would be either a partial or complete blocker to the truth.

Same thing with words as far as I'm concerned (and a picture is worth a thousand of them). That's how the St. Thomas Aquinous legend goes. Supposedly, after serving God well, he some how came in contact with God (I would interpret as "experienced" God rather than "came in contact", but maybe others won't), and he NEVER spoke about God again because he realized that anything he could say could only inhibit someone from the truth. So the legend goes. I don't have a for or against your quote. I'm just throwing in a clarification or another possible angle to this question.

haverbob · 06-15-2003, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Don't chimps have gods?

No. At least not to their knowledge (at least as far as I can tell).

diana · 06-15-2003, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Disciple
I am indeed awareof this concept. This centers around the idea that the person proposing a belief or idea has the burden of proof, rather than the person who does not believe...

...

This does indeedsounds potentially interesting....

I could not tell God that, because I *do* need him and I believe we all do. Jesus is the way to deep and meaningfull peace with ourselves, with others and with our divine creator. Do you know the real meaning of peace? It is beyond description and is a state of heart & mind, given freely by grace. Its awesome I promise, and I am of the opinion that this level of peace cannot be found ANYWHERE except through Christ. Jesus is the only way to the divine father, and everlasting love and security.

Please do offer me your observations and thank you =)

My observation, Disciple, is that you missed the inherent request for proof in Evil Milkman's polite probe for same. Judging by your response, you can't claim ignorance of what the Burden of Proof entails. However, in the following post, you...well, preached.

Preaching is characterized by assumptions and assertions. We don't preach in EoG. We discuss, support and defend our ideas here.

I'm moving this thread ~~Elsewhere~~.

d

mongrel · 06-15-2003, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Disciple
For the non-believer, how do you explain the feeling that having a direct relationship with Christ, offers?

There is much love, acceptance, safety, warmth, relationship, love and on and on....

Are millions of people just imaging these feelings? Am I?

I haven't read this thread past the first few posts, so someone may have already said this, but IMO there is one word which answers your questions; placebo.

Paintballislife · 06-15-2003, 08:16 AM

wasnt hitler an atheist?

marylin manson was a devote catholic in his, er, younger years.

why must christians and many others, take the religon, and interpert it in there own ways. i.e. baptist, catholic, episcopal, luthern. why? cause they do what they think we should do, oh well i like meat, catholics are dumb, i ll eat meat when i want, but, singing a bunch of rymes to be free of my sin, doenst hit home well. hmm, oh yea, rattlesnakes are cool, they are related to jesus in some way, i feel him through their poison, or is that the LSD laced wine i was givin?

Paintballislife · 06-15-2003, 08:20 AM

also, look at lil kids, they LOVE somehing, their dolls, Barney, power rangers. is this not just an adultified version of our childhood love for somehting that really isnt there nor real? i mean when i was little, i loveedd Teenage ninja turtles and GI JOE, doesnt mean they were real, my neightbors kids love teletubbies, then one day they will realise they aint real. much like many of us have. I think santa claus and easter bunny coudl fit in there somewhere.

Chimp · 06-15-2003, 12:47 PM

Does God exist?

How is God defined?

The ultimate benefactor of reality?

Why must human characteristics i.e. love and other emotions, be attributed to this ultimate benefactor?

Why existence?

Surely not because of a giant Zeus-like entity, smiling down upon us ...?

Chimp

Evangelion · 06-16-2003, 12:09 AM

Quote:

For the non-believer, how do you explain the feeling that having a direct relationship with Christ, offers?

Gee, a subjective experience with no empirical data... how do I explain that? Hell, I don't believe that I even need to. Pretty much explains itself, don't you think?

Next question?

Quote:

There is much love, acceptance, safety, warmth, relationship, love and on and on....

I'm a believer, and I've never felt it.

Where do you go from here?

Evangelion · 06-16-2003, 12:14 AM

Quote:

wasnt hitler an atheist?

No, he was some sort of scrambled pseudo-deist; possibly even a form of panentheist.

It's always difficult to tell with maniacs.

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06-14-2003, 08:20 PM	#71
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	Are God, and gods, an invention of the finite human mind? Yes.

06-15-2003, 08:16 AM	#76
Paintballislife Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Moorestown, NJ (sux stay away) Posts: 206	wasnt hitler an atheist? marylin manson was a devote catholic in his, er, younger years. why must christians and many others, take the religon, and interpert it in there own ways. i.e. baptist, catholic, episcopal, luthern. why? cause they do what they think we should do, oh well i like meat, catholics are dumb, i ll eat meat when i want, but, singing a bunch of rymes to be free of my sin, doenst hit home well. hmm, oh yea, rattlesnakes are cool, they are related to jesus in some way, i feel him through their poison, or is that the LSD laced wine i was givin?

06-15-2003, 08:20 AM	#77
Paintballislife Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Moorestown, NJ (sux stay away) Posts: 206	also, look at lil kids, they LOVE somehing, their dolls, Barney, power rangers. is this not just an adultified version of our childhood love for somehting that really isnt there nor real? i mean when i was little, i loveedd Teenage ninja turtles and GI JOE, doesnt mean they were real, my neightbors kids love teletubbies, then one day they will realise they aint real. much like many of us have. I think santa claus and easter bunny coudl fit in there somewhere.

06-15-2003, 12:47 PM	#78
Chimp Regular Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: USA Posts: 376	Does God exist? How is God defined? The ultimate benefactor of reality? Why must human characteristics i.e. love and other emotions, be attributed to this ultimate benefactor? Why existence? Surely not because of a giant Zeus-like entity, smiling down upon us ...? Chimp

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