Freethought & Rationalism Archive

L. Noctivagans · 01-03-2003, 12:01 PM

Option one: Monotheism - One omnimax diety in charge of everything (temprament and attitude notwithstanding)

Option two: Limited Monotheism - One diety, in charge competantly, but somehow not completely omnimax.

Option three: Polytheism - Multiple dieties, none omnimax, each with influence over a different sphere of existance.

Option four: Omni-Polytheism - Multiple omnimax dieties in charge of everything in a sort of council-type set up.

Option five: Animism - Each rock, tree, animal type, weather event and landscape feature has its own resident god-spirit-thingie.

Option six: Pantheism - God reveals itself through nature. Everything that's natural is a part of a higher being.

Option seven: Reverse Pantheism - Nature reveals itself through God. Everything that's natural contributes to the creation of the higher being.

Option eight: Neopaganism - Like, it's all totally true and stuff. Totally. All of it. But it's all, like, part of one big god. Which makes us technically, like, Monotheist Lite.

HaysooChreesto! · 01-03-2003, 12:19 PM

Polytheism for sure. Then I'd get to pick my favorite deity, live my life according to it, spend some time monkeying around with the others, and then spend the afterlife with my fave.
There would be a Beer God, wouldn't there?

Viti · 01-03-2003, 12:23 PM

Pantheism...any deity should reveal itself through its creation

Selsaral · 01-03-2003, 01:35 PM

The word 'tenable' bothers me. Going by dictionary.com's definition as 'Capable of being maintained in argument', I think they are all equally absurd. You should have added 'Anal probism' and 'Crop Circleism' to the list. However I'd really like for there to be a 'Beer God' (Guinessar, or The One True Beer, or?), so I am going to go get to work on some faith.

Calvin · 01-03-2003, 04:35 PM

I want to know which of those ones is the least tenable. And why do we only get to choose from one of those catagories. What about Mormonism? If that's not tempting. You get to BE God eventually in Mormonism. You don't get to drink beer but, hey, that's some trade off.

Ronin · 01-03-2003, 04:51 PM

The one where I get to fly like Superman and do real magic spells.

Sabine Grant · 01-03-2003, 05:18 PM

Any of those which promote the betterment of the character of a person and how to make others benefit of that improvement.

Psycho Economist · 01-03-2003, 09:44 PM

I don't think there's good reason to hold to any of the schemas you present... but I would say: the fewer restrictions placed upon the nature of the universe the better... It's pretty hard to empirically disprove nebulous, abstract claims. When you throw in concrete things like "the world was formed on this approximate date" or "making this sacrifice in this way will bring rain", you've dared the skeptical to prove you wrong.

punta · 01-03-2003, 11:26 PM

I opted for Pantheism because it gave me the most warm fuzzies and seemed a catch -all, omni-inclusive category.

You like beer? ...God is the beer!

You like Anal Probism? ...God is in the anus!

you like crop circles? ...God is all about crop!

Plus it seemed at least as tenable as all the others. Or maybe I've been drinking a little too much God...

Keith Russell · 01-04-2003, 08:55 AM

Greetings:

I don't view any mystical ideas/beliefs as being any better--or any worse--than any other.

Mysticism is wrong--on principle. That principle exists equally in all mystical beliefs and traditions, regardless of the particular 'brand' or 'style' of mysticism in question.

The choice isn't whether Judaism is 'worse than' pantheism, or whether Wicca is 'slightly less irrational than' voodoo, or whether Christianity is 'more evil' than Islam--

--the question is whether reason is superiour to mystical belief, period.

And the answer is an unequivocal 'yes'.

Keith.

View Poll Results: If a higher power existed, which system do you think would be the most accurate?
Monotheism	3	6.98%
Limited Monotheism	2	4.65%
Polytheism	6	13.95%
Omni-Polytheism	1	2.33%
Animism	2	4.65%
Pantheism	24	55.81%
Reverse Pantheism	3	6.98%
Neopaganism	2	4.65%
Voters: 43. You may not vote on this poll

01-03-2003, 12:01 PM	#1
L. Noctivagans Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 35	If you had to pick, which general religion category is the most tenable? Option one: Monotheism - One omnimax diety in charge of everything (temprament and attitude notwithstanding) Option two: Limited Monotheism - One diety, in charge competantly, but somehow not completely omnimax. Option three: Polytheism - Multiple dieties, none omnimax, each with influence over a different sphere of existance. Option four: Omni-Polytheism - Multiple omnimax dieties in charge of everything in a sort of council-type set up. Option five: Animism - Each rock, tree, animal type, weather event and landscape feature has its own resident god-spirit-thingie. Option six: Pantheism - God reveals itself through nature. Everything that's natural is a part of a higher being. Option seven: Reverse Pantheism - Nature reveals itself through God. Everything that's natural contributes to the creation of the higher being. Option eight: Neopaganism - Like, it's all totally true and stuff. Totally. All of it. But it's all, like, part of one big god. Which makes us technically, like, Monotheist Lite.

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01-03-2003, 12:19 PM	#2
HaysooChreesto! Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: SoCal USA Posts: 7,737	Polytheism for sure. Then I'd get to pick my favorite deity, live my life according to it, spend some time monkeying around with the others, and then spend the afterlife with my fave. There would be a Beer God, wouldn't there?

01-03-2003, 12:23 PM	#3
Viti Contributor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Down South Posts: 12,879	Pantheism...any deity should reveal itself through its creation

01-03-2003, 01:35 PM	#4
Selsaral Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan Posts: 3,095	The word 'tenable' bothers me. Going by dictionary.com's definition as 'Capable of being maintained in argument', I think they are all equally absurd. You should have added 'Anal probism' and 'Crop Circleism' to the list. However I'd really like for there to be a 'Beer God' (Guinessar, or The One True Beer, or?), so I am going to go get to work on some faith.

01-03-2003, 04:35 PM	#5
Calvin New Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: seattle Posts: 1	I want to know which of those ones is the least tenable. And why do we only get to choose from one of those catagories. What about Mormonism? If that's not tempting. You get to BE God eventually in Mormonism. You don't get to drink beer but, hey, that's some trade off.

01-03-2003, 04:51 PM	#6
Ronin Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 5,047	The one where I get to fly like Superman and do real magic spells.

01-03-2003, 05:18 PM	#7
Sabine Grant Talk Freethought Staff Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 32,364	Any of those which promote the betterment of the character of a person and how to make others benefit of that improvement.

01-03-2003, 09:44 PM	#8
Psycho Economist Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 854	I don't think there's good reason to hold to any of the schemas you present... but I would say: the fewer restrictions placed upon the nature of the universe the better... It's pretty hard to empirically disprove nebulous, abstract claims. When you throw in concrete things like "the world was formed on this approximate date" or "making this sacrifice in this way will bring rain", you've dared the skeptical to prove you wrong.

01-03-2003, 11:26 PM	#9
punta Regular Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Can-a-duh! Posts: 148	I opted for Pantheism because it gave me the most warm fuzzies and seemed a catch -all, omni-inclusive category. You like beer? ...God is the beer! You like Anal Probism? ...God is in the anus! you like crop circles? ...God is all about crop! Plus it seemed at least as tenable as all the others. Or maybe I've been drinking a little too much God...

01-04-2003, 08:55 AM	#10
Keith Russell Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Overland Park, Kansas Posts: 1,336	Greetings: I don't view any mystical ideas/beliefs as being any better--or any worse--than any other. Mysticism is wrong--on principle. That principle exists equally in all mystical beliefs and traditions, regardless of the particular 'brand' or 'style' of mysticism in question. The choice isn't whether Judaism is 'worse than' pantheism, or whether Wicca is 'slightly less irrational than' voodoo, or whether Christianity is 'more evil' than Islam-- --the question is whether reason is superiour to mystical belief, period. And the answer is an unequivocal 'yes'. Keith.

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