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CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.
God and Needs
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- Apr 30, 2013
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I just don't understand how someone could believe religion could be useful, and yet not believe.
In my case, I actually believe religion is often not useful (indeed, I believe Christianity, as practiced in North America, is mostly harmful), but I'm inclined to believe in God anyways. But increasingly I realize the God I believe in is more like the Hindu Brahman than the personalistic theism of the average evangelical Christian.
The benefits of religion are largely illusory, which is why I believe the "nones" are growing. The main reason people were religious in the past was social cohesion, networking, a sense of purpose, and so on. Now days we have facebook and the internet, more involvement in work and careers, and so on. We get more of a sense of connection and purpose through our families, especially with fathers spending more time with their children and spouses. And there's a huge tradeoff in accepting Chrisiatiy, such as accepting an ethic that most of the modern world has rejected, endorsing everything from the subjugation of women to contempt towards gays, to say nothing of the fact that conservative Christianity frequently goes hand in hand with an apologetic for capitalism and economic exploitation.
In my case, I actually believe religion is often not useful (indeed, I believe Christianity, as practiced in North America, is mostly harmful), but I'm inclined to believe in God anyways. But increasingly I realize the God I believe in is more like the Hindu Brahman than the personalistic theism of the average evangelical Christian.
The benefits of religion are largely illusory, which is why I believe the "nones" are growing. The main reason people were religious in the past was social cohesion, networking, a sense of purpose, and so on. Now days we have facebook and the internet, more involvement in work and careers, and so on. We get more of a sense of connection and purpose through our families, especially with fathers spending more time with their children and spouses. And there's a huge tradeoff in accepting Chrisiatiy, such as accepting an ethic that most of the modern world has rejected, endorsing everything from the subjugation of women to contempt towards gays, to say nothing of the fact that conservative Christianity frequently goes hand in hand with an apologetic for capitalism and economic exploitation.
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Easy - someone who understands the problems inherent in arguments from consequence.
"It would be great if I could fly, therefore I can" isn't compelling logic. Substitute religion in and the problems don't go away.
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- Apr 30, 2013
- 33,800
- 21,031
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- United Ch. of Christ
- Marital Status
- Private
- Politics
- US-Democrat
But religion is as much a way of life as a belief in propositional truths. If something is convenient to believe, I'd be inclined to believe it.
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