Richard Dawkins on God's behavior in the OT

[miknik5]

I said that a lack in faith in anything isn't a worldview. And of course, if atheists are viewed as people who lack faith in a God, I'm ok with that. I think I'm missing ur point, if u wish to explain more, I would love that...

Got it...sorry.

And of course, lack of faith, is not a worldview.

If that were true, then there would be no believers to begin with...and there are...

 

[ximmix]

Got it...sorry.

And of course, lack of faith, is not a worldview.

If that were true, then there would be no believers to begin with...and there are...

Ah no need to be sorry of course, just trying to understand. Not sure how you come to that conclusion though...

 

[miknik5]

Ah no need to be sorry of course, just trying to understand. Not sure how you come to that conclusion though...

What conclusion...that if it were true that lack of faith were a worldview, then there would be no believers in a GOD?

Is that what you mean?

 

[ximmix]

What conclusion...that if it were true that lack of faith were a worldview, then there would be no believers in a GOD?

Is that what you mean?

Yes, is that what you were saying?

 

[miknik5]

Yes, is that what you were saying?

Yes, that is what I am saying...
And you do not agree?

 

[Silly Uncle Wayne]

to clarify, i think christians and atheists share the same worldview, to me it's silly to suggest otherwise

What is your understanding of worldview then?

 

[ximmix]

Yes, that is what I am saying...
And you do not agree?

Not sure, the concept of it is so strange that I find it hard to see the implications of it.

 

[ximmix]

What is your understanding of worldview then?

A very loose concept really, but some form of common understanding of basic principles.

 

[miknik5]

Not sure, the concept of it is so strange that I find it hard to see the implications of it.

Why is the concept of faith strange to you?

Do you have faith in anything?

Faith can be applied to oneself, you know...

 

[miknik5]

So, either it is a faith in oneself in situations and circumstance, that one has faith that they are capable of doing something, completing a task, excelling in, being victorious over...something or some thing...

And/Or faith that even as one can NOT do all things or can NOT understand all things, or will NOT be victorious over all things, they trust that GOD can and will...and they therefore leave their self in HIS capable hands...

So, all people do have faith...
It´s just that faith in GOD isn´t always the faith that ALL people have...

 

[Silly Uncle Wayne]

A very loose concept really, but some form of common understanding of basic principles.

It's a long time ago but as I remember it, it wasn't basic principles but the way you interpret everything that happens in your life. Each person's actual worldview is going to be individual to them, but there will be overlap with other people. So there is a Christian worldview. Primarily it would be something along the lines that we need Jesus to save us from our sin. I'm guessing that is not part of your worldview.

On the other hand a need to be better informed about issues that I disagree with is part of my worldview and it might also be part of yours (certainly plenty of atheists are like that).

To that extent the absence of a particular factor that affects other people is a part of your worldview. I'm single and my worldview doesn't include the caring for of children (although I do care for neices and nephews). So the absence of a god in your life is going to impact the way you act and think.. hence I do think that their are atheistic worldviews. Some are more obvious than others - antitheism; communism; secularism; new atheism all spring to mind.

So if your atheism drives you to make claims about the way other people live their lives e.g. they shouldn't believe in something that isn't there, then that to my mind is a worldview.

 

[klutedavid]

Wow, you are really saying that all atheists grow old and miserable? I think you have it the wrong way around, beacause atheists believe that this life is all there is, we tend to cherish it more....

You misunderstand how life works.

When your a young atheist your lifetime is all you have and you can enjoy and cherish your life. But when you get old that level of happiness and contentment diminishes.

Your evaluation of life is a temporary evaluation and will not stand the test of time.

Everyone suffers more as they grow old and that includes Christians and atheists. They all get oppressed by the effect of old age on the body and mind.

Christians have hope in a life here after, but an atheist is trapped in that body of death. So as a base line, Christians should be happier as their release from the trials, and tribulations approaches. Yet the atheist should become more depressed and concerned also.

It's only logical of course.

 

[klutedavid]

A lack of belief in something isn't a worldview if course. Is a lack in santa clause a worldview?

Of course a lack of belief in something does not constitute a worldview.

Yet the belief paradigm saturates all views of life and no matter what those views are. You believe you will be healthy, you believe and trust your family. You believe your thinking clearly and are not deluded. We believe so much but can prove so little.

It's that we all believe and it's just how many boxes we tick that separates us. The worldviews are all based primarily on that inbuilt belief system endemic in humanity.

How deceived people are. My next door neighbor told me that Santa did not exist, when I was five years old. That very day, mum took me shopping and low and behold in the shopping centre. There was Santa with kids all around him. My next door neighbor was living in a delusion as I have seen Santa.

 

[klutedavid]

A lack of belief in something isn't a worldview if course. Is a lack in santa clause a worldview?

The common worldview is endemic to mankind, not the particular shade of that worldview. I don't have faith 24/7, I exercise faith and sometimes have doubts.

We are all in the same boat from time to time, the overall worldview is the same for everyone.

 

[GodsGrace101]

It depends on the subject one is obsessed upon.

The cure prescribed by the Buddha usually involves opposites. Obsessed with the human form? The prescribed cure: Deconstruct it in the mind by examining it in parts, or in light of old age, illness, and death. Etc.

I know I don't understand the above very well, but it sounds good.

I think I already answered to this however, and asked how one could stop the mind from thinking.

I believe you didn't reply.
No problem.

 

[ananda]

I know I don't understand the above very well, but it sounds good.

I think I already answered to this however, and asked how one could stop the mind from thinking.

I believe you didn't reply.
No problem.

I apologize for missing that question. Stopping thoughts requires achievement of what's called the second level of jhana in meditative practice.

 

[GodsGrace101]

Sleep well.

I don't have faith that Odin doesn't exist or unicorns for that matter. I lack evidence. There is no faith involved. (Odin is "all-father" of the Norse pantheon of gods.)


As for post #58, it's rather a hodgepodge of statements. Here are some random responses.
1) Obeying a leader in an emergency situation is different than adhering to an ideology that dictates how one is to live one's life.

As I said in post no. 58...I DO think our life on this earth is an emergency and so we should obey the being dictating what action to take,,,just like the captain on a troubled ship.

I'll bet your ideologies of how to live life are pretty much the same as mine.

I don't think this is what Christianity is really about.
You know that Jesus said that we are to be born from above. I think THIS is what life is about.

2) Whatever you think about SSM, it is nevertheless true that Christians have stuck there noses in other people's business.

People have always mistreated those that are different. People used to make fun of handicapped persons,,,kids that wear glasses,,,etc.

BEFORE SSM, only heterosexual couples were getting married.

I'd say that what you state is reversed....it's the homosexuals that have put their nose into other people's business.

But, apparently, it is accepted by most,,,so yes, the road is wide and many find the wide road.

3) I have 3 grown children. I stand by my statements. Children be raised to understand what works and for what reasons. I'm proud of my kids even though they are Christians.

I have no wish to debate which ideologies have killed more people. The point is that blind adherence to ideologies can and do kill people.

I agree.

Richard Feynman said: “I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned.”
Quote by Richard Feynman: “I would rather have questions that can't be ans...”

Religion is the latter.

I know that you believe religion is the latter.
I wouldn't attend a church where questions cannot be asked.

And some Christian questions really CANNOT be answered...like why evil exists, for instance. No answer under the sun.

I don't care much for religion.
All I care about is knowing,,,for whatever reason,,,
whether or not God exists. The rest is all man-made nonsense.

 

[thomas_t]

2) Whatever you think about SSM, it is nevertheless true that Christians have stuck there noses in other people's business.

Here we agree and atheists have every reason to complain in this regard.
I don't see how hetero couples are made to suffer just because there is a same sex couple next door that even has acquired some sort of legal union.

So it's not that we never agree!

And since it is a Dawkins thread, it's worth mentioning that Dawkins harps on Christians being purportedly dangerous (same video as above).
So I hope that Christians could acquire a somewhat neutral stance on government legislation concerning same sex unions soon.
Thomas

 

[Subduction Zone]

You misunderstand how life works.

When your a young atheist your lifetime is all you have and you can enjoy and cherish your life. But when you get old that level of happiness and contentment diminishes.

Your evaluation of life is a temporary evaluation and will not stand the test of time.

Everyone suffers more as they grow old and that includes Christians and atheists. They all get oppressed by the effect of old age on the body and mind.

Christians have hope in a life here after, but an atheist is trapped in that body of death. So as a base line, Christians should be happier as their release from the trials, and tribulations approaches. Yet the atheist should become more depressed and concerned also.

It's only logical of course.

No, a fear of death is evolutionary. An irrational response to a fear is not logical.

 

[Ophiolite]

You jumped into a conversation and distorted what I said and did exactly what the other poster did...
Took what I said and implied something completely different...

That is not doing a thorough job...and it shows that you did not even care to make sure you weren´t making a mistake...you just assumed something...and it is wrong...and it is a lie about what I meant.

It portrays me in a different way and if people were to venture on this thread, NO ONE takes the time to read from start to finish, they would see this post and think I am a nasty human being who has one purpose and that is to stir trouble...it makes me look like I have a chip on my shoulder and I dislike Atheists...

I have never had any dealings with ANY Atheists before so why should I hate them...and I asked for clarification on what an Atheist is...that was all.

After I got the response...I asked why are you then even on a website because it seemed to me that lack means indifference...which means that one doesn´t even care...

And so, someone interpreted that, and put some sort of emotion behind that response, and portrayed me incorrectly, ẗhat I somehow don´t like Atheists" ...that is lying, a falsehood and slander about me...because it isn´t true...

Get over yourself.

Your posts were unclear. I and @ximmix told no lies. If we misinterpreted what you said then that is down to your ambiguous posting. Please note, the reader, not the writer gets to decide whether or not a post is clear. I recommend you keep that in mind in future. That way you will find life on forums becomes less stressful and you won't feel compelled to make false accusations against other members.