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Belief in god(s) is superstition based

#52: Aug. - Sept. 2008 (Non-Fiction)
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Ophelia

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And Ophelia! What happened to being a non-militant atheist that was uninterested in conversations like these?

Caught in flagrante delicto!
I know. :smile:

From time to time I can't resist giving the community the benefit of my viewpoint on this issue: that such debates are unnecessary because atheists and theists are talking about different realms of experience.
Ophelia.
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Mr. P

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Penelope wrote:Chris - It would be scientific and sensible...to eradicate all 'weak genes' in the human race.

All the kids who are 'Down's Syndrome' (for instance) would have to go.....that would be sensible.

But we LOVE them....they are lovable.....which is not sensible...but it is human.....THAT...is what religion is about....
No...that is what being HUMAN is about. Has nothing to do with religion. I care about and love people of all kinds, not because of religion, but because of the bond we share - being human. Someone with Downs is lovable because they are human, because they did not ask for or do anything to contract Downs is a reason why they draw more love, or some would say pity, from others. It makes them more special because of the possibility we see in them for that to be us with just a minor change in the DNA. It sparks our compassion...not faith.

And you miss the point if your think that eradicating weak genes would mean that all people with Downs "would have to go". (Wow...what a thought). The ability to detect and eradicate the genes would avoid people with Downs from ever being born. The gene would be either fixed or destroyed. We would never miss them because they would turn out to be fully functioning people with no extra hardships placed upon them.
Penelope wrote: This 'love' thing is a bloody nuisance....but it is the 'God' part of us...and it is not simple to sort.....
Do you really feel it is a nuisance? However you feel, it is not "God" at all...it is something within us...

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Chris OConnor

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Misterpessimistic, this might sound completely crazy, but I swear I can almost make out an image of Jesus in that toast in your avatar. :oops: Maybe I need more sleep.
No...that is what being HUMAN is about. Has nothing to do with religion. I care about and love people of all kinds, not because of religion, but because of the bond we share - being human. Someone with Downs is lovable because they are human, because they did not ask for or do anything to contract Downs is a reason why they draw more love, or some would say pity, from others. It makes them more special because of the possibility we see in them for that to be us with just a minor change in the DNA. It sparks our compassion...not faith.
VERY well stated.
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Ahem!!! It is not pity that I feel for 'Down's Syndrome' people it is love because they are, for the most part, very happy people. I used to visit a special school in our town with many such people. There were no barriers. That is what it was like. They helped and accepted one another within those walls.

I used to feel as though I had been in heaven with the angels.

I am not making this up or being sentimental...because actually, believe it or not, I am not a sentimental person.

There are those (in other schools/care homes) for whom I did feel pity. Until I was engaged to visit these establishments....I didn't know there were people with such profound difficulties. I was absolutely 'shocked' at first.....and that is another reason why I believe in the power of prayer, because, all I could do was pray for help/wisdom/understanding.....it was no use standing around being 'shocked' and no use turning my face away and pretending those people didn't exist.

And, furthermore, the sooner the scientists discover a way to stop such tragedies occuring....the better pleased I will be.....my faith doesn't stop me from believing in science....it causes me to pray for its furtherment.
Only those become weary of angling who bring nothing to it but the idea of catching fish.

He was born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world is mad....

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Penelope

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Mr P said:
Do you really feel it is a nuisance? However you feel, it is not "God" at all...it is something within us...
It is something within us is it? But not God? Not Soul?

So What is it? Chemicals? It;s OK Mr. P., God doesn't mind if you call him 'Chemicals'. :D
Only those become weary of angling who bring nothing to it but the idea of catching fish.

He was born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world is mad....

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Penelope wrote:Mr P said:
Do you really feel it is a nuisance? However you feel, it is not "God" at all...it is something within us...
It is something within us is it? But not God? Not Soul?

So What is it? Chemicals? It;s OK Mr. P., God doesn't mind if you call him 'Chemicals'. :D

The way I see it, there is more to back the idea of Chemicals rather than a god.
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Chris OConnor wrote:Misterpessimistic, this might sound completely crazy, but I swear I can almost make out an image of Jesus in that toast in your avatar. :oops: Maybe I need more sleep.
You do need some sleep...that is not Jesus, it is Marilyn Monroe.
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As much fun as these side discussions have been I do hope we continue to read through this book and discuss the various reasons people give for believing in a non-existent being.

ROFL Ok, that was a bit biased.
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Lawrence is having computer problems and is not able to make forum posts. He just emailed me this post and I'll add it here to this thread.

Lawrence said:

I'm sorry to be late to this party but my computer is being tempermental. What I've tried to say to Stephen in a pm and what my earlier post reviewing 50 reasons tried to say is; when one talks about is there a god or not you are inside the eggshell of dogma and historical and social conditioning. The truth of the question asked cannot be established. So why bother with the time and energy over a discussion about it.

We can certainly have factual discussions about the tyranny perpatrated in the name of god(s) and all of the other elements of social evolvement. But Stephen in his pride as a priest believed what he believed should be believed by all. What Septhen does not seem to realize is that still in his pride he is now saying what he believes about no god should be believed by all. That is what I call tyranny. It is tyranny in any human endeavor, science, education, law, economics, farming, govertment, and religion to elevate a belief to be a fact for others to believe in. Clamity follows when the tyrant uses force to impose his will on the others.
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Penelope, you're very much wanted and appreciated around here. Nick is just frustrated that a good percentage of the more active and intellectual members have wandered away. We did indeed have some great conversations over the years. This recent discussion just hasn't been up to par. And I'm not referring to your contributions. You appear very open-minded and civil and you sure don't come across as a know-it-all. So you are liked and appreciated.
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