Why the Religious Debate is Boring

If course I am simplifying this whole thing by generalizing it based on Christian ideology. If I went into Buddhism, Judism, or Satanism, then this post would have still reiterated the same points that I mentioned.



What assumption? Like I said, based off of the Chrisitan ideology, this is the basis of Creation. Perhpas it was not a quick "poof", per se, but in the grand scheme of things, yes I believe it was fast.

At any rate, God from our Western beliefs, or God based on Egyptian beliefs or Islamic beliefs...does it really matter? God is God is God.
It is the religion that makes them different.




[edit on 19-12-2005 by Rouschkateer]

But that was my point, God ISN'T God.

The religions may like to peg down what God IS, but they can't say conclusively that their ideas are correct. So, we can either accept, or reject their frames of reference.

I don't wish to sound evasive, or 'new age', but God is really what you think it is.

God can be a judgemental bearded old man, sat on a cloud, dishing out entrance to Heaven here, and condemnation to eternal Hell there - or it can be an indefinable higher state of consciousness, of which you are part of, like a drop in an ocean, thus we are all Sons of God.

Which image is right (if any?) - That's upto you. Before you reject or dismiss the notion of higher intelligence, at least give yourself the chance to ponder exactly what properties that intelligence might consist of.

I have considered that path as well...sort of like self-enlightenment, but without the ultimate being to guide you there.

If someone defines higher intelligence, be it God or something else, then what would my place be? What knowledge could I possible gain? What answers would I finally receive? These questions are ones I ask now.

If I could fathom the possibilities of that knowledge, then I wouldn't be where I am now. I think that the answers will be above any sort of conscious level. That, and I don't believe in an afterlife. I believe that once you are gone, that's it. No soul, no Heaven, no limbo. Just ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

Why bother asking then if you don't think there's anything beyond the physical existence?



Quantum physics offers possible theorum explaining life outside the current 'physical reality', I think it melds both ancient esoterica and current scientific thought in quite a satisfactory marriage

The holographic universe is a theory that checks boxes on both sides of the card - scientific and spiritual.

I'm going to have to read into that one. I have never heard of such a thing, and I will have to take it slow, as it is quite complex. At least, at first glance it is.

So is that sort of thing what you believe in, VelvetSplash?

While your declairing your Agnosticism, are you not falling into the same thing that atheists and theists are charged with doing? Your posts seem to me like you believe your beliefs or lack there of are the "only" and "true" way to live.

The point I am trying to make is that every man and every woman has an opinion even if it is to not have one. With that opinion comes the belief that they are in fact right and although their thoughts may change or move around, they still always believe they are right. Who doesn't have an opinion on a subject and who doesn't think theirs is the correct one. So people just need to stop whining about Christians trying to force their views upon them because in fact they are doing the same things to the Christians.

Everyone has an opinion and everyone thinks they are right. It's just the way it is.

Not at all. I don't believe that agnosticism is either the "only" or the "true" way to live. I do believe that it is the most liberating viewpoint, since it doesn't rely on belief and instead only deals with facts. Since I make no claim either way about the potential existence of god(s), I'm entirely open to any evidence either way that might come to light. I have no vested interest in either view, so neither view is any sort of threat or burden or source of frustration to me. I really couldn't care less what other people believe, and if it works for them, that's fine. The only issues I ever have with other people's beliefs is when they attempt to prove that those beliefs are factual, and when they attempt to impose those beliefs on others. Both of these are not reflections of the belief itself, but of some of the people who hold those beliefs.

My original post here extolling the virtues of agnosticism was not meant to even imply that I believe it's the only way to live-- it was in the context of the original post on this thread, which was addressing the tendency among believers on both sides to fight with each other about the relative merit of their beliefs. My intent was to show how it is that much of that debate is meant to bolster their faith, and that agnostics, being without faith, have no need to engage in any of that.



The point I am trying to make is that every man and every woman has an opinion even if it is to not have one. With that opinion comes the belief that they are in fact right and although their thoughts may change or move around, they still always believe they are right. Who doesn't have an opinion on a subject and who doesn't think theirs is the correct one. So people just need to stop whining about Christians trying to force their views upon them because in fact they are doing the same things to the Christians.

Everyone has an opinion and everyone thinks they are right. It's just the way it is.

The holographic universe theory is one I find most attractive yes. I am hesitant to subscribe to any one belief because we're talking about something that is unproveable as far as we can tell so far - so I think subscribing to this set of allegories, or that set of myths is, for me, very limiting.

That's how I essentially view religion - as largely allegorical works - There's some good discussion about this in this thread: www.abovetopsecret.com... - Concerning the social/mass control uses/purposes of religion.