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Aphorism
The atheist contemplates it for the sake of refuting it (how one should approach every idea), but he holds on to it, not to let it go. Instead of tossing the idea out with yesterday’s news, he keeps it, because maybe he likes it. He still hangs around it. Or maybe he wishes to use it as an intellectual weapon of sorts as the religious often do.
randyvs
reply to post by Aphorism
You say you like the idea of God.
How does an idea of something you like make your
skin crawl ?
SnFedit on 5-12-2013 by randyvs because: (no reason given)
reply to post by randyvs
You say you like the idea of God.
How does an idea of something you like make your
skin crawl ? The things I like make me happy or
content, nostalgic, warm and fuzzy even.
Just trying to understand what makes you say that I guess.
But I love your thread as it hosts some great thinking
and a perfect amount of text.
SnF
The 'intellectual weapon' starts another thread.
InTheLight
Am I self-serving to believe my nature is God given?
Astyanax
reply to post by Aphorism
So, any idea why we are all religious?
Itisnowagain
InTheLight
Am I self-serving to believe my nature is God given?
If you 'believe your nature is God given' then that is (separate/individual) self serving.
But if you realize that there is only God and no separate you or any thing then that is not self serving.
Believing is one thing and realizing is another.
Some use the term 'Self' instead of 'God' but you wrote 'self' so I assume you are speaking of the separate, individual self.edit on 6-12-2013 by Itisnowagain because: (no reason given)
Astyanax
reply to post by RUFFREADY
A poetic but unhelpful answer. Perhaps I should have phrased the question better. I'll try again:
If we are all religious, religion must be necessary to human beings. Why? What is the use of religion?
InTheLight
Itisnowagain
InTheLight
Am I self-serving to believe my nature is God given?
If you 'believe your nature is God given' then that is (separate/individual) self serving.
But if you realize that there is only God and no separate you or any thing then that is not self serving.
Believing is one thing and realizing is another.
Some use the term 'Self' instead of 'God' but you wrote 'self' so I assume you are speaking of the separate, individual self.edit on 6-12-2013 by Itisnowagain because: (no reason given)
Or, is our nature God?
Itisnowagain
InTheLight
Itisnowagain
InTheLight
Am I self-serving to believe my nature is God given?
If you 'believe your nature is God given' then that is (separate/individual) self serving.
But if you realize that there is only God and no separate you or any thing then that is not self serving.
Believing is one thing and realizing is another.
Some use the term 'Self' instead of 'God' but you wrote 'self' so I assume you are speaking of the separate, individual self.edit on 6-12-2013 by Itisnowagain because: (no reason given)
Or, is our nature God?
Nature is God.
The petals on a flower unfold as does all there is.
The absolute is doing what is does - it is being all there is.
And then concepts (words that build dream worlds) arise and make believe there is something separate to all that is - a someone who lives in time.
There is only the eternal present - it is always happening - it appears to be unfolding.