A critique of the misconceptions of eternality and God

[iconoclast]

I meant fundamentally dishonest in the sense that religion does not and cannot embrace sound reason - intellectually dishonest, but also religion is essentially racism hiding behind a spiritual disguise - structurally hateful and immoral while preaching love and morality from the pulpit. It's money grubbing and power mongering. It fills childrens heads with propoganda. Claims peace and promotes terror - it's dishonest in any number of ways, and for anyone to enage in it and pretend not to notice is dishonet too. That's why the faithful can't join in such debate.

[Didymos Thomas]

I meant fundamentally dishonest in the sense that religion does not and cannot embrace sound reason

How so?

also religion is essentially racism hiding behind a spiritual disguise - structurally hateful and immoral while preaching love and morality from the pulpit.

Claims peace and promotes terror

It should be no surprise that political figures so often turn to abusing religion in order to further their ambitions. The history of this sort of abuse is well documented and complex - and therefore not easily summarized with a statement that equates the corruption of religious tradition with the content of the teachings and ceremony of religious tradition.

It's money grubbing and power mongering. It fills childrens heads with propoganda.

Yes, these things do happen. But to raise these complaints against all religion is unreasonable.

[iconoclast]

Screw being reasonable. Is it reasonable to tell kid's there's a ghost on high that will burn them forever if they don't behave. I can say what the I like about religion - because there are no standards of reason or evidence for thier claims. Why is the standard higher for me?

[Zetetic11235]

To think that man acts as he does because of a book and not of himself objectifies the problems of the world and gives a clear path to fixing immoral behavior by denying its reality in the human condition. You adopt this view out of despair when you try to change the human condition and find it impossible. It is impossible and to try to change it is both admirable and ludicrous. There is no logical basis to any morality that you can conjure up, fundamentally faith must be involved, even faith in reason.

You must make the arbitrary leap of faith everytime you wish to look down and see that you are standing on air. You must cling onto the closest mountain to pull yourself back up, but it is easy to drift off of the edge of the mountain again if you don't pay attention to the ground.

Truth is not found in focusing on the actions of others, it is found in focusing on one's own actions. Do not try to be atlas, you will be crushed.

[Richardgrant]

On stillness, to me is that place which is at the center of and at right angles to all motion, at the dead center of the crankshaft in an engine of a car eg, at the center of my being is where God is, which is pure energy, my inner thinking mind puts that energy in motion.

[Didymos Thomas]

Screw being reasonable. Is it reasonable to tell kid's there's a ghost on high that will burn them forever if they don't behave. I can say what the I like about religion - because there are no standards of reason or evidence for thier claims. Why is the standard higher for me?

Well, you'll have a hard time being taken seriously if you practice what you criticize.

No, it isn't reasonable to tell a kid something like that. But I don't see your point. It's not as if this is the message of all religion.

Actually, faith traditions do have standards and reasons for their claims.

[boagie]

Like the churches address, and its tax exempt status.

Iconoclast,

The same person whom told me to become a born again christian he had to leave reason behind and take a leap of faith, this is the same person that tells me his faith is utterly rational. What are you going to do with a bag of rocks?

[Zetetic11235]

Hit that person over the head with it?