I view the main difference between revealed and non-revealed as naturalism. Non-revealed faiths consider only natural truths as authoritative. Revealed faiths consider intermediaries between God and humanity as authoritative.
As for Buddhism, where did the belief in Buddhism of...
I disagree with the first part of this response. I would argue that Naturalism is the dogma of Deism.
The last part of the response is simply brilliant. Thanks.
It's been a while since I visited this forum. I can address this question.
The Founders created two documents, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution. The Declaration defined the US creed, our core philosophy. The Constitution defined the US government.
The authors of...
Like a previous poster said, the whole idea of Hell evolved outside of the Bible. There is lots of good historical research about how Hell and the Devil came about. It might be worth reading about and digging into a little more if you are interested in that kind of thing.
If you worry about...
I have to disagree. Moral statements do not require that we presuppose the existence of God. Morals, even in the fullest sense, are completely natural. (What is the "partial sense?")
We have a built-in sense of natural morality. (Google "natural morality". There is at least one group...
We believe in God in some form because that is human nature. It's genetic.
Why do we communicate using language? Because that is human nature.
Why do we communicate using a specific language? That comes from our culture.
Why do we have a specific idea of God? That comes from our...
Let me answer it from a Deist perspective. In the classic Deist article, the Preamble to the Declaration Independence, God is referred to as "Nature's God" because in Deism, God is viewed as the creator of nature. If you want to know what God is thinking, look at Nature. What is true? What...
I second the motion.
Friday is named for the goddess Freya, and Saturday after Saturn. Let's celebrate and be faithful by enjoying the gifts of Freya every weekday, and then kicking off the weekend with a Saturnalia! :woohoo:
Morals come from culture. They are memes. They evolve. They change over time.
Morals are mores. They come from one's social group. If you belong to a religion, your religion plays a big role in your mores. Mores about right and wrong are morals.
Morals grow from human nature and human...
Not really, but I get your point.
In classic Deism, "God" is Nature's God, or the creator of the natural universe. No God, no universe.
In contemporary Deism, "God" is more of a human abstraction. We say certain kinds of prayers at government ceremonies. We put "In God we trust" on our...
I don't understand the question. Which God? You can't assume that everyone else perceives God the same way you do. When you say "God," what exactly is it that you are talking about?
I'm Scott the First, the Pope of the Holy Deist Church.
OK, maybe there isn't really a Holy Deist Church, but if there was, I would certainly be the Pope.
OK, maybe I'm just a guy with a little imagination, an sense of fun, and a little too much free time. Whatever.
I'm what I call a...