Seeing as we cannot communicate with donkeys, how can we know that they aren't?
Or, perhaps donkeys lack the cognitive ability to do so... but what about the other great apes, with whom we can communicate with (albeit in a limited fashion)?
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If You Knew There Were No Gods, Would You Still Follow Your Religion?
- Thread starter Sunstone
- Start date
Seeing as we cannot communicate with donkeys, how can we know that they aren't?
Or, perhaps donkeys lack the cognitive ability to do so... but what about the other great apes, with whom we can communicate with (albeit in a limited fashion)?
I will point out that, even though I don't believe in a Creator God, I think in a somewhat similar way. Living just for the sake of living for another day, only to die at some indeterminable point in the future, just isn't enough for me; I need more.
That "more", for me, comes from leaving even a small mark on the culture in the form of art. I don't really think about any divinely ordained "higher purpose", or if we have some "cosmic scale purpose"; I often call dwelling on the cosmic scale too much "looking on the face of Cthulhu".
Even if people didn't believe in God, i think humans in general are capable of doing great things and art is a form of what human beings are capable of. I really appreciate art and find it fascinating in expressing human feelings and perception of life. Many times artists just feel like drawing or creating something and many great things are achieved. Many times they don't even fully understand what they have done because it was their inner self that was making all these things, not their rational conscious mind.
Exactly.
In Hellenism, it's the Muses which give us our stories. In Celtic thought, the inspiring force is called Awen. Nordic Lore tells that artistic (and intellectual) inspiration comes from Odin, which He gets from the Mead of Poetry. (Side note: that's actually kinda interesting: I understand that Islam forbids the consumption of alcoholic beverages, whereas in European Paganism, inspiration comes from consuming alcohol... and yet I don't drink except ritually and only the smallest of sips. LOL)
I've written a few fairy tales now, and while there are certain themes that I had in mind while writing them, I'm not particularly interested in dwelling on what I think, as what others see in them. After all, I don't really consider them to have been conceived of by me and me alone; they came to me. I might say that Woden (Old English name for Odin) "sang" them to me, and then I simply wrote them down as best as I could. That gives me the purpose I need.
What people knows of Islam is so little. They see it as black or white thing, which really disappoint me most of the time. They don't know how deep it is.
The Quran does mention that alcohol have some benefits but the problem is that the down side of it outweigh its benefits. That's why it was prohibited. It's for the greater good.
Regarding inspiration, people from different belief systems give it many names, but at the end they are all just .... names for the same thing which all humanity can experience if they want to and put some dedication to open the gate of knowledge in their innate nature.
I don't think alcohol in itself gives inspiration but it is just that the person allow his inner self to get inspiration in that state.
Many other people chooses different ways like drinking coffee, or to write while naked, etc, lol
I hope uncle Sunstone--aka Phil--won't get mad that we stripped his thread out of him and went a little off-topic.
Sorry uncle Phil, i was too interested that i couldn't let it go.
Geoff-Allen
Resident megalomaniac
I don't subscribe 2 any ONE religion ... so the question is probly NOT addressed to people like me ....
I would continue to cultivate kindness & compassion because it simply feeels better than being angry or judgemental.
So if there were no God, I would still stick to my 'practice'.
Thanks for the thought-provoking thread!
I would continue to cultivate kindness & compassion because it simply feeels better than being angry or judgemental.
So if there were no God, I would still stick to my 'practice'.
Thanks for the thought-provoking thread!
Kolibri
Well-Known Member
If I knew there was no Jehovah. I would be too selfish to follow practical wisdom. I would have isolated myself from people that care about me to pursue things that would shorten my life, and lead to much heartache. The practical wisdom is still there (such as in the book of Proverbs) but I would have been too morally stupid to keep it.
It is my fear of displeasing my friend and knowing that he wants what is best for me in the long run that keeps me to my set course.
It is my fear of displeasing my friend and knowing that he wants what is best for me in the long run that keeps me to my set course.
SkepticX
Member
No HaShem no me or you so the question is moot!
The question is moot for you, but not moot for everyone.
Whats Ina Name
New Member
I would still follow the principals. I wouldn't feel so guilty when I have minor slip ups though. And I would probably disregard some of the obligatory rituals. But, for the most part I'd still be who I am.
we-live-now
Active Member
I can't wrap my mind around this question.
To me it sounds like asking "If you knew there was no air, would you still try to breathe"?
J Ciresoli
Member
No, I would not still follow my religion without the fulfillment of the burden of proof. It would be as logical as believing in the tooth fairy, Santa Claus or fairies.
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Aristotle once said the mark of an educated person was their ability to entertain in their minds thoughts they did not agree with. Would you agree or disagree with Aristotle? I'm curious to know.
Sha'irullah
رسول الآلهة
I always found religion to be nothing but role play and I love role play. Considering I reverted back to Islam and remain an adamant atheist I am doing just that now. I love the ritualism of Islam, the arts, the history, the philosophies spawned from it and the practice itself.
Who cares if gods aren't real, just imagine they are for your own amusement
Who cares if gods aren't real, just imagine they are for your own amusement
Sha'irullah
رسول الآلهة
Yet we have holidays centered around Santa Claus and engage in practices as if the Tooth Fairy was real. We literally spend a whole month celebrating Santa yet we know for a fact he is none existent.
Could you not worship Allah in the same manner?
dgirl1986
Big Queer Chesticles!
I moved away from paganism because I came to the conclusion the gods did not exist.
Did not understand the question for atheists
we-live-now
Active Member
Absolutely, at least I think I do. I understand that as detaching your (often subjective) heart from your objective, logical mind. I can't even get my logical mind around the question, however.
ImaTroll
Member
buddhism is a religion that doesn't require embracing a god concept.
many religions possess useful moral codes, even if their god concepts become a mere afterthought.
ThePainefulTruth
Romantic-Cynic
My "religion" or philosophical viewpoint is that Truth is God, whether that Truth/God is a supernatural consciousness or not. So my religion is about the worship of Truth via the pursuit of Truth, and no matter what is found, the Truth is still the Truth. Can I have an Amen!!!