Incredulity in the supernatural.

[Secret Chief]

I believe rivers flow down hill naturally. So if they travel uphill something supernatural is happening even if it can be explained.

Well, rivers don't flow uphill. If they did there would be a natural reason, whether humans could yet understand why.

 

[Aupmanyav]

In your world view, what is our purpose? i assume we are fundamentally different from the rest of the animal kingdom? i do have my own responses but i'd really like to know yours

Another atheist (strong) here, but I am a Hindu atheist. I believe that all things that exist in the universe without any exception arose out of 'physical energy' which was there at the time of expansion of the universe (Inflation). They include humans, animals, vegetation, non-living substances, even dark energy and dark matter (about which we do not know much); there being no fundamental difference between them. All of them are constituted by 'physical energy'.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Data is just data. It's anything BUT absolute truth. It's all relative to context, and subject to interpretation. And interpretations are always prone to error. Science is clearly not the magic lantern that delivers to us the absolute truth of anything. Mostly all it does is provide us with the next logical question.

Still, science is better than religious scriptures. It does not depend on fake stories. It accepts what it does not know.

I believe our purpose is to be at peace with our creator.

Other than procreation, we do not have any other purpose. All the rest are created by us.

If you were alone in the universe, would you create things to entertain yourself, amuse yourself, things to love.
With our limitations we can when bored paint a picture or create a sculpture, look at it with pride.
But with unlimited power in a lonely universe what would you create.

Amuse, bored, love, pride, anger, hate, envy, lust. Does your God (if you have one) have these emotions?

 

[Quintessence]

You have qualified 'truth' with the adjective 'absolute'. Why?

Because the person they're responding to use that phrase.

Which I also strongly objected to because the sciences are not some sort of authoritarian, dogmatic exercise that proclaims absolute truths about anything. And it drives me nuts as a scientist when (usually) non-scientists treat it that way.

 

[viole]

Hey hey, Atheist here, when i was young i believed in ESP powers and ghosts and stuff, but with the years i felt insufficient evidence (although very entertaining) was being provided, and kinda put it away, i still think there's things out there i cannot explain, but if i need to leap into supernatural phenomena to justify it... i don't care that much
So, i see you are quite religious, i don't know what religion, probably mostly Christian, or at least God believers. U have a book that's a collection of books, that has surely been edited time and time again, translated from ancient languages that nowadays we have a pretty good idea what they meant, but a lot of time has passed since.
Your deity is Infinitely powerful, knows all that has happened, happens, and will happen i assume Everything in this world is like it is, because this deity set it that way.
In your world view, what is our purpose? i assume we are fundamentally different from the rest of the animal kingdom? i do have my own responses but i'd really like to know yours
Cheers!

Are you Swedish?

Ciao

- viole

 

[MikeF]

Because the person they're responding to use that phrase.

Thanks for that. I had not scrolled back far enough to get the full context in which it was being used. I deleted my post.

 

[PureX]

Still, science is better than religious scriptures.

Better for what? It depends on what one is seeking to gain from each of these endeavors.

It does not depend on fake stories. It accepts what it does not know.

There are no “fake stories”. There are only stories. And they all contain elements of both fact and fiction.

Other than procreation, we do not have any other purpose. All the rest are created by us.

Creating meaning and purpose IS our purpose. That is how we serve our place in the universe.

Amuse, bored, love, pride, anger, hate, envy, lust. Does your God (if you have one) have these emotions?

I have no way of knowing if God exists, or what that would entail. But even I can see that there is more going on here than blind, stupid, physics.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Better for what? It depends on what one is seeking to gain from each of these endeavors.
There are no “fake stories”. There are only stories. And they all contain elements of both fact and fiction.
Creating meaning and purpose IS our purpose. That is how we serve our place in the universe.
I have no way of knowing if God exists, or what that would entail. But even I can see that there is more going on here than blind, stupid, physics.

What are you seeking?
They contain fiction, you admit.
Exactly, no purpose and meanings given by any God. And for procreation, evolution forces us.
It is your background which makes you feel there is more than physics. I do not know who can be called blind.

 

[Aupmanyav]

A very lofty goal although it is a goal I am yet to achieve.
5: O SON OF BEING! Love Me, that I may love thee. If thou lovest Me not, My love can in no wise reach thee. Know this, O servant.
6: O SON OF BEING! Thy Paradise is My love; thy heavenly home, reunion with Me. Enter therein and tarry not. This is that which hath been destined for thee in Our kingdom above and Our exalted dominion.

And if such a God exists.
Oh, what a smart deal. If you don't love me, I too don't love you. How can an all-mighty loving God's love cannot reach every one? God powerless to make his love reach every one.
If it is destined, then why should a God or a human worry about it? Nothing more than snake-oil selling, no evidence.
Silly statements.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Religion, as brought by a Prophet of God teaches the virtues such as to love all humanity unconditionally, to be free from prejudices, to love all nations, races and religions and work for the betterment of humanity. ..
From where I stand the world today sorely lacks religion. The further humanity goes away from religion the more barbaric, hostile and cruel we are becoming.

Should the lamp of religion be obscured, chaos and confusion will ensue, and the lights of fairness and justice, of tranquillity and peace cease to shine.

Is that teaching required? Every one knows that blah-blah but not every one goes by that.
You have many religions and that is one reason for conflict. Every time a so-called messenger of so-called God comes, he adds a religion creating more conflict. Humans remain humans, nothing can turn them into so-called angels.
The lamps of religion has never provided light, but darkness only. More religions, more darkness.

 

[blü 2]

even I can see that there is more going on here than blind, stupid, physics.

Biochemistry, you mean?

 

[Trailblazer]

And if such a God exists.
Oh, what a smart deal. If you don't love me, I too don't love you.
How can an all-mighty loving God's love cannot reach every one? God powerless to make his love reach every one.

God will still love us if we don't love Him, but His love cannot reach us if we cut Him off.
The upshot is that God is not going to force His love upon anyone.

 

[loverofhumanity]

Is that teaching required? Every one knows that blah-blah but not every one goes by that.
You have many religions and that is one reason for conflict. Every time a so-called messenger of so-called God comes, he adds a religion creating more conflict. Humans remain humans, nothing can turn them into so-called angels.
The lamps of religion has never provided light, but darkness only. More religions, more darkness.

No. We can always turn to our common humanity. Just respecting each others beliefs might help peace a lot.

My understanding is that there was only ever one ever evolving religion. For example Hinduism was meant to evolve into Buddhism then Christianity into Islam and so on. But due to the religious leaders wanting to maintain control and power, they prevented their followers from evolving and moving on to the next stage of the religion.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I believe our purpose is to be at peace with our creator.

Not our. Yours.

 

[Aupmanyav]

The upshot is that God is not going to force His love upon anyone.

That is not love. He (according to you) does not grant the benefits of his love to all people - conditional.

No. We can always turn to our common humanity. Just respecting each others beliefs might help peace a lot.

Then there is no need for any God or religion. Messengers are a waste and a nuisance, because what they say will always be corrupted.,

 

[Trailblazer]

That is not love. He (according to you) does not grant the benefits of his love to all people - conditional.

No, I said God does not force His love on anyone. I would not want Him to force His love on me.

 

[Aupmanyav]

No. We can always turn to our common humanity. Just respecting each others beliefs might help peace a lot.

Then there is no need for any God or religion. Messengers are a waste and a nuisance, because what they say will always be corrupted.,

 

[Aupmanyav]

No, I said God does not force His love on anyone. I would not want Him to force His love on me.

An all-mighty loving God will not leave anyone without his love, whether they want it or not.

 

[Trailblazer]

An all-mighty loving God will not leave anyone without his love, whether they want it or not.

I am sorry, I misspoke. You are correct. God does not leave anyone without His love, whether they want it or not.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I am sorry, I misspoke. You are correct. God does not leave anyone without His love, whether they want it or not.

Then why was Bahaollah railing against those who did not accept One God or his being God's latest manifestations?
Trailblazer, you cannot win. As we say 'Truth alone wins not untruth" (Satyameva jayate, nanritam).
That is the national motto of India.