jimmydanger wrote:Someone spent an awful lot of time and energy to support their atheist beliefs, when all they had to do was repeat this simple truth: It's not known (and most likely not knowable) if God exists. Period.
This is what bugs me about extremists. They will go to any length to validate their point of view. If religious people want to believe and have faith, what does it hurt? Yes some people twist other people's faith for profit or power. But the average religious person does not want to harm anyone and wants peace. These are good virtues. The problem then becomes identifying those malicious individuals who would take advantage of those of faith or use their power to persecute and harm people of other faiths. This includes priests who molest altar boys, Muslim terrorists, hypocrite Neo Cons and others. These people are the world's true enemy.
I would also point out to atheists that is entirely possible that a supreme being did in fact create the universe but is somehow outside of it and unable to communicate with us, or us with Him. Again, not knowable, which make arguing about this subject interesting but ultimately pointless.
jimmydanger wrote:Someone spent an awful lot of time and energy to support their atheist beliefs, when all they had to do was repeat this simple truth: It's not known (and most likely not knowable) if God exists. Period.
Atheists spend time and energy to counter the vastly more pervasive religious propaganda.
jimmydanger wrote:This is what bugs me about extremists. They will go to any length to validate their point of view. If religious people want to believe and have faith, what does it hurt? Yes some people twist other people's faith for profit or power.
First, if someone is going to propagate information on a subject, the first thing they should ask, “Is it true?” There’s enough lies and bullshit to go around. We don’t need more. Second, the functionality of religion is no longer what it was centuries ago. It is retarding human progress; in science, in social development, and in critical thinking generally.
jimmydanger wrote:But the average religious person does not want to harm anyone and wants peace. These are good virtues.
The average religious person gives credibility and authority to the extremists. They are enablers.
jimmydanger wrote:The problem then becomes identifying those malicious individuals who would take advantage of those of faith or use their power to persecute and harm people of other faiths. This includes priests who molest altar boys, Muslim terrorists, hypocrite Neo Cons and others. These people are the world's true enemy.
These people hide behind a façade of righteousness. That façade is supported by people unwilling to question their own beliefs. The people who are more open to ask questions and research their faith are more likely to become atheists. People who understand the least of their own religion grip it the tightest.
jimmydanger wrote:I would also point out to atheists that is entirely possible that a supreme being did in fact create the universe but is somehow outside of it and unable to communicate with us, or us with Him. Again, not knowable, which make arguing about this subject interesting but ultimately pointless.
What you know and don’t can be measured against the claims of religion. In the end it becomes as pointless as debating the existence of Unicorns or Leprechauns. The likelihood of their existence is so slim you may as well just admit they don’t exist.
But, I will say that Buddhism is a possible exception to many flaws of theism. Buddhists accept new information and change their beliefs accordingly. Advances in quantum physics were only possible because of Eastern religions like Buddhism and Hinduism.
"...now I am become Death [Shiva], the destroyer of worlds..."
Physicist Robert Oppenheimer
Supervising Scientist Manhattan Project
on 16 July 1945 at 0529 HRS,
in the Jornada del Muerto desert near
the Trinity site in the White Sands Missile Range.
...quoting from the Bhagavad-Gita upon
witnessing first atomic detonation by mankind.







