doctormike, I'm interested in learning your assumption about me and thus where I fall on your list. 
Religion and scuba
- Thread starter Sonnylynnvick75
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
dfx
Contributor
Another reason is that religion is something that can't be talked about. All a believer can say is that "I'm right and you're wrong" without anything to go on. The claims made by the religion can't be demonstrated to be true in any way and also (by definition) can't be demonstrated to be false. Yet, these claims have the profoundest influence on the believer's view of the universe, up to the point of condemning everyone else who doesn't share the same views. And this is why religious faith is dangerous. It's the strongest force in dividing humanity today and the very concept of religion itself precludes any solution to this division.
drrich2
Contributor
For those of us who accept the Biblical account, there's been plenty of demonstration. For those who refuse to believe the evidence is real, they see no evidence. And without religion there seems little to unite humanity aside from self interest. Dangerous? Can be. Can also be quite protective.
Well, I am not sure that one cannot prove that the bible has been written by humans and not inspired by a superior "being". It is enough to read the first page of the bible, the genesis. If one has a minimum of knowledge, he just cannot admit that the way God is said to have created the universe does not square up with any common sense.
So then you have the choice between 2 options:
1. The creation of the universe, as litterally related by the bible, does not square up with the reality. So anything that is written in the bible is subject to caution.
2. You believe that the words used to describe the creation have to be taken with a fair bit of salt and a lot of imagination.
If one elects to choose the last choice, then he opens the door to any interpretation of the bible. But then one opens the door to anything and it's opposite. Welcome then to any misleading behaviour.
.
dfx
Contributor
The bible is not evidence. The bible is the claim.
I don't know, but the fact that all humans are human is a pretty good reason to stand united. But religion doesn't allow that. It promotes, no, it mandates separation of all people into an in-group and an out-group. Us vs. them. Protective? Sure, but only within your own group.
---------- Post added July 15th, 2015 at 03:36 PM ----------
Well, that's just the thing. Religion demands suspense of reason and critical thinking. It demands that you just believe it. That's the whole idea of religion and faith. In fact, not questioning it is promoted as a virtue! And to top it off, it adds the threat of eternal damnation, just in case you had any doubts left. Well, at least two of the major religions work this way.Well, I am not sure that one cannot prove that the bible has been written by humans and not inspired by a superior "being". It is enough to read the first page of the bible, the genesis. If one has a minimum of knowledge, he just cannot admit that the way God is said to have created the universe does not square up with any common sense.
So then you have the choice between 2 options:
1. The creation of the universe, as litterally related by the bible, does not square up with the reality. So anything that is written in the bible is subject to caution.
2. You believe that the words used to describe the creation have to be taken with a fair bit of salt and a lot of imagination.
If one elects to choose the last choice, then he opens the door to any interpretation of the bible. But then one opens the door to anything and it's opposite. Welcome then to any misleading behaviour.
drrich2
Contributor
The bible is a report of a body of evidence.
"I don't know, but the fact that all humans are human is a pretty good reason to stand united."
Not really. In social species there is generally competition between social groups for resources and to promote individual genetic lines. Hyaena packs, male lions and male hippos, chimpanzee groups, all are examples of how rather than a harmonious unity of the species, you get exclusionary self-interested groups or individuals with an interest in taking down rivals. Often fatally. And no moral wrong to it. A humanity absent the moral restraint of conscience has plenty of reason to be divisive.
"I don't know, but the fact that all humans are human is a pretty good reason to stand united."
Not really. In social species there is generally competition between social groups for resources and to promote individual genetic lines. Hyaena packs, male lions and male hippos, chimpanzee groups, all are examples of how rather than a harmonious unity of the species, you get exclusionary self-interested groups or individuals with an interest in taking down rivals. Often fatally. And no moral wrong to it. A humanity absent the moral restraint of conscience has plenty of reason to be divisive.
dfx
Contributor
Right, just like Homer's Odyssey is a report of a body of evidence that demonstrates the existence of Zeus, sirens and cyclopses. Or just like the Bhagavad Gita is evidence for Shiva and Vishnu.
Good thing that humans do have conscience, empathy and have the capability to think about this kind of stuff!
drrich2
Contributor
What would you expect of a bunch of soulless animals?
One follow up. Christianity does not exclude people. It is open to all, regardless of ethnicity or what have you. Many people don't choose to be included in it, but the invitation is open.
---------- Post added July 15th, 2015 at 03:57 PM ----------
"Good thing that humans do have conscience, empathy and have the capability to think about this kind of stuff!"
As I might expect of those descended from one whom, though fallen, was made in God's image.
Otherwise those nursing homes and prisons would look like an unproductive drain on resources, impeding the progress of the species, opening the path to euthanasia.
Well, I am not sure that one cannot prove that the bible has been written by humans and not inspired by a superior "being". It is enough to read the first page of the bible, the genesis. If one has a minimum of knowledge, he just cannot admit that the way God is said to have created the universe does not square up with any common sense.
So then you have the choice between 2 options:
1. The creation of the universe, as litterally related by the bible, does not square up with the reality. So anything that is written in the bible is subject to caution.
2. You believe that the words used to describe the creation have to be taken with a fair bit of salt and a lot of imagination.
If one elects to choose the last choice, then he opens the door to any interpretation of the bible. But then one opens the door to anything and it's opposite. Welcome then to any misleading behaviour.
The contradictions begin in Genesis with differing versions of creation, and continue throughout the entire sorry document. The Old Testament is a collection of texts written by many different authors over several centuries, strung together in a manner that was dictated by political and theological considerations. The various texts were written by, about, and for the Hebrew people. It's equivalent to a history of the Inquisition written by Torquemada, or an explanation of events leading to the recent invasion of Iraq written by Cheney. Fundamentally worthless.
Similar threads
