Body & Soul0 min ago
A Godless Universe
46 Answers
The truth is we live in a godless universe. But many people find this idea intolerable and so over the centuries have invented a vast supernatural fantasy in which their god gives them protection, reward, punishment, love in exchange for a life of complete devotion. God is a father figure, boss, CEO, fat controller etc.
Or possibly a shepherd. There are many ovine metaphors in the bible in particular and in christianity in general. So my question is: Are you a sheep ? Are you a lost sheep desperately seeking a shepherd ? Or are you an adult human capable of standing on your own two feet, facing reality and at least trying to work it out for yourself ?
Or possibly a shepherd. There are many ovine metaphors in the bible in particular and in christianity in general. So my question is: Are you a sheep ? Are you a lost sheep desperately seeking a shepherd ? Or are you an adult human capable of standing on your own two feet, facing reality and at least trying to work it out for yourself ?
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David90 - There are many ovine metaphors in the bible in particular and in christianity in general.//
That's really not a stretch is it?
Jesus lived in a community where sheep were central to the economy, and to most people's lives.
What better way to illustrate lofty principles to uneducated people than to use metaphors that they would understand - the sheep-shepherd interface being the most obvious, and therefore frequent.
Even a dyed-in-the-wool (sorry!) atheist like me can see that.
That's really not a stretch is it?
Jesus lived in a community where sheep were central to the economy, and to most people's lives.
What better way to illustrate lofty principles to uneducated people than to use metaphors that they would understand - the sheep-shepherd interface being the most obvious, and therefore frequent.
Even a dyed-in-the-wool (sorry!) atheist like me can see that.
When someone states, "The truth is ..." as opposed to "I have reason to believe .." then the burden of proof of that statement should be on them, not to be allowed to go around making claims and saying that is ok then need not justify them it is up to others to prove it wrong. That is a terrible conceit.
David90 Come back into the fold.
The First Church of Answerbank is waiting to welcome you
Ab Editor (click on the red letters) will lead you to the truth through his great revelation. We have no shepherds as yet, but we are a broad church, and your woolly doctrine is acceptable
The First Church of Answerbank is waiting to welcome you
Ab Editor (click on the red letters) will lead you to the truth through his great revelation. We have no shepherds as yet, but we are a broad church, and your woolly doctrine is acceptable
David - I think you are being unnecessarily hard on people who believe in a god, of whatever persuasion.
Large parts of humanity seek and receive comfort from the fact that there is a supreme being who is responsible for them - it is a cornerstone of many belief systems.
The simple fact that this concept has passed down from primitive man to now is proof of how deeply embedded in the psyche of the human species this need is.
Personally, I feel no need for such a comfort blanket, but I completely understand people who do - indeed I share my life with one - and I think that to decry that view and opine that you are 'an adult human standing on your own two feet ...' implies a sense of superiority to which we non-believers are really not entitled.
People whose dreams are not others' dreams deserve the same space for their views, assuming they are not using pain and suffering to inflict them on others - as all major faiths do and have done throughout history.
So let's live and let live - as the saying goes.
Large parts of humanity seek and receive comfort from the fact that there is a supreme being who is responsible for them - it is a cornerstone of many belief systems.
The simple fact that this concept has passed down from primitive man to now is proof of how deeply embedded in the psyche of the human species this need is.
Personally, I feel no need for such a comfort blanket, but I completely understand people who do - indeed I share my life with one - and I think that to decry that view and opine that you are 'an adult human standing on your own two feet ...' implies a sense of superiority to which we non-believers are really not entitled.
People whose dreams are not others' dreams deserve the same space for their views, assuming they are not using pain and suffering to inflict them on others - as all major faiths do and have done throughout history.
So let's live and let live - as the saying goes.
andy-hughes, //Large parts of humanity seek and receive comfort from the fact that there is a supreme being who is responsible for them //
Just a point of order ..... that isn't a 'fact'.
//assuming they are not using pain and suffering to inflict them on others - as all major faiths do and have done throughout history. //
You're kidding!
Just a point of order ..... that isn't a 'fact'.
//assuming they are not using pain and suffering to inflict them on others - as all major faiths do and have done throughout history. //
You're kidding!
Naomi -
//andy-hughes, //Large parts of humanity seek and receive comfort from the fact that there is a supreme being who is responsible for them //
Just a point of order ..... that isn't a 'fact'.//
Absolutely - careless writing on my part - let's substitute the word 'notion'.
//assuming they are not using pain and suffering to inflict them on others - as all major faiths do and have done throughout history. //
You're kidding! ??
No - why would I be? Or am I missing your meaning?
//andy-hughes, //Large parts of humanity seek and receive comfort from the fact that there is a supreme being who is responsible for them //
Just a point of order ..... that isn't a 'fact'.//
Absolutely - careless writing on my part - let's substitute the word 'notion'.
//assuming they are not using pain and suffering to inflict them on others - as all major faiths do and have done throughout history. //
You're kidding! ??
No - why would I be? Or am I missing your meaning?
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