This Sort Of Devotion Bewilders Me.

[Canary42]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-46805783

It's rather like the Muslims to Mecca scenario. How can intelligent people believe in such fairytale rubbish ?

[ToraToraTora]

"How can intelligent people believe in such fairytale rubbish ? " - if we knew that canary I suspect the world would be a very different place.

[naomi24]

Khandro, //bleak nihilism//

‘Bleak’? If that’s what you’re seeing, it suggests not only a degree of arrogance but a flaw in your ability to comprehend humanity. If you really believe that those who reject religion possess a lesser capacity for altruism, or compassion, or to love – or an inability to appreciate art, music, literature or nature and the wonders of the universe, you’d be wrong. You should remember that a multitude of stars have been born through the efforts of such people, not least those who selflessly give their time and energies to charitable works worldwide, by far the majority secularists, who neither demand nor expect affiliation to any religion. Just where is the bleakness in their lives or in their ‘spirituality’?

[Canary42]

Thank you for the elucidation v_e, I've awarded BA in gratitude. I "must try harder" in future.

[steg]

Doesn’t bewilder me,
devotion seems quite natural to humans.
Go to football or other sports events, music concert etc. people sacrifice their selfs for country, family.
People can even be devoted to each other

[Canary42]

/// devotion seems quite natural to humans. ///

Obviously, and I wasn't disputing that. But most of your examples aren't bewildering to me.

[ludwig]

// ‘Bleak’? If that’s what you’re seeing, it suggests not only a degree of arrogance but a flaw in your ability to comprehend humanity //

This whole idea that if there's no god, then life is somehow bleak and meaningless, is really silly, and a bit sad. I feel sorry for people who think like that.

[steg]

//Obviously, and I wasn't disputing that. But most of your examples aren't bewildering to me. //

Aye, cause you look at religion as “fairytale rubbish”
It’s just religion to me, people have been devoted to it for what, 10’s of thousands, 100’s of thousands of years, longer?... being devoted to religion is no more bewildering than the others I mentioned

[jim360]

I'm almost disappointed there hasn't been a joke about Brexit yet.

[steg]

What’s the difference between Mays brexit deal and a bucket of jobbies?



Aye, the bucket