Turning your back on your faith

[naomi24]

If turning your back on your faith would guarantee everlasting peace in this world, would you do it?

[boxtops]

People have converted under duress for thousands of years, some willingly if under pressure, rather than die for their faith - thinking it would help - but it doesn't.

[naomi24]

Hi boxtops, duress isn't the issue. I'm talking about all people of all faiths voluntarily relinquishing their belief in exchange for world peace.

[tamborine]

When in impossible distress, as the Chilean Miners, their faith has pulled them thru.

[naomi24]

I know, but this is a metaphorical scenario.

[boxtops]

I would say no, in that case - believers believe that the believing is what will give them/us peace.

[tamborine]

For everlasting peace, I could.

[keyplus90]

Would you?

[naomi24]

Tony, that's not the point. This is a hypothetical question and a simple yes or no is all that's needed.

Keyplus, I have no idea what you mean. Are you going to answer the question?

[RATTER15]

"When in impossible distress, as the Chilean Miners, their faith has pulled them through."

That is actually nonsense, of course it wasn't their faith that pulled them through, they survived because they were fit and healthy and any atheists would have survived just as easily.

But saying that, I fully appreciate what they have all gone through and im sure they all preyed a lot.

At the end of the day, if god was so dammed good why did he allow them to be trapped down there in the first place, shouldnt he have just ensured they were at least atheists?

[keyplus90]

Ratter got a good point there. An atheist would have survived just as easily. Perhaps they were all atheists when they got trapped in.

Naomi - I asked you your own question and here it is again. Would you? and knowing that you would say "YES I WOULD", why do you believe that turning your back on your faith would bring peace in this world. As a matter of fact you have turned your back on your faith once. Leave world's peace aside, did that bring any peace in your own life? Or even this so called hypothetical question shows your problems with faith “once again”.

[naomi24]

Keyplus, you can't answer this question can you. Thought not. :o).

[society]

Perhaps... yes.
But, I might faith in myself is what keeps me going so I'm inclined to revert to old ways.

[Mamyalynne]

No, for I do not believe you can simply wipe out your beliefs just like that.

[anneasquith]

hypothetical, no .

[mike11111]

By definiton, a hypothetical question cannot be answered by a simple Yes or No.

[naomi24]

Mamyalynne, I didn't say wipe out your faith - I said turn your back on your faith.

Mike, I think this can be answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no'.

[KARL]

I certainly would, in an instant - but then maybe not as since I am an agnostic perhaps I would (under the double negative principle) be committing myself to take up a religion. In that case the answer is an emphatic no - which means I still stick to my concept of requiring rational explanation to be convinced in the same way as the religious do not require it. As for those who find themselves in a desparate position, it is very common for them to grasp at any straw that (however fleetingly) presents itself. That is why, for example, people with terminal illness are very easily prayed upon by "cure" peddlers and also promoters of religion. Except where exploitation is involved, I think whatever works to relieve the stress is fine - I am not anti-religious, I just don't want it for myself.

[naomi24]

Actually Tony, it isn't a pointless question, but it is a philosophical one. Perhaps you haven't look at it from that point of view. What am I like indeed. ;o)

Ha ha! That had also occurred to me Karl and I'm pleased someone else picked up on it too. What a turn up for 'the book' that would be! ;o)