General Discussion

truebrit71

(20,805 posts)

91. A believer in what?

Tue Jun 17, 2014, 11:42 AM

Jun 2014

Belief in mythical cloud beings that simultaneously love us, but condemn us to hell? Yes, that would represent a character flaw...

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

147 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Why do we consider "faith" to be a virtue? [View all] MindPilot Jun 2014 OP

I don't. Anymore. nt thereismore Jun 2014 #1

"We" don't. MineralMan Jun 2014 #2

"We" as in the very generalized cultural-societal sense. MindPilot Jun 2014 #35

This is very specifically a religious concern and probably belongs in the religion forum el_bryanto Jun 2014 #3

I think this is specifically about politicians talking about their faith, really. n/t djean111 Jun 2014 #21

Yes - but it's moving more towards general principals and not just Hillary's statement. nt el_bryanto Jun 2014 #24

Agreed. Raine1967 Jun 2014 #34

Be nice if our poltical leaders would follow that advice. n/t MindPilot Jun 2014 #36

No shit... truebrit71 Jun 2014 #80

This is very specifically a political issue and belongs right here. Warren Stupidity Jun 2014 #75

This isn't the religion forum. You don't get to just pound on people until they leave. el_bryanto Jun 2014 #76

No it isn't, but nice try... truebrit71 Jun 2014 #81

Bullshit. el_bryanto Jun 2014 #82

Ah, I see, 'public figures...heads of state' are not political leaders... truebrit71 Jun 2014 #84

They are not specific political leaders el_bryanto Jun 2014 #85

Are you using hyperbole or asking some dude named Jesus that question? truebrit71 Jun 2014 #86

Hyperbole. I'm sorry if I confused you - I guess I assumed you were smart enough to el_bryanto Jun 2014 #87

Speaking of being smart enough to figure things out... truebrit71 Jun 2014 #89

Faith and religion are the same subject in this context. Or I can't imagine why they wouldn't be. el_bryanto Jun 2014 #90

I have faith the sun will raise in the east tomorrow... truebrit71 Jun 2014 #94

So you don't see this (from the OP) as a question about religion? el_bryanto Jun 2014 #98

No. Religion is not the same thing as faith. truebrit71 Jun 2014 #105

Thanks for the dictionary definition. I have to admire your commitment to pretense. el_bryanto Jun 2014 #109

Shouldn't you be off somewhere whining about being oppressed or something? truebrit71 Jun 2014 #117

And the cherry on the top. el_bryanto Jun 2014 #118

..and yet someone that has a handle exactly like that whines about it... truebrit71 Jun 2014 #119

I wonder who you are talking about? el_bryanto Jun 2014 #120

Where you can gang up on people and stifle dissent? truebrit71 Jun 2014 #121

Oh I don't participate in the Religion Forum anymore el_bryanto Jun 2014 #122

not eternal torture, perhaps. but at least a phaser on kill or a photon torpedo perhaps. unblock Jun 2014 #4

Your punishment will be assignment to the away team. MindPilot Jun 2014 #41

The Agony Booth sarge43 Jun 2014 #44

Mr. Kyle... Octafish Jun 2014 #140

I have no idea. elleng Jun 2014 #5

"we" don't.... mike_c Jun 2014 #6

+1. closeupready Jun 2014 #9

Many of us don't. nt eppur_se_muova Jun 2014 #7

I guess because it means they are optimistic and hopeful. Rex Jun 2014 #8

Was Osama Bin Laden edhopper Jun 2014 #13

That Repubican candidate who says his Christianity allows for stoning gay people to death.... Bluenorthwest Jun 2014 #18

If they are optimistic and hopeful that the End Times are near, they won't plan for the future. arcane1 Jun 2014 #37

Take a good long look around at this current society... Moostache Jun 2014 #48

So following that argument Goblinmonger Jun 2014 #83

That could be the perception of many in the general public. ZombieHorde Jun 2014 #135

Ding ding ding! We have a winner! Rex Jun 2014 #137

if one person believes something bizarre, they're nuts. If enough people believe it... NightWatcher Jun 2014 #10

YOU MEAN KIRK'S NOT REAL!!?? Rod Beauvex Jun 2014 #11

An opiate of the masses, as it were. [n/t] Maedhros Jun 2014 #30

Slow down. There really is a Captain Kirk: icymist Jun 2014 #69

I bet he got tease alot for that. Rod Beauvex Jun 2014 #73

The media accepts anyone's faith in anything edhopper Jun 2014 #12

But if you say Sulu is important to you, they deny your rights and say God wants you to suffer.... Bluenorthwest Jun 2014 #14

And that's all there is to faith? really? el_bryanto Jun 2014 #16

Actually, 'faith' is invisible and knowable only by the individual Bluenorthwest Jun 2014 #27

"Vote for me because of Jesus' is heresy in a religious context..." YoungDemCA Jun 2014 #93

faith is a private matter noiretextatique Jun 2014 #114

The United States of America is, overall, and extremely religious nation. MohRokTah Jun 2014 #15

Yet another problem with this country...as if we don't have enough anyway! Moostache Jun 2014 #51

More accurately, faith is merely trust in that of which we do not have absolute knowledge LanternWaste Jun 2014 #17

To me there's a big difference in acknowledging a general lack of absolute knowledge Arugula Latte Jun 2014 #26

Belief in imaginary red and blue lines on a map restricting both us and others seems pretty far out LanternWaste Jun 2014 #28

But don't you believe in the existence of the brutish Gerrymander? Arugula Latte Jun 2014 #29

There is no proof at all that god exists. You know other drivers exist! nt Logical Jun 2014 #33

I see all the god bother as part of the smarminess of American political life RainDog Jun 2014 #19

Boy that's the truth...The Winan's etc... randys1 Jun 2014 #108

he's hitting those high notes RainDog Jun 2014 #113

Anti-intellectualism and belief in magical nonsense have been venerated in U.S. culture for decades. Arugula Latte Jun 2014 #20

Archie Bunker said the same thing: waddirum Jun 2014 #62

The happy horseshit YoungDemCA Jun 2014 #97

Indeed, but threads like this and conversations like this are helpful and rare. randys1 Jun 2014 #110

I'm not a religious person but I believe as Al Gore has stated in his book "The Assault on Reason" Uncle Joe Jun 2014 #22

Big MINUS to me. blkmusclmachine Jun 2014 #23

I consider it to be a weakness. Whisp Jun 2014 #25

Who is "we"? I don't. n/t MadrasT Jun 2014 #31

people have all sorts of notions about faith, not restricted to any one belief bigtree Jun 2014 #32

+1 Jamaal510 Jun 2014 #43

thank you bigtree Puzzledtraveller Jun 2014 #78

Very simple and to the point YoungDemCA Jun 2014 #99

but they ARE trying to impose their views on us noiretextatique Jun 2014 #115

+1. SammyWinstonJack Jun 2014 #124

The religious have a big lobby and have convinced a great many that having faith rhett o rick Jun 2014 #38

I don't. alarimer Jun 2014 #39

Agreed. And more than being about power, per se, MindPilot Jun 2014 #42

I don't consider it a virtue. nt City Lights Jun 2014 #40

Faith and gullibility are the same. The only difference is whether you want it to sound good or bad. Towlie Jun 2014 #45

Thanks for calling 80% of likely Democrat voters gullible. moriah Jun 2014 #68

same reason we go out doors instead of windows every time? #Hume MisterP Jun 2014 #46

For Christsakes, NO! AAO Jun 2014 #47

I know it's not politically correct, but AAO Jun 2014 #49

my favorite definition of faith-- Hoppy Jun 2014 #50

Definitions: Fred Gilmore Jun 2014 #52

I do not consider "faith" to be a virtue !!! SamKnause Jun 2014 #53

Faith is a construct not related to religion. Sting sang about it in one of my favorite songs. ancianita Jun 2014 #54

There's enough straw in that post to make a broom. rug Jun 2014 #55

Completely agree with you mainer Jun 2014 #56

all comments about the overzealous religious traditions of this country aside, maybe it's because... 0rganism Jun 2014 #57

I don't. Cant speak for everyone though. nt abelenkpe Jun 2014 #58

Perhaps because telling 80% of teh world they're delusional is unwise n/t Prophet 451 Jun 2014 #59

As a believer I don't look to the faith of my elected officials or candidates. hrmjustin Jun 2014 #60

"I don't face the prospect of eternal torture if I fail to adequately worship Kirk." Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2014 #61

Basic politics, it isn't rocket science. Egnever Jun 2014 #63

Because the majority of the people who live in our culture LostOne4Ever Jun 2014 #64

it's majority rule Skittles Jun 2014 #65

At this point it's a pledge of cultural normalcy. DirkGently Jun 2014 #66

Maybe alleged "faith" shouldn't be enough. flvegan Jun 2014 #67

Okay, okay. I'll add to the chorus: We? Iggo Jun 2014 #70

To be fair LeftyMom Jun 2014 #71

I don't. nt m-lekktor Jun 2014 #72

And one more aspect -- Le Taz Hot Jun 2014 #74

Been Asking That Question For Years, Taz ProfessorGAC Jun 2014 #125

And to the point of the OP which is more virtuous? truebrit71 Jun 2014 #128

I have faith Puzzledtraveller Jun 2014 #77

Good question. I think it actually exposes a deep character flaw rather than being a 'strength'... truebrit71 Jun 2014 #79

So I as a believer have a deep character flaw? hrmjustin Jun 2014 #88

A believer in what? truebrit71 Jun 2014 #91

Personally I am an Episcopalian. I don't condemn anyone to hell. hrmjustin Jun 2014 #96

No, but your God does... truebrit71 Jun 2014 #101

Not the God I believe in. I believe in a loving God. hrmjustin Jun 2014 #102

So not the Biblical God then? truebrit71 Jun 2014 #103

Yes I prefer the loving God of Christianity. hrmjustin Jun 2014 #104

So never mind all of the bad shit and wicked temper tantrums he had in the old testament... truebrit71 Jun 2014 #106

Yes pretty much. Jesus is the focus of Christians. hrmjustin Jun 2014 #112

But Jesus created hell and said that people will be sent there. Humanist_Activist Jun 2014 #123

What character flaw? rug Jun 2014 #126

The ability to believe the unbelievable... truebrit71 Jun 2014 #127

Sorry but I can't accept there is no God. hrmjustin Jun 2014 #129

See, that sounds 'funny' to me... truebrit71 Jun 2014 #131

well I respect your experience but I don't feel a weight on my sholders as a believer. hrmjustin Jun 2014 #132

You have to take the weight off first... truebrit71 Jun 2014 #134

Without that "character flaw" no one would vote. rug Jun 2014 #130

But it is "logical" to blindly follow the unknown? truebrit71 Jun 2014 #133

That thought is entirely within your mind. rug Jun 2014 #136

Ahh, so apparently a believer in "god" is the rational one... truebrit71 Jun 2014 #138

Judging by this exchange, yes. rug Jun 2014 #139

I'm sorry, but who was it that said, in this very thread in fact, that "condescension".. truebrit71 Jun 2014 #142

Why yes it was. On the other hand, accuracy is a virtue. rug Jun 2014 #143

So other than being hoisted by your own petard... truebrit71 Jun 2014 #144

I got the etymology of petard. rug Jun 2014 #145

To describe you? truebrit71 Jun 2014 #146

Not me. You'll have to excuse me now. I must step back. rug Jun 2014 #147

It's not, but... NuclearDem Jun 2014 #92

Religion has existed from the beginning of cultures treestar Jun 2014 #95

It's pretty obviously not seen as such around here BainsBane Jun 2014 #100

Faith is the cheapest commodity out there, in every sense of the word "cheap." stopbush Jun 2014 #107

There is absolutely nothing virtuous about 'faith' amuse bouche Jun 2014 #111

Carl Sagan's movie "Contact" was pretty interesting aint_no_life_nowhere Jun 2014 #116

Because Gods, politicians, and salesmen of hair products say it is. Tierra_y_Libertad Jun 2014 #141