Religion

Brettongarcia

(2,262 posts)

65. There's a theory that religion is a Santa-type lie for children. One day, we're supposed to see it

Fri Aug 1, 2014, 04:11 AM

Aug 2014

They made up the story of an invisible guy watching us from the North Pole/Heaven. Just to make sure we behaved, when no one was around to see.

The theory is that one day we're supposed to figure it out. Initiates know this - but they don't tell anyone. If you're not smart enough to figure it out, you're dumb enough to be dangerous to yourselves and others. So no one tells.

That's the White Lie theory of Christianity. Absolutely, it works in the case of say, Santa. A myth related to St. Nicholas, and Christianity in point of fact.

No one tells though. We don't want the children to know there's really nobody up there watching them. We don't tell: to make sure the children don't do anything bad when the parents aren't home. Or the police aren't around.

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Pope Francis issues top 10 tips for happiness � including don�t try to convert other people [View all] SecularMotion Jul 2014 OP

They should be able to see your faith by how you lead your life. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #1

An excellent de-conversion tool, I do believe. AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #4

For many yes. Many religious people have turned off people to religion by their actions. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #6

This makes no sense. How is this an excellent de-conversion tool. cbayer Jul 2014 #10

He said.. AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #12

That's very interesting. cbayer Jul 2014 #16

Well, as I've mentioned before AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #21

Keeping religion out of politics is something we both agree on, I believe. cbayer Jul 2014 #24

Why can't you accept that some people incorporate new information and AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #26

People do that and find religion sometimes too. cbayer Jul 2014 #28

I don't lead them anywhere. AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #29

So is it ok with you if people try to show others that there is a different way of seeing things, cbayer Jul 2014 #33

Sure, I believe in the first amendment. AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #35

Does the first amendment include proselytizing? cbayer Jul 2014 #38

Outside the court established boundaries of the state, yes. AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #40

Ok then, as long as you are ok with proselytizing to convert or deconvert. cbayer Jul 2014 #41

Yes! Let's not proselytise. TexasProgresive Jul 2014 #2

+100 Starboard Tack Jul 2014 #7

Cool. Couldn't agree more. cbayer Jul 2014 #3

Dunno. Those Westboro Baptist Church motherfuckers sort of deserve it... AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #22

Sort of deserve what? cbayer Jul 2014 #25

Speak ill of. AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #27

Meh, one of the most significant buddhist truths I learned was cbayer Jul 2014 #30

.......... Goblinmonger Jul 2014 #31

Yep, you might want to pay attention. None of us are beyond learning. Starboard Tack Aug 2014 #76

I have had occasion to direct the exhaust ports of a 1600cc V-Twin in their direction. AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #32

You tried to poison them with carbon dioxide? Or am I reading this wrong? cbayer Jul 2014 #34

It's a bike with a bigger engine than my car. AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #36

So you went to Oklahoma to fart in the face of Westboro with your motorcycle? cbayer Jul 2014 #37

The noise of the engines drowns out their BS. AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #39

The Westboro Baptist Church is loud and offensive. okasha Aug 2014 #88

They are certainly ineffective. AtheistCrusader Aug 2014 #101

Excellent post! Thanks SM. Starboard Tack Jul 2014 #5

I agree. If all heads of state spoke in meaningless platitudes SecularMotion Jul 2014 #9

I know you probably meant this sarcastically, but I do think it has merit. cbayer Jul 2014 #11

"Meaningless platitutdes"? This is your OP Starboard Tack Jul 2014 #14

What a laugh! trotsky Jul 2014 #8

Yep, want to get serious about climate change? Reduce population growth. AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #13

Really? You think climate change is about population growth. Starboard Tack Jul 2014 #15

I do, because studies show it to be true. AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #17

Everything is relative. Starboard Tack Jul 2014 #43

Did you even look at the study? AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #45

I don't get it Starboard Tack Jul 2014 #54

AHAHAHAHAHA AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #55

Good stuff! Congrats! You're my kinda person. I was talking to America there, not you personally Starboard Tack Jul 2014 #59

It really is a shame that this one is not sitting on the IPCC. Warren Stupidity Aug 2014 #77

Fossil fuels use is the biggie - pinto Jul 2014 #44

So what in turn creates the consumption of fossil fuels? In part, more people. They need more energy Brettongarcia Aug 2014 #66

China partially abandoned the single child policy, under pressure from Christians, Catholics Brettongarcia Jul 2014 #46

What happened if you had a second child in China? hrmjustin Jul 2014 #49

Usually significant fines, if you didn't fall into an exception category. AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #50

Did they force abortions? hrmjustin Jul 2014 #51

Here. AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #52

You are right that it is a mess. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #53

Yeah, I think when you have a policy that you can have another kid if your first kid is a cripple or AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #56

Nonsense. Do you just make this shit up? Starboard Tack Jul 2014 #57

Nonsense. Can you do serious research? Deductive reasoning? Brettongarcia Aug 2014 #68

I'm beginning to think thou dost bloviate a tad. You are the one who needs to do some research. Starboard Tack Aug 2014 #69

For catholic Italians, using contraception means ignoring much of their avowed Catholic religion Brettongarcia Aug 2014 #73

uh, yes of course it is. Warren Stupidity Jul 2014 #61

So, are you blaming China's growth rate on Catholicism? All 12 million of them, out of 1.4 billion. Starboard Tack Aug 2014 #62

LOGIC: Why do we want more energy? Mostly because we have more population; they need more Brettongarcia Aug 2014 #67

I'm sorry, but your ignorance of some basic facts is mind boggling. Starboard Tack Aug 2014 #71

I've worked professonally on environmental issues. There is much you are not thinking about Brettongarcia Aug 2014 #83

Your reasoning appears to be both simplistic and biased against religion. Starboard Tack Aug 2014 #85

Listen carefully: the controllable factor in Global Warming, is Overpopulation Brettongarcia Aug 2014 #86

OK, BG, You think the Catholic Church is trying to destroy the planet. Starboard Tack Aug 2014 #87

That's a new one. okasha Aug 2014 #89

Punningly converting an adjective to a noun is an unrecognizable grammatical transformation to you? Brettongarcia Aug 2014 #91

Where the fuck did I do that? Warren Stupidity Aug 2014 #70

You jumped into a discussion about Catholicism and population growth and climate change. Starboard Tack Aug 2014 #72

You made yet another ridiculous assertion and Warren Stupidity Aug 2014 #74

Stick to subjects you know something about. Starboard Tack Aug 2014 #75

google is not your friend on this issue. Warren Stupidity Aug 2014 #78

We are discussing religion here, specifically Catholicism Starboard Tack Aug 2014 #79

You made an assertion of fact that was wrong. I corrected it. Deal with it. Warren Stupidity Aug 2014 #80

Starboard: note 1) problems already in partially Catholic N&S America; and Catholic-targeted China Brettongarcia Aug 2014 #90

ZOMG!!!! okasha Aug 2014 #92

Pop growth remains high in the US. As US levels of energy consumption travel to populous countries Brettongarcia Aug 2014 #93

The party line from the Pope Hate Club. rug Jul 2014 #20

There's a club? AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #23

George Washington's troops celebrated "Pope Burning Day" Brettongarcia Jul 2014 #48

Ask trotsky. They might meet next to the pope fan club. rug Jul 2014 #58

He'd be in good company: our first 34 presidents, and the revolutionary army that savedAmerica Brettongarcia Aug 2014 #64

You must be in awe of the Know Nothing Party then. rug Aug 2014 #82

A name that denigrates that group, with a racial/religious/elitist slur Brettongarcia Aug 2014 #84

Do you think it's even possible to denigrate The Know Nothing Paty? rug Aug 2014 #94

Rug? 1) This is the "RELIGION SECTION" of DU. 2) The OP topic is the POPE. Brettongarcia Aug 2014 #95

Yes, and it is not NativistUnderground. rug Aug 2014 #96

Here we should not discriminate against any particular religion: we should criticize ALL religions Brettongarcia Aug 2014 #98

So we can assume that skepticscott Jul 2014 #18

Oh but it sure sounds good, doesn't it? trotsky Jul 2014 #19

Here a Pope says: don't impinge on others' beliefs; but act on your belief. But that will impinge. Brettongarcia Jul 2014 #47

I like these comments. And feel it may be possible to differentiate between Francis as an individual pinto Jul 2014 #42

They are absolutely smitten with him over here in Italy. cbayer Aug 2014 #63

The church grows almost exclusively through childhood indoctrination... MellowDem Jul 2014 #60

There's a theory that religion is a Santa-type lie for children. One day, we're supposed to see it Brettongarcia Aug 2014 #65

The difference is skepticscott Aug 2014 #97

Good point. Or today, adults who "believe" in Jesus, are systematically discouraged from disbelief Brettongarcia Aug 2014 #99

The fact that BG agrees with you should give you pause about what you typed. rug Aug 2014 #100

I'm trying to remember if I have EVER seen anyone agree with Rug. Or even converse with him. Brettongarcia Aug 2014 #102

I've agreed with rug on numerous occasions. Jim__ Aug 2014 #103

I am wondering if the real point isn't if you believe one way or the other it does not Thinkingabout Aug 2014 #81