Religion

edhopper

(37,691 posts)

35. It also comes down to the motives of the writers

Mon Aug 18, 2014, 11:20 AM

Aug 2014

Now the faithful might say they were inspired/influenced/dictated by God. But as an atheist, I don't accept that there was a God to talk to them. So what was their motivation, did they believe that God was talking through them, did they believe the stories of Jesus and tried to retell them as close as they could to bring their faith to others? Did they have a political motivation and wanted to use these stories to push back against the Romans? Were any of them scam artists like Hubbard and Smith? A combination of some of these?
I don't have an answer, just looking at the questions of what motivated them.

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The Greatest Fake Religion of All Time [View all] Warren Stupidity Aug 2014 OP

Hey, I still see the fnords n/t. malthaussen Aug 2014 #1

Huh, just like sports and wrestling. Some is real and some is fake. NYC_SKP Aug 2014 #2

Fake wrestling can readily be determined to be fake. Warren Stupidity Aug 2014 #10

go tell a wrestler that it's fake Lordquinton Aug 2014 #22

That isn't what is fake about fake wrestling. The "competition" is fake. Warren Stupidity Aug 2014 #31

Agreed Lithos Aug 2014 #51

Good question edhopper Aug 2014 #3

Usually, critical thinking. rug Aug 2014 #4

Sorry, L Ron Hubbard gets the title intaglio Aug 2014 #5

Joseph Smith edhopper Aug 2014 #6

Yes, I'd say that Mormonism takes the lead on fake religions. gtar100 Aug 2014 #7

How is mormonism any more fake than catholicism? Warren Stupidity Aug 2014 #11

Aren't they all, at their base, fake? PoutrageFatigue Aug 2014 #13

I certainly don't disagree. Warren Stupidity Aug 2014 #15

It isn't. It isn't even any more ridiculous, really. (nt) mr blur Aug 2014 #14

Good question. I'd say the true beginnings are lost to history, distorted by "official" stories and gtar100 Aug 2014 #23

It also comes down to the motives of the writers edhopper Aug 2014 #35

Proven falsehoods Al Carroll Aug 2014 #26

"such as stealing most of his book from someone else" trotsky Aug 2014 #28

The gospels are full of contradictory bullshit and errors. Warren Stupidity Aug 2014 #29

So that thing with crackers turning into Jesus body is real, huh? Arugula Latte Aug 2014 #52

It is just a matter of faith for some. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #54

Right -- thus the making fun of the post I responded too, Arugula Latte Aug 2014 #55

I know what you meant. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #59

Do you have... gcomeau Aug 2014 #79

I am not going to argue my faith with you. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #80

So no then. Thought so. -eom gcomeau Aug 2014 #81

I am not here to convince you. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #82

Clearly, since you have nothing to convince with. gcomeau Aug 2014 #97

You have a wonderful day. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #99

While I appreciate the sentiment... gcomeau Aug 2014 #101

Take it how you like but I am done. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #102

You would have to have started to be done... but whatever. -eom gcomeau Aug 2014 #111

Have a nice day. rug Aug 2014 #112

Have you ever decided something you believed in wasn't true edhopper Aug 2014 #56

My faith evolvesbut evidence based I would say no. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #60

How do you decide what parts of the Bible edhopper Aug 2014 #61

What makes sense to me. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #62

I am not talking about edhopper Aug 2014 #63

Wghat makes sense to me and biblicak scholarship to some extent. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #65

Hmm edhopper Aug 2014 #66

ok. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #67

Ah, the believer deus ex machina - get out of jail free card. AtheistCrusader Aug 2014 #84

Whatever. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #85

Do you deny that it ends further inquiry along those lines? AtheistCrusader Aug 2014 #86

After what has been going on here the past few days I have no desire to argue. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #87

A shame. I was away for the last 4 days, so I'm just catching up. AtheistCrusader Aug 2014 #88

Did you enjoy yourself? hrmjustin Aug 2014 #89

I did. AtheistCrusader Aug 2014 #90

I hope you don't leave. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #92

Oh, I like the room. But I wonder if I spend too much time here. AtheistCrusader Aug 2014 #93

Welll it got interesting but insulting as well. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #94

To take a step back... AtheistCrusader Aug 2014 #98

This room just got me down this week. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #100

How does one determine a fake religion? hrmjustin Aug 2014 #8

Aren't I supposed to fly off the handle due to your mere presence? Warren Stupidity Aug 2014 #9

That is up to you but it is a legit question. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #12

Yes, it is. gcomeau Aug 2014 #77

Quite simple... NeoGreen Aug 2014 #16

Please explain my friend? hrmjustin Aug 2014 #17

Give me context... NeoGreen Aug 2014 #18

never mind. I think I get your opinion. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #19

Here endth the lesson (nt) NeoGreen Aug 2014 #20

ok.n/t. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #21

If the claims are proven false Al Carroll Aug 2014 #27

How do you prove thetans don't exist? Warren Stupidity Aug 2014 #30

First of all, it's a religion. Iggo Aug 2014 #32

We well we disagree. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #33

Believers said religion is based on "faith," not fact. So logically: there is no real religion Brettongarcia Aug 2014 #24

Do you think religion exists? Starboard Tack Aug 2014 #25

What about the belief in things that edhopper Aug 2014 #38

Like the earth being flat? Starboard Tack Aug 2014 #48

Well I think the less vague edhopper Aug 2014 #50

I don't know how much is historically accurate. Starboard Tack Aug 2014 #69

Well that is a discussion on what people find edhopper Aug 2014 #72

Religion exists. But it is not true. "Facts of faith" is oxymoronic; a logical selfcontradiction Brettongarcia Aug 2014 #76

No religion? hrmjustin Aug 2014 #34

Imagine? edhopper Aug 2014 #36

no. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #37

You might say I'm a dreamer edhopper Aug 2014 #39

Yes I know the song. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #40

And you don't like edhopper Aug 2014 #41

I like my religion. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #42

Why? amuse bouche Aug 2014 #104

Because it helps me to make some sense of life and it helps me to experience God. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #105

Sorry but that sounds like the same rote nonsense we were forced to regurgitate amuse bouche Aug 2014 #106

What is creepy is the fact is you only seem to post insults. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #107

I'm speaking my mind. Sorry, amuse bouche Aug 2014 #108

Well contrary to your opinion I can think for myself. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #109

Ok amuse bouche Aug 2014 #110

Why do you have to be like this? hrmjustin Aug 2014 #113

Why do you have to be like this? amuse bouche Aug 2014 #114

You asked me a question and I answered. You then insulted me. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #115

You call it insults. I call it constructive criticism amuse bouche Aug 2014 #117

Then there is no reason to continue this. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #118

There never was a reason to continue amuse bouche Aug 2014 #119

Your saying I am a Zombie? hrmjustin Aug 2014 #120

Can't even imagine it, huh? Iggo Aug 2014 #43

Why would I want to get rid of religion? hrmjustin Aug 2014 #44

Imagine that there's no religion. Just imagine it. Iggo Aug 2014 #45

"Imagine all the people edhopper Aug 2014 #46

Perhaps some day he'll join us. Iggo Aug 2014 #47

"Perhaps some day YOU will join us" cleanhippie Aug 2014 #91

I was paraphrasing. Iggo Aug 2014 #95

I know. Just poking a bit of fun. cleanhippie Aug 2014 #96

Would be overcrowded then. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #49

Exactly. What's more unbelievable? stopbush Aug 2014 #53

Many believe both edhopper Aug 2014 #57

How can any religion claim to be "real" procon Aug 2014 #58

The whole concept of religion originated with ancient kings to control the masses tularetom Aug 2014 #64

Don't you think edhopper Aug 2014 #68

The earliest evidence is neolithic, circa 7-1000 BCE. Warren Stupidity Aug 2014 #70

There are idols, edhopper Aug 2014 #73

Sure - but those only weakly establish "religion" as in Warren Stupidity Aug 2014 #74

I don't know edhopper Aug 2014 #75

Yeah, to explain weather and natural phenomena they probably did tularetom Aug 2014 #71

Religion is based on false premises. yodermon Aug 2014 #78

Ok, they are all fake. JNelson6563 Aug 2014 #83

Of course Scientology and Mormonism are fraudulent amuse bouche Aug 2014 #103

Still posting by bumper stickers I see. rug Aug 2014 #116