Religion

Cartoonist

(7,579 posts)

4. Belief

Reply to DetlefK (Original post)

Tue Nov 28, 2017, 11:58 AM

Nov 2017

Iain M. Banks, meet Mark Twain:

"Having faith is believing in something you just know ain't true."

The whole myth of religion is so fucking unbelievable that even it's most ardent followers know deep down inside that it is all bullshit.

You can see it in almost every thread here. As the discussion plays out, the believers run out of excuses and fall back on empty platitudes.

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Why religion is invulnerable: [View all] DetlefK Nov 2017 OP

I am flabbergasted! ExciteBike66 Nov 2017 #1

We've mentioned him a few times here: muriel_volestrangler Nov 2017 #112

Oh never mind gibraltar72 Nov 2017 #2

It is so comforting to think of an afterlife and a god Farmer-Rick Nov 2017 #3

It also constantly re-enforces itself with the teaching that Christ will come back again... brush Nov 2017 #78

Belief Cartoonist Nov 2017 #4

You have no proof or knowledge of what happens to our "self" after death. yallerdawg Nov 2017 #5

No one has proof Cartoonist Nov 2017 #6

And yet you believe something you can't prove. yallerdawg Nov 2017 #7

My proof is your lack of proof Cartoonist Nov 2017 #8

Here is your circular argument. yallerdawg Nov 2017 #10

Wrong word Cartoonist Nov 2017 #11

One absolute that needs to be remembered: SCantiGOP Nov 2017 #12

Wrong again. yallerdawg Nov 2017 #14

Show me Cartoonist Nov 2017 #16

Do you have any kind of insurance? yallerdawg Nov 2017 #18

So metaphoric language is your proof. Cuthbert Allgood Nov 2017 #19

Yes. yallerdawg Nov 2017 #23

You do know Lovecraft was an atheist. Cuthbert Allgood Nov 2017 #28

So proof of a loving God marylandblue Nov 2017 #34

This OP is regarding an SF writer and "fictional" quotes. yallerdawg Nov 2017 #37

No, it is not literal Cuthbert Allgood Nov 2017 #46

Acts of God is definitely not literal in the legal sense marylandblue Nov 2017 #48

"Acts of God" are legally defined. yallerdawg Nov 2017 #51

Correct, but the term itself is metaphorical for natural disasters marylandblue Nov 2017 #52

As everyone knows... yallerdawg Nov 2017 #58

When you are cold and dead marylandblue Nov 2017 #60

Faith offers hope and love. yallerdawg Nov 2017 #61

Atheism will never be as comforting as religion marylandblue Nov 2017 #64

An atheist cannot offer love? Are you kidding me? Doodley Nov 2017 #152

OK. Just to be clear. Cuthbert Allgood Nov 2017 #62

Everyone - EVERYONE - knows what "Acts of God" means! yallerdawg Nov 2017 #63

So it's a yes or no answer, and you didn't give either of those. Cuthbert Allgood Nov 2017 #65

These are acts not attributable to 'human agency.' yallerdawg Nov 2017 #67

You are the one who used the legal term to support your position. Cuthbert Allgood Nov 2017 #71

I gave you an example... yallerdawg Nov 2017 #76

I fully realize the insurance companies know what an Act of God is. Cuthbert Allgood Nov 2017 #114

Unless you can show me billions worshipping the days of the week... yallerdawg Nov 2017 #120

I am not annoyed by what the vast majority of humans believe Cuthbert Allgood Nov 2017 #122

TGIF! Lordquinton Nov 2017 #135

And there it is again, the threat from a theist that the horrible unbelievers are going Voltaire2 Nov 2017 #109

It does seem to particularly annoy some people who profess complete disbelief. yallerdawg Nov 2017 #113

It isnt annoying it is comically appalling. Voltaire2 Nov 2017 #126

Good luck. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #73

I hear ya! yallerdawg Nov 2017 #74

Agreed. But the definition of tolerance often does not extend guillaumeb Nov 2017 #75

It's actually easier to talk to those billions of reals believers marylandblue Nov 2017 #83

I was called a "creationist" today by a non-theist. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #85

I only know of my interactions with you marylandblue Nov 2017 #86

So you support people making up their own words. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #89

No I don't support it marylandblue Nov 2017 #90

My actual position is easily researched. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #91

Yes, I've heard many times that your position is clearly found somewhere else marylandblue Nov 2017 #96

Your research skills need some work. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #99

No, my research skills are quite good and always have been marylandblue Nov 2017 #100

Perfection is the ultimate goal. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #101

Now that's an irrational belief marylandblue Nov 2017 #102

No, really. Congratulations. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #103

So this is just another redirection? marylandblue Nov 2017 #104

No one ever called G-man that Lordquinton Nov 2017 #138

Still preaching the same sermon to the same tiny congregation. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #143

You certainly are Lordquinton Nov 2017 #150

My point was that it shouldn't matter to guillameb if they did or didn't call him that marylandblue Nov 2017 #149

I agree with you on that Lordquinton Nov 2017 #151

You are a creationist Cuthbert Allgood Nov 2017 #117

Look up the word "creationist". guillaumeb Nov 2017 #144

Do you believe that there was a creator that created the universe? Cuthbert Allgood Nov 2017 #154

So this OP that drew our comments. yallerdawg Nov 2017 #92

The quote doesn't actually seem to be about religion marylandblue Nov 2017 #93

"Why religion is invulnerable." yallerdawg Nov 2017 #94

You have a point there marylandblue Nov 2017 #95

The "excuses," rationalizations, justifications of the irreligious... yallerdawg Nov 2017 #97

Well for me, my agnosticism/atheism is a matter of lack of evidence marylandblue Nov 2017 #98

do you tolerate nazi opinions? Voltaire2 Nov 2017 #110

By some sources Lordquinton Nov 2017 #137

So the "hope god lets you in to heaven" Cuthbert Allgood Nov 2017 #116

That is not OUR rule. yallerdawg Nov 2017 #121

So that attitude is showing respect and tolerance Cuthbert Allgood Nov 2017 #123

You are not required to believe. yallerdawg Nov 2017 #124

That is where religion becomes intolerant marylandblue Nov 2017 #131

This. Right here. +1,000,000 Cuthbert Allgood Nov 2017 #132

It's not intolerant. yallerdawg Nov 2017 #133

The line between judgemental and intolerant is very fine marylandblue Nov 2017 #148

So you're saying that your arguments can't hold up Lordquinton Nov 2017 #136

Lovecraft was a massive bigot Lordquinton Nov 2017 #134

So you believe that, for example, earthquakes are caused by gods? Voltaire2 Nov 2017 #108

Insurance companies, lawyers and judges do - depending on policies. yallerdawg Nov 2017 #115

Holy shit. NO THEY DON'T BELIEVE GOD CAUSED THOSE. Cuthbert Allgood Nov 2017 #118

I asked what you believe. Voltaire2 Nov 2017 #125

I believe they call it "Acts of God" for a reason. yallerdawg Nov 2017 #127

Why do they start with faith instead of evidence? marylandblue Nov 2017 #22

The scientific method. yallerdawg Nov 2017 #24

Fine to start with a question marylandblue Nov 2017 #27

Why would you think that? yallerdawg Nov 2017 #36

I think that because that is my experience with believers marylandblue Nov 2017 #57

Because a question is doubt. The opposite of faith. DetlefK Nov 2017 #77

We question our existence and purpose. yallerdawg Nov 2017 #79

Thank you for confirming that faith is based on confirmation-bias. DetlefK Nov 2017 #82

Again, you want the proof before the faith. yallerdawg Nov 2017 #84

I feel like we should finally define the words we use in our conversation. DetlefK Nov 2017 #107

Amazing Lordquinton Nov 2017 #146

But they find absolute proof in how that faith manifests all around them. Mariana Nov 2017 #25

As you know, there are many paths to truth. yallerdawg Nov 2017 #30

You used the word "proof", did you not? Mariana Nov 2017 #38

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." yallerdawg Nov 2017 #41

That is purely tautological. MineralMan Nov 2017 #31

"They find absolute proof." yallerdawg Nov 2017 #39

Like many, you appear not to understand what MineralMan Nov 2017 #40

And so "the God of the Gaps" marches on. yallerdawg Nov 2017 #42

No, not really. MineralMan Nov 2017 #44

The "God of the Gaps" is simply a cop-out and intellectual capitulation. DetlefK Nov 2017 #80

"Why am I here and what purpose do I serve?" yallerdawg Nov 2017 #81

The question presupposes a purpose marylandblue Nov 2017 #88

Why would you ask that question at all? Mariana Nov 2017 #139

If I were a mindless protozoa, I might not ask that question. yallerdawg Nov 2017 #140

Why are you here, and what purpose do you serve? Mariana Nov 2017 #141

I believe we need to be more inclusive and tolerant of each other... yallerdawg Nov 2017 #142

That's crazy. Brainstormy Nov 2017 #128

I would think psychosis would be more attuned to... yallerdawg Nov 2017 #130

A common error on your part. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #145

No error Cartoonist Nov 2017 #153

Oh stop framing the theist position as equally valid. Cuthbert Allgood Nov 2017 #17

No, we're talking about faith here. yallerdawg Nov 2017 #20

Those reports of what happens "after death" Cuthbert Allgood Nov 2017 #26

"Global warming" has been explained by those who deny it. yallerdawg Nov 2017 #33

Those people weren't actually dead marylandblue Nov 2017 #32

You just confirmed... yallerdawg Nov 2017 #35

Millions (I think) believe that immunizations cause autism Cuthbert Allgood Nov 2017 #47

Beliefs are imaginary. MineralMan Nov 2017 #50

"I believe I am going to pick up these dice and roll a 7." yallerdawg Nov 2017 #54

Yes. That is your imagination. MineralMan Nov 2017 #55

Unless yallerdawg cheats marylandblue Nov 2017 #68

Let me think about that for a moment.... MineralMan Nov 2017 #69

Do You Believe in Magic? MineralMan Nov 2017 #59

You need to get to Vegas ASAP. Missn-Hitch Nov 2017 #66

Actually, no. Anyone who can report on "being dead" MineralMan Nov 2017 #43

You died and remember nothing. yallerdawg Nov 2017 #49

Uh, no. I have no "beliefs" about that at all. MineralMan Nov 2017 #53

Something never changes to "nothing". gtar100 Nov 2017 #45

Your atoms will be around forever marylandblue Nov 2017 #87

That's one theory. gtar100 Nov 2017 #105

You argued that materialism supports that consciousness continues to exist after death marylandblue Nov 2017 #106

You're confusing theory and hypothesis Lordquinton Nov 2017 #147

Of course it doesn't Cuthbert Allgood Nov 2017 #119

Typically insightful. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #72

Way beyond "invulnerable!" yallerdawg Nov 2017 #9

unaffiliated percentage will decrease? SCantiGOP Nov 2017 #13

Doesn't defy every assumption marylandblue Nov 2017 #21

Yes unfortunately globally religiosity is increasing while in developed countries it is decreasing. Voltaire2 Nov 2017 #111

Religion as race Cartoonist Nov 2017 #15

Those projections do not assume that religion is genetic Brainstormy Nov 2017 #129

"Excuses, eh?" saidsimplesimon Nov 2017 #29

We're not gonna take it. NOOOOOOOOOO. Iggo Nov 2017 #56

Is it because it's so vulnerable? rock Nov 2017 #70