Religion

muriel_volestrangler

(106,711 posts)

112. We've mentioned him a few times here:

Wed Nov 29, 2017, 08:36 AM

Nov 2017

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=iain+banks+site:democraticunderground.com

He's not that well-known here, but there are several of us who admire him. I have used his Ship names on other forums.

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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