Religion

skepticscott

(13,029 posts)

13. So the fact

Fri Nov 30, 2012, 04:46 PM

Nov 2012

that cookies and milk get consumed on millions of mantelpieces every Xmas Eve isn't evidence? Not to mention all those songs and stories and figures about him, and the fact that NORAD tracks his sleigh every year?

(waiting to see if you'll get this before you make a fool of yourself)

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Why is quitting the Catholic church spoken of as some type of drastic, hard step? [View all] ButterflyBlood Nov 2012 OP

Because DonCoquixote Nov 2012 #1

I agree with you. rug Nov 2012 #2

I would view someone skepticscott Nov 2012 #8

I'm sure you would. Of course, that is not theology. rug Nov 2012 #10

No, it's not.... There's a lot more evidence skepticscott Nov 2012 #11

As a matter of fact, there is no evidence for a mythic Santa Claus. rug Nov 2012 #12

So the fact skepticscott Nov 2012 #13

Ok, backtrack. rug Nov 2012 #14

I win the bet skepticscott Nov 2012 #15

Don't cash in. rug Nov 2012 #16

Funny , I don't see God mentioned there at all skepticscott Nov 2012 #19

Comparing belief in a god to a belief in Santa has nothing to do with comparing a god to Santa. rug Nov 2012 #20

Comparing God to Santa finds many similarities Brettongarcia Dec 2012 #23

It's stupid. rug Dec 2012 #25

But? The description of Santa, exactly describes the shallow idea of many Christians, of their God Brettongarcia Dec 2012 #30

No it isn't. Why don't you put down your sterotypes and open your eyes. rug Dec 2012 #36

Been there; done that. Want to start with say, Plato's discussion of Parmenides, and the "One"? Brettongarcia Dec 2012 #39

Yes. Let's start with Plato's description of reindeer. rug Dec 2012 #40

Plato's "One" is a precursor of "high" Christian monotheism & defends it rationally. Brettongarcia Dec 2012 #41

There is as much difference between Plato and Moore as there is between God and Santa Claus. rug Dec 2012 #42

No such acknowledgement: Plato's "allegedly" higher concept of God Brettongarcia Dec 2012 #43

Congratualtions. You have advanced from talking about Santa Claus to philosophy. rug Dec 2012 #45

Nope. Your beloved Catholic martyr, St. More, often quoted Plato favorably Brettongarcia Dec 2012 #44

There is much in Plato to admire. rug Dec 2012 #46

Bad Platonistic ideas found throughout More and "high" Christianity; the "Uncaused Cause" Brettongarcia Dec 2012 #47

I hope you permanently leave Santa Claus out of what is otherwise an interesting discussion. rug Dec 2012 #48

What created the universe? The best answer: we don't know. To pretend to know is childish. Brettongarcia Dec 2012 #49

Except that is not an answer. rug Dec 2012 #50

You create a false dichotomy there... Humanist_Activist Dec 2012 #54

What's the third choice? If you claim a false dichotomy, prove it. rug Dec 2012 #58

You added something to one of the choices to make it invalid, that's the dishonest part... Humanist_Activist Dec 2012 #62

A comment on a choice is not an addition. rug Dec 2012 #64

Rorty, and the problem with Aquinas' "Being" as first cause: no "being" with no things existing Brettongarcia Dec 2012 #57

? rug Dec 2012 #59

Probably all allegedly profound "answers" on origins of the Universe, are all too simple. Brettongarcia Dec 2012 #60

"Bad Platonistic ideas found throughout More and "high" Christianity; the 'Uncaused Cause" Fortinbras Armstrong Dec 2012 #51

Mostly Aristotle - who was a student of Plato though. Brettongarcia Dec 2012 #56

Post removed Post removed Dec 2012 #24

scotie, your error here is believing you have a point. rug Dec 2012 #26

Nice try, ruggie skepticscott Dec 2012 #31

Lol. rug Dec 2012 #35

Pot/kettle/black Fortinbras Armstrong Dec 2012 #52

Santa Claus is really god Angry Dragon Dec 2012 #92

12 years of Catholic school is a lot of brainwashing to overcome rox63 Nov 2012 #3

For you it was meaningless junk Dorian Gray Nov 2012 #4

I quit the Catholic church 30 years ago, when the priest refused to baptise my son because his dad & peacebird Nov 2012 #5

Of course the priest was more interested skepticscott Nov 2012 #7

i thought it said kids under 7 were innocent and went to heaven. ejpoeta Dec 2012 #78

Appears the church has changed its mind now... peacebird Dec 2012 #88

I was age 7, so it was pretty easy CanonRay Nov 2012 #6

The fact that you don't consider yourself a "cultural catholic" might cbayer Nov 2012 #9

There is this guy in my church .... kwassa Nov 2012 #17

Lots of ex-Catholics in the Lutheran church too Freddie Dec 2012 #27

My personal guess is identity. nt ZombieHorde Nov 2012 #18

Well yeah but I don't see myself as having that type of identity ButterflyBlood Dec 2012 #21

I was raised in the Catholic Church, and I went to a Catholic school my first two or three years. ZombieHorde Dec 2012 #32

I think we see things the same way on this ButterflyBlood Dec 2012 #33

In my childhood neighborhood we were all Catholics of varying degrees. Literally. pinto Dec 2012 #22

Similiar situation here, also in Massachusetts in the 60's and 70's rox63 Dec 2012 #28

I went to catholic school for a couple of years early. I tell you I remember being scared of southernyankeebelle Dec 2012 #29

The Only Problem I Had After I Left The Church ChiciB1 Dec 2012 #87

I totally agree with you. I feel the same way. I still feel bad about not going but southernyankeebelle Dec 2012 #91

It's a hard step... Plantaganet Dec 2012 #34

If you haven't jamtoday Dec 2012 #37

That thing is fairly moot to me ButterflyBlood Dec 2012 #38

Not like a care about that, yeah I'm baptized, but they don't know where I live, and I haven't... Humanist_Activist Dec 2012 #55

I was confirmed in the Church, and it wasn't difficult for me... Humanist_Activist Dec 2012 #53

What is therapeutic deism? cbayer Dec 2012 #61

A term I saw on another blog that I thought was fantastic... Humanist_Activist Dec 2012 #63

Why is it called "therapeutic"? cbayer Dec 2012 #65

Probably because it had a calming or "feel good" affect on those who believe... Humanist_Activist Dec 2012 #66

Interesting. IMO, that may be one of the positive roles that cbayer Dec 2012 #67

To be honest, I wouldn't term it as positive.... Humanist_Activist Dec 2012 #69

I'm not sure that convincing yourself that the unknowable is untrue cbayer Dec 2012 #71

Whatever is unknowable is unknowable, so "true/not true" are nonsensical concepts. Humanist_Activist Dec 2012 #72

Agree. And the pretense can lead to both good and bad outcomes. cbayer Dec 2012 #73

Wait, aren't you a theologian? Isn't your job to keep up the pretense? Humanist_Activist Dec 2012 #74

I am by no means a theologian. cbayer Dec 2012 #75

Sorry, got you confused with someone else. n/t Humanist_Activist Dec 2012 #76

Probably my father. He's a theologian. cbayer Dec 2012 #81

I suspect that for some people, Catholicism is equivalent to Christianity. LiberalAndProud Dec 2012 #68

Obviously, your early life was never scarred by vicious women Warpy Dec 2012 #70

It's not. Now OTOH, quitting the Mormon church or Scientology kestrel91316 Dec 2012 #77

I am a life long Atheist who was raised in a Catholic family but never believed in god. Walk away Dec 2012 #79

Same thing for me Kelvin Mace Dec 2012 #84

That's pretty funny! I just knew from the beginning... Walk away Dec 2012 #89

I Was Raised As A Very Strict Catholic... ChiciB1 Dec 2012 #80

Hi ButterflyBlood - Pendrench Dec 2012 #82

Can you go and just not give them money? -nt Bradical79 Dec 2012 #83

You provide support by your presence Kelvin Mace Dec 2012 #86

It is difficult, in part, because each diocese has cemeteries with the remains of ancestors AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2012 #85

Yours is the most cogent response No Vested Interest Dec 2012 #90