Religion

skepticscott

(13,029 posts)

40. Did you really finish off

Reply to Berlin Expat (Reply #36)

Wed Jan 16, 2013, 04:29 PM

Jan 2013

by saying, in effect, that belief isn't a bad thing, except when it is?

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Woman said God told her to set fire [View all] moobu2 Jan 2013 OP

Is it the same god that told Rick Santorum to run for President? Scuba Jan 2013 #1

Yes. Iggo Jan 2013 #65

Instead of arson maybe she could have tried killing her child. Shadowflash Jan 2013 #2

To answer your question, consult the DSM. rug Jan 2013 #3

Does one need to consult the DSM when someone claims that god told them to feed the poor? cleanhippie Jan 2013 #11

No, but it's advisable when one commits arson. rug Jan 2013 #18

Arson because god told them to or just because they set a fire? cleanhippie Jan 2013 #20

Arson is prima facie evidence of disorder. rug Jan 2013 #22

Are you understanding the bigger point I am making? cleanhippie Jan 2013 #23

The OP brought up arson, not me. rug Jan 2013 #24

I don't know how to be more clear without quibbling over minutiae. cleanhippie Jan 2013 #37

It would be clearer if you answered the question I put to you. rug Jan 2013 #48

I think it would be clearer if we could agree on this point. cleanhippie Jan 2013 #49

First it is necessary to answer the question in #24. rug Jan 2013 #50

When talking about the motivation behind and act, does it matter? cleanhippie Jan 2013 #52

Of course it does. rug Jan 2013 #54

Not at all, but you seem to be trying to pigeonhole me into a corner for some reason. cleanhippie Jan 2013 #55

We agree then, strictly speaking. rug Jan 2013 #56

Excellent. So we are on the same side when it comes to religious belief being worthless as cleanhippie Jan 2013 #57

Hardly. rug Jan 2013 #58

You say "hardly", then agree with me? cleanhippie Jan 2013 #59

Did you miss this? rug Jan 2013 #60

I thought we had moved beyond the OP, as we agreed on that premise? cleanhippie Jan 2013 #61

In that case, feel free to start a thread. This topic doesn't flow from the OP. rug Jan 2013 #62

Fair enough, but I feel like we have reached agreement beyond the OP. cleanhippie Jan 2013 #63

Not so tama Jan 2013 #66

I think you're dealing skepticscott Jan 2013 #25

Since when is commiting arson skepticscott Jan 2013 #34

I said disorder, not mental disorder. rug Jan 2013 #47

Mental disorders were the only ones being discussed skepticscott Jan 2013 #51

Feel free to add words to posts whenever it helps your point. rug Jan 2013 #53

So is claiming that a god told you to do something. cleanhippie Jan 2013 #43

As an imam of my acquaintance once said, Berlin Expat Jan 2013 #4

Apparently not... orwell Jan 2013 #5

I think Pat Berlin Expat Jan 2013 #8

You seem to have little tolerance for people's deeply held religious beliefs. cleanhippie Jan 2013 #12

Fair enough, Berlin Expat Jan 2013 #14

Fine line indeed, EvilAL Jan 2013 #45

It sounds like in this case god is a threat to people Angry Dragon Jan 2013 #15

We all make judgments all the time... orwell Jan 2013 #17

True. However, in the case of "god told me to", there seems to be a double standard. cleanhippie Jan 2013 #21

What is the process by which one determines whether that voice is just in one's head, trotsky Jan 2013 #6

That's a tough call. Berlin Expat Jan 2013 #7

So the ability to perform miraculous acts is the only sure sign... trotsky Jan 2013 #9

Speaking as an average Berlin Expat Jan 2013 #13

Not exactly proof. trotsky Jan 2013 #19

"Behold, for I have summoned images of adorable kittens in the palm of my hand! Worship me! Ian David Jan 2013 #30

Exactly! trotsky Jan 2013 #35

Well, at that point Berlin Expat Jan 2013 #36

So basically, you admit there's no way to know whether god is speaking to someone. trotsky Jan 2013 #39

That question cannot be properly addressed Thats my opinion Jan 2013 #46

"God is not a big person up there who talks to people." trotsky Jan 2013 #69

hume has been having a comeback lately Phillip McCleod Jan 2013 #64

Did you really finish off skepticscott Jan 2013 #40

Yup, that is exactly how I took it as well. n/t trotsky Jan 2013 #70

Does anyone remember the dude who was able to fake being a savant? Ian David Jan 2013 #31

The imam is completely, technically wrong, so you might not want to repeat this around cbayer Jan 2013 #42

She obviously has mental health problems, as god only tells people to do good things... cleanhippie Jan 2013 #10

What happened to free will?? Angry Dragon Jan 2013 #16

I wonder why God does so many bad things in Lubbock? Squinch Jan 2013 #26

Maybe happiness really *IS* looking at Lubbock Texas in your rear view mirror? n/t Ian David Jan 2013 #28

God sure seems to think so... Squinch Jan 2013 #29

Lubbock County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes Ian David Jan 2013 #32

They can use that as their tourism slogan: "At least they don't have any volcanoes." Squinch Jan 2013 #33

I just tweeted this as "Woman arrested in another attack on religious freedom!" n/t Ian David Jan 2013 #27

Ha ha ! Thats my opinion Jan 2013 #38

Finally! We Agree! cleanhippie Jan 2013 #44

"the actions of a person are what matter" tama Jan 2013 #67

Are you suggesting that the rule of thumb here is basically, trotsky Jan 2013 #71

Poor woman. But let's not miss the opportunity to set her up as an example cbayer Jan 2013 #41

Family: woman arrested after suspected arson has mental illness struggle4progress Jan 2013 #68

God cant talk to people who have mental issues? moobu2 Jan 2013 #73

People with significant psychiatric disorders who hear voices telling them to cbayer Jan 2013 #74

Most of the stories in the Bible concern people hearing voices moobu2 Jan 2013 #75

That's not really true. cbayer Jan 2013 #79

Well, before I posted the question I did a search on biblegateway.com for "god said" moobu2 Jan 2013 #86

I think many have reported being inspried in some way. cbayer Jan 2013 #87

Why use the utterances of a perhaps mentally ill woman for a rhetorical gambit? struggle4progress Jan 2013 #76

You think God would no speak to a person who was thought to be mentally ill? moobu2 Jan 2013 #77

Why put words in my mouth? struggle4progress Jan 2013 #78

You're getting way off topic. moobu2 Jan 2013 #82

Are you trained in psychiatry, psychology or any other kind of mental cbayer Jan 2013 #84

I'm not trained in psychiatry but moobu2 Jan 2013 #85

Not true. There are some neurological conditions that can cause cbayer Jan 2013 #88

Uh, those would be skepticscott Jan 2013 #90

I consider your PoV silly. Of course, Thomas Paine's remarks on revelation are on point: struggle4progress Jan 2013 #89

Because it's cheap, easy, ad would have been okasha Jan 2013 #80

I believe her NoOneMan Jan 2013 #72

Wouldn't such God tama Jan 2013 #81

Such a God may be surrounded by faith healers NoOneMan Jan 2013 #83