"Why Believe in God" ad campaign - Page 6

Alex · 11-13-2008, 11:51 PM

Well, I'd like to think that I've have sufficient self restraint to only take with me those who wish to go.

flippyshark · 11-14-2008, 08:50 AM

Midichlorians! Now that's blasphemy!

Yes, that second definition is so broad as to include literally everything, so,maybe not too useful by itself. Let's add a moral dimension to it just for fun. (The force that holds us together also nudges us towards evolving into more compassionate beings.)

Of course, I'm now guilty of inventing a God to my own specifications, rather than trying to discover what is actually true. So it goes.

Betty · 11-14-2008, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flippyshark

Midichlorians! Now that's blasphemy!

Yes, that second definition is so broad as to include literally everything, so,maybe not too useful by itself. Let's add a moral dimension to it just for fun. (The force that holds us together also nudges us towards evolving into more compassionate beings.)

Of course, I'm now guilty of inventing a God to my own specifications, rather than trying to discover what is actually true. So it goes.

No -I don't think it does. I don't think it has any moral anything about it. I feel that you can influence though. And this probably goes back to my Wiccan days - the good you put out comes back to you moreso as does the bad.

It's the selfish motivation factor I guess - don't do back stuff or worse bad stuff will happen to do. Therefore, when bad things happen one may indeed ask - what did I do to deserve this?

But that's just me and my thought process. YMMV.

SzczerbiakManiac · 11-14-2008, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mousepod

I guess I've grown to believe that most of the religious people that I've encountered in my life use their religion - and more specifically the dogma attached to their religion - as a crutch, something to give meaning and hope to their lives. When they stop using their crutch to prop themselves up and start swinging it around to hurt others, it reminds me that there are an awful lot of people walking around with potential weapons. And that scares me.

AMEN BROTHER!

Alex · 11-14-2008, 10:27 AM

In a way, that is the secret behind The Secret. The problem is that if carried to its conclusion it removes any need for compassion at any level. For if bad things happen, the person brought it on themselves.

The poor deserve to be poor because they must have done something bad. The sick deserve to be sick. And the rich must be incredibly good people.

We ridicule this idea when Jerry Falwell says it and personifies that force in the form of a vengeful god. And yet I hear a lot of people espouse the same fundamental idea, just emphasising the good half instead of the punishment half. But they're both still there.

===

And now I'm sliding into debating. I knew GD was baiting me. I'll try to stop.

Ghoulish Delight · 11-14-2008, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

And now I'm sliding into debating. I knew GD was baiting me. I'll try to stop.

Quit pretending you have free will.

Alex · 11-14-2008, 10:33 AM

I can't, it's built in. All I can do it quit pretending I don't know that I lack free will.

innerSpaceman · 11-14-2008, 11:28 AM

Not to get too far into it, but I don't think BLAME automatically comes from those who adhere to a more thought-influenced view of the workings of the universe.

madmonkeygirl · 11-14-2008, 11:37 AM

I do believe in God but i don't let that drive me or my morals beliefs etc. I don't let it try to influence others. But for this holiday season the season isn't about gifts. Yes that is a big part of it. But somehow this society is drilled with every commercial every store the objective isn't to spend the day with family and friends realizing what the day really is about. It's about spending that almighty dollar and to give gifts. Material things are fine but we can't take them with us when we go. Such a shame to make a material holiday out of something that is so simple and with this economy the way it is if no presents were under the tree i'd be fine with that.

Strangler Lewis · 11-14-2008, 12:24 PM

I always assumed that the phrase "for goodness' sake" was a way of invoking God without quite taking his name in vain.

That observation aside, I still vote "no." As a believer in "self-evident truths," there's probably not much about the sponsor's positions that I would disagree with. Still, I view this as imposing a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. Thus, what we are left with are reachers reaching out to seekers. Reachers and seekers generally intersect at the point of mischief and self-righteousness. If we're keeping score, I say the campaign sucks.

11-13-2008, 11:51 PM	#1
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Well, I'd like to think that I've have sufficient self restraint to only take with me those who wish to go.
	Submit to Quotes

11-14-2008, 08:50 AM	#2
flippyshark Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2,852	Midichlorians! Now that's blasphemy! Yes, that second definition is so broad as to include literally everything, so,maybe not too useful by itself. Let's add a moral dimension to it just for fun. (The force that holds us together also nudges us towards evolving into more compassionate beings.) Of course, I'm now guilty of inventing a God to my own specifications, rather than trying to discover what is actually true. So it goes.
	Submit to Quotes

11-14-2008, 10:27 AM	#5
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	In a way, that is the secret behind The Secret. The problem is that if carried to its conclusion it removes any need for compassion at any level. For if bad things happen, the person brought it on themselves. The poor deserve to be poor because they must have done something bad. The sick deserve to be sick. And the rich must be incredibly good people. We ridicule this idea when Jerry Falwell says it and personifies that force in the form of a vengeful god. And yet I hear a lot of people espouse the same fundamental idea, just emphasising the good half instead of the punishment half. But they're both still there. === And now I'm sliding into debating. I knew GD was baiting me. I'll try to stop.
	Submit to Quotes

11-14-2008, 10:33 AM	#7
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	I can't, it's built in. All I can do it quit pretending I don't know that I lack free will.
	Submit to Quotes

11-14-2008, 11:28 AM	#8
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Not to get too far into it, but I don't think BLAME automatically comes from those who adhere to a more thought-influenced view of the workings of the universe.
	Submit to Quotes

11-14-2008, 11:37 AM	#9
madmonkeygirl Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 764	I do believe in God but i don't let that drive me or my morals beliefs etc. I don't let it try to influence others. But for this holiday season the season isn't about gifts. Yes that is a big part of it. But somehow this society is drilled with every commercial every store the objective isn't to spend the day with family and friends realizing what the day really is about. It's about spending that almighty dollar and to give gifts. Material things are fine but we can't take them with us when we go. Such a shame to make a material holiday out of something that is so simple and with this economy the way it is if no presents were under the tree i'd be fine with that.
	Submit to Quotes

11-14-2008, 12:24 PM	#10
Strangler Lewis Doing The Job Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In a state Posts: 3,956	I always assumed that the phrase "for goodness' sake" was a way of invoking God without quite taking his name in vain. That observation aside, I still vote "no." As a believer in "self-evident truths," there's probably not much about the sponsor's positions that I would disagree with. Still, I view this as imposing a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. Thus, what we are left with are reachers reaching out to seekers. Reachers and seekers generally intersect at the point of mischief and self-righteousness. If we're keeping score, I say the campaign sucks. __________________ Live now-pay later. Diner's Club!
	Submit to Quotes