I consider science and atheism to also be religions. Science is belief in the Scientific Method and that life should often be based on the results it provides. But, unlike other religions, people convert to science because they see it works: it sends planes to the sky, cars across roads, and data through the internet, something other religions do not do, rather, other religions are based on blind faith. So, I choose a religion which produces results I find useful, and science is just that. Other religions have done nothing for me. Praying never got me anywhere. My brain is programmed in a way that I require tangible evidence before I will choose a religion. Others are different. Okey, here is the opinions of a Professional:
The Falsity of Religion: Twelve Indisputable Arguments
By John “Birdman” Bryant: The World’s Most Controversial Author
Religion today hangs on the horns of a dilemma: On the one hand, it is false in the scientific sense, as we shall demonstrate below; but on the other hand, because religion in one form or another has been around as long as recorded history – and in fact has played a central role in man’s social and personal life – it is almost certain that religion is useful in the sense that it has helped men to survive. The real dilemma of religion, however, is that it must be believed in order to be useful, yet this is impossible when people know that it is false.
The obvious solution to this dilemma – if indeed there is a solution – is to discover what is useful about religion, and to try to make use of this knowledge. This I have attempted to do in my book The Most Powerful Idea Ever Discovered. But we will be stymied in our attempt to accomplish this task – or at least to bring it to fruition in the sense of teaching others – if we do not first and finally sweep away the foolishness of religious belief by making a plain and clear statement as to religion’s literal falsity. Accordingly, we cite below what we view as twelve compelling reasons why a rational person must regard religion as false.
Thank you, actually I think implicit in Bryant’s argument is the assumption that the provability or disprovability of God’s existence is possible via experimental phenomena.
As someone once said on another forum: Hume uses the possibility of making a square circle as proof that God is non-omnipotent which can be translated to invalidating the presence of such God. The fault in his argument is that he limits God to human reason. Within human reason, square circles are analytically impossible, but what if such logic is absent in God’s realm?
If the quote you used is a representation of your thoughts on the matter, then I agree for the most part.
However, I think I have a better approach in one respect. Why seperate science and religion?
Science is an extension of empiricism. I define empiricism as an openness to consider evidence. Why can’t that apply to religion?
You said that prayer never got you anywhere. That means you find no evidence for its usefullness. That’s good, don’t waste your time. However, by the same logic, if I find prayer to be psychologically healing my evidence is just as valid as yours.
This approach allows you to accept and understand another’s method without denying the one that works for you. I guarantee that allowing for other points of view (though not necessarily adopting them) increases your own understanding.
This would not require you to take religion literally. You don’t have to believe the world was made in seven days. I would argue that most religious people do not believe this (though the ones that do tend to make a lot of noise). Scientists use metaphors to make points. Even mathematics uses symbols to communicate meaning. In fact, all communication is metaphorical. The only thing that’s real is meaning.
Therefore, with religion, like science, and perhaps all life itself, the point is to grasp the meaning, not argue the method for it’s own sake.
prayer is intimacy between human and God. Its not a time to make out a wish list and name off all the things you want out of life. He’s not going to make you rich because you pray. We are here for him. Did our parents have us so that they could fullfill our every desire? Did they say," I really wish I had a baby to order me around?"
They wanted to someone to love and someone to return thier love.
It is our sinful nature that leads us to rebellion, we are no different than Adam and Eve. We have always been the same people since day 1. We are just in different circumstances.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Revelation22:13 worship God.
why would god give us what we have and yet tell us to leave all of it for prayer and holy days etc. its illogical. thinking like that is human limitation and need.
Hi Jason H., I found Birdman’s arguments surpisingly interesting, but I think he misses the nature of religious experience. I’m not sure I want to discuss all 14+ arguments here (kinda long), so why don’t you pick the argument you think the best and we can duscuss that.
Post Mortem,
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Does this really puzzle you? That a good God would create good things that we should enjoy with gratitude, and yet remember that He is yet a greater good behind them? Is that how you treat a Father and his gifts?
Does this really puzzle you? That a good God would create good things that we should enjoy with gratitude, and yet remember that He is yet a greater good behind them? Is that how you treat a Father and his gifts?<
If christians actually knew what they were doing they would realize that a fahter would let them be and live.
PM [Portabello Mushroom?], are you familiar with the story of the Prodigal Son? If you wnat to live a disollute life, you can. If you want a good life, God can help you.
Wanky:
<<Doesn’t the statement that god wants anything show it to be fallable. And a fallable Judeao-Christian god can not exist.>>
Linguistically interesting. “Want” used to have the meaning “to lack”, as in “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.”
As Aquinas points out, even God’s happiness is found in God himself. He just wants to share the love.
Do YOU want/lack to share the love? i.e. Are you letting God work His love through you? In the words of the Bard: “If you want to make the world a better place, just look at yourself and make that change.” (Okay, that may not be a good person to quote right now…)
Ms. Lewis:
<<Yes! In the end, God will lack to share his love on those who don’t love him. Very good Lanky. Do you to eat bad fruit?>>
Of course, a person can’t do good unless God gives him the grace to do good. And if he doesn’t pray for himself, someone may have to pray for him to send a little grace his way.
