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Does your belief / religion ect offer a better deal ?

sayak83

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
Well indeed. But then you see, having been born in Edinburgh of English parents, I'm not a True Scotsman...............;)

I don't find viewing religion as a "deal" is an especially helpful attitude of mind,either. It's not a product on offer in a supermarket.
I agree here. But a challenge is fun. We need to be entertained.. :D
 

It Aint Necessarily So

Veteran Member
Premium Member
The discussion here is based on what the requirements for your belief/ religion are .

I'm a secular humanist, but not because I joined any ism. It's because I finally decided that the best world view for me was a godless metaphysics, an epistemology based on skepticism, reason, and evidence, and ethics grounded in the application of reason to compassion to construct a society that strives to make people the most they can be and that eschews faith-based thought, revelation, and tradition as reasons to believe anything.

That's where I ended up after a decade in Christianity, which I eventually discarded for a more empirical and reasonable, people-affirming worldview. It was only later that I discovered that other people called this secular humanism. Lookee there, I thought. Others have come to the same conclusions in numbers large enough to give it a name. I discovered Paul Kurtz and his Affirmations of Humanism. Yep. That's how I view the world and what I want for it and myself.

But these are not somebody else's rules that I submit to. They're my rules. Others happen to have them as well. I don't follow anybody or any ism. I don't look to others for rules on living. I'll hear their ideas, but won't adopt them until they become my ideas as well, which doesn't happen by taking instruction. My requirements for my behavior come from within and are self-imposed.

I would challenge anyone to better , a genuine recognised truth claim that offers more than I have .

Why? Are you looking to upgrade?

I don't believe anyone can offer more than I already have ,as a bible believing Christian . Not immediately or in the future.

As you imply, if we have different worldviews and are each happy where we are, you find yours more fitted to your needs and proclivities, and I see mine the same way - more right for me.

I'm not promoting mine to you. I'm not suggesting that you change to it. In fact, if one is in the later part of your life (you're 47 yo), he's not searching for alternatives. An alternative world view would not serve him at this stage of life the way it did me in the first half of my life when it informed my life decisions. He would have to abandon faith-based thought and develop critical thinking skills when his mind is not as agile and plastic as it once was, and would be socially disruptive if his life revolved around a church community and friend and family that would disown him for apostasy.

Like somebody who regrets his choice of law school over engineering school. If it happens at 20 or even 30, he can make that transition. But if he tries the same thing at decide at 60, it will be much harder and for much less in return.

Same with an unhappy marriage. You can correct if you try it at 30 and maybe try again, but it will be much more life-disrupting and offer much less for the effort if you wait until you're 70.

You're 47 years old and content being a Christian, so no, I have nothing to offer you despite believing that I've found a better way to live outside of religion, but probably not better for you. At age 47, it might not even be possible for you any more (your way is not possible for me).

So, enjoy life as a Christian, praying, going to church and greeting others with God Bless, singing hymns, trying to be Christlike, and studying your Bible, while I enjoy life as a humanist, doing none of those things, finding meaning elsewhere.

can you eat the Spaghetti Monster?

Yes. Let us pray:

Blessed be the Flying Spaghetti Monster, born of extra virgin olive oil, delivered by Little Caesarian (in 30 minutes or less), cast out of the Olive Garden with the Ten Condiments, who has come for our salivation. Our Savory was killed by the Antipasto as foretold in the book of Romanos. Snagged by a giant twirling fork, He was placed on a plate and hurled onto a wall, where He stuck and dried for our sins. Cheese's Crust, how grated thou art! Blessed be Mother Marinara. May there be pizza on earth and gouda will toward men.

Hungry yet? Now we eat.
 
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Salty Booger

Royal Crown Cola (RC)
It is more an understanding than a belief. I've been thinking of ways to create a ritual around it, but simply existing seems to be enough. I still retain the option to dance in the rain and laugh at the moon, though.
 

John1.12

Free gift
So why would that be good news?

Why would I desire what is offered?

I already do not fear death. And the idea of eternal life is more terrifying than good news. And I have no desire to connect to any deity.
So your ' good news ' is no eternal life after ? No assurance and more questions than answers to life and death ? Sounds more bleak than good news.
 

John1.12

Free gift
In my opinion you are just following the intuitions and subjective thought processes/beliefs of the ancient men who wrote the Bible. So I find as little assurance in your beliefs as you find in mine.
Again were discussing IF said religion / belief system are true ,then which one offers the best outcome, for now and after death .
 

John1.12

Free gift
What are the requirements in your view of Christianity? There are differences of opinion among Christians with this.
Yes I agree . There are those who hold to works / conditional salvation which I do not believe is biblical . Nor ' lordship salvation ' .
 
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