Religion is an Opinion

[Unveiled Artist]

That was exhausting

 

[Mackerni]

As an ardent atheist there is much in the OP that I agree with however it should be noted that emotion plays a huge part in religious beliefs. It's not just an analytical process. If anything the analytical process is puttied around the emotional element making it all seem much more rational.

In other words, it's not just opinion, but rather opinion based on a significant emotional basis.

I'm not trying to advocate atheism with this. Far from that. I'm just trying to say that religions are opinions, and in my opinion (coincidentally) opinions can't be wrong. Like, I think the Star Wars prequels were just as good as the original trilogy. That's not a popular opinion, and most people do not agree with me, but I believe it. And I believe it because I enjoyed the prequels as much the originals. I like them. If someone were to say the original trilogy was the best it would be their opinion. To them, their opinion is fact, but that's what makes it an opinion for everybody else.

A number of religions have had the help of language and societal structures too. From what I understand of Arabic and Persian you can convey emotion and feeling much better than you could with English. For example: Allah does NOT translate to, "God" it translates to "THE GOD". This could came useful when trying to discredit pagan Gods. Half of the world's religions come from the middle east. When I tried doing this, I just annoyed the first reader. Emotion cannot be portrayed very well through text alone.

 

[Mackerni]

What I am saying is:

Belief: "Pizza is good" there is EDIT (No) views/judgements or analyzing. Its just a statement like "God exists".

Fact: The peperoni, cheeze, garlic, etc stimulates my tongue to where the nerves send signals to my brain. He brain translates these signals as positive so my belief is substantiated.

Because I have a belief that "Pizza is good" and my tongue and brain confirmed it, I can form an opinion based on this belief.

For example:

Opinion: "This pizza is better than yours" Now I used my belief and judgement or Opinion to contrast my pizza to yours.

Going by RF citizens views here

Many atheist would skip the belief. They have no need to say what they believe because what tbey believe is fact. It can be proven by the brain signals and language we use to define what tastes good. Belief, to many, is like faith...saying something with no evidence. If my mother loves me I know by what she says and does. So all is concrete.

Because many atheist go off fact, their opinions (not beliefs) are logical (if they get their facts straight). Itz not depended on bekief "pizza is good even though there is no evidence to proove it" the facts/evidence makes their belief true. Now they can form an opinion.



The religious, on the other hand (not All: no generalizing) place their foundation in belief. Without belief they cant hold an opinion (aka make a judgement or point of view). So, if they "believe" god exist, thats their belief.

Belief: God exist

Fact: Because I felt his presence, read the bible, got insight when i did jumping jacks.

Facts can be experiences too.

Now they have a foundation: god exists.
Now they have factz behind it: my experiencez

They can form an opinion

Opinion: My belief is better than yours.

Most of us start with facts before we state our opinions bypassing unconfirmed beliefs. Believers start with their beliefs because they say not all facts can be trusted only their faith/intent/gut etc can then they form opinions around that.



To the religious: religion is a fact not an opinion
Objectively: Its a belief system.
Subjectively: Each persons opinion "about" the belief depends on how they define it.

You define it as an opinion; thats fine. Opinion of what? What is saying "religion is an opiniom" analyze or judge? Opinion of what? God exists? Ordin?

Bring the foundation: the beliefs
Then we can anylze it and make opinions

You're right. I am using the words too liberally.

Would it be better to say that religions are sets of beliefs that lead people to form opinions? I mean, everything comes from something, after all.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

You're right. I am using the words too liberally.

Would it be better to say that religions are sets of beliefs that lead people to form opinions? I mean, everything comes from something, after all.

Im right? That is the best and first compliment I received directly on RF. Yes. Words can be used too literally. I mean, atheist and theist seem common sense based on grammad rules, but people have their own definitions as these labels are talking about their beliefs so its personal.

No problems.

 

[FearGod]

As I've said in other posts, faith is a combination of belief and hope. You believe in bigfoot. You hope you get a promotion. You don't have faith in bigfoot because most people do not want bigfoot to exist (to my knowledge). You don't have faith in a promotion because there could be evidence of you getting it, hence no belief.

God exists. God does not exist. These are not facts. These are opinions. Something that cannot be falsified is unfalsifiable. Statements regarding unfalsifiable conclusions are opinions. Example: Almost everybody has a favorite color. I have three: Cobalt (blue), Onyx (black), and Pearl (white). If I said "the three best colors are cobalt, onyx, and pearl" or "I think the three best colors are cobalt, onyx, and pearl" both say the same thing. Both should be treated as opinions.

To elaborate further, there is now strong evidence for natural processes that were once thought up as "God's Doing". Atheists are now saying, "Ah ha! We found evidence that God did NOT do this!" Some theists have not been compelled by their arguments, arguing against modern science. However, even the ones most compelled towards creationism have been convinced of short-term evolution. Which is something that we can actually prove.

I understand that there is only one reality in our universe. The way I perceive it, though, is that how someone interprets a concept is drastically different than anyone else. Some may agree, some may disagree. I'm not a Christian, I don't believe in the Bible, yet my favorite passage in the Bible is in Corinthians 13:4-8, just like my Christian friend. I do not hold the same weight of those words to my heart, but like him, I agree with the message.

When I was growing up, I thought God was synonymous with the word fate. "Thank God!" Translated to mean something like "Thank Fate!" or "Thank Luck!" I had nothing against God or Fate, but because of how I interpret those words, they didn't mean much to me. Now I understand that God has much larger role in many people's lives.

Does God make you moral or immoral? No. God justifies the action, regardless of its morality. God is a placebo, and different religions offer you different pills that tells you that taking it will offer amazing results. You believe you are blessed, so you feel blessed. Religion offers you to be closer to community. Closer to God, in that respect.

There is nothing wrong with taking the pill. There's always the placebo effect. However the case may be, there is no denying that all validity under Religion, Gods, and Placebos to be subjective. The question, "what if something was not finite?" is the basis to seminary schools, and teaches what I'd call the unnatural. Manifest Destiny might as well be called Man's Destiny. Unnatural things and Destiny can only be interpreted, subjectively, and nobody has the answers for these things.

The funny thing is, is that I think if we're alive to see it (literally), we'll see the formation of sciences that would make those religious practices correct. Hence, why I see things as subjective. I see all religions as possible. If I died and went to Heaven right now, my first reaction would be: Who made this? Because, instinctively, I believe all afterlifes will be man-made.

My faith is that all realities will be true, and under these realities people will get what they wish for, no matter the cost. Hence, it is a matter of what reality you want, not the reality we currently live in. Religion is Futurism. What you want is your opinion, not anybody else's.

Therefore: Religion is an Opinion

When believing in something you accept it as a fact, while if you have an opinion then
you're sharing your ideas, the difference can be realized by the following 2 statements.
1 - i believe God does exist (i accept it as a fact)
2 - i think God does exist (just an opinion, IOW you aren't sure about it)

 

[Unveiled Artist]

When believing in something you accept it as a fact, while if you have an opinion then
you're sharing your ideas, the difference can be realized by the following 2 statements.
1 - i believe God does exist (i accept it as a fact)
2 - i think God does exist (just an opinion, IOW you aren't sure about it)

Hmm. Can you believe in something you are not sure or dont believe as a fact? For example, I believe that humans can fly, I accept that as a fact but because it is not, no matter how much I accept it as fact, it is just a belief.

 

[FearGod]

Hmm. Can you believe in something you are not sure or dont believe as a fact? For example, I believe that humans can fly, I accept that as a fact but because it is not, no matter how much I accept it as fact, it is just a belief.

But that can be proven wrong, as it's a fact that humans can't fly.

 

[ImmortalFlame]

I'm not trying to advocate atheism with this. Far from that. I'm just trying to say that religions are opinions, and in my opinion (coincidentally) opinions can't be wrong. Like, I think the Star Wars prequels were just as good as the original trilogy. That's not a popular opinion, and most people do not agree with me, but I believe it. And I believe it because I enjoyed the prequels as much the originals. I like them.

Of all the many ridiculous things ever written in these forums, I think this is the absolute worst. Believe in God, if you like. Believe in Zeus, if it pleases you. But to believe that the prequel trilogy was as good as the original trilogy is pure and simple heresy! Apox on thee!

All kidding aside, I'm not sure you can quite equate religion to just opinion - although opinion certainly plays a part in an individual's religious inclinations. As well as opinion, religions also require a great deal of factual claims, and an opinion and a factual claim are two very distinct things. For instance, "The moon is pretty" is an opinion, whereas "The moon is pulled along the sky by a giant lizard name Kerquaffle" is an objective claim about reality. Or, to use your analogy, "I like the prequels as much as the originals" is an opinion, whereas "The Star Wars prequels are the most critically acclaimed films of all time" is an objective claim about reality. You may argue that opinions can't be wrong (although that can be debated), but you cannot argue that objective claims about reality can't be wrong.

 

[ImmortalFlame]

When believing in something you accept it as a fact, while if you have an opinion then
you're sharing your ideas, the difference can be realized by the following 2 statements.
1 - i believe God does exist (i accept it as a fact)
2 - i think God does exist (just an opinion, IOW you aren't sure about it)

Both are positions of belief. A "belief" simply means "a position which you hold to be true". You needn't necessarily regard it as a fact, you merely only regard it as something you accept as being true. "I think God does exist" isn't an opinion, it is still a statement of belief and therefore an objective claim about reality.

 

[Skwim]

But that can be proven wrong, as it's a fact that humans can't fly.

I believe they can.

 

[FearGod]

I believe they can.

Finding a way to fly is another thing.

 

[Skwim]

Finding a way to fly is another thing.

Yup, but

is flying.

 

[FearGod]

Yup, but

is flying.

She didn't say humans will find a way to fly but she said humans can fly.

What's your point ?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

But that can be proven wrong, as it's a fact that humans can't fly.

True. We can still believe it though. Belief doesnt make something a fact.

 

[Skwim]

She didn't say humans will find a way to fly but she said humans can fly.

What's your point ?

You said "it's a fact that humans can't fly." I showed you a picture to the contrary, humans flying.

 

[Guy Threepwood]

As I've said in other posts, faith is a combination of belief and hope. You believe in bigfoot. You hope you get a promotion. You don't have faith in bigfoot because most people do not want bigfoot to exist (to my knowledge). You don't have faith in a promotion because there could be evidence of you getting it, hence no belief.

God exists. God does not exist. These are not facts. These are opinions. Something that cannot be falsified is unfalsifiable. Statements regarding unfalsifiable conclusions are opinions. Example: Almost everybody has a favorite color. I have three: Cobalt (blue), Onyx (black), and Pearl (white). If I said "the three best colors are cobalt, onyx, and pearl" or "I think the three best colors are cobalt, onyx, and pearl" both say the same thing. Both should be treated as opinions.

To elaborate further, there is now strong evidence for natural processes that were once thought up as "God's Doing". Atheists are now saying, "Ah ha! We found evidence that God did NOT do this!" Some theists have not been compelled by their arguments, arguing against modern science. However, even the ones most compelled towards creationism have been convinced of short-term evolution. Which is something that we can actually prove.

I understand that there is only one reality in our universe. The way I perceive it, though, is that how someone interprets a concept is drastically different than anyone else. Some may agree, some may disagree. I'm not a Christian, I don't believe in the Bible, yet my favorite passage in the Bible is in Corinthians 13:4-8, just like my Christian friend. I do not hold the same weight of those words to my heart, but like him, I agree with the message.

When I was growing up, I thought God was synonymous with the word fate. "Thank God!" Translated to mean something like "Thank Fate!" or "Thank Luck!" I had nothing against God or Fate, but because of how I interpret those words, they didn't mean much to me. Now I understand that God has much larger role in many people's lives.

Does God make you moral or immoral? No. God justifies the action, regardless of its morality. God is a placebo, and different religions offer you different pills that tells you that taking it will offer amazing results. You believe you are blessed, so you feel blessed. Religion offers you to be closer to community. Closer to God, in that respect.

There is nothing wrong with taking the pill. There's always the placebo effect. However the case may be, there is no denying that all validity under Religion, Gods, and Placebos to be subjective. The question, "what if something was not finite?" is the basis to seminary schools, and teaches what I'd call the unnatural. Manifest Destiny might as well be called Man's Destiny. Unnatural things and Destiny can only be interpreted, subjectively, and nobody has the answers for these things.

The funny thing is, is that I think if we're alive to see it (literally), we'll see the formation of sciences that would make those religious practices correct. Hence, why I see things as subjective. I see all religions as possible. If I died and went to Heaven right now, my first reaction would be: Who made this? Because, instinctively, I believe all afterlifes will be man-made.

My faith is that all realities will be true, and under these realities people will get what they wish for, no matter the cost. Hence, it is a matter of what reality you want, not the reality we currently live in. Religion is Futurism. What you want is your opinion, not anybody else's.

Therefore: Religion is an Opinion

I'd say we all believe in something, whether it's the Bible or evolution or global cooling or global warming, free markets or socialism.

The strength of faith is acknowledging our personal beliefs as such, blind faith is faith which does not recognize itself.


I think I agree with your conclusion, the ultimate best prediction of the future is desire, purpose, will, because this is the only phenomena that can truly create anything-
I see that as entirely consistent with the BIble though, that our existence and all we see around us is the result of purpose, intent, not an accident

 

[FearGod]

True. We can still believe it though. Belief doesnt make something a fact.

If there is an evidence then belief is the wrong word to use,
hope you got my point.

 

[FearGod]

You said "it's a fact that humans can't fly." I showed you a picture to the contrary, humans flying.

Yes, you made a good job.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

If there is an evidence then belief is the wrong word to use,
hope you got my point.

It would be, yes. I think I get your point. I dont know. Badically, regardless if its fact or not you are saying that one accepts it as fact if one believes it is?

 

[FearGod]

It would be, yes. I think I get your point. I dont know. Badically, regardless if its fact or not you are saying that one accepts it as fact if one believes it is?

Believing is used once we have no evidence,if evidence is shown up then in turns to be a fact.