What is the purpose or essence of religion?

[mikkel_the_dane]

I don't think that's true. Most people fear death I think. It's the unknown, after all. Some don't turn to religion because they want to be the only one with any day about their life.

Well, according to Erik Erikson's study old people sometimes come to peace with death. But once you understand the psychology involved you can learn to cope with prospect of death and accept it.

 

[Altfish]

I wondered what is the purpose or essence of religion?

Usually it is a money making scam

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

Usually it is a money making scam

Too simple.

 

[Altfish]

Too simple.

But it is true.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

But it is true.

No, it is a half-truth.

 

[paradox]

We cannot know the Essence of God but what we can know God's attributes

I've read following pdf once upon a time, it suggests God's essence is God's attributes:
HERMENEUTICS: (gracenotes.info)

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Nobody said you didn't have the right. And some religions are false or corrupt. But my point is that I believe atheists are that way because of not wanting God to run their lives, not so much because they can't believe in him. Of course agnostics may just not want to bother trying to understand God or they may honestly be undecided about him.

In my experience, a person’s God generally agrees with them on every point, so there's no practical difference between someone running their own life entirely as they see fit and them "deferring" to God's guidance.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

In my experience, a person’s God generally agrees with them on every point, so there's no practical difference between someone running their own life entirely as they see fit and them "deferring" to God's guidance.

That is not unique to religion. That is so of all cognitive world views.

 

[ChristineM]

But my point is that I believe atheists are that way because of not wanting God to run their lives, not so much because they can't believe in him.

You really do not know much about atheism do you?

Maybe you are confusing agnosticism with atheism.

FYI.
Atheism : disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods.

It is not, 'oh i am pissed off with god so I'll ignore him'. That is a religionist point of view. It is not, i don't know if any gods exists so they might.

It is god is just as valid as harry potter, a fictional character in a book. Why should anyone want a fictional character to run their lives?

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

You really do not know much about atheism do you?

Maybe you are confusing agnosticism with atheism.

FYI.
Atheism : disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods.

It is not, 'oh i am pissed off with god so I'll ignore him'. That is a religionist point of view. It is not, i don't know if any gods exists so they might.

It is god is just as valid as harry potter, a fictional character in a book. Why should anyone want a fictional character to run their lives?

That is on you and not representative of atheism as such.

 

[Wildswanderer]

Well, according to Erik Erikson's study old people sometimes come to peace with death. But once you understand the psychology involved you can learn to cope with prospect of death and accept it.

Especially if you know God.

 

[Wildswanderer]

You really do not know much about atheism do you?

Maybe you are confusing agnosticism with atheism.

FYI.
Atheism : disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods.

It is not, 'oh i am pissed off with god so I'll ignore him'. That is a religionist point of view. It is not, i don't know if any gods exists so they might.

It is god is just as valid as harry potter, a fictional character in a book. Why should anyone want a fictional character to run their lives?

Yeah, as Doug Wilson said about his experience with atheists, they are usually like this: " I don't believe in God and I hate him."

 

[Wildswanderer]

In my experience, a person’s God generally agrees with them on every point, so there's no practical difference between someone running their own life entirely as they see fit and them "deferring" to God's guidance.

I wish God would agree with me! But no, he keeps talking about treating people well and such. It's so annoying.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

Especially if you know God.

No, not quite.

 

[ChristineM]

Yeah, as Doug Wilson said about his experience with atheists, they are usually like this: " I don't believe in God and I hate him."

One guys (conservative, evangelical theologian bigmouth who knows nothing about atheism) bull poop does not change the definition but feel free to go with your confirmation bias

 

[Wildswanderer]

I'm an atheist because "letting God run my life" is not something I see as possible. And oftentimes when I hear other people talk about "God running their lives" it looks (to me) like it's just other people or some organization running their lives and God has nothing to do with it.

You can't fault someone for saying "no" to that.

If God appeared in the sky and said, "Okay. This is the real deal. I'm going to tell you how to ideally run your life." Then MAYBE you could fault an atheist for saying "no" to the running of life prescriptions that followed. But as sketchy as religious notions are? Hell no.

I'm not trying to disobey God. I'm trying to steer clear of con artists.

Me too...that's why I search out churches that don't have agendas that have nothing to do with the gospel. Keeping the gospel the main thing, keeping Jesus at the forefront and not some charismatic speaker is very important.

 

[paradox]

Yeah, as Doug Wilson said about his experience with atheists, they are usually like this: " I don't believe in God and I hate him."

It doesn't make sense to hate God if you don't believe God exist.

Richard Dawkins wrote a book "God delusion"
his book can be reduced to the following:

God of the old testament is vengeful
I don't like such God
Therefore God doesn't exist

This is pretty common and more likely thought of atheists than "I don't believe in God and I hate him"

 

[ChristineM]

Yeah, as Doug Wilson said about his experience with atheists, they are usually like this: " I don't believe in God and I hate him."

I will add that such people are usually rather ignorant if anything outside their tiny sphere of knowledge, and so make up stories based on that limited knowledge to massage their own ego and please the attentive crown of similar types of people who soak in every word without even thinking whether its valid or not

Your comment here simply validates my belief.

 

[Altfish]

Yeah, as Doug Wilson said about his experience with atheists, they are usually like this: " I don't believe in God and I hate him."

How can you hate something that doesn't exist?

 

[Altfish]

It doesn't make sense to hate God if you don't believe God exist.

Richard Dawkins wrote a book "God delusion"
his book can be reduced to the following:

God of the old testament is vengeful
I don't like such God
Therefore God doesn't exist

This is pretty common and more likely thought of atheists than "I don't believe in God and I hate him"

Have you actually read that book? If yes, then I suggest you read it again.

Your logic makes no sense at all