Religious Belief

[Peter]

When does a fervent hope become an actual belief and will the believer recognize the difference? Based on years of debate I don't think they will.

The elephant in the room is death. I spent billions of years in oblivion and I'm not afraid to return to it but some people obviously are. Fear of death must be the number one reason for wishing there's an eternal life and this wish has become a belief in theists the world over. Are they capable of recognizing this belief is simply a strong desire? Should I even try to dissuade them of this belief?

I wouldn't be here if I didn't think religion was the most dangerous impediment to the continued existence of humanity. It's insanity on an inconceivable scale and if we can't just learn to love one another we're doomed as a species. There's more than enough strife and fighting in the world over real issues to justify the addition of imaginary issues like who's god can beat up someone elses god.

It's time to outgrow imaginary playmates and father figures. We have hard work ahead of us if we plan to be around as long as the dinosaurs and I for one will be hugely disappointed if we're not.

[Tex]

When does a fervent hope become an actual belief and will the believer recognize the difference? Based on years of debate I don't think they will.

The elephant in the room is death. I spent billions of years in oblivion and I'm not afraid to return to it but some people obviously are. Fear of death must be the number one reason for wishing there's an eternal life and this wish has become a belief in theists the world over. Are they capable of recognizing this belief is simply a strong desire? Should I even try to dissuade them of this belief?

I wouldn't be here if I didn't think religion was the most dangerous impediment to the continued existence of humanity. It's insanity on an inconceivable scale and if we can't just learn to love one another we're doomed as a species. There's more than enough strife and fighting in the world over real issues to justify the addition of imaginary issues like who's god can beat up someone elses god.

It's time to outgrow imaginary playmates and father figures. We have hard work ahead of us if we plan to be around as long as the dinosaurs and I for one will be hugely disappointed if we're not.

You will never know because you will be dead according to your theory.
Senseless chatter....You know 95% of the world don't want to die.....But yet we are the crazy ones and you are working on all cylinders.

People don't want to live because it make no sense. People what to live because it make the most sense of all. But you are to blind to see and to proud to admit there is a God

[otseng]

But you are to blind to see and to proud to admit there is a God

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[cholland]

I spent billions of years in oblivion and I'm not afraid to return to it but some people obviously are.

It's insanity on an inconceivable scale and if we can't just learn to love one another we're doomed as a species.

Tell me, when you were in oblivion, did you care about the survival and propagation of the human race? What makes you think you will when you return?

[Morphine]

Are they capable of recognizing this belief is simply a strong desire?

Yes, but few actually do. I've been dating this pretty religious woman who in speech about how awesome God was, compared him to an imaginary friend. "God is there for me when I have no one else. I can always talk to him. He's... He's like my imaginary friend, you know. Like I can talk to him about anything anytime. I just can't see him".

Wow...

Should I even try to dissuade them of this belief?

For those who use this belief to treat others unfairly, yes. For those who feel horrible about being themselves, yes. I actually had a friend who honestly thought God was against him. Even if I did believe in God, I thought that was ridiculous. Long story short, he was an angry theist...

[Goat]

I spent billions of years in oblivion and I'm not afraid to return to it but some people obviously are.

It's insanity on an inconceivable scale and if we can't just learn to love one another we're doomed as a species.

Tell me, when you were in oblivion, did you care about the survival and propagation of the human race? What makes you think you will when you return?

He won't.. once he returns to it.

However, right now, he's HERE and can have an opinion and a purpose.

[cholland]

I spent billions of years in oblivion and I'm not afraid to return to it but some people obviously are.

It's insanity on an inconceivable scale and if we can't just learn to love one another we're doomed as a species.

Tell me, when you were in oblivion, did you care about the survival and propagation of the human race? What makes you think you will when you return?

He won't.. once he returns to it.

"We have hard work ahead of us if we plan to be around as long as the dinosaurs and I for one will be hugely disappointed if we're not."

However, right now, he's HERE and can have an opinion and a purpose.

And that purpose is?

[southern cross]

I spent billions of years in oblivion and I'm not afraid to return to it but some people obviously are.

It's insanity on an inconceivable scale and if we can't just learn to love one another we're doomed as a species.

Tell me, when you were in oblivion, did you care about the survival and propagation of the human race? What makes you think you will when you return?

He won't.. once he returns to it.

"We have hard work ahead of us if we plan to be around as long as the dinosaurs and I for one will be hugely disappointed if we're not."

However, right now, he's HERE and can have an opinion and a purpose.

And that purpose is?

Mind if I butt in? Well I really don't care, was just being polite.
That purpose is to live.
Bit hard to understand, perhaps? They tell me religion does that to a being.

[cholland]

However, right now, he's HERE and can have an opinion and a purpose.

And that purpose is?

Mind if I butt in? Well I really don't care, was just being polite.
That purpose is to live.
Bit hard to understand, perhaps? They tell me religion does that to a being.

The purpose of life is to live. Profound. I guess we're all going to fail that purpose some day.

[Goat]

However, right now, he's HERE and can have an opinion and a purpose.

And that purpose is?

Mind if I butt in? Well I really don't care, was just being polite.
That purpose is to live.
Bit hard to understand, perhaps? They tell me religion does that to a being.

The purpose of life is to live. Profound. I guess we're all going to fail that purpose some day.

Then, we will HAVE LIVED,

That at least can be shown.